7.LEAP ACROSS SECTS

WITH  THE  GREAT

Tirukkadaiyur. Abhirami Bhattar sang hymns on this Deity in a state of ecstasy.

7. LEAP ACROSS SECTS

Seeks divine grace to sing

Arunagirinatha is a divine poet. How do we know this? 
In Kandar Anubhuti, he requests Lord Skanda:

(1) ஆடும் பரி, வேல், அணிசேவல் எனப்
பாடும் பணியே பணியா அருள்வாய்


எல்லாம் அற, என்னை இழந்த நலம்
சொல்லாய், முருகா சுரபூ பதியே.

O Lord! Please bless me so that my sole occupation will be to sing the glories of Your dancing peacock, Spear, beautiful cock on your flag.

O Lord! The leader of the Devas! Please teach me that state of blessedness which transcends  all thoughts of this world and my limited self.

We can understand if he wants to sing of the Lord. But why should he seek to sing of the peacock, spear and the cock? It is the natural desire of all devotees to revere and praise everything associated with the Lord. We think of  Vishnu as sankha-chakra-gada dhari. We separately extol His Sudardhana- as Chakkarattaazhvar! Rama is Kothandarama. Even His paduka is worthy of special veneration. Shiva is Shulapani. Our Swami comes in that tradition, so he too seeks to sing about everything connected with the Lord.

Kumara receiving the Shakti spear from Mother.
Thanks: murugan.org

And we know that this wish was fulfilled. Skanda did bless him with the gift of poesy with the clear direction to sing of these. He says in the very second hymn:

பக்கரைவி சித்ரமணி பொற்கலணை யிட்டநடை
     பட்சியெனு முக்ரதுர ...... கமுநீபப்

பக்குவம லர்த்தொடையும் அக்குவடு பட்டொழிய
     பட்டுருவ விட்டருள்கை ...... வடிவேலும்

திக்கதும திக்கவரு குக்குடமும் ரட்சைதரு
     சிற்றடியு முற்றியப ...... னிருதோளும்

செய்ப்பதியும் வைத்துயர்தி ருப்புகழ்வி ருப்பமொடு
     செப்பெனஎ னக்கருள்கை ...... மறவேனே

O Lord!

You blessed me to sing with devotion the exalted Tiruppugazh, including in them- 

- the beautiful limbed, fast walking peacock,  the bird which is like an  angry and fierce steed, with the saddle fixed with wonderful gems.

-  the garland of kadamba flowers which are about to open up

- the Spear in your hands which pierced the Krauncha mountain and destroyed it

- the cock which commands respect in all the eight directions

- your splendid feet which give us refuge and protection

- your twelve arms , which are mature with immense power

- the kshetra that is Vayalur.
  
O Lord! How can I ever forget this!

     !

Aadum pari, vel!
Artistic depiction of the Spear and Peacock.
Thanks: Kala ksetram.

Thus we see that Arunagirinatha got the Lord's command to sing as he requested. And he reveals here the specific aspects that his hymns had to include. His songs are therefore divinely inspired. And he has sung about these in wonderful lyrics- unprecedented, unequalled and unexcelled.

The cock has been a sacred symbol in many cultures.
This is from the flag of Wallonia, a part of Belgium speaking French.

Arunagirinatha- fond of Krishna

Almost immediately, he gives us a wonderful hymn in which he reveals great facts, rarely known.

...... வறிதாய கயவனறி வீனன் இவனுமுயர் நீடு      கழலிணைகள் சேர ...... அருள்வாயே இடையர்சிறு பாலை திருடிகொடு போக      இறைவன்மகள் வாய்மை ...... அறியாதே இதயமிக வாடி யுடையபிளை நாத      கணபதியெ னாம ...... முறைகூற அடையலவர் ஆவி வெருவஅடி கூர      அசலுமறி யாமல் ...... அவரோட அகல்வதென டாசொல் எனவுமுடி சாட      அறிவருளும் ஆனை ...... முகவோனே. (Vidamadai suvaelai)

This is one of the hymns on Ganapati and comes in the beginning. It reveals some rare things. It shows how Ganapati blessed Yashoda.

