||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -231 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 82

Adho Gurukule Vasamicchanthavupajagmathu: | Kashyam Sandheepanim Nama  Hyavanthipuravasinam || Thayor Dhvijavarsthushta: Shudhdhabhavanu Vriththibhi: | Provacha Vedanakhilan Sanghopanishadho Guru: || Saharasyam Dhanurvedham Dharman Nyayapadhamsthadha | Thadha Chanvikshikim Vidhyam Rajaneethim Cha Shadvidham ||

Krishna and Balaram started living with their parents in Mathura.  All the religious rites of the children were performed, and the children were sent to the hermitage of Maharishi Sandeepani at Avanthipura for learning Astra and Shastra.  The children learned good discipline, Veda, Upanishads, Dhanurvedham, Dharmam, Nyaya, Rajaneethi, etc.   Thus, Krishna learned 64 artforms in sixty-four days, at the time of leaving the hermitage of Maharishi Sandheepani, Krishna stood before Maharishi Sandheepini with folded hands.  Maharishi Sandheepani looked at the eyes of the Jagadheeshwara, remembered Krishna is the supreme Lord who could bring back his dead son alive and asked for the child as Gurudhakshina.  Krishna went to the shores of Prabhasa where the child has gone missing while taking a holy dip in the river.  Krishna entered the water, was received with great reverence by Lord Varuna, who suspected that the child was gone missing due to the influence of a demon Panchajana who has the appearance of conch.  Krishna tore off the body of the demon and found the child was not there.  Soon, he understood that the child is under the custody of Lord Yama.  Krishna went to the abode of Lord Yama was received with great honor, Krishna returned to Earth with the child of Maharishi Sandheepani, eventually the child was handed to Maharishi Sandeepani.  Before leaving Krishna asked Maharishi what else he should do for him.  Maharishi Sandheepani was delighted and blessed Krishna, placing his hands on his head “Let all that knowledge learned to remain fresh in your memory always”.  Thus both of the children received the blessings of Maharishi Sandheepani and returned to their homes.

In this legend, the illustrious Maharishi Sandheepani asked for his dead son alive as Guru Dhakshina from Krishna.  Once again, Maharishi Vedavyasa affirms the truth that the body undergoes ruin, the supreme soul has neither death nor birth, a Jeeva takes several births due to its unsatisfied desires and lust, even though human bodies undergo the state of childhood, adult, youth, old age due to the passage of ‘Time’,  the mind and intellect remains the same in it.   A Jeeva attains union with the supreme soul with the constant practice meditation and contemplation; eventually attain the state of Moksha/Moha Kshaya Ithi Moksha, otherwise it has to take several births until its merges with the Supreme Lord,  Like, a river  has to continue its journey until it merges with the ocean.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -230 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 81

Matharam Pithram Vridhdham Bharyam Sadhvim Sutham Shishum | Gurum Vipram Prapannam Cha Kalpoabibhracchvasan Mritha: || Veekshantho Aharaha: Preetha Mukundhavadhanambhujam | Nithyam Pramudhitham Srimadh Sadhaya Smithaveekshanam || Thathra  Pravayasoapyasan Yuvanoathi Balaujasa: | Pibantho Akshair Mukundhasya Mukhambhuja Sudham Muhu: || Sa Pitha  Sa Cha Janani Yau  Pushneetham Swaputhravath | Shishoon Bandhubir Ruthsrishtana Kalpai: Posharakshane: ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan,  Devi Devaki, and Vasudeva looked at the children with great admiration, Krishna and Balarama looked them affectionately, desired to be seated on their lap. Krishna speaks “Oh! Mother, Oh! Father, all these years we have lost the fortune to address you, we have to stay away from your lap, you have lost your six children, you have stayed away from us.  You have done so much for us and sacrificed all the happiness by keeping us safe in Gokulam, we did not get an opportunity to serve you.  Oh! Mother, Oh! Father, if we did not serve you both, hence we cannot get relieved from the debt we have born with; you have given us this body and took great care of us.  Oh! Mother, Oh! Father, kindly forgive us for not serving you and we could not protect you from the atrocities of Kamsa in all these years. Whoever disrespects Matha, Pitha, Guru, elderly people, wife, virtuous women, children, son, and Vipra are considered as mortal coils.”  Thus, Krishna and Balarama prostrated before Devi Devaki and Vasudeva who shed tears of joy, in a moment they forgot the divinity of their children, Devi Devaki took both the children on her lap and kissed them. Further, Krishna released Maharaja Ugrasena from the prison, and crowned him as the King of Mathura, he remembered the curse of King Yayathi, Yadhus cannot be crowned as Kinga, he promised Maharaja Ugrasena about his willingness to offer all the services.”

