A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 65

The Monkey-general Dvi-vid was a minister of Sugriva and brother of Mainda. He was a friend of Naraka, son of Earth. To take revenge for his friend's death, he began to do all sorts of mischief, especially in the regions of Dvaraka.

Balarama was in the midst of some girls on the Raivataka hill. The monkey made all sorts of gestures to annoy and insult the girls and he provoked Balarama again and again who then killed Dvi-vid, to the great joy of all.

SaMBA, LAKSHANa AND BALARaMA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 68.*

Lakshana, daughter of Duryodhana, was to select her own husband, and there was an a.s.sembly of princes. Samba, son of Jambavati, carried away the girl by force. The Kauravas could not brook this insult. Bhishma, Kama, Salya, Bhuri, Yajna Ketu and Duryodhana united to defeat Samba and they brought him back as a prisoner. Narada gave the information to the Vrishnis and their chief Ugrasena gave them permission to fight with the Kauravas. Balarama did not like that the Kurus and Yadus should fight with one another. So he went himself to Hastinapura. He remained outside the town and sent Uddhava to learn the views of Dhrita-Rashtra. The Kurus came in a body to receive Balarama. When the formalities were over, Balarama composedly asked the Kurus, in the name of king Ugrasena, to restore Samba. The Kurus proudly replied: "We have given the kingdom to the Vrishnis and Yadus. A wonder indeed, they want to become our equals and to dictate to us! Surely the lamb cannot take away the lion's game."

Balarama thought how foolish the Kurus had become. They did not know the powers of Ugrasena and of Krishna. In anger he exclaimed, "I will make the earth to be stripped of all Kauravas" He took his plough and gave a pull to Hastinapura. The town became topsy-turvy. The Kurus came and adored him. They brought back Samba and Lakshana. Duryodhana made large presents and Balarama became appeased. He went back with Samba and his bride to Hastinapura and related what had happened to the Yadus.

NARADA AND THE WIVES OF SRI KRISHNA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 69.*

"What a wonder that Sri Krishna married 16 thousand girls, all at one and the same time, with but one body!" So thought Narada and he came to see things with his own eyes at Dvaraka. He entered one of the rooms and found Krishna seated with one of the girls. Krishna washed the feet of Narada and sprinkled the water over his body.

The Ris.h.i.+ entered another room. Krishna was playing at dice with one of his wives and with Uddhava. He entered another room and found Krishna was taking care of his children.

So he entered room after room. Krishna was either bathing or making preparations for the sacrifice, or feeding Brahmanas, or making recitals of Gayatri, or riding, or driving, or taking counsel of ministers, or making gifts, or hearing recitals of sacred books. He was in one place following Dharma, in one Artha and in another Kama.

Narada smiled and said: - "O Lord of Yoga, I know the Yogic Maya, by service at Thy feet, as it is manifest in me, though hard of perception by those that are themselves under the influence of Maya. Now permit me to roam about the Lokas, filled with Thy glory, singing Thy deeds, which purify all the worlds."

Sri Krishna said: -

"O Brahmana, I am the teacher, the maker and the recogniser of Dharma.

It is to teach people that I have resorted to all this. O Son, do not be deluded."

THE RAJA SUYA AND JARASANDHA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 70-73.*

Krishna was holding council in the a.s.sembly Room called Sudharma. A Brahmana came as a messenger from the Rajas who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha and confined in a hill fort. The Rajas sought their delivery from Krishna, who had defeated Jarasandha seven times and had been defeated by him only once.

Narada appeared at the time. Krishna enquired from him about the Pandavas. The Ris.h.i.+ said: -

"Raja Yudhisthira intends to perform the great Yajna Raja Suya in Thy honor. Please give thy consent". Krishna turned towards Uddhava and asked for advice.

