KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA--39

 Raamo naama babhuva hum  thadabalaa Sitethi hum tou

 piturvachaa Panchavati vane viharathas thaama haradh Ravanaha

Nidraartham janani kathaamiti Harer hunkaaratas srunvatas

Soumitrekva dhanur dhanur dhanuriti vyagraagirah paathunaha!

Leela Shuka’s fertile imagination transports us to different regions and situations associated with Lord Vishnu and His Krishnavatar! He takes us to the Lord’s abode Vaikunta and the sweet romance between Himself and Goddess Mahalakshmi! As the Divine couple are about to start, Mahalaksmi objects and tries to prevent the Lord's amorous advances! She does not desire to be kissed, embraced  or touched by His nails! She is very much afraid of the effects of such actions by the Lord in several instances previously! Lord’s kiss resulted in the terrible death of Putana, the demon sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna! Child Krishna drank away the demon's life along with the milk!  When Yasoda tied Krishna to the mortar, He dragged it in between the two “Maddi” trees that crashed with terrible thud! That was because of His embrace! It was Lord's nails that tore the entrails of Hiranyakasipu and saved the world and Prahlaada, His sincere devotee! Hence the fear of the Goddess! She is referring to the Narasimhavatar and Krishnavatars indirectly to dissuade the Lord from approaching Her! The poet hopes that such Krishna, romancing His Lady, should  protect him!

One day Yasoda started narrating a story to child Krishna to put him to sleep! “ There was a king by name Rama. Krishna responded by saying hum, hum!  His wife was Sita. Hum, Hum!  According to the order of his father Dasaratha Rama went to the forest. While they were staying in Panchavati, Ravanasura abducted her. Listening to the story narrated to put Him to sleep and responding with the sounds hum and hum, Krishna called out “ O Soumithri! My Bow, My Bow, where is it?” and exclaimed loudly! Let those words spoken repeatedly by Krishna protect us” says Leela Shuka in this graphic description!

Yasoda narrates the story of Sri Rama thinking that child krishna is ignorant of the story! Little does she realize that the same Paramatma, Lord Vishnu has incarnated as Rama and Krishna! It is a kind of blissful ignorance which allows her to pour her indescribable love and affection on her darling Krishna! She would not be able to enjoy and appreciate the presence of Krishna if she knew that Krishna is the Avatar of Vishnu! Hence, she tells the story of Sri Rama casually to put Krishna to sleep. It is the usual custom and practice of a mother to sing a lullaby or tell a story so that the child will sleep quickly. The moment Krishna heard this statement, He grew enraged, forgot His child nature and called out to Laksmana His brother and questioned repeatedly where His bow and arrows are!

The beauty of the sloka is that the poet presents the picture of Krishna responding to Yasoda's narration! Like all children reacting to the story, Krishna too heard the story and made sounds like “hum, hum”! This ensured Yasoda and she was totally satisfied. She continued the story and said that Sri Rama obeyed the command of His father and went to the forest with His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. While staying at Panchavati, Ravana, king of Lanka came in disguise and abducted Sita! Krishna remembers the episodes of His previous Avatars and when reminded of such incidents, reacts with anger and heroism! How can we imagine that the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord would be oblivious of His past avatars, actions and miracles? Probably this sudden fury of Krishna is to impress Yasoda about His Divinity and to prove that He is no ordinary child!

Krishna's sudden reaction, perhaps is to indicate that he was Rama in Treta Yuga who went to the forest and lost his spouse Sita through the evil design of Ravana! The same Rama has come down to earth as Krishna, the son of Devaki and brought up by Yasoda! The word “ Soumitri” refers to Lakshmana, he being the son of Sumitra one of the three wives of Dasaratha. Sri Rama's bow is the legendary invincible “Kodanda” the terror of enemies. Leela Shuka, enjoying this wonderful, rare vision points out that such enraged Krishna should protect him!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA-38

 Oshtam muncha Hare bibhemi bhavataapaa nairhataaPutanari

kantaaslesha mamum jahihi dalitaa Valiganne naarjunau

Maadehi churitam Hiranyakasipur nito nakhaih panchita

Mittham vaaritha raathri keliravathaal lakshmyaapa haasaarthrihi!

One day Krishna remembered in His dream His previous Ramavatar and addressed Lakshmana thus: O Lakshmana! These clouds and the gentle breeze are tormenting me too much!” Hearing these pangs of separation from Janaki, Radha was shocked and surprised. How can Krishna be interested in another woman? She began to suspect the character of Krishna and grew jealous. She could not tolerate the influence of any other woman on Her Krishna! She viewed Krishna with that intolerant  look of hers! Leela Shuka  hopes that such Krishna, viewed with such intolerance by Radha, shall make us all happy!

