||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 149 – The legend of Lord Krishna - 3

Katham Bhagavathasyapi Nithyam Bhavathi Yath Grihe | Thath Griham Theertharoopam Hi Vasatham Papanashanam || Ashwamedha Sahasrani Vajapeyashathani Cha | Shukha Shasthra Kathayashcha Kalam  Narhanthi Shodashim || Yavath Papani Dhehe Asminnivasanthi Thapodhana: | Yavann  Shrooyathe  Samyak Srimadh Bhagavatham Narai: ||

The legend of Lord Krishna describes the core spirit of life,  ability to face any adverse situation in life with serenity and consider them as the grace of the Supreme Lord, oneness-in all/presence of the Supreme Lord as a soul in living beings, dispassionate to material matters and bondage, live without any expectation, sharing and caring, and constantly engages in Karma/performance of one’s own duties and responsibilities without expecting its results. 

The Supreme Lord Krishna symbolizes love and compassion.  In all through his life, he showered unconditional love towards the cowherds, young maiden of cowherds, people of Vraja, and his ardent devotees like Sudhama, Draupadi and Devi Kunthi and many more.  The love of young maiden of cowherds was unexplainable nature, they forgot themselves in the love for this marvelous child of Yashomathi and  Nandhababa, their mind and intellect were completely soaked in the pure love for Krishna.   They were ever willing to sacrifice anything for the nearness of him.  He spread endless rays of happiness all through the Vraja.  He symbolizes ‘Kindness’, he elevated even the worst of the sinners who were surrendered at his lotus feet.  The first female demon Poothana was appointed to kill Krishna while he was a baby by his uncle Kamsa.   He shut his eyes before her, if he opens eyes, Poothana may leave her beautiful appearance due to the influence of his Maya and that would cause chaos in the Gokul. Otherwise, he may shower compassion upon her without his own knowledge. finally, Poothana fed him with poisoned bosom milk, he squeezed the life out of her and offered liberation, he considered the female demon Poothana who fed her bosom milk as equivalent to his dearest mother Yashomathi, a woman equivalent to mother should deserve to be sent off with honor.  Therefore, the funeral pyre of Poothana has emitted the fragrance of sandalwood.  Shishupala who poured several waves of abuse in the assembly of King Yudhishtira where the grand Yagna of Rajasooya was taken place, Lord Krishna patiently waited to complete the promise given to the mother of Shishupala, ultimately sieved off his head with the powerful disc and liberated him.  Lord Krishna gracefully received the ten thousand females imprisoned by Baumasura, he gave shelter as well as an honor as his wife, took great care of them and elevated their souls.  

Lord Krishna symbolizes 'kindness', while he was ruling the city of Dwaraka, his old school mate ‘Sudhama’ a poor Bhramin makes a visit to see him was received with extreme joy, innocent Sudhama who has no expectation other than to meet his old school friend, was received with great honor, his blood-stained legs were washed with the tears of Krishna, seeing his pathetic state after walking several hours through the rough pathways.  In the Rajasooya Yagna of Yudhishtira, everyone was assigned with decent work, but he employed himself in washing the feet of visitors and clearing up the leaves after meals.  In this way, he has proven the knowledge of Bhramam /realization of oneness in all and the sense of humility are essential qualities in the path of righteousness.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 148 – The legend of Lord Krishna - 2

Idham Bhagavatham Nama Puranam Bhramasammitham | Bhakthi Gnana  Viraganam Sthapanaya Prakashitham || Yashcha Bhagavatham Shasthram Vachayeth Dharshathoanisham | Janmakoti Kritham Papam Nashyathe Na Athra Samshaya: ||

