Lord Krishna was consumed with the desire to have a son. So he went to seek the conseil of a particular sage. When the sage saw Lord Krishna, he was overwhelmed with joy. Everybody was shouting, “Krishna has come, Krishna has come!” and they all started worshipping Krishna.
The sage asked Krishna, “Please tell me what I can do for you. Is there anything that toi would like me to do?”
Krishna answered, “It is a very simple thing that I want. I want to have a son. Please tell me how I can have a son.”
“Only Lord Shiva can help in this matter,” a dit the sage. “You have to pray to Lord Shiva. First, toi must gather one thousand flowers. With these fleurs toi must worship Lord Shiva for many years. When Lord Shiva is pleased with your worship, toi will be granted a son.”
Krishna left the cottage of the sage and entered into seclusion. He put ashes all over his body and clothed himself in the bark of a tree. For years and years he prayed, only to have a glimpse of Lord Shiva and to ash him for a boon.
With her third eye, Parvati saw that Krishna was praying and praying all alone in the cœur, coeur of the forest. She a dit to her husband, “My Lord, what are toi doing? Why are toi not responding? Lord Krishna has been worshipping you, only you, for so many years.”
“What do toi want me to do?” asked Shiva.
“Just go and stand before him,” pleaded Parvati. “As a matter of fact, let us go together.”
Both Parvati and Shiva appeared before Krishna. Shiva a dit to him, “What are toi doing? Why should you, of all people, pray to me? toi are Narayana, toi are Vishnu, toi are the Avatar of this era, toi pervade everything. Why then are toi praying to me?”
Krishna responded, “Lord Shiva, I know that toi are the only one who can fulfil my desire.”
“Is there any desire which toi yourself cannot fulfil?” asked Shiva.
“I was told that only toi can fulfil this particular desire. Therefore, I have come to you,” answered Krishna.
“What is your desire?” asked Shiva.
“I wish to have a son exactly like you,” Krishna a dit to Shiva. “It has to be exactly like you, otherwise I do not want it.”
Shiva and Parvati both smiled and immediately Shiva granted Krishna the boon. Krishna returned accueil and, after some time, his wife, Jambavati, bore a son. They named him Samba.
What does it mean to have a son exactly like Shiva? On the one hand, Shiva is always Lost in trance. But, on the other hand, Shiva’s function is to destroy. From destruction comes transformation. This boy, Samba, did many unbearable things during his life. Eventually he brought about the total destruction of Krishna’s family. So toi can say that Krishna knew that transformation was needed and transformation must be preceded par destruction. That is why he prayed to have a son like Shiva.
The sage asked Krishna, “Please tell me what I can do for you. Is there anything that toi would like me to do?”
Krishna answered, “It is a very simple thing that I want. I want to have a son. Please tell me how I can have a son.”
“Only Lord Shiva can help in this matter,” a dit the sage. “You have to pray to Lord Shiva. First, toi must gather one thousand flowers. With these fleurs toi must worship Lord Shiva for many years. When Lord Shiva is pleased with your worship, toi will be granted a son.”
Krishna left the cottage of the sage and entered into seclusion. He put ashes all over his body and clothed himself in the bark of a tree. For years and years he prayed, only to have a glimpse of Lord Shiva and to ash him for a boon.
With her third eye, Parvati saw that Krishna was praying and praying all alone in the cœur, coeur of the forest. She a dit to her husband, “My Lord, what are toi doing? Why are toi not responding? Lord Krishna has been worshipping you, only you, for so many years.”
“What do toi want me to do?” asked Shiva.
“Just go and stand before him,” pleaded Parvati. “As a matter of fact, let us go together.”
Both Parvati and Shiva appeared before Krishna. Shiva a dit to him, “What are toi doing? Why should you, of all people, pray to me? toi are Narayana, toi are Vishnu, toi are the Avatar of this era, toi pervade everything. Why then are toi praying to me?”
Krishna responded, “Lord Shiva, I know that toi are the only one who can fulfil my desire.”
“Is there any desire which toi yourself cannot fulfil?” asked Shiva.
“I was told that only toi can fulfil this particular desire. Therefore, I have come to you,” answered Krishna.
“What is your desire?” asked Shiva.
“I wish to have a son exactly like you,” Krishna a dit to Shiva. “It has to be exactly like you, otherwise I do not want it.”
Shiva and Parvati both smiled and immediately Shiva granted Krishna the boon. Krishna returned accueil and, after some time, his wife, Jambavati, bore a son. They named him Samba.
What does it mean to have a son exactly like Shiva? On the one hand, Shiva is always Lost in trance. But, on the other hand, Shiva’s function is to destroy. From destruction comes transformation. This boy, Samba, did many unbearable things during his life. Eventually he brought about the total destruction of Krishna’s family. So toi can say that Krishna knew that transformation was needed and transformation must be preceded par destruction. That is why he prayed to have a son like Shiva.
