Arjuna and Krishna sat cross-legged opposite of one another. Krishna had the familiar twinkle in his eyes and Arjuna sat, curious and learning in every moment. They were on the shore of the sea with a fire blazing between them. Krishna spoke, "Remember always: You are mind and I am yours. And who strikes you, strikes me also. You come from me and I from you, and there is no one who can understand the difference between us." Krishna had said this often, and although Arjuna did not fully comprehend it, it comforted him, and he felt the strong connection between them. "I know you don't remember, but we have been connected for many lives." Suddenly in the fire, Arjuna saw a picture come from the flames, a man walking along the shore. The figure looked to his left, and Arjuna's eyes followed.
He saw then the sea which had been so clear only moments ago had turned to milk. Arjuna's eyes continued to follow the shoreline, and stopped at the cliffs. There, he saw a many markers leading to a golden cavern. The cavern shined with golden carvings and jewels.
Arjuna noticed a man approaching the entrance to the cavern. The man was Arjuna, at least, it looked just like him. Another man approached and they embraced. The second man turned around and Arjuna recognized that same sparkle in his eyes. It was Krishna. This was a glimpse into a past life, ages and ages ago. As soon as it had come, it all disappeared again, and it was simply Krishna and Arjuna sitting on the sand by a crystal clear sea. "Was that us?" Arjuna asked. Krishna smiled his sly smile. "Of course it was. We were the best of friends. There is no me without you and no you without me."
   
While Arjuna stayed with Krishna, they would return to the sea and sit on the shore each night. And each night, as they sat, a vision would appear to Arjuna. Each was a small glimpse into the memory of Krishna. Arjuna appreciated these glimpses, they helped him understand the feeling that he had experienced. He always knew Krishna seemed familiar, but didn't understand how. He didn't remember his past life. All he knew was the strong connection he felt between them, and the sense of peace he had when a vision would come to him.
 
Analysis:

Arjuna and Krishna are soul mates, but not in the conventional sense. They are not lovers, they are more like two halves of a whole. Krishna’s name means black and Arjuna’s name means white. These two colors, as these two people complement and complete each other. Krishna tells Arjuna more than once that they are one and the same. The two of them protect each other and work together as a great team.

I decided to write this story because in a past life, the two of them knew each other; however, Arjuna does not remember this past life. I think the feelings that Arjuna experience are really important. When Arjuna first meets Krishna, he feels like he knows him, but he is a complete stranger. This has to do with Arjuna’s past lives. Often, people or characters do not know of their past lives, but even thought they don’t know about them, their current lives are influenced by their past lives. In Buck’s Mahabharta, Arjuna’s past lives come back to him, and he remembers glimpses of his past life. Through these quick memories, he realizes who Krishna is, for example.

Krishna is given mystical characteristics and they are brought out in a playful way in Buck‘s Mahabharta. This story is how I imagine that Krishna might have connected with Arjuna. He tells him certain stories, but as a divinity, I think that he probably showed them to Arjuna as well.

 

Sources:

 

Picture Information:

1. "Fire," Photo, Photographer: Rich Evenhouse, Website: Fellowship of Rich Evenhouse (Flickr), weblink

2. "Petra at Night ," Photograph, Website: Opera, Playable Symphonic Music, & Physics Paper, weblink

3. "Arjuna Krishna ", Website: "Storm's Nest: The Distress of Arjuna", weblink

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