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!