Sachi R

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a. 10 - 6 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, 6 April 2023 - X a.10 - Narada's way of reforming Yamala-arjunas out of their arrogance.

***

Nala Kubara and Manigriva were the twin sons of Lord Kubera, a close friend of Lord Shiva. They grew to a position of eminence and prosperity and also were in high positions in the employ of Lord Shiva. This got into their head.

Once, carefree, they disrobed and got into amorous sports with Apsaras in a pleasure garden with a lovely lake. They were lost in their water sports in the lake when Sage Narada, revered as the supreme ascetic from heaven, passed that way. The Apsaras covered themselves quickly fearing his curse for any misdemeanour of exposure. But the twins were drunk with liquor and almost senseless in their abandon and excess of pleasure. So they took no notice of Narada.

Imagine a Greek tycoon in some Pacific pleasure grove sporting with his chosen bevy of beauties.

Sage Narada was deeply disappointed with these two. He mused that drink, female company, wealth and pleasure addictions were enough to pull anyone to his complete doom.

देहः किमन्नदातुः स्वं निषेक्तुर्मातुरेव च । मातुः पितुर्वा बलिनः क्रेतुरग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा ॥
एवं साधारणं देहमव्यक्तप्रभवाप्ययम् ।
को विद्वानात्मसात्कृत्वा हन्ति जन्तून् ऋतेऽसतः ॥
असतः श्रीमदान्धस्य दारिद्र्यं परमञ्जनम् । आत्मौपम्येन भूतानि दरिद्रः परमीक्षते ॥
यथा कण्टकविद्धाङ्गो जन्तोर्नेच्छति तां व्यथाम्।
जीवसाम्यं गतो लिङ्गैर्न तथाविद्धकण्टकः ॥
दरिद्रो निरहंस्तम्भो मुक्तः सर्वमदैरिह । कृच्छ्रं यदृच्छयाऽऽप्नोति तद्धि तस्य परं तपः ॥

नित्यं क्षुत्क्षामदेहस्य दरिद्रस्यान्नकाङ्क्षिणः । इन्द्रियाण्यनुशुष्यन्ति हिंसापि विनिवर्तते ॥
दरिद्रस्यैव युज्यन्ते साधवः समदर्शिनः । सद्भिः क्षिणोति तं तर्षं तत आराद्विशुद्ध्यति ॥
साधूनां समचित्तानां मुकुन्दचरणैषिणाम् । उपेक्ष्यैः किं धनस्तम्भैरसद्भिरसदाश्रयैः ॥

तदहं मत्तयोर्माध्व्या वारुण्या श्रीमदान्धयोः । तमो मदं हरिष्यामि स्त्रैणयोरजितात्मनोः ॥ यदिमौ लोकपालस्य पुत्रौ भूत्वा तमःप्लुतौ । न विवाससमात्मानं विजानीतः सुदुर्मदौ ॥

अतोऽर्हतः स्थावरतां स्यातां नैवं यथा पुनः ।
स्मृतिः स्यान्मत्प्रसादेन तत्रापि मदनुग्रहात् ॥
वासुदेवस्य सान्निध्यं लब्ध्वा दिव्यशरच्छते ।
वृत्ते स्वर्लोकतां भूयो लब्धभक्ती भविष्यतः ॥

T: "Alas! Man is so intoxicated with power and wealth that he stoops to any act of violence and illconduct! We identify ourselves with this body, and give it so many titles! To whom indeed does this body belong? The mother who bore it for nine months, or the father who nurtured its growth? Or the grandsire who fathered the mother to bear this child later!!!? Or the one who employs this body and extracts servitude? Or the one who buys it in the slave market? Or the firegod who gleefully swallows it on the funeral pyre? Or the wild dogs that come and nibble away at the carcass left without cremation?"

"Only one who is either stupid or sinning will consider this body his all and commit violence against other creatures for his food or pleasure. The best way to get rid of the arrogance of wealth is a dose of poverty. At least a poor man sees others suffering like himself. A man who steps on a thorn and feels the pain would not wish for others to suffer likewise. Not one suited and booted! A poor man resigns himself to his lot. A poor man will not kill for food. A lucky one among the poor may even lose his interest in money if he meets a holy man and is transformed."

(This idea is profound. When does one lose interest in money? By becoming rich or realising its uselessness when poor!? Worth a thought).

"Only when someone transcends the attachment to wealth and pleasure will he be ready for the higher life. Once a man is on the path to liberation, he will avoid the company of people like these two men, steeped in pleasures and mindless of fate. I think it is high time that these two are reformed and freed from their addictions to wine and women. They don't even see my presence and cover themselves! They are therefore fit to be born as trees, a form of life with the lowest level of consciousness. That will put an end to their pride and attachment to the body."

"When the time is ripe, I also bless them that they will get contact with Bhagavan (Maha Vishnu as Sri Krishna) and develop devotion. That will confer freedom on them."

***

Nala Kubara and Manigreeva were thus born as Arjuna trees. By Narada's grace, the trees remembered their folly and the curse. They were praying for liberation. Sri Krishna now thought,

देवर्षिर्मे प्रियतमो यदिमौ धनदात्मजौ । तत्तथा साधयिष्यामि यद्गीतं तन्महात्मना ॥

T:" Well, Sage Narada is dearest to me. Now is the time to fulfil his wish for the liberation of these two sons of Kubera!"

