| [205] | These miracles of Krishna's early life have been also described in Srimadbhagavatam, the greatest of all Vaishnava works. They have been recorded with the purpose of showing Krishna's superhuman power. The Hindus regard him as the incarnation of Vishnu and these miracles are meant to show that unless he had divinity in him he could not have performed these wonderful feats. The early writers took a special fancy for recording wonderful deeds performed by their hero for proving his superhuman power and origin. It was not only a practice with the early Hindu authors but was so with the western writers too. The miracles, of the Old Testament, will attest this argument. The early life, of Krishna, when he worked these miracles, is described in three most important works, Vishnupurana, Bhagvatpurana and Harivamsha. |
CHAPTER LVIII. KRISHNA WISHES TO GO TO VRINDAVANA AND PRODUCES WOLVES.
Vaishampayana said:—In this way, Krishna and Sangkarshana passed their childhood in Vraja and became seven years old (1). They used to put on dark-blue and yellow raiments, paste their persons with yellow and white paints and used to wear feathers of crows while tending kine (2). While gone to the forest those two beautiful boys used to play on Panāvas, the music of which is sweet to the ears, and shone there like three-hooded serpents (3). Sometimes putting peacock feathers on their ears, crowns of leaves on their heads and garlands of wild flowers on their breast they shone there like two growing trees (4). Sometimes placing a crown of lotuses on their heads, converting a rope into a sacred thread and gourds with a string suspended, in their hands, they used to play on flutes (5). Sometimes sporting with one another, laughing and lying down on a bed of leaves they used to enjoy sleep (6). Thus leading the life of a cow-herd boy and moving about delightedly hither and thither like two young horses they beautified that forest (7).
One day the beautiful Dāmodara said to Sangkarshana: "O Sir, by sporting everywhere in the forest we have well nigh spoilt it. We cannot play here any more with the cow-herd boys (8). It has been divested of grass and twigs and the milk-men have up-rooted the trees. This beautiful forest has been destroyed by us (9). All the forests and woods, that were thick (with trees), are now all looking blank like the sky. All these eternally beautiful trees, that were in the cow-sheds well-protected by walls and wooden bolts, have been destroyed by the fire of cow-sheds (10-11). The trees and grass, that were near us, have been all thrown away on the ground at a great distance (12). Water, trees, groves and other resorts have now become scarce in this forest. Even by searching we cannot get at a place for rest. It has become very dreary and trees are not to be seen (13). The trees have been destroyed by the people of this extensive village. The birds have fled away from the useless trees (14). This forest, divested of birds, has become disgusting like rice without curry and other vegetable dishes. Even the delightful winds do not blow here (15). Woods and vegetables, grown in the forest, are now being sold. The grass is all destroyed and this village has taken the appearance of a city (16). The ornament of the mountain is the village of herdsmen, the forest is its ornament and the cows are the ornaments of the forest. And they are our most excellent refuge (17). Let the wealthy inhabitants of Vraja repair to another forest filled with new trees and grass; when the extensive villages, of milkmen, are shut out by doors and when the fields are covered with houses they do not look beautiful like the Chakrachari[206] birds (19). When excrement and urine fall on grass its juice becomes poisonous. The cows do not like to graze on it and it is unwholesome for milk (20). We wish to range, with our kine, in the charming new woods which are almost like dry ground. Let this station of milk-men be also transferred there (21). I have heard that there is a charming forest on the bank of Yamunā abounding in profuse grass, endued with all the virtues and freed of thorns and insects. It is named Vrindāvana. It is filled with fruits, water and Kadamba trees (22-23). Cool winds always blow there in the forest as if it is an asylum of all the seasons. All the woods there are so very charming that the milk-men will be able to range there happily (24). Near it is the huge mountain Govardhana with a high summit like the mount Mandāra near the celestial garden Nandana (25). In the centre of that mountain there is a huge fig-tree, by name Bhāndira, consisting of high branches and extending over a yojana. It shone there like a dark-blue cloud in the sky (26). Like unto the river Nalini flowing in the garden of Nandana, Kālindi, the foremost of streams, passes through its middle as if forming a line for separating hairs on each side of the head (27). With great joy we will always behold there the mount Govardhana, the tree Bhāndira and the charming river Kālindi (28). O Sir, mayst thou fare well. Leaving this forest which has no attractions do thou lay out there the station of milk-men. Let us now, creating some calamity, terrify the milk-men" (29).
