A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 63

They antic.i.p.ated a fight with Krishna and Rama and they came well prepared for the occasion. Rama heard that Krishna went all alone and he heard of the preparations made by his enemies. So he lost no time in gathering a large army and marching for Kundina.

Bhishmaka heard of the approach of Krishna and Rama. He gladly received them and gave them quarters. Rukmini, guarded by the army, went to the temple of Durga with her companions. She worshipped the G.o.ddess and prayed for Krishna as her husband. She then left the temple and was about to get into the chariot when Sri Krishna carried her off by force in his own chariot.

Jara Sandha and other kings were defeated by the Yadu chiefs and they took to flight They consoled Sisupala and then each went to his own place.

Rukmin vowed that he would not return to Kundina till he had killed Krishna and rescued his sister. He attacked Krishna but was defeated by him. Krishna was about to kill him when Rukmini interceded on his behalf. Krishna then partially shaved his head and chin and left him.

Being thus disgraced, Rukmin made a town called Bhojukata and lived there.

Krishna brought Rukmini to Dvaraka and married her in due form.

PRADYUMNA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 55.*

The G.o.d Kama is an aspect of Vasudeva. He had been burnt before by the fire of Rudra's anger. To get back his body, he was born as the son of Krishna by Rukmini and became known as Pradyumna. He was not unlike his father in any respect The Asura Samvara, who was Kama (or pa.s.sions) incarnate, (Kama rupin), knew the child to be his enemy and stole him away and threw him into the sea. A big fish swallowed him up. That fish with others was caught in a large net by the fishermen. They presented the fish to Samvara. The servant cut open the fish and the child came out. They made him over to Mayavati. She was frightened but Naroda told her all about the child. This Mayavati, named Rati, had been the wife of Kama. She had been waiting for the reappearance of her husband in a body. She was employed by Samvara as a cook. Knowing the child to be Kama Deva, she nursed him and became attached to him. In time, Kamadeva grew tip and Mayavati approached him with expressions of love. "What is this mother?" asked Kamadeva, "Why this change in your feelings towards me!"

"Thou art Kamadeva, O Lord, son of Krishna. Thou hadst been stolen away by Samvara. I am thy wife Rati. The Asura had thrown thee into the sea, when a fish devoured thee. I have got thee back from the stomach of that fish. Samvara is an adept in many forms of Maya. Kill him by means of Delusion and other powers of Maya known to thee."

Rati gave to Pradyumna the Vidya known as Mahamaya, the destroyer of all other Mayas.

Pradyumna fought with Samvara and killed him with the help of Mahamaya.

Rati then carried her husband to Dvaraka. There the women mistook him for Krishna and bashfully moved aside. Even Rukmini could only half decide that he was her son. Krishna appeared with Vasudeva, Devaki and Rama. Narada related the story of Pradyumna's adventures. There was great joy at Dvaraka and people welcomed Pradyumna and his wife.

Pradyumna was an image of Krishna. What wonder if even his mother became attached to him!

THE JEWEL SYAMANTAKA, JAMBAVATI AND SATYABHAMA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 56.*

King Satrajit was a votary of the Sun-G.o.d. He got a present from his deity of the Syamantaka jewel. He came to Dvaraka with the jewel on his neck. He shone with such a l.u.s.tre that people took him for the sun. The jewel used to bring forth 16,000 palas of gold every day. Sri Krishna asked the jewel for the king of the Yadus, but Satrajit would not part with it. One day his brother Prasenajit rode on a hunting excursion into the forests, with the jewel on his neck. A lion killed him and his horse and carried away the jewel. The Bear-chief, Jambavat, killed the lion and took away the jewel into his cave and made it the plaything of his son. When Prasena did not return, Satrajit thought that he had been killed by Krishna. People also suspected him. To get rid of this unjust reproach, Sri Krishna went on a search himself with his men. He traced out the remains of Prasena, the horse and the lion. He then entered the cave of the Bear-chief, leaving his men outside. The infant son of Jambavat was playing with the jewel. Krishna appeared before the boy.

The nurse screamed aloud. Jambavat rushed out in anger and attacked Krishna. The fight went on for twenty eight days and at last Jambavat was overpowered. He then knew Sri Krishna as Vishnu, the primal Purusha and prayed to Him. Sri Krishna said the object of his entering the cave was to recover the jewel, as he wanted to remove the suspicion that he himself had taken it. Jambavat gladly offered his daughter Jambavati with the jewel to Sri Krishna. He then returned to Dvaraka with his bride and the jewel. He called an a.s.sembly and, in the presence of all, made over the jewel to Satrajit. He also told him how he got it back.

