Mount Gomanta usually boomed with the roaring sounds of innumerable wild animals. But now those wild animals like hyenas, wolves, cheetahs, tigers and lions got scared. They started running for their lives, desperately trying to jump high and long to escape the fire. Some succeeded, but others couldn’t make it out of the fire. The acrid, unbearable smell of their burning fur and flesh began spreading into the atmosphere. The burning sensation of the flames made the herds of mammoth elephants cry for their lives. Raising their trunks, they let out ear-splitting, trumpeting cries. Ramming and shoving against each other they started running helter-skelter. Some of them escaped. Others fell down on the way, got burnt and finally died of unbearable pain.
Deer, rabbits, antelopes, wild pigs, wolves, foxes and all other animals started running hither and thither. While trying to escape some of them rammed into each other and fell in the fire. Many birds like eagles, cuckoos, pigeons, herons, peacocks, falcons and parrots dropped dead in the fire as if they were flightless, due to the fiery heat. Reptiles like serpents, lizards and iguanas crawled out of their holes underground trying to escape the fire. A few of them succeeded, others collapsed wriggling in the fire and burned to death. Tall trees like teak, Anjan, Kanchan, Khair, KenjaL, Jamun, Hirada, and Behada made loud crashing noises while burning down. As the mountain forests turned into a huge pit of fire, the gust of wind scattered the hot burning ashes around.
Even Jarasandha’s Magadha warriors at the frontline couldn’t bear the blasts of hot air coming from the blazing mountain and inadvertently retreated a few meters back in fear.
On the Magadha base, inside their tents Jarasandha and Shishupala were happy and shouting ebullient cries with their commanders, and had already started guzzling down pots of Maireyaka wine. They had thought that Srikrishna and Balarama must have burned to death in the blazing fire of Mount Gomanta like sweet potatoes roasted in a fireplace.
Dada and I had already left the mountain after getting all the Yadava warriors safely out of the mountain from the western side. Just like an arrow shot out of the bow stops on its own only when its speed dies, the wildfire on Mount Gomanta was going to stop on its own sometime. It was in Jarasandha’s hands to start the fire, but to stop it was in nobody’s hands now – not his, mine, or dada’s.
Our military joined hands with the military of the southern kingdom, with the wildfire illuminating the Vanavasi kingdom on the one hand and the Gomantaka kingdom on the other. Then this united Yadava army encircled the mountain completely and assaulted the intoxicated and unwary Jarasandha and Shishupala with the battle cry, ‘Hail Goddess Ida’. The attack began even before the Magadhas and Chedis could get hold of their weapons. As our army reached the open plateau and vehemently attacked in the midst of the ear-splitting sounds of the war drums, the mammoth Magadha army got stunned. The Magadha warriors were already bedazzled by the wildfire, now they were totally bewildered. They couldn’t figure out how and where to run.
The Magadhas were, in fact, proficient, courageous and valiant in war and at this moment they were sizeably larger in number than us. Yet, boosting the spirit of our brave warriors dada and I, mounted on elephants, attacked our enemy. The very first king dada encountered was King Darada. Within moments dada pulled him down from his chariot putting his Samvartaka plough around his neck, and with one strike of his Saunanda pestle executed him.
It had never happened before in any of the previous wars, but it happened today. Though Jarasandha was an emperor and his terror had spread all over Aaryavarta, he retreated! He turned his back and started running! His army followed him. Our fervent, victorious army began chasing the Magadhas now. Holding the Saunanda pestle in my hands and holding the Samvartaka plough on his shoulder, dada and I were now leading them in a chariot. The Magadhas and Chedis running ahead and the northern and southern Yadavas behind them; the chasing game lasted till evening. Finally, we drove them out of the borders of the Vanavasi kingdom, and came back as the evening was setting in.
We came to the base of Mount Gomanta and camped on the same spot where Jarasandha and Shishupala had camped before. The mountain was still burning. Our troops built new tents in the light of the blazing fire that was as bright as daylight. Dinner was served. Our warriors were exhausted after fighting for so many days and the chase of the Magadhas today. They rested in their tents and on the open plateau.
