|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 257 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  108

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, thus Krishna released sixteen thousand women from the prison of Pragjyothishapuram, and asked them to return to their homes safely.  The women were in a dilemma, cried before Krishna and revealed their pathetic situation, they have been under the custodian of Baumasura for a long time, and if they go back to their homes they will not receive with respect, none of the youth will accept them as their wives, therefore they begged Krishna not to leave and accept them as his wives. Thus, Krishna accepted the sixteen thousand women as his wife and elevated them from ill-fortune and ill-fame.  Krishna returned to Dwaraka and married to all those sixteen thousand women, he assumed sixteen thousand forms and lived in their homes, relentlessly serving them and made them happy.”

In this legend, Krishna married to sixteen thousand women who were imprisoned by Baumasura, and gave them a decent status in the society.   If not, these women would become destitute, the society would force them to engage in various immoral deeds and manipulate them, it may result in large number of orphans appear in society.   In order to avoid the depraved act in the society, Krishna gave shelter to all those women, receiving them as wedded wife. He was neither bothered about the past history of the women in the prison of Baumasura or the society he was living in, his sole purpose was to give them a respectable position in society.

The eight wives/Ashtasakhi of Krishna represents the five elements known as Air, Water, Ether, Earth, and Fire,/Sthoola and Buddhi, Manas, Ahamkara/Sookshma.  He is Purusha who resides as a soul in living beings; he is the protector of the five elements, and the source of functioning of mind and intellect.  The sixteen thousands of wives of Krishna represents sixteen types of emotions, such as five Karmendhriyas and  Gnanedhriyas, Pancha Pranas, and Manas, therefore the supreme Lord is Purusha who is eternal and all-pervading controls the  Prakrithi which has a multifaceted nature.  Hence, the supreme Lord resides as a soul in living beings and controls the functioning of Sthoola as well as the Sookshma Shareera, once the supreme soul leaves the Sthoola Shareera is declared as a corpse.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 256 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  107

Namasthe Devadevesha  Shankha Chakra Gadhadhara| Bhakthecchopaththaroopaya  Paramathman Namosthuthe || Nama: Pankajanabhaya  Nama: Pankajamaline | Nama: Pankajanethraya Namasthe Pankajanghraye || Namo Bhagavathe Thubhyam Vasudevaya Vishnave | Purushayadhibeejaya Poornnabodhaya They Nama: ||

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Brahmana kindly narrates the legend of Bhaumasura who was killed by Krishna with the assistance of Devi Sathyabhama who is extremely valorous.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, there was a powerful demon Baumasura ruling the magnificent city of Pragjyothishapuram.  He was born to Lord Varaha and Mother Earth, it was while Lord Vishnu incarnated as wild boar to elevate the Mother Earth from the bottom of the ocean.  Lord Varaha had a vicious battle with the demon Hiranyaksha who hid the Mother Earth, finally, the demon was killed.  Lord Varaha’s Beeja fallen on the Earth and a child was born with demonic nature, he is Baumasura.   The city of Pragjyothishapuram has beautiful fortresses, pleasure gardens, majestic pathways, beautiful streams and creeper gardens in the courtyard.  A large number of fortresses were under the supervision of the demon Mura, he had five heads and the prowess of five people.  Baumasura abducted women between 16-20 years of age; he imprisoned sixteen thousand women and prepared to marry them all. Once, he visited Lord Varuna and stolen his Chathra, he visited Lord Indra and stolen the ear ornaments of Devi Adhithi.  The deities approached Lord Vishnu, to put an end to the atrocities of Baumasura.  Lord Krishna with Devi Sathyabhama visited Baumasura, and a fierce battle began.  Krishna destroyed the huge fortress wall with his mace, the ear-splitting noise of his conch Panchajanya brought out the demon Mura from the pool of water, a fierce battle took place between Lord Krishna and Mura, and finally Mura’s head sieved off with the divine wheel, eventually, numerous demons were killed in the battle.  The reverberating sound of the conch roused extreme fear in the demons, Baumasura entered in a vicious battle with Krishna, In the end, Baumasura’s head sieved off with the powerful disc.  The Mother Earth appeared before Krishna and eulogized “ I shall prostrate before  Lord of Lords, who is adorned in Shankha, Chakra, and Gadha, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who is compassionate to his worshiper and assumes various forms at his own will, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who has lotus flower on the navel, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who is supreme Purusha adorned in a garland of lotus flowers, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord who has beautiful eyes resembles lotus flower petals, I shall prostrate before the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.  I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Vishnu who has incarnated as Vasudeva, he is the cause of Universe and its living beings, he symbolizes supreme knowledge, he has neither birth nor death, he is supreme Bhramam with endless prowess and he is Paramathma who resides as a soul in living beings.”  The son of demon Baumasura was crowned as the King of Pragjyothishapuram at the request of Mother Earth. Krishna released the sixteen thousand women who were imprisoned by Baumasura, the precious ear ornament of Devi Adhithi was returned."

