||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -227 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 78

Thatha : Pauran Pricchamano Dhanusha: Sthanmacchyutha: | Thasmin Pravishto Dhadhrishe  Dhanuraindhramivathbhutham || Karena  Vamena Saleelamudhdhritham Sajjyam Cha Krithva  Nimishena Pashyatham | Nrinam  Vikrishya Prabanjja Madhyatho Yadhekshudhandam Madhakaryurukrama: ||

Those days it was customary practice to worship Lord Shiva in the form of bow and arrow in the palaces.    Krishna moved towards the bow and arrow was stopped by the guards of the palace, he did not stop, he went straight to the place where the bow and arrows were exhibited.   He lifted that heavy bow and arrow effortlessly, like an elephant carrying the sugarcane; he fastened the thread on the bow, and eventually, it has broken into two pieces producing a huge sound.   It reverberated in the entire palace of Kamsa, the people of the palace were shocked, and it stirred up extreme fear in Kamsa.  Krishna punished all those guards of the palace who were prepared to attack him and the cowherds.  Kamsa could not remain peaceful that night, he was imagined Krishna as a teenage youth, he did not expect the youth to have extra-ordinary prowess to attack the guards of the palace.  That night Kamsa had various bad omens, saw his image without the head on the mirror, mounted on the donkey, somehow he spends the night on the bed.

It was early hours of the crack of dawn; Kamsa was not out of the shock of the alarming sound produced while breaking the bow and arrow by Krishna.  The next morning Nandababa saw the children in beautiful attire, was pleased to know that it was given by their uncle.  Nandababa and the children took seats arranged for the spectators, around the huge ground kept ready for wrestling. Kamsa was already kept his powerful men Mushtika and Chanoora ready for wrestling.   There was one more surprise for the audience; Kamsa was already assigned the untamed elephant Kuvalayapeedam which was received from his father-in-law/Jarasandha as dowry at the entry point to attack Krishna.  As soon as Krishna and Balaram prepared to enter the wrestling ground, Krishna ordered the mahout to remove the untamed elephant from the entry point, to avoid the mayhem in the audience.  But, the mahout stirred anger in the elephant, poking its body with a sharp iron rod, the elephant became uncontrollable it rushed towards Krishna carried him on its trunk.   Krishna with all his strength got out of the trunk and took hold of his one leg, the elephant turn round and round for several times to get hold of Krishna was failed, Krishna took hold of its tail for quite some time, Krishna slipped out of its tail and landed on the ground, Kuvalayapeedam dashed to Krishna to pierce him with its sharp teeth.  Krishna elevated his body and gave a hard kick on its forehead and plucked one tooth effortlessly.  The fierce battle between Krishna and Kuvalayapeedam continued, Nandababa and the children of cowherds watched the battle in extreme fear.  Krishna attacked the elephant with its tooth in one hand, and plucked the other one and tossed it to Balarama, and the two brothers successfully killed the elephant.  Thus, Krishna and Balaram placed the elephant teeth on their armpit and moved flamboyantly all over the huge wrestling ground of the palace.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -226 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 77