This has to be annotated, not just rendered literally because so much is packed, It says:

Yashoda, daughter of chief Ugrasen, did not know the truth of what was happening around her. Krishna was engaged in (pranks like) stealing milk and butter. He was also fighting with and disposing of enemies (like Putana, Trunavarta, Sakatasura). Some of the people were attached to him and revered his feet. Yet the enemies  did not like this and in fear began to run. Yashoda then became afraid and prayed to Ganapati to protect her and the child.  Ganapati faced and accosted the enemies, asking, "where are you running" and hit their heads (and thus protected Yashoda and Krishna.)

Arungirinatha is requesting Ganapati to bless him, low and ignorant as he was, so that he could also reach His lotus Feet.

Vasudeva carrying child Krishna from Kamsa's prison to Gokula.

Picture from ISKCON. Thanks.

We come to know from this hymn that Yashoda was a devotee of Ganapati and prayed to Him for protection. Of course she did not realise the divine nature of child Krishna (janma karma cha divyam ). The things that happened around the child were not usual, and would disturb any mother. We read from the Bhagavata that the entire community was disturbed by such things which they took as due to evil forces and that was the reason they decided to leave Gokula and go to Brindavana.

These are dealt with in Srimad Bhagavata, Skanda 10, chapter11, slokas 21-29.

It shows how deeply Arunagirinatha was involved in the story and how closely he knew the text. That Yashoda was a devotee of Ganapati is revealed by Arunagirinatha alone.

In another hymn too, our Master details the difficulties faced by the people of Gokula and  Brindavan.


மருகனெ னாமற் சூழ்கொலை கருதிய மாமப் பாதகன்
     வரவிடு மாயப் பேய்முலை ...... பருகாமேல்

வருமத யானைக் கோடவை திருகிவி ளாவிற் காய்கனி
     மதுகையில் வீழச் சாடிய ...... சதமாபுட்

பொருதிரு கோரப் பாரிய மருதிடை போயப் போதொரு
     சகடுதை யாமற் போர்செய்து ...... விளையாடிப்

பொதுவியர் சேரிக் கேவளர் புயல்


(Muruga mayurach chvaga)

Without considering that Krishna was his own nephew,the sinful uncle (Kamsa) sent the devilish Putana to feed the child to death. But Krishna sucked her breasts to death.

He plucked away the tusks of the fierce elephant that was sent to kill him.

He banged the (maya) calf  forcefully on the fruit laden tree and made the fruits fall to the ground and thus killed the calf and destroyed the tree. Both the calf and the tree were asuras sent by Kamsa.

He killed the big bird , fighting with it. (It was too an asura in that form.)

He went between the two big, tall trees. (They were the sons of Kubera, cursed by Narada. Krishna was tied to a grind stone by Yashoda, but he dragged it between the trees and the trees fell with big noise and the two sons of Kubera resumed their original forms. But the sight of the two fallen trees and the noise frightened the people.)

He kicked the asura that came in the form of the cart to his death.

He (along with Balarama) engaged in wrestling with the two giant wrestlers who were sent to kill him. He killed the wrestler Chanura and Balarama killed Mushtika..

He thus grew up in the community of the humble cottage dwellers , engaging in common playful pastimes! (vilaiyaadip poduviyar chaeriikae valar)

It is doubtful if any other poet has described these events in such graphic detail, but in so few words!

Arunagiri and Ambal

When Arunagirinatha deals with a Deity, he excels the committed followers of those Deities in his praise. And he reveals himself as one who knows everything about  them- such is his authority. His diction is unequalled.

Form worshipped by most Devi upasakas in the South.

In the last post (no.6) we saw how he praised the Spear in the Vel Viruttam. The latter part of that hymn contains these lines on Ambal:

தனிஆண்மை கொண்ட நெடுவேல்
கங்காளி சாமுண்டி வாராகி இந்த்ராணி
கௌமாரி கமலாசனக்
கன்னிநா ரணிகுமரி த்ரிபுரைபயி ரவிஅமலை
கௌரிகா மாஷிசைவ
சிங்காரி யாமளை பவாநிகார்த் திகைகொற்றி
த்ரியம்பகி அளித்த செல்வச்
சிறுவன்அறு முகன்முருகன் நிருதர்கள் குலாந்தகன்
செம்பொற் றிருக்கை வேலே

The long Spear which is Uniquely powerful (tani aanmai konda neduvel) is held in the golden hands of Skanda. Who is he? He is the one given to us  by Mother who is:

Kangaali,Chamundi,Vaarahi,Indrani

Kaumari,Kamalasanakkani,Narani (Narayani)

Kumari,Tripurai.Bhairavi,Amalai

Gauri,Kamakshi,Saiva singari

Yaamalai -(green or dark complexioned)

Bhavani ,Kartikai

Kotri-- one conferring victory

Tryambaki

One who has read the Devi Mahatmyam will be thrilled to see these divine Names rolling from the tongue of our master with such sweet felicity. And how well Sanskrit and Tamil blend here! Consider some of the descriptions given in Devi Mahatmyam which considers all manifestations as those of Ambal.

