॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Tuesday, 28 March 2023 - X a.01 - The build-up to the incarnation of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.
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The Prologue of Swami Tapasyananda at the beginning of the tenth Skandha is a scholarly essay covering all aspects of Sri Krishna's interesting life and the concept of Bhakti. I shall keep quoting portions from time to time to enliven the narration.
Yesterday the audio and the complete first chapter text were shared. I shall confine myself to the free translation in English here.
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King Parikshit thanks Sage Shuka for the detailed recounting of the dynasties of the Lunar and Solar lineages. He now focusses on the incarnation of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu in the famed Yadu dynasty and wants to know everything! He says only a sinner would get bored and say,"Enough!" when Sage Shuka describes the glorious feats of the Lord!
निवृत्ततर्षैरुपगीयमानाद्भवौषधाच्छ्रोत्रमनोभिरामात् ।
क उत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवादात्पुमान् विरज्येत विना पशुघ्नात् ॥
T: "The glories sung of Bhagavan by the liberated souls, the delightful stories of the Lord who ameliorates the sufferings experienced in this existence, the happiest experience of listening to the praises of the Lord's divine attributes - who would get bored with that except an unfortunate sinner!?"
In an echo of the famous Shloka sung in every Bhagavadgita chanting, Parikshit says his ancestors, the famous Pandavas, could cross the terrible stormy waters of the Kurukshetra imbroglio and evil machinations of their close enemies only through the Lord's eternal grace. Did He not, indeed, enter Uttra's womb with his Sudarshana chakra to dispel the danger to Parikshit as a foetus?
प्रयच्छतो मृत्युमुतामृतं च मायामनुष्यस्य वदस्व विद्वन्
T: "Oh, wise Sage! Kindly tell me of Him who dispenses the Amrutha to His devotees and yet punishes with death the evil ones, all through His Divine Maya!"
Parikshit is also intrigued about this: Balarama has been just mentioned as the son of Rohini who was born in Devaki's womb! How come? Also, why did Sri Krishna leave his father's home and go to Nanda Gokula? Why did he kill his own uncle? How long did he live as a Yadava incarnate? Parikshit has all along been on a fast without even sipping water, but he now says:
नैषातिदुःसहा क्षुन्मां त्यक्तोदमपि बाधते । पिबन्तं त्वन्मुखाम्भोजच्युतं हरिकथामृतम् ॥
T: "Sir, this extreme bodily woe of not sipping even water during these many days does not really hurt me, for I have been drinking in the glories of Sri Hari Katha Amrutha from your lotus-face (मुखाम्भोज)."
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Sage Vyasa makes the Suta tell Shaunaka how Sage Shuka was most delighted by this passionate interest of Parikshit inn Sri Krishna's story, and how he began his narrative.
"Oh, Rajarshi! Your interest is focussed rightly! Questions about the Lord's glories and pastimes have the same effect as the Ganga, they sanctify the questioner, the one who answers, and of course those who hear the accounts!"
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Bhumi or Mother Earth was unable to bear the atrocities of Asuras and evil kings who were Asuras in another form. She went as a cow and begged Lord Brahma for relief. Brahma decided to take the matter up with the highest authority, and invoked Bhagavan Maha Vishnu Himself within himself, surrounded at that moment in time by her, Lord Shiva and other Devas. The revelation he received and shared was this: "Bhagavan is soon going to be born through His power as Kaala or Time among the Yadus. Go at once and, all of you, take birth among the Yadus and cowherds there! Bhagavan will be born to Vasudeva. Even Apsaras should be born as women to be engaged in His service! Adishesha will be born as His brother."
विष्णोर्माया भगवती यया सम्मोहितं जगत् । आदिष्टा प्रभुणांशेन कार्यार्थे सम्भविष्यति ॥
T: " Bhagavan's Vishnu Maya, who deludes all creation, will be born on earth to carry out His orders."
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Surasena ruled over Mathura. It is the land of Yadus and Bhagavan lives there forever. Vasudeva married Devaki there. The two began their post-wedding journey as man and bride for Vasudeva's city in a chariot. That chariot was being driven by Devaki's cousin, Kamsa who was delighted to do this. They were surrounded by a retinue of servants brought as dowry and many decorated vehicles. There were celebratory bands playing. Just then, Kamsa heard a divine oracle loud and clear. "Oh, Kamsa, you fool! This Devaki's eighth child will kill you!" Kamsa revealed his true nature at once and drew his sword to cut off the head of Devaki whose hair he had now grabbed. The noble soul, Vasudeva, also known as Anakadundhubhi (divine drums played out when he was born), spoke. "Oh, Kamsa, you are noble and the pride of Bhojas, how can you kill your own sister, that too during her nuptials!? Isn't death a sure certainty that no one can escape? All our life experiences accrue as a result of our own past Karmas. The Jiva changes bodies like a caterpillar changes its form. Life is like a dream, sometimes a nightmare, all unreal! This is the play of Maya. Jiva, instead of identifying himself with his Paramatma, thinks of himself as this body. When one harms someone, Yama lurks to give retribution. Just look at Devaki, frightened and crying piteously, your own sister!"
These words did not placate the evil-minded Kamsa. Vasudeva now reflected. "Let me tell Kamsa, "don't kill Devaki. We shall hand over our children to you." Anything can happen, but at least death is now averted. Life is indeed a mystery and throws a curved ball."
Vasudeva now bowed low to Kamsa. He was most aggrieved within but said as pleasantly as he could. "Don't fear anything from Devaki, Kamsa, as the oracle spoke. I shall hand over all our children to you, even though only one of them is said to be dangerous to you". Kamsa was relieved. He let go of Devaki and Devaki and Vasudeva went home.
Devaki had, one after another, eight sons, and a daughter. The first one of them was delivered by Vasudeva as a newborn to Kamsa. A pleased Kamsa said in a tone of charity, "Take the child back, Vasudeva. I need to be afraid only of your eighth born!" Vasudeva returned home with his child, of course, unsure of the future as Kamsa was known to be evil.
In the meanwhile, our favourite hero, Sage Narada, visited Kamsa. He had a startling revelation and warning to Kamsa, who sided with Asuras.
"Oh, Kamsa, I have to tell you that all the Yadus who live in Gokula under Nanda, who are fond of Devaki and Vasudeva, are all Devas born to destroy Asuras who are considered burdensome to Mother Earth!"
Kamsa did not take this warning lightly. He began to intensely hate the Yadus of Gokula as Devas, archenemies. He took Devaki and Vasudeva and put them in a well-guarded prison. He began killing Devaki's every child as soon as born in prison. Every child looked to him to be an impersonation of Vishnu. After all, human history is replete with stories of kings who killed mercilessly anyone they suspected or feared. Kamsa also realised that he had been in the past the Asura Kalanemi who was killed by Vishnu. Kamsa, therefore, began a systematic persecution of the Yadus. In the meanwhile, he also deposed his father, Ugrasena, put him in jail and announced himself as the unchallenged king of the entire Surasena kingdom and also other clans.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
