|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 172 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 23

 Gopa Nandhadhaya: Shruthva  Dhrumayo: Pathatho Ravam | Thathra Jagmu: Kurushreshta Nirghatha Bhayashangitha: ||

The Panchama Veda Srimad Bhagavath Puran speaks abundantly about the Bhakti/devotion Gnana/wisdom and Vairagya/abandonment,  Devi Yasodha was trying to fasten her child Little Krishna with ropes of Bhakti, but every time she found the difference of two Angulam known as Gnana and Vairagya.  Therefore the Bhakti with Gnana and Vairagya is important to attain the supreme knowledge of ‘Oneness-in- All’, Gnana can be obtained with the constant association with the Santh and Sadhus, listening to the glorious myths of supreme Lord, singing in praise of him, contemplation, meditation and venation of supreme Lord, self-less service to the devotees of Lord etc. eventually it will provide the serenity of mind/a balanced state of mind that helps to avoid overreaction, and face any challenges in life with composure.  The grinding stone represents the mind and intellect, it can easily adopt any customs, and it can adopt demonic nature as well as saintly nature.  The human mind and intellect has endless capabilities because it has originated from the supreme soul, the ‘I’ consciousness, seeking sensual pleasures and attachment to people and material things keep the person away from the supreme soul who resides as a soul.

The little Krishna split opened the huge YamalaArjuna tree with the grinding stone, and two Yakshas appeared from it, eulogized Lord Krishna and left.  Nandababa and the people of Gokulam rushed to the place where the huge tree uprooted.  They were extremely frightened at the deafening noise of the tree fallen on the ground with a loud thud, they could not believe their eyes; they were surprised to watch two Yamalarjuna trees on the ground.  The children of cowherds explained what happened to the trees when little Krishna dragged the grinding stone between the trees, immediately after that the trees fallen with a great thud, two divine people appeared out of it and offered salutation to Krishna.  Nandbaba could not believe the words of children of cowherds asked them to disappear from the place.  Devi Yasodha and maiden of cowherds waveringly rushed towards little Krishna, released him from the grinding stone.  Devi Yasodha lovingly carried her child brought him inside the palace, gave a bath and fed him.

In a short period of time, little Krishna became beloved of all, moving around all over the village of Gokulam, especially the beautiful young maiden of cowherds showered abundance of love upon him, he danced to their commands as the doll connected to a rope.  He pleased the women of cowherds with his little help; he sincerely followed all the command of the women of cowherds.  Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the nature of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, he is pure, and he is the source of happiness, he has proved his compassion through various passionate sports.  The cowherds of Vraja took great liberty upon the little child of Yasodha and dedicated to the company of Little Krishna without the knowledge of his real nature, in the same manner, little Krishna entertained them by serving them relentlessly.  Like a tug of war, the maiden of cowherds pulled him towards with the rope of devotion, the supreme Lord could not stop him, and he rushed to the cowherds and made them happy.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 171 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 22

 Nama: Parama  Kalyana Nama: Parama Mangala | Vasudevaya Shanthaya  Yadhunam Pathaye Nama: ||

Krishna Krishna Mayogimsthamadhya: Purusha Para: | Vyakthavyakthamidham Vishwam Roopam The Bhramana Vidhu: || Thwameka:  Sarvabhoothanam Dehaswathmendhriyeshwara: | Thvameva Kalo Bhagavan Vishnur Avyaya Eshwara: || Thvam Mahan Prakrithi: Sookshma Raja: Saththva Thamomayi | Thvameva Purusho Adhyaksha: Sarvakshethra Vikaravith ||

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, In this way, at the touch of the grinding stone the huge Arjuna tree split into two parts, two divine forms emerged out of the tree prostrated before supreme Lord Krishna who is the Lord of Universe.  They eulogized Lord Krishna with head bowed down and folded hands. “Oh! Krishna Oh! Mahayogi, you are primordial/who is the source of mind and intellect, he is the cause of function of the same,  Oh! Purusha who is flawless, you are beyond Prakrithi that undergoes constant transformations.  Oh! Lord who represents Universe, intellectuals and twice-born, the intellectuals describe your subtle as well visible forms.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are all-pervading, you symbolize Universe and its living beings, reside as a soul in living beings; you are the Lord of body, soul/Jeevathma, and Indhriyas. Oh! Eshwara, you are Avyaya/changeless, you are Vishnu who represents ‘Time’, Rajasika, Sathvika, and Thamasika Gunas.  Oh! Lord,  you are the source of the function of mind and intellect and emotions.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the controller of functions in the human body and intellect, we shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vasudeva who is the essence of Veda and eulogized by Vedas.  Oh! Bhagavan, we shall repeatedly prostrate before the absolute Bhramam, you represent auspiciousness and serenity, you represent living and non-living things, you are the Lord of Yadhus.  Oh! Lord, we have understood your glories, we are your sincere servants, and we have achieved your grace with the curse of Maharishi Narada.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless us, our tongue should sing in praise of your glories, our ears should listen to your endless glorious myths, we should always serve your lotus feet with our hands, our mind and intellect should always contemplate upon you, our head should bow before your lotus feet and our eyes should witness your marvelous form everywhere.”

