|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 190 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 41

Krishna! Krishna! Mahabhaga!  Hey  Rama Amithavikrama | Yesha Ghorathamo Vahnisthavakan Grasathe Hi Na: ||Iththam Swajana Vaiklabhyam Nireekshya  Jagadheeshwara: | Thamagnima Pibath Theevram Anantho Ananthashakthidhrik ||

 Shuka Bhramam speaks " Oh! Rajan, Thus the serpent Kaliya and his family returned to the Island of Ramanaka, that night, the people of Vraja and Krishna stayed on the riverbank of Kalindi.  He was too tired, Devi Yasodha embraced her child and kissed him on his forehead, none of them had food that night.  All were tired of hunger and fallen asleep, it was dark hours of the night suddenly the villagers noticed a huge wood fire approaching the riverbank of Kalindi.  They all assembled around Krishna, cried out loudly for help with folded hands, prayed “ Oh! Krishna, Oh! Rama, Oh! Amithavikrama, Oh! Mahabhaga, have you noticed the colossal wood fire? It is going to swallow us, kindly protect us. We are completely surrendered to you; we have no one to help us.  Kindly do not leave us.  ”  The Supreme Lord who has endless prowess, widely opened his mouth and swallowed the colossal fire.  In this legend, the supreme Lord who is capable to purify all the impurities of the human mind and intellect, there is no intellect or mind is impure, the unwanted thoughts make them impure.  The intense devotion and constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord are capable to remove all the impurities of the souls like the brilliant rays of sun removes the darkness of ignorance."

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 189 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 40

Nagalayam Ramanakam Kasmath Thyaja  Kaliya: | Kritham Kim Va Suparnnasya  Thenaikenasamajjasam || Krishnam Hradhadhvinishkrantham Dhivyasragandhavasasam | Mahamani Ganakeernnam Jambhoonadhaparishkritham ||

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Bhraman, the serpent Kaliya was living on the island of Ramanakam before, why did he leave the island? Kindly narrate that story to me.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan,   while serpent Kaliya was living in the island of Ramanaka, there was an agreement between Garuda and serpents, that on a particular day of every month, one of the serpents should offer their life to Garuda.  Finally, the time has arrived for Kaliya to offer himself before Garuda, but he did not follow the order, in addition to that he swallowed a serpent that was ready to surrender before Garuda, ultimately it led to a fierce battle between Garuda and Kaliya.  At the end of the battle, Kaliya was defeated by Garuda, he was quite sure that Garuda will not spare him; hence Kaliya left the island of Ramanaka with his family and started living in the underwaters of Kalindi. Once, Saubhari Maharishi was undertaking penance on the riverbank of Kalindi.  He watched the water animals and fishes moving around happily.  Suddenly a Garuda appeared from nowhere and fetched a huge fish, Maharishi got angry watching this and cursed Garuda that if he flies over the river Kalindi again, that would be the end of his species.  Thus the Garuda was forbidden to enter in the watercourse of Kalindi, it has become a blessing for serpent Kaliya, and he happily started living with his family in the Kalindi. Now, Kaliya became disappointed to hear Krishna’s command to return to the island of Ramanakam.  He appealed to Krishna to protect him from the threat of Garuda.  Krishna pacified Kaliya that he will not face any future troubles from Garuda because he has got the footprints of Krishna on his hood.  In this way, Krishna protected Kaliya from the danger of Garuda and sends him back to Ramanaka. In this legend, Kaliya surrendered to Krishna and gave away all his pride, was blessed by Krishna and became respectable before Garuda.  Therefore, living beings who are surrendered to the supreme Lord will not face any threat or fears in their lives."

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 188 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 39

Namasthubhyam Bhagavathe  Purushaya Mahathmane | Bhoothavasaya  Bhoothaya  Paraya Parathmane || Gnana Vignana Nidhaye  Bhramane Ananthashakthaye | Agunayavikaraya  Namasthe Prakrithaya Cha|| Kalaya Kalanabhaya  Kalavayavasakshine | Vishwaya  Thadhupadhrashtre Thath Karthre Vishwahethave || Bhootha Mathrendhriya Prana Mano Buddhyashayathmane| Thrigunenabimanena  Goodaswathmanubhoothaye || Namo Ananthaya  Sookshmaya  Kootasthaya  Vipashchithe | Nanavadhanurodhaya  Vachya Vachaka Shakthaye ||Nama: Pramana Moolaya  Kavaye Shasthrayonaye | Pravriththaya  Nivriththaya  Nigamaya Namo Nama: || Nama: Krishnaya  Ramaya  Vasudevasuthaya Cha | Pradhyumnaya Anirudhdhaya Saththvatham Pathaye Nama: || Namo Gunapradheepaya  Gunathmacchadhanaya Cha | Gunavriththyupalakshyaya  Gunadhrashtre Swasamvidhe || Avyakritha Viharaya  Sarvavyakrithasiddhaye | Hrishikesha  Namastheasthu Munaye Maunasheeline ||Paravaragathijjyaya Sarvadhyakshaya Namo Nama: | Avishwaya Cha Vishwaya  Thadhdhrashtresasya Cha Hethave ||

