ਚਰਨ ਬਧਿਕ (charan badhik)
Meaning: noun: The hunter who shot Krishna in the foot.
Quote:
ਚਰਨ ਬਧਿਕ ਜਨ ਤੇਊ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਭਏ॥ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਿਨ ਰਾਮ ਕਹੇ॥
charan badhik jan te-oo mukat bha-e. hau bali bali jin raam kahe.
I humble myself before those who sing the attributes of the Divine (and adopt them. By doing so) even those persons who are known to be like the hunter, who shot Krishna in the foot, are liberated. – Bhagat Namdev, Guru Granth Sahib, 345
Message: After the war of Mahabharat, Duryodhan’s mother, Gandhari, was devastated by grief at the death of her son. She cursed Krishna that he would die after sometime.
The legend goes that her curse came into effect when Krishna was resting under a tree. A hunter mistook his foot for an animal and shot an arrow which hit Krishna in the foot. Realising his mistake, the hunter came to him and asked for forgiveness. Krishna comforted him saying that it was all destined to be this way.
Though the hunter was the catalyst for the curse, his devotion to Krishna liberated him from his wrongdoing.
The story illustrates that, similarly, the Divine is very loving and gracious. He pardons our mistakes and errors, but only when we admit them and seek His pardon.
ਫੰਧਕਿ ਉਧਰੈ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਫਾਹੀ ਪਾਇ ਨ ਫੜੀਐ ਟੰਗਾ॥
Though bird catchers are said to be liberated yet one should not catch hold of the legs of birds by using snares. – Bhai Gurdas, Var 31, pauri 9
