ARJUNA VISITS VAIKUNTHA

Om Namo Narayanaya

I bow before the Almighty.

A very long time ago in the city of Dwaraka there lived a devout Brahmin couple. The Brahmin was overjoyed when one day his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Sadly the couple’s joy was very short-lived because the child’s first breath was his last. The child was born and immediately died.

The couple were devastated at their loss. The unexplained demise of their baby was a terrible shock. Needing to vent his anger, sadness and frustrations at the loss of his child he cradled the dead baby in his arms and went to the royal palace. At that time Lord Krishna was the ruler of Dwaraka. The Brahmin had always had immense faith in the Lord but was now sorely disappointed when Lord Krishna could do nothing to save his child.

Feeling both helpless and bereft of all hope the Brahmin walked into the palace and in a loud voice filled with pathos and rage gave vent to his sorrow. He piteously cried out, “My new born infant lies dead in my arms. I have to suffer this tragedy because the ruler of this kingdom has committed such vile acts that his subjects are faced with the repercussion of sorrow. He is a Kshatriya. It is the duty of a Kshatriya to protect Brahmins. Yet neither He nor any other Kshatriya seems capable of fulfilling their duty of easing the misery of this devout Brahmin who stands before them begging for help. Our ruler is greedy for sensuous pleasures and wealth. We the people depending on such a ruler can only expect a life of distress.”

Krishna listened to the Brahmin’s tirade but did not say a word.

As fate would have it the Brahmin’s second and third child too died in this strange manner. Each time his child died the distraught Brahmin would take the child to the palace hoping that by some means Krishna would save the infant. But alas, neither Krishna nor the learned men at the court could save the children. The Brahmin couple lost eight children consecutively. They were heartbroken.

When his ninth child was born the Brahmin once again took the baby corpse to the royal palace. He begged Krishna to save his child but once again the Lord did nothing at all. The Brahmin lamented loudly as he had done on his first visit to the palace blaming the king and all Kshatriyas for the death of his children.

On this occasion Arjuna who was sitting beside Lord Krishna heard the Brahmins piteous cries. Arjuna said to the Brahmin, “Respected sage is there no Kshatriya in all of Dwarka who can save your child? The ruler of a kingdom where a Brahmin grieves for the loss of his wealth, wife or children is certainly not a true Kshatriya. Such a ruler is but an actor playing the part of a Kshatriya. Oh holy Brahmin, I undertake to protect the life of the next child born to you. If I fail to do so I will jump into fire and end my life and in this way atone for my sin.”

The Brahmin heard Arjuna’s words with complete disbelief and sadly replied, “Oh Arjuna when Sri Balarama, Bhagvan Sri Krishna, Pradyumna and all the foremost archers of Dwarka including Aniruddha have failed to save my children what makes you think that you can save my child? After all these great Lords have failed to save my children your proclamation sounds like nothing but a hollow, childish boast. How can I put my faith in you?”

Arjuna, now slightly affronted by what the Brahmin had said, replied, “Oh worshipful one, it is indeed true that I am neither Balarama nor Sri Krishna nor Pradyumna. I am Arjuna the wielder of the famed Gandiva bow. Please do not mock my prowess. Even the great Lord Shiva Himself was pleased with my skill. (Read: https://www.fablesrus.com/post/the-big-fight) I vow that I will conquer even Lord Yama the God of death to bring back your child.”

The Brahmin found a glimmer of hope in Arjuna’s words. He was eager to believe the valiant Arjuna. He left the palace comforted and optimistic.

When it was nearing time for the birth of his tenth child the Brahmin went to meet Arjuna and with folded hands entreated him, “Arjuna I have come to inform you that my wife will soon be delivering our baby. I beg that you fulfil the promise you had made. Please protect this child from death.”

Arjuna immediately sipped some pure water and prostrated before Lord Sankara. Thereafter he invoked all his supernatural weapons and picked up his Gandiva bow and strung it properly. His arrows were all blessed with the power of special mantras. Shooting one arrow after another he created a fence of arrows around the Brahmins house.

A while later the Brahmin’s wife gave birth. This time the baby gave repeated cries and the Brahmin was sure that he would survive. All of a sudden to everyone’s consternation the new born baby mysteriously disappeared into the sky.

The Brahmin was shocked. Once again his dream of having a child of his own was shattered. In his grief he became irate. In the presence of Lord Krishna he condemned Arjuna. With tears pouring down his cheeks he lamented, “What a fool I was to have been taken in by the boasts of a eunuch. When Balarama, Krishna and Pradyumna could not save my children how foolish of me to expect Arjuna to do so? Oh Arjuna, your words were nothing but vain boasts. It was my mistake to expect anything from a fool who thought himself to be powerful enough to defeat providence.”

