Dada savoured the sweet taste of the milk that Devakimata had brought for him and finished it with closed eyes.
The three of us left the residence of his parents. As per the instruction given by dada yesterday the Chief Minister had arranged golden salvers with various gifts on the charity platform at the centre of the city. I didn’t realize that those were considerably higher in number today.
Without being instructed, Daruka habitually brought Garudadhwaja near the charity-offering platform. Both of us climbed up the platform. Dada respectfully offered vermillion and flowers on all the salvers of charity gifts as usual. I began handing over to him whatever thing he pointed at, one by one. Amidst the chanting of mantras, smilingly he began offering charities to the men and women of Dwaraka. People, who felt satisfied simply by seeing him in person, were raising their hands and offering their blessings to him – “Long live Lord of Dwaraka! May all be well!”
The Sun god that illuminated the original island of Dwaraka began ascending in the sky, witnessing another one like him, illuminating the life of human beings. Today dada kept distributing charities for a long time.
We came back to his residential chamber. It was about lunchtime now. Usually, Daruka would go to his residence at this time. Today as dada put his hand on his shoulder and said ‘come with us’ he accompanied dada like a puppet without uttering a word.
Somehow Rukminivahini happened to see the three of us coming together. Dada washed his hands and made Daruka and me do the same. The three of us sat on three wooden seats arranged for lunch. In front of us were three small wooden tables for the lunch plates. Two maid servants brought three plates from Rukminivahini’s chamber and stood at the entrance of our chamber. I moved forward briskly, took the plates from them and placed one on each of the wooden tables. Dada was sitting on the middle seat and I on dada’s right and Daruka on the left. I carefully observed the plate. Today, all of dada’s favourite dishes were served in small golden bowls. For sure Rukminivahini had prepared these with her own hands.
We began chatting while having our lunch. I asked dada, “How did you come to know that Daruka had not groomed your dear horses for two days without him telling you so?” He swallowed the mouthful of soft rice and smilingly said, “Just like I woke up today at Brahma Muhurta hearing the cawing of the wild crows! I have always been telling Daruka that these four horses of Garudadhwaja are like parts of my own body. Just as I told the Gita of life to Arjuna at Kurukshetra, in the same way many times I have told Daruka the Ashwagita. Right Daruka?”
“Yes, my Lord. I have also memorized it all.” Daruka responded politely.
Then we finished our meal while chatting about various subjects for a long time. Dada got up first. While getting up, with his left hand he picked up the golden jar of water that was usually kept in front of him.
We came out for washing our hands, while chatting. Then I realized that for the last forty years and more, I had been pouring water on his hands after the meal. So, I quickly moved forward and tried to get the jar from dada’s left hand. He promptly pulled his hand back and giving a charming smile he said, “No… Avadhuta, today is your day! Till today you have been pouring water on my hands. Today I am going to pour water on yours as well as Daruka’s hands. Both of you have served me till today. Let me serve you at least today!”
As usual he left me speechless. I held both my hands forward. Looking at me affectionately he kept pouring water on my hands while smiling. After I washed my hands he did the same for Daruka. In the end, he washed his hands while I poured water on them.
While wiping his hands with the dry cloth that I handed him he asked Daruka, “Daruka, from which forest do you collect the thorny wild creepers that you need for grooming the horses?”
“From the forest of Bhalaka Tirtha near Veravala!” Daruka answered with respect.
“Do one thing Daruka. You take rest today. After taking my afternoon nap Uddhava and I will go there and bring the wild creepers. We will leave after my nap. Don’t release the horses from the chariot. You have decorated the chariot very well today. Leave it as is in the stable.”
Daruka said, ‘As you wish Lord of Dwaraka’. He touched dada’s feet and was about to leave. Dada gently pulled him up and held him in a deep embrace. Daruka left wondering why the Lord had given him the honour of having lunch with him and held him in a deep embrace.
