February 2017 archive

Like the birds that become silent upon observing the evening Sunset, all those who were observing Bheeshma Pitamaha merging into the Nirguna Parabrahma (Absolute Lord devoid of traits), remained speechless.

At that time celestials played divine drums. Human beings sounded kettle drums. Gentle-natured and honest kings extolled his greatness. From the sky flowers rained down.

Yudhisthira completed the final rites and other related ceremonies for Bheeshma Pitamaha, who gave up his body after attaining liberation while living (jeevan mukti). He mourned the death of his grandfather.

All the saints present there worshipped Srikrishna with the secretive names and hymns from the Vedas. Fixing their mind totally upon Him, they returned to their respective hermitages. All the saints had observed the faith and devotion that Bheeshma had towards the Supreme Lord. They too now fixed their mind solely upon that Lord.

Yudhisthira together with Srikrishna returned to Hastinapura. He consoled his paternal uncle Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his aunt Gāndhāri. With the blessings of Srikrishna and the permission of his uncle Dhṛtarāṣṭra, He ruled the kingdom, which he had inherited from his ancestors, efficiently and righteously.

With this the 9^th chapter of the first canto comes to an end.

First Canto Tenth Chapter

In this chapter Lord Srikrishna’s return to Dwaraka is covered.

Hearing Maharishi Suta’s narration that Yudhisthira, having been initiated into the rules of righteousness (dharma) by his grandfather Bheeshma ruled wisely and righteously, Maharishi Śounaka enquired in the following way:

“After having killed the evil Duryodhana and others who had wrongfully usurped their kingdom, how did the supremely righteous Yudhisthira, who had grieved the killing of his kith and kin, rule the kingdom together with his brothers?”

Maharishi Suta replied, “The fire called ‘hatred’ (dwesha) that was born in this Kuru dynasty, engulfed almost everything. Almost the entire lineage was reduced to ashes. Srikrishna, the creator and ruler of the universe, ensured that a new tender sprout called Parikshit emerged in that Kuru lineage.

He enthroned Yudhisthira as the king and rejoiced greatly. Due to initiation from Srikrishna and Bheeshma, Yudhisthira attained enlightenment and with this, his infatuations (moha) were washed away. He sought refuge in Srikrishna.

With the help from his younger brothers, Yudhisthira ruled the kingdom that stretched up to the ocean, perfectly, like Lord Indra. During his rule, the clouds showered rain in plenty. Mother Earth produced things in great abundance. Cows gave plentiful milk. Rivers, oceans, trees, mountains, and crops of every type, gave plentiful fruits in every season to the king. During the rule of Yudhisthira, who had no enemy, citizens did not have to fear physical diseases or mental ailments at any point of time. This is a noteworthy point. Such was his rule! Free from all forms of troubles and sorrows, people lived happily.

In order to dispel the grief of the Pandavas and in order to bring joy to Subhadra (his sister), Krishna camped at Hastinapura for a long time. It can be said that He stayed there for many months. He was there with them till they overcame that grief. He was there with them until they were totally satisfied and happy.

Thereafter he sought permission from Yudhisthira to return to his city Dwaraka. He embraced Yudhisthira and bowed to him. He mounted the chariot. At that time those who were dear to him, embraced him and also bowed to Him.

Unable to bear the separation from the Lord Subhadra, Draupadi, Kunti, Uttara, Gāndhāri, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Yuyutsu, Kripacharya, Dhoumya, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhima, Satyavati and many others fell unconscious.

Sat-saṇgān mukta-duḥsaṇgo hātuṃ notsahate budhaḥ

Kīrtyamānaṃ yaśo yasya sakṛd ākarṇya rocanam

By associating with Mahatmas through satsang, the wise give up their bad associations (dus-sanga). Such wise persons, who have tasted the joy in glorifying the Lord, will never seek to stay away from it.