Hearing these hurtful words Arjuna left immediately for the capital city of Lord Yama, the God of death. There he searched in vain but could not find the Brahmin’s child. Holding aloft the Gandiva bow, Arjuna travelled to the cities of Indra, the Lord of immortals. There too he could not find the child. Refusing to give up his search Arjuna went on to the kingdoms of Agni (the God of fire), Soma (the moon God), Varuna (the God of water) and Vayu (the wind God).The infant was in none of these places. Arjuna then proceeded to Rasatala in the nether world but again here too he could not find the baby. Arjuna even searched in regions higher than Indra’s paradise but to no avail. He traversed the whole universe but could not find the child.

Having failed in all his attempts to save the child, Arjuna decided to jump into a blazing fire to atone for his failure to deliver on his promise. This was when Lord Krishna, who was beside him all the time stepped forward and held him back. The Lord said, “Do not feel dejected Arjuna. I will lead you to the children. You will fulfil your promise and those who scoffed at you will shower you with praise. Your glory as a valiant Kshatriya warrior will be completely restored.”

Lord Krishna led Arjuna to His divine chariot and they rode towards the west. They crossed the seven great dwipas and the seven mighty oceans that separated the dwipas. They flew above the seven magnificent mountain ranges that arose on each of the dwipas and even above the Lokaloka Mountain that was situated beyond all of these. They entered the pitch darkness of Balahaka and lost their way completely. Unable to see anything in the dense blackness, Lord Krishna summoned his discus, the Sudarsana, and sent it ahead to light the route. As the Sudarsana shone like a thousand suns the chariot could comfortably negotiate its way. Krishna and Arjuna exited the region of darkness. Beyond the region of darkness was a region of supreme, infinite and all-pervading light. Arjuna had to shut his eyes against the glare of the light as he travelled through this region. The region of light led onto to the region of water. This region had Arjuna mesmerized as he watched the huge, gigantic, tumultuous white waves catapult and cavort in the blowing wind. Within moments a splendid luminous palace appeared in front of the chariot. The palace had thousands of columns covered in brilliant jewels and dazzling, precious gem stones. Within the palace Arjuna saw the mighty Sesha. Sesha’s thousand hoods were radiant with the brilliance of the jewels on the top of each hood. Sesha’s eyes glowed in terrifying glory. The Lord’s serpent shone in magnificent splendour.

Reclining in tranquil comfort on Sesha was the Supreme person, the almighty Lord Vishnu. His form resembled a cloud drenched in humidity. He was clad in yellow his smiling countenance and exquisite, large eyes were compellingly charming. The lustre of his earrings and the jewels on his crown lit up his profuse, curly locks. He possessed eight long and perfect arms. The Kasturba gem shone brilliantly on His neck. His chest bore the mark of Srivatsa. Around his neck was a garland of sylvan flowers that hung down to his knees. Arjuna was transfixed. Lord Krishna bowed to the Supreme Lord (who was none other than Himself). Arjuna a bit flustered faltered at first and then following Krishna’s lead prostrated before Lord Vishnu.

The Supreme Lord Vishnu spoke in a sonorous voice and said, “It was because I wanted to see and speak with you Arjuna that I had you come here searching for the children. Krishna and you have taken birth on earth to vindicate virtue and to kill the wicked asuras (demons) who are tormenting the world. Once your work on earth is completed you will return to me. All the Brahmin’s children are with me. Now that I have conveyed my message to you, Arjuna, you may return to earth. Take the ten children back to the Brahmin. Fulfil your promise to that pious man. You may rest assured that your glory and reputation as a valiant Kshatriya warrior will be restored completely.”

Krishna and Arjuna commenced the journey back to earth. Magically the ten children were also transported from Vaikuntha back to earth.

The children had grown but their appearance was very similar to what it had been at birth. On seeing his ten sons the Brahmin’s eyes overflowed with tears but this time the tears were tears of joy. Folding his hands in a namaskara and bowing his head low the Brahmin said, “Forgive me Arjuna for doubting you. It was in intense sadness that I spoke those harsh words. I beg you forgive me.”

Arjuna replied, “I too have learnt an important lesson revered sage. My words were indeed mere boasts. I believed myself to be an undefeatable warrior but the Lord has made me realize that I could not have succeeded in any of my endeavours without His grace. It is the supreme Lord Vishnu who has blessed me with my skills. I can only succeed with His blessings.”

Arjuna had realized that all the powers and prowess he possessed were a benediction from Lord Vishnu. Without the Lord’s grace he would not be able to accomplish anything. He knew now that his battle skills were a boon from the Lord to help him succeed in his duty of restoring righteousness in the world.

LIFE LESSONS

1. From this story we learn that life is a mixed bag of joys and sorrows.

2. From the Brahmin we can learn that despite repeated sorrow we must never lose faith.

3. From Arjuna we can learn compassion for a person in misery

4. From Arjuna we can learn valour and the tenacity to continue until all options have been attempted.

5. From Arjuna we can learn humility in accepting that valour, bravery and skill are all benedictions from the Lord.

6. From Arjuna we can learn that despite difficulties we must always fight for the righteous and destroy evil.