MATHURa LILa

THE HUNCH-BACKED GIRL AND THE PaNDAVAS.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 48-49.*

To keep his word, Sri Krishna went with Uddhava to the house of the hunch-backed girl. He gratified her desire and gave her what she wanted.

Sri Krishna then went with Rama and Uddhava to the house of Akrura.

Akrura rose up to receive them. He adored Krishna saying: - "Thou hast come down for the good of the Universe. Whenever the olden path of the Vedas is crossed by the evil paths of unbelievers, Thou dost manifest Thyself, as now, by the attribute of Satva."

Sri Krishna said: -

"Good people like yourselves are to be always adored by men and the Devas. For while Devas are self-seeking, Sadhus are not so. The places of sanct.i.ty on the earth and idols and stones, that symbolise divinity, have the power to purify the mind after long service, while the very sight of Sadhus is purifying. Go thou to Hastinapura and make enquiries about the Pandavas. They are still young and they have lost their father. We hear they are living with Dhritarashra. But the blind king is too much in the hands of his evil sons and he may not be impartial to his nephews. So enquire whether his treatment of them is good or bad.

When I know that, I shall do what is best for my friends."

Akrura went to Hastinapura and learned from Vidura and Kunti the cruel treatment of the Pandavas by Dhritarashra and his sons. Dhritarashra confessed that he could not hold the balance evenly between his sons and nephews, as his attachment for his sons was too great.

Akrura returned to Mathura and informed Rama and Krishna of all that he had heard.

JARA SANDHA, YAVANA AND DVARAKA.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 50.*

Kansa had two wives, Asti and Prapti. They were the daughters of Jarasandha, king of Magadha (modern Bihar). The latter king learned from his daughters the fate of Kansa and became highly enraged. He collected an army of thirteen Akshauhinis, (one Akshauhini consisting of 21,870 chariots, as many elephants, 65,610 horses, and 109,350 foot), and he besieged Mathura on all sides.

Krishna thought for a moment how he could best serve the object of his Avatarship. He found in the army before him a collection of the forces that oppressed the Earth. He thought of killing the army and of saving Jarasandha, who might be instrumental in raising such large armies over and over again. "For it is to remove the weight now oppressing the Earth that I have incarnated. I have to protect the good people and kill those that are not so." Two chariots came from the Heavens fully equipped.

Rama and Krishna drove out on those chariots. They killed the whole army in no time. Rama fell upon Jarasandha and well-nigh killed him when Krishna caused him to be set free. Jarasandha, in his disgrace, thought of practising asceticism but he was kept off by other kings who consoled him with words of worldly wisdom.

The king of Magadha was however not to be easily put down. Seventeen times he led his army to an attack on Mathura, and each time he lost his entire army at the hands of Krishna and his followers. Before the fight commenced for the eighteenth time, Kala Yavana appeared on the field of battle with three crores of Mlechha troops. Krishna held counsel with Rama as to the course to be adopted. The brothers might engage with Kala Yavana in fight, but Jarasandha would make havoc in the meantime amongst their clansmen at Mathura. So Krishna planned the erection of a fort, within the seas, where he might harbour his clansmen in safety. So the fort was built extending over twelve Yajanas. It was laid out with a town of exquisite skill and workmanship. High buildings with golden towers, extensive roads, large gardens enhanced the beauty of the town.

The Devas offered their best things and the Lokapalas surrendered their rulership to Sri Krishna. By Yogic powers Krishna removed his kinsmen to this town. He then left the town in charge of Balaram and himself went out to fight with Yavana. (Yavana, is one altogether outside the pale of Hinduism, a Mlechha.)

Kala Yavana recognized Krishna and pursued him. Krishna drew him inside a mountain cave. There Kala Yavana found a man lying asleep. He thought Krishna was pretending sleep. So he gave the man a kick. That man had been sleeping for a long time but he gradually opened his eyes and in anger looked at Yavana who became consumed by the fire proceeding from that look.

MUCHUKUNDA

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 51.*

Raja Pariks.h.i.t asked - "Who was the man and why was he sleeping in the cave?"

Suka replied: -

"He was a descendant of the line of Ikshvaku, son of the great King Mandhata, by name Muchukunda. He had helped the Devas in their fight with the Asuras. When the fight was over, the Devas showed him the cave and asked him to rest there. The Devas blessed him with a long sleep."

When Yavana was killed, Krishna appeared before Muchukunda.

"Who mayest thou be with such overpowering glory?" the latter asked.