Sri Krishna the infant now crawled between the two very tall Arjuna trees that were very close to each other. Whereas the baby could pass in the gap, the pestle stone was caught on the other side. Baby Krishna pulled hard, and it was enough for the two huge trees to come crashing down root and all with an extremely loud noise.

Two radiant beings emerged from the trees. They at once fell to their knees and prayed:

कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिंस्त्वमाद्यः पुरुषः परः ।

व्यक्ताव्यक्तमिदं विश्वं रूपं ते ब्राह्मणा विदुः ॥

T: "Oh Supreme Lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna! We know you to be Yogeshwara and Purushottama! Only realised sages and enlightened Brahmins know that this whole creation is nothing but your expression!"

"Lord. you are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. You create the universe full of the three Gunas. You are unknowable by the mind or the senses. You are beyond modification and the force of Prakriti. We bow down to you, Sri Krishna! Save us!"

वाणी गुणानुकथने श्रवणौ कथायां हस्तौ च कर्मसु मनस्तव पादयोर्नः ।

स्मृत्यां शिरस्तव निवासजगत्प्रणामे दृष्टिः सतां दर्शनेऽस्तु भवत्तनूनाम् ॥

T: "Oh Lord, may our voices sing your glories. May our ears hear your glories. May our hands serve you, our minds be immersed in your lotus feet. The entire cosmos is your dwelling. Let us see you everywhere! Let us have the company of the realised ones!"

Bhagavan Sri Krishna smiled and spoke. "Oh, Guhyakas, sons of Kubera, your arrogance of wealth and pleasure was tamed by Sage Narada thus out of his extreme compassion. Know that only those totally and constantly focussed in devotion to me will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Now you return to your homes. "

The Nala Kubara and Manigreeva twins travelled northward in a state of fulfilment and devotion.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.09 - 5 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, 5 April 2023 - X a.09 - Sri Krishna is tied to a big pestle stone but manages to crawl away for another astonishing exploit.

***

Both Sage Valmiki and Sage Vyasa have etched themselves in my mind as unparalleled wordsmiths that the rest of the world has to follow. They have painted 4D word pictures describing situations, appearances, expressions, moods, thoughts, dreams and actions like no one else I have read. That is also done with a minimum of words. No wonder they are godly in their accomplishments! Brahma says about Valmiki that his reputation is intact for eternity. Vyasa is extolled as one whose writings are truly encyclopedic and nothing worth saying has been left out and nothing more can indeed be said.

These thoughts come to me as I read this highly descriptive and eloquent chapter. Yashoda is busy that day with household chores, having sent her servants away. She is churning the curd for butter. Vyasa describes Yashoda's physical beauty and the effect of her physical effort on her appearance graphically. Just then, Sri Krishna, still being breastfed. comes to her lovingly. She at once cuddles him and feeds him, while engaged in churning the curd.

***

तमङ्कमारूढमपाययत्स्तनं स्नेहस्नुतं सस्मितमीक्षती मुखम् ।

अतृप्तमुत्सृज्य जवेन सा ययावुत्सिच्यमाने पयसि त्वधिश्रिते ॥

T: Just then, she heard the sound of the milk placed on the stove boiling over, and the little Krishna she had been so lovingly cuddling and feeding with a smile on her face, she left on the ground and rushed to attend to the milk, stopping her churning. Sri Krishna was not done with suckling yet and got upset!

Then Sri Krishna put on a show of extreme tantrum and unleashed his usual mischief. When Yashoda returned, she discovered he had raided the curd and butter pots, fed the monkeys, and generally made a big mess. He had climbed on a huge pestle stone. Yashoda stole up to him from behind, feigning anger, with a stick in her hand. Krishna flew into a tizzy, crying and appearing most afraid in anticipation of her punishment. He cried out loud, rubbed his face and eyes hard and smeared all the collyrium on his face. He began to run away, Yashoda chasing him. Vyasya reminds us that even great ascetics find it hard to catch up with the Lord in their meditations!

Yashoda, at last, got hold of the prankster. Dropping her stick, she decided to tie him up.

न चान्तर्न बहिर्यस्य न पूर्वं नापि चापरम् । पूर्वापरं बहिश्चान्तर्जगतो यो जगच्च यः ॥

तं मत्वाऽऽत्मजमव्यक्तं मर्त्यलिङ्गमधोक्षजम् । गोपिकोलूखले दाम्ना बबन्ध प्राकृतं यथा ॥

तद्दाम बध्यमानस्य स्वार्भकस्य कृतागसः । द्व्यङ्गुलोनमभूत्तेन सन्दधेऽन्यच्च गोपिका ॥

T: The Lord who is not confined within or without, neither in the past nor in the future, ever present everywhere and ungraspable by the senses, was being seen by Yashoda as her little mischievous boy who should be tied with a rope to the pestle stone!

Unfortunately, she found the rope two inches short.

Yashoda rushed around, bringing more rope, but every piece of rope she added to the string still appeared to be two inches short of what she needed to tie Sri Krishna!

By now, a large gathering of Gopis had been attracted to watch this amusing spectacle. Imagine Sri Krishna, half-crying, half-mischievous, collyrium smeared all over his face, allowing himself to be tied. Finally, he allowed Yashoda to tie him to the stone. By then, Yashoda presented a pretty sight of a beautiful mother at her wit's end and looking totally flustered, with the flowers in her braid all strewn around. (Vyasa does better than the best director of today in conjuring up the scene).

