Srikrishna's Grace on Nalakubera and Manigriva

Srimad Bhagavatam - SriKrishna's Grace on Nalakubera and Manigriva 

SriKrishna redeems the sons of Kubera of their curse as prophesied by Sage Narada. Tied to the mortar by his beloved mother, He crawled between the two adjoined Arjuna trees. The two trees fell down with a big crash. Two celestial men, Nalakubera and Manigriva, appeared and bowed down with joined palms.

They said, “ O Lord, You are the Primordial Supreme Person. You control the body, vital airs, the ego, and indriyas. You are the time spirit and imperishable. You are the divine energy (Prakriti) consisting of three gunas, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

You have come down this time for the prosperity and liberation of the entire creation. Pray, both of us, the attendants of Lord Shiva, to depart. 

Let our speech henceforth be used in recounting Your excellence, our ears in hearing Your stories, our hands in doing Your work, our mind in Your thought.  

The Lord said, “It's already known to me. Sage Narada has showered his grace on you both through a curse. There is no bondage of those pious souls who possessed equanimity, fixed their mind on Me. 

Therefore, you both return to your abode. As sought, you have already realized Supreme devotion in Me, which leads to cessation of rebirth.

The two went around the Lord, who was tied to the mortar, bowed low to Him again and again, and proceeded in the northern direction.

Hearing the noise of two falling trees, the cowherds headed by Nanda came to the spot. They saw two Arjuna trees fall on the ground. They wondered whose work it was . They were alarmed to think that it was an evil portent. 

However, infants playing around there said it was done by this boy, Krishna, who had position between the trees while dragging the mortar. They also said two men came out of the trees and were conversing with Him. 

The cowherds ignored the children's words as they thought it was not possible for this boy to uproot those huge trees. Nanda set free the cord tied to Krishna. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Sage Narada Curses Kubera's Sons

Srimad Bhagavatam - Sage Narada Curses Kubera's Sons

King Parikshit asks Sukhamuni “Why highly revered Sage Narada cursed Nalakubera and Manigriva? What reproachful act did they do?”.

 

Sukamuni said, “ The two sons of Kubera, despite being attendants of Lord Rudra, possessed uncontrollable passion, were fully drunk and strolling with women near river Mandakini.

The celestial Sage, who happened to pass by, saw the fully intoxicated Yakshas (demigods). The celestial nymphs who were naked hurriedly put on their clothes but sons of kubera, ignored the Sage, and remained unclothed.

Seeing the two sons of Kubera fully intoxicated and blind with pride of wealth, Sage Narada felt they needed to be rectified through a curse and to give an opportunity to correct themselves.

The Sage said, “A man with insatiable desires through wealth loses wisdom. With the pride of wealth (a product of Rajoguna), women, gambling, and liquor get associated. 

This pride of wealth makes men kill animals mercilessly. This perishable body is food to worms when buried, food if killed by carnivorous animals, or as ashes if burnt. Why perpetrate violence for the sake of pampering such a body?

To whom does this body belong? One's father? mother? employer? maternal grandfather (on adoption)? King? Purchaser?

Hence, this body is a common property that exists from Primordial matter and will again go back into it. A fool alone identifies himself with the body.

Poverty is the best solution for a wicked soul blinded with pride of wealth. He who has his foot ever pricked with a thorn alone would never allow a fellow being to suffer such pain. 

The hardship a poor man undergoes will prove to be his austerity in this life. A hungry man's body becomes feeble and desists from violence.

Hence, I shall take away their pride caused by ignorance , who are slaves of women, intoxicated and blinded with pride of wealth.

They deserve to be reduced to the state of a tree (that stands immobile, unbending, and uncovered) so that by my grace, they may not behave like that again. 

In the presence of Srikrishna at the end of a hundred celestial years, they would acquire devotion and end their curse”. Saying so, the Sage went away to the hermitage of Narayana. 

Nalkubera and Manigriva were transformed into two Arjuna trees sprung together at Vraja. Krishna crawled between the adjoined trees to make the prophecy of Sage Narada true. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Yasoda Ties Srikrishna to a Wooden Mortar

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Yasoda Ties Srikrishna to a Wooden Mortar

Once, Yasoda was personally churning the curds as her maids were busy with other work. She was recalling Krishna's infantile sports and expressed them in the form of songs.

Krishna, seeing his mother churning the curds, longed for a suck and stopped her. Yasoda began suckling Him when she suddenly remembered milk kept on the hearth. She placed Him aside and hurriedly went to save milk from overflowing. 

Krishna felt ignored and angrily took a flat stone (used for grinding condiments) and hit the curd pot. 

He went inside and stealthily ate fresh butter. Yasoda saw the broken curd pot and, knowing that it was the work of her son, had a hearty laugh. 

She saw Krishna standing on an overturned base of wooden mortar and freely giving away fresh churned butter to a monkey. She gently went up to Him from behind. Krishna hurriedly ran away, pretending to be afraid of her. 

