|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 185 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 36

Rama Rama Mahabhaho  Krishna Dhushtanibarhana | Itho Avidhoore Sumahath Vanam Thalalisankulam || Phalani Thathra Bhoorini Pathanthi Pathithani Cha | Santhi Kinthvavarudhdhani Dhenukena Dhurathmana ||

Once, Krishna and the young children of cowherds were taking pleasure in the woods of Vrindavan.  One of the cowherd Sudhama who was a close associate of Rama and Keshava said “ Oh! Rama, Rama, Mahabhaho  Oh! Krishna, Oh! Dhushtanibharhana, there is a Thalavanam close to Vrindavan, it is packed with sweetest fruits of palm trees, its aroma itself captivating, unfortunately, it is not a place to visit for us.   There is a Dhenukasura in the wood; he is living in the form of a donkey with family and relatives of his equal strength.  Oh! Rama, we would love to eat that palm fruit.  Kindly help us to get them.”  All the children surrounded Rama who has powerful arms and requested.  The children accompanied by Rama and Krishna approached the Thalavana.   Krishna forcefully shook the palm tree, Alas! The fruits started falling down.  The demon Dhenukasura heard the noise of the children and the sounds of fruits falling down; it rushed to Balarama, raised its feet and gave a hard kick on the chest of Balarama.  He took hold of the two legs of Dhenukasura and thrashed it on the palm tree, immediately lots of fruits fallen down and the tree got uprooted falling on the other, it repeated and finally a large number of palm trees were destroyed.  All the relatives of Dhenukasura were killed and freed the Thalavanam from their atrocities.

The legend of Dhenukasura describes a wood full of marvelous fruits, the demon Denukasura/self-centered the demon will not let anyone enter in this wood or consume its fruit.  The self-centered humans are like Dhenukasura who do not take pleasure in what’s available and do not let others take pleasure in it, they always look for their own comforts and necessities, they perform all the righteous deeds for the welfare of their own family, they do not elevate their soul or not let others do it. Finally, Krishna and Balarama killed the demon Dhenukasura and his family and let the children enjoy the fruits of the palm tree.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 184 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 35

Kvachith Kalahamsanamanu Koojathi Koojitham | Abhinrithyathi Nriththyantham Harhinam Hasayan Kvachith ||

Krishna speaks to Balarama “Oh! Brother, look at this beautiful land of Vrindavan, filled with highly rich fragrant flowers, creepers, and trees.  The pious souls must have taken birth as trees due to their unfinished Karma; they are keeping their branches low on the Earth, in that way they are revealing humility, and prostrating before the Earth and deities.   They are serving the deities with their rich fragrant flowers, and amiably sharing shades.  The pack of honey bees taking great pleasure in the flowers as if the ascetic takes pleasure in the caves and isolated places in the woods, the buzzing sounds of the honey bees resembles the song sung in praise of Adipurusha. The peacocks and the deer in the woods multiply the attractiveness of the atmosphere with its mesmerizing looks like the young maiden of cowherds, the sounds of Cuckoo/Chakora and Krauncha, sounds like singing in praise of the supreme Lord.    The Hamsa/swan is taking pleasure in the rivers and ponds with their soft voices. Therefore the Earth is extremely fortunate, she is self-contented, all the living beings on this Earth serve her as the prime deity and singing in praise of her.”  In this way, Gopala praised the splendor of the Vrindavana, eventually the children surrounded him with music and dances took great pleasure in the woods and taking shelter under the trees.

The Supreme Lord Krishna taught us the real meaning of worship/Pujanam, by serving the cows and cowherds / Goseva in the Vraja.  The service to the cow is considered as highly propitious Dharma, it is the only animal serve the humans until it leaves the Earth, with the milk, cow dung, and urine.   All the dairy products such as ghee, butter, curd are highly nutritious boost the immune system, in this way it contributes good health to humans.    The Supreme Lord Krishna has chosen the sacred land Vrindavan, a lush green land, filled with trees and creepers, to perform his various amusements, he spends a good part of his life roaming in the woods, praising the Earth and its natural beauty/Bhuseva.   Therefore it is the responsibility of every single individual to protect the Earth from littering waste materials, usage of chemicals in the farmlands, deforestation,  protect from the destructions of ponds, wells, and rivers,  protect the water bodies from the waste materials, planting more trees and plants, keeping the surroundings clean and spotless.  The Supreme Lord has another name Bhakthaparadheena, he was kind and compassionate to powerless, destitute, and distressed people, and he relentlessly served the poor people/ Deenasamrakshanam.  It is the responsibility of the individuals to perform charity of essential items to people who are in real need of it, serving the homeless with shelter or necessities, serving the hungry people with the meal, serving the people with clothes, being supportive to people during the troubled times and console them,  etc.   The supreme Lord tirelessly served his parents and elderly and set an example for Mathru Pithru Seva.   Lord Krishna before leaving the Earth instructed his attendant to inform Arjuna about the upcoming deluge in Dwaraka and requested to protect the people of Dwaraka.  It is the responsibility of the individuals to take good care of elderly people and parents.  The Supreme Lord Krishna before leaving to the supreme abode, imparted the highest of knowledge to Udhdhava/Udhdhava Gita, during the great battle of Kurukshetra he enlightened Arjuna with the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita/  Gnana Seva.  In this way, Lord Krishna affirmed that the Gnanaseva is the superior service to society; it is the supreme service that transforms the minds of the people with the knowledge of ‘oneness in all’, ultimately it could bring peace, compassion and kindness in society.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 183 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 34