नायं सुखापो भगवान् देहिनां गोपिकासुतः । ज्ञानिनां चात्मभूतानां यथा भक्तिमतामिह ॥

कृष्णस्तु गृहकृत्येषु व्यग्रायां मातरि प्रभुः । अद्राक्षीदर्जुनौ पूर्वं गुह्यकौ धनदात्मजौ ॥

पुरा नारदशापेन वृक्षतां प्रापितौ मदात् । नलकूबरमणिग्रीवाविति ख्यातौ श्रियान्वितौ ॥

T: This, our Lord, Sri Krishna, is unattainable by Jnanis, people claiming self-knowledge, engaged in rituals, pandering to their bodies, and so on. But he is most accessible to the true devotees, who shower all their love on him. A shining example was his mother Yashoda! Yashoda thus bound up the little Krishna to the pestle stone and moved back into the home to attend to pressing chores. She thought she had taught Krishna a lesson.

Sri Krishna found it opportune now to turn his attention to Lord Kubera's two sons, twins, who had become huge Arjuna trees in his courtyard.

Indeed, the twin sons had been long ago cursed by Sage Narada for their arrogance. As a result, they had turned into a pair of Arjuna trees. Of all creatures, a tree is the least qualified to be arrogant! Their names were Nala Kubara and Manigreeva, and at one time they had been prosperous. Now they were going to be lucky!

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.08 - 4 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, 4 April 2023 - X a.08 - Sage Garga gives the two boys the names Balarama and Krishna. The childhood pranks of Sri Krishna begin to amuse and astonish Yashoda.

***

गर्गः पुरोहितो राजन् यदूनां सुमहातपाः । व्रजं जगाम नन्दस्य वसुदेवप्रचोदितः ॥

T: Sage Garga, of immense Tapas power, was the Purohit of Vasudeva of the Yadus At the request of Vasudeva, he now arrived at Vraja to visit King Nanda of Vraja.

After his sincere worship of this Guru, Nanda requested him to conduct the naming ceremony for Rohini's child and his own child. Garga was famous for his mastery of Jyotisha, the science of understanding Time and predicting future events. He said that as he was famous and well known as Vasudeva's Purohit, and also since everyone knew that Nanda and Vasudeva were very close friends, Garga was reluctant to conduct the naming ceremony as it would arouse suspicion about who this new born child was. It would give rise to a murderous intent in Kamsa who all along had misgivings about Vasudeva and Devaki's eighth child, apparently llbeing born a girl. He would now conclude that Yashoda's child was indeed Devaki's eighth, a boy born to destroy Kamsa.

Nanda however begged the great sage to conduct the naming ceremony at least in utter secrecy in the cattle shed so nobody would connect him and Vasudeva with this event. Sage Garga was very glad to comply.

He gave the name Rohineya, Rama, Balabhadra and Sankarshana to the child born to Rohini. Rama because he was the source of everyone's delight, Balabhadra because he would turn out to be mighty and protect everyone, and Sankarshana because he had brought Rohini Vasudeva and Yashoda Nanda's families even closer.

आसन् वर्णास्त्रयो ह्यस्य गृह्णतोऽनुयुगं तनूः । शुक्लो रक्तस्तथा पीत इदानीं कृष्णतां गतः ॥
प्रागयं वसुदेवस्य क्वचिज्जातस्तवात्मजः । वासुदेव इति श्रीमानभिज्ञाः सम्प्रचक्षते ॥

बहूनि सन्ति नामानि रूपाणि च सुतस्य ते । गुणकर्मानुरूपाणि तान्यहं वेद नो जनाः ॥
T: "And, oh King Nanda, this child of yours and Yashoda's is no ordinary child. I can see he was born in different hues before, white in Satya Yuga, red in the next, yellow again, and now he is born dusky and dark-coloured कृष्ण! KRISHNA! He was indeed, at some point in time before, the son of Vasudeva (remember we believe in rebirth). In fact he will acquire the name as Vaasudeva (वासुदेव) (even though in this blog I use the spelling Vasudeva, sorry!). This child is simply remarkable and will become famous by his deeds with many many names. His forms that will be remembered will also be many. "

Note: In Sanskrit, the word Vasudeva (which should be spelt correctly as Vaasudeva) means both the son of Vasudeva and the Lord of all creation, i.e. Bhagavan!

य एतस्मिन् महाभागाः प्रीतिं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः । नारयोऽभिभवन्त्येतान् विष्णुपक्षानिवासुराः ॥
तस्मान्नन्दात्मजोऽयं ते नारायणसमो गुणैः । श्रिया कीर्त्यानुभावेन गोपायस्व समाहितः ॥

T: " King Nanda! This child has come to end the suffering of the downtrodden. Those who develop a love for this boy will indeed be fortunate as they will be protected as much as the devotees of Bhagavan VISHNU who will always be protected from attacks of Asuras! Thus, King Nanda, this child of yours is like Bhagavan Narayana Himself in all qualities! This child is replete with goodness, beauty, prosperity and all virtues. Please protect him very well indeed!"

Nanda was overjoyed to hear all this as Sage Garga took his leave.

***

The two boys were crawling all over Gokula soon. Sage Shuka begins to describe their pranks and the unending delight that they gave to all the Gopis. The women would simply not be able to take their eyes off these two. Especially Sri Krishna was more than a handful.

