Once Bhagawan told the below wonderful story to a group of students in
Prasanthi Nilayam :
During the exile of the Pandavas, Krishna visited them to enquire about
their welfare. He spent a night with them. The Pandavas had to undergo untold
suffering during their exile. As Draupadi was also with them, they would keep
vigil in turns for one hour each, every night. Krishna also volunteered to keep
vigil for one hour.
Dharmaja wondered, "When You are the protector of the entire universe,
what is
the meaning in your standing sentry for an hour to protect us?" Yet he
cautioned Krishna: "Krishna, beware of the devil - my brothers and I encounter
it every night. On many occasions it has tried to attack us. Therefore, we pray
to you not to do a turn in guard duty. You have come to enquire about our
welfare. We should not put you in danger. Kindly take rest."
Krishna replied, "Dharmaja, is this what you have understood of my
divinity? On the one hand you extol me as the protector of the entire universe
and on the other you are apprehensive that I cannot protect myself. You are
worried that the demon will harm me. Rest assured that no demon can touch me.
Therefore, permit me also to join you all in doing the security duty."
Having completed one-hour duty, Krishna sat on a rock and was smiling to
himself. It was Arjuna's turn next. He rushed to Krishna, a bit worried that
the demon might have attacked him. Seeing Krishna smiling, Arjuna fell at His
feet and enquired whether he had vanquished the demon. Krishna replied,
"Arjuna, I have never created demons and evil spirits. Then, how can the
non-existent demons appear in the forest? The demon you are talking about is
not a demon at all. It is just a reflection of the evil qualities within you
such as hatred, anger and jealousy. The anger in you is manifesting as the
demon. Its power is increasing in proportion to the intensity of anger in you."
The evil qualities of man are the real demons troubling him today. Man is under
the mistaken notion that demons exist and that they are responsible for his
suffering. This is all nothing but imagination.
