KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka-33

 Matah Kim Yadunatha chashakam Kim thena pathum paya

Sthanna thadya kadasthiva nisi  nisakaa vaandhakaarodaye

Aamilyakshi yugam nisaap pupagathaa dehiti maatur muhur

Vakshojosuka  karshanodute karah Krushnassa pushnaatu naha!

Leela Shuka's poetic imagination is fertile and very astonishing! In his Divine vision, little Krishna is dreaming and talking! He enquires about the well being of Siva and asks Creator Brahma to come and sit by His side! Krishna asks about Kumara Swamy and Indra's welfare! In the meanwhile Krishna is worried about the absence of Kubera, the God of wealth!  He questions where Kubera had gone! Yasoda is wonder struck at the words of Krishna in His Sleep! She admonishes Krishna for talking like that in His Sleep! He wishes that the words of Yasoda should bring good to him!

“O Mother!  “O the Lord of Yadus! What’s the matter?” “ Give me the glass to drink!” “ what about it?”  “ l want to drink milk.” “There is no milk to drink now!” “ When can I have it?” “At night!!” “ When will  be the night?” “ It is when the darkness falls!” Krishna closed His eyes and tells His mother that night has come and so she should give Him a glass of milk!  So saying, Little Krishna, tries to pull the apron of the sari of His mother Yasoda! Let that Gopala Deva with the blessed hand protect me!”Describing the leelas or Divine sports of little Krishna, Leela Shuka employs a novel method which is very interesting and effective. The reader is very much amused and attracted.  The method is the conversation between little Krishna and His beloved mother Yasoda!  It is a graphic description of the questions and answers between the mother and the Son!

Little Krishna calls out to His mother Yasoda. She immediately responds to His call and asks what he wants. Krishna wants her to give Him the glass to drink. Yasoda questions why he wants the glass. Krishna replies that He wants it to drink milk. Yasoda replies that there is no milk to drink at that time. Krishna asks when He can have milk.  Yasoda replies that He can have milk at night. Krishna enquires when that night will come. Yasoda tells Krishna that it is night when darkness falls. Mischievous Krishna closes His eyes and tells her that it is night now and so she should bring Him the glass of milk! So saying, Krishna tried to pull at the apron of His mother’s sari! Leela Shuka feels that Little Gopala Deva with that hand should protect him

It is  an interesting and engaging conversation between the Divine Child and His mortal mother! How can Yama understand the Divinity and the Maya or illusion that the Lord creates? Does He really need milk at that hour? He is the eternal Mother to all living beings! Yasoda innocently asks why Krishna wants the glass. The Lord, knowing all, asks when will milk be available. Krishna pretends that He doesn’t know what night is! Innocent Yasoda explains that it is night when darkness sets in.  The climax is when Krishna closes His eyes and pleads that night has set in as it is dark and He cannot see anything!

What will happen if Krishna really closes His eyes? We cannot imagine! Krishna plays a prank on His mother by closing His eyes and telling her that night has come! It is just to humor her and play with her feelings. Mother Yasoda cannot be so cruel to deny Krishna a glass of milk. He is her darling child.  Krishna playfully portrays Yasoda as a strict disciplinarian not ready to offer milk when He wants it. Inscrutable are the ways o Good!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka-32

 Sambho swagatha masyathamitha itho vamena padmasana

Krounchare kusalam sukham Surapathe vittesa nodrusyathe

Ittham swapnagatasya Kaitabhajithas srutwa Yasodagiraha

Kim Kim Balaka jalpasithi rachitam dhu dhukrutam pathunaha!

“  Holding his lotus feet with His lotus hands and placing them on His lotus face and reclining on the banyan leaf, child Mukunda is shining brilliantly!  I think of that Krishna in my mind!” says Leela Shuka describing the vision that presents itself before his mental screen! Again and again the poet describes the various forms and different situations that parade across his mind! His thirst for  the vision of his Lord Krishna is insatiable and he is depressed and disappointed when he does not have the vision! He is pathetic at times and wonders whether he doesn’t deserve the immediate presence of Krishna. He languishes for the sympathy, Grace and the sight of Krishna!