Finally, Nandababa came to know about the truth that Krishna and Balaram are sons of Devi Devaki and Vasudeva.   All these years they were assumed that Krishna is Devi Yasodha’s son, and Balaram is the son of Devi Rohini was not real.  Nandababa stood with tears overflowing on his cheeks, Krishna looked at him affectionately, Nandababa was speechless, and he was completely wretched at the thought of how to approach Devi Yasodha with this truth.  Krishna moved closer to Nandababa took hold of his hands and consoled him saying that they are too his parents, make him understood that all that happened because of the terror created by the Kamsa, he assured Nandababa that they will make visits to Vraja.  Nandababa could not control his tears, could not imagine the separation from his beloved child, he was besieged with extreme sorrow at the thought of how to approach  Devi Yasodha, the people of Vraja, female of cowherds and young maiden of cowherds without Krishna.  He was in a state of extreme shock at the thought of how to pacify Devi Yasodha and female cowherds.  Nanababa was quite sure that Devi Yasodha cannot bear the separation from her beloved son, he stood like a rock without the knowledge of how to console her, he was completely heartbroken returned to Vraja.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -229 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 80

Yevam Vikaththamane Vai Kamse Prakupitho Avyaya: | Langhinothpathya Tharasa Manjjam Uththungamaruhath || Thamavishanthamalokhya Mrithyumathmana Asanath | Manasi Sahasoththaya Jagrihe Soasicharmani ||

Kamsa encountered the shadow of his death before him, which was chasing him all these fourteen years, creating extreme terror in him.  He saw the most beautiful form of Krishna before him; he took hold of his powerful sword.  Krishna leaped over his huge chest, kicking his crown off from the head; Kamsa lost balance and fell down.  He seated on the chest of Kamsa and gave a hard punch, thus Kamsa was killed.  The King’s men rushed to Krishna were miserably failed and flee to various directions.  The deities showered flowers on Krishna, the celestial Apsaras and Gandharvas performed dances and music in extreme joy, Maharishis and Bhagavathas eulogized the valor of Krishna.  Soon Kamsa’s wives and children took a seat around his lifeless body, and wept bitterly “ Oh! Natha, you have performed all the wicked deeds on your subjects, at the end you have received the fruit of your treacherous Karma, no one could save you from your deeds, and finally, this city of Mathura has lost its ruler.”  In a moment, they looked at Krishna who was proceeding towards the prison.

Matharam Pitharam Chaiva  Mochayithvadha Bandhanath | Krishna Ramau Vavandhathe Shirasasprishya Padhayo: || Devaki Vasudevashcha Vijjaya Jagadheeshwarau | Krithasamvandhanau Puthrau Saswajathe Na Shankithau ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Krishna, and Balaram moved to prison, and they met Devi Devaki and Vasudeva in the prison greeted them with the folded hands.  Devi Devaki and Vasudeva could not believe them as their children, they witnessed Jagadheeshwara in place of the children."

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya ||

Chapter -228 – The legend of Lord Krishna – 79

Mallanam Ashanir Nrinam Naravara: Sthreenam Smaro Moorthiman Gopanam Swajanoasatham  Kshithibhujam Shastha  Swapithro: Shishu: | Mrithyur Bhojapather Virada Vidhusham Thaththvam  Param Yoginam  Vrishneenam Paradhevathethi Vidhitho Rangam Gatha: Sagraja: ||

The wrestlers Mushtika and Chanoora felt the two handsome youth as powerful lightning before them, the kings assembled were assumed the two youth as great leaders, the beautiful women of Mathura assumed the two youth as most charming and eligible lovers, the children of cowherds of Vraja felt the youths as their own beloved people, the wicked Kings assumed the two powerful youths as their enemies, lovely parents assembled in the gallery assumed the two youths as children with their toys, Kamsa felt his death is nearing to him, the ordinary people were felt it was an awesome fight, the illustrious Yogis felt the two youths as absolute truth and highest philosophy incarnated on the Earth, and the Vrishnis felt the youths as the protector of their clan.

The huge crowds of the audience were cheering the children whose face was covered in bruises, Rama and Krishna moved towards the wrestlers Mushtika and Chanoora.  They addressed the children “Hey, Nandasoonu,  Hey Rama, it is clear that you are not an ordinary cowherd, you have immense prowess and you have proved it by killing the untamed elephant Kuvalayapeedam.  Therefore it was an order from the King Kamsa to join us in the wrestling ground. Oh! Rama and Krishna, We have heard of your valor.  Hey Nandasoonu, we have heard of your various valorous deeds performed in Vrindavan.  Be ready and meet us in the wrestling ground.” Krishna spoke “ Oh! Wrestlers, it is unfair to wrestle with the children like us, you should have opted for people with huge body and strength of yours.”  Chanoora said “There is no child or youth, the power is all that matters, you both have well-proven your prowess by killing that elephant.  Even though you are youthful in appearances, but your prowess is commendable.  You both are not ordinary children; you have killed that untamed elephant effortlessly. Therefore be prepared to meet us in the wrestling ground.” Thus Krishna entered wrestling with Chanoora and Balarama with Mushtika, as the wrestling was progressed the two efficient men exhibited all their strength upon the two children.  The people from the audience showered abuses upon Kamsa for his injustice towards the children. They sharply criticized his act as unjustifiable, not suitable for a King; they called it a depraved act of Kamsa.  As the wrestling was progressed, Chanoora gave a hard kick on the chest of Krishna who was waiting for his turn to put an end to Chanoora.   Krishna kicked hard on his head and killed him instantly, and Balarama killed Mushtika.  The crowd of the audience cheered the children, Kamsa stood up from his seat in extreme terror.  He was shocked to see his powerful men killed in the hands of two youths.  Kamsa called out for his men to get caught of the children of Vasudeva and Nandagopa, he ordered his men to kill the children, but no one dared to move further or to follow his orders.

||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.