Now the sun was shining right above the aashrama. I moved forward – as the very last disciple of Aacharya Sandipani – as the Srikrishna of the Yadavas! I prostrated directly in front of him! Without opening his eyes Aacharya clearly recognized that touch and with a smile he said, “ Srikrishna, the most auspicious fruit of the virtuous deeds of ‘Vrushnis’ and ‘Andhakas’ for ages together. The eighth born of Vasudeva and Devakidevi! The protector of the Gopas of Gokul! My most esteemed disciple in the Ankapada aashrama, Srikrishna!” With the touch of my hands his fish-shaped meditative eyes opened gradually like the door of his cottage opening slowly, and finally they opened fully. I stood in front of him with humility. He glanced deep down in my eyes. It was a very distinctive look; even I had never experienced it before! He smiled gently.
“Aacharya, each and every disciple has offered something or the other as Gurudakshina at your feet and obtained your blessings. But kindly forgive me for I have absolutely nothing suitable at this moment to offer you as Gurudakshina!” I smiled. My smile must have been different than usual for Aacharya momentarily tried to trace it and reciprocated with the same kind of smile. Then he spoke in his usual serene voice, “Enough of your Chhalikavidya! I don’t need Gurudakshina from you anyway! He laughed like an innocent child and said, “You actually lived in my aashrama as a disciple for so many days. What could be better Gurudakshina in this ephemeral world? He smiled again, like a new-born, innocent infant. A smile that was a reflection of his smile, spread on my face.
Gazing into my eyes he conferred an unknown spiritual energy upon me. For a long time, we both were lost in a reverie. Only I know how much and what all I gained as his blessings, from this divine transfer of energy by Gurudeva Sandipani.
He exclaimed, “My beloved, best ever disciple, your life will always be prosperous. Oh Yadunandana, visit the sacred city of Prayaga at least once in your future life, whenever possible and visit Sage Angirasa. Oh, son of Nanda, obtain the knowledge of Brahma from him.
Just as his name implies he has undergone severe penance. He is the innate, devout worshiper of Agni, the apt heir of the original Angirasa. Don’t forget that his disposition is just like the fire! If you stay within your limits he will be warm enough, but if you transgress he will be as scorching as the fire itself. He will stay in Prayaga only for a short time. After that he will travel towards Mount Raivataka as a preacher of the religious sect that attracts him of late, to propagate it and spread the same around the world.
You will come to know your relation with him at a proper time. Farewell Srikrishna! Give him my regards when you visit him. And accept this gift of mine to you with love and cherish it always like the ‘Vaijayanti’.” Since early morning he had very carefully placed a crimson, fully blossomed lotus in his water-pot. It was charmed with a divine mantra. He handed it to me with love, and I accepted it with pure devotion, touching it to my forehead.
Aacharya’s wife would rarely come out as she was always engaged in household chores. But today she had come out. I bowed down to her along with the others. She gave her blessings from the bottom of her heart and stood still like a statue. The tears streaming down her eyes instantly revealed the root of her silent agony. Offering solace to her I determinedly said, “Oh aashrama-mata, I will liberate your dear son, Dutta from the clutches of Shankhasura and bring him back to you. Oh mata, this is my promise to you. I have already offered my Gurudakshina to Aacharya, and he has also given me his blessings. Please consider the liberation of Dutta as my Gurudakshina to you, and give me your blessings to successfully overcome the conflicts in life.”
The expressions in the eyes of our aashrama-mata changed instantly while she wiped the tears in her eyes. With eyes full of affection, she put her hands on my head.
We retreated respectfully without turning our backs to Aacharya and his wife and slowly came out of the cottage.
Sudama was not to be seen anywhere. We picked our cane baskets and dada, Uddhava and I came to the main entrance of the aashrama. Daruka was standing in front of the gate. He scurried forward to touch my feet. I moved forward, and before he could bend down, stopped him halfway and held him in a tight embrace. His face shone brightly. I whispered in his ears, “Daruka, henceforth you will not be my charioteer or my attendant. You will be my friend, my escort who will accompany me in all walks of life. Not you, but I am going to steer the chariot today.”
