HariOm Parents
Greetings and namaste. After our routine of exchanging greetings and enquiries about what happened in the week, we settled down for our starting prayers. Thereafter we went around and completed the daily prayers and Krishna Ashtakam.
As we come to the end of the academic year, we are closing in on the Bala Bhagavatam most important event - the slaying of Kamsa which we covered in the last two weeks.
Kamasa vadha episode starts with sage Narnada paying a visit to Kamasa. Sage Naranda's arrival in any scene is always a harbinger of good times to come, victory over evil, although preceded by some destruction - creative destruction. Kamasa receives Narada with all due respect and honors and has him seated and inquires about the reasons behind his visit. Sage Narada informs Kamsa that Devaki's 8th child is actually not dead but is growing up in Vraj in Nanda's house along with Balarama. He also informs Kamsa that the brothers duo were responsible for the death of all the Kamasa's asuras. Having heard this news, Kamasa as usual, enraged, draws the sword and ows to kill Vasudeva, who was imprisoned at the betrayal. Narada muni counsels Kamsa out of his anger and leaves. Mission accomplished 😃
Kamsa is impatient, disturbed and is sleepless and agitated. He immediately calls for a meeting of all his ministers and counsellors. After all of the ministers and counsellors gather - Kamsa repeated what Narada muni had told him and how his life was in extreme danger as Krishna was still alive. Kamsa sought from his ministers ideas and means to slay his nemesis. Kamasa proposes to conduct a Dhanuryajna - the worshiping of the bow to please lord Shiva and get his blessings. They discussed whom to send to Nanda, and finally settled on Akrura - a noble soul and one of the Yadava chiefs.
Kamsa receives Akrura and addresses him as my dear friend in a sly and cunning manner. Akrura was a little mystified and wondered why Kamsa was being unusually nice to him. While Akrura was still stuck in thinking why Kamasa was being nice to him, Kamsa reveals to him in detail his real motives in inviting Krishna and Balaram to Mathura. He explains in detail his plans to have the kids trampled by Kuvalyapida the huge, ill tempered elephant as soon as the boys enter Mathura and if that fails have them killed by one of his several wrestlers who were known for the prowess and cruelty all around Kamasa's kingdom. Having heard the evil plans of Kamasa, Akrura counsels Kamasa that all his actions at best are delaying the eventual fact of his death by a few more days and tells to desist from carrying on his plans. As it always happens, when we are obsessed with something, our judgement is clouded and we are devoid of objectivity and rationality. Kamasa's state was far from being normal and blinded by rage, fear and suspicion was in mood to heed to Akrura's counsel. Akrura tells Kamsa that Karma is a very powerful driver that leads people to their eventual fate. Buddhi Karmaanu Saarini, which means that sometimes our mind makes choices without our consciousness and drives us closer towards our destiny usually with unpleasant results. Having thus counseled Kamasa, Akrura sets out for Nanada baba's house. Akrura was a great devotee of Narayana and was delighted and jumped with joy at the prospect of meeting Krishna, at the same time he was worried at the evil intentions behind Kamsa's invitation.
Akrura sets out for Gokul, Vrindavan with his heart full of joy and the prospect of serving as a ratha sarathi for Krishna - whom he knew was none other than lord Narayana. Next week we will cover Kamsa vadha.
