Humility is the noblest of all virtue and gives the possessor greatest strength. The strength of humility is such that even the most arrogant people also get defeated and bow to it. The greatest proof for this is that the Almighty who is the protector of the Universe himself is humble and he believes in upholding Dharma through humility, but not thru the display of his infinite power. As Shri Krishna, he teaches a beautiful lesson of humility to the quick tempered Rishi Durvasa.
Once during the discourse sessions of the sages in the forest, all sages gather together and discuss about the virtues of Shri Krishna and how he was playing a great role in bringing back Dharma of the worlds which was dominated by evil doers. Rishi Durvasa curiously listens to all the greatness of Shri Krishna and decides to test him. He immediately pays a visit to his city Dwaraka and calls upon Shri Kirshna. Shri Krishna and his consort Rukmini are very pleased to see the great rishi and welcome him with due honours and offer him hospitality.
Shri Krishna and Rukmini serve the Rishi with their own hands to make him comfortable and take utmost care of him. Although the Rishi is pleased with their dutifulness, he decides to test their patience. After having his meal, Rishi Durvasa is offered Kheer as dessert. But instead of eating it, he calls upon Shri Krishna and asks him to apply the sweet porridge all over his body. All are surprised and shocked to hear this strange order. But Shri Krishna smiles and applies the kheer all over his body.
Then Rishi Durvasa demands that he wants to take a ride in the city. Shri Krishna arranges the chariot for him. But instead of the horses, Rishi Durvasa asks Shri Krishna to pull the chariot by himself. This shocks everybody, yet Shri Krishna with total humility bows to the Rishi and makes him seated in the chariot and he himself starts to pull the chariot. All the people of Dwaraka are stunned to see the strange behaviour of the Rishi and the patience of Shri Krishna.
Rishi Durvasa is stunned by the humility of Shri Krishna for having pulled the chariot with so much effort without any complaints. He asks Shri Krishna to stop the chariot and mentions to him that he put this test to test the patience of Shri Krishna. Immensely pleased by Shri Krishna’s humility, he gives a boon to him that his whole body wherein he applied the kheer would become invincible and no weapon could harm him. However, Shri Krishna leaves a part of his heel without applying the kheer accidentally and hence his heel becomes vulnerable to weapons. Hence, during his Nirvana, he gets hurt on his heel and leaves his mortal body. Shri Krishna displays a beautiful example that a person although doesn’t possess great powers and strength to be successful, with the virtue of humility raises himself even greater than that of powerful people. The more one is down to earth, the higher are the peaks of success in life.