Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Attack of Kali on Spiritual Practice, Cleanliness, and Compassion
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| Hare Srinivasa |
My salutations to you.
सूत उवाच Sri
Sutacharya says,
किं नु बालेषु शूरेण कलिना धीरभीरुणा ।
अप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तेषु यो वृको नृषु वर्तते ॥
या याः कथा भगवतः कथनीयोरुकर्मणः ।
गुणकर्माश्रयाः पुम्भिः संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभिः ॥
The Kali is like a
cunning wolf. He survives in the ignorance of being smart. Though the wolf
attacks the children and the weak, are scared of strong and powerful.
Similarly, the Kali Purusha is careful in only taking control of those who
blunder being stupid and careless.
Hence, those who wish to
become strong with valor, fight for moral worth and dignity, seek
auspiciousness, and prosperity should fight Kali. For them Srimad Bhagavata
gives refuge. The story Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali in Srimad
Bhagavata that I am going to narrate is worthy to sing is surprisingly
beneficial to them. This is soaked to saturation by the auspicious attributes
of Lord Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm.
Let’s hear that, says Sri
Sutacharya,
यदा परीक्षित्कुरुजाङ्गलेऽशृणोत्कलिं प्रविष्टं निजचक्रवर्तिते ।
निशम्य वार्तामनतिप्रियां ततः शरासनं संयुगशौण्डिराददे ॥ १०॥
Sri Shaunaka! King
Parikshit was ruling the entire earth from his capital Hastinapura. During his
emperorship, he was informed that Kali had ascended to Earth from the lower
world. He often received reports of his misdeeds. While this had brought him
sorrow, he reconciled to an opportunity to fight Kali and conquer over him. He
took up the arms and decided to fight out, Kali.
स्वलङ्कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रितः पुरात् ।
वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गतः ॥ ११॥
He boarded the chariot
that was well decorated and had a flag carrying the symbol of the Lion. The
chariot was pulled by horses that were black, beautiful, and agile. He decided
to go to war with Kali accompanied by the army that had divisions of war
elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry against Kali.
भद्राश्वं केतुमालं च भारतं चोत्तरान् कुरून् ।
किम्पुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि विजित्य जगृहे बलिम् ॥ १२॥
King Parikshid took up
Digvijay or assertion of being victorious in all the directions, he passed
through various regions including Bhadraashwa, Ketumala, Bharata, Uttara Kuru,
and Kimpurushavarsha. He collected the taxes from the Kings there.
तत्र तत्रोपशृण्वानः स्वपूर्वेषां महात्मनाम् ।
प्रगीयमाणं च यशः कृष्णमाहात्म्यसूचकम् ॥ १३॥
During his short stay in
each of the kingdom, King Parikshid was told about the fame of his ancestors.
As in the fame of his ancestors was the story of the Glory of Lord Sri Krishna,
his thoughts were grounded in the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna.
आत्मानं च परित्रातमश्वत्थाम्नोऽस्त्रतेजसः ।
स्नेहं च वृष्णिपार्थानां तेषां भक्तिं च केशवे ॥ १४॥
Also, he heard how he is
true to his name Parikshid i.e. being protected by Lord. He was protected from
the splendor of Brahmashirshastra during his stay in his mother's womb by Lord
Sri Krishna.
These stories narrated by
the people he met reminded him of the enormous devotion his ancestors had in
the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna and the intimacy between Pandavas and the
Yadhu clan.
तेभ्यः परमसन्तुष्टः प्रीत्युज्जृम्भितलोचनः ।
महाधनानि वासांसि ददौ हारान् महामनाः ॥ १५॥
King Parikshid felt
pleased hearing the stories of his grandparents and Lord Sri Krishna. His eyes
would blossom wide like fully bloomed Lotus flower to hear with the utmost
attention. Also, his Lotus of heart would blossom flowing the nectar of
intimacy towards those narrating. As a token of this love, the extremely
generous and kind-hearted Parikshid would present them with exclusive gifts
including the precious jewelry he wore.
सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्यवीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् ।
स्निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णोः भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे ॥ १६॥
Lord Bhaktavatsala to
whom the devotee is dearer than himself. Sri Krishna had showered his choicest blessings
on Pandavas. He became a charioteer to Arjuna, a member of the governing
assembly, dear friend, a guide, a messenger, and he would do any work that
Pandavas wanted. In fact, when Pandavas went out for excursions, Sri Krishna
would hold a sword and guard the camp throughout the night and had made the
Pandavas the Emperor. Such stories were told to Parikshid Raja when he traveled
from one Kingdom to another. Hearing such stories, King Parikshit’s devolution
in the Lotus feet of Lord only increased.