“ O Sambho! Hope you are fine! O Padmasana! Come by the left side! This side is fit for your seat! O the Enemy of Krouncha mountain! Hope you are fine! O the Lord of Devas! Are you doing well? O the Lord of wealth! How is it that I don’t see you?” Yasoda Devi heard these exclamations of Krishna in His dream and ran to him in wonder and questioned Him, “ O Krishna! What are you blabbering in your dream?”  Let those rousing sounds and words protect us” says Leela Shuka describing the dream of Krishna indicating His Divinity and Avatarhood!

The fertile imagination of the poet is in search of different modes of expression! The poet wants to heighten the state of child Krishna and His antecedents! As an Avatar He has contacts with many Devas! He cannot forget them suddenly. He cannot sever their contact simply because He has come down to earth. Past connections and relationships cannot be effaced so soon!  So Krishna, in His sleep, dreams about them and calls each one of them individually and enquires about their safety and well-being! Thus first Krishna welcomes Sambhu or Sankara! Then He enquires about Padmasana or Creator Brahma! Next, He enquires about the enemy of Krouncha mountain or Kumara swamy! Later Krishna wants to hear about the welfare of Indra, king of Devas! Krishna remembers the Lord of wealth, Kubera and enquires about his well being! As He was talking in His sleep, Yasoda was scared and coming near Krishna, questioned about His blabber in sleep!!

 “Sambhu” is one of the many names of Lord Siva. He is considered as the bestower of wellness to all. Creator Brahma is called “ Padmasana”! After the pralaya or deluge,  Lord Vishnu desired to create the universe. When He had that will or sankalpa, a beautiful lotus emerged from His navel and went up! On that Padma or lotus was seated the Creator Brahma! Under the order of Vishnu, Brahma created the universe and all its inhabitants! Tarakasura was an asura who tormented the Devas. He was invincible because of the boons granted to him. It was Lord Kumara Swamy who could kill him. The asura had fortified himself in  Krouncha mountain. Lord Kumara Swamy  destroyed the mountain and killed Tarakasura  and saved the Devas! Hence He is called “Krounchari” the enemy of Krouncha!

“ Surapati” is Indra, king of Devas whose abode is Swarga Looks or Heaven. He has been defeated by a number of asuras who were emboldened by the powerful boons granted by Creator Brahma and Lord Siva! Every time he approached either Brahma or  Vishnu or Siva and defeated the asuras and regained his kingdom! “Vittesa” is the Lord of wealth, Kubera!  His abode is called Alakapuri in the North! Kubera is the brother of Ravana, king of Lanka! It is said that Ravana defeated Kubera and seized the legendary  “Pushpaka Vimana” that could fly to any place!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka 31

 Vikretu kaamaakila Gopa kanyaa

Muraari paadaarchita chitta vruttihi

Dadhyaadikam moha vasaadavochath

Govinda Damodara Maadhaveti!

Leela Shuka has totally surrendered himself unto the lotus feet of his darling Lord Sri Krishna! “I want my manas to be always in the possession of Krishna’s feet! Krishna is similar to the Sun to the lotus like hearts of sages and saints! His smile is spotlessly white like the Jasmine flowers! He shines with a personality full of youthfulness and anxious to be extremely helpful to the Gopikaas! Saints and philosophers may count upon Krishna’s celestial glory and other aspects of Atma or Soul! But I want to wade through the rivers of Krishna’s childhood leelas or Divine sports! I derive ecstasy in experiencing those nectarine waters!” says Leela Shuka!

“ One Gopika wanted to sell milk and curd products. But her heart was fixed on worshipping the lotus feet of Krishna! She totally forgot her purpose overcome by her passion for Krishna! Her love for Krishna overwhelming her, she started chanting “Govinda, Govinda and Madhava, Madhava”! Leela Shuka sees this interesting picture in his mental vision! The Gopika was completely oblivious of the purpose for which she had come! Krishna had such mesmerizing effect on everyone! 

Entire Gokulam was mad after young Krishna! Krishna was a naughty and mischievous child. He entered into the homes of Gopikas and stole the milk and curd! He released the calves and drove them away to the utter confusion of the owners! He played many tantrums among the Gopikas, created tantrums and fights between the daughter in-law and the mother in law! The sufferers were really angry with Krishna! But their intense love and filial bond did not allow them to punish Krishna. They weren’t ready even to complain against Krishna to His mother Yasoda! The innocent face of Krishna and the charm that He exuded disarmed them and they turned into His devotees! 