Adha Vrajan Rajapadhena Madhava: Sthriyam Griheethanga Vilepa Bhajanam | Vilokya  Kubjam Yuvathim Varananam  Papraccha Yanthim Prahasan Rasapradha: || Ka Thvam Varorvethadhu Hanulepanam Kasyangane Va Kadhayasva Sadhu Na: | Dhehyavayoranga Vilepamuththamam Shreyasthathasthe Na Chirath Bhavishyathi ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, On their way, Krishna met a woman who had three curves on her body,/Kubja,  she had three visible curves, on the neck, waist, and leg.  She has covered her face with beautiful upper clothe; she was holding a highly fragrant paste of sandalwood and vermilion to deliver to the palace of Kamsa.  Krishna addressed her ‘Hey beautiful one!’ .  Kubja was shocked, have not heard of sweet words in her life.  Krishna requested her to apply the rich sandalwood paste on his face, she was immensely happy to hear from the charming youth.   Sairandhri looked at Krishna and said “ Oh Bhagavan, I am Thrivakra, people address me in that name, I have three visible curves on my body, I am one of the attendants in the palace of Kamsa, I have to deliver these highly fragrant sandalwood paste to him.  You have me addressed in sweet words; no one has done that before, now onwards I have no work other than to attend your needs, I am extremely happy to offer my service to you.”  She engrossed in decorating Krishna’s face with the rich sandalwood paste and vermilion, she adorned the paste of sandalwood on his hands and body as well.  Bhagavan decided to bless her with marvelous appearance, asked her to keep down all the sandal paste and various fragrances she was carrying to the palace.   He went close to her with the touch of one hand on the lower jaw and another on the back of the head, pressed his thumb of foot placing on her feet, asked her not to move an inch, he pulled her head upwards.  Alas! Sairandhri got a beautiful appearance with no curves on her body at the touch of Mukunda. She embraced Krishna and requested to visit her home, was refused amiably with a promise to visit her in one of these days.  Sairandhri was immensely happy, could not believe the sudden transformation in her.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -225 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 76

Deva Deva Jagannatha Punyashravanakeerthana| Yadhooththama  Uththamasloka  Narayana Namosthuthe ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, the glorious form of supreme Lord Vishnu disappeared from the sight of Akroora, once again assumed the form of cowherd Krishna.  Akroora took a seat in the cart; Krishna noticed the sudden changes in his facial appearance, asked “Oh! Thatha, what’s that put you in a wonder?”.  Akroora replied “ Oh! Bhagavan, all those wonders in this Universe remains as a great phenomenon as long as the presence of the supreme soul/Mahathbhutham,”.  They have reached the city of Mathura in the evening.  Akroora invited Krishna to stay with him that night.  Akroora speaks “Oh! Prabho, kindly, sanctify my home with your lotus feet. You kindly, ask your father and the children of cowherds to visit my house, we will make all the arrangements for your stay. Oh! Narayana, who is eulogized by Veda, incarnated in the clan of Yadhu, I shall prostrate before you.” Bhagavan replied to Akroora, “Oh! Thatha, I will visit your home later, the children of cowherds are enthusiastic to visit the city of Mathura.” Thus Krishna bade goodbye to Akroora, the children of cowherds along with Rama and Balaram entered the city Mathura. 

Atha Parahne Bhagavan Krishna: Sankarshananvitha: | Mathuram Pravishath Gopair Dhidhrikshu: Parivaritha: || Dhadharsha Tham Spatika Thunga Gopuradhvaram  Bhrihath Hemakapata Thoranam | Thamrarakoshtam Parikhadhurasadhamudhyanarayo Pavanopa Shobitham ||

Krishna, Balarama with the children of cowherds has witnessed a magnificent Palace of Kamsa, beautiful fortresses decorated with precious gems, luxurious royal pathways, and grand entrance gates.   The entire city was decorated with precious gems and pearls, lush and green pleasure gardens and courtyards.   There were beautiful women assembled in the courtyard watching Krishna, Balaram, and children of cowherds walking on the majestic pathways of Mathura. The entire city of Mathura was in a festive mood. The young women were enjoying the beauty of Rama and Krishna; they were cheering the beautiful women with gestures.   Suddenly Krishna and the children noticed a washerman carrying a huge bundle of clothes with his fellow men.  Krishna, who is the Lord of the Universe, approached the washerman and begged for clothes for him and the children of cowherds.  The washerman got annoyed to see the children of cowherds in their unimpressive clothes; he humiliated them with harsh words for begging the clothes of the King.  He threatened Krishna and asked him to leave the palace immediately. Krishna got angry; he plucked his neck from the body like plucking grass, alas! His head got severed from the neck.  The children gathered were opened the bundle of clothes, and found beautiful silk clothes inside it, Krishna encouraged the children to get clothes of their choice, as it was his uncle Kamsa’s clothes.    They all picked clothes of their choice and clothed realized that the sizes of the clothes were too big for them.  The tailor who was watching Krishna and the children of cowherds struggling to get on with their clothes approached him with a pleasing offer, thus he re-stitched the clothes according to their size.  He adorned Rama and Krishna with upper clothes; all of the children were attired in marvelous silk garments of their own sizes, looked beautiful in their new attire.  There was a garland maker Sudhama, he offered all the beautiful flower garlands of various rich fragrances to Krishna and the children, he adorned the children with the attractive flower garlands. Krishna blessed the tailor and garland maker and moved happily further on the streets of Mathura.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -224 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 75

