|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 192 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 43

Mujjadavyam Bhrashtamargam Krandhamanam Swagodhanam | Samprapya Thrishitha: Shranthasthathasthe  Sannyavarthayan || Krishna Krishna Mahaveera  Hey Rama Amithavikrama | Dhavagnina  Dhahyamanan Prapannamsthrathumarhadha: ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks" Oh! Rajan,  once, Krishna and the children of cowherds took the cows and calves in the woods, while grazing, the cows and calves arrived in the middle of dense forest.   It was scorching heat in Vrindavan, the cows and calves felt extremely thirsty left in the middle of the dense forest.  Krishna and the children went in search for the herds of cows; finally, they were located and decided to leave the forest with the herds of the cow.  Immediately, the dried grass caught in flame, eventually it spread all over the forest.  The children of cowherds were terrified to watch the colossal fire coming from all the direction of Munjjavanam to swallow them.  They cried out loudly praying “ Oh! Krishna, Oh! Krishna, Oh! Amithavikrama, Oh! Rama, we have no one other than you, we are already surrendered to you, kindly protect us.”  Krishna comforted the children and asked to keep their eyes closed.  He swallowed the colossal fire with the power of Yoga.  That day, the children of cowherds understood, Krishna is not an ordinary cow herd.  Krishna took all the children and cows and calves with him and returned to the place where they have started a journey for grazing the cows. " In this legend, Krishna taught us the greatest knowledge to be in peace with the Prakrithi/nature which possesses immense power, like a fisherman who crosses several miles of the huge ocean waves without fear.  Prakrithi can destroy the Sthoolashareera, not the Sookshma Shareera, Prakrithi cannot destroy the mind and intellect that originated from the supreme soul.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 191 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 42

Pashum Charayathor Gopasthaidhvane Ramakrishanayo: | Goparoopi Pralambho Agadhadhasurathajjihirshaya || Tham Vidhvanapi Dhasharho Bhagavan Sarvadharshana: | Anvamodhatha  Thath Sakhyam Vadham Thasya  Vichinthayan ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Krishna, and the villagers returned to Vrindavan.  There was scorching heat in Vrindavan.  The Supreme Lord who is beyond ‘Time’ enthusiastically moved around in the woods of Vrindavan,  he thoroughly enjoyed the dances of peacocks, trees filled with flowers, listening to the chirping of Cuckoos, playing melodious music on the flute, and various pastimes with the children of cowherds.  Krishna and cowherds were playing after leaving the cows and calves for grazing, a demon Pralambha assumed the form of a cowherd and joined to play with the children.  Immediately Krishna realized the real nature of that cowherds, made a close association with him, Krishna invited all the children of cowherds to have a mutual wrestling, they have formed two groups under the leadership of Krishna and Balarama, and the children are moved with their own group, the defeated group of children should carry the winners on their shoulder.  Krishna happily failed before a few of his close associates, Sridhama, Vrishabha, Bhadhrasena, and carried them on his shoulder.  Balarama had wrestled with the demon Pralambha, and Pralambha was defeated by the latter, according to the rule of the game, Pralambha had to carry Balarama on his shoulder.  Pralambha carried Balarama and moved far away from the children, looked back Krishna who gave permission with the gesture of his eyes, to kill the demon.  Balarama gave a heavy punch on the Pralambha, he could not move further and fell down with a thud and killed.  The children of cowherds surprised to see the huge dead body of the demon and ran around Balarama to congratulate him.  In this legend the demon Pralambha represents ‘procrastination’/laziness, and disorderliness; these are one of the greatest enemies in the progress of human life.  A disorderly, undisciplined life destroys the progress of the human mind and intellect."

|| 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.”