On an occasion, as Krishna’s pranks went beyond bounds, the Gopikas went to Yasoda and poured out their sufferings in the hands of Krishna! They threatened that they would leave their homes and settle somewhere else to save themselves from Krishna! Yasoda felt sad and furious at the complaints against her darling Krishna. She wanted to take him to task. She admonished Krishna and to satisfy the Gopikas, tried to tie up the Lord so that He would not stir out do any mischief!

Can she bind the One who is above all bonds? Can she tie up the One who transcends all ties, the One who has no beginning middle, and end? Can she limit the one who has no limits? How is it possible for her to fix Krishna who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient? But ignorant Yasoda thought that Krishna was her darling child and that she could easily tie Him up with a rope!! She had a bitter experience as the Lord wanted to play a trick! Every rope she brought to fasten Krishna fell short by a few inches! She tried again and again but failed miserably! She was much tired in doing so when Krishna didn’t like to trouble her more and allowed Himself to be fastened with the rope! It is very difficult to go against Vishnu Maya!  The Gopika who came with the intention of selling dairy products like milk, curd and other things lost herself totally at the sight of Krishna in His Supreme Beauty! Immediately she began chanting the sacred name, “ Govinda, Govinda and Madhava”!  Krishna thus played havoc in the lives of all who looked at Him!!

 

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RASAKREEDA--KRISHNAKARNAMRUTA--Sloka 30

 Angana mangana manthare Madhavo

Madhavam Madhavam chantharenangana

Itthamakalpite mandale madhyaga

Sanjagow venuna Devaki Nandanaha! 

Leela Shuka has described  the various visions of his darling Krishna, His forms, beauty, adornments and the melodious Divine music emanating from His wonderful flute! The music of the flute has enchanted the Gopikas as well as all the creatures of the world! The more the poet describes Krishna's beauty, there is some more to be described! There appears to be no end for the description of the Divine beauty of Krishna! The peacock crown that He wears, the blue color of His body, the lotus feet and eyes, His unsteady stealing looks, the  garlands He wears, His face resembling the full moon and the ruddy nether lip that has contact with the Divine flute attract the poetic imagination of the spiritual bhaktha, Leela Shuka! Despite the extraordinary, emotional descriptions, the poet is not satisfied! His thirst for singing the glory of Krisna and His leelas is insatiable! Thus he stumbles upon the most important and exhilarating of all the Divine sports exhibited by the son of Devaki, Krishna! He now attempts to describe the enviable and the most interesting RASA KREEDA---His dance with every Gopika individually at the same time!

 “Krishna is in between two Gopikas and in between every Krishna there is a Gopika! In such an area arranged for the purpose, Krishna sang with His Divine flute in “ Madhyama” sruthi!” The radiance of Krishna’s body was mistaken for the dark rain bearing clouds and the peacocks started making sounds! Soon they realized that it was Krishna who was rendering delectable music through His Divine flute!  It was none other than Krishna who was like the wild fire that destroyed the forest of Kamsa! It was such Krishna that danced with His flute among the Gopikas!!

At one place Krishna played in tune with the pecking of the Veena strings by Gopikas! At some other place Krishna merged the soft jingling sounds of small bells with the sounds of the Veena! In another spot Krishna, the son of Devaki, sang according to the distinctive sound of the Veena and played sweetly on His Divine flute! Decked in extremely beautiful ornaments, Krishna offered a feast for the eyes of Gopikas! He was also the form of God for all Gopikas! He was also the paramour of all Gopikas! He also happened to be the Lord of all Gopalas, Gopikas and the cows! Such Krishna produced celestial music through His flute!

The Gopikas seemed to be afraid of the rows of bees coming from the garlands on their locks of hair! Their sarees appeared to drop down and they locked down Krishna in their warm embrace that brought their hard breasts into a friction with Krishna’s chest!! Leela Shuka has a vision of such Krishna playing on His Divine flute! The spouse of beautiful golden hued Lakshmi Devi, garlanded by the creeper like Vaijayanti  that makes His chest wonderfully fragrant, Krishna, stationed Himself amidst  the Gopikas residing in Nanda's Brindavana and played on His celestial flute!