The next day our victorious army began marching towards the Shurparaka aashrama of Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama. The news of our victory over Jarasandha had automatically reached his aashrama. The aashrama bhrigus joyously welcomed us with festivity. Now I was eager to see the dazzling, bright, visionary and grand face of venerable Parashurama. How wisely he had guided me to go to Mount Gomanta! What if I had not met him at all? What if Jarasandha had caught up with us on the open plateau? Bhrigushreshtha was still near the banks of river Venna. After accepting the hospitality of the Shurparakas, Balaramadada and I left for that aashrama, along with our army.
With us was our commander Satyaki, who had travelled through Dandakaranya and reached the southern kingdoms right after us. He was much impressed by our recent victory over Jarasandha and Shishupala. While travelling again by way of the Koyana river passage, dada, he and I were together in the same chariot. Many months had passed since we had left Mathura. During the recent eventful period, we hadn’t got any news of Mathura. So, I was trying to extract each and every piece of news from Satyaki. He was elaborating some things on his own. He said, “Maharaja Ugrasena and all the Yadava leaders of Mathura are tired of these consecutive wars. Though you and Balarama have left Mathura, they are still worried that the Magadhas will return.”
“Commander, Jarasandha, his allies and the Magadhas will never assault Mathura again now! I have also taken a firm decision. After this journey through the South, when we return to Mathura I am going to present it to the Yadava royal council. The situation in which and the way I left Mathura is a matter of anguish for Yadavas. I know it well. That guilt needs to be removed. I will do it myself at the right time.” I consoled Satyaki patting him on the shoulder.
We came closer to Bhrigu aashrama near river Venna. Last time only dada, Vipruthu, a few select Yadavas and I were there. This time we had the victorious Yadava army of the South with us. This time Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama himself came to receive us with all his disciples. And yes, this time a six-seven-inch-wide axe was shining on his shoulders! Dada, Satyaki and I – we all prostrated respectfully at the feet of the bright, visionary sage.
Walking towards his cottage, he kept his hand on my shoulder and said lovingly, “You felt deep regret when Jarasandha burned down Mount Gomanta, a beautiful creation of nature that came into existence after hundreds of years of penance. And you are right to feel the pain. But I clearly foresee that even you will be compelled to take such a decision in the future, to burn down a forest even thicker than this. And you will have to do it for the sake of humanity’s welfare.” The elderly Bhrigu smiled in his thick, pure white beard.
We arrived at his cottage and had some fruits. In the centre of his cottage there was a Yajna pit that would be ablaze throughout the day and night. Bhrigushreshtha Parashuram asat on a tiger skin on a tall, wooden seat next to the Yajna pit. On his right and left his main disciples and our Yadava leaders were standing wherever they could find place.
Keeping the yajna pit in the middle, dada and I sat on deer skins in front of Bhrigu. Our Yadava army was dispersed outside the cottage throughout the aashrama. As Aacharya Sandipani used to give us a discourse in his solemn, melodious voice in Ankapada aashrama, Parashurama said to us with the same intent of a Guru, “Rama-Srikrishna, only Srirama, the son of Dasharatha, along with Lakshmana had crossed the Dandakaranya, the southernmost tip of Aaryavarta before. Now you have come, and even I got a chance to meet you.
“I am much more experienced than both of you as I am older in age. Based on that experience I can clearly foresee the purpose of your life. I am going to sum it up for you briefly
. Listen carefully.
“The essence of true Kshatriya Dharma is the protection of the life and rights of the weak. That is the true meaning of Purushartha.
“Brahman Dharma is that which explains in a simple way, what is meant by responsibility, what is nature, what is life, and what are rights.
“Though I am a Brahmanakumara by birth I have dutifully practised the Kshatriya Dharma. I annihilated the supercilious and arrogant Kshatriyas who blocked the flow of life. I never had any desire to possess any royal thrones. I have been building Bhrigu aashramas throughout Aaryavarta and have devoted my life to the duty of giving knowledge to others as a Brahmin.
“Let me tell you the meaning of life in short as I have comprehended it. Jnana, Vijnana, and Prajnana are the three basic realms of life. Jnana is complete cognizance of our surroundings and nature.