Akroora Sthuthi

Nama: Karana Mathsyaya Pralayabdhi Charaya Cha | Hayasheershne Namasthubhyam Madhukaitabha Mrithyave || Akooparaya Bhrihathe Namo Mandharadharine | Kshithyudhdhara Viharaya  Nama: Sookaramoorthaye || Namasthe Adhbhutha Simhaya  Sadhuloka Bhayapaha | Vamanaya Namasthubhyam Krantha Thribhuvanaya Cha|| Namo Bhrigunam  Pathaye Dhripthakshathravanacchidhe | Namasthe  Raghuvaryaya Ravananthakaya Cha || Namasthe Vasudevaya Nama: Sankarshanaya Cha | Pradhyumnaya Anirudhdhaya  Saththvatham Pathaye Nama: || Namo Budhdhaya Shudhdhaya Dhaithya Dhanava Mohine |Mlecchaprayakshathra Hanthre Namasthe  Kalikiroopine ||

Akroora eulogizes supreme Lord Krishna “ I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who incarnated as giant Fish and protected the Universe from the Pralaya, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who incarnated as horse-faced /Haya and killed Madhu and Kaitabha.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who incarnated as giant tortoise and elevated Mount Mandhara on its back.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has incarnated as Sukara/wild boar, and elevated Goddess Earth from the bottom of the ocean.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has manifested as half-lion and half-man/Narasimha and protected his ardent devotees from extreme fears and worries.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has incarnated as Vamana/dwarf and measured the whole Universe in three strides.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has incarnated as Bhargava Rama and destroyed the pride of wicked Kshatriyas. I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has incarnated as Rama in the illustrious clan of Raghu and destroyed the demon Ravana.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vasudeva who assumed the form of Sankarshana/Balaram, Pradhyumna and Aniruddha.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who incarnated as Buddha who persuaded Dhaithyas and Dhanavas as well.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu whose impending incarnation as Kalki at the end of the Kali era.  In this way, you are assuming various forms with the influence of Maya, Oh! Bhagavan, who is soaked in the worldly matters, bondage and ‘I’ conscious/body-conscious, remains in utter desolation and grief, an ignorant never realize the supreme consciousness in him/her, they accumulate immense desires, perform deeds to fulfill their desires, the fruitful results causes happiness and the failure causes grief in them.   In this way, they get strangled in grief and sorrows without putting effort to elevate their souls.  It is like a hungry person who did not realize the presence of water close to him, as it was covered with green/algae, he runs behind the illusion of water on the sand bed created by the blazing sun. An intellectual is aware of the fact that happiness and sorrows are like day and night, it is the law of life and will have immense potential to face the happiness and sorrows with a calm mind.  Oh! Lord, I am fortunate one to attain your grace, and ignorant cannot fix their mind and intellect at your lotus feet, Oh! Esha, it is impossible to attain devotion without your grace.  The intellectuals contemplate and meditate upon the Supreme Lord, after experiencing several miseries and troubles in their lives,  consider all those hardships as the grace of Lord and assume those troubles as stepping stone to elevate their souls from miseries, grief, fear, and anxieties, eventually they reroute their mind and intellect listening and reciting your glorious myths. Oh! Vijjyanamathra, who is the cause and effect, Oh! Purushesha who is absolute Bhramam, Oh! Ananthashakthaye, Oh! Vasudeva, Oh! Sarvabhoothakshaya, Oh! Hrishikesh, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, I shall take shelter at your lotus feet, kindly protect us.”