“ O Krisna! Leave my lips! Don’t kiss me. Putana, the demon whom you kissed, died a terribly death! Please, don’t embrace me! Leave me alone!  I am very much afraid. Because of your embrace the two “Maddhi” trees were felled! Please do not leave your nail impressions on my body! I am terribly afraid because your nails tore apart the body of Hiranyakasipu and killed him!  Goddess Lakshmi Devi began finding fault with Krishna in this manner and prevented Him from romancing with Her! Let that Krishna, being prevented from romancing Lakshmi protect us!!” says the poet in this beautiful sloka!

Leela Shuka describes a delicate and private situation that happens in the bedroom of Vaikunta, the abode of Sri MahaVishnu! The Lord and Devi are in high spirits and in a mood to enjoy themselves! While the Lord tries to romance with His Spouse Mahalakshmi, under some pretext or other, She evades Him and requests Him to not to come near Her! What are the reasons that make Mahalakshmi prevent Her husband approaching Her? She is terribly afraid of the acts of Vishnu that have resulted in killing Asuras, and releasing others from their curses! She is afraid that something like that would happen to Her if She allowed Him to touch Her!! The poet ingeniously hints at the avatars of Vishnu in which He killed Putana and released two Gandharvas and earlier killed the dreadful asura Hiranyakasipu!

Kamsa sent Putana to kill Krishna growing up in Gokulam. He knew that Krishna would kill him. Putana came disguised as a pretty gopika and wanted to fondle the child and feed Him! Innocent Yasoda allowed her and seizing the opportunity she tried to breastfeed child Krishna with her poisoned milk! Omniscient Lord knew all about it and drank the mil along with her life! Putana fell dead with her terrible form ! Yasoda and others were horrified and took the seemingly innocent child into their arms and hugged Him! Lakshmi Devi alludes to this incident and wonders if anything like that would happen to Her if that Lord Kisses Herl

In another miracle during the Krishnavatar, Yasoda was sad and disgusted at the complaints of gopikas on Krisna's mischievous acts. She grew angry and tied up child Krishna to a mortar to prevent him from moving out! But will Krishna keep quiet? He slowly dragged the mortar that was stuck in between two huge “maddhi” trees and gave a big pull! Lo! Behold! The two trees crashed down with a terrible thud! Out from the trees emerged two Gandharvas, Nalakubara and Manigriva who were cursed earlier for their misdeeds! They were thus released from their curse! This was because of the warm embrace of Krishna! Lakshmi Devi is terribly afraid that something like that may happen to Her if the Lord embraced Her!! She is also alarmed at the nails of MahaVishnu because those sharp nails tore apart the entrails of the arch enemy Hiranyakasipu! In trying to stop the Lord from approaching Her, the Goddess alludes to the Krishnavatar and Narasimhavatar that worked miracles galore!

Three important aspects of romance between the husband and wife are described by the poet! Leela Shuka had his own earlier experiences with his paramour Chintamani! There cannot be any romance between the husband and wife without a kiss, embrace or nail scratch! Sringara Shastra explains in detail the different types of kisses, embraces and nail scratches between the lovers or husband and wife! In the height of erotic ecstasy the lover pinches the lady with his nails leaving impressions on her soft skin! These scratches are called “ nakha kshata” in Sanskrit! The poet's fancy exports him to the  abode of Vishnu whom he identifies with Krishna! We know that the words of Laksmi Devi are not very serious. Probably they are only to tease Her Lord for the time being!!

 

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA-37

 Ye the Lakshmana Janaki virahitam maam khedayantyambudaa 

Marmaanicha ghattayantyala Mami kruraah kadambaanilaaha 

Ittham vyahruta purvajanma charitam yo Radhayaa vikshitas sersyaa

Sankitayaa sanas sukhayathu swapnaa maano Harihi!

Krishna has been described as a child extremely beautiful and attractive! It is Impossible to resist the attraction! Gopikaas, affectionately lift Him up and kiss Him. But the child kisses them wildly leaving red imprints on their soft lips! Krishna’s behavior is very much unlike that of an ordinary child! Gopikaas hug child Krishna thinking that He is, after all, a child but were in for shock and surprise! Like a lover, Krishna groped over their private parts to their utter dismay and disgust! The Gopikas were spell bound at these mischievous and rude acts of Krishna which were pure fun for Him! Leela Shuka visualizes Krishna in this manner and hopes that such BalaKrishna shall ward off all our sins and evil deeds!

