While we were sailing, our infiltrators were spreading rumours among the Magadha army base, Srikrishna has escaped! He got scared of the Magadhas and ran away from Mathura!’ It was certain that after hearing this news, Jarasandha was obviously going to follow us. As soon as his army started retreating from Mathura, select armed Yadava troops were going to join us at a certain place in the South. At present Mathura was going to be battle-free.
A select few of us left Mathura, but the question remained as to where exactly to go in the South. I had already pondered over it before taking this decision. As per the information gathered by our spies there were four more Yadava kingdoms in the South. These were established by the four sons of our founder, Maharaja Yadu, born to his Naga wives. One of them was located on the banks of Narmada, known as Mahishmati. King Muchkunda had established the Mahishmati kingdom to the south of Mount Hrikshawana. There was also a well-known city called Purika in the kingdom.
The second was the kingdom of Padmawata near Mahabalishwaram; established by Yadu’s son Padmawarna on the plateau of Sahyadri near the banks of river Venna. This kingdom also incorporated a city named Karvir on the banks of river Panchaganga. Famous since the Vedic times, it was ruled by a vassal king named Shrigala of the Naga dynasty. Karvir was also known and regarded as ‘Dakshinakashi’.
The third royal city of Kraunchapura established by Yadu’s son Sarasa was located to the south of Karvir. This city had red soil and its land was fertile. This kingdom was called ‘Vanavasi’.
The fourth kingdom founded by Yadu’s son Harita was located on the coast of the western ocean. The skilled fishermen over there were expert ocean divers. They were skilled at easily pulling out sea shells that contained pearls inside, sea corals and conches from the ocean’s belly.
Minister Vipruthu had already dispatched our emissaries with messages to these four kingdoms. The most significant news brought by our emissaries for me was that Sage Jamadagni’s son, Bhagwan Parashurama along with his selected disciples, had descended in the Padmawata kingdom on the banks of the Venna river.
After consulting dada, I decided to go and visit Parashurama first. We had no clue as to how many rivers and forests we would have to cross in order to reach him. While leaving Mathura, we had not forgotten to secretly carry a vast treasure of diamonds, rubies, pearls, jewels and gold. We had given plenty of instructions to be cautious to commander Satyaki, who had stayed behind. As soon as Jarasandha’s army began to retreat, Satyaki was going to meet with us by way of Mount Gomanta along with a few select fearless warriors.
During this expedition to the South, after three months, we faced the biggest challenge of Dandakaranya! A challenge of the mountain ranges of Vindhya, Satpuda and Pariyatra.
There was only one narrow path to go through this forest, known as ‘Dakshinapatha’! We took along an experienced forest-dweller as our guide, who scrupulously knew the tricky twists and turns of the path. Only the robust and sinewy horses that Daruka had bought with an expert’s eye were with us.
Dakshinapatha! How narrow was it? So much so that only one horse rider holding the reins of his horse could barely walk taking one step at a time; that too while cutting the thorny wild creepers blocking his way, slowly moving forward with arduous effort.
“Dhakalya, how are we going to know when the night descends upon us in this dense forest? How are we going to rest in the night? How long is this journey going to last?” The otherwise confidant dada raised a series of questions and doubts.
Putting my hands on dada’s shoulder with great affection I said with a smile, “Oh dada, Haladhara, don’t worry so much. We would recognize the night time by the clearly intensified creaking sound of the crickets that is so indistinct during the day time. The chirping of the birds would obviously cease by that time. Don’t you think so? Sometimes the thunderous growling of the wild beasts will also make the path shudder at night.
“We will have to use our axes to cut the wild creepers and clean enough space to build small huts. We will have to dig trenches around them and keep fire burning in those trenches throughout the night. The fire will keep the wild beasts away from the huts, but we will still have to pay close attention to the fiery sparks to prevent wildfire. We will have to take turns amongst us as sentries throughout the night. We will be taking many such breaks during our journey.
“At dawn we will have to dismantle our huts and extinguish the fire completely by covering it with soil and continue our journey. We will have to sparingly use the rations that we are carrying with us. It will take us a month’s time to safely get across this vast, dense forest. Then we will be able to enjoy the sunlight to our heart’s content. For a day or two it will be an odd feeling to be suddenly exposed to the sun after a long journey in the darkness of this forest.”
