Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Is Lord Sri Krishna unduly fond of War and Women?
Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys
sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards
the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean
knowledge.
|| Hari Om ||
 |
| Hare Srinivasa |
कल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।
श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥
Your benevolence for granting wishes
is incredibly vast and unsurpassed.
Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer
of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa!
My salutations to you.
भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।
त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥
Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole
universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the
friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the
right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and
successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious.
Lord! You
are the only cause of our success.
व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।
हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥
Charming & the beloved Vyasa,
the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of
abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated
salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.
यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।
संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥
This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the
experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is
very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your
continued blessings.
दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।
शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥
The face symbolizing Compassion;
Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses
is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. My salutations to you.
Lord Sri Krishna who freed 16,108 women held captive by Bhaumaasura in
the jail, gave refuge and married them. We shall take a look at the amount of
grace he bestowed to these women. Also, the accusation of Lord Sri Krishna as a
warmonger, having undue fondness towards women, and being under the control of women is discussed
here to have an accurate perspective.
Sri Sutacharya continuing the narration on the return of
Lord Sri Krishna from Hastinapur to Dwarka, says,
प्रविष्टस्तु गृहं पित्रोः परिष्वक्तः स्वमातृभिः ।
ववन्दे शिरसा सप्त देवकीप्रमुखा मुदा ॥ २८॥
ताः पुत्रमङ्कमारोप्य स्नेहस्नुतपयोधराः ।
हर्षविह्वलितात्मानः सिषिचुर्नेत्रजैर्जलैः ॥ २९॥
At first, Lord Sri Krishna went to the palace of
his parents Devaki - Vasudeva. He prostrated to each of his six step-mothers
and Devaki touching his head to the ground. Each of them hugged him with great
love and affection. They made him sit close to them and enquired about his well
being. In fact, they were overwhelmed seeing Lord Sri Krishna and tears of joy
rolled down.
After enquiring about the well being of each of
his mothers, taking their permission, Lord Sri Krishna left to his palace.
अथाविशत् स्वभवनं सर्वकाममनुत्तमम्।
प्रासादा यत्र पत्नीनां सहस्राणि च षोडश।
शतमष्टोत्तरं चैव वज्रवैडूर्यमण्डिताः ॥ ३०॥
Lord Sri Krishna entered his palace. His palace
was complete with all the luxuries and the best on the earth. His large palace
had several residences. These were constructed of gold and silver. Decorated by
gems and jewels brought from the higher world of heaven. Each of his 16,108
wives lived in a separate residence of their own in his palace.
पत्न्यः पतिं प्रोष्य गृहानुपागतं विलोक्य सञ्जातमनोमहोत्सवाः ।
उत्तस्थुरारात्सहसासनाशयात्साकंव्रतैर्व्रीडितलोचनाननाः ॥ ३१॥
The Lord had returned home after a very long time.
The boundless lord appeared on the main door of each resident of his wives in
so many forms. The long await of looking forward to his arrival had suddenly
disappeared. Seeing him, each of his wives was overjoyed. They were extremely
happy and stood-up abandoning all their activities. Seeing the stunningly
handsome Lord, each of them became spellbound. They immediately gave up the vow
of being plain dressed, disorder, and without make-up for the reasons of
separation of their husband and rushed to decorate themselves with makeup. They
wore new and special dresses that they had got done in anticipation of the
occasion of arrival. As they came decked-up in front of him, Lord Sri Krishna
mischievously saw the excitement through their eyes, which made their shyness
to conquer them. Having shiver in the heart, goosebumps all over the body, and
the feeling of joy mixed with a fear of the possibility of losing him, become
embarrassingly self-conscious. Like the honey bee sting without harming the
flower to drink nectar, the same way his wives fill their heart with nectar
called the love and devotion through the sting called eyes.
