॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 15 April 2023 - X a.19 - The cows and cowherds wander deep into a jungle that is then caught up in a big fire that Sri Krishna quells easily, revealing his divinity.
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क्रीडासक्तेषु गोपेषु तद्गावो दूरचारिणीः । इषीकाटवीं निर्विविशुः क्रन्दन्त्यो दावतर्षिताः ॥
तेऽपश्यन्तः पशून् गोपाः कृष्णरामादयस्तदा । जातानुतापा न विदुर्विचिन्वन्तो गवां गतिम् ॥
मुञ्जाटव्यां भ्रष्टमार्गं क्रन्दमानं स्वगोधनम् । सम्प्राप्य तृषिताः श्रान्तास्ततस्ते सन्न्यवर्तयन् ॥
ता आहूता भगवता मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । स्वनाम्नां निनदं श्रुत्वा प्रतिनेदुः प्रहर्षिताः ॥
ततः समन्ताद्वनधूमकेतुर्यदृच्छयाभूत्क्षयकृद्वनौकसाम् ।
समीरितः सारथिनोल्बणोल्मुकैर्विलेलिहानः स्थिरजङ्गमान् महान् ॥
T: As the boys totally immersed themselves in their different games and pastimes, they neglected to watch over the grazing cattle. Soon, all the cows, bulls, buffaloos and goats had wandered far away into the forest. The cattle were finally beaten by the blazing sun in a wooded area full of tall and dry grass. They were most distressed.
The cowherds realised that the cattle had all wandered away. Their hectic search started but yielded no clues despite their following the hoove-marks. Alas! What would become of their poor cattle!?
Sri Krishna then called out in an intense, loud, voice that rumbled like the clouds to be heard far and wide, the nMea of the cows and calves. The cows and other animals heard him. All the animals called back with much relieved sounds of moos! The cowherds rushed to where the animals were stranded.
But then, at that very moment, a sudden forest fire started. The winds blew intensely and fanned the fire into a deadly blaze.
This reminds us of how Nature has a regulatory mechanism against all excesses of life. Rampant vegetation is tamed by forest fires. Predators and prey maintain an equilibrium ofwildlife in the jungle. Mankind should know that unbridled exploitation of nature is never sustainable! I have seen videos of forest fires in southern Australia with firewalls as high as 70 feet!
ऊचुश्च कृष्णं सबलं प्रपन्ना यथा हरिं मृत्युभयार्दिता जनाः ॥
T: All the cowherds and animals then simply surrendered to Sri Krishna, just as when fearful of imminent death, one surrenders to Sri Hari.
नूनं त्वद्बान्धवाः कृष्ण न चार्हन्त्यवसादितुम् ।
वयं हि सर्वधर्मज्ञ त्वन्नाथास्त्वत्परायणाः ॥
T: "Dear Krishna, mighty Balarama! Save us from this inferno! Dear Krishna, we are your people, we should not perish like this in this fire. We are surrendered to you, you know everything of Dharma, oh, Krishna, save your own devotees!"
Sri Krishna was full of overflowing compassion and grace. He saw the fear of death in everyone's eyes. He said, "Fear not, dear ones! All of you please close your eyes at once, keep them shut till I ask you to open them." They complied quickly, silently.
तथेति मीलिताक्षेषु भगवानग्निमुल्बणम् ।
पीत्वा मुखेन तान् कृच्छ्राद्योगाधीशो व्यमोचयत् ॥
T: As the cowherds tightly closed their eyes, Bhagavan Sri Krishna opened his mouth, and quietly sucked up all that huge, rampant, forest fire, taking a Yogic breath. Thus he saved everyone from certain death. The cowherds now opened their eyes to see there was no fire anymore! All the cattle and all the cowherds had tided over the greatest of dangers that has driven them to utter despair. They were simply astounded.
कृष्णस्य योगवीर्यं तद्योगमायानुभावितम् ।
दावाग्नेरात्मनः क्षेमं वीक्ष्य ते मेनिरेऽमरम् ॥
T: The cowherds murmured in total awe about Sri Krishna's Yogic Power. His Yogic mastery of Maya. They were now certain that Sri Krishna was not a human, but a god!
The cows and everyone walked back safely home, walking to Sri Krishna's music flowing from his flute. Everyone had only a prayer of gratitude on their lips for Sri Krishna. Back home, the Gopis who were hankering to see Krishna back and who counted each second of separation as a millennium were immensely delighted to see their beloved hero return, and everyone back safely.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
