Sunday, September 17, 2017

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 7

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 6


The previous birth of dEvaki and vasudEva


10.1-131.

Upon hearing the eulogies of dEvaki, the Lord spoke thus. O Mother, earlier during the regime of the swAyambhuva manu you were known as vrSni, the chaste and virtuous wife of the prajapati sutapu who is now vasudEva. In the beginning of the creation, you both were inspired by brahma and performed very difficult penance for a period of 12000 years by conquering your senses, subsisting merely on leaves and roots without being deterred by the sun, rain, wind or snow and observing solitude. By virtue of contemplating on me for such a long period without any blemish in your hearts, your forms turned resplendent and I manifested in front of you and offered to confer desirous boons upon you. At that time you could have very well asked for liberation but being under my spell and being childless, you both desired for a son equal to me in all aspects. Since there is no one else equal to me, I was myself born as a child to you and came to be known as vrSnigarbha, one born of vrSni.

10.1-132.

In your second birth, you were respectively known as aditi and kaSyapa. I descended and was then born to you as the dwarf vAmana, being the younger brother of indra, the lord of the gods.

10.1-133.

Now, in this third birth I have been born to you both again. As promised earlier I have been your child three times and after this there is no birth for Me through you.

10.1-134.

Considering Me as your child you shall derive supreme bliss. Realizing Me to be the Absolute and contemplating on Me you shall attain the highest state. By virtue of the love and devotion you have on Me, you shall be liberated and not born henceforth. 

krSNa assuming the form of a child




10.1-135.

Saying so, the Lord withdrew His mighty Form...

10.1-136.

O King (parikshit), as the parents looked on without battling an eyelid, the Lord magically withdrew His majestic form and assumed that of a tender new born and started to make gestures befitting one. 


krSNa goes to rEpallE



vasudEvA grasped from the instructions of lord hari about the further course of action..

10.1-138.

O king (parikshit), while vasudEvA looked to take the new born out of the prison, there in rEpallE in nanda's house goddess yOgamAya was born to his wife yaSOdA.

10.1-139.

At that time...

10.1-140.


vasudEvA held the infant across his chest and pressed him to the bosom. Taking stealthy steps he at once crossed the soldiers guarding the labor room.

10.1-141.

There in rEpallE,

10.1-142.


yaSOdA gave birth to the little girl who was none other than yOgamAya, the illusory power of the lord. By virtue of her birth a magical spell descended upon both people in rEpallE as well as the soldiers guarding the prison in mathurA and they all fell in to deep stupor.

10.1-143.


As vasudEvA held the great child in his hands and took measured and stealthy steps,  the iron chains with which he was tied un-linked magically, the locks on the doors of the prison gave away and they sprung open! vasudEvA walked the huge corridors of the palace and crossed the main arch. AdiSEShA, the giant serpent followed the lord closing all the gates that opened magically and walked behind the lord with an unfurled hood that served as an umbrella and keeping a keen vigil.

10.1-144.


That river yamunA split and gave way to vasudEvA just like the mighty ocean yielded the path to the lord of sItA back in the trEtAyuga.


krSNa by the side of yaSOdA


Link to the Telugu Page

10.1-145.


Thus vasudEvA crossed the river yamunA swiftly and reached the village of nanda. Without disturbing any of the inhabitants who were in deep sleep he approached the bedside of the ever smiling yaSOdA. He exchanged his dark hued boy with the just born girl of yaSOdA at once. Carrying the little girl of yaSOdA, he quickly returned to his dwelling and put her by the side of dEvaki without any hesitation.

10.1-146.


Having reached the confinement vasudEvA quickly chained his legs and pretended as if he was unaware of the happenings. He cunningly curled up in a corner and was shivering.

10.1-147.


O king parikshith, that night the beautiful yaSOdA was so deep in sleep that she had no idea that her little daughter has been replaced by her side by the Lotus eyed lord!

10.1-148.


As the effect of the spell cast by SrI vishNu receded the guards woke up to the cry of the just born baby girl. Seeing the intact locks on the doors and feeling relieved they ran to kamsa and gave the news of dEvaki's delivery. He at once scrambled up from his bed. His headlocks unwound and his shoulder scarf dragged on the ground as he hurried towards the labour room and approached the new born in a bid to slay her...

