॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 6 April 2023 - X a.10 - Narada's way of reforming Yamala-arjunas out of their arrogance.
***
Nala Kubara and Manigriva were the twin sons of Lord Kubera, a close friend of Lord Shiva. They grew to a position of eminence and prosperity and also were in high positions in the employ of Lord Shiva. This got into their head.
Once, carefree, they disrobed and got into amorous sports with Apsaras in a pleasure garden with a lovely lake. They were lost in their water sports in the lake when Sage Narada, revered as the supreme ascetic from heaven, passed that way. The Apsaras covered themselves quickly fearing his curse for any misdemeanour of exposure. But the twins were drunk with liquor and almost senseless in their abandon and excess of pleasure. So they took no notice of Narada.
Imagine a Greek tycoon in some Pacific pleasure grove sporting with his chosen bevy of beauties.
Sage Narada was deeply disappointed with these two. He mused that drink, female company, wealth and pleasure addictions were enough to pull anyone to his complete doom.
देहः किमन्नदातुः स्वं निषेक्तुर्मातुरेव च । मातुः पितुर्वा बलिनः क्रेतुरग्नेः शुनोऽपि वा ॥
एवं साधारणं देहमव्यक्तप्रभवाप्ययम् ।
को विद्वानात्मसात्कृत्वा हन्ति जन्तून् ऋतेऽसतः ॥
असतः श्रीमदान्धस्य दारिद्र्यं परमञ्जनम् । आत्मौपम्येन भूतानि दरिद्रः परमीक्षते ॥
यथा कण्टकविद्धाङ्गो जन्तोर्नेच्छति तां व्यथाम्।
जीवसाम्यं गतो लिङ्गैर्न तथाविद्धकण्टकः ॥
दरिद्रो निरहंस्तम्भो मुक्तः सर्वमदैरिह । कृच्छ्रं यदृच्छयाऽऽप्नोति तद्धि तस्य परं तपः ॥
नित्यं क्षुत्क्षामदेहस्य दरिद्रस्यान्नकाङ्क्षिणः । इन्द्रियाण्यनुशुष्यन्ति हिंसापि विनिवर्तते ॥
दरिद्रस्यैव युज्यन्ते साधवः समदर्शिनः । सद्भिः क्षिणोति तं तर्षं तत आराद्विशुद्ध्यति ॥
साधूनां समचित्तानां मुकुन्दचरणैषिणाम् । उपेक्ष्यैः किं धनस्तम्भैरसद्भिरसदाश्रयैः ॥
तदहं मत्तयोर्माध्व्या वारुण्या श्रीमदान्धयोः । तमो मदं हरिष्यामि स्त्रैणयोरजितात्मनोः ॥ यदिमौ लोकपालस्य पुत्रौ भूत्वा तमःप्लुतौ । न विवाससमात्मानं विजानीतः सुदुर्मदौ ॥
अतोऽर्हतः स्थावरतां स्यातां नैवं यथा पुनः ।
स्मृतिः स्यान्मत्प्रसादेन तत्रापि मदनुग्रहात् ॥
वासुदेवस्य सान्निध्यं लब्ध्वा दिव्यशरच्छते ।
वृत्ते स्वर्लोकतां भूयो लब्धभक्ती भविष्यतः ॥T: "Alas! Man is so intoxicated with power and wealth that he stoops to any act of violence and illconduct! We identify ourselves with this body, and give it so many titles! To whom indeed does this body belong? The mother who bore it for nine months, or the father who nurtured its growth? Or the grandsire who fathered the mother to bear this child later!!!? Or the one who employs this body and extracts servitude? Or the one who buys it in the slave market? Or the firegod who gleefully swallows it on the funeral pyre? Or the wild dogs that come and nibble away at the carcass left without cremation?"
"Only one who is either stupid or sinning will consider this body his all and commit violence against other creatures for his food or pleasure. The best way to get rid of the arrogance of wealth is a dose of poverty. At least a poor man sees others suffering like himself. A man who steps on a thorn and feels the pain would not wish for others to suffer likewise. Not one suited and booted! A poor man resigns himself to his lot. A poor man will not kill for food. A lucky one among the poor may even lose his interest in money if he meets a holy man and is transformed."
(This idea is profound. When does one lose interest in money? By becoming rich or realising its uselessness when poor!? Worth a thought).
"Only when someone transcends the attachment to wealth and pleasure will he be ready for the higher life. Once a man is on the path to liberation, he will avoid the company of people like these two men, steeped in pleasures and mindless of fate. I think it is high time that these two are reformed and freed from their addictions to wine and women. They don't even see my presence and cover themselves! They are therefore fit to be born as trees, a form of life with the lowest level of consciousness. That will put an end to their pride and attachment to the body."
"When the time is ripe, I also bless them that they will get contact with Bhagavan (Maha Vishnu as Sri Krishna) and develop devotion. That will confer freedom on them."
***
Nala Kubara and Manigreeva were thus born as Arjuna trees. By Narada's grace, the trees remembered their folly and the curse. They were praying for liberation. Sri Krishna now thought,
देवर्षिर्मे प्रियतमो यदिमौ धनदात्मजौ । तत्तथा साधयिष्यामि यद्गीतं तन्महात्मना ॥
T:" Well, Sage Narada is dearest to me. Now is the time to fulfil his wish for the liberation of these two sons of Kubera!"
Sri Krishna the infant now crawled between the two very tall Arjuna trees that were very close to each other. Whereas the baby could pass in the gap, the pestle stone was caught on the other side. Baby Krishna pulled hard, and it was enough for the two huge trees to come crashing down root and all with an extremely loud noise.
Two radiant beings emerged from the trees. They at once fell to their knees and prayed:
कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगिंस्त्वमाद्यः पुरुषः परः ।
व्यक्ताव्यक्तमिदं विश्वं रूपं ते ब्राह्मणा विदुः ॥
T: "Oh Supreme Lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna! We know you to be Yogeshwara and Purushottama! Only realised sages and enlightened Brahmins know that this whole creation is nothing but your expression!"
"Lord. you are omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. You create the universe full of the three Gunas. You are unknowable by the mind or the senses. You are beyond modification and the force of Prakriti. We bow down to you, Sri Krishna! Save us!"
वाणी गुणानुकथने श्रवणौ कथायां हस्तौ च कर्मसु मनस्तव पादयोर्नः ।
स्मृत्यां शिरस्तव निवासजगत्प्रणामे दृष्टिः सतां दर्शनेऽस्तु भवत्तनूनाम् ॥
T: "Oh Lord, may our voices sing your glories. May our ears hear your glories. May our hands serve you, our minds be immersed in your lotus feet. The entire cosmos is your dwelling. Let us see you everywhere! Let us have the company of the realised ones!"
Bhagavan Sri Krishna smiled and spoke. "Oh, Guhyakas, sons of Kubera, your arrogance of wealth and pleasure was tamed by Sage Narada thus out of his extreme compassion. Know that only those totally and constantly focussed in devotion to me will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Now you return to your homes. "
The Nala Kubara and Manigreeva twins travelled northward in a state of fulfilment and devotion.
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