Sarveshamapi Vasthoonam Bhavarththo Bhavathi Sthitha: | Thasyapi Bhagavan Krishna: Kimadhvasthu Roopyatham ||

King Pareekshith speaks “Oh! Bhraman, you have explained the supreme Lord assumed the form of cowherds and cows of Vraja when Lord Bhrama hid all of them, why did the cows and calves, and the children of cowherds and their mothers felt a unique love towards each other?”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, everyone has love for themselves more than anybody else, and it is possible as long as the supreme soul resides in us, it stimulates us to like ourselves like the brightness has the ability to catch the attention,  a lifeless body cannot attract due to the lack of presence of supreme soul in it.  The supreme soul is known as Krishna/Karshayath + Ithi Krishna, who resides as a soul in all the living beings.  The Supreme Lord has incarnated as a little cowherd with the influence of Maya, and born as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva for the welfare of the Universe and its people.  We are witnessing the all-pervading nature of the Supreme Lord in the whole Universe, there is nothing other than supreme Lord, and you can realize the presence of the supreme Lord in living as well as non-living things.  We can witness everything in the Universe with the presence of him as a soul in us; he is the source of the functioning of the Gnana Indhriyas, Karmendhriyas, mind, and intellect. Oh! Murari, the compassionate one, kindly grace us to elevate our soul at your lotus feet.”

The legends of Srimad Bhagavatha Puran repeatedly describe the significance of Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya.  The practice of learning scriptures, Veda and Upanishads, the performance of religious and spiritual rites, without the awareness of the all-pervading nature of supreme Lord could not elevate the soul, it cannot enhance the devotion in the doer, unless and until the knowledge of the presence of the supreme soul as a soul in living beings.

Thus, years have passed, all these years Krishna was taking care of calves, gradually he began to take the cows for grazing, and he took great care of cows, walked around with the grown-ups in the Vrindavan.  During these days, he employed lots of time playing melodious music on his flute.  He spends most enjoyable times in the woods of Vrindavan, enriched with the beautiful landscape of Govardhana and forest, filled with lush green trees, shrubs and creepers.  Krishna beautifully plays music on the flute and made the children and the cows extremely happy.  They took great pleasure on the river banks of the Yamuna filled in lotus flowers.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 182 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 33

Naumeedyatheabhra Vapushe  Thadidhambaraya Gujjavathamsa Paripicchalasanmukhaya | Vanyasraje Kavalavethra Vishana Venulakshmashriye  Mridhupadhe  Pashupangajaya ||Ekasthvamathma  Purusha: Puranana:  Sathya: Swayamjyothir Anantha Adhya: | Nithyoksharo Ajasrasukho Niranjjana: Poornnadhvayo Muktha Upadhithoamritha: ||Narayanasthvam  Na Hi Sarvadhehinam Athmasyadhisha Akhilalokasakshi| Narayanoanangam Narabhoojalayanaththachapi Sathyam Na Thavaiva Maya || Thvam Athmanam Param Mathva  Paramathmanam Yeva Cha | Athma  Punar  Bhair  Mrigya  Aho Ajjyajanathajjyatha ||Aho Bhagyam Aho Bhagyam Nanda Gopa Vrajaukasam | Yanmithram  Paramanandham  Poornnam Bhramam Sanathanam ||