Dada lay down on his longish wooden bed. I sat down at his feet and began pressing them. After some time with his eyes still closed he said, “That is enough Uddhava, you can go now. But come back towards the end of afternoon. We will be going to Bhalaka tirtha. Get the boat ready for the travel.”
“Okay dada.” I also touched his feet and left his chamber. While leaving, I pulled the big doors close, from outside. Wondering about everything that had happened since morning I left towards the creek near the Shuddhaksha gate to get the boat ready.
Bhalaka tirtha that dada and Daruka talked about was in the forest near Somnatha–Veravala. This forest was about a twenty yojanas away after crossing the creek. We would have to go there in Garudadhwaja. Garudadhwaja needed to be carried in a boat to go across the creek.
As it was afternoon many fishermen owners of big boats in the harbour of Dwaraka had gone home for lunch. I had to spend almost half an hour to find them and select a skilled fisherman. The afternoon had progressed now. It was necessary to be present in dada’s service as soon as possible. He must have been awake by now. I should give him water to wash his face. He always speaks mysteriously and with foresight. Why did he pour water on my hands today? Lost in my thoughts I came close to the first step of the Srisopana going upwards.
Feasting my eyes on the Srisopana I gradually looked up. At the topmost step dada himself was standing with a smile on his face. He asked me from there, “Uddhava, is everything ready? Can I come down now?”
“Yes dada, everything is ready. But you don’t come down, I will come up myself. I responded promptly and briskly climbing the stairs I caught up with him.
I was stunned to look at him. He had donned the attire of an unarmed charioteer for the first time after returning from Kurukshetra, which he had packed away ever since. It had never been worn in the last thirty-six years. He had worn the peacock-feathered, decorative golden crown on his thick white hair. It was not the crown that he used to wear daily. It was the crown from thirty-six years back. His most favourite iridescent peacock feather was still tucked in that dazzling golden crown. Even at this moment his face had lit up with the dazzling brilliance of a hundred suns. A white Vaijayanti garland that looked as fresh as if he had just worn it, was resting on his chest, reaching below his knees. Its fragrance permeated everywhere. Underneath it there were pearl necklaces with a shining pendant of the Kaustubh jewel. Underneath both these on his broad chest he was wearing his usual gold-plated iron armour. His favourite orange shawl with a gold border was hanging down his broad shoulders. On both his upper arms and wrists were intricately designed golden armlets. He wore a shining golden dhoti. A sky-blue shawl
was tied over it. His auspicious white Panchjanya conch was tied in the shawl. In his left hand, he was holding a fresh, long-stemmed orange lotus. He had now added only two more new things to this attire of thirty-six years before. He had tucked into his dhoti the colourful bamboo flute that he had played heartily in the morning today. On his right wrist, he was wearing the silver bracelet – the symbol of the Abhirbhanu dynasty – that his grandfather Chitrasena had gifted him when he had left Gokul.
Even today his handsomeness was indeed eye-catching. Even today he was the Krishna who attracted others – Srikrishna who possessed the qualities of Sri – befitting his name!
As he realized that I was staring at him he said, “Shall we leave? Come on then. This is your day. I am going to give you detailed information of this Srisopana about which you have been always asking me.” He walked towards the first step of the Srisopana along with me. He stopped for a moment and closed his fish-
shaped eyes. He respectfully remembered something in his mind. Then he said, “This first step of the Srisopana is in the name of my biological mother Devakimata – Thorali who endured the excruciating pain of seeing her six new-born sons killed in the prison of Kansa.” He lingered on the step for a moment.