Sukha Bhramam concludes “  Oh! Rajan, the sons of Lord Kubera eulogized Bhagavan Gokuleshwara in the above beautiful verses.”

Vani Gunanukathane  Shravanau  Kathayam  Hasthau  cha Karmasu Manasthava  Padhayorna: | Smrithyam Shirasthava Nivasa Jagathpraname Dhrishti: Satham  Dharshaneasthu Bhavaththanunam ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 170 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 21

Rudrasyanucharau Bhoothva  Sudhripthau Dhanadhathmajau | Kailasopavane  Ramye  Mandhakinyam Madhothkatau || Varunim Madhiram Peethva  Madha Ghoornithalochanau| Sthri Janairanugayathbhishcherathu: Pushpithe  Vane ||

Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Bhraman, kindly narrate the reason for the curse of Nalakoobara and Manigreevah by Maharishi Naradha, the sons of Lord Kubera who is an ardent devotee of Lord Rudra.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, once Nalakoobara and Manigreevah along with a number of celestial Apsaras were absorbed in water sports in the river Mandakini.  The two sons of Lord Kubera were under the influence of intoxicating drink, they were performing various water sports without clothes on their bodies.  Unexpectedly there arrived Maharishi Narada, and found the sons of Lord Kubera taking pleasure with the celestial Apsaras, they did not even greet Maharishi Narada. They were fully absorbed in the sport so they forgot to notice their nakedness. The celestial Apsaras rushed to pick their clothes immediately after watching the arrival of Maharishi.  Maharishi Narada decided to elevate the soul of the two sons of Lord Kubera who was completely under the influence of intoxicating drink forgot to greet him, in a rage he cursed the sons of Lord Kubera for their spiritual benefits, and thus they have become Arjuna tree.  They felt guilty for their behavior, prostrated at the feet of Maharishi Narada and regretted their grave sin. Maharishi Narada advised “Oh! Sons of Kubera, You have taken immense pride in your body, thereby you have performed water sport without clothes on the body.  You have mistaken the body as everything and immersed in various amusement, the body you have obtained was from mother and father, in the future, it would be dispensed with your friends, wife, and illnesses, finally, it would perish and the Agni would claim your body.  I feel shame on you; you have lived a life of a pauper seeking comforts of your body and feeding the senses.  You have to elevate your soul with the association of pious and righteous people to attain the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda.  I have cursed you to become a tree in the courtyard of Nandababa, in this the way I have blessed you to witness all the passionate sport of Little Krishna who will be brought up by Devi Yasodha and Nandababa.   Lord Vasudeva will incarnate as Krishna and he will relieve you from my curse with the touch of the grinding stone, in this way you can attain the grace of supreme Lord Vasudeva.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 169 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 20 

Ekadha  Grihadhaseeshu Yasodha Nandhagehini | Karmanthara Niyukthasu Nirmamandha Swayam Dhadhi || Yani Yaneeha  Geethani Thadh Balacharithani Cha | Dhadhi Nirmandhdhane Kale Smaranthi Thanyagayatha ||

It was early dawn; Devi Yasodha was churning the curd reciting the names of supreme Lord.  She was recollecting the various amusement of her little child that was bringing a smile on her face, and singing melodiously praising his various pastimes.  Devi Yasodha who has beautiful appearance was attired in a crisp and clean garment, adorned in various ornaments, her attractive physique moving meticulously while churning the curd, her large bosom is brimming with milk with affection to her little child, her hands are decorated with bangles moving in rhythm produces the jingling noises, her face was covered in perspiration after a few minutes of churning, her curly hairs spread over the face.  

