॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 30 March 2023 - X a.03 - Jai Shri Ram! Hare Krishna! Today is doubly auspicious. It is Sri Ramanavami, and we are reading today about the birth of Bhagavan Sri Krishna!
I share below the recitation by Br. Devaki Chaitanya of the chapter, describing the wonderful interactions between Bhagavan, Devaki and Vasudeva.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
अथ सर्वगुणोपेतः कालः परमशोभनः । यर्ह्येवाजनजन्मर्क्षं शान्तर्क्षग्रहतारकम् ॥
दिशः प्रसेदुर्गगनं निर्मलोडुगणोदयम् । मही मङ्गलभूयिष्ठपुरग्रामव्रजाकरा ॥
नद्यः प्रसन्नसलिला ह्रदा जलरुहश्रियः । द्विजालिकुलसन्नादस्तबका वनराजयः ॥
ववौ वायुः सुखस्पर्शः पुण्यगन्धवहः शुचिः । अग्नयश्च द्विजातीनां शान्तास्तत्र समिन्धत ॥
मनांस्यासन् प्रसन्नानि साधूनामसुरद्रुहाम् । जायमानेऽजने तस्मिन् नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिवि ॥
जगुः किन्नरगन्धर्वास्तुष्टुवुः सिद्धचारणाः । विद्याधर्यश्च ननृतुरप्सरोभिः समं तदा ॥
मुमुचुर्मुनयो देवाः सुमनांसि मुदान्विताः । मन्दं मन्दं जलधरा जगर्जुरनुसागरम् ॥
निशीथे तम उद्भूते जायमाने जनार्दने । देवक्यां देवरूपिण्यां विष्णुः सर्वगुहाशयः ।
आविरासीद्यथा प्राच्यां दिशीन्दुरिव पुष्कलः ॥
तमद्भुतं बालकमम्बुजेक्षणं चतुर्भुजं शङ्खगदाद्युदायुधम् ।
श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं गलशोभिकौस्तुभं पीताम्बरं सान्द्रपयोदसौभगम् ॥
महार्हवैदूर्यकिरीटकुण्डल- त्विषा परिष्वक्तसहस्रकुन्तलम् ।
उद्दामकाञ्च्यङ्गदकङ्कणादिभिर्विरोचमानं वसुदेव ऐक्षत ॥
स विस्मयोत्फुल्लविलोचनो हरिं सुतं विलोक्यानकदुन्दुभिस्तदा ।
कृष्णावतारोत्सवसम्भ्रमोऽस्पृशन्मुदा द्विजेभ्योऽयुतमाप्लुतो गवाम् ॥
T: Thereafter, at the auspicious time for the appearance of the Lord, the entire universe was surcharged with all the qualities of goodness, beauty and peace. The constellation Rohini appeared, as did stars like Ashwini. The sun, the moon and the other stars and planets were very peaceful. All directions appeared extremely pleasing, and the beautiful stars twinkled in the cloudless sky.
Decorated with towns, villages, mines and pasturing grounds, the earth seemed all-auspicious. The rivers flowed with clear water, and the lakes and vast reservoirs, full of lilies and lotuses, were extraordinarily beautiful. In the trees and green plants, full of flowers and leaves, pleasing to the eyes, birds like cuckoos and swarms of bees began chanting with sweet voices for the sake of the gods.
A pure breeze began to blow, pleasing the sense of touch and bearing the aroma of flowers, and when the Brahmins engaging in ritualistic ceremonies ignited their fires according to Vedic principles, the fires burned steadily, undisturbed by the breeze.
Thus when the birthless Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, Ishwara, was about to appear, the saints and Brahmins, who had always been disturbed by demons like Kamsa and his men, felt peace within the core of their hearts.
Kettledrums simultaneously vibrated from the heavens. The Kinnaras and Gandharvas began to sing auspicious songs, the Siddhas and Charanas offered auspicious prayers, and the Vidyadharis, along with the Apsaras, began to dance in jubilation. The gods and great saintly persons showered flowers in a joyous mood, and clouds gathered in the sky and very mildly thundered, making sounds like those of the ocean’s waves. Then Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, who is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, appeared from the heart of Devaki in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon.
Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotus-like eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma. On His chest was the mark of Srivatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in golden yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His crown and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidurya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.
When Vasudeva saw his extraordinary son, his eyes were struck with wonder. In transcendental jubilation, he mentally collected ten thousand cows and distributed them among the Brahmins as a transcendental festival.
Let us pause for a moment and take in the scene. Imprisoned by the cruel Kamsa, Vasudeva and Devaki are suffering untold miseries. Their faith in Bhagavan has been pushed to the extreme. Yet, they are such pure and devoted souls that they simply are waiting for this moment. When this does come about, what are their reactions!? They begin to speak with the Lord!