Satrajit felt deeply mortified. He came back to his kingdom and thought how he could best appease Sri Krishna whom he had offended by groundless suspicion. At last he offered his daughter Satyabhama to Krishna and also the jewel. Krishna said: - "We do not want the jewel, O King. Thou art the votary of the Sun-G.o.d. Let it remain with thee. We shall partake of its blessings."

SYAMANTAKA, AKRURA, KRITAVARMAN AND SATA DHANU:

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 57.*

Hearing that the Pandavas had been killed in the Lac-house, Rama and Krishna went to Hastinapura to offer their condolences. Taking advantage of their absence, Akrura and Kritavarman said to Satadhanu, - "Satrajit promised the Syamantaka jewel also when he made over his daughter to Sri Krishna. Why shall not the jewel be taken from him? Why shall he not share the fate of his brother?" The wicked Satadhanu under this evil inspiration killed Satrajit while he was asleep and carried away the jewel. Satyabhama went to Hastinapura and informed Krishna of the killing of her father. The brothers came back to Dvaraka. Krishna made preparations for killing Satadhanu and for recovering the jewel from him. Satadhanu sought the help of Kritavarman. But he knew too well the might of Sri Krishna and he declined to give any help. Satadhanu then turned to Akrura. Akrura knew Krishna as atman and he would not do anything. Satadhanu however left the jewel with Akrura and fled away on horse-back. Rama and Krishna followed him to Mithila. He left the horse and ran away on foot. Sri Krishna overtook him soon and cut off his head with the Chakra.

He then searched for the jewel, but could not find it. Turning to his brother, he said, "For nothing have I killed Satadhanu. The jewel is not with him." Rama replied - "Satadhanu must have left the jewel with some one. Try to find him out. Go back to Dvaraka. I shall in the meantime pa.s.s some time with my friend, the king of Mithila." Rama remained at Mithila for a few years. Duryodhana also came there. He learned the art of fighting with the mall from Rama.

Sri Krishna went back to Dvaraka and told Satyabhama how he had killed Satadhanu but could not find the jewel. Kritavarman and Akrura heard all that took place and they fled for their lives from Dvaraka. In the absence of Akrura the people of Dvaraka suffered from bodily and mental pain as well as disturbances from the Devas and the elements. Those who forgot the glory of Sri Krishna attributed all this to the absence of Akrura. But it was not possible that such things should happen where Sri Krishna resided (without His wish.)

"Once upon a time there were no rains at Kasi (Benares). The king of Kasi offered his daughter Gandivi to Svafalka and it rained at Kasi.

Akrura is the son of that Svafalka. He has got the powers of his father.

It rains wherever Akrura lives and the land becomes free from epidemics and calamities."

The old people talked thus. Sri Krishna knew it was not so. He sent for Akrura, shewed him every respect, and smilingly addressed him thus: - "O lord of giving (_Danapati_), Satadhanu must have left the Syamantaka jewel with thee. I knew this from before. Satrajit left no son. His daughter's son is therefore his true heir. But it is not so easy to keep the jewel. Thou dost keep the observances well. So let it be with thee.

But in the matter of this jewel, even my brother does not believe me.

Therefore shew it once and give peace to your friends." Akrura made over the jewel to Sri Krishna. He shewed it to his clansmen, in order to remove the stain of suspicion against him. He then returned it to Akrura.

THE OTHER WIVES OF SRI KRISHNA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 58-59.*

Sri Krishna went to see the Pandava brothers at Hastinapura. They gave him a most devoted reception. One day Krishna and Arjuna went on a hunting excursion to the side of the Yamuna.

They saw there a most beautiful girl. Arjuna asked who she was. The girl replied: - "I am daughter of the Sun-G.o.d. Desiring Vishnu to be my husband, I have performed great Tapas. I shall have no other husband.

Let that friend of the friendless be pleased with me. My name is KALINDI. I am to reside in the waters of the Yamuna in the abode built by my father till I see Achyuta." Krishna placed the girl on his chariot and took her to Yudisthira.

It was at this time that Krishna got a town built by Visvakarman at the request of Arjuna and the Khandava forest was burnt by the Fire-G.o.d.

