॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 24 September 2022 - The second chapter of the third Skandha- Uddhava goes into raptures of melancholy and devotion, speaking about Sri Krishna.
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इति भागवतः पृष्टः क्षत्रा वार्तां प्रियाश्रयाम्। प्रतिवक्तुं न चोत्सेह औत्कण्ठ्यात् स्मारितेश्वरः॥
T: Thus questioned by the royal minister Vidura about the welfare of his dear Sri Krishna and family, the devotee Uddhava choked with emotion thinking of Sri Krishna and their separation.
Uddhava had known Sri Krishna from the age of five. He had served Sri Krishna ardently for a long time and had grown old in that position. Remembering his Lord’s feet, he found it difficult to reply.
After several moments of divine communion and its bliss, he managed to find his voice.
Wiping away his tears, he spoke:
The sun called Sri Krishna has set, oh, Vidura! How can I bring myself to speak of the utter sorrow of us all plunged into darkness, swallowed by the serpent called Time? Pity the Yadavas who lived so close to Sri Krishna and yet never got an inkling of his divinity, much like the fish in the lake cannot appreciate the glorious reflection of the moon in it. The Yadavas were mighty and influential and considered Sri Krishna merely a distinguished clan chief. Only their ignorance of Sri Krishna’s divinity made him relinquish this world.
यन्मर्त्यलीलौपयिकं स्वयोगमायाबलं दर्शयिता गृहीतम्। विस्मापनं स्वस्य च सौभगर्द्धेः परं पदं भूषणभूषणाङ्गम्॥
T: How can one describe the glory of the Lord who came through His Yoga Maya and displayed so many lilas (pastimes as a sport) of such incredible glory and beauty! His form was the embodiment of all beauty and prosperity in creation! His sport would have dazzled even Maha Vishnu!
In the Rajasuya court, when King Yudhishthira worshipped Sri Krishna, everyone marvelled at Sri Krishna's glory, saying that Lord Brahma had used up all his devices and put everything great into this one person. The way Sri Krishna would smile and delight the gopis just by his glances! He shared the task of relieving the misery of the oppressed with his amsha avatara Balarama. They emerged like the fire hidden in firewood! The Lord who is eternal and unborn took birth as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. The Lord of the three worlds bowed to his parents and sought forgiveness for not freeing them earlier from the clutches of Kamsa.
Sri Krishna gave mukti even to the archenemy Shishupala. Every Kaurava who saw the Lord on the battlefield while dying was liberated. That is His grace! He spoke with such humility and respect to his grandfather King Ugrasena! From Sri Krishna, one has to learn humility and efficiency in service.
Look at the way Sri Krishna gave mukti to Putana who came to feed him deadly poison! All the demons who came to hurt Sri Krishna had earned merit by thinking of him intensely!
परीतो वत्सपैर्वत्सांस्चारयन् व्यहरद्विभुः। यमुनोपवने कूजद्द्विजसङ्कुलिताङ्घ्रिपे ॥
T: Surrounded by cowherd boys and calves, the Lord travelled on Yamuna’s bank, through gardens full of the call of birds. He was then known only in Gokula and regaled everyone with his magical flute play. Yet he could destroy the evil ones sent by Kamsa to harm him like a child breaks dolls.
He cleansed the Yamuna’s poisonous waters by taming the deadly serpent king Kaliya. He taught a lesson to Lord Indra, protecting the people by lifting Govardhana Mountain to save them from the fatal deluge that Indra unleashed. He sported with the gopis in the autumnal full moon, singing and dancing!
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
