॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 8 October 2022 - III.15 - Jaya-Vijaya’s disrespect shown to the Kumaras and their curse.
***
The ancient raconteur, Sage Vyasa, seems fond of telling a story in flashback, much like some clever moviemakers of today. He begins the story of how Hiranyakasha came to be.
***
प्राजापत्यं तु तत्तेज परतोजोहनं दितिः। दधार वर्षाणि शतं शङ्कमाना सुरार्दनात्॥
T: Diti feared that her sons would cause distress to the gods. Therefore she willfully retained the powerful seed of her husband Kashyapa in her womb for a hundred years to delay her sons’ arrival.
This caused another problem. The skies darkened and there was a loss of radiance in the gods of the quarters (Lokapalas like Surya). All the gods went to Lord Brahma and reported that everything was topsy-turvy in creation due to this darkening.
“Dear Lord, you know everything. Time cannot conquer your ability to know everything. All sages pray to you as the embodiment of the Vedas. So you kindly explain why this darkness has come over us. We pray to you, oh, Lord! How do we deal with the problem arising from Sage Kashyapa’s seed implanted in Diti?”
Lord Brahma begins to tell a story, smilingly.
“Dear gods, your elders and my first spiritual children, the four Kumar as, were full of dispassion and were travelling in the various heavens. At one time, they reached the highest heaven, Vaikuntha.”
“Let me describe Vaikuntha. Everyone there is a Vishnurupi (an image of Vishnu). They have attained Vaikuntha by dint of deep devotion and seeking to surrender themselves to Lord Maha Vishnu.”
यत्र चाद्यः पुमानास्ते भगवान् शब्दगोचरः।
सत्त्वं विष्टभ्य विरजं स्वानां नो मृडयन्वृषः॥
यत्र नैःश्रेयसं नाम वनं कामदघैर्द्रुमैः।
सर्वर्तुश्रीभिर्विभ्राजत्कैवल्यमिन मूर्तिमत्॥
T: “Vaikuntha is the abode of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, knowable through the Vedas. Taking a quintessential Sattvic form, the Lord dwells there, with no Rajas, purely with the desire to grant bliss to his devotees. There is a garden there called Naishreyasa, full of divine wish-fulfilling trees. It is resplendent in all seasons and gives one a feeling of the bliss of liberation.”
“The gandharvas who roam there with their consorts sing constantly of the Lord’s sportive glories. The Madhavi flowers that bloom in the lake there give a fragrance that steals our minds. All the bees and birds seem to be singing the Lord’s glories, occasionally pausing to enjoy the moment. There are many lovely trees and flowers, Tulsi being the most worshippable as the Lord’s favourite so that he wears it around His neck. The mansions there are full of the most precious gems. They are accessible only by those who are constantly worshipping Sri Hari’s feet. Even the most beautiful damsels there do not cause distraction or enticement.”
Lord Brahma has special words to describe Goddess Lakshmi.
श्रीरूपिणी क्वणयती चरणारविन्दं लीलाम्बुजेन हरिसद्मनि मुक्तदोषा।
संलक्ष्यते स्फटिककुड्य उपेतहेम्नि सम्मार्जतीव यदनुग्रहणेऽन्ययत्नः॥
T: “The most beautiful Goddess Sri Lakshmi, with her anklets tinkling melodiously, has made her home there, abandoning her tendency to wander away. Her lovely reflection in the crystal, gem-studded, walls as she moves about seems to sweep the place as an act of her devotion to the Lord!”
“Lakshmi, with her handmaids, gathers Tulsi leaves and strings garlands for the Lord. As she sees her own delightfully beautiful face reflected in the crystal-clear water of the lake, she remembers bashfully how the Lord has loved that face.”
“Alas, many people choose, instead of the sanctifying stories of the Lord, worldly, demeaning stories of greed and lust. Lakshmi casts such people into the lowest of hells.”
“What a pity! Human birth is most coveted as it affords a chance to develop faith and devotion, and seek liberation. But it is wasted by most men deluded by His Maya!”
तद्विश्वगुर्वधिकृतं भुवनैकवन्द्यं दिव्यं विचित्रविबुधाग्र्यविमानशोचिः।
आपुः परां मुदमपूर्वमुपेत्य योगमायाबलेन मुनयस्तदथो विकुण्ठम्॥
T: “By their Yogic power, the Kumaras reached Vaikuntha, the chosen abode of Bhagavan Sri Hari which was full of these godly mansions, and experienced supreme joy.”
