Mercy above Justice

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

When Kṛṣṇa mounted his chariot to return to Dwaraka, Uttara came running for his protection. And falling at the wheel of his chariot, Uttara begged for her life and the life of her child, saying, 

पाहि पाहि महायोगिन्देवदेव जगत्पते 

नान्यं त्वदभयं पश्ये यत्र मृत्युः परस्परम्

Shrimad Bhagavatam (1.8.9)

pahi pahi maha-yogin deva-deva jagat-pate 

nanyam tvad abhayam pasye atra mrityuh parasparam (1.8.9)

 “O Kṛṣṇa, protect me! You are the true Mahayogi, for you are the greatest of all those with mystic yoga power. You are the hope of the hopeless and the protector of the poor, the simple brahmaṇas and the earth itself. You alone can free us from fear in this world of darkness and duality.  Protect my unborn child who is the hope of our dynasty!”

And as she spoke a missile of great power, shining like the sun, fell from the heavens. The powerful mantra-guided weapon approached the place where Uttara knelt.  But Krishna had heard the prayer of Uttara.  And  seeing the missile flying straight for her, protected her with his yogic power. And by his divine miracle Kṛṣṇa caused her womb to be protected from this attack on her unborn child, Pariksit, the future ruler of India.

Meanwhile, the mighty Arjuna along with his brothers had rode hard to the place where Aśvattāmā  was hiding.   Aśvatthāmā was captured. The angry sons of Paṇḍu arrested him and dragged him like a beast from the forest. They took him, bound head and foot back to where their wife, the hot-blooded Draupadī was grieving for her slaiin children.

Mercy above Justice

DRAUPADĪ FORGIVES

द्रौपदी कृप

Draupadi had suffered insult at the hands of Duryodhana and company. And now her children and brother had been murdered in their sleep by the  vicious Aśvattāmā.  But war had tempered her hunger for revenge; Draupadī had seen enough blood. 

She had bathed her hair in the blood of the men who had insulted her and had tried to strip her naked in the crooked game of dice. She had seen death and destruction on the battlefield and now  the loss of her brother the warlike Dhristadyumna. 

Her father, and many royal uncles and noble cousins now lay dead. Draupadī had affection for Drona; he had been the childhood friend of her father Draupada. And seeing Asvatthama bound like an animal, she had no interest in watching him die.

 Draupadī had lost all interest in blood. “Mercy is above justice," she said, "Let him live.

Arjuna was surprised that Draupadi had such pity on this ruthless fiend. "Then what shall be his punishment?"

"Then cut that magic gem which is the source of his power from his forehead and exile him  if you must, but do not to kill him. Spare his life. He may someday regret what he has done. Until then,  he shall show by his grief and madness how bitter are the fruits of war." And turning to that shameful brahmana's son, Draupadi said,  "Repent your crimes, O ruthless Aśvatthāmā.” 

And showing him the respect due to a brahmaṇa, she asked her brothers to release him from his bonds.  Draupadi said, “His father was our master, he is a brahmaṇa.” She said “I cannot see more blood.I grieve for my brother and  my poor lost children. Let not Droṇa’s wife, Kripi, lament for her child Aśvatthāmā as I lament for mine. Her husband Droṇa still lives on in his likeness, her son. Please, let us not cause further grief, as we are righteous. As mercy is above justice, show him mercy. After all this bloodshed, let us begin anew. Now at last we have peace. Let us not begin the reign of peace with an act of revenge. Let not the wife of Droṇa cry like me."And finally, she appealed to Krishna.  Lord Kṛṣṇa, you give him justice or show him mercy as you please.”