“Vijnana is special knowledge. The detailed knowledge of a particular subject. I obtained Vijnana by acquiring the knowledge of the Brahmastra.
“Prajnana is the thorough knowledge of all facets of life, including the knowledge of self. Prajnana is the quest for the eternal energy that resides within oneself and within the animate and inanimate.
“Whatever I am telling you now is very significant as it is from beyond the realms of Jnana and Vijnana. It is from the realm of Prajnana.
“Rama-Srikrishna, though you are born in the Yadu dynasty, you don’t belong only to the Yadava dynasty, not even to the Shursena kingdom, and not just to the Aaryavarta which ends at the borders of Dandakaranya. You are the eternally burning lamps on the bank of the perpetually flowing Ganga of human life. You cannot be contained within the limits of a dynasty, a place or time.
“With a specific vision in my mind I travelled and worked all my life. Srikrishna, I see in your eyes that you are my true heir in terms of my life’s mission, and therefore I am going to present you with an invaluable, divine gift today. I can see that you are fully capable of understanding its essence, activating it at the right time and immersing it when necessary. You are the only one who solely and truly deserves this.”
The senior Bhrigu closed his eyes gradually. His face in the meditative trance started to look hot and glowing like the blazing fire in the Yajna pit. The mantras of initiation began shooting out of his mouth like rapid arrows. They resembled the sound of my Paanchajanya conch. I had never heard these mantras before. Within moments they made everybody around us feel amazed and speechless. But they were swiftly getting inscribed in my memory. Each particle of my body blossomed like never before.
Instantly Aacharya’s cottage got filled with various echoing, melodious sounds. Those sounds went on escalating every moment. Within a few moments, the cottage got filled with a dazzling light that would put the brilliance of hundreds and millions of suns to shame.
The glowing bright, meditating senior Bhrigu with a white beard and matted hair raised his right index finger in the air and it stayed there for a moment or two. A shining, divine chakra with twelve spokes, swiftly revolving around its axis appeared instantly on his finger, like a bud of Brahmakamala blossoming in the early morning in Manas sarovar. Its divine light blinded everyone in the cottage. They couldn’t see anything but the powerful light. Out of fear they all tried to grab hold of each other for support. Dada was also holding my hand tightly and was captivated. Yes! Only I could see it clearly. The spinning divine chakra carried by Bhrigu. Along with Bhrigushreshtha holding the chakra in his hand, I could also clearly see each and every corner of the cottage. To me that blinding divine light looked and seemed like the cool moonlight in Gokul on the night of Paurnima and Rasa dance.
As Bhrigushreshtha signalled with his eyes I got up and walked away from dada, towards him. He uttered a few mantras in my ears and said to me, “Experience the power of this ‘Sudarshan’ chakra yourself!” He closed his eyes and chanting the mantra he projected the divine chakra in front of him. Within a trice, it crossed over the river Venna, touched the faraway mountain ranges, and swiftly coming back on his finger it rested there. Spinning around itself it gradually disappeared, just as it had appeared.
With his eyes closed, Bhrigurama released the sacred water from his water pot on my right palm and said, take a sip of Aachamana. I did as instructed. He further said, “Yadava king, son of Vasudeva, Srikrishna, from today onwards you have the authority over this chakra of brilliance called ‘Sudarshan’, which was with me for many years. Achyuta, you already know the story of the birth of this chakra! However, let me repeat it just to refresh your memory.
“Many eras back Lord Shiva himself created this divine Sudarshan chakra to destroy the malicious powers of the demon Tripura. Lord Vishnu Himself...” Bhrigu stopped short before saying something. He opened his eyes and started looking at me. His eyes that looked like the burning pit of a Yajna fire some time back now looked very serene. His mysterious smile beginning from his lips and lingering in his beard seemed to me like my own smile. The thought made me reflect his smile.
While closing his eyes again Bhrigu said, “Who is Lord Vishnu? Do I really need to explain it to you? You know it all– everything! So then, ‘our’ Vishnu offered Shiva a thousand lotuses with utter devotion to obtain the Sudarshan chakra. Then it was given to Agni. Agni gave it to Varuna. From Varuna it came to me. I never made use of the chakra in my life as I never felt the need to do so. My axe was more than enough to accomplish my life’s mission.
