|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 176 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 27

Sa Vai  Bako Nama  Mahanasuro Bakaroopadhrik | Agathya Sahasa  Krishnam Theekshna Thundograsathbali || Krishnam Mahabaka Grastham Dhrishtva Ramadhayorbaka: || Baboovurindhriyaneeva Vina Pranam Vichethasa: ||

Little Krishna along with the children of cowherds, herds of cow and calve arrived on the riverbank of Yamuna.  There was another challenge waiting for Little Krishna, a demon in the form of a pelican/large waterbird with pouched beak, on the river bank, immediately Krishna understood that it is not a normal bird, definitely, it would cause harm.   Instantly the pelican rushed to little Krishna and wide opened its mouth and stuffed little Krishna in its large pouch, but the pelican could not hold on the child on his pouch for a longer time due to the extreme heat, it spews out Krishna,  he dashed to the pelican and rip opened its large beak.  In this way, little Krishna provides salvation to the demon Bakasura.  The children returned home narrated all that happened in the woods; Nandababa remembered the words of Gargacharya that Krishna would face many challenges in his life.  In this way, the Little Krishna spread happiness all over the Vrindavan, performing various amusements and protected the people of Vraja free from troubles and sorrows.

In this legend, pelican represents human intellect, it has endless capabilities.   A studious person performs devotion like a pelican with intense devotion and dedication.  The pelican has an ability to sleep standing on a single leg, and it meticulously catches its pray standing on its single leg.  The Baka prepared to swallow the supreme spirit with its large pouched beak, but Krishna discouraged his effort by rip opening his beak and provided him the union with the Bhramam.  Although the human intellect and mind have immense potential, originated from the supreme soul, it has certain limitations too.  The human intellect has been soaked in worldly matters and sensual pleasures since the moment it has taken birth, therefore it cannot understand the vastness of supreme Lord who is all-pervading, but it can surrender to it and take shelter in it like the river merges in the vast ocean.