Varaha rupini Shive Narayani namostute

Kaumari rupa samstaane Narayani namostute

Chamunde munda matane Narayani namostute

Saranye tryambake devi Narayani namostute

Sankha chakra gada saarnga gruheeta paramayute

Prasida Vaishnavi rupe Narayani namostute.......etc

(In fact,chap.11 of Devi Mahatmyam goes on like this.)

Durga leading other Devi forms in the fight against Raktabija.
painting from Nepal.

வாராகி நீள்க பாலி மாலினி
     மாமாயி யாயி தேவி யாமளை
          வாசாம கோச ராப ராபரை ...... யிங்குளாயி

வாதாடி மோடி காடு காளுமை
     மாஞால லீலி யால போசனி
          மாகாளி சூலி வாலை யோகினி ...... யம்பவானி

சூராரி மாபு ராரி கோமளை
     தூளாய பூதி பூசு நாரணி
          சோணாச லாதி லோக நாயகி ...... தந்தவாழ்வே

(Aarada kaadalagi)

See the way our Master goes on giving the names of ur Mother who gave us Kumara:

Varahi,Neel kapali- having long skulls

Malini- taken the form of Ganga

Maamaayi- Mahamaya

Aayi- mother of the worlds

Devi-- of the form of light

Yamalai- of green or dark complexion

Vachamagocaraa- beyond our speech

Paraaparai- of the nature of greatness

Ingulayi -- aayi, mother, who resides in the hearts of devotees.

Vaadaadi -  one who argues with the Lord

Modi- expressing dissent from the Lord as in game of love

Kaadukaal - Durga

Umai

Maajnaala leeli- who creates, sustains and destroys the worlds as a play (leela)

Aalapochani- one who swallowed the Halakala poison

Maakali- Maha Kali

Sooli -- holding Trishul

Vaalai -- always young

Mohini- causing moha in the world

Ambhavani- of the form of beautiful Parvati

Soorari - one who destroyed the Asuras

Maapurari-  one who destroyed the big three 'puras'

Komalai-  of beautiful form

Thoolaya bhuti poosu nayaki- smearing vibhuti on the body

Sonachala- of the form of the Aruna hill
Aadi loka nayaki- the primal master of the worlds

திருந டம்புரி தாளீ தூளீ
     மகர குண்டலி மாரீ சூரி
          திரிபு ரந்தழ லேவீ சார்வீ ...... யபிராமி

சிவனி டந்தரி நீலீ சூலீ
     கவுரி பஞ்சவி யாயீ மாயீ
          சிவைபெ ணம்பிகை வாலா சீலா ...... அருள்பாலா

Tiru natam puri taali- having the feet that engage in divine dance

Thooli- wearing vibhuti powder (thool)

Makara kundali-  having the ornament in the ear, made in the shape of fish

Maari- assuming the form of Durga

Soori- of extraordinary valour

Tripuram tazhal aevi- one who set the Tripuras on fire

Saarvi-  the refuge of all jivatmas

Abhiraami- of beauteous form

Sivanidantari- occupying the left half of Shiva

Neeli- of blue complexion

Shooli- having the trishul

Gauri- golden complexioned

Panjavi- born as the daughter of the Pandya king

Aayi- Mother of the worlds

Maayi- causing maya in the world

Sivai- causing auspiciousness

Penn ambikai- mother Ambika

Vaala- ever young

Seela- of noble character and behaviour

(Subrahmanya is the son of such a mother, who brought him forth to bless the world- arul baala)

We generally read the names or recite them in archana without realising the meaning. If we just pause to think, each name contains a history, a tradition, a philosophy and mythology. Master Arunagiri reveals himself as master of the lore of the mother cult too.