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् ।
नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत्तन्निबोध मे ॥ १७॥
Following the traditions
set forth by his grandparents, ascertaining his Emperrorship, hearing the fame
of his grandparents, the protection he received from Lord during his birth, and
the immeasurable compassion showed by the Lord he traveled. One day, a shocking
incident happened close to the Parikshid camp. I shall narrate that to you all,
said Sri Sutacharya
धर्मः पदैकेन चरन् विच्छायामुपलभ्य गाम् ।
पृच्छति स्माश्रुवदनां विवत्सामिव मातरम् ॥ १८॥
Shaunaka Rishi! God
Dharma had taken the form of a bullock and had his three legs broken. He met
the village deity who had taken the form of Cow. Seeing the Cow crying like it
has lost its calf, the bullock asked thus,
From the metaphysical
standpoint, Kali attacks dharma and the holy place that supports dharma. This
was the message that the village deity and God Dharma wanted to convey through
King Parikshid to all of us. God Dharma stands on four legs, Viz. Tapas or
Austerity conferring disciplined spiritual
practices, Saucha or cleanliness, Daya or compassion, and Satya or
truthfulness. Of this, Asceticism, Cleanliness, and Compassion had been broken
badly by Kali. The only truthfulness was surviving. The injured three legs had
made the fourth leg also drag conveying that though the truthfulness survived
but was very fragile.
God Dharma says,
धर्म उवाच
कच्चिद्भद्रेऽनामयमात्मनस्ते विच्छायासि म्लायतेषन्मुखेन ।
आलक्षये भवतीमन्तराधिं दूरे बन्धुं शोचसि कञ्चनाम्ब ॥ १९॥
The auspicious one! Your
face has turned dim. You are carrying a heavy heart. Something is bothering
you. Has any of your relative or friend has traveled to far off land? Are you
worried about him?
पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपादमात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् ।
आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति ॥ २०॥
Or, hope you are not
worried about me looking at my handicap! Having three legs broken, are you
thinking that how I am managing with only one leg? Or, are you worried that the
wicked are ruling over me, the righteous? Or, are you worried about the Gods as
they are unable to receive their substance offered in the fire sacrifice? Or,
are you worried about the common men as they are struggling to grow their crops
due to untimely rains?
अरक्ष्यमाणाः स्त्रिय उर्वि बालान् शोचस्यथो पुरुषादैरिवार्तान् ।
वाचं देवीं ब्रह्मकुले कुकर्मण्यब्रह्मण्ये राजकुले कुलाग्र्यान् ॥ २१॥
Or, are you bothered
about women folk as they who are vulnerable to the strong and the wicked? Or
are you worried about the weak children being exploited by powerful? Or, are
you worried about Goddess of Knowledge being stuck with the wicked Brahmins?
Or, are you worried that the Brahmins are serving the Kings who have lost their
faith in religion? Though the religion holds people falling to hell!
किं क्षत्रबन्धून् कलिनोपसृष्टान् राष्ट्राणि वा तैरवरोपितानि ।
इतस्ततो वाशनपानवासः स्नानव्यवायोन्मुखजीवलोकम् ॥२२॥
Devi! Are you worried
that Kali has made a firm place in all Kshatriyas? Nowadays, the Kings are
there only for the namesake. Instead of carrying out the welfare of their
subjects, they are busy filling their personal coffers by exploiting them. Is
this what worrying you?
Or there is a decline in
moral values, people eat food that is being sold, drink liquor, wear an
inappropriate dress, or take a bath at their own wish. They don’t follow the
ways prescribed in Shastras or the indoctrinations. Are you worried about them?
यद्वाम्ब ते भूरिभरावतारकृतावतारस्य हरेर्धरित्रि ।
अन्तर्हितस्य स्मरती विसृष्टा कर्माणि निर्वाणविलम्बितानि ॥ २३॥
Or Devi! Have you
appeared to recollect & remember the glory of Lord Sri Krishna, praise his
fame, and recollect his compassion shown towards you? He appeared on this earth
only to reduce the weight of Sin in each village and the whole earth. Are you
sad that he has disappeared now?
इदं ममाचक्ष्व तवाधिमूलं वसुन्धरे येन विकर्शितासि ।
कालेन वा ते बलिनां बलीयसा सुरार्चितं किं हृतमम्ब सौभगम् ॥ २४॥
Goddess! You bear an
enormous wealth of metals & minerals, Gems & stones in you. You are
superior to many Gods and Goddesses! Why are you engulfed in sadness? As the
Kali Yuga has started, the evil Kali is having his influence on everything. Are
you saddened that in his time of Kali Yuga he is taking away all your
auspiciousness? Please tell me, Devi! I wait for your reply, says God Dharma.
Let’s pray to Sri Hari,
Vayu, and Gurus for their continued blessing to hear the complete story of Parikshid raja administering the evil Kali in Srimad Bhagavata that is
surprisingly beneficial and is soaked to saturation with the auspicious attributes of Lord
Sri Krishna, his greatness, and his sports charm.
|| Hari Om ||
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