Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe

by Shivaji Sawant

  His poisonous words like hot embers didn’t fall on my ears at all. The divine mantras of Sudarshan that had been echoing deep in my mind for so long, inadvertently started revolving in my mind and my brain. Only I could feel the barely audible, unrestrained, bright waves of those mantras coming from my lips. Blazing, radiant particles started moving about through my entire body like embers tossed around. My eyes closed involuntarily. I was no more Srikrishna Vasudeva Yadava, only a pillar of bright, radiant, pure Light! My right hand slowly got raised. Following an ear-splitting, tumultuous sound that filled Shrigala’s palace, the radiant Sudarshan chakra with twelve spokes manifested, revolving swiftly around itself on my right index finger!

  It was revolving rapidly, almost invisible to the sight.

  My index finger involuntarily bent forward aiming at the

  target. Sudarshan had been launched for the first time! On the banks of Panchaganga, in the Karvir kingdom! In a trice, unmistakably cutting through Shrigala’s arrogant, thick neck the radiant chakra leaped forward. His tall, hefty, insolent, armoured torso tumbled down the stairs splattering blood all over. His bloody head followed. The iron mace which was agog to crush my head, came tumbling down with clanging sounds and lay near my feet. The moment his blood touched me the chakra retreated swiftly. Settling on my index finger, it revolved around itself for a moment with decreasing rotations and gradually vanished!

  The Karvir city on the banks of Panchaganga was liberated from the clutches of Shrigala. Shrigala’s queen Padmawati had only one son named ‘Shakradeva’. Strong like a teakwood log, he was healthy and had just entered youth. He was wounded while fighting with our army. Our warriors presented him in front of dada and me as a royal prisoner, tied in ropes. We didn’t want to capture the throne of Karvir, just wanted to do the same that I did in Mathura after Kansa’s execution. We wanted to formally declare Shrigala’s son as the royal heir of Karvir. But that young prince kept staring at us with sheer hatred and contempt. This man had a rare mettle. It was necessary to steer him in the right direction.

  Going near him I loosened the ropes tied around him and freed him. He was still staring with his fiery eyes full of loathe. Looking directly into his fearless eyes I patted his shoulders and said, “Oh son of Shrigala, never follow your father’s destructive ways. It won’t be helpful in any way. We are entrusting you with the responsibility of the Karvir kingdom. Oh, Son of Karvir, build a kingdom here, for the welfare and happiness of your subjects. In memory of your father declare a new name for Karvir, Kolhapur.”

  Now the son of Karvir transformed completely. Instantly bending down, he put his head on dada’s and my feet. Pulling him up, we embraced him. That night we tasted the delicious aromatic rice made from the fine rice grains that grew on the fertile land of Panchaganga’s coast. Karvir was a holy place, so we bathed in the Panchaganga too, and drank pots full of rich creamy milk of the healthy buffalos. After a week, the citizens of Karvir along with Shakradeva gathered on the banks of Panchaganga to bid farewell to us. They gave out victorious shouts, “Hail Lord of Mathura Maharaja Srikrishna, Balarama! Hail Lord of Karvir, Maharaja Shakradeva!” Our victorious Yadava army left Karvir.

  Leaving behind the Kuntala and Ashmaka kingdoms again, we camped near the border of Vidarbha after many sojourns. Kundinpura, the famous city of Vidarbha was only a few yojanas away. King Bhishmaka had much earlier collaborated with Jarasandha against us. His son Rukmi was as impatient and short-tempered as our Satyaki. He had the strong support of his four brothers – Rukmamali, Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu and Rukmakesha. During this sojourn Satyaki asked me, “Should we send our messenger to Bhishmaka and ask for his consent? There is a huge, ancient temple of Goddess Ambika here. We can pay obeisance to the goddess!”

  “No, not right now. We are going to pay obeisance to the goddess at the right time!” Smiling, I declined Satyaki’s suggestion.

  We reached Dandakaranya again on our way back. After a month’s gruelling journey, we finally crossed Dandakaranya and arrived in the Bhojapur city of the Avanti kingdom. This was the city of King Kuntibhoja, the foster father of our Kunti aatya. Here we unexpectedly met with Gargamuni. He had visited King Yavana of Ajitanjaya city on the western coast. I had a strong feeling about the name of the city – Ajitanjaya and the name of the king, ‘Yavana’. My bow had the same name as the city and ‘Yavana’ were the people living in the faraway region of Gandhara, river Kabra. All said and done they were outsiders. I questioned Gargamuni, “What is your relation with King Yavana?” He astutely avoided the answer by saying something vague. He was the royal priest, as revered as our Guru. Therefore, I didn’t vex him any further.