It may be seen that in many of these names, Mother is shown as having done the things usually associated with the male Deities. eg Varahi, Tripurari, Kaumari etc. This has its foundation in the Shakti cult and Arunagirinatha reveals himself as the master of that cult too, as we shall see next.

NOTE:

Tiruppugazh  quotations  taken from kaumaram.com.by their kind permission. Gratefully acknowledged.

A REQUEST.

When I search for good pictures of our temples to upload here, I find it extremely difficult to find good pictures which are free of copyright hassles. 

It is odd that the old masters who built those temples remain nameless, unpaid and unremembered, while those who click a picture now seek copyright! (even where they are not professional.) And most old temples themselves are without adequate income!

I request astika friends to take good pictures of our temples and put them on the web for free use.

THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH-1

WITH THE GREAT

Chidambaram temple tower and sacred tank, around 1870.

1. THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH-1

What is the greatest thing on earth?

We sure have our answers, depending upon our interests.

 The Tamils have a story relating to poet-saint Avvaiyar. Once, Lord Subrahmanya appeared before her as a shepherd boy, and  just to tease her, asked her four questions, relating to what is the hardest thing ( most difficult to bear) in the world, rare  in the world,sweetest, etc.. At the end, He asked her: Grandma, what is the greatest thing on earth? And she replied: The greatest thing is the greatness of the saints, for they have the Lord in their heart.

Periyadhu kaetkin eri  thavazh vaeloi

Peridhu peridhu bhuvanam peridhu

Bhuvanamo naan mugan padaippu

Naan mugan kariya maal undhiyil vandhon

Kariya maalo alaikadal thuyindron

Alai kadalo kurumuni yangaiyil adakkam

Kurumuniyo kalasatthir pirandhon

Kalasamo puviyir chiruman

Puviyo araviniku  oru thalaip paaram

Aravo umaiyaal siru viral modhiram

Umaiyo iraivar baagat odukkam

Iraivano thondar ullatthodukkam

Thondar tham perumai sollavum

Peridhae....

( There are several versions of this on the Net, but they are not accurate. For the correct version, see 'Thani Paadal Tirattu' edited by K.S.Pillai.)

O Lord, with the blazing spear! If you ask me what is the greatest-

This Universe is great.

But it is created by Brahma.

Brahma rose from the nabhi-lotus of the blue-complexioned Vishnu.

Vishnu rests on the milky ocean.

Sage Agastya contained the whole ocean in his palm.

Agastya was himself born in a kumbha.

Kumbha is made of a small amount of clay from the earth.

This earth is borne on but one of his (thousand) heads by Adisesha.

But Uma (Parvati) wears Adisesha as a ring in her little  finger.

Uma is but part of Lord Shiva.

But Lord Shiva is contained in the hearts of the devotee.

O Lord! The greatness of the humble saints is great beyond all expression!

This is how usually the encounter between Lord Subrahmanya as shepherd boy and Avvaiyar is depicted!

Picture taken from: www.svtemplanc.org. Thanks.

The saints may have the Lord in their hearts, but     seeking to set an example to the world, they seek 
the feet of the Lord all the time.

In the Indian tradition, the Name of Bhagavan and His Feet take precedence over everything else.The cow gives milk- the whole cow contributes to its making. But we get it only from the udder.We have many forms for our deities, but in each the Feet are invariably shown. It is to the Feet that we resort as the ultimate refuge.

Saint Arunagirinatha says:

கோழிக் கொடிய னடிபணி யாமற் குவலத்தே
   வாழக் கருது மதியிலி காளுங்கள் வல்வினைநோய்
      ஊழிற் பெருவலி யுண்ணவொட்டாது உங்களத்தமெல்லாம்
         ஆழப் புதைத்துவைத் தால்வருமோ நும் மடிப்பிறகே.   ...   

ஆவிக்கு மோசம் வருமா றறிந்துன் னருட்பதங்கள்
   சேவிக்க என்று நினைக்கின்றி லேன்வினை தீர்த்தருளாய்

O ye senseless folks who seek to spend your days on this earth without bowing to the Feet of the Lord with the cock-flag! Your powerful destiny in the form of illnesses will not let you enjoy your wealth. All this wealth that you keep buried for safety, will it accompany you when you die?

O Lord!  Even knowing that this breath will one day cease, I do not think of worshipping  Your feet! Please bless me and end my karma!