अथैनमस्तौदवधार्य पूरुषं परं नताङ्गः कृतधीः कृताञ्जलिः ।
स्वरोचिषा भारत सूतिकागृहं विरोचयन्तं गतभीः प्रभाववित् ॥
वसुदेव उवाच
विदितोऽसि भवान् साक्षात्पुरुषः प्रकृतेः परः । केवलानुभवानन्दस्वरूपः सर्वबुद्धिदृक् ॥
स एव स्वप्रकृत्येदं सृष्ट्वाग्रे त्रिगुणात्मकम् । तदनु त्वं ह्यप्रविष्टः प्रविष्ट इव भाव्यसे ॥
यथेमेऽविकृता भावास्तथा ते विकृतैः सह । नानावीर्याः पृथग्भूता विराजं जनयन्ति हि ॥
सन्निपत्य समुत्पाद्य दृश्यन्तेऽनुगता इव । प्रागेव विद्यमानत्वान्न तेषामिह सम्भवः ॥
एवं भवान् बुद्ध्यनुमेयलक्षणैर्ग्राह्यैर्गुणैः सन्नपि तद्गुणाग्रहः ।
अनावृतत्वाद्बहिरन्तरं न ते सर्वस्य सर्वात्मन आत्मवस्तुनः ॥
त्वमस्य लोकस्य विभो रिरक्षिषुर्गृहेऽवतीर्णोऽसि ममाखिलेश्वर ।
राजन्यसंज्ञासुरकोटियूथपैर्निर्व्यूह्यमाना निहनिष्यसे चमूः ॥
अयं त्वसभ्यस्तव जन्म नौ गृहे श्रुत्वाग्रजांस्ते न्यवधीत्सुरेश्वर ।
स तेऽवतारं पुरुषैः समर्पितं श्रुत्वाधुनैवाभिसरत्युदायुधः ॥
T: Vasudeva could understand that this child was the supreme Purusha, Bhagavan Narayaaa. With no more doubt or fear, he bowed low to the Lord who illuminated this place with His presence.
Vasudeva said: My Lord, You are Paramatma, Parama Purusha. Your form can be perceived by transcendental knowledge as the embodiment of bliss beyond material modifications. You created this universe through Your Maya, with the three Gunas. You suffuse all creation, but are beyond the Gunas.
The mahat-tattva, the total material energy, is undivided, but because of the material modes of nature, the interplay of Gunas, it appears to separate into earth, water, fire, air and ether. The visible material manifestation appears as new, but in fact, before the creation of the cosmos, the total energy is already present. Your creative energy thus remains separate from its effects. You cannot be perceived by the senses, nor experienced by the mind or words. With each of our senses, our perection is unidimensional. Your totality is beyond their sum total. For You, therefore, there is no external or internal. You never entered the womb of Devaki; rather, You existed there already. O my Lord, the master of all creation, You have now appeared in my house, desiring to protect this world. I am sure that You will kill all the armies that are moving all over the world under the demonian rulers. They must be killed by You for the protection of innocent people.
O my Lord, the God of all gods, after hearing the prophecy that You would take birth in our home and kill him, this barbaric Kamsa killed so many of Your elder brothers. As soon as he hears from his lieutenants that You have appeared, he will immediately come with weapons to kill You.
Now Devaki, still feeling overwhelmed, addressed Bhagavan.
देवक्युवाच
मर्त्यो मृत्युव्यालभीतः पलायन्
लोकान् सर्वान्निर्भयं नाध्यगच्छत् ।
त्वत्पादाब्जं प्राप्य यदृच्छयाद्य
स्वस्थः शेते मृत्युरस्मादपैति ॥ २७॥
स त्वं घोरादुग्रसेनात्मजान्न-
स्त्राहि त्रस्तान् भृत्यवित्रासहासि ।
रूपं चेदं पौरुषं ध्यानधिष्ण्यं
मा प्रत्यक्षं मांसदृशां कृषीष्ठाः ॥ २८॥
जन्म ते मय्यसौ पापो मा विद्यान्मधुसूदन ।
समुद्विजे भवद्धेतोः कंसादहमधीरधीः ॥ २९॥
उपसंहर विश्वात्मन्नदो रूपमलौकिकम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मश्रिया जुष्टं चतुर्भुजम् ॥
विश्वं यदेतत्स्वतनौ निशान्ते यथावकाशं पुरुषः परो भवान् ।
बिभर्ति सोऽयं मम गर्भगोऽभू- दहो नृलोकस्य विडम्बनं हि तत् ॥
T: "Bhagavan, No one in this material world has become free from the four principles birth, death, old age and disease, even by fleeing to various planets. But now that You have appeared, My Lord, death is fleeing in fear of You, and the living entities, having obtained shelter at Your lotus feet by Your mercy, are sleeping in full mental peace. My Lord, because You dispel all the fear of Your devotees, I request You to save us and give us protection from the terrible fear of Kamsa. Your form as Vishnu, the Paramatma Ishwara, is appreciated by yogis in meditation. Please make this present form of Yours invisible to those who see with material eyes. O Madhusudana, because of Your appearance, I am becoming more and more anxious in fear of Kamsa. Therefore, please arrange for that sinful Kamsa to be unable to understand that You have taken birth from my womb."
"O my Lord, You are the all-pervading Ishwara, and Your transcendental four-armed form, holding the Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma is unnatural for this world. Please withdraw this form and become just like a natural human child so that I may try to hide You somewhere!"