तन्मातरौ निजसुतौ घृणया स्नुवन्त्यौ पङ्काङ्गरागरुचिरावुपगुह्य दोर्भ्याम् ।

दत्त्वा स्तनं प्रपिबतोः स्म मुखं निरीक्ष्य मुग्धस्मिताल्पदशनं ययतुः प्रमोदम् ॥

T: The two mothers, Rohini and Yashoda, swept the two little boys into their arms the moment the infants returned home full of dust from crawling all around, and breastfed them, feeling ecstatic just feasting their eyes on the two boys whose mouths had started sporting little teeth.

***

Soon the boys even took baby steps. They used to gather around other boys and roam the village like daredevils, not caring about anything. They would go and play with calves, holding their tails. The boys would wander near areas where wild animals were sighted. They were unafraid of being mauled by bulls and cows, or dogs with prominent canines.

***

वत्सान् मुञ्चन् क्वचिदसमये क्रोशसञ्जातहासः स्तेयं स्वाद्वत्त्यथ दधि पयः कल्पितैः स्तेययोगैः ।
मर्कान् भोक्ष्यन् विभजति स चेन्नात्ति भाण्डं भिन्नत्ति द्रव्यालाभे स गृहकुपितो यात्युपक्रोश्य तोकान् ॥

T: Yashoda started getting frequent visits from the Gopis with feigned irritation, full of complaints.

"This boy Krishna is unbearable! He lets the calves free at odd times. He simply laughs when we scold him! You should see how he steals and eats butter and curd. He is a master thief and devises new ways to loot them. He even feeds monkeys these things gleefully. If he doesn't get butter and curd and milk, he breaks the pots. If we show anger, he retorts in anger, and pinches our children before running away!"

'Yashoda, he already leads a gang of boys. Willy nilly, he finds his way to all the goodies he wants. We cannot hide them from him. He has devised new ways to scale up to the milk, curd and butter pots we hang high thinking they are beyond his reach. He expertly makes holes in these pots. It seems he can see even in the dark, it must be by the light of the sparkling gems you have put on him as ornaments. Or he hides some divine light in himself."

And so on and so forth.

इत्थं स्त्रीभिः सभयनयनश्रीमुखालोकिनीभिः । व्याख्यातार्था प्रहसितमुखी न ह्युपालब्धुमैच्छत् ॥

T: Thus complained to by all the Gopi women, who were all the time seeing how baby Krishna was standing by with an appearance of being very scared of their complaints and the likely punishment to follow, Yashoda could only surmise what he was up to, smile with delight at her own child, with no intention yet of punishing him.

***

Once, when the boys were at play, Balarama saw Krishna eat mud. He rushed to Yashoda and reported the matter. Yashoda caught hold of baby Krishna and asked sternly,

कस्मान्मृदमदान्तात्मन् भवान् भक्षितवान् रहः । वदन्ति तावका ह्येते कुमारास्तेऽग्रजोऽप्ययम् ॥

T: "What, Krishna, what are these boys and your elder brother Rama saying!? Did you eat mud going to some corner?"

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

नाहं भक्षितवानम्ब सर्वे मिथ्याभिशंसिनः । यदि सत्यगिरस्तर्हि समक्षं पश्य मे मुखम् ॥

T: Krishna said, "NO! Mother! They are telling all lies! If it is indeed true, check and see my mouth yourself!"

Yashoda immediately forced open his mouth and took a peek. What did she see?

यद्येवं तर्हि व्यादेहीत्युक्तः स भगवान् हरिः । व्यादत्ताव्याहतैश्वर्यः क्रीडामनुजबालकः ॥
सा तत्र ददृशे विश्वं जगत्स्थास्नु च खं दिशः । साद्रिद्वीपाब्धिभूगोलं स वाय्वग्नीन्दुतारकम् ॥
ज्योतिश्चक्रं जलं तेजो नभस्वान् वियदेव च । वैकारिकाणीन्द्रियाणि मनो मात्रा गुणास्त्रयः ॥
एतद्विचित्रं सह जीवकालस्वभावकर्माशयलिङ्गभेदम् ।
सूनोस्तनौ वीक्ष्य विदारितास्ये व्रजं सहात्मानमवाप शङ्काम् ॥
किं स्वप्न एतदुत देवमाया किं वा मदीयो बत बुद्धिमोहः ।
अथो अमुष्यैव ममार्भकस्य यः कश्चनौत्पत्तिक आत्मयोगः ॥
इत्थं विदिततत्त्वायां गोपिकायां स ईश्वरः । वैष्णवीं व्यतनोन्मायां पुत्रस्नेहमयीं विभुः ॥

T: When Yashoda looked into his mouth, Bhagavan Sri Hari, full of divine glory, revealed what only He could, although He had come for His Leela or sport in the form of a human boy. Yashoda saw then the whole cosmos, including the skies in all directions, mountains, islands, oceans, even Bhugola or globe of this planet, winds, fire, the stars too! She saw the cosmic elements including the celestial brilliance of all. She even saw the astral aspects of the mind, the senses, the three Gunas and so on! How could she see all this within the mouth of her own child, in flesh and blood a mere human!? Her own Vraja child, born to her like all other children? The wonder of wonders!

That very instant, Bhagavan, here called Ishwara, shielded Yashoda fully from his own divinity by the veil of Vishnu Maya. At once, Yashoda was back to her world of Gokula, children, husband, cattle and Gopis. She told herself, " this is all my own fantasy! Perhaps this child does indeed have some special power, inherited from his past Yogic practices. That's all."

