Krishna's Secret

by Devdutt Pattanaik

His mother is not his real mother, his beloved is not his wife, and the women he rescues are neither his subjects nor members of his family. His lovemaking is not really lovemaking; his war is not really war. There is always more than meets the eye. And so, only Krishna, of all the avatars, sports a smile, a mischievous, meaningful smile.

Unlike Ram, who is serious and serene and evokes respect, Krishna is adorable and rakish, and evokes affection.

Devaki represents all the qualities one is born with. Yashoda represents all the qualities one acquires in life. Thus Krishna’s divinity, rooted in Devaki’s blood and Yashoda’s milk, acknowledges both nature and nurture.

We are all a combination of what we are born with as well as what we are raised to be. Our natural disposition is known as varna while the cultural indoctrination is jati. Krishna is by varna a nobleman but by jati a cowherd. Though nobleman, he can never be king. Though cowherd, he can always lead.

This war is not for property. This war is about dharma. And dharma is about outgrowing the animal instinct of territoriality and discovering the human ability to share and care.

It is about realising that in every human being is a frightened beast, seeking survival and significance, and knowing very well that humans can outgrow this beast as they empathise with others.