The wives of Kaliya eulogized Krishna “Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Mahatma, Oh! Purusha, Oh! Bhoothavasa who resides as a soul in living beings, you are beyond words or perception, Oh! Paramathma, you symbolize Gnana and Vignana as well, Oh! Bhramane, you have endless prowess, you have no specific forms, you are beyond emotions, you are primordial, you represent time, death and you witnesses all, you represent the Universe and its living beings, you are the cause and effect of the Universe and its living beings, you represent soul, Indriyas, Prana, Mano Buddhi and Ahamkara, you represent three virtues known as Sathvik, Rajasik, and Thamasik, you are not perceivable for all, you have subtle form, you have neither being nor end, you are perceivable through meditation and faith, you are beyond description or debate, you are beyond words or speech, you are the core spirit of Shastra and scriptures, Veda, Vedantha, you are the doer and you are void of Karma.  Oh! Krisha, Oh!  Rama, Oh! Vasudevasutha we are repeatedly prostrate before you.  Oh! Gunapradheepa, you symbolize Pradhyumna, Aniruddha, and you possess Sathvik nature, you represent virtues, you illuminate the virtues in living beings, you have no such specific forms, you have possessed numerous forms, you are all-pervading, Oh! Hrishikesh who has perfect control over senses, Oh! Supreme ascetic, who undertake a vow of silence, you symbolize the Universe and creator of the Universe, and you are the protector of it.”  Krishna pleased with the serpent Kaliya and his wives, further the serpents that are born with the Thamasik nature prayed to Lord Krishna to bless them.   Lord Krishna ordered them to leave Kalindhi and take shelter on the island of Ramanaka.  He advised them that the waters of the river Kalindi is meant for the cows, animals and the people of Vraja, therefore Kaliya should leave Kalindhi immediately with his family.

Whoever listens or recite the conversation took place between Lord Krishna and Kaliya, would never face threat or fear of serpents.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 187 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 38

Tham Prekshaneeya Sukumara Ghanavatharam | Srivathsa Peethavasanam Smithasundarasyam | Kreedanthamaprathibhayam Kamalodharanghrim Sandhasya Marmasu Rusha  Bhujaya Cchachadha ||

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh!  Rajan,  Kaliya swam on the surface and witnessed the supreme Lord Krishna who has a pleasing personality, adorned in Srivastha Kausthubha and ornaments of precious gems, attired in magnificent yellow clothes, his supple lotus feet are adorned in anklets.  Kaliya was surprised to see the little Krishna in the venomous water, he noticed the lotus feet of Krishna, and began to bite it harshly, eventually, he did not leave a single part of the body of Krishna who was playing hide and seek in the deep waters.  The children of cowherds noticed that Krishna was attacked by the Kaliya, they were extremely terrified, wept bitterly, and they worried about the safety of Krishna.  The cows and calves were cried out loudly.  A few of the cowherds rushed back to the village to inform the people of Vrindavan, who were already witnessing bad omen.  Nandababa was anxious about little Krishna, remembered his son left to woods without his elder brother Balarama.  The cowherds informed Nandababa about the fight between Krishna and Kaliya. Thus, Nandababa and Devi Yasodha, accompanied by the whole villagers rushed to the river Kalindi, assembled on the riverbank, they were extremely frightened watching the dreadful scenes in the middle of Kalindi.  Krishna who was strangled by the giant body of Kaliya, Devi Yasodha who was all prepared to rush under waters was intervened by the people of Vraja, and fallen unconscious.  The female of cowherds started weeping out loudly.  Krishna understood the pain of the people of Vraja and his parents; immediately he got freed himself from the colossal body of Kaliya who was constantly chasing Krishna was already tired of the sport.  Krishna got hold of his tail and took a huge leap on its hood.  Krishna vehemently thrashed the hoods of Kaliya gave out an appearance of dancing on the hoods of the serpent, the deities showered flowers upon Lord Krishna.  The poisonous blood was oozing out of his mouth, Kaliya was all tired and his pride was shattered, his hoods became powerless.  Kaliya understood the little child who has taken place on his hood is not an ordinary one, immediately his mind turned towards the supreme Lord Narayana, he sincerely prostrated with his heart, and soon the wives of serpent Kaliya appeared before Krishna and eulogized “Oh! Kalmashapaha, Oh! Bhagavan you have incarnated to destroy the pride of the living beings, you have removed the pride of our husband and blessed him.  We feel that you have showered your grace on our husband by removing his ignorance.  Oh! Bhagavan, we don’t need anything or any of the supreme abodes, kindly shower your permanent grace on us.”