While thus talking the intelligent Vasudeva engaged himself in a thought. From the hairs of his body there arose hundreds of wolves living on fat, blood and flesh. As soon as they came out they ran in all directions as if it to devasstate the village Vraja. Beholding them fall upon calves, kine and their women the milk-men were stricken with great fear. Forming themselves into groups of five, ten, thirty, twenty and a hundred those dark-faced wolves, bearing the mystic mark of Srivatsa, that had come out of the body of Krishna, began to range there and increase the fear of milkmen. Thus striking terror to the entire land of milkmen, those wolves, eating up calves, stealing away the boys in the night, well nigh devastated it. None, then, dared enter into woods, tend his kine, fetch any thing from the forest and go to the river. In fact, stricken with fear and motionless, they, with an anxious mind, began to live there. Those wolves, powerful like tigers, created such a fear in the inhabitants of Vraja, that they were afraid of even moving their limbs or shaking their body. And they used all to live together (30–38).
| [206] | A kind of wild fowls. As when they are shut up in a cage—they do not feel themselves at ease, so when the villages are well protected by gates like cities they lose their native beauty. |
CHAPTER LXIV. THEIR DEPARTURE FOR VRINDAVANA.
Vaishampayana said:—Seeing the number of those irrepressible wolves, daily increased, all the men and women living in that village held a consultation amongst themselves (1):—"It is not proper for us to live any more in this forest. Let us go to another great forest where we may live happily and the kine may range of their own accord (2). Even today without any delay we will depart with our precious kine, before these dreadful wolves destroy the entire Vraja (3). These black-faced wolves, with tawny-coloured limbs, teeth and nails, set up a terrible roar in the night (4). 'My son, my brother, my calf, my cow have been eaten by the wolves.' Such cries are heard in every house" (5). Hearing the cries of the milk-women and the doleful noise of the kine, the assembled cow-herds wished to transfer, without any delay, their station. Being informed of their desire to go to Vrindavana for fixing their station elsewhere for the well-being of the kine and finding them resolute in this matter, Nanda, like the preceptor of the gods, gave vent to the following weighty accents (6-8):—"If you are resolved upon going away even this very day, then ask the inhabitants of Vraja to get themselves ready without any delay" (9).
Thereupon the menials announced in the village, saying: "This station will be transfared to Vrindāvana. Therefore collect your own cows and calves, get ready your carts and place your own vessels thereon" (10–11). Hearing those well-meaning words of Nanda they all rose up for going away speedily (12). Then there was set up a tumult of "Come; let us go: what is the delay? Make your carts ready. Rise up. Go" (13). With busy cowherds and milk-women, with their innumerable carts ready that village assumed the appearance of a roaring ocean (14). The milk-women, with jars on their heads, and being arranged in rows, like stars coming out of the sky, issued out of Vraja (15). Having their breasts covered with blue, yellow, and shining jackets, those milk-women, while going on the road, appeared like a rain-bow (16). Carrying the load of ropes hanging on their body some milk-men imitated the beauty of trees covered with branches and leaves (17). The shining carts moving all around, that village of cowherds appeared like an ocean abounding in boats upset by the wind (18). Thus divested of all articles in no time and filled with crows it appeared like a desert (19).
Thereupon having gradually arrived at the forest of Vrindāvana, they, for the well-being of the kine, set up many extensive stations there (20). With roads laid out for carts and situate like a crescent that forest was one Yoyana in breadth and two in circumference (21). It was protected on all sides with thorny creepers and trees, ditches and flying branches (22). It was beautified with charming posts and rods, with jars full of water for washing, stakes tied round with ropes and nooses, with upraised pillars, overturned carts, chords thrown upon the pillars of vessels, grass for covering the huts, sheds made of grass, with branches of trees, playing hither and thither and trees abounding in nests, cleansed cow-sheds, well-placed mortars, the burning fire placed in the west, and well stretched beds consisting of clothes and leather coatings (23–27). Bringing water and removing the branches of the trees the milk-women began to cleanse the forest (28). Youthful and old milk-men with axes, began lightly to fell down the trees (29). This station of the milk-men, abounding in woods, charming habitations, sweet roots, fruits and water, appeared more beautiful (30). While ranging in the forest before, Krishna, with a delighted heart, looked at that forest for the well-being of the kine. And so obtaining that forest of Vrindāvana, filled with the nests of various birds and resembling the garden of Nandana, all the cows, giving milk whenever milched, were highly pleased (31–32). In the last month of the dreadful summer season, the king of gods used to pour there nectarine showers. And accordingly the people there did not suffer from any disease and all the vegetables grew in profusion. The calves and ignorant people do not suffer any disease or meet with destruction where the Lord Madhusudana lives himself for the behoof of mankind (33–34).