Wednesday, September 06, 2017

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 6

vasudEva extols krShNa


10.1-116.

vasudEva prostrated in front of the new-born without even considering that he is a child and springing up at once, held his two hands up in the shape of lotus and began to extol him thinking about his earlier exploits.

10.1-117.

Oh Lord, the witness of everything, the embodiment of ultimate knowledge and bliss, the etrnal, the unbounded One, the one untouched by illusion, is there anything more fantastical than You being born as my Son!!!

10.1-118.

Earlier by virtue of Your power, You have created the three guNAs - satwa, rajO and tamas. All the worlds have been formed by these very guNAs. These guNAs have also come from You but they do not affect You. Therefore You are both within and beyond this creation!

10.1-119.

It happens this way.

The various subtle forces starting with mahath combine with the sixteen perturbations comprising of the senses and elements that exist in nature and form the vastness of the Universe which is verily Your Form. That vast Form of Yours while comprising the subtle forces, it is also beyond those. While You reside in that Form, You are also beyond that Form, i.e. Formless. Since You exist even before the creation, there is no need to exclusively enter into this Universal Form. This Universal Form is but like a bubble born out of the water that is Your power. This ultimate knowledge about Your truth can be had by men only when their senses cease to exist and they begin inquiry with the intellect. You exist in the creation even without depending on those subtle forces and stay unperturbed and unsullied.

10.1-120.

Every thing in all the Worlds is contained in You and You reside in everything. O Lord, you are verily the soul immanent in all and are omnipresent and therefore You do not make any distinction between inside, in between and outside.

10.1-121.

The most ignorant one is he who having assumed his body and mind due to the soul, considers them to be different from the soul. You are the very form of Universe. There is nothing that is not You.

10.1-122.

Not only that...

10.1-123.

O Lord, it is not incorrect to say the entire creation is born, blooms and is withdrawn into You who are devoid of the three guNAs and desires and are changeless. Since You are the Lord and the Absolute, the three guNAs obey Your command and celebrate You. Just as the glory of the soldiers is belongs to the king, the glory of Your guNAs also reveal Your greatness. 
As the creator, Your glory combines with rajas and assumes red color; 
as the sustainer, Your glory combines with satwa and assumes white color; 
as the destroyer Your glory combines with tamas and assumes black color in the creation. 

These are all but different roles played by You. The benevolent that You are, You have descended on to the earth today again to punish the wicked.

10.1-124.

Ever since the ethereal voice declared that You shall be born in my home, kamsa has lost confidence. Having lost his sleep, he has slain one after another of your elder brothers right at their birth. therefore as soon as the guards give him the news of his birth, he will descend here readily.

10.1-125.

As vasudEva was extolling the new born thus, dEvaki lovingly glanced at the One with all attributes of a great soul, the considerate One and the one with a tender body. Feeling fearful at the thought of kamsa and the danger that lied ahead and yet managing a smile on her face, she spoke thus...


dEvaki's psalm



10.1-126.

At the end of the second half of brahmA's existence when the great deluge takes place and all the worlds are destroyed, the five gross elements merge into the subtle forces, the subtle forces merge into the pristine nature, the pristine nature merges into the unmanifest, That unmanifest are You carrying the name SESHA. That glory of Yours is always sung by the vEdAs as being the indescribable, the primordial cause, the all pervasive, the self-resplendent, beyond attributes, unperturbed, eternal, beyond speech, unfathomable by senses and as being One not in need of action, i.e. immovable.

10.1-127.

mAdhava, the Lord of lakshmi, the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the Universe is but a sport of Yours. The ignorance known as avidya is Your kin. The infinite and eternal time is nothing but an illusion spun and run by You. O Lord of the Universe, the repository of all auspiciousness, only he who sings Your glory with assiduity attains eternal wealth, conquers death and lives happily.

10.1-128.

The ancient yOgIs and rishIs having taken the path of yOga and performed penance with determination claim to have had Your vision. However what they claim to have seen is how they have wanted to see You and not the real Form of Yours as You are blessing us with now.  O lotus eyed Lord, it is becoming difficult to behold Your real Form with these physical eyes. Kindly withdraw it, I prostrate to You.