***
The Kumaras quickly crossed six archways of the mansions, unheedful of the splendid attractions all around, directly proceeding to meet the Lord. Then they saw two divine attendants, looking identical, four-armed, wearing divine ornaments and carrying gadas (maces). They looked very handsome but wore stern looks. As the Kumaras advanced to enter the seventh archway door, undistracted as was their wont, they looked like five-year-old children, pure in consciousness and naked as they were unmindful of the senses.
वेत्रेण चास्खलयतामतदर्हणांस्तौ तेजो विहस्य भगवत्प्रतिकूलशीलौ॥
“Those two doorkeepers, making fun of the four Kumaras, stopped them with their sticks, showing a nature contrary to that of the Lord who Himself displays the deepest reverence for such devotees.”
The Kumaras showed a tinge of annoyance.
“Oh, doorkeepers, those who dwell in Vaikuntha display no arrogance or disrespect to anyone. You belong here but act contrarily. There is no need to doubt anyone who gets here as they have no deceit or mal intention. Perhaps you have deceit in you and hence you behave like this.”
“Those here know that they are a part of the Lord just like space in a pot is in no way different from infinite space. So your display of suspicion and fear is surprising since you look divine. You fall short of what is expected of the Lord’s attendants.”
तद्वाममुष्य परमस्य विकुण्ठभर्तु: कर्तुं प्रकृष्टमिह धीमहि मन्दधीभ्याम् ।
लोकानितो व्रजतमन्तरभावदृष्टया पापीयसस्त्रय इमे रिपवोऽस्य यत्र ॥
T: “Therefore we want to teach a lesson to you two dullwitted attendants of the Lord in Vaikuntha. May you go from here and be born in sinful wombs in a world contaminated by lust, anger and greed.”
The moment Jaya-Vijaya (those were the gatekeepers’ names) heard these words, they were terrified. No weapons can counter a Brahma Shapa (a holy Brahmin’s curse). They fell at the Kumaras' feet and begged for mercy.
“Oh, Mahatmas, we have failed to see your holiness. We deserve your punishment as we have not carried out the Lord’s orders. If you can show some mercy, kindly bless us that, even in our sinful births, we shall not forget the Lord.”
Just then, knowing how Jaya-Vijaya had offended the Kumaras, Maha Vishnu arrived there with His consort, Sri Lakshmi, on foot. The Lord’s retinue surrounded Him with paraphernalia. He was being fanned by fans resembling the wings of swans. The white umbrella had pearl laces that looked like drops of nectar lit in the moonlight.
The Lord always had a most gracious, smiling, look, and radiated the highest beauty. He wore a garland of wildflowers that attracted bees. He wore a golden garment and exquisite ornaments. One of His hands rested on Garuda, his carrier. He twirled a lotus in His other hand.
The Kumaras bowed low to the Lord. They could not take their eyes off the Lord. Although they always contemplated the image of the Lord, His personal Darshan flooded them with bliss. They focussed on His lotus-like feet with toenails that shone like rubies.
They prayed to the Parama Purusha:
“Oh Lord, you dwell in everyone’s heart, but impure minds cannot recognise Your presence. Our father Brahma has described You to us, we have meditated long on You, but Your personal Darshan is making us most fulfilled.
तं त्वां विदाम भगवन्परमात्मतत्त्वं सत्त्वेन संप्रति रतिं रचयन्तमेषाम्।
यत्तेऽनुतापविदितैर्दृढभक्तियोगैरुद्ग्रन्थयो हृदि विदुर्मुनयो विरागाः॥
T: “Oh, Bhagavan! We know You to be the Pure Paramatman who have taken this form out of Your infinite grace to grant us Your Darshan. The dispassionate sages, purely through Your compassion, achieve that unshakable pure Bhakti Yoga, and realise You in their own hearts!”
“Oh, Bhagavan, as long as our minds are like bees hovering around Your lotus feet, as long as our words worship You like Tulsi leaves, our ears are filled with Your holy praises, we have nothing to fear! If our Karmas push us into hell even, we won’t care!”
तस्मा इदं भगवते नम इद्विधेम
“Oh, Bhagavan, we submit our obeisances!”
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
