MADHWAVIJAYA PRATHAMAHA SARGAHA – SHLOKAS 34, 35 AND 36

(Description of Bhima’s exemplary and extraordinary activities has been carried forward in these stanzas too. It is a prelude to the entirely different, knowledge-spreading incarnation of Lord Vayu as Sri Madhwacharya. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

ViShNOho padashridbakasannirAsee kShiptAnyapakShiprakaraha supakShaha|

SasOdarO(a)ThAdita rAjahamsaha sa rAjahamseemiva rAjakanyAm||34||

SUMMARY; The Swan (Rajahamsa) roams about in the sky, preys on cranes and wins over other birds; it dazzles with attractive wings. Sri Bhimasena always takes shelter under Sri Mahavishnu and always savours divine principles. He killed Bakasura and destroyed the entire team of enemies. Like male swan unites with female swan, Bhimasena united with Draupadi.

The word ‘Baka’ means both the Bakapakshi or crane and Bakasura, a demon, who was living in the outskirts of a village near Yekachakranagara, where Pandavas, along with Kunti, lived after escaping from the Lakshagruha or Lacquer House, which was set on fire by Duryodhana. This Bakasura had promulgated a condition on the residents of that village that every day, a bullock cart of food and a person should be sent to him for consumption. When this was heard by Kunti from her neighbour, Bhima was sent in the cart instead of the neighbouring Brahmin family. Bhima kills Bakasura and relieves the villagers from his tyranny.

The fact that Draupadi was a multi-personality and that she used to assume the designated forms of respective wives of Dharmaraya and others when she had to live with them by turn and Bharati Devi was the wife of Lord Vayu, has been subtly indicated in this Shloka.

IndeevarasreejayisundarABham smErAnanEndum Dayitam mukundam|

SwamAtulEyam kamalAyatAkSham samBhyanandat suchirAya Bheemaha||35||

SUMMARY: Bhimasena was ecstatic when he met, after a very long gap, Sri Krishna, who had taken birth as son of his (Bhima’s) most beloved maternal uncle Vasudeva and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, with a charm that would put the attraction of red lotus to shame, a countenance wearing a smile reminiscent of a full moon and wide eyes that resemble lily petals.

Bhimasena met Srikrishna during the Draupadi Swayamvara. Bhimasena considered that moment as the most valuable and holiest of moments in his life. However, Sri Madhwacharya mentions in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya that earlier, Sri Bhimasena, along with Nakula and Sahadeva, lived with Sri Krishna for three years in Mathura. The delight he experienced during Draupadi Swayamvara could be due to the fact that there was a very long gap between his first meeting with Sri Krishna and the present one. The word ‘Suchiraya’ in this stanza indicates that about a decade had elapsed between the two meetings. It should also be noted that Lord Vayu always stays with Lord Hari and this separation and reunion during Dwapara Yuga was to demonstrate that they were different then.   

MahAgadam chanDaraNam pruThivyAm bArhadraTham mankShu nirasya veeraha|

RAjAnamatyujjwalarAjasUyam chakAra GOvindasurEndrajABhyAm||36||

SUMMARY: Along with Sri Krishna and Arjuna, Bhimasena immediately killed son of Bruhadratha, Jarasandha, who possessed an extraordinary mace and was capable of indulging in a horrible war. Later, he got the holy Rajasuya Yaga performed by Dharmaraya.

Although it was Dharmaraya who performed Rajasuya Yaga, the assassination of Jarasandha and victory over the eastern provinces that were under the rule of Keechaka and Karna, were imperative for that performance. It was Bhimasena who accomplished these tasks, albeit with the grace and blessings of Lord Krishna.