Giving each other support and encouragement, we determinedly completed this arduous journey. Finally, after a month we reached the other end of the forest along with our horses.
We crossed river Godavari along the border of the Vidarbha kingdom and descended into the Ashmaka kingdom. We also crossed river Bhima, keeping on our right the Nasik area of Mount Janasthana in the Kuntala kingdom where Srirama had resided. We came to the border of the ‘Padmawata’ kingdom of king ‘Padmawarna’.
Now the ‘Bhrigu aashrama’ of Parashurama located in the forest on the banks of the river Venna near Mahabalishwaram had come closer. I sent a messenger to Bhagwan Parashurama with the news of our arrival. We rested at the border for a day. Next day, early morning, Balaramadada and I left for our meeting with Bhrigu Parashurama along with a few hundred Yadavas.
First, we bathed in the confluence of Krishna and Koyana and then passed through the holy land of Karahataka, to enter the area near river Venna. Parashurama had sent two of his disciples with matted hair to receive us. Holding their shining axes on their shoulders they welcomed us. We left with them to meet the senior Bhrigushreshtha. We reached the tall, wooden gate of the Bhrigu aashrama.
The son of sage Jamadagni himself stood at the entrance with a smile on his face and his arms wide open, which completely wiped out his image that I had built in my mind for the last month and a half. I was absolutely stunned to see him. Just as I was enamoured by Aacharya Sandipani, I was drawn to the senior Bhrigu the moment I saw him. I moved forward briskly along with dada. Right at the entrance I laid myself prostrate at his feet to pay obeisance with utmost respect and humility. Dada followed suit. He instantly picked me up and holding me in an affectionate embrace he uttered words of blessings in a gentle rhythm, “Victory to you revered Yadava!” Dada was blessed the same way.
In Gokul, my restless urge for Yamuna would get quenched the moment I viewed her. Since we left Mathura I had longed to meet Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama. That thirst of mine which nobody else would understand got quenched only when I saw him in person.
He had a thick, full, and snow-white beard. He wore white upper and lower garments. Rudraksha garlands were tied around the matted hair on his head. Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama who was very aged, yet had a glow on his face and serene eyes, smiled peacefully and said, “Your arrival here has emancipated this land. I know who you are. Come into the aashrama. Take some rest and have some fruits first. Then we will talk.” His words were as distinct and clear as the sound of an axe striking against a rock and also as melodic as the chanting of ॐ.
After we took rest Bhrigu Parashurama inquired about our journey with genuine interest. I elucidated to him my anxiety over Jarasandha’s assaults on the Yadavas in entirety.
As he heard about my journey to the South, and the problem of Jarasandha he was lost in thought. Closing his eyes for a few moments he went into a meditative trance, and said, “Oh Yadava king, Srikrishna, your decision to leave Mathura was the right one. You have already declared a suitable reason and that has convinced all the Yadavas. I know very well why you left Mathura!
“You will never stay put in one place, leave alone Mathura. You are a ‘Chakravarti’. Whereve
r you put your feet, that land will be blessed. Therefore, you will constantly be on the move, and you should! Jarasandha will come looking for you wherever you go! Therefore, I would suggest that you should, along with your people, go to the strong and secure, naturally beautiful Mount ‘Gomanta’. Once your Yadava army reaches there you should wipe out Jarasandha completely. After your triumph on Mount Gomanta come and visit me again. I have been saving an exceptionally precious gift for you since many ages now. I will be relieved once I hand it over to you with my own hands. I cannot give it to anybody else!”
Meanwhile Balaramdada who had not participated in our discussion but was totally impressed with aacharya’s foresight, gathered his courage and said, “Bhagwan, it may seem disrespectful. Please forgive me, but I am in a dilemma whether to ask you or not. I would like to ask a question if I have your permission.” Dada brought both his palms together and leaned humbly in front of Bhrigu. This look of his was totally new to me. I had never seen him so humble even in front of our parents.
“Go ahead Balarama, don’t hesitate.” The gleaming Bhrigu replied with a serene smile.
