Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy - Osho - Oshorajneesh.com

CHAPTER 11. DRAUPADI: A RARE WOMAN
It is lack of love that gives rise to extravagance of words about love. What we don’t have we
compensate with words, because words can be easily understood. Now any number of books
are being written on love. Psychologists are producing great volumes on love in which they stress
that even if one does not feel love in his heart, he should not shrink from declaring it to the loved
ones. When a husband returns home from the office in the evening, he should hug his wife and kiss
her, even if it amounts to play-acting. He should not shy away from saying some words of love which
we call sweet nothings. And when he leaves for his office the next morning, he must say he will miss
her the whole day, although in his heart of hearts he is happy to be leaving.
And the psychologists are right; they are right because we live on words and we know nothing of
real love. Love has disappeared from our lives; we live on words of love.
We have turned love into a ritual. Really we have turned everything into a ritual. Someone does you
a good turn and you say, ”Hearty thanks” to him without meaning it. And the other person is pleased
to receive it even though you don’t feel any thankful ness to him inside your heart. And he will be
miserable if you don’t say your thanks even though you feel in your heart really thankful for his favor.
Since we don’t understand silence, we have to make do with words. Words are so important to us
because we live on words.
But remember, when we really love someone, when we are overwhelmed with love for someone,
words become futile. You may or may not have noticed it, but it is a fact that in moments of
overwhelming love we suddenly find there is nothing to be said in words. Lovers prepare themselves
mentally, rehearse for long, every word of a dialogue that they would like to have when they meet
each other, but on actual meeting they find to their amazement that they have forgotten every word
they had so meticulously rehearsed – the whole dialogue has suddenly evaporated and they are left
utterly speechless, silent.
Draupadi’s love for Krishna is utterly silent; it is not vocal, but it is deeply felt by Krishna nonetheless.
That is why he helps Draupadi more than anybody else. Throughout the story of the Mahabharat we
find Krishna standing by the side of Draupadi as her shadow, protecting her against every danger.
This extraordinary relationship is too fine to be grossly visible; it does not manifest itself so often like
ordinary relationships. It is ethereal, subtle; it is silently intimate.
Question 7
QUESTIONER: KRISHNA IS SAID TO HAVE LEFT MATHURA AND SETTLED IN DISTANT
DWARKA SO THAT THE WESTERN COAST COULD BE DEFENDED AGAINST EXTERNAL
AGGRESSION IT IS ALSO SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF MATHURA BELIEVED THAT KRISHNA
WAS THE CAUSE OF THEIR TROUBLES BECAUSE IT IS ON HIS ACCOUNT THAT KINGS
LIKE JARASANDH RECURRINGLY WAGED WAR ON MATHURA. IT IS ALSO BELIEVED THAT
KRISHNA SUFFERED DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF KING JARASANDH, WHICH SHOWS UP HIS
HUMAN ASPECT. PLEASE COMMENT.
Victory and defeat in life are like the warp and woof with which a piece of cloth is woven. Victory
alone cannot make a life, as warp alone cannot create a piece of cloth. Nor can defeat alone make
a life. To weave the cloth of life, the warp and woof of victory and defeat, success and failure, gain
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 211 Osho