Today is Sri Krishna’s
birth day (Janmashtami). Please read the story of Krishna’s birth from the
beginning ( parts 6 and 7) before going to bed today.
If you don’t want to read
it because you know the story, at least, read the story to your children!
The Divine pregnancy: At this point, Sage
Suka moistened his lips with his tongue and continued: Devaki and Vasudeva
being in prison, looked like mad persons. They sat with unkempt hair, lean and
lanky due to lack of appetite and no means to feed their bodies. They could not
sleep and they were consumed by grief over the children they had lost. After
another year, Devaki conceived for the eighth time. O, it was wondrous! What a
transformation it had brought about!
The wonderful transformation: The faces of
Devaki and Vasudeva, which had drooped and dried up, suddenly blossomed like
lotuses in full bloom. They shone with a strange splendor. Their bodies which
were reduced to mere skin and bone, took on flesh, became round and smooth and
shone with a charming golden hue. The prison cell of Devaki and Vasudeva became
fragrant with pleasing odors; it cast a wondrous light and was filled with
inexplicable music and jingling of dancing feet. Devaki and Vasudeva became
aware of these happenings, but they were afraid to inform Kamsa, lest in his
vindictive frenzy, he might hack the womb to pieces. They were anxious about
the strange future of the son to be born and were restless with weird
forebodings.
Kamsa’s meanness and Pariskshith’s question: Kamsa
knew his time was fast approaching; he was torn by greed to continue as an
unquestioned Emperor; he was overcome by conspiracy; he overran the territories
of Yadu, Vrishni, Bhoja and Andaka and added them to his domain; he threw his
father Ugrasena into prison; thereafter, his will was sovereign. Hearing these
words of Suka, Parikshith said, “What foolishness is this? Knowing fully well
that his end was drawing near, should he not give up his greed and turn his
mind towards God?” Suka burst into laughter and said, “Maharaja! You think that
all those whose end is near will utilize the time at their disposal to seek the
vision of the Lord! Such yearning can arise in the mind only due to good deeds
performed in the previous lives. Those who have acquired good merits from their
past actions, have compassion towards all beings, do not swerve from the right
path and adhere to truth, non-violence and love. They have only thoughts of God
and urge to do sanctifying deeds till their last days. Instead, those who are
immersed in selfishness, egotism, greed, vice, violence and unrighteousness
will suffer from increased evil urges in their last days and destroy
themselves. Hence the saying Vinaasa Kaale, Vipareetha Buddhi.”
Suka continues: The fetus of the seventh
pregnancy was taken from Devaki and transferred to Rohini
who was in Gokula under the protection of Nanda. This was done so that the child may grow into a
companion and helpmate for Krishna. Rohini gave birth to a son who was named as
Balarama because of his extraordinarily strong
body and his charming innocence and intelligence. Since he was transferred from
the womb of Devaki to Rohini, he was also called Samkarshana
(who was attracted or drawn). Meanwhile, the eighth pregnancy completed nine
months; Devaki and Vasudeva sat helpless in great anguish without food or sleep
fearing what would Kamsa do next. Kamsa took extra precautions to see that the
child does not escape him. He ordered that Vasudeva and Devaki be shackled with
chains on hand and feet. But, who can hinder the inscrutable operation of the
will of God?
The advent of the Lord: One night, Devaki
developed labor pains; with her mind firmly fixed on God, she was looking at
the oil lamp in the cell, asking herself, “What is going to happen to me?”
Suddenly, the flame went out and darkness filled the cell. Just then, there was
an effulgent Form with a strange splendor standing before her. Gradually, the
Form became clear! It was armed with the Conch, the Discus and the Mace; the
fourth hand was held in Abhaya pose.It said softly and sweetly, “Do not
fear! I am Narayana. I am to be born in a few minutes as your son in an answer
to the promise I made as a result of your earnest prayers. I will be known as
Krishna and also as Vasudeva. As soon as I am born, the shackles will fall off
from your hands and feet. The doors of the prison will open by themselves. Take
Me from here without anyone’s knowledge, to the home of Nanda in Gokula. Place
Me by the side of his wife, Yasoda who is having
labor pains now. Bring the baby girl that Yasoda has delivered back into this
prison and keep her with you. Then, send word to Kamsa. Until he gets the news,
no one either in Mathura or Gokula will notice you. I shall arrange it so.”
Blessing Devaki and Vasudeva, the effulgent Form entered the womb of Devaki as
an Orb of Light. Within minutes the Divine Child was born! It was 3:30AM.
The shackles that bound the hands and feet of Vasudeva fell off in a trice. The
doors and the gates flew open. Though it was still dark, a cuckoo was cooing
with a sudden spurt of joy. The Rain-God was showering flower drops of rain on
the earth. Around the prison, flocks of bird clustered in happy song,
twittering sweet melody. Vasudeva turned his eyes towards the new born child
and was astounded. Encircling the Babe was a brilliant halo of Light!
