Krishna's Simple Meal at Vidur's Home

Before the great war of the Mahabharat, Shri Krishna came to Hastinapur with a message of peace. He hoped the Pandavas and the Kauravas would not fight, and that the quarrel could be settled with love.

King Dhritarashtra and Duryodhan thought, "If we honour Krishna grandly, give him costly gifts and feed him delicious dishes, perhaps he will come over to our side." Duryodhan had fine rest-houses decorated along the road and all kinds of dishes prepared.

Shri Krishna first met King Dhritarashtra. Then he went to the home of the wise Vidur. Vidur was Dhritarashtra's younger brother, very learned, truthful and simple in his ways. Krishna's aunt Kunti was also living in Vidur's home. When she saw Krishna, her eyes filled with tears.

Then Shri Krishna went to Duryodhan's palace. Duryodhan seated him on a golden seat and said, "Please have your meal with us today." Krishna said no. Duryodhan asked, "Why will you not accept our food?"

Krishna replied calmly, "A messenger eats only after his work is done. And listen, Duryodhan: a person eats at someone's home for only two reasons. Either the host has love in his heart, or the guest is in trouble. You have no love for me in your heart, and I am in no trouble. You are hostile to your good cousins for no reason. Whoever is hostile to them is hostile to me as well."

Saying this, Shri Krishna rose and went straight to Vidur's home. There, Vidur and Kunti welcomed him with great love and served him clean, simple food. Krishna first shared some of the food with the learned guests who had come, and then he ate with great joy. The simple food tasted far better to him than the palace feast, because it was full of love.

Devotees also tell a sweet tale with the same feeling. They say that once Vidur's wife was feeding Krishna bananas. Looking at Krishna, she was so lost in love that she kept throwing away the bananas and handing him the peels. And Krishna, smiling, kept eating the peels! When Vidur saw this, he was startled. Then Krishna said, "I have never eaten anything so sweet, because it was given with love."

That is why bhajans sing that Shri Krishna left Duryodhan's dry fruits and ate simple saag at Vidur's home. Bhagwan does not care about the price of things. He loves the love in our hearts.