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 255 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  106

Aham Devasya  Savithur Dhuhitha Pathimicchathi | Vishnum Varenyam Varadham Thapa: Paramamasthitha: || Nanyam  Pathim Vrine Veera  Thamrithe  Srinikethanam | Thushyatham Mey Sa Bhagavan Mukundhoanthasamshraya: ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Krishna visited Pandavas,  he met Devi Kunthi and offered his humble obeisance, he met  Dharmaputhra, and all the members of the family, and had a pleasurable time conversing with all.  Krishna lived with the Pandavas for quite some time, during this period, the events like the wood Gandava was burned into ashes and pacified Lord Agni who bless Arjuna with the bow Gandeeva, and a beautiful Kindom of  Indraprastha was established in the wood.   One day, Krishna and Arjuna went for hunting expedition, Arjuna saw a beautiful woman engaged in meditation on the riverbank of Kalindi. Arjuna approached her and enquired the reason for her meditation, Kalindi speaks “ Oh! Veera, I am Kalindi, the daughter of Lord Surya, I am conducting Tapasya praying to Lord Vishnu to attain Lord Krishna as my husband.” Thus Arjuna brought Kalindi to Krishna who was seated on the chariot. Krishna married to Devi Kalindi and stayed in Hasthinapur for some time, after that the couple left to Dwaraka.  While living in Dwaraka Krishna received a message from Mithravindha who was the daughter of Vasudeva’s sister Rajadhidevi, she was too devoted to Krishna from her childhood, she had two brothers Vindha and Anuvindha, decided to offer their sister Mithravindha to Duryodhana.  Krishna saved Mithravindha from the custody of her brothers, married her and brought to Dwaraka. Later, he married to Devi Bhadra who was the daughter of Shruthakeerthi, sister of Vasudeva.  There was a king Nagnachith who had a beautiful daughter Sathya.  He desired his daughter  Sathya should get married to Krishna, a grand competition was organized to select a perfect groom for Sathya, whoever fasten the seven untamed bulls from the ground would get the daughter of King Nagnachith as a wedded wife. Many kings participated in the competition were miserably failed, Krishna came to know about the competition and arrived in the ground.  He decided to perform an amusement; he went closer to the untamed bulls and affectionately patted them and fastened them.  Krishna victoriously approached the King Nagnachith, soon Sathya adorned Krishna with a magnificent flower garland.  Thus, Krishna and Sathya got married, Nagnachith offered an abundance of wealth to his son-in-law, the newly wedded couple returned to Dwaraka.  Later, Krishna had a marriage with Lakshmana, the daughter of King of Madhri.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 254 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  105

Namasthasmai Bhagavathe  Krishnayath Adhbhuthakarmane | Anathayadhi Bhoothaya  Kootasthayathmane Nama: ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, it was the time heartrending news spread all over Hasthinapur, that the Pandavas who were exiled from the Kingdom faced tragic death in the wax house. Krishna visited Hasthinapur as if he was not aware of the truth of the Pandavas who miraculously escaped from the wax house, he consoled Dhritharashtra and Bhishmapithamaha and clan of Kurus.  In the meantime in Dwaraka another incident took place, previously Sathyabhama was proposed to marry another King, but the turn of events made King Sathrajith offer his daughter to Krishna,  the king who was proposed to marry Sathyabhama felt humiliated and arranged for a person named Shathadhvan to kill Sathrajith and steal the jewel, the whole incident was taken place under the supervision of Akroora.  Thus, Shathadhanvan killed King Sathrajith in the absence of Krishna in Dwaraka and took custody of the gem Syamanthaka.  Sathyabhama heard the tragic death of her father, she went to the palace and carried his corpse in a ferry and drove to Hastinapura.”

