|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 195 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 46

Gopi Geetham

Gopi speaks “ Oh! Dear friends, we are fortunate to witness the divine child who is playing the melodious flute.  Definitely, the flute is extremely fortunate to have the sweet saliva of that lovely child.  I cannot forget that beautiful appearance of him attired in magnificent yellow clothes, all his limbs are covered in jewels and flowers, beautiful feathers of the peacock on the curly hair locks, walking all over Vrindavan, singing melodiously.  Oh! Honey bees, you are the fortunate ones, taking honey from the flowers adorned on his body, the flute placed on the lips of Krishna absorbing the sweet nectar-like saliva from his lips.  We are not so fortunate to have the taste of nectar-like saliva from his lips.  Oh! Peacocks, you are fortunate ones to dance to the tune of Venuganam of  Devakisutha.  Oh! Deers, you are fortunate ones to chase him to the tune of Venuganam of Nandanandan, and watching at the spell-bound performance of Krishna.  The deities who are traveling on the celestial vehicles in the sky could not move further after listening to the melodious music from the flute of Krishna, they are also experiencing the same bliss as us.  They are not realizing their misplaced garments or hairs or ornaments adorned in their body, they are so wrapped up in the Venuganam like us.  The cows and calves spreading its ears widely and listening to the nectar-like Venuganam and the calves forget to drink milk from the udder of their mothers.  The birds that fly all over like the Yogis who move all around Earth without any restriction, they stand still listening to the melodious music on flute, as if the Yogis immersed in a transcendental state.  The small water currents in the rivers cheerfully flowing and crowding each other, after listening to the Mukundaganam as if they are embracing Krishna, the sky is packed with rainy clouds yearning to express their happiness in the form of rains, after listening to the Venuganam.  The womenfolk of the tribal clan feel the embrace of Krishna, when their bosom smeared in vermilion, touches the long grasses while walking in the woods.  The mount Govardhana is fortunate to have the footprints of Balaram and Krishna, and it is highly pleased to remove the thirst and hunger of cowherds, cows of Vraja.  Oh! Dear friends, we have believed them as ordinary cowherds of Vrindavan, while they are wandering all around Vrindavan, holding ropes and sticks in their hands, in fact, it is supreme Lord and deities who have appeared as Krishna and cowherds to elevate our soul.  I cannot forget the scene Krishna holding the flute on his lips, and playing melodious music on it, even the fluttering leaves of the trees, and shrubs and plants standstill after listening to the melodious music on flute.  He had stolen our hearts with his lovely appearance and virtues.” In this way, the melodious music on the flute of Krishna kindled the emotions of female cowherds of Vraja.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 194 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 45

Barha Peedam Natavaravapu: Karnnayo: Karnikaram| Bibhradhvasa: Kanakapisham Vaijayanthim Cha Malam || Randhran Venoradharasudhaya  Poorayan Gopavrindhai:| Vrindharanyam Swapadharamanam Pravishath  Geethakeerthi: ||

Shukha Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, during the spring season, the whole wood of Vrindavan was filled with the flowers of rich fragrances, creepers or various flowers, vibrating with the chirping of Cuckoo, Krishna beautifully played music on his flute.  The female cowherds besieged with the arrows of cupid at the sound of music on flute, they have nothing else to talk about, all they have to talk about the beautiful appearance of Krishna, his pleasant and smiling face, beautiful red lips, and the melodious music from his flute.  The marvelous appearance of Krishna who performed various amusements, and the years have passed, he caught hold of the hearts of the female of cowherds as a lover.  He kindled the hearts of the women of cowherds with his lovely appearance.  His beautiful curly hair locks are decorated with the feathers of peacock and flowers, adorned in beautiful earn ornaments of pearl and precious gems, attired in magnificent golden-colored garment, adorned in garlands of flowers from the woods/ Vaijayanthi Mala, holding attractive Venu on the lips, he transformed the entire Vrindavan and captured the attention of all the villagers, he beautifully presented before the people of Vraja and cheered them without any expectation.  In this way, Krishna became a devoted lover of the female cowherds of Vraja."

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter – 193 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 44

Shuka Bhramam speaks " Oh! Rajan, The children of cowherds returned to Vrindavan and described the immense prowess of Krishna and Balarama to the Young maiden of cowherds.  It stimulated intense admiration and affection towards the children of Devi Yasodha and Devi Rohini.  Eventually, the appreciation and affection towards the beautiful children turned into intense love.  Years have passed; it was the time of the rainy season, the dark rain clouds packed on the sky like the living beings soaked in illusion and stayed away from the supreme Lord, followed with heavy downpour and thunderstorm and lightning.  The rainy season has the appearance of Pankhada /who gives importance to Kriya without the knowledge of it, in the Kali era.  Krishna and Balarama with the children of cowherds go to woods, as usual, they spend time on the riverbank of Yamuna, watching the powerful water current and the crimson-colored waters of Yamuna.  They take pleasure in the rains, and various sports.  Thus the whole Vrindavana is soaked in the rain waters, streets were muddy and full of water,  finally, the rainy season has got over and Sharath/autumn season has arrived.  The crimson-colored water has become clean and transparent, the muddy lands got dried like the impurities of mind gets removed when the soul gets closer to the supreme soul, greens appeared all over the lands, flowers started blooming, and once again the beautiful land of Vrindavan got a marvelous appearance.  The whole atmosphere became serene and bright, like the hearts of illustrious Yogis who are freed from worldly matters and bondages like rain clouds. Years have passed, the female of cowherds felt Krishna as an important part of their life and their love for Krishna enhanced and started to overflow every moment."

|| 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."