Namo Vijjyanamathraya  Sarva Prathyaya Hethave | Purushesha Pradhanaya  Bhramane Ananthashakthaye || Namasthe  Vasudevaya  Sarva Bhoothakshayaya Cha| Hrishikesha Namasthubhyam Prapannam Pahimam Prabho||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -223 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 74

Akroora Sthuthi

Akroorasthavupamanthrya Niveshya Cha Rathopari | Kalindhya Hridhamagathya Snanam Vidhivadhacharath || Nimajjya Thasmin Salile  Japan Bhrama Sanathanam | Thaveva  Dhadhrishe Akrooro Ramakrishnau Samanvithau ||

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, Akroora wanted to get rid of his hallucination, took one more dip in Kalindi, saw Krishna surrounded by Siddha, Charana,  and Gandharva, eulogizing his splendor.”

Sahasrashirasam Devam Sahasraphana Maulinam | Neelambaram Bisashwetham Shringai: Shwethamiva Sthitham || Thasyosanghe GhanashyamamPeethakaushea Vasasam | Purusham Chathurbhujam Shantham Padmapathrarunekshanam|| Charuprasanna Vadhanm Charuhasa  Nireekshanam| Subhrunnasam Charukarnnam Su Kapolarunadharam || Pralamba Peevarabhujam Thungamsora:sthalashriyam | Kambukandam Nimnanabhim Valimath Pallavodharam || Bhrihath Katithata Shroni Karabhorudhvayanvitham | Charujanuyugam Charu Jangha Yugalasamyutham || Thunga Gulpharuna Nakhavrathadhedhithibhirvritham | Navangulyangushtadhalair Vilasath Padhapankajam || Sumaharha Manivratha Kireeta Katakangadhai: | Katisoothra Bhramasoothra Haranoopura Kundalai: || Bhrajamanam Padmakaram Shankhachakradharam | Sreevathsavaksham Bhrajath Kausthubham Vanamalinam || Su Nandhanandha Pramukhai: Parshadhai: Sanakadhibhi: | Sureshair Bhramarudhyadhyair Navabhishcha  Dhvijoththamai: || Prahladha Narada  Vasupramukhair Bhagavathoththamai: | Sthooyamanam Prithag Bhavair  Vachobhir Amalathmabhi: ||

Akroora witnessed the glorious form supreme Lord who has thousands of heads, thousands of hoods of Serpent Anantha above his head, he has the complexion of dark clouds, lustrous like lotus shoots, he is attired in majestic yellow silk garment.  He is Purusha, who has four arms, he symbolizes serenity, his eyes have the resemblances of lotus flower petals, he has a beautiful smile on the face, he resides as a soul in living beings and witnesses all the happenings, he has beautiful eyes brows, and ears, his cheeks have the luster of Surya, he has long hands and legs, he has conch shaped neck, deep navel, beautiful line of teeth, powerful arms, attractive waistline, thighs, knees, ankle, sparkling nails on hand and feet as well.  He has adorned in the marvelous crown, armlets, and bangles, exquisite ornaments adorned on the waist, chest, ear, neck, and ankle, sacred thread across the chest.  His four arms hold Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma, his chest adorned in Srivathsam, Kausthubham, and Vanamala.  He has surrounded by Parshadha, illustrious Rishis, Sages,  Sanakadhis, deities, Bhrama, Rudra, and Brahmanas.  Maharishi Narada, Prahlada, Parashara, Pundareeka, Vyasa, Ambareesha, Shuka, Shaunaka, Bheeshma, and Dalbhyan assembled were singing in praise of the supreme Lord.   Akroora praises the supreme Lord “ Oh! Mahapurusha who is sought after by illustrious Yogis, you are attainable through meditation to the virtuous, you are worshiped in various forms, the illustrious Yogis witnesses your all-pervading nature.  Oh! Bhagavan you are supreme soul resides as a soul in living beings, and you are witnessing all that happenings in this Universe. You are beyond description, you are absolute truth, you are the source of the functioning of the mind, intellect, Gnana, Karmendhriya, Prana, etc.  Oh! Bhagavan, your face represents Agni, your feet represent Earth, you have Surya and Chandra as eyes, Nabas as the navel, ears as Shruthi, bodily hairs represent Vriksha and herbal plants, the entire Universe is merged in you. Oh! Bhagavan, you are the source functioning of all the living beings; you represent living and non-living things.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -222 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 73