The saints thus always think of the Feet of Bhagavan as the last resort. In fact, it is the only resort for them!

Picture from Murugan .org Thanks.

 One of the ancient Tamil classics, Paripadal, says it clearly:

Lord, your Feet are greater than You! (Ninnir siranda nin taal inaiyavai.)

ஏமுறு நெஞ்சத்தேம் பரவுதும்-

வாய்மொழிப் புலவ! நின் தாள்-நிழல் தொழுதே  1.;68

நின் அடி
தலை உற வணங்கினேம், பல் மாண் யாமும்; 2.

நின்னின் சிறந்த நின் தாள் இணையவை; நின்னில் சிறந்த நிறை கடவுளவை;

3.65

These are taken from three of the 22 poems now available in Paripadal, sung by three different poets.

The first says that the poet will utter praises and worship the Lord's feet.

The second says that the poet will pay obeisance to the Feet repeatedly.

The third says that the Feet are greater than the Lord..

Tiruvalluvar, begins his celebrated Tirukkural with prayer to God and in the first ten couplets, refers to the Feet alone in seven:

கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன் 

நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்.

Of what use is all your learning if it does not lead to the Feet of Him who is Intelligence Infinite?

மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார் 

நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்.

He who takes refuge in the sacred Feet of Him who is seated on the flower (of the heart)- he will live long.

வேண்டுதல்வேண் டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு 

யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல 
Those who cleave to the Feet of Him who has no likes and dislikes- the ills of life do not touch them.

தனக்குவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் 
மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது.

They alone escape from sorrow who take refuge in the feet
 of Him who has no equal.

அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் 
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது.

The ocean of samsara cannot be crossed except by those who cling to the Feet of the Sage who is the ocean of righteousness.

கோளில் பொறியின் குணமிலவே எண்குணத்தான் 
தாளை வணங்காத் தலை.

The head which does not bow to the Feet of Him who is

 endowed with the eight attributes- it is indeed worthless like

 the organs of sense which do not perceive.

பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார் 

இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்.

They alone cross the ocean of births and deaths who take refuge in the Feet of the Lord. The others do not.

The reverence to the feet of Bhagavan is deeply entrenched in all aspects of Indian religious and spiritual life, and reflected in every aspect of practice- in worship,iconography, literature, etc. Every Indian saint of every tradition has extolled the Feet. 

Saint Manikkavachaka, reckoned as one of the pillars of the Shaiva Siddhanta begins his famous and authoritative treatise Tiruvachakam with obeisance to the Feet.

நமச்சிவாய வாஅழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க 
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க 
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாள் வாழ்க 
ஆகமம் ஆகிநின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க 
ஏகன் அநேகன் இறைவன் அடிவாழ்க 5 

வேகம் கெடுத்தாண்ட வேந்தன் அடிவெல்க 
பிறப்பறுக்கும் பிஞ்ஞகன்தன் பெய்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
புறந்தார்க்குச் சேயோன் தன் பூங்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
கரங்குவிவார் உள்மகிழும் கோன்கழல்கள் வெல்க 
சிரம்குவிவார் ஓங்குவிக்கும் சீரோன் கழல் வெல்க 10 

ஈசன் அடிபோற்றி எந்தை அடிபோற்றி 
தேசன் அடிபோற்றி சிவன் சேவடி போற்றி 
நேயத்தே நின்ற நிமலன் அடி போற்றி 
மாயப் பிறப்பு அறுக்கும் மன்னன் அடி போற்றி 
சீரார் பெருந்துறை நம் தேவன் அடி போற்றி 15 

ஆராத இன்பம் அருளும் மலை போற்றி 
சிவன் அவன் என்சிந்தையுள் நின்ற அதனால் 
அவன் அருளாலே அவன் தாள் வணங்கி......

In the first fifteen lines, he pays obeisance to the feet. It is impossible to convey the rich allegorical and puranic implications in translation, that also conveys the full emotional fervour..  In the sixteenth line, he mentions the state of bliss that has been conferred upon him.  In the seventeenth, he states that the Lord has occupied his deeper consciousness. In the seventeenth, he says that he bows to His feet only by His grace!