Sukamuni said, "How does she know that He is indebted to the monkeys that served Him in His previous incarnation as Srirama? ”.

Yasoda, too, ran after Him but couldn't keep the pace due to her bulky hips. Yet she caught hold of Him, who was weeping aloud. She threatened to strike Him but threw the stick off as she was exceedingly fond of her son. 

Yasoda decided to tie Him to a wooden mortar with a string, thinking that He is a mere human. While doing so, the string fell short by an inch. Yasoda added another string to it. Then again, it fell short, and Yasoda had to attach another string. 

This process continued until she exhausted all the strings available at her house. Yasoda felt shameful when her maids laughed at her. She wondered how come I am unable to bind this boy. 

 

Seeing his mother over-exhausted, Krishna allowed Himself to be bound out of sheer compassion. 

Sukamuni said,” In this way, the Lord demonstrated that He is amenable to the excesses of His devotees, though He is the master of the Universe. Indeed, neither Brahma, Shiva nor Mahalakshmi received such grace from Him as Yasoda did”.

When Yasoda was engrossed in her household duties, Krishna noticed a pair of Arjuna trees. Long ago, Nalakubera and Manigriva, sons of Kubera, were reduced to trees by the curse of Sage Narada.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Vasudava Reveals His Form to Yasoda

Srimad Bhagavatam - Vasudeva Reveals His Form to Yasoda 

Once, cowherds, along with Balaram, informed Yasoda that Vasudeva had eaten mud. Yasoda was upset and holding Vasudeva by hand and asked him, “Why did you eat mud”? Vasudeva nodded negatively and said, “ I never ate mud. They are all liars. Examine my mouth with your own eyes”.  

Yasoda said, “ If so, then open your mouth”. 

Inside His mouth, she saw the whole universe, both mobile and stationery, the atmosphere, four quarters, mountains, oceans, wind, fire, the moon, stars, heaven, the deities presiding over indriyas, the mind, the objects of senses, the three gunas, the body of Her son, the Time, people of Vraja including herself.

She wondered if it was a dream or illusion? I bow down to Brahma, who cannot be easily comprehended. The Lord is my Refuge by whose Maya is making me think I am Yasoda, wife of Nanda, this child is mine, and that the cowherds and cowherdess of Vraja as well as cattle wealth are mine.

When Yasoda thus realized this truth, the Almighty (Vasudava) cast his divine form in the form of material affection. 

King Parikshit asked Sukamuni how Yasoda could get such great merit?

He said, “When Mother Earth pleaded Brahma on atrocities meted on her, they approached Srihari. Brahma was informed that He would be born in Vraja at an appropriate time. 

Srihari asked Brahma to make necessary arrangements for it. Brahma requested the foremost of Vasus, Drona, and his wife, Dara, to be born as humans to take care of child Vasudeva (incarnation of Srihari). Hence, they were born as Nanda and Yasoda. 

Drona and Dara made a request to Brahma that they be blessed with undeterred devotion towards the Lord, for which Brahma accepted.

 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Birth Secret of Satyavathi

 Mahabaratha - Adiparva - Birth Secret of Satyavathi 

Once Vasu Maharaj was returning back in his chariot after meeting Indra at Heaven. He saw the Suktimati river obstructed by Kolahala Mountain and was in dire need of help.

Vasu Maharaj kicked the mountain, creating a big hole that allowed the river to pass through. Such was his strength and concern for others.

In gratitude, Suktimathi (in female form) gifted two children to the king, a male and female begotten through Kolahala. The male child grew up to become army chief. The king married the female child, Girika, on her attaining marriageable age. 

Instructed by Pitru devatas, the king was asked to obtain necessary food (meat) from the forest. During the same time, Girika wished to bear a child of the King. 

Thinking of his wife, the king went to the forest. Since it was autumn, the trees were bearing flowers, and the forest was looking very colorful. 

The king, thinking of his wife, passed his tejas, which he carefully collected in a leaf cup. Reciting mantras, he blessed it for a good progeny. He then instructed an eagle to deliver it to his wife. 

The eagle carried it with its claws and was heading home . Midway another eagle, thinking it as meat, began to snatch it. The quarrel resulted in tejas falling in the Yamuna river and was swallowed by a big fish. The fish was impregnated. 

In the course of time, a fisherman caught the big fish, and when he tore it open, he saw two babies in its womb, one male and another female. 

The fisherman promptly handed over the babies to Vasu Maharaj. The king retained the male baby and asked the fisherman to take care of the female baby. The male child grew up to become Matsya raja.

The fisherman (foster father) named the girl child as Matsya Kanda as she had an odour of fish but was beautiful. The fisherman taught her the art of rowing a boat, and eventually, she took up this job for travellers. Matsya Kanda was also called Satyavathi. Vasu Maharaj is her biological father.  