***

Listening to these stories fascinated Parikshit. He marvelled at Bhagavan's Leela and the lucky ones who experienced it in Gokula. What good fortune of Yashoda and Nanda! Sage Shuka explained that indeed, the two had been in a former birth Drona and Dharadevi, who were a devout couple and secured a boon from Lord Brahma after their prayers that they would get to have a close and continual contact with Bhagavan which would foster in them unstinting divine love and finally liberate them.

ततो भक्तिर्भगवति पुत्रीभूते जनार्दने । दम्पत्योर्नितरामासीद्गोपगोपीषु भारत ॥

T: "So, King Parikshit, in this birth they were Yashoda and Nanda. They had the utmost love for their own child, Bhagavan born as Krishna. Their unbroken adoration and love for Krishna was their path to liberation. Don't forget it was all Bhagavan's Leela that Balarama and Sri Krishna had incarnated in Gokula!"

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, April 3, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.07 - 3 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, 3 April 2023 - X a.07 - Sri Krishna, as a three-month-old, kicks to pieces a fully laden cart. He answers the attack of Trinavarta, the whirlwind demon. And shows Yashoda the universe in his mouth!

***

करोति कर्णरम्याणि मनोज्ञानि च नः प्रभो ।

अथान्यदपि कृष्णस्य तोकाचरितमद्भुतम् । मानुषं लोकमासाद्य तज्जातिमनुरुन्धतः ॥

T: King Parikshit is eager to hear stories of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. "Indeed, sir, the Lord thrills our ears as we listen to His stories! So kindly tell me more stories of Sri Krishna, who as a mere child, performed wonderful deeds appearing as a mere human infant. Yet those deeds were superhuman and divine! "

Sage Shuka narrates:

When Sri Krishna was three months old, the star day of his birth that month was celebrated by Yashoda with many gifts and prayers, gathering Brahmins to bless him. She lay the sleepy infant in the shade of a large cart as she went about the ceremonies. The child woke up, started kicking up his legs and waving his hands, and crying for milk. His foot struck the fully laden cart, and broke it to pieces! The big noise drew everyone to the crying baby, utterly amazed to see the cart smashed thus. All they heard from other children was that the baby was crying for milk and had kicked at the cart.

Yashoda thought the child was possessed by some powerful evil force, and got the Brahmins to utter Mantras to ward off its effects. This was followed by ceremonially anointing the baby and feeding the Brahmins sumptuously, asking for their benediction. This episode is also called Shakatasura Vadha as there was an Asura lurking in that cart, waiting to snatch away the infant's life!

Sometime later, Trinavarta, another Asura, came as the whirlwind. Just at that moment, Yashoda who was holding her baby suddenly felt he had become rock-heavy. She lay him down and went to attend to some household chores, with a silent prayer on her lips. Just then, Trinavarta came as the tornado and raised a terrible dust storm reducing visibility to zero. He lifted up Sri Krishna and carried him high into the skies, intending to crush him with force. Instead, what happened was that Sri Krishna caught hold of the demon's neck and wrung it so hard that the demon crashed to a terrible death on the hard field. All animals and humans who had been blinded by the dust storm heard a huge noise and later saw a demon's carcass lying sprawled on the ground. Baby Sri Krishna playing nonchalantly over him. What could the poor Gopas and Gopis mKe of what had just happened!!!?

Sometime later, mother Yashoda was again breastfeeding baby Krishna.

एकदार्भकमादाय स्वाङ्कमारोप्य भामिनी । प्रस्नुतं पाययामास स्तनं स्नेहपरिप्लुता ॥

पीतप्रायस्य जननी सा तस्य रुचिरस्मितम् । मुखं लालयती राजञ्जृम्भतो ददृशे इदम् ॥

खं रोदसी ज्योतिरनीकमाशाः सूर्येन्दुवह्निश्वसनाम्बुधींश्च ।

द्वीपान् नगांस्तद्दुहितॄर्वनानि भूतानि यानि स्थिरजङ्गमानि ॥

सा वीक्ष्य विश्वं सहसा राजन् सञ्जातवेपथुः । सम्मील्य मृगशावाक्षी नेत्रे आसीत्सुविस्मिता ॥

T: One day, mother Yashoda, having placed Krishna in her lap, was breastfeeding him with great maternal joy. The milk was freely flowing from her breast, and the child was drinking it.

When the child had almost finished drinking milk, Yashoda was petting him and watching his enchanting face. Suddenly, Sri Krishna yawned. What Yashoda beheld took her breath away! Yashoda saw in his mouth the whole sky, the celestial bodies and the earth, deities presiding in all directions, the sun, the moon, fire, air, the seas, islands, mountains, rivers, forests, and all kinds of living entities, moving and nonmoving! Yashoda was thrilled, astounded, and amazed. All she could bring herself to do was close her beautiful, innocent, doe-like eyes.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.06 - 2 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, 2 April 2023 - X a.06 - The demoness Putana is foiled in her attempt to kill baby Krishna.

***

Sage Shuka describes how Nanda was filled with forbodings on his way returning to Gokula, as Vasudeva had cautioned him. Shuka also says that indeed, Gokula, being the place where righteous people were full of good feelings and always engaged in prayers, was protected by Bahgavan's grace always.

Then came the demoness Putana. She was an Asura woman in the employ of Kamsa, sent to go and poison all infants and kill them. She had been doing this for some time now, and she entered Gokula.

Assuming with her Asuric power the form of an extremely beautiful, physically endowed lady, dressed to kill, as they say, she roamed carefree in Gokula till she came into Nanda's palace. She was so well-mannered and bewitchingly beautiful that all Gopis and Gopas were cordial and totally unsuspecting. Even Yashoda and Rohini let her enter the inner chamber and go near Sri Krishna, lying in the cradle like burning embers covered with ashes. Putana could sense that this was a divine child, come to destroy Asuras!