“The second one is in the name of my beloved wife Rukmini – the Lakshmi of Dwaraka. The third is in the name of my biological father Maharaja Vasudevababa – the emperor of Dwaraka.” He climbed down the first two steps, one at a time. He lingered on the third step for a moment. I also stopped with him. Looking at the fourth step he said, “I am not going to tell you in whose name this fourth step is. You have to find it out yourself.” We lingered for a moment then climbed down the step. Standing on the fifth step he said, “This one is in the name of my guru – Ghor Angirasa who conferred the knowledge of Brahmavidya upon me.” Looking at the sixth and seventh step he said, “These are in the names of my two Jala brothers – the first one is for grandsire Gangeya Bhishma and the next is for the first Kaunteya – Radheya – the munificent.” We climbed down those three steps. Now we were on the eighth step. He stopped on the step and said, “As you already know, eight is my favourite number since my birth. This one is in the name of my beloved sakha Arjuna.” Both of us lingered on the eighth step for quite some time. The following steps were serially in the names of Balabhadradada, all the remaining Pandavas, our favourite bhacha Abhimanyu, Yashodamata, Nandababa, Rohinimata, Kunti aatya, sakhi Radhika, Draupadi, Subhadra, and Revativahini.
After them were all the queens of dada – my other vahinis in the following sequence– Jambavati, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Lakshmanaa, Bhadra, Mitravinda and Satya vahini.
Then Kauravas’ mother Gandharidevi, and then daughter Charumati.
The steps following those were in the name of dada’s sakhas – Mahatma Vidura, dear friend Sudama, Daruka, Sanjaya and Satyaki.
By this time, we had climbed down more than half the Srisopana. I was wondering right after the first two steps whether dada had forgotten Aacharya Sandipani.
Now he began uttering the names of each of his closest relatives stepping down the stairs. I also climbed down with him. Among the closest relatives, the first name he took was that of my father – Devabhagababa. Then grandfather Chitrasena of Gokul. Then came Vikarna from Kauravas. Then my mother Kansamata. Then quickly mentioning names such as Virata, Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna, Drona, Kripa, Dhaumya rishi, Gargamuni, Vishwakarma, and Maya he went down the stairs briskly. Among the close relatives, he mentioned the name of Kubja at the very end.
He didn’t forget to mention the names of seven firstborn sons of his seven wives, but before them he mentioned the name of his grandson Aniruddha. Then he mentioned the names of Pradyumna, Bhanu, Sangramjita, Vrika, Veer, Shruta, Praghosha and great grandson Vajra.
Jambavativahini’s son Samba – who became the cause of the destruction of the Yadavas, was not among them. His name was among the people who became a hurdle for dada throughout his life.
Yes! He did not forget to remember even the arrogant, insolent, and tyrannical people.
Among those the first number was of Kansa. Then came Shrugala, Narakasura, Kalayavana, Jarasandha, Shishupala, Dantavakra, Viduratha, Paundraka Vaasudeva, Shalva, Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra and dada’s son – my putanya Samba, Kritavarma and Shakuni.
Now only the last step of the Srisopana was remaining. I couldn’t resist and asked, “Dada, how come you forgot our venerable Aacharya Sandipani and guru Drona’s son Ashwatthama?” He looked at me and said with a smile, “Udho, Avadhuta, is it ever possible for me to forget him? The one that we are standing on – this last step is in the name of my venerable Aacharya Sandipani who moulded my personality and made me the man that I am today. Brother, a man is born not once but twice. First, he takes physical birth from the womb of his mother and he is born again when his guru transforms him into a complete man through virtues and sanskaras. The staircase of everybody’s life is contained within these two stages of life. Isn’t it?”
His explanation made me think. He didn’t allow me to ponder over that for a long time and asked me promptly, “My beloved Sakha Avadhuta, brother Uddhava – Udho, now you tell me, in whose name is the fourth step for which I didn’t mention anybody’s name?”
“In my name!” I responded promptly. Then we laughed heartily just like we used to laugh many times in the Ankapada aashrama. I asked him the last question – “And what about Ashwatthama?” He gave me a pure smile as usual and said, “He is immortal! In the form of human pain!” He lingered for a moment, then turned around and stood still in front of the Srisopana silently. He brought his palms together and offered obeisance to the Srisopana which was venerable to all the men, women and children who felt blessed just by taking a look at it.