10.1-129.

O best among purushAIsn't it the greatest of Your mAya that the capable and great actor that You are Who withdraws the whole Universe into Yourself and protects it at the time of the great deluge is born of me?

10.1-130.

O lotus eyed One, the evil kamsa has kept us under confinement for long having known that You will be born of me. Please punish the evil minded kamsa and protect us who are panic-stricken. The vows that we have observed have not gone in vain and have bore fruition with Your descent.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 5


Link to the Telugu Page

dEvaki giving birth to krSNa


10.1-105.

As that dEvaki, beautiful like a lotus, suffered labor pains, the minds of the evil ones were beset with fear and woe while that of the good ones was relieved of fear and felt joyous. 

10.1-106.

As mother dEvaki was about to give birth to the Lord of Lords , the seven oceans swelled in purity; the clouds thundered heralding sweetness; the sky shone brightly with stars and the planets; the eight directions appeared clearer; fragrant breeze wafted gently; the fire in the sacrificial pits was in full glow; the lakes were full of lotuses that were surrounded by buzzing bees displaying utmost beauty; rivers flowed carrying very pure and sacred waters; the earth was adorned by colony of great cities, towns and villages;  forests and gardens were replete with flowers, fruits which attracted the tweeting birds and the gods showered flowers on the blessed couple.

10.1-107.

The gandharvAs sang in ecstasy, the apsarAs led by rambhA  danced in joy, the sidhhAs came together in happiness, the chAraNAs left behind their fears as the trumpets of the Gods blew loudly.

10.1-108.

At that time...

10.1-109.

At the stroke of midnight, as the positions of stars and planets signified auspiciousness, dEvaki gave birth to a male child - 
Who rejects the children of diti- demons; 
Who brings joy to the face of those who seek refuge in Him; 
Who is victorious;
Who is the all pervasive viShNU!

10.1-110.

O king Parikshit, as the bright and beautiful dEvaki glanced at the new-born Who is verily the graceful viShNU, she shone brightly just as the eastern direction shines at the rise of the full moon! 

10.1-111.

Then...

10.1-112.

vasudEva was thrilled with excitement and ardour at the sight of the divine child -
The One with the complexion of the water-bearing clouds;
The One with four hands that extended until the knees;
The One with Lotus like eyes;
The One with a broad chest;
The One wielding the conch, discus, mace and lotus in His four hands;
The One adorned with the resplendent gem kaustubha on his neck;
The One decked with lovely waist band, anklets and bracelet;
The One with the divine mark SrIvatsa;
The One Whose curly locks in the forehead shone in the light of the ear rings;
The One wearing a crown studded with the best gems and stones;
The Divine child, protector of all the worlds, beautiful like the full moon, the repository of all good qualities and the One with unbounded compassion.

10.1-113.

vasudEva was in deep elation but as he could not take bath, he resolved in his mind to give away ten thousand cows to brAhmins.

10.1-114.

Further, vasudEva...

10.1-115.

...with complete devotion thought thus. This child is illumining this labor room with radiance. He must verily be the One who created the four-headed brahma himself.


Tuesday, August 15, 2017

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 4

The eulogy of brahma and other Gods

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 3

Link to Telugu page

10.1-88.

On that occasion, nArada and other sages along with their followers accompanied by the four-faced brahma and three-eyed Siva deigned to the place where dEvaki was confined and eulogized the best among purushas who was in her womb thus...

10.1-89.

Oh Lord, You have the vow of upholding Truth; You are the very basis for attaining eternity; You are the Eternal Who exists in the past, present and future; You are the source of the five elements; You are the One existing after the five elements are withdrawn; You always speak the Truth and look after all equally; we seek refuge in Thee. Overtaken by the mAya that is under Your control, those bereft of wisdom describe Thee variously; however the wise having attained a higher level of consciousness and concentration proclaim that You permeate the entire creation.

10.1-90.

Not only that...

10.1-91.

