KRISHNA KARNAMRUTA-SLOKA-46

 He Gopalaka He kripajalanidhe He sindhukanyapate

He Kamsanthaka He Gajendra karuna parena He  Madhva

He Ramanuja He jagathraya guro He Pundarikaksha mam

He Gopijananatha palaya param janami na twam vina!

Leela Shuka is tired and disgusted with rituals and religious regimen that is prescribed for spiritual aspirants. He is not interested in the daily practice of performing Sanhyavandana! He wishes it well. He is also not serious of taking a daily bath! He has lost all interest in offering “ tharpanam” to his ancestors and elders which is the bounden duty of every individual! He is always ready to chant the name of Krishna, the destroyer of Kamsa! That is capable of wiping out all his sins once and for all! When that is the case what is meaning in resorting to other ways and means?

“O the protector of cows! O the sea of compassion! O the spouse of Goddess Lakshmi! O the Savior of Gajendra! O Madhava, the husband of Lakshmi!  O the younger brother of Balaraama! O the preceptor of all the three worlds! O the lotus eyed! O the Lord of all the Gopis! Kindly shower they Grace on me! I am ignorant of any other God but you who can save me!

Passion for Krishna and His Grace is at its height in Leela shuka! He describes the wonderful attributes of his darling Lord and the ways He had saved and protected the world. First and foremost He is the protector of cows and this universe! He has taken Avatar to root out evil and protect the sadhus and saints! He has taken upon Himself the onerous task of establishing decaying Dharma or Righteousness! Dwapara Yuga was full of Asuras who tormented the good and the Noble. Kamsa, Sisupala and Jarasandha reigned supreme and it was Krishna who killed them and saved the people! Krishna is the ocean of compassion! He is the younger brother of Balaraama, the son of Rohini of Gokulam! He is the Guru for all the three worlds namely earth, heaven and Pathala or the Nether world! He is the Lord blessed with lotus eyes! He is also the Lord of all the Gopikas in Gokulam! 

It was this Ocean of compassion that saved the honor of Draupadi when Dussasana tried his best to disrobe her in the court of Kauravas! In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, Krupacharyas, the stalwarts and others who remained mute spectators, the Kauravas indulged in this unrighteous act! The Pandavas, defeated in the game were helpless! It was then that Draupadi, prayed sincerely to Krishna to save her! The compassionate Lord allowed infinite saris to her even as the whole court was stunned at the miracle! Dussasana  had to retire disappointed! The relationship between Arjuna and Krishna can be called as “ Sakhya bhava” that of friendship. Krishna is called as “ Pandava Pakshapathi” one who is on the side of the Pandavas! That is because they stood for Dharma or righteousness! They never deviated from the path of Dharma and truth!

Kamsa was a cruel tyrant who imprisoned his own father!  He knew that he would meet death at the hands of Krishna! Hence he tried his best to kill Krishna by deputing various asuras like Putana, Sakatasura, Thrunavartha, Bakasura and others! But young Krishna killed them in no time. When Krishna came to Mathura, He was asked to fight with the court wrestlers Chanura and Mushtika. Krishna and Balaraama killed them, killed the royal elephant and finally killed Kamsa too! People of Mathura hailed Krishna for liberating them from the torments of Kamsa! Another incident of Krishna's compassion is to be seen in the rescue of Gajendra, the elephant king from the terrible jaws of the crocodile! The Bhagavatha purana describes it vividly! Gajendra loses his way from his followers and enters a lake to quench his thirst. Disturbed by the movement of the elephant, an alligator, furious at the commotion created by Gajendra, catches its feet! The elephant in spite of its best efforts could not free itself! It prays to Lord Vishnu and the Lord in His infinite mercy runs to save the life of Gajendra! He does not tell His spouse nor does He arm Himself with the Chakra, mace or Sword! He doesn’t summon even Garuda, His Vehicle! But all these including Lakshmi follow the Lord! He reaches the scene of conflict, sends His Chakra that severs the head of crocodile and saves the life of His great devotee Gajendra who fought with the crocodile for hundreds of years! If this is not compassion, what else can it be? By edifying Arjuna on the battlefield with the Bhagavadgita Krishna has become the “Jagadguru” the universal Teacher!