Later, Krishna chased after Shathadhanvan, and caught hold of him from the city of Mithila and sieved his head off.  In a hurry, Krishna did not get the information about the Syamanthaka, Balarama went to the palace of King Janaka.  The gem Syamanthaka that was stolen from the King Sathrajith given to Krithavarma, who was not aware of the complete history of the gem put his life into trouble.  Therefore Krithavarma and Akroora went to Kashi, and undertook Japa and Dhyana, all that wealth produced by gem Syamanthaka was offered as a charity.  Once Sathyabhama enquired Krishna about the gem and its whereabouts, but the conversation did not become fruitful. Once again, people suspected Krishna about the lost gem Syamanthaka.  Krishna ordered his men to bring back Akroora, with a funny reason that Dwaraka is lacking rain in his absence. Akroora returned to Dwaraka and fallen at the feet of Krishna begging for forgiveness was highly appreciated, for utilizing the wealth produced by the gem for charities; further Akroora narrated all that happened to Devi Sathyabhama. Thus, Krishna returned the precious gem Syamanthaka to Akroora praising his commendable virtue of offering charity.”

Whoever reads or listens to this glorious myth of the precious gem Syamanthaka would get relieved from ill fortune and ill fame.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 253 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  104

Jane Thvam Sarvabhoothanam Prana Oja: Saho Balam | Vishnum Puranapurusham Prabhavishnum Adheeshwaram || Thvam Hi Vishwasrijam Shrishta Srijanyamapi Yaccha Sath | Kala: Kalayatham Eesha : Para  Athma  Thadhathmanam ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Sathrajith impatiently waited for his brother Prasena to return from woods, soon realized that he is not going to come back, somebody has stolen the precious gem.  Sathrajith remembered Krishna’s advice to handover the jewel to the King assumed he must have killed Prasena for the gem.  Eventually, the rumor about the lost gem spread like a wood fire all over the Kingdom.  Krishna took a few Yadhavas and conducted a rigorous search in the woods.  Finally, they located the corpse of Prasena which was emitting foul smell, close to the corpse there were footprints of a lion, they closely followed the footprints that led them to a cave.  Krishna advised Yadhavas to wait for him outside of the cave, he entered the cave and found a beautiful woman adorned in precious gem Syamanthaka.   The cave was full of darkness, and Krishna has dark-complexioned, she got frightened when Krishna asked to give him the precious gem.  She called out for her father Jambavan, Krishna requested Jambavan to give away the jewel which is adorning the neck of his daughter.  Jambavan got furious, invited Krishna for a fight and whoever wins the fight would get the custody of the jewel.  Thus a fierce fight between Jambava and Krishna has begun, and it continued for twenty-eight days. Finally, Krishna gave a hard kick on Jambavan who cannot withstand the fight fallen on the ground with a loud thud.  Soon he realized that the opposite person is not an ordinary human, he remembered it must be Lord Rama who can only win over him.  Krishna smiled at Jambavan and looked at him affectionately.  Jambavan realized it is supreme Lord Vishnu who symbolizes supreme soul, Prana, Oja, prowess, he is Puranapurusha who is the lord of Universe, primordial, and has supreme brilliance.  He remembered supreme Lord Rama who won over Lord Varuna, constructed a majestic bride over the vast ocean Sethu, killed the demon Ravana and his entire clan and brought back Devi Sita. Immediately, Jambavan rose from the ground with folded hands, fallen at the feet of Krishna, and begged for forgiveness.   He revealed his desire to perform the atonement for the sin committed.  Krishna asked him to give back the precious gem Syamanthaka. Jambavan requested Krishna to accept his foster daughter Jambavathi along with the gem.  Thus, Krishna got married to Jambavathi.”