Prakrthi, Nature is the Tree; 
pleasure and pain are its twin fruits, 
the three attributes satwa, rajas and tamas are its roots; 
dharma, the four purushArthAs - dharma, artha, kAma and mOkshA are its four tastes; 
it is perceived through the five elements; 
its six bends are the six attributes - desire, thirst, sadness, illusion, birth and death; 
the seven-fold essences skin, flesh, blood, brain, skeleton etc. are its seven layers; 
the five elements, mind, intellect and ego are its eight branches; 
the nine holes of the body eyes, ears, mouth etc. are the holes on the tree; 
the ten prANAs  or life forces in human body are the leaves;
On this Tree, the twin birds are the individual (jIva) and the Lord (ISwara).
You alone are the Lord responsible for creation, sustenance and dissolution of this tree of samsAra.

10.1-92.

The aware ones concentrate their mind only on You and don't get distracted into other ways and thereby using Your feet as the boat they cross the ocean of samsArA as easily as the calf takes a small step.

10.1-93.

In order to ensure safety and protection of the world You take any number of births and while You ensure auspiciousness on the good people, You punish the evil ones.

10.1-94.

O lotus-eyed One! Some people proclaiming to know Your essence and yet indulge in vain pursuits and in spite of knowing Your greatness cannot contemplate on Your name. Such people attain depravity.

10.1-95.

However, the truly great who know You, contemplate on You steadily and thereby being fearless overcome obstacles. Oh Lord, such people having won Your grace and protection live an exalted life in Your presence.

10.1-96.

Oh Lord hari, people in the four stages of life, viz. celibates, householders, retirees and renunciants serve and worship You. Then You assume a body full of satwa attribute, is sacred and confers protection and liberation on all the worlds.

10.1-97.

O lotus eyed One! Your body is made of the satwa attribute and associated with the Absolute. If it were not so, how could it remove our ignorance? You shine forth even in the tri-attributes or three guNAs. You are attained by serving You with the satwa attribute. Being the witness, You are beyond the reach of thought and word. The wise, true and the sinless ones recognize Your absolute form and name which is attribute-less. He who worships Your Feet through meditation, contemplation, listens to Your stories and extols You becomes free from rebirth.

10.1-98.

O best among men! The burden of the earth has been relieved by Your descent. Due to the refuge of Your lotus feet and Your compassion, we are able to see the earth and the sky in their respective places.

10.1-99.

O birthless One, taking birth is but a sport for You. It is not a birth in the real sense. For, the various stages of life including birth are for the jIvAs and are caused by ignorance or mAya. However the same mAya even if it is by Your side, is unable to envelop You when You are born. Therefore You are the Lord of all.

10.1-100.

You have graced us as the giant fish, the tortoise, the huge boar, the wealth conferring man-lion, the mendicant vAmana, the horse-faced hayagrIva, the lord of the earth paraSurAmA, the king srIrAma, as the benevolent and compassionate One and You have saved the fourteen worlds. I bow to You Lord, kindly relive the earth of its burden.

10.1-101.

O mukundA, the world has drowned in sorrow due to the tyranny of kamsa and his associates. Kindly deign to emerge from the womb of the mother to provide love and care to the world.

10.1-102.

Further, looking at dEvaki they spoke thus...

10.1-103.

O Mother, in thy womb, the First among the purushAs is residing. Tomorrow He shall be born. Be certain that there isn't even an iota of danger from kamsa and his associates. We are safe now onward. As the entire yAdAva clan rejoices may you ever stay blessed.

10.1-104.

Having thus extolled hari and blessing dEvaki, the gods left headed by Lord brahma and Siva. Then...

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 3

daSama skandham or the Tenth Canto - Part2

Link to the Telugu page

The coming of nArAda to mathura


10.1-52.


One day sage nArAda appeared in mathura all of a sudden and went to kamsa's residence. Finding kamsa in solitude, the sage went to him and said these words. Listen, "nandA, his wives, family and friends who live in rEpalle (Vrindavan), dEvaki and all the womenfolk vasudEva and all the yAdavA's are verily forms of Gods and nor mere humans. O kamsa you are a demon. vishNu, Who is the very form of all Gods and wields the discus will be born as the son of dEvaki. He will slay the demons who are possessing the earth and causing havoc. Having said these prophetic words, nArada left for his abode.

