Dwaadasa adhyaaya

Sounaka Muni said

The womb of Uttaraa, that was anguished by the heat released by the invincible weapon of Aswasthaamaa, was brought back to life by the Lord Srikrishna. How did the birth of emperor Parikchita, who was highly intelligent and performed as a great soul, take place? What did actually happen at his death and what did he attain thereafter? Please tell us, we all want to hear everything about him as we are full of respect for the one (Parikchita) whom Sukadeva delivered the knowledge of the Supreme.

Suta Muni said.........

King Yudhishthhira treated all his subjects like his children; he had no motives for material gain or sense gratification, as he was in service to the feet of Lord Krishna. His fame about his wealth, sacrifices, his deeds, his caring to his queens, his brothers, all subjects and his sovereignty spread all over the three worlds. His only motive on earth was observing the path of righteousness. Now I am telling you all about the birth of King Parikchita.......

Inside the womb of his mother, the child Parikchit, had seen Srikrishna. At the time of blast of the Bramhastra inside the womb of Uttara, to protect Parikhcit from the heat of the weapon Lord Krishna took the size of a thumb being armored with his conch, lotus, club and The great Sudarshana charka in four of his hands. Vanquishing the radiation of the brahmaastra like the sun evaporating dew drops, He was observed by the child that wondered who He was. While he observed the all-pervading Supreme, the Supreme Lord and protector of righteousness taking away the glare, suddenly disappeared out of his sight. Thereupon, with the gradual evolving of good signs and under a favorable constellation, he took birth as the heir apparent of Paandu. Royal priests like Dhaumya and Kripa performed the birth ritual with the recitation of auspicious hymns. King Yudhisthira with a great joy, in charity rewarded Brahmins and the learned ones with gifts of gold, cows, land, housing, elephants and horses, and good food, for the occasion. The Brahmins being glad addressed the king, that they felt very obliged to the descent in the line of the Purus (Yudhisthira). They said: 'This son has been saved by the all pervasive and Omnipotent Lord from destruction by the supernatural weapon. Therefore he will become well known in all the worlds as one protected by Vishnu; and he will be a most fortunate supreme persona endowed with all good qualities.”................

The brahmins further added: 'O king, he will be the maintainer of subjects, exactly like King Ikshyaaku, son of Manu, and he will be loyal in his vows and he will be respectful for the elders and learned ones just like Rama, the son of Dasaratha. He will be charitable like King Sibi and he will protect the surrendered ones. He will spread the name and fame of his family like Bharata the son of Dushyanta, who performed many sacrifices. Amongst the archers he will be as good as Arjuna; as powerful as a lion and as worthy for taking shelter like the Himalayas; he will be as forbearing as the earth and as tolerant as his parents. With a spirit as good as that of Brahma, he will be as generousas Lord Siva and will be the resort of all affluence beings like the Supreme Lord with whom the goddess of fortune resides. Following in the footsteps of Lord Krishna he will abide by the glory of all godly attributes, he will have the greatness of King Rantideva and he will be like Yayati concerning the religion. He will be as Patient as Bali and will be a devotee like Prahlaada unto Lord Krishna and will perform aswamedha (horse sacrifices) and will be loyal to the elderly and experienced. He will be the maintainer of world peace and the righteousness. After hearing of his personal death, caused by a snake bite sent by the son of a brahmin, he will be freed from attachment and take to the shelter of the Lord.After getting knowledge from the son of the sage Vyaasa he will abandon his material life on the bank of the river the Ganges and will attain a life of fearlessness.

Thus said the Brahmins to king Yudhistira about the life of child Parikhita, reading his horoscope....... After having thus informed king Yudhisthira, the Brahmins who were well versed in the vedic knowledge, astrology and the ceremony of birth and who had received sumptuous remuneration, returned to their respective homes.

Suta Muni said, o respected Saunaka, he would become famous in this world as Parikchit, from what he had seen before his birth, he would be examining all men in constant contemplation. Very soon the royal prince under the care of his parental guardians luxuriantly grew up, the way the rising moon grows day by day.

King Yudhishthhira, performed three horse-sacrifices to be freed from fighting his kinsmen, with which he perfectly worshiped Lord Krishna. With the permission of the king Yudhisthira, Draupadi and His relatives, Lord Krishna went back to Dwaarikaa, accompanied by Arjuna and other members of the Yadu dynasty.


ends dwadasa adhyaaya.........

Ekaadasha adhyaaya.......