The three of us followed him to the royal chariot that he had brought. The bedecked chariot that Daruka had brought today looked exceptionally attractive. Its beautifully engraved, golden cupola was brightly shining in the sunrays. The soft, golden-bordered, triangular, saffron Garudadhwaja pennant was fluttering atop, embroidered with the emblem of the flying golden eagle. The rear end of the cupola was covered with deer and tiger skins. Tiny, golden bells were dangling along the round edge of the cupola making a sweet jingling sound on the rhythmic movement of the chariot. The chariot was quite spacious to easily accommodate a number of people along with their weapons. Four sturdy waist-high spoked wheels, were delicately maintaining the equilibrium of the well-built chariot. A sturdy yoke made of strong, painted Kikar wood, decorated with engravings was attached to it. Daruka had harnessed four snow white, tall, hefty horses to the yoke. In the very first glance they captured my heart! They were swishing their tails and pricking their ears constantly.
The moment I saw them I was enamoured. Walking briskly, I moved closer to those agile animals. Aacharya’s words echoed in my ears, ‘The horse that outstrips the wind is the first loyal friend of mankind. When a horse stands on three legs and leaves the fourth one hanging in the air, he becomes useless for running. An understanding of the touch and the words of his master that a horse has, is sometimes missing even in human beings.’
I lovingly patted on the nape of the horse standing in front of me. He swished his tail in excitement and pricked his ears while neighing with joy.
I asked Daruka, “Where did you obtain such pure breed from?”
He answered with a smile, “I searched through the entire region of Panchanada to obtain this breed, Sire. He is from the valleys rich with meadows between rivers Chandrabhaga and Iravati. As hefty as he is, he also runs quite swiftly, and is very obedient too.
“Well done Daruka. I would like to call him ‘Shaibya’! What do you think of the name?”
“How can he disapprove the name given by you, Dhakalya?” Balaramadada said with a smile and patted the horse.
I went near the next horse, momentarily ruffled his thick mane and just as I used to put my arms around Uddhava or Sudama’s neck I put my hands around his thick, flexible, and muscular neck.
Uddhava was not one to get involved in only wry, futile discussions; he was an excellent warrior too. Casually but unmistakably he pushed, “Dada, you suggest a suitable name for this horse too.” I laughed and looking at his ruddy, sincere face which was round like a shield, I said, “Uddhava, I casually put my hand around his neck. My action has already suggested a name for him. He is the ‘Sugriva’ of our chariot!”
‘Sugriva’, the one with a beautiful neck!’ saying this Uddhava simply kept staring at the Vaijayanti garland around my neck and Sugriva’s white neck with his beautiful full mane and said, “Dada, I can’t tell if the white Vaijayanti garland on your bluish body looks more beautiful or your bluish hand resting on the white mane of Sugriva’s thick neck!”
“Master, I have brought this thick-necked, eminent, cautious horse from the well-known country of Kambhoja.” Daruka humbly provided further information.
The three of us moved to the next horse. He snorted a bit. He looked like a pure white cloud in the evening of the month of Ashwin, and he was mighty like a mountain.
“Master, this horse has been brought from the faraway country of Gandhara. For that sole purpose, I went to Pushkalavati, the capital of Gandhara.” Daruka provided information even without my asking.
As usual, playfully teasing Balaramadada I said, “Dada, can you sugg
est a suitable name for this horse?” He stood still for quite a while but couldn’t come up with any name. Disappointed, he said, “I was just thinking, how come you haven’t teased me so far! How could you assign me such a brainy job? If you tell me, I can simply pick up this horse and put him gently on my shoulders! That naming... etc. suits you better!”
“Yes, that is true. It is difficult to suggest a suitable name for this horse. Only you can do it.” Uddhava supported him.
“We should call him ‘Balahaka’. Balahaka means a flying, white crane!” From his physique, I recognized that he was a ‘Magadha’ horse. ‘Beautiful!’ Both of them cheered along with Daruka.