10.1-53.

kamsa's anxiety swelled upon hearing nArAda's words. Learning that yAdavA's are Gods (they don't battle an eyelid - animisha) and that he is the kAlanEmi who will be slain with the sword of srImahAviShNu his mind was filled with worry...


dEvaki and vasudEva in the prison


10.1-54.

kamsa was upset and outraged with anger. He at once imprisoned his sister dEvaki and brother-in-law vasudEva. Thinking all their children to be forms of hari (the remover of miseries of devotees - viSHNu) he slayed all the newborns as soon as they were born. Inflamed, he imprisoned his pure-hearted father ugrasEna who ruled over the land of the yadus, bhOjas and andhakas and began to rule over these kingdoms himself.

10.1-55.

Corrupted by the lust for power kings execute their siblings, brothers, friends and relations without discrimination in order to safeguard their life.

10.1-56.

And then with the help of several demons such as bANa, bhauma, mAgadha, mahASana, kESi, dhEnuka, baka, pralamba, trNavarta, chANUra, muSHTika, ariSHTa, dvividha, pUtana, kamsa waged war over the yAdavAs. Having lost the battle, many yAdavAs lost their face, eschewed their titles and power and fled to other kingdoms like nishadha, kuru, kOSala, vidEha, vidarbha, kEkaya, pAnchAla and SAlva for asylum. Other yAdavAs eschewed vengeance and remained in mathura serving kamsa.

10.1-57.

One after the other in succession kamsa killed six of dEvaki's sons. And then dEvaki conceived for the seventh time as the great SESHA with the attributes of the magnanimous viSHNu entered the womb of dEvaki and took shape of the fetus.

yOgamAya Commanded


10.1-58.

Taking note of the happenings and grasping that the yAdavAs who have their faith in Him and live in mortal fear of kamsa, hari Who is the very form of the universe, summoned goddedd yOgamAya and commanded her thus...

10.1-59.

O auspicious bhadrA, descend onto the dwelling place of gOpikAs and gOpAlAs who live near the stables and tend cattle in vrindAvan. vasudEva's wives have been imprisoned by kamsa. However one of the wives rOhiNi, has sought refuge in rEpalle (vrindAvan) and is living in the gOkula of nanda. That beautiful eyed rOhiNi has numerous good qualities in her. Embodying my valor, AdiSESHA is growing in the womb of dEvaki. Please go and duly and skillfuly transplant that foetus into the womb of rOhiNi. I shall be born to dEvaki with all My attributes. After transplanting AdiSESHA, you be born as the child of nanda and yaSOda.

10.1-60.

You are the harbourage of all forms of wealth. You fulfil the desires of the devotees. O embodiment of auspiciousness, people worship and serve you with devotion and offer sacrifices and presents.

10.1-61.

In various places you are celebrated assuming fourteen different names, viz. durgA, bhadrakALi, vijaya, vaiSHNavi, kumuda, chanDika, krSHNa, mAdhavI, kanyaka, mAya, nArAyaNi, ISAna, SArada, ambika. He commanded her to leave on her mission having made all this known to her. Considering the command of viSHNU as a great blessing, the yOgamAyA dEvi at once left the abode of viSHNU and entered the earth. 


rohiNi delivers balabhadra


10.1-62.

yOgamAya extracted the resplendent fetus from the womb of dEvaki and transplanted into the womb of rOhiNi. People around dEvaki were saddened by her purported abortion of pregnancy.

10.1-63. 

Then...

10.1-64.

rOhiNi gave birth to a great son. By virtue of his exceeding strength and valor he was called balabhadrA. By virtue of conferring joy to the worlds he came to be known as rAmA. Having been born by fetal transplant, he got the name samkarSHana.

10.1-65.

After that ...

10.1-66.

vasudEva shone resplendently as the attribute of the Lord of auspiciousness and wealth srImahAviSHNu entered into his being and filled his mind. Perceiving this, all the beings and elements were filled with joy.

10.1-67.

vasudEva inducted the radiance of the Lord of lakshmi - That supreme soul Which is embodied in the entire creation, is utterly holy and protects all the worlds, into dEvaki. Receiving the radiance of viSHNu, dEvaki shone with a new splendour just as the eastern direction is filled with the moonlight before the moon rise.

10.1-68.

Listening keenly, parikshit curiously asked what transpired further. suka started to narrate thus.

10.1-69.

