Stories From The Bhagavatham - Where Does Kali Live?!

 

The kingdom of Hastinapura was handed over to Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjuna. Great things had been forecasted for Parikshit in his horoscope. The elders had predicted that he would be honourable and truthful like Shri Rama, a giver like King Shibi, an archer like Arjuna, as royal as Himavan, as patient as the Mother Earth, as courageous as Bali and as devoted to Lord Narayana like Prahlad. It was also predicted that he would learn the ultimate Brahma Vidya from Rishi Shuka and his name would be remembered across generations to come.

Parikshit turned out to be exactly what he was expected to be. Under his reign, his kingdom flourished. He married Iravati and they had a son named Janamejaya. Although he performed his duties justly, Parikshit could not ignore the signs of destruction that were prevalent everywhere due to the influence of Kali. He personally wished to destroy Kali and restore the earth to her former glory.

Gradually, Kali-yuga was setting in.

On the banks of the Saraswati river, there lay a cow who was extremely ill-nourished. She was shedding tears. Beside her, lay a bull who had broken three of his legs and was severely maimed.

The bull said to the cow. “I wonder why you are weeping. Is it because you have lost someone very dear to you? Or perhaps it is the sight of the three of my legs broken that is making you grieve. It could be that you are weeping at the thought of unworthy people ruling you in place of honourable warriors. Perhaps you weep over the fact that the Devas will not get their share of Haavis since Yagnya will no longer be performed on earth. You are worried that Indra will no longer shower you with rains. The decay of Dharma scares you. The prospect of Devi Saraswati gracing the homes of unworthy persons fills you with dismay. The gradual decline of moral values and ethics makes you worry for the future of humankind. Dear Earth, I know why you are so despondent. The Lord Krishna has left you. While He was here, He got rid of Adharma and removed the suffocating burden from you. With His departure, Dharma too left you and now you long for the blessed old days of glory. Am I right?”

The Earth, represented by the ill-nourished cow, spoke to the bull, a representation of Dharma. “Lord Dharma, do not add salt to my wounds through your piercing questions. The Lord’s blessed feet no longer walk over me. I long for Him. The dark future and the memory of my glorious days make me weep but I know that I weep in vain.”

Even as they both were consoling each other, a man, dressed as a warrior, came rushing to them and started harassing them, trying to maim the one good leg of the bull. King Parikshit who was passing by saw this and immediately rushed to their help. He held the warrior at the point of an arrow. The sight of the cow and the bull brought tears to his eyes. “I wonder who did this to you both, especially in my kingdom which is known for justice.” He wondered in dismay.

The bull spoke. “It is indeed fitting that a descendent of a glorious kingdom has come to our rescue and is asking this. I do not know who did this to us. Some might blame the stars and planets. Some would say that time governs everything and is responsible for all that happens. There are some who believe in Karma and Bhagya, while there are others who would blame it on some god who they consider as the governor of the universe. I really do not know who did this.”

King Parikshit pondered over the wise words of the bull and said. “From the words you just spoke, it is clear to me that you are Lord Dharma. Your four legs represent Tapas(penance), Shoucha(neatness), Daya(compassion) and Sathya(truth). Pride has destroyed penance, indulgence in negative habits has destroyed neatness and arrogance has destroyed compassion. You stand on only one leg i.e truth. And it is this leg that this warrior who represents Kali, was trying to break. I now know why the Mother Earth weeps; she weeps for her lost glory. Do not fear; I will destroy Kali!”

Kali was trying to escape but Parikshit caught up to him. Kali dropped to his feet in surrender.

“I am the grandson of Arjuna and I will not kill someone who has surrendered to me.” Parikshit said. “Leave the earth. I do not want you to spread your evil vices here.”

“But Lord, the entire earth is being ruled by you. Where would I go? I have to exist somewhere. The Lord has created both good and evil which is but a shadow of good. Please tell me where I can exist.”

“You can go where the name of the Lord is forgotten and where greed and violence are present.” Parikshit said. “Gold, this is where most of avarice, greed, lust and untruth lie. You can live there.”

Thus, Kali found refuge in gold. By gold is meant temptation, the desire for more and the greed to own something that makes people lie to or kill others. In the above conversation, Kali says that evil is a shadow of good. By this, it is meant that it is evil which makes people act wrongly, and once their downfall begins, as they fall into deep trouble, their minds start their journey back to God, asking for divine help and guidance. Kali brings in troubled times, and only during troubled times, people seek the Divine all the more.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vaasudevaaya!