  After many sojourns, we reached the borders of Mathura. This time Maharaja Ugrasena came to receive us along with Vasudevababa and few select Yadavas from the eighteen royal families.

  The victorious news of our triumph over insolent Jarasandha had reached the Shursena kingdom long back. All the citizens of Mathura had gathered at the border. Uddhava was also there, right in front, next to Baba along with his brothers Bruhu and Chitru.

  As we descended from the chariot the women from the royal family put a vermilion dot on our foreheads. They welcomed us with platters of lighted oil lamps. Various musical instruments were being played. In that loud sound,people couldn’t hear each other. Meanwhile, seeing me, eager Uddhava instantly came forward, and said to me, “Dada, your face looks more radiant than ever. I have never seen it so bright before! I am proud of you for defeating Jarasandha. But, but I am quite upset with you about one thing!”

  “About what? Come, let’s talk.” I moved forward with him. We paid obeisance to baba and Maharaja Ugrasena. Getting rid of Jarasandha after a long time of twelve years, the oppressed Yadavas were exultant about Jarasandha’s retreat from Mount Gomanta. It was natural. Tossing vermilion in the air, dancing with pomp and vigour they took out a huge procession of us in the chariot. Asking Uddhava to get in the chariot I asked him, “Udho, brother what were you so upset about?”

  “You left Mathura so suddenly, without meeting me and without taking me with you, that is why.”

  “That’s it?! As a dear brother, I had shown you the previous three precious jewels immediately after I got them. I thought you will ask me what I have brought with me today.” I confounded Uddhava and kept him busy in my questions.

  “You have brought with you the most precious, invisible jewel this time too. I already know that!”

  “How come?” I asked him. The chariot was moving ahead with the speed of an ant. On the beat of the instruments the otherwise pugnacious Yadavas, were dancing and shouting slogans!

  “From the expression on your face! Your face is emitting extraordinary splendour today. Tell me dada, what have you brought with you?”

  Putting my hand on dear Uddhav’s shoulder and looking deep into his clear, transparent, philosophical eyes I said, “I have brought a jewel that gives a healthy acceleration to the lifecycle of the universe. Can you guess what it is?”

  “To the lifecycle of the universe? Dada, you have formally obtained the holy mantras of the divine Sudarshan chakra! Tell me, where did you meet Bhagwan Parashurama?” With uncontrollable joy Uddhava embraced me tightly in the slow-moving chariot. I had never seen him so excited before. It felt like not I, but he himself had obtained the Sudarshan chakra.

  After dinner, in the family room, Vasudevababa looked quite worried about something. He said, “Dear son Srikrishna, I get a chance to meet my three sisters and your aunts Shrutashrava, Rajadhidevi and Shrutadevi now and then, and share the news of their welfare. But my beloved sister Kunti has been alienated from me since childhood.”

  “Father, I can see that Kunti aatya is really your most favourite sister!” I stopped for a moment. Supporting baba Thorali immediately said, “What exactly are you implying?” I smiled and said, “Thorale, isn’t that so? Weren’t dada and I alienated from both of you since our birth? How could baba forget that?”

  “Let it be. Sri
krishna, your aatya has been bravely facing

  her tough destiny. After the death of her husband Maharaja Pandu, she has recently returned to Hastinapura from Mount Gandhamadana in the Himalayas. Her five sons are with

  her. I don’t know how she is going to bring them up in Hastinapura.”

  Moving close to him I lovingly held both his hands in mine. Glancing at his thick beard with traces of white I said, “Baba, your dear son Srikrishna will never keep away from his beloved Kunti aatya. I have never seen her sons, my paternal cousins, but I will never ever forget them – the five Pandavas in my life. They are as beloved to me as they are to you.

  “In the name of the infallible power that I have obtained, I promise you as your son that I will see that Kunti aatya and the Pandavas get justice! I will stand behind them for the rest of my life.”

  “I was sure you would say the same. That is why I shared my anguish for Kunti with you.”

  I immediately dispatched a messenger and called for minister Akrura. As he arrived, putting the responsibility of this mission on his experienced shoulders I said, “Akrurakaka, you are to immediately leave for the royal capital Hastinapura of the Kuru kingdom, and meet with our Kunti aatya and her sons, the Pandavas.