तमात्मजैर्दृष्टिभिरन्तरात्मना दुरन्तभावाः परिरेभिरे पतिम् ।
निरुद्धमप्यास्रवदम्बुनेत्रयोर्विलज्जतीनांभृगुवर्य वैक्लवात् ॥ ३२॥
Their feelings towards Lord Sri Krishna was deep,
profound, and heartfelt. Also, they heard their children towards the Lord
saying them that their father had returned. The ten sons and a daughter of each
of these wives were excited to see their father back at home. Initially
thinking, subsequently due to the meeting of eyes, and later for reasons of
happiness brought by children, they embraced the beloved Lord Krishna. They
were overwhelmed.
Sutacharya says, “Shaunaka! By then, their
irresistible emotions had filled the eyes with tears and were profusely weeping
with a choked voice in the arms of Lord Sri Krishna. Their love and devotion in
Lord was endless. More than they loved themselves.”
Remember, the one million children from the Gopis
of Vajra mandala had fought on the side of Duryodhana and had died in the Great
War of Kurukshetra. Subsequently, after the loss of 100 children, Gandhari had
cursed Lord Sri Krishna without continuity of his lineage and had called the
death of all his children. Also, Lord Sri Krishna had married Ashta Mahishi
viz. Rukmani, Jambavati, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra,
and Lakshana, the mothers of Pradyumna, Charu Deshna, Samba, and others.
यद्यप्यसौ पार्श्वगतो रहोगतस्तथापि तस्याङ्घ्रियुगं नवं नवम् ।
पदे पदे का विरमेत तत्पदाच्चलापि यच्छ्रीर्न जहाति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३३॥
While the Lord is present everywhere having
immeasurable power, is invisible. Though the Lord was physically available to
his wives with touch and feel at all times, they saw him new and fresh at his
every step.
The Goddess Maha Lakshmi influencing wealth
bestows fickle and extreme inconsistency to the wealth. However, when it comes
to herself, she has made the Lord’s heart itself as her abode without fickle, nor inconsistency, nor
departing with him for a second. Such being the status of Maha Lakshmi, what
could be said about his 16108 wives? Asks Sri Sutacharya.
एवं नृपाणां क्षितिभारजन्मनामक्षौहिणीभिः परिवृत्ततेजसाम् ।
विधाय वैरं श्वसनो यथानलं मिथो वधेनोपरतो निरायुधः ॥ ३४॥
Causing the war of Kurukshetra wherein eighteen
akshohini with seven on the side of Pandava and eleven on the side of the
Kauravas fought, he killed all these warriors without even using a weapon. This
way, appearing on earth, causing the death of sinners, the Lord reduced the
weight of sin on mother earth. Releasing several thousands of beautiful women
from jail, built beautiful residences to them with silver and gold, decorated
with gems & jewels, marrying them gave refuge, played with them and the
Lord lived with them like a husband of an ordinary household. He did all of
this effortlessly unfolding the sport's charm.
स एष नरलोकेऽस्मिन्नवतीर्णः स्वमायया ।
रेमे स्त्रीरत्नकूटस्थो भगवान् प्राकृतो यथा ॥ ३५॥
The very Lord, apparently through his sports
charm, appeared on this earth. He lived among thousands of exceptionally pretty
women, who were like a stunning jewel. He exhibited living like another member
of a household through his sport’s charm.
उद्दामभावपिशुनामलवल्गुहासव्रीडावलोकनिहतो मदनोऽपि यासाम् ।
सम्मुह्य तापमजहात्प्रमदोत्तमास्ता यस्येन्द्रियं विमथितुं कुहकैर्न शेकुः ॥ ३६॥
तमयं मन्यते लोको ह्यसङ्गमपि सङ्गिनम् ।
आत्मौपम्येन मनुजं व्यापृण्वानं यतोऽबुधः ॥ ३७॥
Even the most charming women appearing in deep
thoughts, or gently serious, could infatuate any men with their shyness, smile,
and a view through their edge of the eye. Also, the God of Love, Manmatha,
having the five arrows of love, failed to pierce the heart of these stunningly
beautiful women and infatuate them. He had to drop his bow and arrow that could
cause love. The cupid sat down helpless. Even such beauties could not influence
nor distort the stability of Lord Sri Krishna. Thinking that such untouched
Lord is living like a human or an ordinary householder like themselves if
foolish.