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, The Yadhavas who was supposed to wait outside the cave for Krishna has already returned to Dwaraka and informed the people about the vicious fight, the entire Dwaraka sunk in deep sorrow.  After twenty-eight days, Krishna arrived with Jambavathi in the Dwaraka, once again the entire Dwaraka immersed in the mood of festivities, people cheered at the return of Krishna.  They prostrated before Krishna and he blessed everyone with his compassionate grace.  The newly wedded couple Krishna and Jambavathi were received with great honor.  Krishna handed the Syamanthaka to Sathrajith who was present in the assembly of the Yadhavas, and narrated all that happened in the woods.  Sathrajith felt ashamed of his act, he regretted spreading rumors about Krishna and prostrated before him.  Sathrajith revealed his desire to perform the atonement for the sin, thus he offered his daughter Sathyabhama as wedded wife to Krishna along with the gem, and he gracefully refused the gem and returned to Dwaraka.  The newly wedded couple Krishna and Sathyabhama were received with great honor.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 252 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  103

Symanthakopakhyanam

Sathrajitha: Swathanayam Krishnaya Kritha Kilbisha: | Syamanthakena Manina Swayammudhyamya Dhaththavan ||

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Brahmana kindly narrates the legend of the precious gem Symanthaka, and the reason for Krishna was accused by the King Sathrajith.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, King Sathrajith was an ardent worshiper of Lord Surya.  He pleased Lord Surya with his sincere devotion and attained a precious gem Syamanthaka.   It has unique capabilities to produce an abundance of gold and gems on a daily basis, there will not be any poverty or darkness in the place where Syamanthaka exists.  Thus, King Sathrajith attained an abundance of wealth offered by this precious gem, the entire palace was filled in richness, he assumed himself equivalent to Lord Surya.  Sathrajith was swollen with pride decided to reveal his splendor to Krishna, he adorned that precious Symantha around the neck and took a visit to the palace of Dwaraka.  The people of Dwaraka assumed it was Lord Surya paying a visit to the city of Dwarka was duly informed Krishna “Oh! Narayana, Oh! Shankhachakradhara, Oh! Dhamodhara, Oh! Aravindhaksha, Oh! Govinda, Oh! Yadhunandhana, Oh! Jagathpathe, Lord Surya paying a visit to you, don’t we have to make preparations to receive him?”

Narayana Namastheasthu Shankha Chakra Gadhadhara | Dhamodhara Aravindhaksha Govindha Yadhunandhana || Yesha Ayathi Savitha Thvam Dhidhrukshur Jagathpathe | Mushnan Gabasthi Chakrena Nrinam Chakshoomshi Thigmagu: ||

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme Lord whose eyes have the resemblance of lotus flower petals, laughed at the people of Dwaraka, he declared that it was not Lord Surya, it is Sathrajith whose precious gem-adorned on the neck revealing the brilliance of Lord Surya.  As usual Krishna received him like any other dignitaries in the palace.  Sathrajith did not like the attitude of Krishna, he took a seat in the assembly of Yadhava, praised the miracles performed by the precious gem Syamanthaka.  Krishna after listening to his long conversation praising the gem, said “Oh! Sathrajith, you should not keep that jewel in your custody, you should have made use of this precious gem for the welfare of all the Yadhavas, in this way you can remove sufferings of poverty in the country.  You should handover that jewel to King so that it will be useful for the entire subjects, it will remove the sufferings of the people of the entire Kingdom. Otherwise, it may cause trouble for you.” Sathrajith got annoyed by Krishna’s opinion, flatly refused his opinion.  Sathrajith self praised the austerities and penance to please Surya and thereby attained the precious jewel, Krishna expressed his desire to take a closer look to the precious gem was refused. Krishna warned Sathrajith “ Oh! Yadhava, it would cause endless troubles in your life, therefore hand over the jewel to the Emperor of the Kingdom and can be utilized wisely.” Sathrajith unhappily returned from the palace of Dwaraka.  On that night, his brother Prasena requested his brother Sathrajith for the precious gem, was readily offered. Prasena adorned that jewel around the neck and went for a hunting expedition. Unfortunately, he was killed by a lion and dragged his body into woods, along with the precious gem.  The monkeys in the wood noticed the body of Prasena and informed their leader elderly Jambavan who was taken a seat on the huge tree, leaped on the lion and killed it instantly, took the precious jewel and left the scene.  Jambavan had a foster daughter Jambavathi, he handed that jewel to please her."

