Stories From The Bhagawatham - Prelude To The Krishna Avatar

 

In one of the previous stories, we had read about the curse of King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna. He had been cursed that he would die of snakebite. The king who was also spiritually inclined decided to spend the last week of his life, listening to the Srimad Bhagavatham recited by none other than Rishi Shuka, the revered son of Rishi Vyasa.

After one particular recital, the king enquired of the sage, “You have told me stories of the kings and their lineage of the sun and the moon. You have told me about the Yadava clan which was chosen by Lord Narayana for His incarnation. I wish to hear more about this avatar of the Lord, an avatar which is said to be poorna (complete).”

The king continued, “People like you who have conquered all their desires sing praises of Krishna eternally. It is said that listening to the leelas of Krishna can rid people of the eternal and terrible cycle of birth and death. I have a special interest in learning about Krishna because, during the great war of Mahabharata, when my ancestors stood against people like Bhishma, Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Jayadratha, Karna, Ashwattama, and finally Duryodhana, it was Krishna who supported my family and led them to the path of victory. Also, when Ashwattama aimed his terrible Brahmastra towards me, the only scion of the Kaurava and the Pandava clans, and who was still in his mother’s womb, it was Krishna who came to my mother’s help and saved me. And this is the same Lord who pervades the entire universe!? I have heard some of his leelas but I want to know more. Why did the Lord take up a human form? Why was he born to a mother and raised by another? Please tell me everything about Krishna. All my hunger and thirst are only for his leelas.”

Shuka Rishi was pleased with the devotion of Parikshit. “Only a mind which is inclined towards the right path will feel the need to listen to Krishna’s leelas. Listening to his stories purifies both the narrator and the listener. I will tell you how the Lord of the universe came down to the mortal world in human form.”

And thus began the reciting of one of the greatest incarnations of Lord Narayana.

There came a time when mother earth was burdened by the weight and sins of evil people. Taking the form of a cow, she came to Lord Brahma, crying out for help against the adharma that was existing in her. Lord Brahma, Mahadev and other celestial beings gathered at the Ksheerasagara, the eternal resting place of Lord Narayana, meditating and hoping for divine guidance.

Through Lord Brahma, Lord Narayana gave this message to the world. “I am aware of the state of the earth. I will take a name and form, and I will stay on the earth till I rid her of all her troubles. I will be born in the Yadava clan as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Ananta will take the form of my elder brother. All the heavenly beings will also be there in the earth at the same time as myself. With all of us walking on the earth, the world will be cleansed of all evil and sins.”

Mother earth and all the celestial beings were comforted by Lord Narayana’s declaration and returned to their abodes with great joy in their hearts, anticipating the arrival of Lord Narayana on the earth.

(More on this to follow next week)