“Bhagwan, we didn’t see your shining axe, usually resting on your shoulders when we met you. How come? Have you changed your mind about your vow of destruction of Kshatriyas? Or has our Kshatriya status been eradicated since Maharaja Yadu, as is believed?” Bhrigushreshtha looked at the golden-bladed plough that dada had taken down from his shoulder and gave a wide smile for a moment. He said, “Not I, but Srikrishna will give a convincing and pertinent answer to your question!” With his serene eyes, he looked at me purposefully. As our eyes met we both smiled.
Just as Bhrigushreshtha would have answered, I gave precisely the same answer to dada and our Yadavas, “Oh Bhrigus and Yadavas, the axe is a symbol. The axe cleanses the intellect of the weeds! Bhagwan never had any enmity with the Kshatriya clan! He was against the vile attitude of the arrogant, blind and thoughtless Powers that obstructed growth and development– the basic attributes of life in the name of the Kshatriya Dharma. Once his mission was over he knowingly took the axe off his shoulders. His disciples have adopted the same axe as a custom in commemoration of their Guru. Dada, tomorrow you too will take your plough off your shoulders once your life’s mission is accomplished. Yet it will be associated with your name forever. You will be known as ‘Haladhara’ to future generations.
“Now, to speak about our Kshatriya status, it is not characterized by birth, but by innate valour. I think for the same reason Bhagwan has blessed us suitably. Maybe he has kept my precious gift with him for the same reason.”
“Perfect! I knew he would speak correctly. Srikrishna, Balarama, I confer many blessings on both of you. Krishna, Rama, may victory always be with you!”
Holding me on his right and dada on his left in an embrace Parashurama patted our shoulders affectionately. His touch had comforting warmth. We stayed for two days in the Bhrigu aashrama accepting the hospitality extended to us by Bhagwan, then left for Mount Gomanta.
Gomanta! This was the mountain with a very dense forest amongst all the mountains we had crossed so far. It was spread long and tall and was challenging to cross. Many dense forests of tall and thick-leafed teak trees had spread for many yojanas at the foothills. After that the gradual incline of the mountain was full of dense forests of other trees like Jamun, Aamra, Khair, Anjan, Shisam, Kenjal, Kanchan and many more. An open plateau was located at the summit of the mountain. It was also covered with grass and scattered trees. The Gomantaka kingdom of the Kadamba dynasty was clearly visible from this plateau on the western side.
Along with select Yadavas, Dada and I entered the thick forests of Gomanta. By evening we reached the summit. Our troops immediately built a few strong huts on the plateau using their axes and sickles. That night, standing on the tall boulder, I feasted my eyes upon the silver, water line of the western ocean visible far away on the horizon. Dada stood next to me. I said to him, “I don’t know why I was drawn to Yamuna when I was in Gokul and why am I irresistibly drawn to the western ocean ever since we came here to kill Shankhasura!”
Looking once at the line of water in front and then at my eyes dada said, “You are drawn towards the ocean abound with water, but people like me get attracted to your ocean-like eyes. Where must be Mathura that we left far behind and where is this Mount Gomanta? Dhakalya, how far have we come?”
Then for a long time dada and I kept chatting on the boulder. My inquisitive sight kept wandering in the surroundings of Mount Gomanta in the twilight.
I started providing dada the information about the Southern region that I had gathered from my informers. Pointing to the east I said, “This is the Vanavasi kingdom. The Pandya and Malaya kingdoms are located in the south. At the end of this land of the Aaryas a place called ‘Kumari’ is located at the tip. There is also a gigantic southern ocean, much larger than the western ocean coming from the right and the eastern ocean from the east. The southern ocean meets these two oceans on the southern side.”
Our days passed blissfully on the beautiful Mount Gomanta, bustling with fauna. Within a week’s time dada and I wandered and surveyed as much area of the mountain as we could. We checked all the possible paths for descending the mountain and memorized them.
A variety of juicy fruits, clean water rich with iron and the cool breeze of the western wind made dada and me fall deeply in love with the mountain. We didn’t even realize how our blissful days began and how they ended.