Krishna is compared to the devastating wild fire that reduces the entire forest into ashes! Kamsa is the forest that has been destroyed! How many Asuras did he send to finish off young Krishna! Young Krishna destroyed them all as if He is totally innocent! During Rasa Kreeda, Krishna mesmerized every Gopika by His maya and different stances of dance! Often Leela shuka refers to Lord Vishnu’s attributes and identifies the Avatar of Krishna to Maha Vishnu! Vishnu is the spouse of Mahalakshmi of Golden hue! He has the fragrant Vaijayanti Garland on His chest! He is worshipped by all Gopikas, Gopas and others! Nanda is the foster father of Krishna and the husband of Yasoda at Gokulam!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-Sloka29

 Devaki thanya pujana puthaha

Putanaari charanodaka dhoutaha

Yadyaham smruta Dhananjaya sutaha

Kim karishyati same Yama dutaha?

Leela Shuka tells the Vedic scholars and others where the could find the essence and cream of all Upanishadic meaning! “ O Vedic scholars!  You have become thirsty by roaming about Vedic forests! But your thirst is not satiated! Please listen to my word! The essence of all Upanishads is to be found in the verandahs of the homes of Gopikas where Krishna is stealing butter along with His train of  supporters! Again you can understand the content of the Vedas and Upanishads where Krishna is tied up! Hence it is better that you search for secrets of the Vedas and Upanishads in the homes of Gopikas!”

“ I am sanctified by the worship of the son of Devaki! I am purified by the water that washed the feet of the enemy of Putana! I recollect Krishna, the driver of the chariot of Dhananjaya  during the great Kurukshetra War! If that is true, what is it that the messenger of Yama, the God of Death can  do with me?” exclaims Leela Sukha reflecting on the ignorance and vain efforts of scholars in understanding the essence of the Vedas and the Upanishads as well as his own death!

“ Jatasya maranam dhruvam” One who is born is destined to die one day or other. None can escape death. That being certain, it is the way in which a person dies gathers significance. Man has a special purpose in life. He has to realize himself and understand that that he is not the physical body but the indestructible Spirit or the Soul embedded in the body! Is there any way or means to overcome or defeat? Yes! It is total surrender unto the Lord feet of God! Repeating His Name always, chanting his praise, sathsang and thinking about God continuously can help a devotee in escaping from the jaws of death! Leela Shuka proudly says that he has worshipped Krishna, the very embodiment of Paramatma! He was the darling son of Devaki and at the same time the enemy the demon Putana and several others! Krishna was also the driver of chariot of Dhananjaya or Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War! Leela Shuka has been purified by this Divine association and thoughts! How can Death near him who is always in the thought of Krishna?

When Devaki delivered her eighth child, it was not the normal child! Vishnu appeared to Devaki  with His full form, with four arms, Sankha, Chakra, mace and Sarnga the bow! Soon after, that form disappeared and the normal child was in place. King Kamsa, knowing that Krishna is in Gokulam, sends Putana, the demon to kill him. She transforms herself in to a beautiful woman, plans to kill the child be feeding  Him with her poisoned milk! But Omniscient Krishna drinks away her life along with the milk! All efforts of Kamsa in attempting to finish off Krishna end up in miserable failure! There are two instances where God’s feet were washed and that water had purified the concerned person. In the Ramayana, soon after Rama leaves for forest, Bharata comes and requests  his brother to return to Ayodhya. But Rama refuses and offers his Padukas after Bharatha washes his feet! Rama is that Avatar of Vishnu!  The second instance is that of the boatman Guha who washes the feet of Rama before he enters the boat! Both Bharatha and Guha were staunch bhakthas of Rama!

Yama or God of Death can never approach the great devotees of God!  He had a bitter experience when he came to take away the life of child Markandeya! He was in deep penance and had embraced the Sivalinga in front of himl The pasa or rope that was thrown to take Markandeya's life fell on the Linga! Infuriated at this audacious act of Yama, Lord Siva appeared and kicked Yama and warned him not to approach His bhakthas! Siva granted the boon of deathlessness—” Chiranjivatwa” to Markandeya and blessed him! In commemorating that incident, Markandeya composed the famous “Chandrasekhara Ashtakam” where he questions Yama by saying “ Chandrasekhara masraye mama Kim karisyathi vai Yamaha?” Leela Shuka follows the footsteps of Sage Markandeya!