Kimalabhyam Bhagavathi Prasanne Srinikethane | Thadhapi Thathpara Rajan Na Hi Vanchathi Kicchana ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh ! Rajan, what’s impossible to achieve if Srinikethana is pleased to his devotees? Therefore a passionate devotee should not plead anything before the supreme Lord.”

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Thatha, how is everyone in Mathura? How are you? How is everyone at home? We are thoroughly aware of the atrocities of Kamsa, even though let me hear from you.  Oh! Thatha, we are extremely sorry for Devi Devaki and Vasudeva who have lost their children, spending their lives in the prison of Kamsa.  I am happy to see you, I could get some information about Mathura, kindly narrate the happenings in Mathura.”

Akroora speaks “ Oh! Krishna, Kamsa has become haughty and arrogant towards Yadhus, he even prepared to kill Vasudeva.  Once, Maharishi Narada visited Kamsa, and changed his to plan to kill Vasudeva, later put the couple into the prison.”  Balarama could not control his anger, Krishna pacified him.  Akroora informed Nandababa about the grand Yaga  arranged by Kamsa on the day of Maha Shivarathri, as a part of the celebration wrestling has been arranged, Akroora has entrusted with the duty to bring Balarama and Krishna to Mathura.  On the next day, all of them prepared to leave for Mathura to participate in the grand festival.  Several bullock carts were kept ready, the children of cowherds of Vraja got ready to witness the grand festival, and they have stuffed the carts with their belongings.  Soon, the women of cowherds understood that Akroora has come to Vrindavan to take away their beloved Krishna, they stood like a pillar in extreme shock, their clothes slipped off from the body, and once again they were besieged with the extreme pain of separation from Krishna.  They stopped breathing for a minute thinking the loss of their happiness, they stood like a statue, they could not bear the separation from Krishna, some of the women fallen unconscious.  They contemplated Lord Achyutha and began speaking in tears “ Oh! Vidhatha, kindly shower sympathy on us, you are the one stirring emotions in the souls and placing them into the various relationships, and you are the one separating them with the passage of time. Oh! Vidhatha, it is not a matured act from you, playing like a child.  Oh! Vidhatha, don’t be merciless upon us, how could we see that beautiful face and smile of Mukunda? There is Akroora arrived in Vrindavan to take away our Hari, he should be named Kroora, Oh! Vidhatha, we have already surrendered to Nandasoonu, we have abandoned all our relationship and material bondage, we cannot bear him leaving us.  If he leaves, will he come back to us? have those beautiful days again? If Devakisutha visits Mathura, will he come back to Vrindavan? Or he may continue to take pleasure in Mathura? Oh! Krishna, we could not even imagine life without you, we cannot stop thinking of Rasaleela, If you leave Vraja, we cannot take a breath in your absence, will remain mortal coils.  Oh! Krishna, we are unfortunate ones, going to miss your beautiful faces filled in perspiration and dust from the hooves of cows, while returning after grazing the cows.” Finally, the women of cowherds decided to stop Krishna while leaving Vraja, make him understand that they could not live without him. “