Pandavas are those who spent their time seeing only Him, talking to Him, eating along with Him and living with His vicinity. Of what use is that limitless wealth? Of what use is the name and fame? Of what use is supreme prosperity? The pain of separation from the Lord is always severe. To stay away from Him is always sorrowful. When the most important object is distanced from us, all these materialistic wealth and comforts cease to be visible to the eyes. Only darkness seems to remain.

How could Pandavas, who had spent time only for Him, now withstand this separation from Him? These were the people who had dined with Him, chatted with Him, touched Him, slept near Him and lived along with Him. In varied ways, these people had all loved Him and had become extremely dear to Him.

Now when He announced His departure to Dwaraka, how were they to withstand this separation? Their hearts were completely under the sway of His divine love! Such was His love! It was supreme love that knew no bounds! It was priceless love beyond any form of measure!

Without even blinking an eyelid they kept gazing at the path He was taking. They moved about like statues. The ladies, who loved Him dearly, were unable to control the flood of tears when Krishna, son of Devaki, stepped out of the house to mount the chariot. Yet, with great difficultly they controlled themselves, as they felt it to be inauspicious to shed tears at time of departure.

When Swami is leaving or when a person is leaving for a good auspicious task it is wrong to cry, isn’t it? So with great difficulty they stopped their tears.

When Srikrishna was leaving for Dwaraka, various auspicious instruments such as drums, mridamgam, large drums, conch, kettle drums, veena, band, flutes and bells were played.

Hare Sri Krishna

Bheeshma’s hymn on Srikrishna:

“The Supreme Lord is inherently blissful. Even then at times playfully using His power of illusion (maya shakti) as a tool He descends to the material world by taking on a gross body. It is due to this power of illusion that this material universe is created.

Such a Supreme Lord, the crown jewel of the Yadu lineage, sits right now in front of my eyes! I am placing at the feet of this Lord, my mind, which through strict adherence to righteousness (dharma), has been rendered free from any form of desires.” -said Bheeshma Pitamaha while steadily gazing at Srikrishna who was sitting in front of him.

Tri-bhuvana-kamanaṃ tamāla-varṇaṃ ravi-kara-gaura-varāmbaraṃ dadhāne

Vapur alaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṃ vijaya-sakhe ratir astu me ‘navadyā

I pray that I should develop selfless love, which is devoid of any form of desires, towards that Supreme Lord Srikrishna, the friend of Arjuna, who is of bluish-green complexion, who wears golden yellow clothing that glitters like the rising Sun, whose lotus-like face appears covered with sandal paste and whose form/ appearance is the most magnificent in all the three planes of existence (tribhuvana)!

During the war, due to the dust raised by the horse hoofs, His hair turned ashen (smoke grey colour). At that time His face, which was drenched in sweat, was shining radiantly. My sharp arrows tore through his armour and pierced His skin. May my mind remain totally focused upon such Lord Srikrishna!

Immediately upon hearing the words of his friend Arjuna, Krishna drove the chariot and stationed it in the centre of the battlefield, between the two armies. Merely with His gaze He shortened the lifespan of all opponents who had assembled there. May I develop firm devotion towards Srikrishna, the charioteer of Arjuna!

Upon entering the battlefield, Arjuna immediately saw the Kaurava soldiers and warriors stationed for war. His gaze fell upon me, who was standing right in front, leading this enemy army. He instantly felt that it was unrighteous to wage a war wherein he would kill his own kith and kin and hence was disinclined to fight. At such a crucial time, Srikrishna preached to him the knowledge of the Self (atma vidya) and dispelled his spiritual ignorance (ajnana). He ensured that Arjuna walks on the path of righteousness (dharma). I pray that I should develop love towards the lotus feet of such Lord Srikrishna!

Srikrishna, who had assumed the role of a charioteer and who had taken a pledge not to take up any weapon during the war, broke His pledge only for my sake. This is purely because I had pledged that I would make Him hold a weapon. With the intention of fulfilling my desire and through this ensuring that I become great, the Lord broke His promise.  Just as a lion rushes in great fury to kill the elephant, this Lord got down from the chariot, took a wheel and rushed towards me in such mad fury that the earth shook. While he was thus rushing, His upper garment slipped and fell.