The Supreme Lord Krishna was born as the son of Devi Devaki and Vasudeva, in the same night of his birth,  he had to be with the adopted parents Devi Yashomathi and Nandababa, he had never complained about his life.   He had to leave the Gokul where he was brought on the first night of birth, he encountered Poothana and various demons had to leave the village in a one fine day, he was not unhappy.  He happily lived in Vrindavan, grazing goats and cows, playing numerous passionate sports with the cowherds and beautiful young maiden of cowherds who vested their lives in supreme Lord Krishna.  He elevated the souls of cowherds and young maiden with the supreme knowledge of the oneness of the soul and spreading extreme happiness to them.  He performed ‘Maharas’  with the beautiful women of cowherds when they believed the little Krishna is all over their beauty, he disappeared, later they regretted over their foolishness, once again he appeared before them and made them happy.   In this way, he proved to them that he is dispassionate and has no attachment to anyone.  All of a sudden he had to move to Mathura with Akroora to encounter his wicked uncle Kamsa.    He killed the haughty wrestlers, Mushtika and Chanoora, and the elephant Kuvalayapeedam, ultimately his uncle Kamsa.   He lived with parents Devi Devaki and Vasudeva and went to learn under the guidance of Maharishi Sandheepani, shortly he had to flee to Dwaraka where he lived with sixteen thousand and eight wives and had several children, finally he had to witness the destruction of his own clan before his eyes, he was neither distressed nor attached or had no expectations. 

The intellectuals and liberated souls who consider all the happenings in life with a balanced state of mind, be it sorrow or happiness receive them as the grace of supreme Lord, they never keep any expectation or attachment from people or material matters.  The supreme Lord lived a hundred and twenty-five years on the Earth, during this period he prompted his devotees to constantly engage in Karma, performing duties and responsibilities without expecting its fruitful results. The human intellect and mind have endless capabilities to excel in all fields of knowledge. The Supreme Lord Krishna proved it by learning sixty-four types of art forms within sixty-four days; he excelled in all fields of knowledge.  He proved as an exceptional charioteer to Arjun, he proved himself as an ideal husband to sixteen thousand and eight wives.   Maharishi Narada surprised to witness the presence of the Supreme Lord Krishna and his services to all these sixteen thousand and eight wives in their homes. Before leaving this Earth, he gives the nectar-like advice to Udhdhava and Rishi Maitreya, and even the hunter who feels extremely guilty of his mistake was pacified and elevated his soul.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 147 – The legend of Lord Krishna-1

Krishnam Narayanam Vandhe  Krishnam Vandhe  Vrajapriyam | Krishnam Dhwaipayanam Vandhe Krishnam Vandhe Prithasutham ||

Anthakale  Thu Yenaiva Shrooyathe  Shukha Shasthravak| Preethya Thasyaiva Vaikundham  Govindhoapi Prayacchathi ||

The human intellect and the mind cannot be freed from thoughts like the body undergoes aging, the process blood circulation, constant death and birth of blood cells, the process of inhalation and exhalation, ultimately it has to ruin.   If the mind and intellect are not utilized wisely, it may wander through the unwanted areas of life, people, things, and thereby undergoes extreme grief and fear of anxiety.   It can be wedged to pure thoughts as well as impure thoughts.   The pure thoughts are selflessness, compassion, serenity, honesty, dedication, kindness, and knowledge of oneness in all.  The impure thoughts are the excessive desire for accumulation of wealth and possession of material things, the constant search for sensual pleasure,  jealousy, pride, wickedness, selfishness, lust, attachment to people, wealth and fame.  Therefore the human thoughts can either elevate the soul into a state of bliss, or it can heave into extreme darkness of ignorance as well.   The attachment to material matters and bondage would cause repeated births, dispassionate to the worldly matters and people would elevate the soul to the state of bliss.  The constant practice of being dispassionate to people, material affairs would raise the soul to Paramampadham/eternal bliss.  

The legend of Lord Krishna teaches the difference of Intellect /Gnana and Wisdom/Vignana, the capability to respond to the situation accurately, pleasantness, extreme kindness, compassion, care, love,  etc.  In his whole life, Lord Krishna never shed tears of grief or distress, instead, he shed tears of joy and compassion after witnessing the pure love and devotion of his devotees like Sudhama and people of Vraja.  He shed tears in childhood to make his mother believe her ultimate authority upon her child who is absolute Bhramam, thereby extended happiness to his devoted mother Yashomathi.  He elevated the soul of Arjuna who was distressed and prepared to run away from the greatest battle of Kurukshetra.   He advised the essence Bhagavad Gita to Arjun and instructed him to follow his duties, ultimately gave away all the appreciation of the victory in the battle.  Devi Kunthi who had lost her elder son who was killed by her another son on the battlefield, she had lost all her grandchildren, her sons and daughter-in-law had to undergo endless troubles all through their lives, she is praising  Krishna and furthermore requesting him to give constant troubles so that she would contemplate upon the pleasing Lord Krishna.  The Supreme Lord Krishna is beyond virtues, he is dispassionate and unblemished.  In this way, Lord Krishna lived his entire life with serenity even though he had to encounter limitless obstacles, he elevated the souls who are surrendered to him.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 146 – The legend of Soma dynasty

King Shanthanu had a son Beeshma from Devi Ganga. He had two sons Vichithraveerya and Chithrangadha from Sathyavathi who was a fisherman’s daughter; had already a son Vedavyasa from Sage Parashara.  The elder son of Satyavati,  Chithrangadha died in youth, and Vichithraveerya was married to Amba and Ambika, later Vedavyasa was brought to the palace to expand the clan, Amba and Ambika give birth to Pandu and Dhrishtarashtra and the modest female attendant gave birth to Vidura.  Pandu was married to Devi Kunthi and they had three sons Yudhishtira, Bheema, and Arjun.   Pandu married Devi Madhri and had two sons Nakula and Sahadeva.  Dhritarashtra was married to Devi Gandhari, this couple had a hundred sons and one daughter.  Pareekshith was born to Abimanyu and Uththara.

Maharishi Shukha Bhramam describes the clan of Yadhu,  “ Oh! Rajan, Vasudeva was born in the illustrious clan of Yadhu, during his birth there was a divine sound of Dhundhubi produced in the sky, Vasudeva had a sister Pritha who was adopted daughter of  King of Kunthibhoja.  Vasudeva and Devaki had eight sons; the eighth son was the incarnation of supreme Lord Hari.  Oh! Rajan, you must be aware of Devi Subhadhra who is the wife of Arjun/ your Pithamaha, I need not tell you in detail.  Lord Hari was born the son of Devi Devaki and Vasudeva for the welfare of the Universe and its people.  The supreme Lord Hari has neither birth nor death, he has no specific form, still, he incarnates on the Earth with the influence of ‘Maya’/his own energy, he personifies and leaves the Earth at his own will to elevates the souls.  He personifies for blessing/Anugraha and elevation of soul/Nivriththi /liberation/of the living beings.  He has performed various amusements on the Earth; he has performed various deeds with the Sankarshana.  He has personified for eradicating the sorrows and grief of the living beings on the Earth and blessed his ardent devotees.  Oh! Rajan, supreme Lord has personified on the Earth to elevate the soul from miseries and grief of worldly existence, and destroy the haughtiness, arrogance, unruly nature, impurities of the mind and intellect, and thereby provide the serenity of mind.  He has given us ears to listen to his glorious myths, and sincerely follow his path which could eradicate all the impurities /ego, jealousy, pride, lust, desire, etc. of the mind.”

“Sacchidhananda Roopaya Vishvothpathyathi Hethave | Thapathraya Vinashaya Sri Krishnaya Vayam Nama: ||”

Shuka Bhramam continues “The supreme Lord Personified as Krishna and performed various pastimes, he spread happiness in this world, and thereby elevated the souls.  Lord Krishna, who is adorned in Makarakundala that spreads intense luster, has a pleasing personality, smiling face, resembles Nithyothsav/eternal celebration for the people of Vraja who were witnessing this beautiful appearance of supreme Lord Krishna could not take extreme pleasure in it due to the frequent shut of eyelids and they started cursing it.  The Supreme Lord Krishna was born in the prison; he missed the opportunity to be under the constant care, love, and affection of his mother Devi Devaki.  He had to live in Vraja, during his childhood killed numerous demons that created obstacles and finally his uncle Kamsa.   He married sixteen thousand and eight women and had children in them.   He destroyed the entire clan of Kuru, in the great battle of Kurukshethra, he advised the essence of ‘Bhagavad Gita’ to Arjun, by performing the duties of a charioteer to him, finally offered all those appreciation of victory to Arjun.  Before leaving the Earth, Lord Krishna advised the supreme knowledge to Udhdhava.   Even though he performed all those amusements, he was not attached to any of the deeds or people, ultimately elevated his soul to supreme Bhramam and returned to his supreme abode.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 145 – The legend of Ranthideva

King Sankrithi of the clan of Puru had a son ‘Ranthideva’ who ruled the Kingdom cleverly and set himself as an example of righteousness.  He spends the entire wealth and the richness of the country for the welfare of its people, especially on the twice-born,  serving them with an abundance of funds for the performance of Yagna, Yaga and various religious and spiritual rites.  Gradually, he became pauper left with no funds, he and his family outlived forty-eight days with no meal.  He did not beg for alms; he and his family consumed any food offered with respect.  

Once, Ranthideva and his wife were starving continuously for forty-eight days, surprisingly they received a handful of grains of wheat from somebody, his wife ground them into a fine powder and prepared Roti.  While the family was ready to consume the Roti, there appeared a Bhramin was received with due respect and offered the meal.  Even though Ranthideva and his family were starving for long, he realized the presence of Lord Hari in every human being.   Once, the guest was bid farewell, the family prepared to have the leftover meal with the remembrance of Lord Hari.  Suddenly there appeared a poor old man in ragged clothes, Ranthideva received him with respect and served the leftover meal.  Soon after a poor man with his dogs arrived at the doors of Ranthideva and requested food as they were starving for several days was served with the remaining part of the meal.  The final few pieces of the Roti left for husband and wife were prepared to consume, shortly there arrived a Chandala.  Ranthideva readily offered both of their meals to him.  Ranthideva and his wife were extremely devoted and were always been courteous to their guests, did not get disappointed in the absence of a meal.  Ranthideva eulogized the supreme Lord “Oh! Bhagavan, I have no desires for material welfare, or for the supreme abode of Lord or Ashtashidhdhis, or Moksha, You can give everyone’s grief and sorrows on me, let them free from the miseries of worldly existence.  ”  In this way, the King Ranthideva who shared all his wealth for the welfare of twice-born and his subjects, he was neither distressed at the loss of richness nor gave up his righteousness, he graciously confronted the sufferings of poverty, served his guests with sincerity and devotion and eventually elevated his soul from the sorrows and grief of worldly existence.  Soon, the three guests reappeared before Ranthideva as trinities were highly pleased with the hospitality of Ranthideva who has a thorough knowledge of ‘Vishnumaya’, that all the material matters are subjected to perish, the supreme soul Vasudeva is eternal.   Ultimately, Ranthideva immersed in the supreme Bhramam, following the path of Karma and Dharma/righteousness.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 144 - The legend of King Dhushyantha

Maharishi Vedavyasa wrote eighteen Puranas and Upa Puranas, and various scriptures which narrates the numerous righteous deeds to attain the supreme Bhramam.  The legends of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran describes the Karma, Dharma, and Bhramam, to elevate the souls to the ultimate Bhramam.   It repeatedly affirms the nature of material matters, wealth, richness, possessions, fame, respect, appearance, people,  and sensual pleasures that have impermanent nature, and the supreme Lord who resides as a soul is eternal and bliss.  Whoever realizes the absolute truth of the ‘Athman’ and its existence as the supreme soul would be relieved from miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  The supreme soul has subtle nature, it cannot be seen, but it can be experienced the same as the feel of cool braze.   Whoever performs the duties and responsibilities with the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings would be liberated from the cycles of repeated births. In this scripture, Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the legend of the King Pareekshith/Vishnuratha who got cursed to die in seven days by the serpent bite of Thakshaka,  elevated his soul with the knowledge of Bhramam, from his preceptor Shukha Bhramam/Bhramaratha in seven days and attained liberation with the constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord.

Shuka Bhramam describes the clan of ‘Puru’, the legend of King Dushyantha who was born in this clan.   Once King Dhushyantha went for a hunting expedition, he arrived at the hermitage of Maharishi Kanva.  He met a stunningly beautiful woman surrounded by her female attendants.  His complete attention was drawn towards her lovely appearance.   He approached her and asked “Oh! Devi, why are you here in this dense wood? Why are you living in this hermitage?” Shakunthala replied “ Oh! Rajan, I am born to Sage Vishwamithra and Menaka, later Sage Kanva brought me in his hermitage and taking care of me as his daughter.”  King Dhushyantha has fallen in love with her instantly and requested to marry.  Thus, King Dhushyantha and Shakunthala married following the Gandharveeya rites of marriage.  They happily spend that night, while Sage Kanva was not in the hermitage.  The next morning King Dhushyantha left the hermitage of Sage Kanva, leaving a marvelous ring as a mark of his love for Devi Shakunthala.  

In due course of time, Shakunthala got pregnant with a child.  Shakuntala described Maharishi Kanva about the happenings in his absence, daughter, and father patiently waited for the arrival of King Dhushyantha, but they did not receive any message from him.   Sage Kanva took his fully pregnant daughter to the assembly of King Dhushyantha was not welcomed with respect, asked her to prove the marriage taken place between the King and Shakunthala.  Unfortunately, traveling through the dense wood she has lost the ring that was given as a mark of love by the King, ultimately she fails to produce the ring in the assembly.  Soon, a divine voice echoed “Oh! Rajan, do not abandon the chaste woman Shakunthala who is already married to you, and the child she is bearing is yours, therefore do not give up on her.”  Thus Shakunthala was accepted as the Queen of King Dhushyantha with all the respects and the child born to the couple was named Bharatha who brought up in the palace with all royal comforts.  Later, Bharatha was crowned as the King and ruled the Kingdom wisely like his father.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter - 143 - The legend of Yayathi -4

The King Yaythi contemplated upon the supreme soul Vasudeva and attained highest of the spiritual state.  Devayani and Sharmishta abandon interest in worldly matters and bondage, they isolated themselves from the marvelous royal life, possessions, and people who are soaked in the worldly matters, and soon they realized all those richness, people and luxuries of life as a dream that does not last for more than a few seconds.  They have attained the knowledge about the real nature of the worldly matters which is impermanent and contemplated upon the supreme soul that represents permanent bliss, eventually left the mortal coil.

Namasthubhyam Bhagavathe Vasudevaya Vedase | Sarvabhoodhadhivasaya  Shanthaya Bhrihathe Nama: ||

The mind and intellect that has originated from the supreme soul should merge with the supreme Lord; otherwise, it takes several births and undergoes constant troubles, miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  The illustrious Rishis realized that the individual soul whose mind and intellect is under the constant  influence of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Moha, and Mathscharya, finds pleasure in material matters, people and richness, without the knowledge that it has fleeting nature, finally put the individual into extreme grief and agony.  Therefore the intellect and mind should be always united with the supreme Bhramam to get relieved from the sorrows and miseries of worldly existence, while performing the duties and responsibilities too.  The constant practice of devotion, and contemplation upon the supreme Lord would eradicate the impurities of the mind and intellect; eventually helps to unite the soul with the supreme Bhramam.   The intellectuals take immense pleasure in the  contemplation of supreme soul who resides as soul, and remains themselves unaffected by the worldly matters, different from the ignorant who does not realize the all-pervading nature of the supreme soul takes several births and undergoes miseries and grief of worldly existence.