Krishna replied: -

"My births and deeds are infinite. Even I cannot count them. At the request of Brahma, I am at present born in the line of Yadu as the son of Vasudeva, for the protection of religion and for the rooting out of the Asuras. I have killed Kansa who is no other than Kalanemi. I have killed Pralamba and others. This Yavana was also killed by me, by means of the fire from your eyes. I have now come here to favor thee, for I am bound by affection to my votaries. Ask what boon thou likest. Thou shalt have all thou desirest."

Muchu Kunda remembered the foresaying of Garga that there was to be a Divine Incarnation in the 28th Kali Yuga and he therefore knew Krishna to be the divine Lord. He asked for no boon but devotion to Krishna.

"Truly" said Krishna, "thy mind is pure and n.o.ble for it is not tempted by boons. Those that are wholly devoted to me do not yield to desires.

Those that are not devoted may control their mind by Pranayama and other practices but, as their desires are not overcome, they are found to go astray. Roam about the Earth, with mind fixed in me. Thy devotion shall never fail. Wash away the impurities of the present life with devoted concentration of the mind. In the next birth thou shalt be born as a Brahmana and become the greatest friend of all beings, and thou shalt then fully attain me."

Muchu Kunda came out of the mountain cave. He found that the animals and trees were all short-sized and hence inferred it was Kali Yuga. He made his way to the north and engaged himself in devotional practices in the Badari Asram of Nara and Narayana.

(What has been the next birth of Muchu Kunda? How has he befriended the universe! Or is he still to come?)

Krishna came back to Mathura. He killed the Mlechha troops. His men and cattle were carrying the booty to Dvaraka. When on the way, Rama and Krishna were attacked by Jara Sandha with a large army. The brothers feigned a flight. Jara Sandha chased them with his army. They climbed up a mountain. Jara Sandha made a search, but could not find them. He then set fire to the mountain sides. The brothers jumped down eleven Yojanas and made their way to Dvaraka.

DVARAKA LILa.

RUKMINI.

*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 52-54.*

We have been already told of Balarama's marriage with Revati.

Sri Krishna married Rukmini in the Rakshasa form. (The seizure of a maiden by force from her house, while she weeps and calls for a.s.sistance, after her kinsmen and friends have been slain in the battle or wounded and their houses broken open, is the marriage styled Rakshasa).

King Bhishmaka of Vidarbha had five sons, Rukmin, Rukmaratha, Rukma-vahu, Rukma-kesa, and Rukma-malin. He had also one daughter Rukmini. (_Rukma_ means bright, radiant, also gold).

Krishna and Rukmini had heard of each other and they made a vow of marriage. Rukmin however betrothed his sister to Sisupala, son of the king of Chedi. Rukmini secretly sent a Brahmana messenger to Krishna and gave him a letter. The Brahmana was received well by Krishna. He read out the following letter of Rukmini.

"O Achyuta, thou most lovely of all, my mind has forced through all false shame and has become attached to thee, for I have heard of thy excellences, which reach the ear only to remove all sufferings and I have heard of thy beauty, which gives all that is desired to the seer thereof.

"O Mukunda, O Nrisinha, where is the girl, however wellborn, modest and great she may be, that will not choose thee as her husband, unequalled as thou art in birth, grace, beauty, wisdom and riches, and the most pleasing to all mankind.

"Therefore thou art chosen by me as my husband. I offer myself up to thee. Come thou here and make me thy wife. Thou dost deserve to have me soon. Let not Sisupala touch me, like a jackal touching the share of a lion.

"If I have done virtuous acts, if I have rightly served the great Lord Siva, then come, O brother of Rama, and hold my hand and let not others do so. The day after to-morrow is fixed for my marriage. Come thou unnoticed. Defeat Sisupala and others and carry me away by force in the Rakshasa form of marriage.

"I shall tell you how it will not be necessary to kill my friends within the house. The day before the marriage there will be a large gathering outside the town to worship the G.o.ddess Durga, and I as bride shall be present there."

The message was thus delivered. Sri Krishna vowed to marry Rukmini by force. He ordered Daruka (His charioteer) to bring the chariot. Then he took the Brahmana with him and reached Kundina, the town of Bhishmaka, in one day.

Kundina was gay with preparations for the marriage. Dama Ghosa, the father of Sisupala, also made grand preparations. He came with a large retinue to Kundina. Bhishmaka went out to receive him, and led him to his quarters. Salva, Jarasandha, Dantavakra, Viduratha, Paundraka, and many other kings, friendly to Dama Ghosha joined him with large armies.