विबुध्य तां बालकमारिकाग्रहं चराचरात्मा स निमीलितेक्षणः । अनन्तमारोपयदङ्कमन्तकं यथोरगं सुप्तमबुद्धिरज्जुधीः ॥

T: Bhagavan, Paramatma Sri Krishna, knew at once that the baby-killer Putana was there to try and kill him. He closed his eyes, giving Putana a chance to pick him up and clasp him to her bosom.

the all-pervading Supersoul, lying on the bed, understood that Pūtanā, a witch who was expert in killing small children, had come to kill Him. Therefore, as if afraid of her, Kṛṣṇa closed His eyes. Putana was an evil demoness, sporting a coy smile but harbouring the most evil of intentions, like a sheathed sword!

Putana put Sri Krishna's little mouth at her massive breast, which had been smeared with infallible, fatal poison. Sri Krishna applied his mouth and began to suck fiercely.

Soon, Putana was unable to bear the pain of the baby's deadly bite. She began to scream and roll around, saying, "enough, enough, let go!" But her end was near. She let out a terrifying scream. Not only did Krishna suck out her life, but her massive ugly Asuric corpse was also strewn wildly over a large area! The demoness was looking most scary with her demoniac teeth resembling the large ploughs employed to till the earth. And baby Sri Krishna was happily playing around on her breast when the Gopis rushed to pick him up. Imagine the fright that Yashoda and Rohini felt at what they saw!

Shuka describes what doting women do to children just saved from danger. They bathed Krishna in cow urine, sprinkled him with sanctifying cow dung, and so on. They gave him a thorough bath and chanted prayers for his protection!

गोप्यः संस्पृष्टसलिला अङ्गेषु करयोः पृथक् । न्यस्यात्मन्यथ बालस्य बीजन्यासमकुर्वत ॥

अव्यादजोऽङ्घ्रिमणिमांस्तव जान्वथोरूयज्ञोऽच्युतः कटितटं जठरं हयास्यः ।

हृत्केशवस्त्वदुर ईश इनस्तु कण्ठं विष्णुर्भुजं मुखमुरुक्रम ईश्वरः कम् ॥

चक्र्यग्रतः सहगदो हरिरस्तु पश्चात्त्व त्पार्श्वयोर्धनुरसी मधुहाजनश्च ।

कोणेषु शङ्ख उरुगाय उपर्युपेन्द्रस्तार्क्ष्यः क्षितौ हलधरः पुरुषः समन्तात् ॥

इन्द्रियाणि हृषीकेशः प्राणान् नारायणोऽवतु । श्वेतद्वीपपतिश्चित्तं मनो योगेश्वरोऽवतु ॥

पृश्निगर्भस्तु ते बुद्धिमात्मानं भगवान् परः । क्रीडन्तं पातु गोविन्दः शयानं पातु माधवः ॥

व्रजन्तमव्याद्वैकुण्ठ आसीनं त्वां श्रियःपतिः । भुञ्जानं यज्ञभुक्पातु सर्वग्रहभयङ्करः ॥

डाकिन्यो यातुधान्यश्च कूष्माण्डा येऽर्भकग्रहाः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च यक्षरक्षोविनायकाः ॥

कोटरा रेवती ज्येष्ठा पूतना मातृकादयः । उन्मादा ये ह्यपस्मारा देहप्राणेन्द्रियद्रुहः ॥

स्वप्नदृष्टा महोत्पाता वृद्धबालग्रहाश्च ये । सर्वे नश्यन्तु ते विष्णोर्नामग्रहणभीरवः ॥

T: The Gopis solemnly took Achamana, (a purifying sip of holy water), purified themselves with Nyasa mantras and started reciting the mantras to protect baby Krishna, with accompanying hand gestures.

"May Aja protect your legs, may Maniman protect your knees, Yajna your thighs, Achyuta the upper part of your waist, and Hayagriva your abdomen. May Keshava protect your heart, Isha your chest, the sun-god your neck, Vishnu your arms, Urukrama your face, and Ishwara your head. May Chakri protect you from the front; may Sri Hari, Gadadhari, the carrier of the club, protect you from the back; and may the carrier of the bow, who is known as the enemy of Madhu, and Lord Ajana, the carrier of the sword, protect your two sides. May Lord Urugaya, the carrier of the conchshell, protect You from all corners; may Upendra protect you from above; may Garuda protect you on the ground; and may Lord Haladhara, the Parama Purusha, protect you on all sides.

May Hrishikesha protect your senses, and Narayaṇa your Prana (life breath). May the master of Shvetadvweepa protect the core of your heart, and may Lord Yogeshwara protect your mind.

May Lord Prishnigarbha protect your intelligence, and Bhagavan your soul. While you are playing, may Govinda protect you, and while you are sleeping, may Madhava protect you. May Lord Vaikuntha protect you while you are walking, and may Lord Narayana, the husband of the goddess of fortune, protect you while you are sitting. Similarly, may Lord Yajnabhuk, the fearsome enemy of all evil planets, always protect you while you enjoy life.

