Once
at Dwaraka, Arjuna visited Lord Krishna. It was customary for Arjuna to stay in
a room closer to the front yard of Krishna’s mansion. One day, a few hours
before dawn, a Brahmin stood outside in the front yard and started to yell at
Krishna.
‘We
don’t have a proper ruler! We are ruled by the enemy of Brahmins and as a
result my children die as soon as they are born! He has failed as a ruler and
some mistake He has made has caused mu children to die. Ask Him to come outside
to answer me! Let Him bring my children back to me!’
Arjuna
went outside to see who was making such accusations. He was surprised to see a
learned Brahmin who was steadfast in practicing the Vedas standing outside.
‘Who
are you? Why are you crying?’ asked Arjuna.
‘I
am a Brahmin. I have lost eight sons as soon as they were born. Untimely death
in a kingdom results when the king doesn’t govern properly,’
‘There
is no king here,’ said Arjuna, ‘only a cowherd which is why He doesn’t answer
you but don’t worry because I am here!’
‘And
who are you?’
‘I
am the great warrior Arjuna who wields the bow Gandiva. I wrestled with lord
Siva and obtained the Pashupathastram. I have capacity to travel to all the
different worlds. Is your wife about to deliver a child? ‘
‘Yes
in another weeks time.’
‘Call
me when the time comes. I will personally come and guard your home. No being
can enter without my knowledge. I promise you that I will save this child of
yours; if I fail, I will enter into the fire and offer my life as sacrifice.’
At
the right time the Brahmin informed Arjuna. Arjuna covered every inch of the
Brahmin’s home with a special arrow. He stood outside the delivery room with
bow in hand. Soon Arjuna heard the cries of a new-born baby. The next instant
the Brahmin rushed outside and cried, ‘the child has vanished!’
Arjuna
ran here and there looking for signs of the intruder. He then turned to the
Brahmin and said, ‘I can travel to every world there is. I will return with
your child!’
Arjuna traveled to all the lokams including Yama lokam. Failing to find the child, he
returned to Dwaraka. As he had failed, he decided to fulfill the promise made to
the Brahmin. He lighted a fire in Krishna’s front yard and decided to enter
it. Before entering the fire, he thought fondly about Lord Krishna and started
to cry. He wondered if he would ever get another birth as Krishna’s friend. At
that instant, Krishna came outside.
‘Arjuna
what are you doing lighting a fire? It is summer, are you feeling cold even in
this heat wave?’
‘Krishna,’
said Arjuna, ‘I have failed to keep up my promise and must enter the fire!’
‘What
promise?’
‘I
promised a Brahmin…’
‘The
man who always laments in my yard whenever his infants die?’
‘Oh!
Do you know about him?’
‘He
heard that I retrieved my guru’s son and the six sons of mother Devaki. He
wishes me to bring his children back to life as well.’
‘Why
didn’t you help?’
‘I
am not a king. I am a cowherd…’
‘Did
you hear me say so? I am sorry I didn’t mean it in a bad way.’
‘My
dear Arjuna, I wish everyone would call me as a cowherd. My favourite name is
“Gopalan”. I didn’t help because if I started to bring back people to life, as
soon as someone dies, people will bring the dead body here asking me to
resurrect them. Everything happens per a person’s karma. I don’t like to
interfere with their karma. But, come with me I know where the children are.’
‘Why
are you interfering now?’
‘Because
you are my devotee and I don’t wish for you to enter the fire. I interfere to
release my devotees from the jaws of karma.’
Arjuna
got inside Krishna’s chariot. As they started down the road, the Brahmin saw
them riding together. Thinking that they must be traveling to bring his child
back, the Brahmin walked towards the chariot. Krishna asked the Brahmin to ride with them.
The
Brahmin sat next to Krishna with pride and looked to see if any of his friends
were watching him travel with the Lord.
The
chariot started its aerial ascent. Soon they traveled beyond Brahma’s Satya Lokam and reached the boundaries of the Universe called the Loka-Loka Mountains.
As they crossed the boundary, they were engulfed by darkness. Lord Krishna
released His Sudarsana Chakra which illuminated the path ahead. To the wonder
of Arjuna, they arrived at the banks of River Viraja, crossed it and entered Sri
Vaikuntham!
Lord
Krishna entered the hall followed by Arjuna and the Brahmin. Even after
arriving at Sri Vaikuntham, the Brahmin did not realize the futility of
material life but kept searching for his children amongst the denizens of Sri
Vaikuntham. As they entered the great hall of Paramapadam, they saw Lord
Narayana seated on Adisesha with Peria Piratti on one side and Bhumi &
Neela Devis on the other side. The Brahmin’s children were playing on the lap
of Pirattis!
Paramapada
Nathan stepped down from His throne and embraced Lord Krishna. Arjuna stood
dumb struck at this amazing sight.
‘We
have come to take the Brahmin’s children back to Dwaraka. Why did you bring
them here?’
‘Ever
since I descended as you to Earth, Pirattis do not stay here. They keep leaving
to the banks of Yamuna to witness Rasa Lila! They find this form with the
peacock feather crown most attractive. In order to please them, I personally
took away these children so as to make you come up for a visit!’
The
Lord returned with the Brahmin’s children. The Brahmin happily counted his
children to make sure they were all there. He missed all the sights of Sri
Vaikuntham which is impossible to be seen by mortal eyes. Lord Krishna brought
everyone back to Dwaraka and returned the children to the Brahmin in front of
everyone.
Many
of us often wonder why the Lord doesn’t forcefully take us to Moksham. The
above narrative I feel shows us that unless the jeevatma wishes for Moksham
after spending its karma i.e. the jeevatma is freed from its karma vasanais,
even if it goes to Moksham, it will not be able to stay there. The Lord makes
us spend our karmas through one of the four paths, Bakthi, Gnana, Karma or
Saranagathi margams and then takes us to Moksham once we have been freed of our
accumulated karmas.
Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2014/06/srimadh-bagawatham-bagawatha-dharmam.html
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