॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 13 April 2023 - X a.17 - Why Kaliya was camping near Yamuna. After Kaliya's departure, a forest fire engulfs all and Sri Krishna drinks up the infernal fire!
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Indeed, Ramanaka Dweepa was the island where all the serpents had been living. They shared an inborn hostility to Garuda, their step-brother, whose food was snakes! They came to an arrangement that once a month, Garuda would come for his meal and a serpent would be offered as his food under a tree. That would make Garuda stay away for the rest of the month.
This arrangement worked until Kaliya, a powerful King Cobra, decided he was powerful enough to defy Garuda. He began to go and eat up Garuda's offering! This was not countenanced by Garuda. When Garuda came and knew what had happened, he attacked Kaliya. Kaliya bit him on his chest and tried to kill him. But Garuda was a divine being, a vehicle of Maha Vishnu, and survived.
तं तार्क्ष्यपुत्रः स निरस्य मन्युमान्प्र चण्डवेगो मधुसूदनासनः ।
पक्षेण सव्येन हिरण्यरोचिषा जघान कद्रूसुतमुग्रविक्रमः ॥
T: Garuda then swooped on Kaliya in utter rage. His force was unbearable as he smashed Kaliya with his left wing, golden and radiant. That blow nearly killed Kaliya but he surrvived.
Kaliya, now fearing for his life, found a safe haven near Yamuna. The story which was known only to him among the serpents was that Garuda had once offended Sage Saubhari who had prohibited him from fishing in the Yamuna. That was where the sage was staying and had given protection to all the fish. Once, Garuda was very hungry and looking for fish. He laughed at the sage's instruction when he was warned and ate up the king of that school of fish. The fish were most distraught to lose their leader. Sage Saubhari cursed Garuda that he shall never again attack fish in the Yamuna. Garuda, apologetic, stayed away from the Yamuna henceforth. Kaliya, therefore, made his safe haven there and created his celebrated snake pit.
Now when Sri Krishna told Kaliya that Garuda would henceforth spare him and he shall return to Ramanaka, Kaliya was greatly relieved. His queens showered precious gifts in gratitude on Sri Krishna.
The Gopas and their cattle had found a new life, thanks to Sri Krishna. Nanda, Yashoda and Rohini hugged Krishna and showered kisses. So did Balarama, seating him on his lap.
Holy Brahmins came to felicitate Nanda on the fortunate way Sri Krishna had triumphed against Kaliya and also the liberation of the Gokula people and their cattle from the torment of Kaliya. They requested generous gifts in celebration, which Nanda was most happy to give.
Everyone was most tired. They had no energy left to return to Gokula. They camped for the night in the same spot. Vyasa says that the mountains, trees, animals and birds all seemed in a joyous mood.
That night, while all the Vraja citizens and their animals were resting in the forest, a strange thing occurred. The forest was quite dry since it was the hot season before rain. The dry branches rubbed against one another in the night wind and this started a huge forest fire. The fierce fire woke up everyone. They all rushed to Krishna.
तत उत्थाय सम्भ्रान्ता दह्यमाना व्रजौकसः । कृष्णं ययुस्ते शरणं मायामनुजमीश्वरम् ॥
कृष्ण कृष्ण महाभाग हे रामामितविक्रम । एष घोरतमो वह्निस्तावकान् ग्रसते हि नः ॥
सुदुस्तरान्नः स्वान् पाहि कालाग्नेः सुहृदः प्रभो । न शक्नुमस्त्वच्चरणं सन्त्यक्तुमकुतोभयम् ॥
इत्थं स्वजनवैक्लव्यं निरीक्ष्य जगदीश्वरः । तमग्निमपिबत्तीव्रमनन्तोऽनन्तशक्तिधृक् ॥
T: The rudely awakened Gopas rushed to Krishna, in surrender, knowing well that he was divinity alone in the garb of a human. "Oh, Krishna, Krishna! Lord, and Balarama too, see this deadly fire! It is going to consume all that are dear to you both! Lord Krishna, save us from this Kalagni (Inferno). We are surrendered totally to you and have nowhere to go."
Jagadishwara, Lord of the Universe, Sri Krishna, felt immense compassion for them all. He simply opened his mouth and swallowed up the forest fire.
After all, Vyasa says, he was अनन्तशक्तिधृक् the master of limitless powers.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