“ Oh! Lakshmana! These clouds are sad and worried about me since I am without  Janaki!  Cruel winds from the “ Kadimi” flowers are attacking my  private parts! In this manner, Krishna began recollecting  the various incidents of His earlier Ram Avatar in His dream! Listening to these words of Krishna, Radha felt that Krishna was more interested in another woman and became highly jealous! She looked at Krishna with doubt and suspicion! Let such Krishna looked at with suspicion and doubt by Radha make us all happy!” declares Leela Shuka in this beautiful sloka!

The poet is in the habit of portraying Krishna as remembering the various incidents in His previous Avatars! Child Krishna starts talking in His sleep to the shock of His mother. She is very much worried and curses those that have cast an evil eye on her darling child! She blesses Him by saying that He will live for long! Yasoda dotes on her child Krishna so dearly that she cannot think of any harm to Him. Yasoda treated Krishna as her darling child and hence her love is called “ Vatsalya bhava”- the love of the mother for her child! This is one of the nine types of Bhakthi or devotion exhibited by the devotee! God, who is Omnipresent can be worshipped in many ways, as a Lord, child, friend, master, guru and other ways.The intense filial bond of affection is excellently exhibited in the treatment of Krishna by Yasoda!

Poetic imagination runs riot and Leela Shuka suddenly introduces  Radha in to the picture! Radha is imagined to be present at the scene. She hears the pathetic words of Krishna who feels sad at the separation from His spouse Sita during His Ramavatar! Rama is suffering “Viraha vedana” pangs of separation from Sita! Hearing the name of Janaki, Radha suspects Krishna's character and thinks that  He is more interested in Sita than herself! How can a wife tolerate her husband interested in another woman? Radha becomes jealous and doesn’t approve the words of Krishna? “Viraha” or separation from lover or spouse is unbearable. Things that are normal become abnormal for the lover! Gentle breeze becomes a gale, cool pleasant moonlight turns burning hot and every second of separation looks like a never ending year!

Radha is considered as a Goddess and eternal consort of Krishna. She is the embodiment of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion! She is also the chief of Gopis! During Krishna's youth, Radha appears as His lover and companion though He is not married to her. According to Brahmavaivartha Purana and Garga Samhitha Radha and Krishna were married. Radha was revered as the primary consort and wife of Krishna. She is also considered as the eternal counterpart and the internal potency of Krishna! She resides with Him in their abode Goloka! It is significant to note that Brahmavaivartha Purana centers around Krishna and Radha! Radha is also symbolic of the Jivatma or the Individual Soul trying to merge into the Brahman or the Absolute Soul! 

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA-36

 Oshtam jighran sisuriti dhiyaa chumbitho vallaveebhihi

Kantam gruhnnam narunitha padam gada maalingithaangaha

Doshnaan lajjaapada mabhimrusan anka maaropitatmaa

Dhurtha Swami harathu duritam durato Balakrishnaha!

Leela Shuka describes the several ways in which Yasoda enjoyed and experienced the leelas of her darling child Krishna. She was utterly ignorant of the Divinity of her son Krishna. She considered Him as  a mortal child born to any other woman! Her worries and wonder at the super human miracles demonstrated by Krishna were the result of that predicament! She was terrified at the death of the demon Putana and was happy to find Krishna unharmed! She prayed that no harm should come to her beloved Krishna! One day Yasoda saw Krishna playing in the hall! The hall was full of pillars studded with diamonds. Krishna’s form was reflected in the pillar! Mistaking the reflection as the real Krishna, Yasoda  prepared two butter balls for them! On an occasion, Yasoda woke up sleeping Krishna by saying that it was dawn already. She blessed Him by saying that He would live for long and felt happy at looking at His face! The poet says that he is  meditating on such  Krishna!

Leela Shuka desribes the amorous advances that Krishna exhibited even as a child in the company of Gopikas! When they considered Him as a child and kissed Him, Krishna kissed them like a paramour leaving their soft lips with red marks!  Again, when they lifted up and embraced Him thinking that He was a child,  He began groping at the private parts of Gopikas very mischievously! Let that fun-loving Balakrishna remove all our sins says Poet Leela Shuka in this beautiful sloka!

