When the Kurukshetra war was over, the success went to Arjunans head. So when it was time to get down from the Chariot, he, with the arrogance of the victor who feels he has won the war on his own, vainly asks Sri Krisha to alight first, treating him like a mere charioter (more like our VIP's expecting the driver to open the doors for them). Sri Krishna, with a smile, politely tells him to get down first. When Arjuna was still defiant, Krishna gently but firmly pushes him out of the chariot first, and then gets down himself. The moment the Krishna alighted, the Chariot exploded into flames. Arjunan was stunned. Krishna reminded Arjunan that during the war, many lethal arrows were directed at Arjunan, which Krishna, using his divine powers directed towards the chariot and got it absorbed there, thus saving Arjunan. And the moment they got down, the chariot exploded. If Krishna had got down first, as Arjunan wanted, then that would have meant the death of Arjunan. Arjunan was humbled and realized the inadequacy of a mere mortal like him as compared to the divinity of Srikrishna, the incarnation of God, who is nothing but our nature.
I was reminded of this story on seeing the devastation caused by the 8.9 grade Earth Quake and the Tsunami that hit Japan. Benevolent Mother nature absorbs everything for years and we take her for granted. We become arrogant and think we have mastered the World. We do not show humility and take God & Nature for granted. Then the mother nature sheds her benevolence a teeny little bit, and puts us in our place, humbled and shamed. We realize then, our insignificance.
The slide show, which you can view by clicking the link, is self explanatory and horrifying. Words fail me. Let us bow our head to mother nature and pray for her to return to her sedate, normal, benevolent state.
