The Second Binding

The decision had been made.

Krishna would go as a messenger to the Kaurava court, to seek justice for the Pandavas who had completed the terms of the fateful wager.

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“Strive for peace, Krishna,” instructed Yudhisthira, “But if they do not relent, convey our intention to fight for our right!”

(Yudhisthira talking about rights is not just a petty sense of entitlement in a family feud. It comes from a deeper understanding of the true duty of a kshatriya, which is, to rule, in keeping with the principles of rajadharma.)

Krishna asked the other Pandavas for their opinion.

Bheema agreed with Yudhisthira. So did Arjuna and Nakula.

Only Sahadeva was silent, and looked at Krishna with undisguised amusement.

“Well, Sahadeva, what do you have to say?” asked Krishna.

“Whether WE want the war or not, dear Krishna, I’m sure that YOU certainly want it!”

A glint of mischief appeared in Krishna’s eyes.

“I don’t understand you, Sahadeva!”

“Why, it’s very simple, Krishna! If YOU want, You can certainly avoid this conflict. But I’m pretty sure that it is war that You want!”

“How do you think I can avert this war, Sahadeva?”

“Well, we could break Bheema’s gada, and destroy Arjuna’s Gandiva; and tonsure Draupadi’s head, and automatically, there would be no war. But You know what would be an even easier way to stop the war, Krishna? Capturing You and keeping You imprisoned so that You DO NOT go as our doota to the Kaurava court!”

Krishna gazed with appreciation on the youngest, and probably, the wisest Pandava.

But laughing, He said, “Certainly, Sahadeva, you can do the first three things, but not the last! Capture Me? Impossible!”

“I beg to differ, Krishna!”

“Really? Ok, challenge accepted! Come on, Sahadeva, bind Me right now!”

Sahadeva sat down and closed his eyes in meditation. In his mind’s eye, he visualized Krishna as a small baby, and prayed to Him.

“Allow me to bind You, O Damodara!”

(Remember how Krishna got the name Damodara?)

The next moment, Sahadeva had snatched a flower garland and playfully bound the hands of the Lord!

No matter what Krishna did, He could not free Himself!

“Please, Sahadeva, remove this shackle from my arms!” pleaded the Lord of the Universe.

Sahadeva had managed to bind the Boundless One!

What was the rope Sahadeva had used? His jnaana of the Lord's true nature! He had achieved the unachievable, just like Mother Yashoda, by using the rope of love!

Having proved his point, Sahadeva then proceeded to ‘free’ Krishna.

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This episode appears in the Tamil version of the Mahabharata titled Villi Bharatam, composed by Villiputhurar in the 14th centure CE.

It drives home a significant lesson for the bhakta – you cannot bind Krishna except by His will. And you cannot bind Him except by your love.

The Lord then went as “Pandavadoota” and the result – as Sahadeva had rightly predicted – was the success of His mission of “paritraanaaya saadhunaam, vinaashaaya cha dushkrutaam and dharma samsthaapanaa.”