[Vinayak Iyer]

Krishna’s son Samba was the reason for the destruction of the entire Yadava clan and also for the death of Krishna. I do understand that any individual has his own destiny and character but a large part of someone’s character is molded by his surroundings, experiences to which the parents have a large part to play. I feel Krishna failed here because Samba was extremely ill-mannered.

[avinashverma]

One of the most disturbing stories that we find it the Puranas is the story of Krishna`s son Samba, whose mother was the bear-princes, Jambavati.

He dupes his father`s junior wives by disguising himself as Krishna and is cursed by Krishna that he will suffer from a skin disease that will enable his wives to distinguish father and son. Samba is cured after he builds temples to the sun. All sun temples in India, from Konark in Odisha to Modhera in Gujarat to Markand in Kashmir, are attributed to this son of Krishna.

Samba also attempts to kidnap Duryodhanas daughter and this leads to war between the Kauravas and the Yadavas. Peace is restored, and the marriage is solemnised, only after Balarama, Krishnas elder brother, and Sambas uncle, in a fit of fury threatens to drag Hastinapur into the sea.

Then there is the story of Samba pretending to be a pregnant woman and duping sages who were visiting Dwaraka. They sages were not amused and cursed Samba that he would give birth to an iron mace that would be responsible for the end of the Yadu clan.

Must not Krishna`s son be as noble and divine and wise and loving as Krishna? But that is not so. Samba comes with his own personality and his own destiny over which Krishna has no influence. Or does he?

Can we wonder if Samba was a product of his fathers neglect? For was not Krishna spending most of his time with Arjuna and the Pandavas and in the politics of Kuru-kshetra?

There are hardly any stories of
Krishna as father. He is friend, philosopher and guide to Arjuna, but the only stories of father and son are of tension, rage and violence.

In conversations about corporations, we often forget about the other half of our lives, the personal one.
As more and more people are working 24×7, thanks to Internet, and smart devices, the lines between professional and personal, work and life are getting blurred. In fact, people feel noble when they sacrifice family for work and guilty when they take a holiday to take care of their family.

Family is not seen as achievement. Children are not seen as purpose. They are seen as obligations, duties, by-products of existence, even collateral damage.

We admire leaders who sacrifice family for a larger cause. Like freedom fighters who neglect their wives and children. Like business men and entrepreneurs and consultants who spend most of their time in office.

With the rise of feminism, women are also working. Parenting has been outsourced to maids, teachers, computers, videogames and grandparents.

Women who work in the office have not been compensated by their husbands spending more time at home. Instead women are made to feel guilty for not being good mothers. No one questions men for not being good fathers. Eventually, the office wins. Absent parents rationalise how office is more important than the children: we need the money, the children eventually grow up, surely our needs are also important.

Many great Krishnas in the workplace discover that they have nurtured Samba at home: sons who either follow destructive paths as they seek attention, or sons who make their way away from parents, as they have grown used to not having them around. Who wins?

Corporations were supposed to create wealth for the family. Now families are creating only workers for the corporation.

We have many more Krishnas in this generation and maybe many Sambas in the next.

[alokbrahme]

Excellent answer Avinash Verma. Your post does ask a lot of questions and have answers to a lot of those questions as well. Krishna also had a son called Pradyumna. When Pradyumna grew up, he battled the demon Sambara and killed him using the Vaishnavastra. Soon after Pradyumna became a constant companion of his father Krishna and was well liked by the people of Dvaraka. Pradyumna was a mighty Maharathi warrior. He possessed the extremely rare Vaishnavastra which is the most powerful weapon in the universe. Also he was one of the very few people to know the secret of the Chakra Vyuha. But Pradyumna did not participate in the Kurukshetra War as he went on a pilgrimage with his uncle Balarama and other yadavas.

Not only this, Krishna’s contribution to humanity and this world is unfathomable and concentrating the discussion only on Samba would be extremely shortsighted. I do agree as a parent its important to devote time to kids and ensure they are taught good values. A good respected family is always an achievement and is well respected in any society.

[Shiva Kumar]

Dear Mr. Vinayak Ayyar, Please accept my humble pranams!

It is important for us to know that Gods activities are inconceivable and they are mysterious! We all know why God descends and the below is the reference for the same!

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavatih bharatah abhyudhanam adharmasya tadatmanam srujamyaham! (He descends when there is adharma)
Paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya ca duskrutam dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge! (To deliver the devotees and annihilate the miscreants He appears)

Lord Krishna wanted yadu dynasty to collapse and Samba is the instrument, you may refer to the story of how Gandhari cursed Krishna and Krishna thanked Gandhari for the curse because this curse was indeed his own will!

Krishna is above the modes of material nature and He is god, not an ordinary father who can be blamed…Please read Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam to understand His divinity.

Thanks & best wishes,
Shiva Kumar

[sharmaakshay19101]

god’s activities are mysterious

[jon777talk]

Krishna was an incarnation of God. God in human form. An Avatar. Avatars do not make human mistakes. They are entirely beyond that realm. If we try to interpret their actions through human eyes, we are always going to fall short in understanding their actions.

Understanding is an idea of mind. But real understanding is a connection through the heart. Then we truly understand.

[Venika]

Krishna lived out the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. Denying the evaluation of His actions’ results.

[lisaaflanagan0]

ok

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