Now we started walking towards the well-maintained stable of Dwaraka – to get ready for our travel to Bhalakatirtha! I casually glanced towards the palace of Rukminivahini on my right. I clearly saw Rukminivahini standing alone in the first window of her gallery. She was also looking at us. I greeted her with my eyes and gave her a smile. Her face reflected a fleeting smile in response to mine. Surely, she must be thinking what she always expressed verbally, ‘Whenever Sri walks with his hand on your shoulder, how nice his blue arm looks on your ruddy fair-complexioned shoulder! It makes me keep looking at it, but I can’t explain exactly how it looks!’
Usually, I wouldn’t give dada any hint about Rukminivahini standing in the gallery. But today I stopped and said, “It would have been just fine if you hadn’t taken a look at the Srisopana today, but I feel that you should take a look at the gallery of Rukminivahini’s palace on the right.” Coming out of his reverie he stopped and glanced at the gallery. The moment Rukminivahini and dada’s eyes met she got flustered. She had experienced such a thing for the first time ever. She immediately hid herself behind the window. Dada gently patted his rosy palm on my shoulder and said, “You are such a mind-reader!”
We entered the stable. As Daruka was not with us I moved forward to take the charioteer’s seat of the embellished Garudadhwaja chariot which looked distinct among other chariots. Realizing that, dada pressed my shoulder hard and made me stop. He said with a smile, “Um…hmm…this is your day! I am going to drive the chariot. I am going to drive the chariot for you while talking to my horse friends. I am going to serve you today – just like I served Arjuna! You are more fortunate than him. I harnessed only my beloved horses to his Nandighosha chariot on Kurukshetra as a military strategy. My chariot embellished with Kadamba flowers, carrying the pennant of the golden Garuda is present in your service today. Look at me carefully. I have donned this charioteer’s costume only to serve you.”
I got lost in thought. Just then walking briskly he took the charioteer’s seat in one leap. All the four horses who had looked so dejected since morning neighed ecstatically and lifting their front hooves greeted him heartily in their own style. While smiling, he held the eight golden-bordered reins tightly in his hands and affectionately called out the names of the third generation of his horse friends – ‘Megha, Bala, Shaibya, Sugriva’. The wise animals turned the chariot around and took it out of the stable.
On the royal highway of Dwaraka the Garudadhwaja chariot sprinted towards the Shuddhaksha gate with the grace of Garuda, the king of birds. As it was still afternoon the highway was not very crowded. Looking at Garudadhwaja, servants from various places and a few stray senior Yadava soldiers stopped respectfully in the streets. Not many of them realized that dada himself was driving the chariot in the charioteer’s war costume! If somebody realized it, he would keep staring with surprise in the direction of the chariot till it disappeared. We passed through the Shuddhaksha gate on the east side of Dwaraka and embarked on a huge boat along with the chariot, riding it over wooden planks. The boat started to cross the creek of Bhrigukachchha in the western ocean. The Jalapurusha was sailing on the vast expanse of water, going towards the ‘Other end’. The great Yadava
kept feasting his eyes on the view of the golden Dwaraka that was moving farther and farther away. As the other end of the shore approached, dada held both his palms together and offered his obeisance to his beloved royal city Dwaraka along with its golden reflection swaying on the waves. I also offered my obeisance to Dwaraka like him. Dada had skilfully brought the Garudadhwaja chariot into the boat riding it over the wooden planks bridging the land and the boat. Now he disembarked the chariot on the opposite shore which was in Saurashtra. He removed one pearl necklace from among the many resting on his chest and handing it over to the fishermen chief he said to him, “Hail Goddess Ida.” The fishermen chief and his assistants prostrated at dada’s feet hailing the name of Goddess Ida. Dada pulled out the long-stemmed orange lotus tucked near his waist and handed it to me. Raising his right hand, he blessed the fishermen silently and bade farewell to them.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 105