  “Just as you comforted and supported us in Gokul, do the same for her. The Pandavas are still young. Don’t forget to skilfully convey to Maharaja Dhritarashtra to treat them duly. Keep an eagle eye on the Pandavas and make a note of their nature and their special qualities. Keep in mind that in future I may form a deep bond with them!”

  “As you wish sire. After returning from Hastinapura I will present the details to you.” Akrura left to fulfil the duty assigned to him.

  Looking at his disappearing figure, a clear vision of the royal palace of Hastinapura, far away on the banks of Ganga swam before my eyes. In spite of his blindness Maharaja Dhritarashtra was dreaming of the coronation of Duryodhana – the eldest of his one hundred sons.

  Maharani Gandhari’s crafty brother Shakuni who had come from the Gandhara kingdom, was willingly feeding him with cunning, political machinations in his sweet tongue. The royal gurus Drona, and Kripa were occupied in edifying the royal princes in warfare. The only person with a sense of justice that I could see was the royal minister of the Kurus, Mahatma Vidura. I had instructed Akrurakaka to meet him too. The onus of the Kuru kingdom which was located far away on the banks of Ganga lay on the shoulders of the senior Kuru Bhishma. Hearing his life’s story from baba I had developed a natural affection for him. It was exactly the same feeling that I had for Uddhava.

  Now father’s face brightened with satisfaction. Coming closer to me, he held both my hands lovingly in his. Gently patting my hands, father talked to me in a melodious tone that reminded me of Aacharya Sandipani and Bhagwan Parashurama, “Srikrishna, every valiant warrior from the eighteen royal families of the Yadavas has always kept one aspiration in his life – of obtaining the highest epithet of the human race, the epithet of ‘Vaasudeva’ – the Supreme Being.

  “My dream of becoming a ‘Vaasudeva’ was never fulfilled.

  “Dear son, would you make that unfulfilled dream of mine come true? I can clearly see all the essential divine qualities and traits amalgamated in you to achieve that status. Will you accomplish this unfulfilled wish of mine?”

  Looking into his eyes with an immense and incomprehensible self-confidence I said, “For sure baba, I will become ‘Vaasudeva’. Working diligently to achieve that goal, I will travel all over the world, and spread Love that goes beyond discrimination. I will treat all like they are part of my own existence, and will diligently strive to gain the knowledge to spread love around me. I will act in a neutral, detached way that befits only the ‘Vaasudeva’. Though I was born within the confines of a prison, I will keep the life-flow moving freely. Your son Srikrishna will attain the epithet of ‘Vaasudeva’, and you will surely witness it with your own eyes.”

  With a certain determination, I bowed down and paid obeisance to my parents. That night walking towards my bed chamber the divine mantras of Sudarshan chakra kept resonating in my mind. Lying in bed, while observing the symbols of the conch, fish, flag, swastika and chakra on my rosy palm and stroking the hairy calf symbol on my chest only one word surrounded my existence and kept revolving around me – ‘Vaasudeva, Vaasudeva!’

  The very next day, in the royal council of the Yadavas, minister Vipruthu made a significant announcement in front of Maharaja Ugrasena. Pointing to father who was sitting on the right of the Maharaja he said, “Vasudeva’s sister, wife of the Chedi king Damaghosha – Shrutashravadevi has arrived in Mathura from the city of Shuktimati to meet him. She has come from the Chedi kingdom to discuss something of utmost importance. Please allow me to present her in the council.”

  Dada and I kept looking at each other after hearing that. We were going to see father’s eldest sister, our eldest aatya for the first time.

  The minister reverentially presented the Chedi Maharani, our aatya in the council. Shrutashravadevi presented royal gifts to Maharaaj Ugrasena, offered salutations to him, and addressing the Yadava council, especially our father, she said, “I am the daughter of Mathura. My son Shishupala is beyond my control and that of the king. He has associated himself with the Magadha Emperor Jarasandha of Girivraja. He recently chased Srikrishna along with Jarasandha and conceded humiliating defeat on Mount Gomanta. He has returned home barely saving his own life. I implore the Yadavas, Vasudevadada and especially Srikrishna to forget and forgive the recklessness of my son.”

