Pearl 25

Lord Krishna’s romantic escapades in Dwarka

Lord Vishnu is acclaimed as the Supreme Deity of the Tridev comprised of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, reveals Brighuji by his amazing leela. Sootji affirms that listening to Lord Krishna’s feats absolves us of all sins. The pearl relates a stunning tale of Arjuna and Lord Krishna returning with a Brahmin’s dead sons. The narrative concludes with a detailed description of Lord Krishna’s romantic escapades in Dwarka, the capital city.

Chapter 89, verses 15-21: Sometimes men are sceptical about who is the Supreme Deity in the ‘Tridev’, consisting of Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh. To illustrate this point sage Bhrigu performs a leela: He goes to Brahmaji but does not bow to Him or glorify him with a prayer which makes Him furious. Soon enough he travels to Mount Kailash, abode of Lord Shiva, does not embrace the Lord but rather abuses Him. Mahadevji is outraged..Now Briguji ventures to Vaikunth, abode of Lord Vishnu, and kicks the Lord on the chest. However the Lord keeps His calm and praises Saint Bhrigu as one whose holy feet purify even pilgrim-centres. "Please purify Me, My realm and the realms of the universal rulers devoted to Me by giving us the water that has washed your feet. This holy water is indeed what makes all places of pilgrimage sacred.”

Thus Shukdevji concludes that Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Lord Krishna, is the Supreme or last resort of all Saints who are living embodiments of peace , equanimity , detachment , love and non-violence. “ Viṣṇu is the greatest Lord. From Him come peace; fearlessness; the essential principles of religion; detachment with knowledge; the eightfold powers of mystic yoga; and His glorification, which cleanses the mind of all impurities. He is known as the supreme destination for those who are peaceful and equipoised — the selfless, wise saints who have given up all violence. His most dear form is that of pure goodness, and the brāhmaṇas are His worshipable deities. Persons of keen intellect who have attained spiritual peace worship Him without selfish motives.”

In verse 21 Sootji, the kathakar, ascertains that Lord Vishnu's Katha can indeed absolve us, worldly people of all sins and give us eternal peace.

Chapter 90, verse50: But to attain the same we must spend every moment in Satsang which means continuous listening, chanting and contemplation of Lord Krishna’s fascinating stories which leave us spellbound. Solely then, man can imbibe the devotion that will lead him to the Supreme Lord’s realm (Gaulok, Vaikunth or Saket ) according to Lord Krishna, Vishnu or Ramji bhaav. “By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukunda with ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway. For this purpose, many persons, including great kings, abandoned their mundane homes and took to the forest.”

Before this final conclusion, there is an amazing story of bringing back the dead sons of a Brahmin in chapter 89.

Chapter 89, verse 58: Before this final conclusion there is the story of Arjuna and Lord Krishna bringing back the dead sons of a Brahmin.“[Lord Maha-Vishnu said:] I brought the brahaman’s sons here because I wanted to see the two of you, My expansions, who have descended to the earth to save the principles of religion. As soon as you finish killing the demons who burden the earth, quickly come back here to Me.”

Verse 61: Hearing Lord Vishnu’s statement Arjuna and Lord Krishna return with the Brahmin’s sons. “Taking the brahamana’s sons with them, they returned with great delight to Dwarka by the same path along which they had come. There they presented the brahamana with his sons, who were in the same infant bodies in which they had been lost.”

Chapter 90, verses 1-7: A detailed description of Lord Krishna' amorous sports in the capital city of Dwarka. “Sukadeva Gosvamī said: The master of the goddess of fortune resided happily in His capital city, Dwarka, which was endowed with all opulences and populated by the most eminent Vṛṣṇis and their gorgeously dressed wives. When these beautiful women in the bloom of youth would play on the city's rooftops with balls and other toys, they shone like flashing lightning. The main streets of the city were always crowded with intoxicated elephants exuding mada, and also with cavalry, richly adorned infantrymen, and soldiers riding chariots brilliantly decorated with gold. Gracing the city were many gardens and parks with rows of flowering trees, where bees and birds would gather, filling all directions with their songs. Lord Krishna was the sole beloved of His sixteen thousand wives. Expanding Himself into that many forms, He enjoyed with each of His queens in her own richly furnished residence. On the grounds of these palaces were clear ponds fragrant with the pollen of blooming utpala, kahlara, kumuda and ambhoia lotuses and filled with flocks of cooing birds. The almighty Lord would enter those ponds, and also various rivers, and enjoy sporting in the water while His wives embraced Him, leaving the red kuńkuma from their breasts smeared on His body.”