|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 295 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  146

Santhana Gopalam

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, The wife of Bhramin got pregnant with the tenth child; he remembered the promise of Arjuna and took shelter in him.  Arjuna arrived in Dwarakara with his divine weapons and Gandeeva to protect the child.  A divine chamber was arranged with the power of Astra, for the delivery of the child.  Thus a Soothigriham/delivery room was constructed with the bed of arrows/Sharapanjjaram.  The Brahmin was extremely happy to see the whole new arrangements, and his wife was thrilled to give birth to the child.   Arjuna was excited and prepared to perform the task which was not performed by Krishna or Balaram.  Thus the time has arrived for the delivery of the child; they could hear a loud shriek of the wife of Bhramin. The husband went to check on his wife, she cried out loudly saying that, even though she has given birth to the child but there was no trace of the child in the chamber.  Bhramin could not control his anger, he cursed Phalguna for his false promise, and he showered abuses on Arjuna ‘Oh! Arjuna, you have promised to protect our child, you have self-praised your valor as a Kshatriya, comparing to Krishna, Balarama, Pradhyumna, and Aniruddha, see what happened now.” Arjuna felt ashamed of himself, disappeared from the sight of Bhramin and conducted rigorous searches in the abode of Yama, Indra, Agni, Nairuthi, Saumya, Vayavya, Varuni, Rasathalam, and Nakaprishtam.”  Arjuna had to return empty-handed before the Bhramin who was already in a rage, arranged a heap of woods and asked to perform the atonement for his false promise. Arjuna prepared to sacrifice his body in the fire, someone sized his hand forcefully, and it was Krishna with a mischievous smile. 

Krishna invoked a celestial chariot, and both of them were seated on the chariot, it has crossed  Sapthadhveepa, Sapthasindhu, Sapthagiri, and Sapthaloka,  and it has arrived in a place of extreme darkness, Arjuna was horrified watching the unique sight.   Soon Krishna hurled his divine Chakra; it moved ahead releasing supreme brilliance.  Suddenly Arjuna witnessed an intense radiance of thousands of Adithyas, Lord Narayana seated on the thousand hooded serpent Anantha, was surrounded by Rishis and Sages eulogizing him.  The supreme Lord adorned in magnificent ear ornaments and crown, various precious ornaments, Kausthubham, Srivathsam, and Vanamala. He was surrounded by Sunandha, Nandha and Parshwadhas, he was holding divine weapons in eight arms, Shankha, Chakra, Kaumodhaka, Padma, bow, protective shield, sword,  and arrow.  Krishna and Arjuna got down from the chariot and prostrated before the supreme Lord Adi Narayana. 

Lord Vishnu speaks “ Oh! Krishna and Arjuna, I have brought the sons of Dhvija in my custodian, to produce both of you in my abode. You both have incarnated on the Earth at my command and you both are my inseparable part, after performing the amusements you can return to me.” Krishna and Arjuna prostrated before supreme Lord Narayana and returned with the children of Dhvija. Thus, Arjuna’s pride was shattered, understood all that valorousness and fame was achieved with the grace of Krishna, he realized that it was the boundless mercy of Krishna protected him all through his life.

In this legend Maharishi Vedavyasa talks about the Pravriththi Marga and Nivriththi Marga.  The living beings are bound by Karma, the Pravriththi Marga describes the performance of the Karma with great enthusiasm but without expecting its fruitful results, and the Nivriththi Marga is the attainment of renunciation/sense of abandonment. Even though the Dhvija has lost all his children were safely under the custodian of Adi Narayana, Arjuna who was swollen with the pride of a Kshatriya elevated his soul with a promise to the Brahmin and the consequent incidents.  Therefore, it is vivid that all those material losses are happening with an ultimate object to elevate the soul to supreme Lord.  In short, all the material matters, people, wealth, fame, richness, possession, etc… have to face constant transformation and ruin, the supreme Lord resides as a soul in living beings has no death or birth.