“From today you have become the complete master of the divine Sudarshan chakra. Launch it only when you find it absolutely necessary to do so. You have to protect Truth, Justice and Dharma. Balarama will have to accompany you like your shadow and protect you.
“Remember oh sons of Yadavas! Using Balarama’s plough, you have to plough this land of the Aryas and sow the seeds of the Truths of life that will be cherished for ages. And you have to protect them with the Sudarshan chakra.
“My life mission is over now. Srikrishna, in my opinion you are the only one suitable to carry forward my mission. I will give my final discourse to the disciples in Shurparaka aashrama and then head directly towards the Himalayas, for Vanaprasthashram.
“As the senior leader of all Bhrigus I give you plenty of blessings. May victory be with you Srikrishna, Balarama...!”
Ever since I obtained the mantras of Sudarshan I was completely transformed. Listening seemed better than speaking now! My vision was always thirsty to foresee the faraway future. I constantly felt that I had gained a miraculous power of reading a person inside out. I could hear the susurrus of huge trees like the Vata and Ashwattha, susurrus originating from thousands of roots underground and spreading to millions of leaves which reached out to the sky. I could constantly feel that this power was beyond the body, the mind, and even beyond Kala, the Time.
Dada, Satyaki and I were sitting in our tent, discussing our return journey and the hurdles we would be facing. Only dada and Satyaki were talking, and the commanders of the four southern kingdoms were answering their questions. I was just listening.
Meanwhile, the head of our surveillance team brought in a robust citizen inside. He bowed down and said, “This is a citizen of the Karvir city in the Padmawata kingdom. He wants to protest against some kind of injustice. He demands justice.”
I checked out the citizen of Karvir from head to toe. Putting his hands together he said with utmost sincerity, “Maharaja Srikrishna, do we have to leave the Padmawata kingdom and find another place to live? King Shrigala is behaving just like a jackal, as his name implies! He is forcefully seizing our women, wealth and land. Many citizens have suffered his wrath. Some have fled from the kingdom.
“We have heard that you executed Kansa, the tyrant king of Mathura even though he was your own mama. We don’t see anybody else who can penalize King Shrigala. Please do something, save us from the clutches of this vicious king.”
I stood up and went closer to him. It amused me that he had called me ‘Maharaja’. I was not ensconced on any royal throne, and never had the desire to
possess one. I had not even been formally crowned, and yet he called me ‘Maharaja’. I gently patted his shoulder. Immediately dropping on his knees, he put his head on my feet. With that touch, the same sacred sound that had echoed before the manifestation of Sudarshan resonated through my entire body. Holding his shoulders, I pulled him up and comforted him. I commanded Satyaki, “Commander, plan our troops’ return journey via Karvir!”
Our fourfold army travelled in the direction of Karvir. Shrigala’s Karvir kingdom was a tiny vassal kingdom, contained within the Padmawata kingdom. It was located on the banks of river Panchaganga. But the arrogant and insolent Shrigala considered himself to be an invincible, powerful emperor. He didn’t even recognize the authority of king Padmavarna.
He had built a strong, protective fortification on the banks of river Panchaganga. Satyaki offered many suggestions to cross that. I merely listened to his suggestions. Then using a herd of elephants, I got the gates of Shrigala’s royal fort broken open. Dada, Satyaki, a few select Yadavas and I entered the fort forcefully. Our troops collided with those of Shrigala. I stood at the bottom of the staircase leading to Shrigala’s palace. I carried only the Ajitanjaya bow on my shoulders, the Paanchajanya conch tied around my waist and the Vaijayanti garland around my neck. Shrigala was a tall, hefty and armed warrior. Standing on the highest step, wielding his huge, shining, round iron mace, he roared, “You low-life cowherd of Vasudeva who ran away from Mathura! You may have forced Emperor Jarasandha to retreat using the wildfire on Gomanta to your advantage. But this is the city of Karvir, the city of invincible wrestlers. I am the sole emperor here. You better go back the way you came. Otherwise I will tear you to pieces and eat you raw!”
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 17