The Lord moves to Gokul: Vasudeva did not
delay. He spread an old dhoti on a bamboo basket and placed the Babe on it. He
tore an old sari of Devaki and covered the Babe and placed the basket on his
head. He moved out of the open doors and gates, past the sleeping guards. He
noticed the little drops of rain that was falling on the Babe and was afraid
that the Babe would be soaked. But, when he turned back, he found a snake
following his footsteps, holding the ribbed umbrella of its broad hoods over
the child preventing the rain from wetting the Babe. He soon realized that it
was Adisesha protecting the Lord. Though the sun had not risen yet, the lotus
bloomed in all the tanks and leaned on its stalk towards the Babe. Though it
was a dark night, with a deep yearning to look at the Babe, the full moon
peeped through the clouds, with its cool rays illuminating the entire route to
Gokul. Vasudeva began to cross Yamuna river to reach Gokul. The water was
rising very rapidly above Vasudeva’s head and he was afraid that he would
drown. It dawned on him that Yamuna was paying its respects to the Lord by
wetting the feet of the Babe! The Babe was placed next to Yashoda and the baby
girl that had just been born there was brought and placed into the hands of
Devaki. No sooner this was done, Vasudeva burst into tears!While these words
were coming from Suka’s lips, Parikshith exclaimed aloud, “Krishna, Krishna!”
Everyone looked at the King. They saw a snake crawling away fast, after biting
the right toe of the King. Suka shed tears of Bliss; He announced, “The King
has merged with the Lord”. The word Suka means parrot. Yes, he was the parrot
that plucked the ripe nectar filled fruit called Bhagavatha from the tree of
the Vedas and enabled the world to taste it. May the world relish the fruit and
derive the Atmic Bliss! Jai Sai Ram!
Story of Sri Krishna’s Birth -7A
(Appendix)
8/27/13
How did Devaki become Krishna’s mother?
Devaki in her previous birth was a very pious
woman and always thinking of Lord Narayana. After many years of her prayer, Lord
Narayana appeared before her and asked what she wanted. She could have asked
for Moksha then and there. However, since she was always thinking of God, her
selfish needs did not surface to her mind. She felt that her body should be
useful to humanity. So, she asked Lord Narayana, “Please give me the boon so
that you will be born in my womb”. Lord Narayana granted her boon saying that
in her next birth He will be born to her. She thought that she could love the
Lord even more because as a baby, she could nurse Him, fondle Him with love,
feed Him, bathe Him, clothe Him and play with Him.
As destined, baby Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in the prison at the
early morning hours. As instructed by the Lord, the baby had to be transported
to Gokul and placed beside Yashoda, before dawn. Devaki did not get to a chance
to fondle baby Krishna but Yashoda had the great fortune of bringing up
Krishna. As you can see, the Lord gave her the boon exactly as she requested:
“Please give me the boon so that you will be born in my womb”. One must be very
careful when asking God for a boon! Look at the sacrifice that Devaki has done
to mankind! Without the advent of Krishna, humanity would not have turned
towards God.
Who is Sage Suka?
Sage Suka was waiting for Parikshith to approach
him to impart this Divine Knowledge. Suka was the son of Sage Vyasa. Vyasa
classified the Vedas, composed Puranas, Mahabharata and gave the world
Bhagavatam. He also gave Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutras. Vyasa was the son of
Sage Parasara and great grandson on Sage Vasishta. Sage Suka came from
Vasudeva, recounted the story of Vasudeva to Parikshith and finally merged in
Lord Vasudeva. Sage Suka, after God realization, took pity on humanity and
helped humanity by establishing the practice of NamaSmarana (repetition
of the Lord’s name). The sweetness of NamaSmarana evokes God’s Form and His
Grace. Suka gave this precious gem to mankind.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s comments on Sage Suka:
What Brahman (Ultimate Reality or God) is
cannot be described. Even he, who knows Brahman, cannot describe it. There is a
saying that a boat, once reaching the ‘black waters’ of the ocean cannot come
back. When ‘I’ (ego) drops completely, one attains the Knowledge of Brahman
(God realization occurs) and there is no coming back! Suka returned to
the world of name and form, even after attaining the Knowledge of Brahman, for
the purpose of teaching others. He had to recite the Bhagavatam to King
Parikshith and had to teach people the power of NamaSmarana. Therefore, God did
not destroy his ‘I’ altogether. God kept in him the ‘ego of knowledge’. Note:
Only after reciting of the Bhagavatam to King Parikshith did his ‘I’
disappear altogether and he merged with the Lord Vasudeva. And, so did King
Parikshith after the snake bite. The power of Bhagavatam is that, the
one who recites it with devotion and the one who listens to it with Bhakthi,
both reach Lord Vasudeva!
EPILOGUE
I hope you could find time to read Sri
Krishna's story and enjoy it. As the Lord has said, "Whenever you shed
tears in repentance for the sins you have committed or whenever you shed tears
of joy by hearing or reading about the glories of Me, be assured that some
of your Karmas are being washed away". I hope your tears of joy wiped out
some of your past Karmas and sprouted love in your heart to seek the
Lord with even more devotion. That was the very purpose for which this story
was presented to all of you. May the Lord’s blessings be upon you and
your family!
Jai Sai Ram!
Vasudevasutam Devam Kamsa ChaNoora Mardhanam
Devaki Param Anandam Krishnam Vande Jagad gurum
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!
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