(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita) SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita)

SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

25. ಇಟ್ಟಿಕಲ್ಲನು ಭಕುತಿಯಿಂದಲಿ

     ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಭಕುತಗೆ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿ ತನ್ನನೆ

     ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಬಡಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನ ಒಪ್ಪಿಡಿಯವಲಿಗಖಿಳಾರ್ಥ|

     ಕೆಟ್ಟಮಾತುಗಳೆನದೆ ಚೈದ್ಯನ

     ಪೊಟ್ಟೆಯೊಳಗಿಂಬಿಟ್ಟ ಬಾಣದ-

     ಲಿಟ್ಟ ಭೀಷ್ಮನ ಅವಗುಣಗಳೆಣಿಸಿದನೆ ಕರುಣಾಳು|| 12||

ITTikallanu Bhakutiyindali

koTTa Bhakutage mechchi tannane

koTT baDabrAbhmaNana voppiDiyavaligaKhiLArTha|

KeTTamAtugaLenade chaidyana

poTTeyoLagimbiTTa bANada-

liTTa BheeShmana avaguNagaLeNisidane karuNALu||12||

SUMMARY: Kind-hearted Lord Hari gave himself away to the devotee who offered bricks; he gave all comforts of life here and hereafter to a poor Brahmin Kuchela, who just offered a handful of beaten rice; unmindful of the abuses hurled at him by Shishupala, Lord Hari gave shelter to that person in his belly and improved his life. Did that kind-hearted Lord count on despicable attitude of Bheeshma, who shot arrows at the Lord?

The devotee who gave bricks was Pundareeka. Pundareeka thought that services he rendered to his parents were equal to worshipping the Lord. When the Lord appeared in front of him, Pundareeka asked the Lord to wait till he could complete the services to his parents and offered only a brick to the Lord to sit. The Lord treated that brick as a throne and stood on it as Panduranga.

Kuchela or Sudhama was a poor Brahmin. Prompted by his wife, Sudhama met Lord Krishna. As he had nothing worthy to offer to his friend Krishna, Sudhama had brought a handful of beaten rice. After seeing the pomp and glory of Lord Krishna, Sudhama felt it shameful to offer that beaten rice and tried to hide it. Lord Krishna knew that Sudhama had brought beaten rice and forcefully snatched that beaten rice from his friend. In exchange, Lord Krishna provided all comforts of life in this world to Sudhama and salvation too.

In another surprising incident, Shishupala called Lord Krishna as a thief (Chora), characterless (JAra) and so on, in the presence of esteemed and most revered persons, who had assembled for Rajasuya Sacrifice. But, Lord Krishna bestowed the heavens upon him. The word “HoTTeyoLagimbiTTa” means salvation in this context. It may appear that Lord Krishna had given salvation to a demon, who scolded, criticized and embarrassed him. But, the salvation was granted not for Shishupala. It was given for Jaya, one of the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Sri Madhwacharyaru has clarified this point in his Bharata Tatparya Nirnaya.

Bheeshma fired arrows at the Lord on two occasions. The first one was when a battle broke out between Bheeshma and Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, necessitated by the refusal by Bheeshma to marry Ambe. In the second instance, Bheeshma had been made the Chief Commander of the Kaurava army in the war against Pandavas. Bheeshma fought the battle as Chief Commander for first ten days. Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. Bheeshma had fired several arrows at Lord Krishna, the charioteer, as war strategy, to inflict trouble on Arjuna. On both these occasions, Lord Vishnu simply ignored the acts of Bheeshma. When Bheeshma was waiting for Uttarayana Punyakala to breathe his last on the arrow-cot, Lord Krishna was sitting beside Bheeshma and consoling that great devotee. Lord Krishna lent his ears to the Stotra that Bheeshma recited in his praise.

All the four instances are separate, different and disturbing. However, Lord Vishnu treated each instance on its merit, which demonstrates the kindness of Lord Vishnu towards his devotees.

Please read, comment and share. SDN