SrIhari, in Whose stomach are lodged all the universes began to grow like the intensity of the morning Sun in the womb of dEvaki in order to protect the world.

10.1-70.

Then...

10.1-71.

(signs of pregnancy in dEvaki)

As SrIhari grew in the form of fetus in dEvaki's womb: 

the conceited ones lost their glow in the face while the beautiful woman dEvaki lost the dullness in her face and shone with brilliance;

the fame of the enemy kings blackened while the nipples of the dEvaki darkened;

the abode of the evil people was filled with smoke as hair sprouted on the abdomen of dEvaki;

the enemies lost the appetite due to anxiety while the lotus-eyed dEvaki lost her appetite;

the enemies became motionless and tired as dEvaki started to feel lazy;

the enemies prepared to bite the dust as dEvaki hungered for taste of clay (geophagy!).

10.1-72.

Further...

10.1-73.

As the One enshrined in all the five elements grew in dEvaki's womb:

As if the element water came to visit the child in the womb, she began to sweat profusely.

As if the element fire came to offer obeisance to the divine child in the womb, she shone brightly.

As if the element air came to worship the to-be-born she began to breathe heavily.

As if the element earth came to honor the child, her hunger for clay swelled.

As if the element expansive ether came to hail the child, the moon-faced lady's waist expanded.

10.1-74.

As the days progressed...

10.1-75.

Since the divine child growing in dEvaki's womb was viSHNu who is the slayer of demons:

As dEvaki's waistband tightened the mangaLasUtra (auspicious thread of married women signifying the happily married status) of the wives of the enemies loosened;

As the beautiful form of dEvaki assumed brilliance, the wives of the evil people lost their shine;

As dEvaki began to feel burdened by her jewels and necklaces, the necklaces of the wives of enemies loosened;

As the cuckoo-voiced dEvaki's belly gradually grew bigger by virtue of the divine child in her womb, the enemy's wives aborted;

As the days of dEvaki's delivery neared, the days of widowhood neared for the wives of the unfavorable ones.

10.1-76.

Thus...

10.1-77.

dEvaki held in her womb, the One who has the entire Universe in His belly. Her oppression in the confinement in her brother's place resembled that of erudition in one bereft of wisdom and that of a lamp lit inside a pot.

10.1-78.

Startled by the increasing glow in the face of dEvaki, the best among women, enhanced brilliance of her being and growing beauty, kamsa anxiously reflected thus...

10.1-79.

"Watching dEvaki through her expectant days, my heart is feeling heavy. I have never felt like this before. Perhaps this is because viSHNu has entered into her womb."

10.1-80.

"How should I strategize, what is my action plan? How can I slay this woman, my sister and whose gestation is nearing term day by day. If being indifferent, I indeed do away with her will my fame, wealth, longevity and righteousness not wither away?"

10.1-81.

"A brute who is unmindful of relations will be reproached as being just a corpse while being alive. They will further say such a person will go to hell. Is it any life to be lived being called an evil-doer?"

10.1-82.

Eschewing brutality, assimilating courage, assuming augustness and proclaiming prowess he determined within himself that it is a harmful undertaking to slay sister and went silent...

10.1-83.

However kamsa was still mortally afraid deep within. "The hostility that cannot be suppressed is being born! This moon-faced woman will perhaps give birth to chakri, the one wielding the discus. I shall slay the new born right in the labour room". Thinking thus, he waited on...

10.1-84.

Consumed by the hostility with SrimahAviSHNu and immersed in those thoughts, he completely failed to attend to other duties.

10.1-85.

Moving, eating, drinking, walking, sitting kamsa has thoughts of only SrimahAviSHNu. Overpowered and consumed by hostility, unceasingly he thought of hari as encompassing the entire universe.

10.1-86.

Further...

10.1-87.

Whatever sound that he heard he thought that to be the voice of hari;
Whatever he saw with his eyes appeared to be the form of hari;
Even if a blade of grass touched him, he perceived it to be a smack from the hand of hari;
Whatever fragrance that came his way seemed to be the perfume of the garlands of hari;
Whatever words were spoken he misapprehended if it was the name of hari;
Whatever thoughts that came across his mind, he thought those to be about hari and was thus infuriated through every action of his own.

daSama skandHam - The Tenth Canto - 4 >>>

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