Evam Bruvana Virahathura  Brisham  Vrajasthriya: Krishna  Vishakthamanasa: | Visrijjya Lajjam Rurudhu: Sma Suswaram Govindha Dhamodhara Madhavethi ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, the female of cowherds left all their shame and began weeping loudly “ Oh! Govinda, Oh! Dhamodhara, Oh! Madhava”.  It was an early morning of dawn, Rama and Krishna got ready after the bath, the ladies with tears overflowing assembled near the bullock cart, which was already loaded with various dairy products to deliver in the palace of Kamsa.  In the first bullock cart, Krishna and Balarama took the seat with Akroora, rest of the cart was filled with their belongings, children of cowherds and Nandababa.  The female of cowherds watched Krishna leaving Vraja, with tears overflowing, they stood like a statue, their eyes were soaked in extreme agony, Krishna looked back at them, and found they were not even blinking eyes. Krishna thought if he did not utter a word they all will die in the pain of separation.  He called out for a cowherd and asked him to convey his message, about his return from Mathura.  The women of cowherds helplessly watched the carts moving from their sight, they returned to their homes with the expectation that Krishna will be back. It was mid-noon, the cart reached on the riverbank of Kalindi.   Akroora invited the children to have a dip in Kalindi, Krishna and Rama were not ready, so Akroora went to have a dip in the Kalindi.  Krishna and Rama washed their feet and returned to the cart.  Akroora took a dip in the water; saw Rama and Krishna in the underwater.  He remembered Krishna and Rama does not want to have a dip, then how did they come underwater? He surprised and looked back at the cart; saw Rama and Krishna in their usual form seated inside the cart.” 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -221 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 72

Padhani Thasya Akhilalokapala Kireeda Jushtamala Padhareno: | Dhadharsha Goshte Kshithikauthukani  Vilakshithanyabjayavangushadhyai: || Thath Dharshana Ahladha Vivridhdha Sambrama:  Premnordhdhvaroma Ashrukalakulekshana: | Radhadhavaskandhya Satheshva Cheshtatha Prabhoramoonyaghri Rajamsyaho Ithi ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan,  Akroora arrived in Vrindavan, while traveling  the cart rolling on the sands of Vraja, he enthusiastically looked for the footprints of Krishna on the sand bed believed that prostrating on the sand bed where Krishna’s footprints visible would remove his impurities and sins.  Akroora began his search for the symbolic mark of the footprint of Krishna all over the sands in Vrindavan, suddenly those symbolic marks on the foot of Krishna became visible, Akroora in a state of ecstasy left the bullock cart and rushed to the footprints of Krishna, he could not control his emotions, tears overflowing, he rolled on the sand bed and carried handful sands and poured on his head.  All of a sudden, his eyes were fallen on Rama and Krishna who were watching the milking of cows, two handsome youths in their teens keeping hands on the waist, they have beautiful appearances, attired in blue and yellow silk garments respectively, adorned in various ornaments and feathers of the peacock on the top of the head, Rama has a fair complexion, Krishna has a dark complexion and a good physique.  Akroora understood that these two children are not ordinary cowherds, he is Adhyapurusha who resides as a soul in living beings, he has incarnated for the welfare of souls.  Akroora rushed to Rama and Krishna and prostrate before them, Akroora realized all his worldly attachments and bondage has removed instantly, he shed tears of bliss.  Krishna took hold of Akroora and embraced him with extreme happiness, Balaram received him affectionately and led to home, Krishna washed his feet, and received with great respect, offered him a seat, and a sumptuous meal was served to Akroora.  Once, the betel leaves with nuts and various fragrances were offered after the meal, Nandababa began to speak to Akroora who was seated in a comfortable place.  Rama and Krishna took seats on both the sides of Akroora.”