DOING THE NEEDFUL

"If everyone does what they want, who will do what is needed?"

During the world-famous Rajasuya ceremony of Yudishtira, when Lord Krishna was worshiped as The Supreme Person, Shishupala - the envious cousin of Krishna couldn't control his envy, he burst out with words of severe criticism. One of his main complaints was that no-one knows what the Varna (ordained duty) of Krishna is - sometimes He acts like a Vaishya, a cowherd boy and sometimes He acts like a Kshatriya, a warrior. Shishupala was correct in one sense because no-one can put Krishna in a box, so to speak. In fact, what Shishupala didn't know was that Krishna in the near future was going to perform roles as a Brahmana and a Shudra, let alone being a Vaishya and a Kshatriya. That's the reason the scriptures warn us that understanding the activities of Krishna is very difficult and confusing. If Lord Brahma, the secondary creator whose entire body is made of intelligence can't fully conceive the Personality of Krishna, what to speak of others.

Lord Krishna tells in the Bhagvat-gita 3.22

na me parthasti kartavyam
trisu lokesu kincana
nanavaptam avaptavyam
varta eva ca karmani

"O son of Prtha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in work."

As it is mentioned here by Lord Krishna Himself - no-one can define a particular activity for Him, He is above the Varnasrama system made for the well-being of mankind. Still, He chooses to perform His duty to set an example for all men to follow. And how does He choose His duty - by a simple principle of "doing the needful".

THE COWHERD

When He was in Vrindavan at the home of his foster parents - Nanda and Yashoda, He reared cows, following the duties of His parents. What a cowherd He was! The perfect cowherd boy, history as ever seen. He developed such bonding with the cows that the cows were ready to do anything for His pleasure. Being a part of the cowherd community He did whatever was needed to protect the cows and the protectors of cows, the cowherds. Be they Bakasura, Kaliya, Putana or the demigod Indra, anyone who came with ill intention to harm the Vrajavasis, Krishna did the needful to teach them a lesson of their life keeping in mind their ultimate good too.

THE WARRIOR

When He felt that He was needed in Mathura to kill the cruel dictator, Kamsa and give protection to His parents, Devaki and Vasudev and the citizens of Mathura, He decided to move on from His most dear land of Vrindavan. Even though He didn't want to leave this abode of love, He decided to move on because His life was governed by the principle of being present where He was needed the most.

After killing Kamsa and coronating Ugrasena as the King of Mathura, He remained a humble order carrier of the King. Just see, The Supreme King and Kingmaker, satisfied playing the role of an ordinary Kshatriya without any title - a true leader without titles. When Jarasandha attacked Mathura the seventeenth time, Lord Krishna overnight constructed a new city called Dwarka in the middle of the ocean and transferred all the innocent citizens of Mathura to Dwarka. All, as part of "doing the needful".

THE TEACHER

When He saw that the evil Duryodhan was planning to destroy the virtuous and Dharmic Pandavas and rule the entire planet as the Emperor, Lord Krishna left His comforts of Dwarka to help the Pandavas fight the Adarmic forces led by Duryodhan. This time though, He was not going to perform the role of a Kshatriya. He knew that what was most needed was a good advisor and counselor for the Pandavas. He took up that task, of being a Brahmana - a teacher, an advisor and a counselor. He would not be the hero of this war and it didn't matter to Him. What mattered to Him was to do the needful to make this world a better place.

THE WORKER

He also didn't hesitate to do the duties of a Shudra, if that was what was needed. He unhesitatingly became an errand boy of the Pandavas, carrying their message of peace. And what to speak of His becoming the chariot driver of Arjuna during the 18 days of the war. Completely content performing this menial job - no awkward feelings - not at all embarrassed in front of other warriors. He did this duty also perfectly. Everyday, He examined the wheels of the chariot, personally fed the horses and applied ointments to their wounds, checked and refilled the stock of arsenal for Arjuna and everyday He would be present before time to escort His boss, Arjuna onto the chariot. Lord Krishna showed us that there are no big or small jobs. Every job is important and should be done with one's heart if the overall effect of it is going to bring greater good for the society at large.

After being instrumental in the victory of the Pandavas and coronating them as the undisputed Emperors of the world, He nonchalantly walked away from Hastinapur without staying an extra day to enjoy the facilities there because He had to move on to where He was needed the most.

THE EXAMPLE

This should be the governing principle in our lives too - doing the needful. Life becomes simple and choices become a lot easier to make if we govern our lives by this principle. In fact, Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of ISKCON started, managed and developed the entire movement based on this principle. Like Lord Krishna, he chose to leave the sacred land of Vrindavan which is most conducive for devotional service to go to America, the land of materialism because he knew that is where he is needed the most to spread the message of Bhagvat-gita to relieve the suffering of the world and he felt it would be selfish on his part, if he didn't go. And Like Lord Krishna, he too played different roles in the ISKCON movement - sometimes the role of a teacher by teaching and training his disciples; sometimes a manager by giving shape and vision to the movement and sometimes a simple servant by cooking and serving meals to his disciples.

His only consideration in life was - "How can I best serve in this situation?" - "How can I do the needful?" And he loved advocating this principle to others. Whenever his managers would come running to him seeking guidance for solving the day to day management issues, he would tell them to use their intelligence and "do the needful". Let this be the principle in navigating our lives too. When we start doing the needful in life, our life not only becomes useful to others but becomes meaningful and joyful to us.

ACTION TIP

Look around and see what disturbs you the most - what particular problem in this world do you want to address. In all probability, what you feel deeply concerned of, is exactly what you need to help out with - that's your "needful". And when you discover it, don't hesitate to do the needful because you will be the most benefited from the endeavor.

- Achyut Gopal Das