The rains over, Krishna went to Dvaraka and there duly married Kalindi.

Vinda and Anuvinda, two princes of Avanti, were followers of Duryodhana.

Their sister MITRA VINDA wanted to marry Krishna but they dissuaded her.

So Krishna carried away the girl by force and married her. She was the daughter of his father's sister Rajadhi-devi.

In Ko-sala, there was a virtuous prince named Nagnajit. He had a daughter named SATYA, also called NAGNAJITI after her father. No one could marry her who had not overcome seven fierce bulls. Krishna went to Kosala with a large retinue and he was received well by the prince. The girl prayed to the Fire-G.o.d to have Krishna as her bridegroom. Krishna overcame the bulls and married the girl.

Krishna then married BHADRA of Kekaya, the daughter of her aunt (father's sister) Sruta-kirti. He also carried away by force LAKSHANA, the daughter of the king of Madra.

Naraka, son of the Earth, deprived Aditi, mother of Indra, of her ear-rings, Varuna of his umbrella and Indra of his seat at Mani Parvat (Mountain of jewels). Indra complained to Krishna. He went with his wife Satyabhama to Prakjyotisha, the town of Naraka. That town was well fortified and it was protected by the Daitya Mura and his meshes.

Krishna forced his pa.s.sage through all obstacles and had a fight with Mura whom he slew with his Chakra. The seven sons of Mura, - Tamra, Antariksha, Sravana, Vibhavasu, Vatu, Nabhasvat and Varuna, - under the lead of one Pithha also attacked Krishna, but they were all killed.

Naraka then himself fought with Krishna and was killed by him. The G.o.ddess Earth then approached Krishna and, after adoring him, said: - "This Bhagadatta, son of Naraka, takes Thy shelter. Please pa.s.s Thy hand round his head."

Krishna gave a.s.surances of safety and he then entered the house of Naraka. Naraka had carried away 16 THOUSAND GIRLS by force. Krishna sent away these girls and much treasure to Dvaraka. He then went with Satyabhama to the place of Indra and there restored the ear-rings to Aditi. At the request of his wife, Krishna uprooted the Parijata tree and placed it on the back of Garuda. The Devas resisted, but Krishna defeated them all. The Parijata tree was planted in the quarters of Satyabhama and it spread its fragrance all round. Krishna married the 16 thousand girls at one and the same moment by a.s.suming as many forms.

KRISHNA AND RUKMINI.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 60.*

Krishna and Rukmini were once sitting together, when, turning to his wife with a smile, Krishna spoke the following words:

"Princess, thou wert coveted by great and powerful kings. Thy brother and thy own father offered thee to Sisupala and others. How is it then thou didst accept me who am not thy equal? See how we have taken shelter in the sea being afraid of the kings. Having powerful enemies, we can hardly be said to occupy our kingly seats. O thou with beautiful eyebrows, woe to those women who follow such men as have unknown and uncommon ways of their own. Poor as we are, wealthy people hardly seek us. It is meet that they should marry or make friendship with each other, who are equals in wealth, birth, power and beauty. It is through ignorance and shortsightedness that thou hast married one who is void of all Gunas (good qualities) and who is praised only by Bhikshus (beggars). Therefore do thou seek some Kshatriya king who will be a match for thee. Sisupala, Salva, Jarasandha, Danta Vakra and other kings and even thy own brother Rukmin, blindfolded by pride, shewed hostility to me. For the repression of their pride, I the punisher of evil men brought thee here. But we are indifferent to the body and the house, void of all desires, fixed in self, all full, the light within, without actions."

(Without antic.i.p.ating our general study of the Dvaraka Lila, it is sufficient to mention here that Rukmini is the spiritual energy of Mula Prakriti, or rather the light of Purusha, as reflected on Prakriti. The gist of what Krishna says is that there is an essential difference between Prakriti and Purusha. Purusha is void of Gunas, while the Gunas form the essence of Prakriti. Coming from Prakriti, Rukmini must follow the Prakritic elements. And if Krishna wrested her away from the hands of the material energies of Prakriti and even from her own Prakritic basis (her brothers and father), it was because the material energies had a.s.serted themselves too much. This was done in the Seventh Manvantara, when the spiritual ascent was a Kalpic necessity. Was Rukmini to remain wedded to Krishna for the remaining period of the Kalpa, or was she to go back to her brothers and their friends?).

Rukmini replied: -