Lord Bhrama eulogizes, “ Oh! Bhagavan who has the complexion of dark clouds, attired in majestic yellow silk garment, decorated with the feathers of peacock and various pearl ornaments, ear ornaments, Vanamala, holding handful of curd rice, flute and stick fastened on the waist with an upper clothe,  Oh! Mridhupathe, Oh! Pashupankaja, I shall prostrate before your soft and supple lotus feet. Oh! Deva, Oh! Vapusha, you have incarnated as a little cowherd of Vraja to shower your grace upon us, Oh! Bhagavan, who resides as a soul in living beings, it is not easy to perceive the all-pervading nature of you and oneness in all, it is impossible to understand even for me, therefore not to say about the ordinary people whose mind and intellect are drenched in Maya/illusion.  The devotion is the easiest method to approach the Supreme Lord who is all-pervading nature and represents living and non-living things, although people keep exploring the scriptures and sacred text of wisdom, eventually misinterpret the same, therefore Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya are equally important to realize your eternal presence.  Oh! Achyutha, illustrious Yogis surrenders all the Karma and results of Karma on you, they vest intense devotion and faith upon you through various means, ultimately attain Moksha at your lotus feet.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are attainable for the people who understand the oneness-in-all, Alas! An ignorant who is soaked in Maya/illusion of worldly attachments and worldly matters could not realize your presence in him, whoever constantly contemplates upon the supreme Lord, performs righteous deeds and achieve serenity of mind and Variagya/sense of abandonment would realize your eternal presence in them.  Oh! Bhagavan, the illustrious Rishis, and sages experienced you in a transcendental state.  Oh! Bhagavan you are truly compassionate, your presence as a soul is the source of the functions of mind, intellect, Gnana, and Karmendhriyas.  The knowledge of the realization of the self would bring the serenity of mind.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the source of the functioning of the soul as well as elevate the soul, I shall prostrate before you with my words, intellect, and heart.  Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Anantha, I have committed a grave sin due to my ignorance, I have taken a foolish effort to measure your splendor, and how can I do that? I am a minuscule part of you, like a spark from the colossal fire, I am just a water bubble in the pond, and how could I measure you? Hence I shall surrender to you.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are Purusha who is eternal, and void of changes. You are primordial, you are absolute truth, illuminates the soul with your brilliance, you are Jyothirathman, you symbolize Akshara, you are unblemished, you are flawless, you are the source of nectar-like Mukthi.  Oh! Bhagavan, you represent Universe and its living beings, you are the source of functioning the same. Oh! Paramathma, who contemplates upon by the Yogi and Yogishwaras in the three worlds, you are the source of creation and taking pleasure in it and performing various passionate sports with the influence of Yogamaya.  Oh! Prabho, you are the destroyer of pride and impurities of the mind and intellect, and protect the souls with your compassionate grace. Oh! Narayana, who resides as a soul in living beings, you are the source of functioning the same, you are Lokasakshi who witnesses all the happenings, you are unblemished, you are the absolute truth.  Oh! Adhokshaja, Oh! Acchyutha, who has won over Lord Kamadeva, kindly forgive me Oh! Bhagavan, a ferryman who helps to cross the river, in this way a Preceptor helps us to cross the ocean of worldly existence.  The ignorance can be wiped off with the knowledge of ‘Oneness-in – all’, it can be understood with the awareness of the nature of a rope and a snake and its difference like the body/dheha undergoes transformation and ruin but Dhehi/soul has neither birth nor death.  Oh! Paramathma who resides as a soul in living beings, whoever conducts the search of you in the outer world is ignorant and foolish, you are all-pervading.  Oh! Bhagavan, I shall take refuge at your lotus feet, kindly shower your grace upon me, you’re highest of the philosophy, kindly shower your mercy upon me if I could not learn that Mahath Thaththvam as Bhrama, kindly bless me to take birth on this the sacred land of Vraja and I shall take refuge on your lotus feet with intense devotion and faith.  Oh! Bhagavan, the sacred land Vraja and the children of cowherds and maiden of cowherds are extremely fortunate, the cows and calves of the Vraja are extremely fortunate, the cows had the fortune to feed you with the milk from their udder, the women of the cowherds are fortunate to feed the Paramathma with their bosom milk.  In this way you have made everyone’s life auspicious, therefore kindly shower your grace upon me.  I would be fortunate to take birth on this sacred land where the sands had the fortune to bear the footprint of the supreme Lord.  The people of Vraja, cows, and children of Vraja is extremely fortunate to have the supreme Lord who is absolute Bhramam, as their Mithram/companion, you symbolize supreme bliss, flawless, and eternal.  Oh! Bhagavan who resides as soul kindly showers your grace upon me and eleven deities to remain Gnanendhriyas and Karmendhriyas and intellect to take pleasure in you.  Oh! Bhagavan, if I had the fortune to take birth in this sacred land of Gokulam, I would take bath with the sands of the cowherds and make my mind and intellect pure, in this way I could elevate my soul to the supreme Lord Mukunda who is sought after by Upanishads.  Oh! Bhagavan, we are unable to witness your splendor due to the Ragadhvesha/impurities like thieves, and it imprisoned us, intellectuals get themselves freed from worldly matters and bondage and realize your splendor with the constant contemplation at your lotus feet.  Oh! Bhagavan, you are the knower of all, you are Sarvadhrik/witnessing all, you are Jagannatha, and therefore everyone should take shelter at your lotus feet.  Oh! Krishna, Oh! Vrishnikula, Oh! Bhagavan, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, considering you as my preceptor.”  Thus Lord Bhrama eulogized little Krishna and returned to his abode.  The children and cattle hid by Bhrama appeared in the Vraja once again.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 181 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 32

