“Wrong again Maharani! Akrurakaka will never give the Syamantaka jewel to Uddhava. I anyway never yearned for it at all. I know Uddhava better than anybody else. He is less of a warrior and more of a philosopher. More than that, he is my ardent devotee with crystal clear thoughts inside out. Therefore, I must take precautions for his safety. Uddhava’s brothers are older than him. They are expert warriors. I have told them whatever is necessary.”
With every single word of his I felt that the one who is standing in front of me is not the Lord of Dwaraka at all. But it is a cerulean ‘Brahmakamala’ of words! I thought I should not be waiting here till I feel forced to cover my nose with a shawl and left the resting chamber immediately.
Those days in Dwaraka were indeed colourful like a peacock feather. Not only for me, but for all the wives of Sri and also for all the citizens of Dwaraka. The five of us had arrived in Dwaraka from five different directions. Obviously, everyone had a different temperament. Are the five fingers of a hand ever identical? Yet don’t they form one strong fist? I knew very well that I held the control switch of this fist in my hands. The four of them respected me greatly as the Maharani. I would make them aware of the fact through my actions that I was not just the Maharani but also the most senior among them without saying so explicitly. That too, very casually. For that purpose, once I used a remedial strategy in front of the other three to surprise Bhama. She loved to get an intricate red-dye design drawn on her crimson feet by the maid who helped her to get adorned.
Once while the five of us were together this red-dye colouring was going on. Her maid, skillful in drawing such designs was engrossed in her work, forgetting everything around her including us. I had heard Sri say a lot of times in private, “Forgetting oneself in any kind of karmayoga is as good as worshiping God! No karma is big or small. It appears so, due to the beholder’s big or small outlook.”
Looking at Bhama’s maid engrossed thus I strongly felt that this was the perfect opportunity to show all my sisters that I am more than just the Maharani and their elder sister. I intentionally asked the maid, “How do you draw such intricate red-dye design? That too without any mistake! Will I be able to draw one just like you?”
She didn’t understand my intention at all, and said to me, “It is not that hard Maharani. You can try it!”
I quickly followed her suggestion and moved forward. Moving her aside I held Satyabhama’s crimson foot in my hands. And put it gently in my lap. I held the bowl of red-dye in one hand and tilting my neck, holding the golden stick in the other hand I began drawing a design intently.
All four of them kept staring at me agape. I continued to draw the design. I completed the design, put the stick back into the bowl and put the bowl down. I tilted my neck couple of times to check if the design I had drawn on Bhama’s foot looked neat or not. With wide eyes, all four of them almost screamed, “Oh! Well done! It’s beautiful! Nobody ever knew that Maharani possessed this skill too.”
My job was done. An intricate design of sentiments about me was drawn on the minds of all four of them, which was never going to be erased. All four of them had got the message that I was Sri’s perfect first wife who just like Sri never considered any work below dignity. All this, without my saying anything at all!
A month passed by like this and an envoy brought the news that minister Vipruthu and Uddhavabhauji sent by Sri on the special mission, had succeeded and were returning at the Shuddhaksha gate. Prince Balaramadada and Akrurakaka were also returning with them. Though the end of monsoon was approaching Dwaraka blossomed again. This happiness of Dwaraka was indeed very unique.
I was happy for two reasons. The first was that Sri’s staunch supporter, our dear, mighty dada had let go of his anger and was returning to Dwaraka. The second was that Sri would be cleared of the accusation of stealing the Syamantaka. Except for Bhama all four of us had never got to see that jewel. We never even had the urge. Now we were going to see the Syamantaka jewel in person that begot one after the other dramatic events. At this time, I was also curious about one thing. With whom in Dwarka would Sri decide to keep this jewel that had stayed out of Dwaraka for such a long time?
The Yadavas of Dwaraka gave a grand welcome, suitable to their status, to Uddhavabhauji, both his elder brothers, Balaramadada and Akrurakaka. At the Shuddhaksha gate, in the presence of their father and mother when Sri bowed down to touch dada’s feet, dada didn’t allow him to do that and passionately held him in a deep embrace. The moment Rama met Sri, thousands of emotionally overwhelmed Yadavas roared ecstatically, ‘Hail Balarama-Srikrishna!’ The trifoliate Yadava Bela leaf in my heart was complete now. I felt totally contented.