By this time we had reached the last horse, firmly supporting the other end of the chariot. Actually, all these four horses were white in colour, competing with each other, but this one was whiter than the others. Only an eagle-eyed person could have realized it. His colour was like the frothy snow-white water of a river cascading off the Himalayas. Gently patting his snout, I said to Daruka, “Surely you must have brought this horse from somewhere in the Himalayas.”
“Yes sire. I had to go far away to Pragjyotishapura of Kamarupa kingdom.” Daruka said with a smile.
“We should call this one nothing else but ‘Meghapushpa’! He looks like the flower of a snow-white cloud just touching the Himalayas. Doesn’t he?
“Daruka, these four white horses like the Ananta flower have become dear to my heart. From today onwards, with Aacharya Sandipani’s blessings they will gallop in the four directions of Aaryavarta.
Garuda, the king of birds is the emblem of the Yadavas’ zeal for conquest. Spreading his wide, robust wings he soars high in the sky. The pennant on this chariot commemorates Garuda, the king of birds. I humbly pay obeisance to Aacharya Sandipani at this moment, and in front of my dear ones I announce the formal name of this royal chariot – Garudadhwaja! I closed my eyes with an unknown impulse and I could see many golden eagles soaring high in the blue skies in front of my closed eyes. As if somebody had pulled their strings, Dada, Uddhava, and Daruka unanimously cheered “Beautiful, extraordinary! Garudadhwaja, Garudadhwaja!”
“All of you get into the chariot.” I said. In a single leap, I took the seat of the charioteer, and held the reins of the horses, decorated with delicate golden threads, in my hands.
To take a final look at the Ankapada aashrama to my heart’s fill, I glanced around the area of the aashrama, and was startled to see a thin lone figure in white approaching slowly. It was Sudama. He was walking along the fence, carrying his sack on his shoulder. His neck was hanging low and he was dragging his feet.
He was to travel farther than us, to Saurashtra. But no carriage or even a person had come to fetch him. I immediately told Uddhava who was sitting at the back of the chariot, “Udho, go quickly and bring my dear friend Sudama here.” Uddhava was also touched by the loneliness of Sudama. He got up instantly and leaped out of the Garudadhwaaj. He lovingly held Sudama by the hand and brought him to the chariot, and both boarded it.
As soon as I tugged at their reins the four loyal horses neighed and my Garudadhwaja chariot sprinted forward from the huge Kashyapa entrance of Aacharya Sandipani’s Ankapada aashrama. My life’s chariot began the non-stop pilgrimage of Karmayoga.
Daruka and I started a dialogue about Sarathyayoga - charioting, “Daruka, what kind of animal do you reckon the horse is?” I asked. He promptly responded, “A loyal friend of mankind.”
“Not only that. To me a horse is like the swift rays of the sun. He is loyal indeed, but his loyalty is that of a warm, loving friend.” I said.
“What kind of sounds do you hear of the galloping horses, Daruka?” I asked again.
“Sounds of their hooves running rhythmically and their neighing.”
“That’s all? Daruka, a true charioteer should be able to clearly hear the heartbeats of the galloping horses and their snorts and also be able to understand those well. The heartbeat of the galloping horse is directly connected with the continuous motion of the sun in the sky! You must understand this. Remember, that a horse is a child of the sun.” Listening to me Daruka fell silent and was engrossed in thought. I continued, carrying the thread of his thought forward, “The sun is called a friend. Why? Because he is always there for you. Daruka, never forget it. A horse is a child of the sun; the very first and the closest animal friend forever to a human. Got it?”
“Yes sire, got it.”
“How would you judge a horse to be perfectly healthy, Daruka?” I took him deeper in the field of charioting – Sarathyayoga.
“From his graceful stance, perfectly balancing his body on all four legs.” Our chariot tilted on its side while taking a turn on the way and Daruka answered while balancing his body taking the support of the chariot’s sidebar.
