॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 7 April 2023 - X a.11 - Sri Krishna wards off two more demons, Vatsasura and Bakasura, in Vrindavan.
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बाला ऊचुरनेनेति तिर्यग्गतमुलूखलम् । विकर्षता मध्यगेन पुरुषावप्यचक्ष्महि ॥
न ते तदुक्तं जगृहुर्न घटेतेति तस्य तत् । बालस्योत्पाटनं तर्वोः केचित्सन्दिग्धचेतसः ॥
उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं स्वमात्मजम् । विलोक्य नन्दः प्रहसद्वदनो विमुमोच ह ॥
T: The terrific sound of the uprooting of the Arjuna trees brought everyone running. Nobody could understand how the trees had fallen apart with baby Krishna tied to the pestle stone wedged in between. The Gopa boys who had witnessed the event narrated how Sri Krishna had pulled through the gap with the pestle stone and had indeed uprooted the trees himself! But the elders continued to wonder what might have happened, albeit recalling Sri Krishna's previous amazing feats. Nanda, on the other hand, seeing his little boy tied thus to the pestle stone, smilingly untied him and petted Sri Krishna very fondly.
Shuka narrates how baby Krishna used to dance around and amuse the Gopis whenever they wanted. He was like a puppet doll for them! He would carry utensils, and show off his muscles like a wrestler. and generally, give them a good time. Shuka reminds us after all, Bhagavan is आत्मनो भृत्यवश्यताम् - a servant of his devotees!
In a mini miracle, once a fruit-seller woman came, and hearing her call, baby Krishna ran out to give her a handful of grain in exchange for fruits. But the little palms dropped all the grain on the street and he looked disappointed. But the woman gladly gave him a lot of fruits, out of ready love. At once, her basket was full of precious gems!
Shuka also describes how once, Balarama and Krishna were so busy playing with other kids on the Yamuna bank that Rohini and Yashoda were hard put to cajole them to come home, have a bath, get dressed well, drink milk and so on. Shuka has a great time telling us all this with much enjoyment!
Nanda and the other elders conferred and decided that many disquieting events had occurred in Gokula. Nobody had forgotten Putana, Trinavarta, Shakata and Yamalarjuna episodes. Krishna and everyone else too were in constant danger! Better to move away for some time.
They took everyone in a big caravan to a wooded edge of the forest full of lovely trees called Vrindavan. The carts were neatly parked in a large semicircle. People put up tents and encamped there. The boys were as usual busy with grazing the calves etc. Sri Krishna was playing the flute, dancing, and playing several games with other children. Everyone was mimicking the sounds of birds and squirrels and monkeys and so on for fun.
Just then Vatsasura came in the form of a calf, intent on attacking Sri Krishna. Recognising him for what he was, Krishna signalled silently to Balarama, went to the imposter calf, and caught him by his hind legs and tail. Soon a scuffle followed and Krishna lifted the calf and twirled him overhead violently and dashed him against a Bel tree. Much to everyone's frightened amazement, the demon died revealing his original Asuric form as he crashed and broke many trees. There was a shower of auspicious flowers from the heavens as the Gopas surrounded Sri Krishna with shouts of "Victory! Bravo!"
स वै बको नाम महानसुरो बकरूपधृक् ।
आगत्य सहसा कृष्णं तीक्ष्णतुण्डोऽग्रसद्बली ॥
तमापतन्तं स निगृह्य तुण्डयोर्दोर्भ्यां बकं कंससखं सतां पतिः ।
पश्यत्सु बालेषु ददार लीलयामुदावहो वीरणवद्दिवौकसाम् ॥
T: Once, all the boys took the herd of cattle and calves to a large watering hole. What did they see!? A huge demoniac crane (बकासुर). With his frighteningly long and sharp giant beak, the bird rushed and swallowed little Krishna in an instant. Trapped inside, Krishna raised his own body heat so much that Baka had to spit him out like burning charcoal. A fight ensued and Baka did his best to poke, pierce and kill Krishna. Krishna simply smashed a few blows to the giant bird and as he fell down, Krishna caught his huge beaks, prising them open and killing him. It was Bakasura, an associate of Kamsa! All the cowherds looking on were amazed and astounded and took time to recover and celebrate their hero again.
The Gopas and Gopis decided to return to Vraja.
श्रुत्वा तद्विस्मिता गोपा गोप्यश्चातिप्रियादृताः । प्रेत्यागतमिवौत्सुक्यादैक्षन्त तृषितेक्षणाः ॥
T: All the Gopas and Gopis who heard the story of Krishna's fight against Bakasura were full of wonder. Their love for Sri Krishna as their beloved boy who was also their saviour burst all bounds. They could not stop feasting their eyes on Sri Krishna.
Nanda and the other elders could not but recall the prophecy of Sage Garga who had foretold the wonderful deeds and miraculous feats of Sri Krishna who would save all Gokula. They said a silent prayer in their hearts repeatedly.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
