In the vast expanse of Kurukshetra, where armies gathered for an epic battle, a small, seemingly insignificant drama unfolded with profound implications.
As the battleground was being readied, trees were felled, and the ground was cleared to accommodate the movement of mammoth armies and their cavalry. They used elephants to uproot trees and clear the ground.
Amidst this upheaval, the sparrow’s nest was dislodged from its perch, leaving the helpless mother and her four young ones exposed and vulnerable.
The vulnerable and frightened sparrow looked around for help. Just then, she saw Krishna scanning the field with Arjuna. They were there to physically examine the battleground and devise a winning strategy before the war began.
She flapped her tiny wings with all her might to reach Krishna’s chariot.
In her desperation, the sparrow turned to Lord Krishna, who stood amidst the preparations with Arjuna by his side.
“Please save my children, O Krishna, ” the sparrow pleaded. ”They will be crushed tomorrow when this battle starts.
Krishna, the embodiment of divinity, listened to her plea with compassion but told her.
” I hear you,” said He, the omniscient one, "but I can’t interfere with the law of nature.”
“All I know is that you are my saviour, O Lord. I rest my children’s fate in your hands. You can kill them or you can save them, it’s up to you now”
“The wheel of Time moves indiscriminately, ” Krishna spoke like an ordinary man, implying that there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
Yet, the sparrow’s faith remained unshaken. She surrendered herself and her offspring to the will of Krishna. “I don’t know your philosophy,” the sparrow said with devotion and reverence. “You are the wheel of time. That’s all I know. I surrender to thee.’’
In response, Krishna advised her to prepare for the days ahead by stocking her nest with food.
Unaware of the ongoing conversation, Arjuna was trying to shoo away the sparrow when Krishna smiled at the bird. She fluttered her wings a few minutes in obeisance and flew back to her nest.
Two days later, as the battle loomed on the horizon, Krishna asked Arjuna for his bow and arrow. Arjuna was startled because Krishna vowed not to lift any weapon in the war. Besides, Arjuna believed that he was the best archer out there.
Arjuna, puzzled by this seemingly trivial act, questioned Krishna’s motives. Quietly taking the bow from Arjuna, Krishna aimed at an elephant. But, instead of bringing the animal down, the arrow hit the bell around its neck, and sparks flew.
Arjuna couldn’t contain his chuckle seeing that Krishna missed an easy mark.
“Should I?” He offered. “But why did you shoot the elephant, Keshav? Arjun asked.
“Because this elephant had knocked down the tree sheltering that sparrow’s nest.”
“Which sparrow?” Arjun exclaimed. “Plus, the elephant is unhurt and alive. Only the bell is gone!”
However, Krishna remained steadfast, did not explain, and gave him back the bow, saying that no further action was necessary. Dismissing Arjuna’s questions, Krishna instructed him to blow his conch.
The war commenced, and numerous lives were lost over the next eighteen days. The Pandavas won in the end.
In the aftermath of the battle, amidst the carnage and devastation, Krishna led Arjuna once more across the battlefield. Many corpses still lay there awaiting their funeral. The battleground was littered with severed limbs and heads, lifeless steeds and elephants.
Krishna stopped at a certain spot and looked down thoughtfully at an elephant bell. “Arjuna,” he said, “will you lift this bell for me and put it aside?’’
The instruction, though simple, made little sense to Arjuna. After all, in the vast field where plenty of other things needed clearing, why would Krishna ask him to move an insignificant piece of metal out of the way? He looked at him questioningly.
“Yes, this bell,” Krishna reiterated. “It’s the same bell that had come off the elephant’s neck I had shot at.”
At that moment, the true significance of Krishna’s actions became clear – a single act of intervention had safeguarded an entire family.
Arjuna bent down to lift the heavy bell without another question. As soon as he lifted it, though, his world changed forever. One, two, three, four and five. Four young birds flew out one after another, followed by a sparrow. The mother bird swirled in circles around Krishna, circumambulating him in great joy. The one bell cleaved eighteen days ago had protected the entire family.
Arjun fell at the Lord’s feet, his eyes filled with praise for his friend and admiration for the sparrow’s faith in Krishna.
Lesson:
And so it was. Faith is often its reward.
1. It is also about accepting the great design of the lord as we leave our worries about things beyond our control and put in our best efforts.
2. The sparrow followed whatever Krishna had asked her to do. She neither complained about how he would save her nor argued with him to transport her family to a much safer place.
3. She might have asked him to provide her with food, but she took the initiative herself. She did not hold back from the efforts expected of her.
4. We must learn to follow God’s plan instead of expecting our lives to unfold as we want.
5. Faith truly means learning to go along with life. Action combined with surrender is the core of faith.
The tale of the sparrow’s nest serves as a timeless reminder of the power of faith and divine intervention in the face of adversity. In these uncertain times, let us draw inspiration from the sparrow’s unwavering faith and resilience, knowing that with patience, perseverance, and divine grace, we shall emerge victorious.