The very next day a grand Sudharma royal assembly was held to welcome dada and Akrurakaka. I sat next to Sri as usual. All my four sisters sat in the reserved section for the royal ladies. Seeing both their sons together after such a long time the faces of Vasudevababa and Devakimata sitting on the royal throne and Rohini mata in the reserved section, were brimming with affection and happiness. It had made them forget their ages. Since the prince had left in anger even Revatitai had determinedly not come to the royal assembly. She was also stubborn. She had been upset with her husband. Seeing both their seats occupied today, energetic Yadavas were whispering among themselves. Pleasant-faced Aacharya Sandipani and enlightened, radiant-faced Gargamuni had taken their seats. Both the commanders, nine prominent ministers and various troop leaders, and the surveillance chief were present in the assembly. The commotion of the energetic young, middle-aged and elderly Yadavas sitting in the ranks below them fell totally silent as the royal minister raised the royal sceptre high and pounded it on the ground near his feet.
The minister introduced the agenda for today’s meeting to the council of the Dwaraka kingdom, “Honourable Yadava ministers of the Sudharma council! Today’s special meeting has been organized to honour the joyous occasion of the return of two distinguished senior Yadavas back to the kingdom. This kingdom joyously and honourably welcomes Prince Balarama and minister Akrura. On behalf of all the citizens of Dwaraka I welcome and pay obeisance to the consorts of the Lord of Dwaraka, Satyabhamadevi, Jambavatidevi, Mitravindadevi and Satyadevi who are attending this royal council for the first time. I announce as per the exclusive instruction of the Lord of Dwaraka that the young and old citizens of this kingdom will give due respect and honour to the sixteen thousand women of Kamarupa whom the Lord of Dwaraka wedded openly assuring them security. No one will disrespect them at any time even unintentionally. If such behaviour is noticed, the concerned Kamarupa woman will remain in the royal capital itself with honour. But the guilty Yadava associated with such crime will have to leave the island immediately. And such a Yadava once banished from the island will never be able to re-enter the royal capital through Shuddhaksha or any other gate. Valiant Yadava Prince Balarama wishes to give a gift to the Lord of Dwaraka for their reconciliation after such a long time. I request him to carry out his wish.” Now the assembly hall got curious about what gift dada was going to give Sri.
Dada got up from his seat. He directly came in front of our seats, carefully holding the wooden, decorated casket in his hands. With wet eyes, I kept staring at that marvel from my seat. Hefty dada gently opened the casket. Even more delicately than that, he lifted the fresh, iridescent peacock feather as big as a palm out of the casket. I could clearly see his big, innocent eyes filled with tears. Holding it in his strong, muscular hands he raised it higher and moving in a half circle he showed it to all his Yadava brothers. Bending forward dada tucked it into Sri’s shining golden crown. At that moment, Sri also got up from his seat amid a loud round of applause that pierced the roof. Sri had beautiful eyes, but rarely did they get teary. Today Sri’s eyes were moist while looking at his dear brother. He was about to bend down to obtain dada’s blessings when dada held his broad shoulders tightly and pulled him in a deep embrace. He patted Sri’s shoulders with a lot of affection. At that moment, the royal council exploded with continuous
applause and unrestrained cries of joy. Dada touched his dear brother’s golden crown to offer his blessings and returned to his seat without saying a single word. Interlocution was not his forte after all.
The minister introduced the most important topic of today’s council after pounding the royal sceptre. Akrurakaka who used to sit in the minister’s circle before, sat awkwardly as a common Yadava guest on a mat in the guest square in the front. He himself was the cause of his downfall. He had brought the casket of the Syamantaka jewel along with him in the Sudharma council today. In Mathura, he had witnessed Sri pulling down his own mama, Kansa from the royal altar. Today he was quite petrified of the verdict that Sri would announce.
