Krishna Meets Uttanka

After Yudhishthira was crowned the king of Hastinapur following the devastating war of Kurukshetra, Krishna prepared to return to his own kingdom, Dwarka. Along the way, he met a sage named Uttanka, a wise but stern man, who had been meditating far away, unaware of the recent events.

Curious, Uttanka stopped Krishna and asked him about the war. When Krishna recounted the tragic events and the massive loss of life, Uttanka became furious. “You are divine,” he said, “You possess the power to prevent such disasters. Why did you allow this terrible war to happen? How could you let so many lives be lost?”

Understanding Uttanka’s anger, Krishna listened patiently. Then, with compassion, he revealed his divine form to Uttanka, showing him the cosmic plan and the deeper meaning behind the events of the war. Uttanka, awed and humbled by Krishna’s revelation, realized the limitations of his understanding and bowed before Krishna.

Grateful for the lesson, Uttanka asked Krishna for a boon. Krishna, pleased with Uttanka’s humility, replied, “Ask whatever you wish, and it shall be granted.”

Uttanka thought for a moment and then said, “Whenever I am in need of water, may it always be available to me, even in the driest places.”

Krishna granted his wish with a blessing and departed. Some days later, Uttanka found himself traveling through a harsh, dry desert. The sun was scorching, and he soon felt an overwhelming thirst. Remembering Krishna’s boon, Uttanka waited, expecting water to appear.

Soon, a man of humble appearance from a lower caste approached him, carrying water in a pot. The man offered Uttanka a drink, but Uttanka, proud and unwilling to accept water from someone of lower status, refused. The man asked again, urging him to drink, but Uttanka stubbornly declined and sent him away.

Shortly after, Krishna appeared before Uttanka, his face reflecting disappointment. “Uttanka,” he said, “why did you not accept the water when it was offered?”

Uttanka replied, “The man who offered it was of low status. How could I, a sage, accept water from him?”

Krishna’s gaze softened, and he explained, “That man was not who he seemed. It was Indra, the king of the gods, disguised as a humble water-bearer. He came to fulfill the boon I granted you. You allowed your pride to cloud your judgment and missed the blessing I sent you.”

Realizing his mistake, Uttanka was filled with remorse. He understood that his pride had blinded him and made him unworthy of the gift Krishna had bestowed. Bowing his head in shame, he asked for Krishna’s forgiveness.

**Moral:** True wisdom lies in humility. Pride and prejudice can prevent us from recognizing the blessings in our lives, as they often come in unexpected forms. One should learn to look beyond appearances and accept help with an open heart.