Part 62 (1/2)

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 Avatars.h.i.+p. 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 workmans.h.i.+p. 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 rulers.h.i.+p 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.