Little Krishana got out of sleep, found his mother churning the curd; he pressed his eyes with both the hands as if trying to get completely out of sleep and approached Devi Yasodha. He seized her one hand and put a pause on her rhythmic movement of churning the curd.  Soon Devi Yasodha’s stopped churning, she understood her child’s need and started to feed him with bosom milk.   She continued churning and singing, keeping her child on the lap.  Suddenly she remembered the milk that kept on the fire for a long time, immediately she dropped little Krishna on the floor and went to attend the milk.  Little Krishna got very angry, he bit lips in rage, picked up a stone next from his seat and threw aiming at the butter pot, he could not control his anger, consumed all those butter kept in the mud pots and ran out of the place.  Devi Yasodha returned to the place and found the butter and curd all over the floor and tiny footprints all over the floor.  Devi Yasodha could not control her laugh, she ran in search of him, looking at the footprints.  Devi Yasodha decided his child has grown too handful, he should get some punishments for his mistake; otherwise, he will become too haughty in the future.   She picked up a stick on her way, searched him in the whole of the house, and did not find him.  Devi Yasodha came out of the house and found him sitting on a grinding stone under a huge Arjuna tree; he was taking great pleasure in a handful of butter and feeding them to monkeys as well.  All of a sudden he has changed his attitude at the arrival of his mother behaved like an innocent child.  Devi Yasodha became too angry watching him feeding her curd to the monkeys, soon little Krishna deposited the remaining portion of the curd on the grinding stone, both the hands pressed his eyes as if he is scared of her stick. Suddenly, he dashed out of the house was chased by his mother with a stick in her hand. In this way, the mother and child ran all over the village and covered a good distance.  Maharishi Vedavyasa beautifully describes Devi Yasodha is truly fortunate chasing the supreme Lord with a stick in her hand, unlike the Yogis who undertake extreme penance to get hold of that Bhramam.  Devi Yasodha could not keep up the pace with the little child, her body and large bosom is moving in tempo, her garments and long curly hair locks became disorderly, gradually she exhausted, her body covered in perspiration.  Little Krishna turned back and looked at his mother and found that she is all tired, he felt sad for his mother who chased him a long distance.  Instantly, he stopped running, with folded hands stood before his mother.  Devi Yasodha watched his face, seeing his loveliness, she could not beat him, she mistook that her child is already frightened.  But Devi Yasodha was determined not to leave him without any punishment, thus she prepared to fasten the divine child who is all-pervading with a few meters of rope, she took all efforts to fasten the Adhokshaja who resides as a soul in living beings, to tighten with the grinding stone in the courtyard, whenever she tries to tie around his waist she found two inches of the difference of rope, she was not disappointed.   Devi Rohini collected all the ropes from home and served them to Devi Yasodha to tie that divine child who releases the living beings from the knot of worldly bondage.  The woman of cowherds started laughing at Devi Yasodha who miserably failed in her attempt to fasten her child.  Devi Yasodha looked at the eyes of the little Krishna, revealing her inability to tie him.  Immediately, he allowed himself to fasten with the rope that was brought earlier.  Thus, the divine child was fastened with the rope of devotion by Devi Yasodha.    

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Devi Yasodha is a truly fortunate one, the cowherd was completely surrendered to supreme Lord, has attained the supreme bliss that was not available even for Lord Bhrama, Lord Shiva, or Goddess Mahalakshmi.  The Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings was brought under the control of Devi Yasodha with her intense devotion to him.  Devi Yasodha felt relieved, once her mission was over and disappeared from his sight.  The maiden of cowherds was extremely happy to witness Krishna fastened with the grinding stone so that he won’t make any effort to steal their curd and butter on that day.  Once, everyone disappeared from his sight, he decided to bless the sons of Lord Kubera.  He started dragging the grinding stone with the help of children of cowherds towards the huge Arjuna tree.  He instructed the children to move away from the shades of the tree, he dragged the grinding stone through the large opening of the tree, where the two sons Nalakoobara and Manigreevah of Lord Kubera resided, due to the curse of Maharishi Narada.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 168 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 19

 Sa Thathra  Dhadhrishe  Vishwam  Jagathsthasnu Cha Gam Dhisha: | Sadhri Dhveepabdhi Boogolam Sa Vayvagneendhu Tharakam || Jyothi Chakram Jalam Thejo Nabhasvan Viyadeva Cha | Vaikarikani Indhriyani Mano  Mathra Gunasthraya: ||

Once, Balarama and children of cowherds along with Krishna went to conduct their daily routine, stealing dairy products from the houses of cowherds.  It has become a practice that most of the time the stolen items were shared with friends, sometimes little Krishna takes pleasure in the stolen items without sharing with others,  the children of cowherds were annoyed at this behavior, returned home with a complaint against Little Krishna and informed Devi Yasodha that Krishna swallowed mud. Usually, Devi Yasodha does not believe anyone who brings complaints against her son, this time  Balarama joined with other children in complaining against his little brother.   So Devi Yasodha believed that Krishna must have swallowed mud, Balaram won’t complain against his little brother, listening to this she could not control her anger.  She seized the hand of little Krishna who was pretending as terrified, she did not leave him, questioned him in detail.   Krishna begged his mother to believe him that he did not consume sand; others are lying as usual and opened his mouth before Devi Yasodha.  The supreme Lord Hari wished to reveal his real nature to his mother.  He gradually opened his little mouth before Devi Yasodha,  she puzzled watching the mouth of her child, she could witness the entire Universe and its living beings, islands, Surya,  Chandra, planets, stars, ocean, mountains, Gokulam, people of Gokulam and Devi Yasodha, further it extended to several Universe and its living beings.  Devi Yasodha could not fix her gaze on the vision, she was terrified and believed that her child is not an ordinary one, he has some divine powers.  Devi Yasodha thought “I was too immersed in worldly matters, Vrajeshwara/Nadababa, wealth, household chores, Vraja and maiden of cowherds.   I could see the entire Universe in the mouth of my child; therefore this little child is my ultimate shelter place.”  Instantly her mind and intellect completely took surrender at the divine child. Devi Yasodha could not believe her eyes; she felt as if she was dreaming.  Little Krishna realized that his Mother understood his real nature, he immediately closed his mouth and looked at her affectionately on her eyes filled with Maya, instantly Devi Yasodha’s mind that was wedged in the Paramarththa/super consciousness, returned back to its natural form, the thought of her child itself made her bosom overflowing with milk, she carried little Krishna and fed him.

In this way, Lord Krishna taught her mother, the highest of the knowledge, that the supreme Lord is eternal and changeless and the Prakrithi undergoes constant transformation and ruin.  The self-realization is the knowledge of the supreme Lord who resides as soul in living beings, it would restrain attachment to worldly matters and people, expectation, and enslavement, it removes desolation, grief, sorrows, and leads to a state where there is permanent bliss.  The attachment to worldly matters and people causes extreme disappointments, sorrows, grief and endless miseries; it blemishes the mind and intellect with the cluster of unwanted thoughts due to ignorance.  The supreme soul resides as soul in a subtle form in the human body is the source of the function of mind and intellect; therefore it is essential to utilize the mind and intellect to contemplate upon the supreme soul that represents supreme bliss.  Devi Yasodha understood the highest of the truth and the all-pervading nature of supreme Lord, looking at the tiny mouth of little Krishna who is Paramathma and all that creation is merged in him.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 167 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 18

Naham Bhakshithavan Amba  Sarve Midhyabhishamsina: | Yadhi Sathyagirastharhi Samaksham Pashyame Mukham|| Yadhyevam  Tharhi Vyadhehithyuktha: Sa Bhagavan Hari: | Vyadhaththavyahathaishwarya: Kreedamanuja Balaka: ||

The two little beautiful children, Balaram and Krishna began to walk, adorned in various precious ornaments all over the body that produce jingling noises, looking at their mothers, smiling at them affectionately, the two mothers were watching in awe, seeing their children keeping baby steps and they felt extremely proud.  Slowly the children started moving  all over the courtyard and huge cow shed covered their body in dust and cow dung, mothers did not bother about the appearance of  their children, whenever they see their children affectionately,  their bosom starts overflowing with milk, they immediately carry their children and feed with extreme pleasure.  The children of cowherds run behind the two lovely children to get hold of them, but these two would rush behind their mothers and take shelter in them.  In this way, these two lovely children raptured the attention of the entire people of Vraja.  They started running behind the calves and cows holding their tails, Devi Yasodha had to run behind them and get hold of the children, the children have started running behind all the animals in the Vraja holding their tails, Devi Yasodha is extremely worried about the safety of the children.  The little Krishna became too uncontrollable, he unfastens the cows and calves and force them to leave the shed without the knowledge of his parents and repeated the same in the house of cowherds of Vraja, when they run behind the cows and calves, he claps loudly and watching them. The little Krishna with a group of children of cowherds began to steal butter, curd, and milk from the homes of villagers, when they get hold of him, would manage the situation with his foolish answers.  The people of Vraja were tired of protecting curd, milk, and butter in their homes, so they have started hanging the mud pot of curd and butter on the roof with the hope that children cannot reach.  The little Krishna throws stones aiming at the mud pot and gets all that stored in his mouth.  Once, he was caught in hand by a cowherd while stealing the curd, was spew out the curd all over her face and ran out of her home. In this way, he performed various childhood pranks upon the young maiden of cowherds; they were tired of complaining about the children to Devi Yasodha who flatly refused all the complaints.  Little Krishna found that the cowherds began to store their curd, milk, and butter hanging on the roof, he cleverly moves the grinding stone under the hanging mud pot and began to steal, sometimes break the mud pot and leave their homes.  The cowherds were tired of protecting dairy products and mud pots from the children, they frequently complain to Devi Yasodha who questions her child, would get back funny answers in reply that the entire cowherds are liars, further he manipulate Devi Yasodha with his beautiful smile and childish answers.  In this way, Krishna continued stealing the butter, curd, and milk from the houses of cowherds, gradually he was stealing their hearts as well.  Later, they began to wait for the little child of Yasodha to come home and steal their dairy products, to get an eyeful of his lovely appearance, they truly forgot all their worries and troubles of life seeing the mischief of lovely Krishna, in this way he has become inseparable part from their lives. They eagerly wait for the little Krishna to visit their homes, and considered his visits as the blessing of Lord. 

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 166 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 17

Devi Yasodha was feeding her child after the dreadful incident of the whirlwind, little Krishna opened his tiny mouth and yawned while taking a mouthful of milk.  Devi Yasodha looked at his tiny mouth and perplexed, she witnessed sky, stars, Surya, Agni, Chandra, ocean, island, woods, hills, mountains, and the entire Universe.  Devi Yasodha closed her eyes instantly, in this way, the Little Krishna performed an amusement to his mother.

The face of the supreme Lord represents sound and wisdom, the place where the twice-born have initiated.  The function of creation takes place from the friction of matters as per the Law of physics; hence the supreme spirit  is often mentioned as ‘supernatural power’ that causes the creation with the union of Prakrithi which undergoes constant transformation.  The little Krishna opened his mouth to reveal the eternal truth that the entire Universe and its living beings are merged in him.  The constant contemplation and meditation upon the Supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith would provide the ultimate knowledge/Paramarththa Thaththva of supreme soul who resides as soul in living beings, the knowledge of ‘Oneness-in-All’ and its all-pervading nature.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, once Sage Gargacharya who is the preceptor of Vasudeva and Yadhu clan, met Vasudeva and enquired about the naming ceremony of the children.  Vasudeva reverentially greeted his preceptor and requested to perform the naming ceremony of the children in Gokulam.  Thus, Gargacharya arrived in the palace of Nandababa was received with great honor, washed his feet and provided a comfortable seat for him and speaks “ Oh! Guro, kindly advise me about your visit, I am fortunate to receive you and our home is purified with your presence.  Therefore kindly give me instruction to perform the naming ceremony of the children and bless them.”  Gargacharya speaks “Oh! Nanda, Listen to me, I am anxious to do that.   I am the preceptor of Yadhavas If I have performed the naming ceremony of your children, Kamsa may mistake them as children of Devi Devaki and Vasudeva.  You might have heard the tragic death of six children in the hands of Kamsa, and the girl child who reached the abode of supreme Lord.” Nandababa replied “Oh! Guro, I have a humble request to you, once the cowherds leave the village to grace their cows, there will be no one in the Vraja, at that moment you can perform the naming ceremony of the children without anyone’s knowledge.”  Thus, they have decided to perform the naming ceremony of the children secretly. Devi Rohini gave bath to her son and attired him in lion clothe, adorned in sandalwood paste and vermilion, and tied the knot on the upper head.  Devi Yasodha gave bath to her child, attired him in a loincloth, tied knot on the upper head, and decorated his forehead with vermilion and sandal paste.  Gargacharya took the elder one, son of Devi Rohi, on his lap and said “ Oh! Nanda, this child would perform various amusements and entertain his friends, so I am naming him ‘Rama’; moreover, he is having powerful bodily features so I call him ‘Balarama’.  He will unite the entire clan of Yadhus with his power, so I name him ‘Sankarshana’.”  Gargacharya turned to the little child of Yasodha and spoke “ Oh! Mahabhaga Even though he has two complexions, he is dark-complexioned, so I name him ‘Krishna’, previously he was born as the son of Vasudeva, therefore I name him ‘Vasudeva’ too.  This child has numerous names; he will be named in accordance with his Guna and Karma, even I am incompetent to describe them all.  This child of yours will perform numerous amusements and protect the entire Vraja from all the dangers.  Oh! Nanda, your child possesses all the virtues of Lord Narayana.  This child will have all the Shriya/richness and Keerthi/fame, therefore protect your child/completely surrender to the supreme Lord. Oh! Mahabhaga, you are fortunate one to have a child-like Lord Vishnu who has the virtues of Lord Narayana.”  Thus, Gargacharya left the palace of Nandababa.