(Purport to Chapter Seven continued)
But then, in the next game of chess, the bet was that if the Pandavas lost the game they would go to the forest for twelve years. Thereafter they were to remain incognito for one year, and if detected they would have to live in the forest again for another twelve years. This game also the Pandavas lost, so for twelve years they lived in the forest and for one year incognito. It was while they were living incognito that Arjuna won Uttara.
These incidents are all recorded in the book known as the Mahabharata. The word maha means "great" or "greater," and bharata refers to India. Thus the Mahabharata is the history of greater India. Sometimes people regard these accounts as stories or mythology, but that is nonsense. The Mahabharata and the Puranas are histories, although they are not chronological. If the history of such a vast period of time was recorded chronologically, how many pages would it have to be? Therefore, only the most important incidents are selected and described in the Mahabharata.
Kunti prays to Krishna by describing how He saved the Pandavas on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Mridhe mridhe 'neka-maharathastratah [SB 1.8.24]. On the Battlefield of Kurukshetra there were great, great fighters called maharathas. Just as military men in modern days are given titles like lieutenant, captain, commander, and commander-in-chief, formerly there were titles like eka-ratha, ati-ratha, and maha-ratha. The word ratha means "chariot." So if a warrior could fight against one chariot, he was called eka-ratha, and if he could fight against thousands of chariots he was called maha-ratha. All the commanders on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra were maha-rathas. Many of them are mentioned in Bhagavad-gita. Bhishma, Karna, and Dronacarya were especially great commanders. They were such powerful fighters that although Arjuna was also a maha-ratha, before them he was nothing. But by the grace of Krishna he was able to kill Karna, Bhishma, Dronacarya, and the others and come out victorious. While speaking with Sukadeva Gosvami, Maharaja Parikshit also referred to this. "The Battlefield of Kurukshetra," he said, "was just like an ocean, and the warriors were like many ferocious aquatic animals. But by the grace of Krishna, my grandfather Arjuna crossed over this ocean very easily."
This is very significant. We may have many enemies who may be very powerful fighters, but if we remain under the protection of Krishna, no one can do us any harm. Rakhe krishna mare ke mare krishna rakhe ke. "He whom Krishna protects, no one can kill, but if Krishna wants to kill someone, no one can give him protection." For example, suppose a very rich man is suffering from disease. He may have a first-class physician, medicine, and hospital available for him, but still he may die. This means that Krishna desired, "This man must die." Therefore, the so-called protective methods we have devised will be useless if Krishna does not desire us to live. The demon Ravana was very powerful, but when Krishna in the form of Lord Ramacandra desired to kill him, no one could protect him. Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Siva and was praying to Lord Siva, "Please come save me from this danger." But Lord Siva did not come. Then Parvati, Lord Siva's wife, asked Lord Siva, "What is this? He is such a great devotee and has served you so much, and now he is in danger and is asking your help. Why are you not going to help him?" Then Lord Siva replied, "My dear Parvati, what shall I do? I cannot give him protection. It is not possible. Why shall I go?" Therefore, if God wants to kill someone, no one can give him protection, and if God wants to protect someone, no one can kill him. Rakhe krishna mare ke mare krishna rakhe ke.
-----------------------------------------------Written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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