Minister Vipruthu pointed towards him and said, “As per the command of the Lord of Dwaraka I also welcome former senior minister Akrura. Something that should not have happened has happened due to a mere jewel. Due to misunderstanding a disagreement arose between our venerable Lord of Dwaraka who is as good as the most precious Kaustubh jewel for thousands of Yadavas and his elder brother, Prince Balarama. Akrura should show the jewel to the entire Yadava assembly from his seat itself. That way everybody will be convinced that it was never with Maharaja Srikrishna. He should submit it at the feet of the Lord of Dwaraka in front of everybody. That is its rightful place.” Following the command Akrurakaka got up. From his location, he turned around in a half circle and showed the radiant jewel to the council once. Then he approached Sri and put the casket at Sri’s feet. He bowed down to Sri and went back to his seat. The minister continued, “Now whatever verdict the Lord of Dwaraka announces about the Syamantaka jewel, it will be acceptable to the Sudharma assembly. I request him to offer his invaluable guidance to this assembly with regard to not only the Syamantaka jewel but also about wealth in general.” As Vipruthu pounded the royal sceptre as usual the Sudharma royal council of thousands of honourable Yadavas fell utterly silent with extreme curiosity. The only sound audible was that of the western ocean.
Before getting up Sri threw a glance at me. How bright his fish-shaped, dark black eyes looked with the brilliance of his illuminated self. He smiled slightly. The joint tooth near his chin flashed momentarily from behind his rosy lips. The next moment he got up, easily handling the casket with both his hands. Casting a hawk-eyed glance casually over the assembly Sri began his melodious speech,
“My dear Yadavas! This is a very important day in your life more than mine. In the same assembly, my late father-in-law, senior Yadava Satrajita had accused me of a contemptible act of stealing the Syamantaka jewel. This extraordinary jewel also raised a doubt about me in my dear elder brother’s mind.
“Both these doubts are cleared today. I never longed for the Syamantaka jewel. Not just this but I will never have a desire for any other jewel too. Wealth is a mere means to assist the running of life. It can never be the only goal of life. When that happens one has to face unimaginable calamities. The society sees an upsurge in inconceivable crimes. Then the kingdoms associated with such people face staggering hurdles. The real wealth of mankind is the intellect. A healthy intellect disciplined properly by ethics is the real jewel, it is the real wealth. That is what takes life forward even if by an iota. That is what develops life.
“This Syamantaka brought many a storm in our new kingdom. There was a discord due to the misunderstanding of my elder brother. I was intently following this Syamantaka jewel only because I wanted to clear that misunderstanding. Once it was cleared from his mind everybody else’s doubts were automatically going to be cleared. The misunderstandings of elders are even more damaging than the worst curse. Now all the misunderstandings are cleared completely. That has made me happy.
“Right now, as your Lord of Dwaraka I need to make it clear that I completely disapprove the selfish actions of senior Yadava Akrurakaka and Kritavarman for obtaining the Syamantaka. They conspired against a senior and experienced Yadava like Satrajita who was a valuable member of Dwaraka’s advisory ministry, and got him killed by a distant Yadava like Shatadhanwa by coaxing him. I give both of them a strong warning against such an unforgivable offence!
“It is beyond comprehension especially why Akrurakaka behaved so strangely after getting hold of the jewel. He was the one who had cautioned me on the night before bringing me from Gokul to Mathura to visit Kansa. I have never forgotten that kindness of his in the past and I will never forget it in the future. Why would the Yadava minister who cautioned me that time, himself behave so recklessly? Clearly it is the greed for wealth! Therefore, it is necessary to tell you all right now that this new kingdom will never survive on greed. No matter whatever heights of puissance it reaches, it will sink due to uncontrollable greed. It will survive only on unlimited sacrifice; on boundless devotion towards duty.
“To give him that opportunity, on behalf of everybody I request Akrurakaka to leave his seat and come to sit among the ministers again. I have intentionally kept his seat vacant among the ten ministers since the day he left. He should accept his post again and also the Syamantaka jewel. He himself should look after it as a trustee so that henceforth no conflict will arise among the Yadavas due to this jewel. He should donate all the wealth he obtained from the Syamantaka in the Kashi kingdom, and maintain his sublime title of a ‘philanthropist’. He should never forget that due to the presence of the Syamantaka and charity Dwaraka will remain opulent. Due to all this, his health will also remain safe and sound.” Sri gave the casket in his hands to an attendant and sent him towards Akrurakaka.
Overwhelmed Akrurakaka got up amidst a thunderous round of applause. He walked slowly towards his vacant seat among the ministry and sat on it again.
Now Sri concluded the council while looking at his dear brother. He said, I don’t even have appropriate words to tell you what I feel about your prince and my elder brother. What
if dada wouldn’t have returned to Dwaraka respecting my message? ...”