“The test does not end there Daruka. One has to also bring one’s ears closer to his snout and examine the rhythm of his breath! A horse speaks volumes through his eyes. He even reveals a lot about the energy within him through the continuous swishing of his tail. A gentle breeze of wind creates whirl-like ripples on the horse’s body. Daruka, an expert charioteer should be unmistakably able to know the direction of the wind only by looking at the whirling ripples on the horse’s body.” While controlling the reins, and calling the horses by their names Shaibya…Balahaka…I started assessing Daruka’s skills as a charioteer.
I asked him, “Daruka, do you know how innately intelligent horses are?” “Yes sire, if a horse-rider gets lost in a forest, all he needs to do is let loose his horse’s reins, hold his seat tightly, and his horse unmistakably brings him back to his original place.”
“Right, a horse knows very well that the horseshoes on his hooves are necessary for good running. That is why he surrenders himself silently at the time of attaching a horseshoe. He closes his eyes in a desert to avoid getting the dust into his eyes; and still carries the rider on his back in the expected direction. He specifically understands even the smallest pressure of his rider’s thighs, and on that clue he changes his direction accordingly, even while he is running. His ears are very sharp and alert. He catches even the slightest of the wind breeze with precision. He has excellent understanding of his master’s spoken language as well as his touch.
“Daruka, a horse never sleeps sitting on the ground or lying on the floor. In fact, he never sleeps as such. He takes a nap in a standing position. A horse is a supreme yogi among the animals and has the boon of innate self-control. Just as you and Uddhava are my friends, all these horses are my friends too. They have their own, very special ‘Ashwagita’. I will tell you more about it at a suitable time later. Who knows, maybe in future I myself will have to demonstrate the flawless charioting skills to you. What do you think Daruka?” I steered his mind’s horse somewhere deep and left it hanging there.
Yojanas after yojana we kept travelling and moving forward. After a few sojourns our chariot came to a juncture from where it could take a straight path leading to Mathura or to the left going to Saurashtra. For a few moments, I halted the chariot at the junction.
“Mathura is within reach now.” Dada said looking at the way leading to Mathura, “Aren’t we going directly to Mathura?”
“No, Dada! We will go to the left, to Saurashtra. We will drop off Sudama near his town and then return to Mathura.” I announced my decision and tugged at the reins in my hands to speed up the chariot in the direction of Saurashtra. Turning back, I looked at Sudama with a deliberate smile. His face was shining bright.
After a few more sojourns our Garudadhwaja came to a point from where it could not go any further. Sudama’s town was not very far from there. He looked at the familiar whitish, winding trail leading to his town and said, “Milinda, dear friend, let us stop here. I will walk the remaining distance.”
The moment had come to bid farewell to a dear friend! I dropped the reins in my hands and in a single leap I alighted from the chariot. Sudama also got down from the back of the chariot. Uddhava, Balaramadada a
nd Daruka waited in the chariot.
Sudama stood directly in front of me. Gathering his bag that was slipping from his shoulders he said, “Dear friend, Srikrishna, remember this poor Brahmin boy. I consider that our learning together in Aacharya’s aashrama is the result of our ties in our previous birth. Could you please do me a favour?” his voice became heavy.
I grabbed both his shoulders tightly and looking deep in his eyes I said, “Speak, dear friend, Sudama! I will never forget you. Speak freely with me.”
He hesitated momentarily due to his shy nature, then said, “Srikrishna, I didn’t even realize how time flew in your divine company in the aashrama. To keep those memories alive in my heart please give me something, a gift, as a symbol of our loving friendship. I will cherish it for the rest of my life.”
He put me in a spot. I smiled and said, “Friend, are you silly or what? Didn’t you hear what I told Aacharya on the day of Gurudakshina?”
I told him, “I don’t have anything suitable to offer to you as the Gurudakshina, and yet, you are asking for a gift from me today as a token of our friendship. What can I give you? Friend, I don’t have anything suitable to give you as a gift at this moment!”
He moved his gaze to the peacock-feathered golden crown on my head. He got confused. It shifted to the beaded necklace with the ‘Kaustubh’ diamond around my neck, then to the golden ornaments on my lower and upper arms.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 13