Uddhava gauged the feelings of Narada, of Krishna and the a.s.sembly and said: -

"It is meet thou shouldst help thy cousin in the performance of Raja Suya Yajna and also that thou shouldst protect the Rajas that seek relief from thee. Kings all round will have to be conquered at the Raja Suya sacrifice. The defeat of Jarasandha will follow as a matter of course. Thus shall we see the fulfilment of our great desire and the liberation of the Rajas shall redound to Thy glory. Both ends will be served in this way. But Jarasandha is very powerful. He should not be fought with while at the head of his large army. Bhima is equal to him in strength. Let him fight singly with Jarasandha. That king does not refuse any prayer of Brahmanas. Let Bhima ask for single combat in the disguise of a Brahmana. Surely that son of Pandu will kill him in thy presence."

Krishna gave kind a.s.surances to the messenger of the captive kings and left for Hastinapura.

The Pandavas vied with one another in shewing respectful love to Krishna and Arjuna delivered up the Khandava forest to Agni and liberated Maya.

In return for this kindness, Maya made the magical a.s.sembly ground for the Yajna.

All the kings were brought under submission by Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and the allied kings, except Jarasandha.

Bhima, Arjuna and Krishna went to the seat of Jarasandha in the disguise of Brahmanas.

They begged hospitality from the king. King Jarasandha concluded from their voice, their shape and from the arrow marks on their hands that they were Kshatriyas. He also thought they were his acquaintances.

"These are Kshatriyas, though they wear the marks of brahmanas. I will give them what they ask even though it be my own self, so difficult to part with. Is not the pure glory of Bali spread in all directions, though he was deprived of his lordly powers by Vishnu in the disguise of a Brahmana? Vishnu wanted to restore the lords.h.i.+p of the Triloki to India. Bali knew the Brahmana in disguise to be Vishnu. He still made over the Triloki to him, even against the protests of his Guru Sukra.

This body of a Kshatriya, frail as it is, what purpose will it serve if wide fame is not acquired by means of it for the sake of a Brahmana?"

Turning to Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima, Jarasandha said: - "O Brahmanas, ask what you wish for. Even if it be my own head, I shall give it to you."

Krishna replied: "Give us a single combat, if you please, O King. We are Kshatriyas and have come for fight. We desire nothing else. This is Bhima. This is his brother Arjuna. Know me to be their cousin Krishna, thy enemy." The king of Magadha broke out in loud laughter. In anger he then exclaimed: - "O fools, I will give you a fight then. But thou art a coward. Thou didst run away from Mathura and didst take shelter in the sea. This Arjuna is not my equal in age. He is not very strong. He is unlike me in his body. So he cannot be my rival. This Bhima is my match in strength." So saying he gave one club to Bhima and took one himself.

The two heroes fought outside the town. The fight was a drawn one.

Krishna knew about the birth, death and life of Jarasandha. He thought in his mind about the joining together by the Rakshasa woman Jara. (The legend is that Jarasandha was born, divided in two halves, which were put together by the Rakshasa woman Jara.) Krishna took a branch in his hand and tore it asunder. Bhima took the hint. He put his foot on one of the legs of Jarasandha and took the other in his hand and tore asunder the body in two equal parts.

Krishna placed Sahadeva, the son of Jarasandha, on the throne of Magadha, He then liberated the kings who had been imprisoned by Jarasandha. They were twenty thousand and eight hundred in number. They saw Krishna with four hands and with all the divine attributes. Their eyes, tongues and noses all fed upon him, as it were, and their hands were stretched forth to receive him. They all fell at the feet of Krishna and began to adore him.

"We do not blame the king of Magadha. O Lord, it is by Thy favor, that kings are deprived of their thrones. Humbled, we remember Thy feet. We do not long for any kingdom in this life, nor do we care for the fruits of good works after death. Tell us that which will keep the recollection of Thy feet ever fresh in this life."

Sri Krishna replied: -

"From this day forward let your devotion towards me, the Lord of all, be made firm and fixed. Your resolve is commendable. It is true as you say that riches and power turn the heads of princes. Look at Haihaya, Nahusha Vena, Ravana, Naraka and others. Though kings of Devas, Daityas and men, they came down from their lofty position through pride. Knowing as you do that the body and all other things that have a beginning have also an end, you should wors.h.i.+p me, perform sacrifices and duly protect your subjects. Indifferent to good and bad things alike, fix your minds completely on me and you shall attain me in the end."