  This was completely unexpected for Maharaja Ugrasena. Utterly perplexed he couldn’t even respond properly to her plea. He kept looking expectantly at Vasudevababa. I could clearly see baba caught in the predicament due to blood relations. This stalemate had to be broken. I had to intervene. By now I had enough practice to convince things to others in a way that was easily comprehensible to them.

  I got up immediately, glanced around the council hall and said, “Yadava warriors, the Maharani of Chedi is the daughter of Mathura, so the Yadavas should accept her plea without a doubt. I readily accept it. On behalf of all present here I promise our revered aatya that I will patiently tolerate one hundred offences of her son, my cousin Shishupala. Nonetheless he will never be able to commit the hundred and first offence! He should be watchful not to commit that mistake. Otherwise he will have to suffer the consequences of his actions. My dear aatya should be content with this promise. She should accept the hospitality of the Yadavas and convey our regards to Maharaja Damaghosha.”

  Aatya went back satisfied. Nowadays for no reason I was reminiscing Gokul in Vraja. Though it was close in distance, for me it was not possible to pay a visit there. For one thing, if I went there it would be really difficult to come back. The other reason was that I had been completely transformed since I left Gokul, therefore the gopas and gopikas of Gokul were not going to be able to bond with me like they did before. The ‘Srikrishna’ in me had no right to shatter the image of the ‘Gopalkrishna’ in their hearts.

  Therefore, I brought up the subject when Balaramadada, Revativahini, baba and Thorali were having a family discussion, and dada was in a pleasant mood. I told him, “Dada, you should go to Vraja one of these days and meet Nandababa, Yashodama, Eka, all our childhood friends, Radha and the gopa-gopis, and bring the news of their wellbeing to us.

  “And do one thing. Don’t wear the royal costume while leaving from here. Wear the simple gopa dress of Vraja and visit them by being one of them. Only then they will recognize you, and open their hearts to you.”

  As per my suggestions dada went to Vraja and brought the news of the wellbeing of all the people there.

  Mathura was free from worries at present, now that the threat of Jarasandha and Magadha’s assaults had been warded off. Days were passing by joyously. Taking the chariot, I would usually go for a ride with dada and Uddhava on the shores of Yamuna. During one such ride dada asked me a tricky question, “Brother, you entangled me in the cha
ins of marriage, but what about you?”

  “I have never been approached with a proposal by any king like you were, dada. Otherwise I would have thought about it too.” I dismissed his question casually.

  That day after returning to the royal palace, minister Vipruthu presented a very peculiar news to our family. His head hanging low he said, “Bhishmaka, also known as Hiranyaroman, the king of Vidarbha has organized the Swayamwar – wedding ceremony – of his daughter Rukmini, but he has not invited the Yadavas of the Shursena kingdom!”

  Maharaja Ugrasena asked Vipruthu, “Minister, what could be the reason that the Yadavas have not been invited by Bhishmaka?”

  Backing him, baba said, “How come Bhishmaka has been so mesmerized by Jarasandha?”

  Minister Vipruthu answered hesitatingly, “The princess is still young anyway. And Mathura is so far away from Kundinpura. It is possible that they may have forgotten our royal family by oversight.”

  “How is it possible minister? We have just recently returned passing by their kingdom after executing Shrigala, the southern king of Karvir.” Balaramadada firmly emphasized his point.

  “I know why the king of Vidarbha has not invited the Yadavas. Word is that our forefather Maharaja Yadu was cursed by his father Yayati. Everyone believes that since then, Yadavas have lost their Kshatriya status. The Royals of Vidarbha do not consider the Yadavas as their equals.” I said calmly after hearing all the opinions, bringing the discussion to the point. The minister was startled.

  “...Therefore, only for that purpose I have decided to attend the Swayamwar ceremony even without any invitation. Dada will stay behind for the protection of Mathura. I will bring the princess of Vidarbha to Mathura in the presence of King Bhishmaka, Jarasandha’s ally, his son Rukmi – the disciple of Bhrigushreshtha Parashurama, and his brothers Rukmamali, Rukmakesha, Rukmaketu, and Rukmabahu. Initially I will try to reconcile with them and if that doesn’t work, as the last resort I will abduct her by force as per the great tradition of the Kshatriyas.” I spoke with a certain resolve. Hearing my words, the royal council calmed down. Only two people spoke correctly. Uddhava said, “Dada, your decision is right and it befits you perfectly.” dada said, “Be rest assured. I will look after Mathura.”