Suta said..... "Reaching the border of the land of the Dwaarikaa, Krishna sounded his conch shell [(the Panchajanya), which, evidently, removed the sorrows of the inhabitants. The brilliant white of the round form of the conchshell, although reddened by the lips of the Srikrishna, looked like a swan ducking at the stems of lotus flowers. Having heard the sound that is removes all fear of birth and death all the citizens proceeded rapidly in the direction of the sound in order to have the audience with the protector of the devotees they for so long had awaited. Thereupon they offered their presentation of welcome which could be considered like offering a lamp to the sun relative to the self-contented one who, by his own potency, was their unrelenting provider.

Koti nayana praani bahi...................ki kare rabi jebe naahi..!
tohara prasanna badana .................akhila taapa bimochana.......

The eager people of Dwarikaa gathered near Srikrishna and offered their humble prayers. They pleaded...."We have always bowed down to Your lotus feet like one does with his father because You are the one who is everything to us; our mother, well-wisher, husband, father, Lord and spiritual master; you are our supreme idol. How lucky we are to see your all-auspicious form, to be again under the protection of your good Self. Whenever, o lotus-eyed one, You leave from here to meet Your friends and relatives among the Kurus (in Hastinaapura) and the people of Mathuraa, o Infallible one, seems each moment to take a million years, and are our eyes as useless as they would be without the sun. How can we, with You being elsewhere, live without the satisfaction of Your glance that vanquishes the miseries of the world; how can we live without seeing Your beautiful smiling and decorated, attractive face?" Listening thus, Srikrishna entered Dwarika with a great pleasure.

The city of Dwaraka was protected by the strength of the descendants of Krishna called "Yadavas" who were all as good as Krishna Himself. Round the years there there wealth of orchards and flower gardens that with their trees, plants and also with the hermitages that were found there, formed beautiful parks around ponds filled with lotuses which made the city extra beautiful. The gateway of the city as well as the different roads were decorated with arches and flags which, painted with all the known signs, were casting shadows in the sunshine. The lanes, alleys, the marketplace and public meeting places were thoroughly cleansed, sprinkled with scented water and strewn with fruits, flowers and unbroken seeds. At the door of each residential house there was a display of curd, unbroken fruits, sugar cane, decorations, pots of water and articles for worship like incense and lamps. Hearing that their dearest one was coming home, were His father Vasudeva and the magnanimous Rama, Akrura, Ugrasena...... Krishna's elder brother Balaraama, all the sons of Srikrishna including, Pradyumna, Caarudeshna and Saamba , all by the force of an extreme happiness alerted from their resting, sitting and dining. Headed by elephants, with auspicious articles, blowing the conchshells and with the glorifying chanting of hymns, hurriedly they all marched towards their adorable Srikrishna.

After entering his palace Srikrishna was embraced by His own seven mothers (the real one, the wife of the priest, the guru and the king, the cow, the nurse and mother earth) gladly headed by Devaki to whom he bowed down in obeisance. After all of them had put Him on their laps their breasts got wet of affection and delight and the water of the tears that overwhelmed them. Thereafter He entered His personal palaces that answered all desires to the full with his wives that numbered over sixteen thousand. With their minds rejoicing the ladies, from a distance seeing their husband now returned home, at once got up from their seats and meditations.

takhyane hari rupa dekhi nirmala kari beni aakhi
antare swamirupa dhari nibide aalingana kari
puni krushnara paase mili putraadi dwaaraa kola kari
swabhaabe sallaja badane lotaka purite nayane
jadyapi paaile ekaante tathaapi krushna paadagate
ati pirati naba naba swaami charane kale bhaaba
........................................

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All the wives of Srikrishna were delighted by the presence of their husband. He was the one who is with him/her who sees Him in side heart. This is the relation of soul and the supreme. This is how all the wives of Sikrishna got his embrace at the same time. Srikrishna for protecting the earth from the burden of sins defeated thousands of merciless kings whose women surrendered the almighty whom He himself gave the status as his wife. The innocent wives out of simplicity took it for true that he would be like someone who is dominated and isolated by his wife in following her. Their innocence served their adorable husband each and every moment with the sense great fulfillment.

end of ekaadasha adhyaaya....................

Dashama adhyaaya

Saunaka Muni pleaded: "Oh Suta, tell more about Sri krishna whose stories make one rescued from the mortal life and tell how did the Pandavas, who followed the path of righteousness, rule over their kingdom after having killed the aggressors who wanted to usurp the legal inheritance.