Due to the impact of the arrows released by me during the war, His protective shield was completely shattered. The powerful sharp arrows pierced his body and blood was flowing profusely. Arjuna, in various ways, tried to stop this Lord who was rushing in uncontrollable fury to kill me. Unmindful of all this Lord Srikrishna rushed forward to attack me. He is my sole refuge.

Now when I am about to give up my life, let me develop absolute love towards Lord Srikrishna, who is extremely handsome in appearance and who holding the goad in one hand and the bridle rope in another, zealously protected the chariot of Arjuna! This is because those who lost their life in the war, while seeing this form of His, attained oneness of form with Him (sārupya moksha)!

With His enchanting gait, fascinating deeds, charming appearance, pleasant smile and gaze that is filled totally with love, Krishna attracted the Gopikas who worshipped Him. Suddenly, in between (this worship) He disappeared from the scene. With this the love of the Gopikas towards Him surged even more. Forgetting everything else, these Gopikas, in absolute mad love towards Him, began to imitate His deeds and His other favorite pastimes. Thus these Gopikas merged into Him. Likewise even I should merge into that Lord”.

Bheeshma began recollecting all the pastimes of Krishna. In this short speech he explained the entire history of Krishna.

“Yudhisthira performed the Rājasuya Yagna. In that great assembly, this Lord Srikrishna, in the presence of all eminent saints, scholars and kings, accepted worship in my presence. That Supreme Lord has now emerged as the form of my Self (atma swaroopa)!

That Lord who is inherently devoid of birth, remains within all living beings created by Him, in the form of their Self.  There is only one Sun. Nevertheless, each eye that sees it perceives it in a different way. In a similar manner, this Lord illumines differently in various different forms.

How many people observe the Sun! Countless beings observe it including insects and worms. But to each it appears differently.

I, who have transcended differentiation and illusion (bheda-moha), have realized that Krishna, who is the personification of the non-dual (adviteeya) Parabrahma, is nothing but the form of my Self (atma swaroopa)!

In this way, Bheeshma, using the 3 actions called mind, speech, vision (manas, vak, drsti), fixed his intellect (buddhi) perfectly upon Lord Srikrishna, who was the form of his Self (atma) and withdrawing his breath into himself, left his body.

Jai Sriman Nārāyaṇa.

Bheeshma continues, “Just as I am about to give up this body, Lord Krishna has come to bless me with His darshan! How fortunate am I! He has come walking to my place to bless me. I am seeing the Supreme Lord Krishna himself! What more can be said about His limitless compassion! That Lord, whose darshan is so very rare, has now walked down to the place where I am lying and is blessing me.

Bhaktyāveśya mano yasmin vācā yan-nāma kīrtayan

Tyajan kalevaraṁ yogī mucyate kāma-karmabhiḥ

The Yogi, who at the time of leaving his body, fixes his mind totally upon Lord Srikrishna and sings His names with devotion, is freed from bondages of frutitive actions (actions done with expectation of some result)! With the darshan of the Supreme Lord, all infatuations disappear.

At the time when Sriman Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of all Lords, is standing in front of me in His form as Srikrishna, at the time when He watches over me pleasantly with His beautifully glowing lotus face and with His red eyes, I am going to give up this body of mine” said Bheeshma.

What a fortunate being Bheeshma was!

Hearing this, Yudhisthira, in the presence of thousands of saints who had assembled there, asked Bheeshma, who was lying on the bed of arrows, to preach him about the different rules of righteousness (dharmas).  “Please initiate me into the dharma shookshmas, Swami”, he prayed.

Bheeshma, who was an exponent in this knowledge, taught Yudhisthira, in minute detail, the rules that had been dictated, based on the individual’s nature and also based on the requirements as per the caste (varna) and stage of life (ashrama). He thus taught him dharmas based on both the paths: Pravritti (path of materialistic expansion) and Nivritti (path of return, renunciation) which suit the mental stages called attachment (bondages) and detachment (vairagya) respectively.