Evam Sammohayan Vishnum Vimoham Vishwamohanam | Swayaiva  Mayayajoapi Swayameva Vimohitha: || Thavath  Sarve Vathsapala: Pashyathejoasya Thath Kshanath | Vyadhrishyantha Ghanashyama: Peetha  Kausheyavasasa: || Chathurbhuja: Shankha Chakra Gadha Rajeeva Panaya: | Kireedina: Kundalino Harino Vanamalina: || Srivathsanga Dhadhorathna Kambukankana Panaya: | Noopurai: Katakairbatha: Katisoothra Anguliyakai: ||

Thus, a year has passed, Lord Bhrama got out of a night’s sleep / one year on the Earth is one night for Lord Bhrama.  He was expected to witness Krishna searching for the cowherds and cattle was surprised to see him taking great pleasure in the company of children of cowherds and cattle.  He stunned to witness the cowherds and cattle in Vraja, he looked at the children and cattle hid in the cave, and could not believe his eyes.  In this way Bhrama was perplexed, he was trying to disenchant Vishnu/ Vishwamohana has drenched himself in utter illusion.  Lord Bhrama mystified looking at the Vraja and immersed in meditation.  He witnessed the glorious form of Lord Vishnu who is adorned in Shanka, Chakra, Gadha, Padhamam in four arms, attired in magnificent yellow silk garment, has the complexion of dark clouds, adorned in the magnificent crown, ear ornaments, gem and precious ornaments on the neck, Vanamala, Srivathsam, armlets, bangles, anklets, waist ornament and ornaments on the fingers, etc.

Lord Bhrama has seen the splendor of Lord Vishnu who is Sathya/truth, Gnana/knowledge Anantha/endless, /eternal and Anandha /supreme bliss, and his presence in all over the cowherds and cattle, revealing the all-pervading nature described in the Upanishads.  He understood the endless glories of Lord Vishnu and witnessed the all-pervading nature of supreme Lord Krishna who resides as a soul in all the living beings.  Lord Bhrama decided to visit Vrindavana shortly, he felt extremely guilty for not understanding the divinity of little Krishna, like a spark of flame that prepared to measure the vastness of the blaze.  Immediately little Krishna assumed his real form holding a handful of curd rice.  Lord Bhrama rushed towards little Krishna, like a Danda/stick fallen at his feet, his four crowns took the pleasure of the touch of the fingers at his feet.  He shed tears that washed the feet of Little Krishna.  Lord Bhrama repeatedly prostrated before the lotus feet of little Krishna with tears overflowing began to eulogize him.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 180 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 31

Yavadh Vathsapavathsakalpaka Vapuryavath Karanghryadhikam | Yavadh Dhrishtivishana Venudhalashikhyavadh Vibhooshambaram || Yavath Sheela Gunabhidhakrithavayo Yavath Viharadhikam | Sarvam Vishnumayam Girongavadhaja: Sarvaswaroopo Bhabhau ||Swayamathma Athmagovathan Prathivaryathma Vathsapai: | Kreedan Athma Viharaishcha  Sarvathma  Paravishath Vrajam ||

The children who were taking pleasure in partaking meals have noticed that their cows and calves are missing; they have expressed anxiousness to Krishna.  Instantly, they have stopped consuming meals, their face filled with terror, in a second everyone’s smiling face has become doomed to extreme fear and anxieties.  Krishna pacified them to finish their meals, promised them to bring back their cattle.  Thus, Krishna left the place with a handful of curd rice.  The Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the compassion and self-sacrificing nature of the Supreme Lord, who is Bhakthaparadheena/ could not bear the troubles of his ardent devotees, he could have finished the meal and conduct in search of cattle, but he did not wait for finishing the meal, immediately he left the place with a handful of it. 