Suta said…………..Rescuing the Pandavas and vanishing the Kuru dynasty with the fire of his eyes, Sri Krishna, The protector of the creation, pleased to see the peaceful ruling of King Yudhishthhira who keeping Krisna in his mind observed all the righteous sayings of Bhishma, being enlightened with perfect knowledge ruled over the earth with the path of righteousness… There was peace everywhere. All the rain that was needed showered, the earth yielded everything desired and the cows out of sheer joy milked abundantly. The rivers, oceans and hills assured him in every season of all necessary vegetables, greenery and medicinal herbs. Never was, any living being troubled by anxieties, diseases or extreme temperatures, under his protecting ruling.

In order to appease his friend Arjun and to please his sister Subhadraa, who was married with Arjuna, Krishna stayed for a few months in the Hastinaapura. After few months of his staying, Srikrishna, duly asked permission from all to leave for Dwarikaa. He embraced all one by one and then ascended his chariot, receiving from others the same respects and embraces. Draupadî, Kunti, Uttaraa and also Dhritaraashthra and Gaandhaari, the Pandavas and all others had great difficulty bearing the separation from their dearest Srikrishna. The ladies of the family who came out of the palace, had difficulty checking their tears from overflowing. At that time mridangas (drums used in devotional service), conchshells, horns, strings, flutes and more drums, bells and other rhythm-instruments were sounded. The ladies of the Kuru dynasty got on the roof of the palace, from where they showered flowers upon Krishna. Arjuna the dearest of his friends made him(Srikrishna) climb his chariot.................

From everywhere the truthful respects and sayings of the brahmins were heard which to the occasion were neither befitting or unbefitting considering the Absolute Truth present there in a form subjected to the modes of nature. The ladies of the capital of the king of the Kurus were with their hearts absorbed in talking amongst each other about Him hailed by the scriptures, in such a manner that it sounded more attractive than the hymns of the Vedas themselves: 'Him we will definitely remember as the Personality of Godhead, as the Original One who existed materially unmanifested in his own self before the creation of the modes of nature; he, that Super soul, that Supreme Lord, in whom the living beings merge, with their energies suspended, as if during the night all creatures forget everything and at the fall of the night start differentiating their very existence and get engaged in work of senses .

aatmaare aatmaa bhaaba bahe sakala shakti gheni rahe
dibasa ante praani dehe nidraa jesane sarbe mohe
puni uthanti raatri ante bisaya dhyaana abirate.....

He in the role of the compiler of the revealed scriptures thus, by the performance of his own personal potency, gave the individual soul time and again names and forms in the re-creation of the outer illusion of material nature. He assigns names to that what factually cannot be named. He happens to be the same Personality of Godhead as the one seen by those great devotees who managed to control their senses and life and who, by the grace of their devotion, may see the development of a pure mind. Oh friends, this is he, the one and only supreme controller and super soul of the complete creation, by the manifestation of His pastimes creates, maintains and destroys, without ever becoming attached to it as water can't touch the lotus leaf.

That Krishna resides in all the bodies in the form of Satwa. He manifested as human to give right path of salvation to the wondering souls. All the wives of Srikrishna were lucky enough to drink the nectar of his lotus face through their eyes. Due to devotion towards the eternal of many births they got Krishna as their husband. That was not any mundane relation rather union of soul and the supreme (Paramaatmaa).

While the ladies of the capital were praying and talking this way about him, Srikrishna granted them the grace of his glance. With greeting of a smile on his face the Lord departed. Yudhishthhira, the man without enemies, out of affection and being anxious, engaged four divisions of soldiers (on horseback, elephant, chariot and foot) for their protectionn. After thus having accompanied him for a long distance, the lord politely and with full of affection persuaded the determined Paandavas to return who were overtaken by the thought of their future separation.Then Srikrishna with His dear companions proceeded towards Dwaarakaa. Through Kurujaangala (the province of Delhi) and Paanchaala (part of Punjab) , S'uraasena and Brahmaavarta (Uttar Pradesh) and the districts along the Yamunaa river, He came along Kurukshetra where the battle was fought and the province of Matsya, Saarasvatan (another part of Punjab) and so on. Then through the land of deserts (Rajasthan) and the land where there is hardly any water (Madhya Pradesh), and after passing through the provinces of Sauvira (Saurastra) and Abhira (part of Gujarat), He, o S'aunaka, finally reached the western side of the province of Dwaarakaa with His horses slightly overtaken by fatigue of the long journey in the evening hour.

end of dashama adhyaaya