Satyavathi’s Birth Secret (Janma Rahasya)

Sathyavathi, her previous birth, was known as Achoda, the daughter of Pitrus. She had earned sufficient merits and was blessed that in her next birth, she would be revered as the mother of Ved Vyasa. 

Apsara’s Curse Ends

The fish that swallowed the sperm of Vasu Maharaj was indeed an apsara by the name Atrika. She was cursed by Lord Brahma to be born as fish and that her curse would end when she gave birth to humans. Apsara, on completion of the curse period, returned to heaven. 

Source: Mahabharatha- Adiparva - Amshavathara 

Balarama and Vasudeva's Childhood Pranks

Srimad Bhagavatam - Balarama and Vasudeva's Childhood Pranks

As months passed, both Balarama and Vasudeva started crawling in and around the house. They were roaming around nonstop, inspired by jingling bells tied to their waist belt and anklets. 

Slowly, they stepped out of the house and moved forward until they saw new faces of men and women. Feeling scared, they would turn back and return to their mothers. Rohini and Yasoda would receive them with a warm hug and feed them unmindful of the dirt they carried. 

Slowly, these kids began pranks. They would go near the calf and pull their tail. Women visiting their home would forget their job, watch the pranks, and enjoy themselves.

When they learned to walk, there were no restrictions on their movements. They would untie the calves and allow them to run towards its mother to suck milk. This became a nuisance to the residents of Vraja as the system was broken. (The calves were allowed to suck milk just before milking and again for the leftovers). Vasudeva felt it was unfair, and hence, he untied them. 

Once gopikas came to Yasoda with complaints about her son. They said, “Your son enters our house, eats not only what has been offered to him but also what has been kept for us. However, he doesn't come alone. He always comes in groups, treats, and then takes his share. After eating, he breaks the pots. 

If he doesn't find anything, he would get angry and scold all the inmates. (Subtly, He wanted to awaken them of their ignorance).

If the vessels are unreachable, he finds ways to reach them. We are sure that your son alone has done it through his ornaments. If we abused him, he would hit back in the same tone.

Vasudeva was hearing all these hiding behind his mother. Yasoda thought of warning him to stop such pranks and restrict his activities to home alone, but on seeing his innocent face, she couldn't. She felt it is natural for children to do mischief and ignored their comments.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Sage Garga Does Naming Ceremony

Srimad Bhagavatam - Sage Garga Does Naming Ceremony 

Vasudeva made a request with his family priest Sage Garga to conduct a naming ceremony of his two sons (Rohini and Devaki's son) who were living in Vraja under the cover of Nanda. Accordingly, Sage Garga went to Vraja.

Nanda was extremely happy and welcomed Sage Garga with due honor. He said “ You are absolute and don't need anything. You must have come to do us a favour. Otherwise, you do not move around.  

You are an expert in astrology. You know the past, present, and the future. You have mastered, documented, and made them available to others. The Garga Samhita gives sufficient knowledge of what would be the outcome in the present birth for the action conducted in previous births. 

You are Brahmarishi. I humbly request you to conduct naming ceremonies for my sons. One who is born as Brahmin acts as a preceptor.

Though Garga had come for the said purpose, he never revealed it. Garga said, “ I am the priest of the Yadu family, and it's known to everyone. If I do namakarana samskara to this dark skinned boy and if it is known to Kamsa, he would suspect Him as Devaki’s son.

Also, you do not fully belong to the Yadava clan. People will presume that I am aware of the fact and hence did it. Kamsa is aware that you and Vasudeva are great friends. 

Kamsa suspects Devaki’s eighth child is not a girl baby. He is not fully convinced because they were imprisoned and chained. Kamsa was clearly informed that the child who is destined to kill him is living elsewhere. He is always thinking of it and struggling. It would be a blunder on our part to endanger the infants.

Nanda said, “This ritual is already delayed for long, and highly revered people like you alone should conduct the ritual and bless the infants. Your blessings are more important than other formalities. Accordingly, the Sage secretly performed the naming ceremony unknown to others.

The Sage said, “Rohini's son will be named ‘Rama’ (the delighter of the people), and due to his strength, he will also be called as”Bala”. Also, he would be called ‘Sankarshana’, meaning one who unites. Yadavas are egoistic, and their superiority complex results in infighting. Balarama would be the unifying force. 

The Sage said, “This infant of yours has manifested in three different colours, viz., white, red and yellow, and this time dark complexion. Earlier, he was born in the house of Vasudeva. Hence, he shall be named Vasudeva.

There are numerous names and forms of your son. This boy will bring happiness to you and the entire Gokula. This son of yours is a compeer of Lord Narayana in all aspects. Please look after Him carefully. In disguise, he told Nanda the secrets of Krishna's birth and His manifestation.

Sage Garga returned back to Mathura. Nanda felt happy and blessed.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana