|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 160 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 11

Tha : Krishnavahe  Vasudeva Agathe  Swayam Vyavaryantha Yadha  Thamo Rave: | Vavarsha Parjjanya Upamshu Garjitha:  Sheshoanvagadhvari Nivarayan Phanai: ||

The practice of Dhukh Samyoga Viyoga Yoga is the preparation of mind and intellect not to get attached to things or people while taking pleasure in the worldly matters so that it would not heave into the darkness of grief, miseries, and sorrows.   The constant practice of contemplation upon the supreme Lord brings purity within oneself and the outer world as well. Eventually it removes all the worldly desires and attachments.  The intense devotion and faith upon supreme Lord and practice of meditation upon him would bring the serenity of mind, ultimately the mind and intellect wedges with the supreme soul which has the nature of permanent bliss.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme Lord assumed the form of a marvelous child at the request of Devi Devaki.   Vasudeva took the child in his hands as per the instruction of the Lord, and prepared to leave to Gokulam, and bring back the girl child who is Yogamaya born to Devi Yasodha.  The moment Vasudeva moved forward, the doors of the prison were wide open as its own, Devi Devaki and Vasudeva got freed themselves from the iron chain fastened all these years, the guards of the prison fallen into a deep sleep.  It was dark hours of the night; there were brilliant rays of moon gleaming through the dark clouds followed by the heavy downpour.  Vasudeva moved out of the prison with the child in hand.  He found himself and the child was not drenched in rain, even though the heavy rain splashing all around, he noticed that the serpent Anantha was holding its thousands of hood over the child.  Vasudeva moved through the pathways and reached on the banks of the river Yamuna that was brimming with the powerful water current, separates the city of Mathura and Gokulam.   The overflowing river Yamuna amiably paved her way for Vasudeva.  Finally, Vasudeva arrived in Gokulam where everyone was in deep sleep, the doors were wide open, and he was guided by a divine light to the chamber of Devi Yasodha who is the wife of Nandababa.  Vasudeva found Devi Yasodha was fast asleep, and the newborn girl child is wide awake.  Vasudeva carefully placed Krishna near Devi Yasodha and took the baby girl wrapped in the clothes.  He returned to prison and handed the girl child to Devi Devaki, immediately the doors of the prison were closed, the baby girl produced a shriek, the guards were got out of deep sleep, once again Devi Devaki and Vasudeva fastened with the iron chain.  Eventually, the guards ran out of the prison to inform Kamsa.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 159 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 10

Maharha Vaidoorya Kundala Kireeda Kundalathvisha  Parishvaktha Sahasrakunthalam| Udhdhama Kanchyangadha Kankanadhibhi: Virochamanam Vasudeva Aikshatha: || Sa  Vismayoth  Phulla Vilochano Harim Sutham Vilokyanaka Dhundhubhisthadha | Krishnavatharothsava Sambhramoasprushan Mudha Dhvijebhyoayuthamaplutho Gavam ||

The Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran teaches the extraordinary powers of the mind and intellect to rise from the Sthoolashareera/body, to the Sookshmashareera/soul where there is permanent bliss.  It imparts the knowledge of ‘Oneness-in-All’ so that it helps humans to reduce expectations, attachments, and dependency as well.  It provides the knowledge of the indestructible nature of supreme ‘Bhramam’ that resides as a soul in living beings.  The body/Dheha undergoes various transformations such as childhood, adulthood, youth, middle age and old age, ultimately illness and death, but the supreme soul/mind and intellect/Dhehi remains unaffected by any of the transformations.  The constant practice of the knowledge of supreme Bhramam with the guidance of the preceptor leads to the state of ‘Aham Bhramasmi’.

Vasudeva immersed in a state of bliss after witnessing the glorious form of Lord Vishnu as his child, he mentally offered thousands of cows as the charity to Bhramins, even though he was assumed the Lord as his own child, later he understood that the infant is ‘Mahath Thaththva’, immediately Vasudeva with folded hands prostrated before the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.  Vasudeva eulogized “  Oh! Purusha, Oh! Bhagavan, I perceive you as beyond Prakrithi, you are the knower of all, you are eternal and is void of changes and Thriguna.  You have manifested at your own will, you are attainable to the righteous, and you are absolute Bhramam who resides as a soul in all living beings.  Oh! Bhagavan, ignorant people get attracted to the things they have seen before their eyes/Dhrishya, the wise and intellectuals wedge their mind and intellect in the Dhrik/supreme soul who is the source of Dhrishya and immerses in the supreme bliss.  Oh! Akhileshwara, Oh! Akilaguro, you have incarnated as our dearest child, to elevate the soul of innocent people, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you.”

Devi Devaki eulogizes “Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Lord Vishnu, you are not attainable for all, you symbolize supreme brilliance/Bhramamjyothi resides as soul in living beings, you are beyond Thrigunas and void of changes, you are absolute Bhramam, you are pure, and you reside as soul in living beings.  Oh! Bhagavan, the Mrithyu keeps chasing the living beings, and the people  are constantly in search for a shelter from the dreadful Mrithyu,  unfortunately they are drenched in extreme fear and anxieties.   Whoever surrenders at your lotus feet, immediately gets freed themselves from the fear of death, in this way they overcome the fear of Mrithyu.  Your marvelous form gives extreme pleasure to our eyes, kindly hide your glorious form with four arms.  We yearn to witness your most pleasant form of an innocent child.  Oh! Bhagavan,  even though we have forced to be in the prison by wicked Kamsa,  we had the fortune to witness your glorious form, kindly reveal your child-like form to us.”

Yuvamam Puthrabhavena  Bhramabhavena Chasakrith | Chinthayanthau Krithasnehau Yasyedhe Madhgathim Param||

The Supreme Lord speaks “Oh! Mother, you have undertaken extreme penance for several years to gain me as your child.  You have contemplated the divine form with intense devotion and faith; therefore I have born as your child.  This is not my first incarnation as your child, I have born as Prishnigarbha, then I have born as Vamana to Devi Adithi, now I have born to you as Krishna.  Even though I have taken two births previously, you have not benefitted much of my incarnation. Therefore, I would suggest you utilize my incarnation as your child to elevate your soul and for the welfare of all.  Oh! Mother, listen to me carefully, if you want to attain the highest state of spirituality/Paramamgathi, kindly consider me as your child, but contemplate upon me as Bhramam who is all-pervading, has neither birth nor death.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 158 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 9

Nisheethe Thama  Udhbhoothe  Jayamane Janardhane | Devakyam Devaroopinyam Vishnu: Sarvaguhashaya: | Aveeraseedhyadha  Prachyam Dhisheendhuriva  Pushkala: || Thamadhbhudham  Balakam Ambujekshanam | Chathurbhujam Shankha Gadhadhyudhayudham | Srivathsa Lakshmim Galashobhi Kausthubham | Peethambaram  Sandhrapayodha Saubhagam ||

It was dark hours of the night,  Vasudeva was watching affectionately at the infant who was given birth by Devi Devaki a moment ago,  instantly the supreme Lord Janardhana who resides as a soul in living beings revealed his magnificent form spreading supreme brilliance of the full moon, his eyes have the resemblance to lotus flower petals,  his four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, bearing the auspicious mark of Srivathsa on the chest which is the dwelling place of Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi,  adorned in precious gem Kausthubha on the neck, he was attired in magnificent yellow silk garment on  marvelous limbs, he was adorned in gem-studded ear ornament on the ears, marvelous crown that multiplies the beauty of his sparkling curly hair locks, he was adorned in armlets and bangles, he has marvelous waistline decorated with the ornaments, and he has the most pleasing smile all over the face.

The human mind and intellect are constantly in search of outward happiness and material comforts without the knowledge of the presence of supreme brilliance as the supreme soul within it.   The Dhashamaskandham of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is the study of the existence of supreme brilliance as a soul in living beings, which was often neglected to notice.  The Lord incarnated to impart the knowledge of the supreme soul which is the source of the function of human intellect and mind and body as well.  The scriptures describe the incarnation of Supreme Lord Krishna in the darkness of hours in the night to eradicate the obscurity of ignorance in the human intellect and mind, even though he has performed various pastimes to reduce the burden of Mother Earth and destroy the wicked demons.  He is supreme preceptor/Universal preceptor/Jagathguru who eradicates the darkness of ignorance and impurities of the mind.  Any knowledge without the awareness of the supreme soul that resides as a soul in living beings is considered incomplete. Therefore, any knowledge without the awareness of supreme Lord as the soul is called ‘Avidhya’/lack of knowledge; it can accumulate impurities/attachment to worldly matters and bondage in the human intellect and mind thereby undergoes miseries and sorrows.  Hence, the elevation of the soul is possible only through the contemplation upon supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, the reason for the incarnation of supreme Lord Vishnu as little cowherd was to serve the above purpose.  The material welfare, richness, fame, attractive appearance, good health, family, wife, children, grandchildren, possession of wealth, properties, relatives, etc. would become futile if there is no devotion at the lotus feet of a supreme preceptor who is the source of the highest knowledge.  Therefore, the incarnation of the Supreme Lord Vishnu as Lord of cowherds was to elevate the soul and impart the knowledge of his presence as the soul in all the living beings, thereby remove the attachment to worldly matters and bondage, ultimately to provide the state of ‘Kaivalyam’, where there is no attachment to people, material matters, possession, fame or richness, and no expectation from others.  ‘Kaivalyam’ is the superlative state where there are no sorrows, grief, pain, miseries or afflictions; it is the state of ‘supreme bliss’.

Immediately after birth Lord Vishnu revealed his marvelous form with four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma, that convey complex knowledge about the Supreme Lord who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the Universe and its living beings.   He is beyond death or birth, and he is void of changes.  The conch symbolizes Sound/Pranava/’AUM’ produces from the conch/Panchajanya which represents Panchabhootha/five essential elements, any friction causes sound as well as appearance/form that has impermanent nature, therefore it teaches the function of creation/Shrishti/A, preservation/Sthithi/U and destruction/Laya/M.  The mace represents the weapon to defend as well as attack the enemies such as lethargy/laziness and ignorance.  The lotus flower represents the knowledge of attachment with detachment, the technique of while living in any relationship without getting fastened by it,  like a lotus flower that flourishes in the muddy water but remains untouched by it.  It teaches to remain serene with a balanced state of mind in the presence of an abundance of possession, and do not get despondent in the absence of the same.  The weapon disc/Sudharshana teaches the highest knowledge of oneness-in all, the presence of supreme soul which has permanent nature.   The removal of ignorance with the powerful wheel/disc of knowledge that the human body has to undergo constant transformation and ruin, the supreme Lord who resides as the soul has neither death nor birth.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 157 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 8

Sathyavratham Sathyaparam  Thrisathyam | Sathyasya  Yonim Nihitham Ca  Sathye | Sathyasya  Sathyamatha Sathyanethram | Sathyathmakam Thvam Sharanam Prapanna: ||  Maharha  Vaidoorya Kireeda Kundalasathvisha Parishvaktha Sahasra Kunthalam| Udhdhama Kanchi Angadha Kankanabhi: Virochamanam Vasudeva Aikshatha||

It was in the month of Bhadhrapadha, on the eighth day of waning moon/Ashtami, it was in the mid night, supreme Lord Krishna was born as an eighth child to Devi Devaki, bearing the birth star Rohini.  The atmosphere was serene, an indescribable divinity prolonged in the atmosphere as an welcoming sign for the divine child on the Earth, there was all-pervading serenity in the atmosphere and brilliance all over the Earth, the rivers were gently flowing, cool breeze released a mesmerizing feeling, the fragrances of various flowers were floating in the air,   fires were brilliantly raising from the Agnishala of the houses of Agnihothris,  the wicked people got terrified of no reason, chaste and righteousness people shone with happiness and brightness, Apsaras, celestial Gandharvas were playing music and dances.  The entire atmosphere was magnificent with slight drizzling followed with thunderstorms, in those dark hours of the night, the supreme Lord Janardhana was born as the eighth child of Devi Devaki.  Thus Lord Vishnu who resides as a soul in living beings manifested as a child to the female deity Devi Devaki. 

The infant shone like full moon in the darkness of the prison.  Devi Devaki and Vasudeva affectionately looked at the infant, immediately the supreme Lord changed his appearance, Devaki and Vasudeva noticed that marvelous appearance of Lord in dark cloud complexion with four arms, he was adorned in magnificent crown, ear ornaments spreading intense radiance, lotus flower petals like eyes, a divine mark of sandalwood paste and vermilion on the beautiful forehead, attractive nose and Bimba fruits like lips,  armlets, gem decorated ornaments on the neck and chest, Srivastham, Kausthubham, attired in marvelous yellow silk garments, four arms holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, beautiful waist ornament and anklets and garland of fresh alluring flowers of woods/ Vanamala on the chest.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 156 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 8

||Samsarasare Magnam Dheenam Mam  Karunanidhe | Karmagrahithangam Mam Udhdhara Bhavarnnavath || Srimadh Bhagavadhyo Ayam Prathyaksha: Krishna Yeva Hi | Sveekrithoasi Maya Natha Mukthyartha Bhavasagare ||

Lord Bhrama was accompanied by deities arrived in the prison and eulogized the supreme Lord Hari who is in the womb of Devi Devaki.  Lord Bhrama praised “Oh! Lord, you are absolute truth, resides as a soul in living beings, you are eternal, you are the source of truth, you are the essence of truth, you are beyond truth, you reside as a subtle form of truth in the living beings, you represent Thrisathyam/past, present, and future, and you are void of the Thrisathyam, you are attainable to the individuals who have a thorough knowledge of supreme soul, serenity of mind and a balanced state of mind, to accept all the happenings in life as the grace of Lord.  Oh! Lord, You are the base of the existence of the human body/Adhivriksham, human body functions in the presence of you, it has two fruits happiness and sorrows, it has three qualities such as Sathvik, Rajasik, and Thamasik.  The human body is capable to enjoy the three types of Rasa such as Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, it has five senses that take pleasure in touch, sound, appearance, liquid, and fragrance, it has to undergo  six status such as birth, living, sustaining, aging, illness, and death, it has seven components/ Dhathu such as Thvak, Asthi, Majja, Mamsa, Raktham, Medhas and Shukla.   It has eight branches known as five essential elements and intellect, Ahamkara, it has nine gates eyes, nose, ears, nose and anus, it has five Gnananindhriyas and five  Prana.   There are two birds Jeevathma and Paramathma in the Vruksha/ tree-like human body.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the absolute truth resides as the soul in living beings.  Oh! Ambujaksha,  You have numerous incarnations, whoever realize your presence as a soul in them would cross major crisis in their lives effortlessly like crossing the water-filled in the footprint of cows.  Oh! Bhagavan, whoever surrenders at your lotus feet, would cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence at ease.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the safest ferry to cross the ocean of miseries of the worldly existence.  Oh! Aravindhaksha, the individual who is reluctant to realize your presence, not willing to surrender at your lotus feet, not willing to contemplate upon you, would undergo endless miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, thereby fails to raise the soul and takes several births.  Oh! Madhava, whoever creates constant companionship with the supreme Lord would remain fearless.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the one raising us from all kinds of obstacles and protects us.  Oh! Bhagavan, you symbolize Sathvik nature, you are pure and unblemished, you are supreme soul resides as a soul in living beings, you are the source of Shreyas to the living beings who are constantly engaged in the practice of Veda, Kriya, Yoga and Samadhi/spiritual and religious rites, etc.  Whoever realizes the presence of supreme Lord as a soul in all living beings and has no specific names or appearance, no birth or death, he is beyond comparison, the mind and intellect functions with the sole existence of supreme soul who constantly witnesses the whole Universe performs all the tasks contemplating upon the supreme Lord would elevate their souls.  The easiest way to attain the supreme Lord who resides as the soul is listening to his glorious myths, understanding the concepts, pondering on it, remembering the numerous sacred names, incarnations, and various pastimes of Lord.  Whoever contemplates upon supreme Lord, surrendering to the lotus feet of Supreme Lord, considering all the happenings in life as the grace of supreme Lord, would not descend to the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  Oh! Bhagavan, the ultimate purpose of your pastimes are to impart the supreme knowledge to us, hence kindly elevate our soul and bless us.  Oh! Bhagavan you have incarnated as giant Mathsya and Koorma, Narasimha, Varaha, etc.. in this way you have preserved the three worlds.  Oh! Bhagavan, now you have prepared to personify as one of the Yadhavas, Oh! Yadhooththama, we are repeatedly prostrating before your lotus feet, kindly eradicate the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.”  Further, Lord Bhrama and deities pacified Devi Devaki “ Oh! Mother, do not worry about wicked Kamsa, you are carrying Jagannivasa in your womb,” and they returned to their respective abodes.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 155 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 9