“Karshati iti Krishnaha” One who attracts others is called Krishna! Attraction for Krishna is irresistible for anyone young, or old. There is no wonder that the Gopis of Gokulam were attracted  to the beautiful form of child Krishna. They doted on Him and passively tolerated the mischievous acts of Krishna!  They weren’t even ready to complain against young Krishna lest He might be admonished or punished! Krishna took advantage of their lenience and indulged in more and more mischief! Krishna is considered to be the embodiment of Sringara Rasa! Everything about Him is supremely beautiful tempting others to love Him and yearn for Him ardently! “ Adharam madhuram vadanam  madhuram vachanam madhuram vadanam madhuram…………….Madhuraadhipatherakhilam madhuram sings the poet in his Madhuraashtaka!

Krishna is described as “Sringara Ratnakara”—the ocean of Sringara Rasa. In his magnum opus Gita Govinda, the Bengali poet Jayadeva glorifies Krishna as Sringara Nayaka, the hero of Sringara Rasa!  He wonderfully portrays the ethereal love between Krishna and His paramour Radha! Radha’s pangs of separation—(viraha vedana) from Krishna and her utter helplessness is beautifully described by Jayadeva. Gentle breeze become terribly hot for Radha and cold soothing moonlight is unbearably severe and hot for her in the absence of Krishna! Her maids describe to her how Krishna is spending His time gleefully in the company of other Gopikas! They point out to Krishna how Radha is tormented in His absence! “Gopika Gita” in the Bhagavatha purana declares the true and faithful picture of their state of mind in the absence of Krishna!

Leela Shuka graphically describes the mischievous acts of Krishna in the company of Gopikas! His acts are not what one associates with those of a child! He behaved like a lover and kissed the Gopikas violently leaving their lips with red marks! They wouldn’t have expected such action by child Krishna!  Again, when they embraced Him thinking He is a child, the most unexpected thing happened! Krishna groped on their private parts to their utter horror and dismay! Leela Shuka himself had his lustful experiences with his lady love Chintamani before he turned spiritual! Krishna is seemingly a child but an adult intentionally in expressing love! Hence he calls Krishna as “ Dhurta Swami!”

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA 35

 Uttunga sthana mandalopari lasath pralamba mukthaman

Antar bimbita mindranila nikara cchayanukari dhyutihi 

Lajja vyaja mupetya namra vadanaa spashtam Muraarer vapuh

Pasyanthi mudita mudesthu bhavataam Lakshmir vivaahotsave!

The visions that flit across the mental plane of Leela Shuka are astounding and very attractive! He experiences intense bliss in seeing Krishna in different forms and angles that none had attempted yet!   The rare and wonderful scene of child Krishna  enjoying His mother’s milk is graphically described by the poet. After drinking milk from one side of His mother, Yasoda,  He went to the other breast, bent His eyes a little, touched the other breast oozing milk, with love!  Very happy at the love of Krishna, Yasoda  lifted His chin and expressed her filial affection!  Even as she did so, Krishna produced His infectious smile with His mouth  filled with drops of milk!! Leela Shuka says that such Krishna, with His bewitching smile should protect him!

 In this sloka Leela Shuka suddenly transports himself to Dwapara  Yuga and the celebrated wedding of Rukmini and Krishna! Rukmini Devi wanted to have the full view of Krishna at the time of marriage. But because of modesty  she bent her head down without looking at Krishna. But in the pearls of her garland hanging over her great breasts, she witnessed  the reflection of the beautiful blue color of  Krishna's form! She thus had the fulfilment of her desire! Leela Shuka wishes that such Rukmini shall bring happiness to all!

Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi can never be separated! Whenever Lord Vishnu incarnates, Mahalakshmi too comes down to keep His company! “ Raghavatve bhaveth Sita Rukmini Krishna janmani”  During the Ramavatar She came down as Sita, the beloved daughter of king Janaka of Mithila. Again during the Krishnavatar She took the form of Rukmini the daughter of king Bhishmaka. She loved Krisna and wanted to marry Him. But her brother Rukmi wanted to give her in marriage to Sisupala, his friend and enemy of Krishna. Terribly afraid, Rukmini writes a letter to Krishna and sends a trusted brahmin to see Krishna and hand over the letter. When Rukmini visits the temple prior to her wedding, Krishna comes and abducts Rukmini after defeating Rukmi and his forces. The great Telugu Poet Potana gives a brilliant description of  Rukmini Kalyanam in his classic the Bhagavatha!