Krishna made arrangements for their comfort. At his bidding, Sahadeva supplied them with kingly dresses and valuable ornaments and gave them princely treatment. Krishna sent them to their respective kingdoms.

Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna then returned to Hastinapura.

SISUPaLA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 74.*

Yudhisthira commenced the performance of the Yajna. He asked permission of Krishna to make a respectful call on the priests that were to officiate at the ceremonies. Vyasa, Bharadvaja, Sumanta, Gotama, Asita, Vasishtha, Chyavana, Kanva, Maitreya and other Ris.h.i.+s, Drona, Bhishma, Kripa and others, Dhritarashra with his sons, Vidura, Brahmanas, Vaisyas and Sudras: all the kings and their subjects came to witness the Yajna.

The Brahmanas prepared the sacrificial ground with golden ploughs. They then initiated king Yudhisthira according to the Vedic rites. The Ritvik Brahmanas duly a.s.sisted at the performance of the Rajasuya. On the day of extracting Soma Juice, the king duly wors.h.i.+pped the priests and their a.s.sistants. Then the time came for wors.h.i.+pping those that were present at the a.s.sembly. Now who was to be wors.h.i.+pped first? There were many head-men present and the members consulted with one another as to who deserved to get the first offering but they could not come to a decision. Sahadeva then addressed the meeting thus: -

"Sri Krishna, the Lord of the Satvats, deserves the first place. All the Devas, Time, s.p.a.ce, wealth and all else are but himself. He is the soul of the Universe. He is the essence of all sacrifices, the sacrificial fire, the sacrificial offerings and Mantras, Sankhya and Yoga; all relate to him. He is the one without a second. Alone, He creates, preserves and destroys. By His favor men make various performances and from Him they attain the fruits of those performances. Give the first welcome-offering of respect to that Great Krishna. All beings and even Self shall be honored by this. Krishna is the soul of all beings. All differences vanish before him."

All good people approved of the proposal of Sahadeva.

Raja Yudhisthira washed the feet of Krishna and sprinkled the water over his own head and that of his relatives. He then made valuable offerings to him. All people saluted Krishna, saying "Namas" (salutation) and "Jaya" (Victory), and flowers rained over his head.

Sisupala could not bear all this. He stood up in the midst of the a.s.sembly and thus gave vent to his feelings.

"True is the saying that time is hard to overcome. Or how could even old men be led away by the words of a boy? You leaders of the a.s.sembly know best what are the relative merits of all. Do not endorse the words of a boy that Krishna deserves to get the first welcome-offering of respect Here are great Ris.h.i.+s, fixed on Brahma, great in asceticism, wisdom and religious practices, adored even by the Lokapalas, their impurities all completely removed by divine perception. Overstepping them all, how could this cowherd (_Gopala_) boy, the disgrace (_pansana_) of his family (_Kula_), deserve to be wors.h.i.+pped, as if the crow (_Kaka_) deserves to get the sacrificial oblation (_purodasa_)? (Sridhara explains this Sloka and the following ones as a veiled adoration of Sri Krishna. _Gopala_ is the protector of Vedas, of the Earth and of others.

The word _go_ means the Vedas and the Earth, besides "cow." _Kula pansana_ = Kulapa+ansana. _Kulapas_ are sinners. He who destroys (_Ansa_) them is _Kula pansana_. _Kaka_ may be read as compounded with another word in the Sloka, in the form of _akaka_. _Kaka_ is ka + aka.

_Ka_ is happiness, _aka_ is misery. He who has neither happiness nor misery is _akaka_ _i.e._, one who has got all his desires. One who has got all his desires does not only deserve to get the _purodasa_ offering of the Devas but all other offerings. I do not think it necessary to reproduce the double interpretation by Sridhara of the other Slokas, which is continued in the same strain.) He has gone away from his Varna, asrama and Kula. He is outside all injunctions and duties. He follows his own will. He is void of attributes (_Gunas_). How can he deserve to be wors.h.i.+pped? King Yayati cursed his line and it is not honored by good people. His clansmen are addicted to unnecessary drinking. How can he deserve to be wors.h.i.+pped? They left the the lands where the Ris.h.i.+s dwell, and made their fort on the Sea; moreover they oppress their subjects like robbers."