Our joy started escalating when the troops of armed Yadava warriors from the southern kingdoms of Mahishmati, Padmawata, Vanavasi and Harita, began assembling on the mountain as per the message delivered by our prime messengers. Our delight reached its peak when the expert charioteer, commander Satyaki, possessor of knee-long arms, joined us with his troop. Now plenty of tents for the Yadava army were raised wherever they could find a place between the trees on Mount Gomanta. Our armed messengers started providing us minute specifics of the mountain right from the teak-wood forests at the bottom, up to the plateau region on the summit. The entire mountain was transformed into a huge military camp.
While passing through the forest of Dandakaranya, meeting Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama, and since arriving here I was constantly feeling that ‘Something was definitely going to happen here! Some spectacular event was going to take place that would be eternally memorable for the future generations’.
That is exactly what happened. Barely a month had passed since we came here. One day along with the rising sun a tumultuous cacophony of war tabors and kettle drums flooded the thick forests of Mount Gomanta. The war cries kept escalating along with the rising sun. The shrill sound of the war drums was so loud that it scared the freely chirping birds away. Some were so petrified that they just sat mutely in their nests.
Dada, Satyaki, the commanders of the southern Yadava kingdoms and I – we all climbed up on the spacious, big boulder on the plateau and surveyed the bottom of the mountain. Waves of Magadha army full of elephants, horses and infantry were moving about at the foothills. They were clamorous. Rows of triangular, scarlet Magadha pennants were spread around. Behind them rows of silver Chedi flags were visible.
It was obvious that vengeance had taken over prudence. Jarasandha had redirected his seventeenth assault on Mathura right to Mount Gomanta in the South to take revenge on me. His wrath for me for executing Kansa had gradually reached its peak. He had followed me along with Shishupala, the Chedi king, and reached here, faraway to the South, directly at Mount Gomanta. He was accompanied by his allies like the Kalinga king Shrutayu, Kashmir king Gonarda, Kinnara king Druma, Malava king Suryaksha, Venudari, Chhagali, Somaka, Darada and so on. They had arrived with their armies.
Now with the celerity of a cheetah we took some prompt actions on the mountain. First, we withdrew our troops from the forests at the bottom to the top plateau. Then I divided the whole army according to the disposition of the mountain, taking a strong defensive stance. The Magadhas of Jarasandha never
knew patience and composure. As soon as they came they immediately tried to break into the teakwood forests. Our Yadava army, already hidden in the forests, counterattacked fiercely and slaughtered them. That made the new incomers retreat in fear. A long arduous battle had begun.
Every day, Jarasandha and Shishupala started thrusting fresh warriors with strong mettle into the teakwood forests. A lot of them got killed in vain as they couldn’t do much in the cramped, thick forests. The Yadavas were spread halfway up the mountain. Jarasandha and Shishupala’s Magadha, Chedi and other troops were at the bottom of the mountain. The thick forests of teakwood lay in between. This scene remained undisturbed, without letting the enemy cross even an iota into the mountain forests.
Jarasandha had become impatient to grab this black Yadava of Mathura in his clutches. He was dreaming of slaughtering me with his mace, but for now he was stuck in one place. Wearing his body armour Jarasandha would restlessly move through the four divisions of his camp every day. Coming to the bottom of the mountain, he would hold his hand above his eyebrows and look up resignedly at the tip of the mountain with cringing eyes. Utterly frustrated, he had started shouting at the army commanders under him.
To lure Balaramadada and me out of the mountain and onto the open ground, he decided to set the entire Mount Gomanta aflame. He hastily withdrew his elephant and horse troops from the base of the mountain, and brought forward armed troops of his infantry holding burning torches in their hands. I immediately recognized what kind of devious, fiery move he was about to make.
Giving instant commands dada and I instructed everybody to leave the mountain by any way they could and gather on the western plateau at the base of the mountain.
The moment Magadha warriors touched the dry teak leaves spread on the ground with the burning torches, they instantly started burning like camphor. Within a short time, the complete base of Mount Gomanta got engulfed in the huge, rising flames of fire. The blowing wind flared them and the quivering, bright yellow flames of that inferno started rising sky high creating havoc.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 16