The lotus born Bhrama/Ambhojasambhava desired to witness the marvelous pastimes of the little Krishna.  He hid the entire cows and calves in a cave, while Krishna conducting search for it, eventually entered in a dense forest, he called out the names of cows, but did not get any response.  He returned to the sand bed of Yamuna where the children were partaking meal, Alas! There were no children in the place.  Lord Bhrama who desired to witness the splendor of Little Krishna, hid the children of cowherds also in a cave.  The divine child Krishna who is residing as Antharathma represents living and non-living things realized the amusement of Bhrama who hid the cows and cowherds.  He smiled at himself, he envisioned the cows and herds, and began the creation of cows and calves similar to those of cowherds, he performed the same amusement with the children of cowherds without missing even a single or small details like clothes, stick, flute, ornaments, flowers, and the habits, virtues of children of the cowherds.  In this way, he performed the pastime of Sarvam Vishnumayam.  The Supreme Lord who is all-pervading assumed the form of children of cowherds, cows, and calves, immersed in various passionate sport in the homes of cowherds.  Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the endless miracles that took place after Krishna assumed the form of children of cowherds and cows and calves.  The woman of cowherds felt extremely affectionate to their children, even though they could not realize the real nature of supreme Bhramam.  The cows were showering milk from its udder without their knowledge after seeing their calves.  None of the cowherds could realize the presence of supreme Lord Vishnu who assumed the form of cows and children.  In this way, a year has passed, Krishna took the children and cattle with him for grazing on a regular basis.  Once, he went to woods with Balarama, the children left their cows for grazing, eventually, all the cows reached on the peak of Mount Govardhana.  They found the calves at the foothill of Govardhana, they did not waste a moment, all the cows dashed down to their calves, even though the pathways were too harsh and thorny, the children of cowherds also followed them, in this way the cows, calves and the children expressed their extreme love with each other.  Balarama felt doubtful after seeing the boundless expression of love among cows, calves, and children.  Balarama with his divine eyes realized the presence of his beloved little Krishna in every cowherds and cow.  Balarama enquired Krishna why did he perform a pastime like that.  Little Krishna explained the whole happenings and the reason for assuming the form of children of cowherds and their cattle to please the mothers of Vraj and keep them away from the trouble of missing their children.  Balarama was highly pleased and surprised at the creation of Little Krishna.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 179 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 30

Bhibhrath Venum Jatarapadayo: Shringavethre Cha Kakshe  Vame Panau Masrunakavalam Thathphalanyangulishu | Thishtan Madhye  Swapari Suhridho Hasayan Narmabhi: Swai: | Swarge Loke  Mishathi Bubhuje  Yajjabhug Balakeli : ||

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, Oh! Mahabhaga, I shall describe the legend of Krishna who performed the Aghasura Moksham at the age of five that was come to know the villagers from the children when Krishna was at the age of six.  Maharishi Vedavyasa describes the legends of Krishna would never create boredom in listeners; its core spirit would remain fresh and all new whenever heard or recite, like the sweet coated words of a female lover never creates boredom to the male lover.  Oh! Rajan, I have already narrated about the children who brought mud pot of curd rice and pickles with them at the instruction of Krishna, they arrived on the banks of river Yamuna.  Krishna advised the children to sit on the beautiful sand bed of Yamuna, they send the herds of cow and calf for grazing and began to partake in meals.  They seated around Krishna like petals of the lotus flower, they all seated facing Krishna and happily began to share their meals.  The children brought big leaves of flowers, and small leaves pinned each other to serve the meal, they have opened their mud pot and shown to each other, praising the taste of their meals, in this way Krishna took immense pleasure in the company of cowherds.  Krishna who was seated in the middle, keeping the stick on the armpit, flute fastened on the waist with the upper clothing, holding curd rice on his left palm and all those pickles collected from other children were kept in between the fingers, he was cracking jokes and laughing out loud with the children.   In this way the Supreme Lord who is worshiped with observing strict austerities and performing fire sacrifices meticulously following the  rules and regulations prescribed in the scriptures and receive oblation from fire sacrifices reside in the supreme abode, partook his meal with the children of cowherds.

In this legend, Lord Krishna taught the children to partake the meal with each other, teach the highest of the knowledge of willingness to share knowledge and resources with others so that it would wash off the selfishness, and impurities in the hearts.  The sense of sharing is caring, it would bring an abundance of pleasure in the giver and receiver as well, and eventually, it removes ignorance and grief.  The individual, who takes immense pleasure in the company of people and material well-being, would get disturbed in the absence of the same.  An individual who has taken shelter in the grief of ignorance, cannot elevate the soul of himself/herself and others as well.  An intellectual who is cheerful always with the knowledge of Bhramam would remain untouched by any of the adverse situations in life with a balanced state of mind.