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 251 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  102

Tham Shambara: Kamaroopi Hrithva  Thokamanidharsham | Sa Vidhithvathmana: Shathrum Prasyodhanvathyagadh Griham || Bhagavan  Narayana Sutha: Shambarena  Hritho Grihath | Aham Theadhikritha Pathni Rathi: Kamo Bhavan Prabho ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Shambara arrived in the palace of Krishna and saw a beautiful infant Pradhyumna who has the lovely appearance of Krishna and Kamadeva, though he approached the infant to kill, he could not kill the child watching its divinity.  He shoved the child in the ocean was swallowed by a giant fish, later it was caught by a fisherman and without knowledge delivered to the palace of Shambarasura.  Mayawati who was in charge of the kitchen cut opened the fish and saw the child inside, and the child was taken care of by Mayavathi.  Maharishi Narada happened to visit the palace and informed Mayavathi about the child who was Kamadeva in his previous birth.  Suddenly Mayavathi’s approach to the child has changed, her motherly affection transformed into the desire for a lover,  Pradhyumna asked “ Oh! Mother, you have completely changed your way of approach to me, previously you were addressing me as your child, now you are approaching me as your lover.”  Mayawati speaks “Oh! Narayana Sutha, you have brought to the palace by Shambara, you were my husband Kamadeva in the previous birth, Oh! Prabho, I was  your wife Devi Rathi in my previous birth.” In a moment, Pradhyumna remembered the influence of Maya and praised Mayavathi, Mahamaya who is the destroyer of Sarvamaya.  Thus, Mayavathi informed Pradhyumna about Shambarasura who is enemy deities, should be killed at the earliest, she taught the supreme knowledge of ‘Mahamaya’ to Pradhyumna, a fierce battle was held between Shambarasura and Pradhyuma, and the latter was killed in the battle.  Pradhyumna and Mayavathi returned to Dwaraka.

In the Palace of Dwaraka, Krishna was preparing to leave to his chamber, Devi Rukmini returned to the chamber and found the infant Pradhyumna is missing.  Devi Rukmini conducted a thorough inquiry about the child in the entire palace and female attendants and Devi Devaki, Vasudeva and Lord Krishna.  Devi Rukmini found the child has lost forever, was besieged with extreme agony, pacified by Krishna.  Thus, sixteen years have passed, one day Devi Rukmini felt her left eye trembling as a sign of good omen.  Soon, Devi Rukmini saw a handsome youth who has the attractive appearance of Lord Krishna, his eyes, nose, mouth, ears, forehead, lips, and well-built physique has a close resemblance to Krishna, he along with a beautiful woman entering inside the grand pathways of the palace.  Suddenly, she remembered the lost child Pradhyumna, rushed to Krishna who comforted Devi Rukmini saying that it is her lost son Pradhyumna returning home.  Soon, Maharishi Narada arrived and narrated all that happened with Pradhyumna to Devi Rukmini.  Everyone received the couple with great enthusiasm, once again happiness restored in the palace of Dwaraka.

The legend of ‘Pradhyumnothpathi’ is the journey of mind, Manas, Buddhi, Chiththam, Ahamkara is named as Vasudeva, Pradhyumna/lust, Aniruddha, and Sankarshana.  Shambarasura represents senses that take pleasure in worldly matters/Indhriyasukham,  Mayavathi represent ‘Vidyamaya’/ that elevates the soul from worldly bondage and guide the soul to the path of Moksha reunites Pradhyumna/the mind soaked in lust and desires to Krishna and Devi Rukmini.  In short, the mind and intellect which was soaked in worldly matters and sensual pleasures, with the help of supreme knowledge reunites with the Paramathma, therefore it is called ‘The journey of the mind’.