Sri intentionally waited for a moment to assess the reaction of the royal assembly. That question stirred up restless whispers and anxiety among the Yadavas. When Sri saw that the restlessness was escalating, he raised his blue, muscular right arm and propelled the Sudarshan of his unwavering words. “If dada wouldn’t have returned then – then placing his sandals on his royal seat I would have looked after the Dwaraka kingdom! Though we belong to the lunar dynasty we can never forget Srirama and Bharata from the Suryavansha!”
That day while returning from the Sudharma royal assembly, a single thought mingled with the distant sound of the ocean made me feel glad that today all Yadavas know the truth that I already knew – Sri’s heart is as big and as deep as the western ocean.
In monsoon Dwaraka, the royal capital of the Yadavas got fully drenched in the showers of rain. The surging, roaring, constant waves of the western ocean began dashing directly on the Aindra gate on the west. That gate was now going to be closed for four months, covered by grass layers from outside. The transport of ships and boats coming to the port of Dwaraka had completely stopped now. The naval commander had ordered to stop lighting the giant Karanjel oil torch on the distant stone lighthouse ‘Kroshtu’ located in the ocean, that used to burn throughout the remainder of the year. That stone lighthouse named Kroshtu was also getting constantly doused in the surging, foamy waves. The fishermen, who would otherwise go deep into the ocean for fishing, preferred staying at their homes.
As soon as monsoon was over, freezing winter embraced Dwaraka. Misty clouds rising from the surface of the ocean encircled the four gates of Dwaraka in a thick layer. For at least two-three months now we were going to have to satisfy ourselves with just a few glimpses of the sun god, visible only sometimes through the thick fog.
All Yadavas treated my second pregnancy as if it was the first one and organized a feast to celebrate as affectionately as before. A long time had passed by since the abduction of my first son. The Yadava relatives felt the agony about it even more than me. For that reason, they had organized absolutely faultless celebrations.
Sri told me that the name of the son to be born should be ‘Charudeshna’. I heard him and asked, “What does Charu mean?” He smiled as usual and said, “Charu means beautiful.”
“And what if a daughter is born?” I teased him.
He said, “No, it will be a son only. And his name will be Charudeshna! In case a daughter is born, we will answer that what-if question at that time only.” But I was preoccupied in the thought of the name I should give if a daughter is born.
Not a single word came out of Sri’s mouth any time that was untrue. By this time through self-experience I had come to realize that if any word came out of his mouth unwittingly even in his sleep then that word itself would strive to make its existence meaningful.
I delivered a son indeed. He was named Charudeshna. He looked as beautiful as his name denoted. He removed the pain from everybody’s heart caused by my first son’s abduction. Vasudevababa and both matas came along with aacharya and the priest and blessed Charudeshna. Dada came on the island of Queens’ mansions along with his brothers Gada, Sarana and Rohitashwa and his sons Nishatha, Ulmuka and Vipula to admire him. Revatitai also came along with Subhadra. Now that Subhadra had come of age, she looked very attractive and beautiful. After Charudeshna’s arrival the season of spring descended on Dwaraka. Various trees on the streets of the royal capital blossomed with colourful flowers. Tiny raw mangoes hung on the sprawling mango trees. The royal capital Dwaraka bustled with the chirping of migratory birds with elongated, white feathers and tails. The high-pitched wooing sound of the male cuckoos began resonating. The Yadava family tree also blossomed with the rising sun of spring as its witness.
After me Bhama delivered a son. Fair like his mother, radiant like the sun. He was named Bhanu. Within a fortnight, Jambavati also delivered. She came as Sri’s wife before Bhama, but became a mother after her. Jambavati and Sri both had darkish complexion, but the son born to them was fair. Though he was a son, he looked like a daughter. Jambavati’s father’s deity was Shankara. He was called ‘Samba’ in his wild form by the people in the forest. In his memory, this son of Jambavati was also named ‘Samba’. Soon Avanti’s daughter Mitravinda also delivered a son. He was named ‘Vrika’. Towards the end of spring Satya from Kausala also gave birth to a son. He was named ‘Vira’. Sumptuous gifts from the parental homes of all four of my sisters arrived in Dwaraka, congratulating them on their delivery. I was not going to receive any gifts from Kundinpura. I didn’t even expect that. My family members were still upset with me!
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 32
