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Krishna and Karna

Krishna and Karna

4/17/08

A story about the importance of not procrastinating a good
action. Several people may have experienced the guilty feeling of
delaying a good deed and then missing the chance to help somebody. I
have done that a few times and felt very bad later.

Once Karna was getting ready to take an oil bath. He had oil in a
beautiful golden container studded with all the nine type of jewels.
(navaratna khachitham) He started applying oil on his body with his
right hand, from the container in his left hand.  Meanwhile our beloved Krishna
came there to talk about something to Karna and saw him getting ready
for his ceremonial oil bath. He saw the beautiful container in
Karna's hand and asked him: 

 "Karna, I have never seen such a beautiful
container. When you finish applying oil, can you give me that?"

Karna, with out hesitating for a moment,  gave the golden bowl to
Krishna with his left hand. Krishna did not expect him to react so
quickly and in no time got the bowl in his hand. After receiving it,
Krishna asked: Karna, 

 "Thank you very much. But, why did you give such
a wonderful gift with your left hand? Isn't it proper to give with
your right hand?

Karna replied: Krishna, I did not want any delay in giving you the
beautiful golden bowl you asked because when you decide to give
something, you have to give immediately. If I take the time to
transfer the bowl from my left hand to the right hand, I may rethink
about my decision and may decide not to part with it. That is the only
reason I gave you with left hand and not because of lack of respect
for you.

Krishna was very pleased to know his daanasheelam or attitude towards 
gift -giving. He gave back the bowl to Karna, blessed him and left. 
Krishna need not ask Karna for a golden bowl studded with jewels.
 He owns everything in this world. But he did this only to test Karna's
 kindness and to show us the importance of doing all good deeds 
with out delay. Krishna wants to show us that we do not have to wait 
for a muhoortham or auspicious time for an act of kindness, for helping
 somebody in need, or giving away something. Karna did not even 
follow the tradition and formality of giving a gift to the Lord of the 
Universe and Krishna appreciated the reason for his hasty action.


May God bless us to take right decisions at the right time to help
others and ourselves.

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