Later, he composed Tiruvembavai- twenty verses that seek to awaken the sleeping spirit of devotees, making use for the purpose a practice then prevalent among the devout young. In the month of Margasirsha (mid-Dec to mid January, the young maidens used to observe a vrata in honour of Goddess, seeking worthy husbands. The girls would visit  and awaken each other, and together they would go to the river for a ceremonial bath and observances. Manikkavachaka uses this to remind us that we are all asleep in our consciousness ( we have no awareness of God)and that we should wake up- a call given in the Upanishad too: Uttishtatha, Jagratha. While concluding this section, Manikkavachaka again remembers the Holy Feet:

போற்றி அருளுக நின் ஆதியாம் பாதமலர் 
போற்றி அருளுக நின் அந்தமாம் செந்தளிர்கள் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் தோற்றமாம் பொற்பாதம் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் போகமாம் பூங்கழல்கள் 
போற்றி எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் ஈறாம் இணையடிகள் 
போற்றி மால் நான்முகனும் காணாத புண்டரிகம் 
போற்றியாம் உய்யஆட் கொண்டருளும் பொன்மலர்கள் 
போற்றியாம் மார்கழிநீர் ஆடேலோர் எம்பாவாய். 174 

Hail to your Lotus Feet, which is the Origin of everything!

Hail to your glorious Feet in which everything finally rests!

Hail to your golden Feet from which have arisen all life forms!

Hail to your flowery Feet which is the real enjoyment for all forms of life!

Hail to your holy Feet which is the final resting place for all forms of life!

Hail to your Lotus  Feet which could not be beheld even by Vishnu and Brahma!

Hail to your golden Feet which confer grace and save us!

Thus hailing the Lord, come let us bathe!

This worship of Goddess or Shakti was common. So, Saint Andal, who composed thirty verses on the same theme also refers to the Feet of Lord Krishna/Vishnu, recalling His various deeds. And though she recalls many glorious episodes from the Life of Krishna in his cowherd days, when she seeks His blessings, she refers only to His Feet.

Picture from Srimad Andavan Ashramam. Grateful thanks.

சிற்றஞ் சிறு காலே வந்துன்னைச் சேவித்து உன்
     பொற்றாமரை அடியே போற்றும் பொருள் கேளாய்!
பெற்றம் மேய்த்து உண்ணும் குலத்தில் பிறந்து நீ
     குற்றேவல் எங்களை கொள்ளாமல் போகாது
இற்றைப் பறை கொள்வான் அன்று காண் கோவிந்தா!
     எற்றைக்கும் ஏழேழ் பிறவிக்கும் உன்தன்னோடு
உற்றோமே யாவோம் உனக்கே நாம் ஆட்செய்வோம்

     மற்றை நம் காமங்கள் மாற்று ஏல் ஓர் எம்பாவாய்                   

O Lord! We have all come for your darshan so early in the morning . We hail your lotus feet! Lord Govinda! Please listen to our prayer. You are born among the cowherds How can you refuse to take our services? (We are also cowherds.) Lord, give us refuge. We are bound to you for all the births-seven times seven. We will only serve you. Please remove all our other desires.  Thus all saints of all traditions only resort to the holy Feet. We have an interesting episode in the Mahabharata. Once the war becomes unavoidable, both sides seek to enlist the  support of Krishna. Duryodhana reaches Krishna's place first. Krishna is in his bed chambers. Duryodhana goes there,  and  seeing him at nap, goes and sits near  the head.  A little later, Arjuna also arrives, and sits at the feet of Krishna. When Krishna opens his eyes, he sees Arjuna first. Then he  notices Duryodhana too. Learning their purpose, he says  he is available, and his army too could be spared. But he  would not touch any weapon and enter active combat.  He says they could choose what they want, first chance  would go to Arjuna as he was seen first on opening his eyes. (Also, he was younger of the two). Arjuna chose Krishna,  sans his weapons and his army! Duryodhana who was upset because he did not get the first chance, was relieved and  happy, because he got what he desired- the army! We may say Arjuna got Krishna and victory because he chose to sit at the Feet. The lesson is that for those who choose the Lord,  the Lord gives Himself! Thus we may say the glorious Feet of the Lord are the  greatest thing  on earth! Bengal Terracotta, depicting the scene of Arjuna and  Duryodhana  with Krishna! Gopinath temple, Dasghara. Taken from: https://rangandatta.com.
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