In this legend Kaliya and its thousands of hoods represent people with a weak mind, anger, ego, pride, desire, and lust and jealous, the serpent Kaliya polluted the entire waters with its venom that caused massive destruction of plants and animals. Kaliya did not make any effort to come out of its weakness until and unless the little Krishna took complete control over him. There is no human intellect without any weaknesses, at the same time it has great potential to get out of the weakness as well.  All the scriptures shed light on the weakness of the human mind and intellect, and ways to come out of it to attain Moksha/Moha Kshaya Ithi Moksha, it is impossible to attain Moksha without the purity of the mind.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 186 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 37

Krishna: Kamalapathraksha : Punyashravanakeerthana: | Sthooyamanoanugair Gopai: Sagrajo Vrajamavrajath ||

The women of cowherds remembering the lovely face of Krishna filled with perspiration and the dust rose from the hooves of the cows, his beautiful smile, attractive flute and melodious music from the flute, made them completely surrendered to him.  They forgot to perform daily duties thinking the marvelous face of Krishna, they were drinking the beauty of Mukundha with their eyes and hearts.  In this way they have become so dependent on Krishna, and they could not perform any of the duties without him, eventually, their sincere devotion and love for Krishna made them helpless in his absence.  Krishna and Balaram returns home after grazing the cows were happily received by Devi Yasodha and Devi Rohini, gave bath to the children, clothed in marvelous dresses and fed them.

Yevam Sa Bhagavan  Krishno Vrindavanachara: Kvachith | Yayau Ramamrithe Rajan Kalindhim Sakhibhir Vritha: ||Adha Gavashcha Gopashcha  Nidhaghathapa Peeditha: | Dhushtam Jalam Papusthasyasthrishartha Vishadhooshitham ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Once, Krishna along with the herds of cows and children of cowherds without Balarama arrived on the riverbank of Kalindhi,  all their way singing, and dancing, the children and cows were tired of hunger and thirst, they drank water from the Kalindi without knowing the presence of venom in it.  Krishna who is Yogeshwareshwara saw the children and cows on the mouth of death immediately after consuming the water from the Kalindhi, he could not bear the scene, and he looked at them with extreme compassion, immediately they all got out of the state of unconsciousness. The children felt relieved, they have regained life once again; they looked at each other in awe.  Bhagavan decided not to let anyone pollute the Earth, put an end to the poison in the waters of river Kalindi and purify the waters of the river Kalindi.”

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Bhraman, how did Krishna remove the toxic poison in the deep waters of Kalindi? Kindly describe to me in detail.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ There was a venomous serpent Kaliya and his family lived in the underwaters of Kalindi.  The poison of Kaliya spread in the whole waters of Kalindhi, therefore if any birds fly over the waters would get killed immediately due to the power of the venom.  The shrubs, creepers, trees, and plants close to this water would get dried; animals and all the creatures that consume the water of Kalindi would get killed instantly. Krishna decided to bring an end to the atrocities of Kaliya.  He advised the children to remain silent on the river bank, do not get overwhelmed or get closer to the waters, eventually, he retired close to the huge Kadamba tree on the river bank.   He climbed up on the huge Kadamba tree, tightened his upper cloth around the waist, kept the flue fastened with it.  He dived in the deep waters of Kalindhi, at that moment the waters of Kalindhi overflown due to the heaviness of Krishna.  Maharishi Vedavysa describes the supreme Lord Krishna who has endless prowess caused the waters of Kalindi brim over with no effort.  The sudden movements of the water annoyed Kaliya, he began to swim upwards with its huge body.”

|| 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.