"At the time of devastation, the entire cosmos, containing all created moving and nonmoving entities, enter Your transcendental body and is held there without difficulty. But now this transcendental form has taken birth from my womb! People will not be able to believe this, and I shall become an object of ridicule."
श्रीभगवानुवाच
त्वमेव पूर्वसर्गेऽभूः पृश्निः स्वायम्भुवे सति । तदायं सुतपा नाम प्रजापतिरकल्मषः ॥
युवां वै ब्रह्मणाऽऽदिष्टौ प्रजासर्गे यदा ततः । सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं तेपाथे परमं तपः ॥
वर्षवातातपहिमघर्मकालगुणाननु । सहमानौ श्वासरोधविनिर्धूतमनोमलौ ॥
शीर्णपर्णानिलाहारावुपशान्तेन चेतसा । मत्तः कामानभीप्सन्तौ मदाराधनमीहतुः ॥
एवं वां तप्यतोस्तीव्रं तपः परमदुष्करम् । दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि द्वादशेयुर्मदात्मनोः ॥
तदा वां परितुष्टोऽहममुना वपुषानघे ।तपसा श्रद्धया नित्यं भक्त्या च हृदि भावितः ॥
प्रादुरासं वरदराड् युवयोः कामदित्सया । व्रियतां वर इत्युक्ते मादृशो वां वृतः सुतः ॥
अजुष्टग्राम्यविषयावनपत्यौ च दम्पती । न वव्राथेऽपवर्गं मे मोहितौ मम मायया ॥
गते मयि युवां लब्ध्वा वरं मत्सदृशं सुतम् । ग्राम्यान् भोगानभुञ्जाथां युवां प्राप्तमनोरथौ ॥
अदृष्ट्वान्यतमं लोके शीलौदार्यगुणैः समम् । अहं सुतो वामभवं पृश्निगर्भ इति श्रुतः ॥
तयोर्वां पुनरेवाहमदित्यामास कश्यपात् । उपेन्द्र इति विख्यातो वामनत्वाच्च वामनः ॥
तृतीयेऽस्मिन् भवेऽहं वै तेनैव वपुषाथ वाम् । जातो भूयस्तयोरेव सत्यं मे व्याहृतं सति ॥
एतद्वां दर्शितं रूपं प्राग्जन्मस्मरणाय मे । नान्यथा मद्भवं ज्ञानं मर्त्यलिङ्गेन जायते ॥
युवां मां पुत्रभावेन ब्रह्मभावेन चासकृत् । चिन्तयन्तौ कृतस्नेहौ यास्येथे मद्गतिं पराम् ॥
इत्युक्त्वाऽऽसीद्धरिस्तूष्णीं भगवानात्ममायया । पित्रोः सम्पश्यतोः सद्यो बभूव प्राकृतः शिशुः ॥
Now Bhagavan smiled and replied.
"My dear mother, you and father here, Vasudeva, were in your ancient birth Prishni and Prajapati Sutapa. You prayed for progeny and followed severe austerities as advised by Lord Brahma.
My dear father and mother, you endured rain, wind, strong sun, scorching heat and severe cold, suffering all sorts of hardships according to different seasons. By practising pranayama to control the air within the body through yoga, and by eating only air and dry leaves fallen from the trees, you cleansed from your minds all dirty things. In this way, desiring a benediction from Me, you worshipped Me with peaceful minds. At the end of twelve thousand years, you had My Darshan. You wished for a child just the same as I am in appearance. You were still bound by bodily attachments due to Maya and did not seek liberation. I was later born through your physical union as Prishnigarbha. Later, you were Sage Kashyapa and Aditi! I was then born again to you as Vamana, Upendra. This is the third time I am born as your son!"
"Both of you, husband and wife, constantly think of Me as your son, but you should always know that I am the Parama Purusha. By thus thinking of Me constantly with love and affection, you will achieve the highest perfection: returning home, back to Godhead."
Now Bhagavan remained silent and presently transformed Himself into a newborn human infant.
Just as Vasudeva was carrying out Bhagavan's instructions, Yoga Maya was born at that exact moment as the child of Yashoda in Gokula. All the guards and doorkeepers everywhere were under Her influence and deep asleep. The iron chains binding Vasudeva broke free. The prison doors flung open. As Vasudeva lifted the baby in a basket and moved out, the divine Adi Shesha appeared, and held his immense hood as an umbrella, sheltering them from Indra's torrential downpour. As Vasudva moved towards Gokula, the Yamuna parted in the middle and gave way. This was, Sage Vyasa says, very much like the way the Lord of the Ocean gave way for Sri Rama to build a bridge across to Lanka!
When Vasudeva reached the house of King Nanda, he saw that all the cowherd men were fast asleep. He then placed his own son on the bed of Yashoda, picked up her newborn girl child, an expansion of Yoga Maya, and then returned to his cell in the prison house of Kamsa.
Vasudeva then placed the female child on the bed of Devaki, bound his legs with the iron shackles, and assumed his place there as before.
Exhausted by the labour of childbirth, Yashoda was overwhelmed with sleep and did not understand what kind of child had been born to her.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