The evil witches known as Dakinis, Yatudhanis and Kushmandas are the greatest enemies of children, and the evil spirits like Bhutas, Pretas, Pishachas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and Vinayakas, as well as witches like Kotara, Revati, Jyeshtha Putana and Matrika, are always ready to give trouble to the body, the life air and the senses, causing loss of memory, madness and bad dreams. Like the most experienced evil stars, they all create great disturbances, especially for children, but one can vanquish them simply by uttering Lord Vishnu’s name, for when Lord Vishnu’s name resounds, all of them become afraid and go away."

The Gopis continued thus, showering benedictions, and Yashoda breastfed her baby and put him on the bed to sleep.

When Putana's gigantic body was cut down to pieces and cremated, a divine fragrance of Agaru emanated! How come a demoness's body contained such divine fragrance!? Because she had breastfed Sri Krishna! Can you then imagine how the Gopis who fed Sri Krishna, and all the cattle who gave him milk, would be blessed!!!

Remember Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva constantly worship Bhagavan Sri Krishna. He is the indweller of all. He blessed Putana by embracing her and suckling at her breast. That was enough.

The Gopis were blessed. They were in this world, behaving like normal people, going about their daily chores. But the moment they established themselves maternally and loved Bhagavan Sri Krishna, all cause for rebirth vanished from their Karma.

A most-relieved Nanda came, embraced Sri Krishna, and fondled him in his lap. His moment of bliss was immense.

Any person who hears with faith and devotion about how Bhagavan Sri Krishna killed Putana, and who thus invests his hearing in such childhood pastimes of Sri Krishna, certainly attains devotion to Govinda, the Parama Purusha.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.05 - 1 April 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, 1 April 2023 - X a.05 - The celebrations in Nanda's kingdom heralding Sri Krishna's birth. The meeting between Nanda and Vasudeva in Mathura.

***

This short chapter beautifully introduces the happiness that dawned in Nanda's kingdom of Vraja Gokula immediately after the birth of Sri Krishna. Nanda and his people were supremely delighted with the birth of this child. Nanda celebrated with all the auspicious rituals, inviting and honouring great Brahmins and giving generous gifts, and conducting feasts and festivals.

Trust sage Vyasa to add this beautiful line of wisdom too:

कालेन स्नानशौचाभ्यां संस्कारैस्तपसेज्यया ।

शुध्यन्ति दानैः सन्तुष्ट्या द्रव्याण्यात्माऽऽत्मविद्यया ॥

T: The change ushered in the kingdom on Sri Krishna's arrival was like the change of seasons that cleanse the land. With time, especially in good times, possessions improve and there is economic development.

By bathing and other hygienic activities, people cleanse themselves. Similarly, by conducting the auspicious rituals, the child's birth is sanctified.

By doing Tapas, one cleanses the mind and senses. By worship and charity (Yajna and Daana), one's wealth is sanctified by offering gifts to worthy Brahmins. The mind attains peace when there is a sense of contentment and fulfilment. This was the mood in Gokula.

Finally, let us remember, only by attaining the lotus feet of Bhagavan, by self-realisation, the Jiva is truly blessed.

***

Here are three verses that describe the glorious celebrations in Gokula. It also introduces the beautiful Gopis.

गोप्यः सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलनिष्ककण्ठ्यश्चित्राम्बराः पथि शिखाच्युतमाल्यवर्षाः ।

नन्दालयं सवलया व्रजतीर्विरेजुर्व्यालोलकुण्डलपयोधरहारशोभाः ॥

ता आशिषः प्रयुञ्जानाश्चिरं पाहीति बालके । हरिद्राचूर्णतैलाद्भिः सिञ्चन्त्योऽजनमुज्जगुः ॥

अवाद्यन्त विचित्राणि वादित्राणि महोत्सवे । कृष्णे विश्वेश्वरेऽनन्ते नन्दस्य व्रजमागते ॥

T: The Gopis, sporting lovely ornaments including brilliant bejewelled earrings, lovely necklaces, delightful bangles, and beautiful flowers in their hair, looked simply lovely. As they came to Nanda's palace, their flowers were strewn as showers on the way. The Gopis were very beautiful with lovely figures.

Offering blessings to the newborn child, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Gopis, who were the wives and daughters of the cowherd men, said, “May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants.” They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water upon the child, little knowing that he was the birthless Supreme Lord Himself, and offered their prayers to Ishwara.

Now the all-pervading, Parama Purusha Bhagavan, the master of the cosmic manifestation, had arrived within the kingdom of King Nanda. The celebrations were accentuated by the playing of various types of musical instruments.

तत आरभ्य नन्दस्य व्रजः सर्वसमृद्धिमान् । हरेर्निवासात्मगुणै रमाक्रीडमभून्नृप ॥

T: Sri Krishna's birth heralded prosperity in Nanda Gokula. With Bhagavan, it was as if Devi Lakshmi had smiled on the land and its people, with great munificence.

***

After some time, concluding the celebrations, Nanda entrusted the region to his trusted lieutenants and went to Mathura to pay the collective taxes to Kamsa. This was a serious activity. But he also took the opportunity to go and meet Vasudeva.

Their meeting was pregnant with feeling. Vasudeva knew that Bhagavan had started his Avatara in Nanda's home. His other son Balarama had been born to Rohini who also lived in Nanda Gokula. He enquired joyously about everyone's well-being. Nanda was very affectionate, too. He commiserated with Vasudeva for the loss of his seven children. Six were killed by Kamsa. Of course, Nanda mentioned that he had come to know how the seventh one, the female one, escaped to heaven. Thus, Devaki and Vasudeva were childless in his view.

His sympathies were most sincere, just as was Vasudeva's own inner sense of concern for Nanda since his two sons now in Gokula were the targets of Kamsa. He advised Nanda to leave Mathura, the city of Kamsa, and return quickly to Vraja Gokula to take care of his people.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, March 31, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.04 - 31 March 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, 31 March 2023 - X a.04 - Devi Yoga Maya teaches Kamsa a lesson. But his Asuric advisors make him unleash extreme cruelty on all.

***

The prison doors and locks clicked back in place. Soon the baby's cry woke the guards who rushed to break to Kamsa the news of the birth of a daughter.

स तल्पात्तूर्णमुत्थाय कालोऽयमिति विह्वलः । सूतीगृहमगात्तूर्णं प्रस्खलन् मुक्तमूर्धजः ॥
तमाह भ्रातरं देवी कृपणा करुणं सती । स्नुषेयं तव कल्याण स्त्रियं मा हन्तुमर्हसि ॥
बहवो हिंसिता भ्रातः शिशवः पावकोपमाः । त्वया दैवनिसृष्टेन पुत्रिकैका प्रदीयताम् ॥

T: Kamsa rushed out of his bed in the dark, not wanting to lose a moment. This was Devaki's eighth born! He ran ill-clad and crownless to the prison, sword raised in hand. A weeping Devaki fell at his feet, begging for mercy. "Oh, brother, this girl is after all your niece. No danger can come from her! Please don't kill her! Driven by Destiny, you have already slaughtered my sons, glowing like fire at birth. Please spare this girl's life!"

Kamsa laughed cruelly, pushed his sister, and grabbed the baby lying in her lap. Lifting the child by her legs, he swung to dash her against a big stone. Even before that impact, the child miraculously slipped from his grasp and flew into the sky!

सा तद्धस्तात्समुत्पत्य सद्यो देव्यम्बरं गता । अदृश्यतानुजा विष्णोः सायुधाष्टमहाभुजा ॥

दिव्यस्रगम्बरालेपरत्नाभरणभूषिता । धनुःशूलेषुचर्मासिशङ्खचक्रगदाधरा ॥

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैरप्सरःकिन्नरोरगैः । उपाहृतोरुबलिभिः स्तूयमानेदमब्रवीत् ॥

किं मया हतया मन्द जातः खलु तवान्तकृत् । यत्र क्व वा पूर्वशत्रुर्मा हिंसीः कृपणान् वृथा ॥

इति प्रभाष्य तं देवी माया भगवती भुवि । बहुनामनिकेतेषु बहुनामा बभूव ह ॥

T: Flying out of his grasp into the sky, that girl child revealed herself as the sister of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, endowed with eight arms, all holding divine weapons- bow, spear, arrow, shield, sword, chakra, shankha, and gada. She wore divine ornaments and garlands. She was surrounded by eulogising celestials. Her laugh rang aloud in the skies as she said, "Oh, You fool, Kamsa, to what avail is your attempt to kill me!? Your nemesis, the divine Lord, as foreordained, has already been born and is being raised as I speak! Do not slaughter other children without reason!" Speaking thus, the Devi flew into the heavens, later to be worshipped around the world in her many forms as mentioned already.

At once, Kamsa felt ashamed and confused. He apologised profusely to Devaki and Vasudeva who were watching, looking every bit most wretched and unhappy. He spoke some wise words!

दैवमप्यनृतं वक्ति न मर्त्या एव केवलम् । यद्विश्रम्भादहं पापः स्वसुर्निहतवाञ्छिशून् ॥

क्षमध्वं मम दौरात्म्यं साधवो दीनवत्सलाः । इत्युक्त्वाश्रुमुखः पादौ श्यालः स्वस्रोरथाग्रहीत् ॥

T: "Bah! Even the divine oracles are often untrue like us humans! I was sinning when I tried to kill my sister's children. After all, birth and death are a part of Destiny, and indeed there is no killer or killed, as all are under the control of inexorable Time. Kindly excuse me, dear Devaki and Vasudeva! Henceforth you are free!" Thus saying, with tears in his eyes, Kamsa left for his palace.

A bewildered and relieved Vasudeva and Devaki began to repair their life. But that very night, Kamsa called his council of ministers. They were all deadly Daityas, sworn enemies of the gods and Bhagavan. He narrated to them the strange happenings of the day.

The evil and unwise ministers simply laughed at Kamsa's change of heart.

"What nonsense! We should at once go and kill every single child around, and even abort the unborn children. That is the only sensible way to ensure your safety! Don't we know of the eternal animosity between us and gods? Of course, they are all powerless in front of you, Kamsa, and flee your attacks. Even Vishnu and Shiva are nothing. But prudence dictates that we should be on our guard! Indeed, Vishnu is propitiated by Brahmins through Yajnas. That is His way of becoming stronger. Let us kill all Brahmins so that no more Yajnas and worship of the gods ever take place. That will weaken the enemy!"

यथाऽऽमयोऽङ्गे समुपेक्षितो नृभिर्नशक्यते रूढपदश्चिकित्सितुम् ।

यथेन्द्रियग्राम उपेक्षितस्तथा रिपुर्महान् बद्धबलो न चाल्यते ॥

T: "Just as any disease, if neglected in the beginning, festers within the body and becomes life-threatening, and people can no longer treat such a flagrant disease; just as sense temptations allowed and pandered to in the beginning completely overwhelm one's defences later, the enemy should always be destroyed at the inception itself, before he becomes powerful and attacks us!"

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