॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 31 August 2022 - Sage Vyasa composes the Srimad Bhagavatam and teaches it to his son, Shuka. The story begins with the ending of the Mahabharata war and some great unpleasantness.
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Seated at the holy spot of his ashrama in “Shamyaprasa” on the western bank of the river Saraswati, located in a grove of Badari trees, Sage Vyasa meditates on Maha Vishnu, asking for grace.
भक्तियोगेन मनसि सम्यक् प्रणहितेऽमले ।
अपश्यत्पुरुषं पूर्वं मायां च तदपाश्रयाम् ॥
अनर्थोपशमं साक्षाद्भक्तियोगमधोक्षजे ।
लोकस्याजानतो विद्वांश्चक्रे सात्वतसंहिताम् ॥
T: “Sage Vyasa, in his focussed, pure, and devotion-suffused mind, envisioned the ancient Purusha Maha Vishnu and Devi Maya who was operating under His control.
The learned sage then began composing the Srimad Bhagavatam, also called “Satvata Samhita”, for remedying the ills of the world through methods hitherto unknown to the suffering mankind, viz. the direct, devotional worship of Maha Vishnu or Adhokshaja (literally meaning “one materially unperceivable by senses”).
The story of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is sure to inspire devotion and remove distress, worldly infatuation, and fear in men.
Sage Vyasa revised and finalised the scripture. He then taught it to his reclusive son, Shuka.”
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Shaunaka now asks how a totally liberated and detached Shuka took interest in a devotional scripture. Suta's answer is very resonant!
आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्युरुक्रमे ।
कुर्वन्त्यहैतुकीं भक्तिमित्थंभूतगुणो हरिः ॥
T: “Filled with the bliss of Atman, ascetic sages are of course not interested in scriptures and not interested in even wearing their loin-cloths! But they develop great, selfless, devotion on listening to the stories of Sri Hari, for that is His glory!”
Shuka studied the Srimad Bhagavatam with immense interest. He later went on to recite and instruct it to King Parikshit.
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The story begins.
The Mahabharata war was over. The martyred heroes had all attained the coveted Veeraswarga (heaven for heroes). Duryodhana lay with his thigh broken by Bhima.
Thinking that this act of his will avenge their defeat as well as delight Duryodhana, Drona’s son Ashwatthama went to the Pandava sons' tent, in the dead of the night, and ruthlessly beheaded the sleeping sons of Pandavas. He brought their heads on a platter to his boss Duryodhana. Duryodhana reacted with extreme revulsion and disgust towards Ashwatthama's act which was obviously heinous and beneath the dignity of any warrior.
When Draupadi saw her sons thus decapitated, her sorrow burst all bounds. Arjuna was enraged like never before. He swore to her that before they even cremated their sons, he would bring the head of Ashwatthama for her to step on. He proceeded with Sri Krishna as his charioteer to where Ashwatthama was hiding.
Seeing Arjuna coming in blazing fury and sure that he had no means of escape, Ashwatthama launched the Brahmashiras divine weapon, akin to a neutron bomb, that was sure to destroy all including Arjuna. You can imagine Ashwatthama’s calibre if I tell you that he did not know how to recall or defuse the weapon! Every worthy warrior is taught how to launch and retract these sacred weapons.
Arjuna saw a fiery storm all around and quizzed Sri Krishna, praying to Him as the Supreme Lord Hari who always protected the good and meek, and asked what this strange inferno was. Krishna explained that Ashwatthama had launched Brahmastra to save himself, and had no clue how to defuse it.
जह्यस्त्रतेज उन्नद्धमस्त्रज्ञो ह्यस्त्रतेजसा
T: “Arjuna, you alone are capable of countering this Brahma Teja weapon by launching the very same weapon from your side.”
In an instant, after praying to Krishna, Arjuna launched the Brahma Teja that countered Ashwatthama’s weapon, and thereafter he retracted both simultaneously.
Soon, Arjuna was able to catch Ashwatthama, and bring him tied up like a sacrifical animal to Draupadi. He threw him on the ground at her feet.
Sri Krishna now spoke words full of fury: “This so-called Brahmin and warrior has done a most unforgivable act of terrorism and cowardice. Behead him as you had sworn to Draupadi.”
मत्तं प्रमत्तमुन्मत्तं सुप्तं बालं स्त्रियं जडम्।
प्रपन्नं विरथं भीतं न रिपुं हन्ति धर्मवित् ॥
T: Krishna spoke- “Those who know and follow Dharma (righteousness) do not kill their enemy when the enemy is intoxicated, disoriented, dazed, sleeping, or if the enemy is a boy or a woman or in some way unconscious/comatose. Also if the enemy has surrendered, or is scared stiff into defenselessness, or is without a chariot or weapons.”
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Vyasa now remarks that Sri Krishna was testing Arjuna.
Draupadi saw Drona’s son Ashwatthama grovelling, bound like a sacrificial animal. Her reaction was what we would expect from a heroic devotee of the Lord.
मुच्यतां मुच्यतामेष ब्राह्मणो नितरां गुरुः
भवता शिक्षितो यदनुग्रहात्
भवद्भिः कुलं वृजिनं नार्हति प्राप्तुम्
मा रोदीदस्य जननी गौतमी पतिदेवता
यथाहं मृतवत्साऽर्ता रोदिम्यश्रुमुखी मुहुः
T: “Oh noble Arjuna, release him, release him at once! He is a Brahmin, son of your guru and so represents your guru Drona himself, from whom you learnt all your archery. By killing your guru’s son and a Brahmin, great ignominy shall accrue to your family, which is undesirable. Also, I can feel the terrible sorrow and wretchedness his mother Gautami, your Gurumata, will experience, as I am already feeling it after the murder of my own sons.”
While Sri Krishna watched, Dharmaraja, Nakula and Sahadeva agreed with Draupadi. Bhima felt the murder of their children should be avenged and Ashwatthama should be put to death.
Now Sri Krishna came up as was his wont with the best solution.
“A Brahmin need not, should not, be physically put to death. If his head is shaven, if he is separated from his worldly possessions, or if he is removed from his exalted position, he is as good as dead.”
Arjuna went ahead at once and shaved off Ashwatthama and also removed the divine jewel (तेजोमणिः) that was from birth on his crest. Then he was let go.
The Pandavas, weeping, now cremated their dead sons in Sri Krishna’s presence.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