Jara Shoka Vipakartham  Rogamandhiramathuram |Dhushpooram Dhurdharam Dhushtam  Sa Dhosham Kshanabanguram || Sapthaha Shravane Loke Prapyathe  Nikate Hari: | Atho  Dhosha Nivriththyarthametha Deva Hi Sadhanam ||

Once again, Devi Devaki distressed at the loss of the seventh child, was elevated with the prayers of Vasudeva, and his constant encouragements, he advised Devaki about the upcoming birth of the divine child,  in this way he elevated the soul of Devi Devaki to bring her back to old spirit to make her equipped to receive the supreme Lord as her child.  Thus, Devi Devaki was mentally prepared to receive the eighth child, the supreme Lord entered in the mind and intellect of Vasudeva.  Gradually, Vasudeva invested the divine thoughts of the supreme Lord in the intellect of Devi Devaki as well.  Vasudeva described the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, to Devaki and elevated her soul.  The very instant Devi Devaki realized the presence of Jagannivasa in her womb, she forgot all the worries and sorrows, and she was grown beyond the grief of the death of six children in the hands of Kamsa, and loss of seventh child within the womb.  Devi Devaki was in a state of supreme bliss, she could envision the presence of supreme Lord Vishnu in her fetus.  Kamsa came to know about the pregnancy of Devi Devaki, he took a visit to the prison, looked at the protruding belly of Devi Devaki, he felt a brilliant ray splashing on him, he realized that the fetus in the womb of his sister is none other than Lord Vishnu, his own death.  He is no one other supreme Lord Hari who is going to kill him, he felt the shadow of the child following him everywhere, and he was besieged with extreme fear and anxiety.   Kamsa was truly fortunate, constantly felt that he was followed by supreme Lord Hari while sitting, sleeping, walking, riding, consuming meal etc…, He was completely drenched in the thought of Lord Hrishikesh, even though in extreme fear, eventually he forgot worldly matters.  Finally, the fetus in the womb of Devi Devaki attained full growth.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 154 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 8


Andhakoope Sneha Pashe  Bandha: Panguraham Shada: | Karmana Pathitho Noonam Mam Udhdhara Dhayanidhe || Dhivyaroopadharo Jasathulasidhama Manditha : | Peethavasa Ghanashyamo Mukudi Kundalanvitha: ||

Devi Devaki and Vasudeva grieved over the death of her six children, she was in utter desolation, was pacified by the compassionate words of Vasudeva. Once, again Devaki got pregnant with a child on the seventh time.  She regained her strength with the divinity of the child in her womb, thus the divine form of supreme Lord as Anantha entered the womb of Devi Devaki as the seventh child.   The supreme Lord instructed Yogamaya to transfer the child from the womb of Devi Devaki to Devi Rohini in the Gokul.  She was also instructed to take her place in the womb of Devi Yasodha so that she will be highly revered as supreme Goddess.    Lord Vishnu eulogized Yogamaya  “ Oh! Devi, Oh! Bhadhre, kindly extract the child of Devi Devaki and deposit in the womb of  Devi Rohini who is the wife of Vasudeva.  Further, take your place in the womb of Devi Yasodha.  Once, my birth takes place as the son of Devi Devaki and Vasudeva, I will be moved to Gokul and you will be brought to Mathura, in this way you can perform your amusement.  In the future, people will worship you as Devi Durga, Bhadrakali, Vijaya, Vaishnavi, Jaya, Kumudha, Chandika, Krishna, Madhavi, Kanyaka, Maya, Narayani, Sharada, and Ambika, etc.. You will have thousands of sacred names and people will venerate you with utmost devotion.  Therefore kindly proceed to Vraja, there you will be worshipped by cowherds.”

Devi Devaki and Vasudeva were under constant supervision of the guards in the prison, they kept watching on Devi Devaki and informed the status of her pregnancy to Kamsa.  One day, Kamsa visited the prison and found Devaki is fully pregnant with the child, Kamsa could visualize some divinity of the fetus of  Devaki, he wanted to kill the fetus instantly, but changed his mind.  On that night, Devaki lost the fetus, in the morning she found the womb empty without the child, she was not aware of anything that was happened under the influence of Maya of supreme Lord.