He taught him the knowledge behind getting entangled in action, giving up action and instigating action. In addition, he taught him extensively about the dharmic rules and duties as applicable to Kings. He spoke about generosity and deeds of charity. He explained in great detail about śama-dama dharmas which pave the way to liberation. He spoke about the duties of women and about rules pertaining to rituals (vrata dharmas) such as Ekadaśi vrata, which are very dear to the Supreme Lord. In addition, through the medium of many stories and by drawing from history he explained the various ways to attain the Puruśārthas (four goals of life viz., dharma, artha, kama and moksha).

In this way grandfather Bheeshma, while lying on the bed of arrows, taught Emperor Yudhisthira in minute detail all that he knew. He also taught him the various methods through which these principles of righteousness could be easily adhered.

Bheeshma, the wise being, had the boon that he could choose the time of his death. While Bheeshma was initiating Yudhisthira into this knowledge, the auspicious time of Uttarāyaṇa arrived. This was the time which Bheeshma had been eagerly awaiting.

At soon as this auspicious time arrived, Bheeshma, the expert warrior who used to  handle thousands of charioteers at one go during wars, suddenly stopped speaking and without even closing his eyelids, focused his mind wholly and solely upon Lord Srikrishna. He did not even wait to close his eyelids as he did not want to waste even that much time! This is a proof that irrespective of the time and irrespective of the situation, the divine names of the Lord can be chanted.

Lord Srikrishna, at that time, appeared before him as Adi Nārāyaṇa, the Original God! The Lord shone with His four arms and with yellow Pitambara clothing which glittered brightly! Bheeshma saw the wonderous divine form of the Lord which was as radiant as His Universal form! He saw the complete form of that Lord and not His fractional form as a human being. Bheeshma, who had absolutely no inclination towards these worldly bondages, merged his mind wholly into that Lord.

To be frank, Bheeshma had never been inclined towards these worldly bondages. Now, when the auspicious time had arrived and when the Lord was directly standing in front of him, why would he waste this golden opportunity? After all he was a very intelligent and wise being.

As a result of this divine contemplation upon the Supreme Lord, all remaining blemishes and defects in Bheeshma were totally washed away. Some trivial defects, if any, that existed within him, were now destroyed. ‘This is my duty, this is my dharma, these are my obligations’- even if such ignorance (moha) that emerged out of stubbornness was existing in him, even they got destroyed.

‘If I do not adhere to this dharma, then I am at fault’; ‘Oh, this dharma is very dear to Krishna, how can I stay away from it? Only if I abide by it He will be happy’ – even such ideas were routed out completely. Nothing more was left! Absolutely nothing! Now no more dharma was left. He had imparted the knowledge in entirety. There was nothing left to be taught also.

It is but natural that every individual will have some defects. It is said that these defects did not even spare Krishna and Rama, when they stepped into this world which is full of defects.

Bheeshma is the one and only proof of how the Supreme Lord relieves a person, who is fully immersed in the kingdom of bhakti which is over and above action, even if defects which emerge from action (karma dosha) and which can be eliminated only through action exist within him.

Not only were the defects in Bheeshma entirely washed away, but in addition the bodily pains due to the war injuries, also disappeared completely! The body became cool as if sandal paste was applied on it. All this was the outcome of the divine darshan of the Supreme Lord!

Lakhs of arrows had pierced Bheeshma’s body. Can you imagine how he would have suffered due to that pain? The Lord was removing Bheeshma’s bondage with this body, wasn’t He? Perhaps if Bheeshma were to leave that body while undergoing the pain associated with it, he would have to take another body to mitigate that bodily suffering, who knows? But now Srikrishna had totally wiped away the bodily pains.

Being relieved of all afflictions Bheeshma was in total bliss. Withdrawing into himself all the senses, that tend to run in all directions, he now sang the hymn praising the Supreme Lord Sriman Nārāyaṇa!

Sriman Nārāyaṇa!