In the previous sloka the poj Iet gives us the perfect picture of mother's love and how Yasoda feeds her darling child Krishna! A woman’s life is fulfilled only after she becomes a mother! Yasoda is shown as feeding little Krishna. Krishna, like any other

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child drinks milk from one side and switches on to the other breast. While doing so he touches the other breast from which milk was oozing. With great filial affection Yasoda lifts the chin of Krishna and Krishna sports his bewitching smile! No other poet could have described the scene so graphically!

KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA-34

 Kailaso navanita tikshitiriyam pragjagdha mrulloshtathi

Kshirodapi nipita dugdhatilasath smere prapulle mukhe

Matra jirnadhiya dhrudam chakitaya nashtasmi drushtah kaya

Dhu dhu vatsaka jiva jiva chira mithyuktho vatanno Harihi !

Leela Shuka visualizes the exhilarating leelas of child Krishna in Gokulam! On one occasion Yasoda called Krishna to her side and said,” Oh Krishna! Balaraama has gone to play at the sand dunes of the Yamuna! Before he returns drink the milk in the golden vessel! By drinking the milk your locks of hair will grow!”  Hearing the words of His mother Yasoda, He was interested in the growth of beautiful hair as He was a growing child. Accordingly, Krishna drank half of the milk in the golden vessel and immediately examined if His locks of hair have increased! Describing this vision, Leela Shuka asserts that such  Krishna should shower His Grace on him!

On one occasion, Yasoda looked in to the mouth of child Krishna and was shocked to see Kailash and other mountains! But she considered them as the butter and others that Krishna has swallowed!  She was worried that  whatever Krishna had taken in has not been digested! She wondered who has cast an evil eye on Krishna and what she could do to avert that evil eye. She felt that she was destroyed and cursed those that cast the evil eye on her darling Krishna. Later she said blessing Him “ Oh my Boy! You will live for  long!” “ Let that Krishna, being blessed by Yasoda protect me” says  Leela Shuka in this beautiful sloka.

One of the amazing Divine Sports of Krishna during His childhood is being recollected by the poet in this sloka. One day Balaraama complained to Yasoda that little Krishna was eating lumps of earth! She was shocked and went in haste to prevent Krishna from doing that. She wanted to admonish Krishna and see that He does not indulge in that act again. But she was in for tremendous shock and surprise! Krishna  said that He did not eat any lump of earth! Yasoda warned Krishna and asked Him to open His little mouth. He resisted first but unwillingly opened His mouth. What a sight did Yasoda see in that little mouth of little Krishna!  She saw all mountains, forests, rivers, the seven worlds above, the seven nether worlds, Creator Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara, all the Devas and every thing in creation parading in that Divine mouth! Krishna had , for a moment , shown her a vision which no sage or saint or devotee had ever imagined! It was the rarest of the rare VISWARUPA that Yasoda could see! How fortunate is Yasoda to witness that indescribable sight! But in a few seconds the vision vanished and Yasoda  considered Krishna as her ordinary darling child! That is the effect of “ Vishnu Maya” which is insurmountable!

It is astonishing that Kailash mountains appeared like butter and other milk products taken in by little Krishna. Krishna is  the master juggler and magician! His will is Supreme! He is Omnipotent and Omniscient! What a punya or holy deeds did Yasoda perform to be the foster mother of Parabrahman in the guise of Krishna! While Devaki was selected as the blessed mother of Krishna, Yasoda had the rare privilege and prerogative of bringing Him up and witness the innumerable miracles and leelas exhibited by the Avatar! In that way we can consider Yasoda more fortunate and blessed than Devaki, Krishna’s real mother! Leela Shuka brilliantly reveals the innocence and ignorance of Yasoda in considering  Krishna as her darling child and no more!!

Yasoda's innocent and worldly wise attitude is revealed in all the incidents that happened with Krishna in Gokulam! It is all because of the web of Vishnu Maya! What will happen if Yasoda realizes that her darling little Krishna is none other than the Avatar of Lord Vishnu? The little pleasures of bringing Him up, enjoying His movements, His mischiefs, and everything about Him would have been denied to Her!  Later in life on Earth, not many among the Kauravas and the Pandavas could recognize the truth of the Avatar of Krishna! Even Arjuna was enveloped by Maya though Krishna was his friend, philosopher and guide! To prove His Divinity, Krishna had to show His Virat Swarupa or VISWARUPA on the battlefield at Kurukshetra! As the Lord Himself has said, “ Mama Maya duratyaya” – My Maya is insurmountable!