There are allegations blaming Lord Sri Krishna as,
1. He is a warmonger. Though he could have stopped
the great war of Kurukshetra and saved several people from death, he chose not
to do so.
However, Lord in the form of Sri Krishna, himself
went to broker a peace between the warring cousins. Also, in his form of Veda
Vyasa, Lord advised Kauravas, not to take-up war. Yet, Duryodhana decided to go
ahead with the war. He did not compromise even for one issue. So, how could
Lord Sri Krishna be blamed?
The other options were to let go of all the
misdeeds of Duryodhana and his cronies. In that case, who would have upheld the
justice and the virtuous? He would have still been blamed for not upholding
dharma.
2. After killing several people in the war, he returned to Dwarka and lived
with his thousands of wives. He was स्त्रीलौल्य, or fond of women; स्त्रैण or always being among women and doing as told by them. Similarly, it is a general thought among devotees
or others that during calamities, accidents, war, and so on, thousands of
people die, tragedies happen in families or in an individual’s life. Why do
Lord Sri Krishna not protect?
These are only accusations having no substance.
While the entire universe has been created by Lord for the individual lives,
but we live without accepting this or his lordship during our normal times.
Also, in our happiness, we do not remember him. Only when something goes wrong,
we make it a big issue without taking any responsibility.
Hence, in the rule and the governance of the Lord,
there are no happenings without rhyme or reason. There is nothing accidental.
Behind every misfortune, there is a sin. Unless we fall in line with the rules
of governance of Lord, unintended or untoward will continue to happen.
3. At the next level, the question arises that why as
an indweller and the prime mover for all happenings, Lord did not stop at the
time of committing sin itself?
Had he stopped, then the accusation towards Lord
would have been that he has not given individual choice. Hence, this direction of argument and counter-argument continues to propagate the futility of this
creation.
Moreover, the Lord would be accused of not supporting
those having counter happenings. During happiness and delight, those
individuals proclaim that they have a deep longing to live and enjoy life. A desire
to tour and travel exotic places of this wonderful universe created by the same
Lord.
Therefore, the fundamental reasons for this
creation includes the will power of the Lord, his desire for creation, the desire
of Goddess Mahalakshmi to see the majesty of Lord in the whole creation, the desire of Gods and the entanglement of individual being with karma or actions
that they desire to take-up.
एतदीशनमीशस्य प्रकृतिस्थोऽपि तद्गुणैः ।
न युज्यते सदाऽऽत्मस्थैर्यथा बुद्धिस्तदाश्रया ॥ ३८॥
Though being in the Prakriti, remaining
uninfluenced or untouched by its characteristic makes Sri Krishna the best and
stand above all. This ability gives him Lordship on absolutely everything
including the universe. This is his strength. His greatness.
Let alone the Lord, even any beings from God
Brahma to a blade of grass would become uninfluenced and untouched by Prakriti
in themselves through the mercy or Prasada of Lord.
तं मेनिरेऽबला मूढाः स्त्रैणं चानुव्रतं रहः ।
अप्रमाणविदो भर्तुरीश्वरं मतयो यथा ॥ ३९॥
It is impossible for the mind to understand Lord
who stands beyond its comprehension. Similarly, the 16,108 wives unable to
understand his divinity and Lordship, were under the belief that their husband,
Sri Krishna was like any other human being and husband under their control.
Hence, answering that the accusation of Lord Sri
Krishna as स्त्रीलौल्य, or fond of women; स्त्रैण or always being among women and doing as told by them is a delusion and
the opposite side of reality.
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां प्रथमस्कन्धे
नैमिषीयोपाख्याने श्रीकृष्णद्वारकाप्रवेशो नामैकादशोऽध्यायः ॥ ११॥
With this, we
complete "The arrival of Lord Sri Krishna to his Kingdom of Dwarka”
the eleventh Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1.
|| Hari Om ||
|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||
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