A Page from Ancient Literature

Kalayavana -yavana is amazed and stunned when he witnesses a miracle. Krishna emerges out of Mathura and appears a scintillating and radiant phenomenon. Wonderstruck at the divine dazzle and sparkle, he pursues the lord hurriedly without notice. Yavana is intensely philosophical and chases the lord but fails to keep pace and lags behind. Earlier, Krishna is armoured and the next moment, he finds the lord without weapon and a wish for a duel with the lord arises in the mind. Krishna is not aware that someone is pursuing and wishes to have a fight. Yavana, despite swiftness and keenness to take hold of the lord, fails.

Yavana finds Krishna is not visible and therefore laments and feels embittered. He utters unpalatable and uncharitable words but fails to provoke the lord. Finally, he observes the lord entering a cave of a huge mountain.

Yavana enters cave in search of the lord and to his surprise, he finds a man sleeping inside unconscious of the world outside. Yavana is angry and infuriated. He is baffled and confused and thinks the sleeping man as Krishna. He thinks Krishna is teasing him. He knows not the ambiguous conduct of the lord that an unexpected revelation is sure to shock. He disturbs the sleep of a man. The man opens his eyes, looks terribly angry and the fiery eyes reduce Yavana to ashes.

The mystifying man of spiritual power is from the dynasty of Ikaswaku, a distinguished son of Mandhata. Later on, people know him as Muchukunda, a devotee of Brahma and a man of truth, an unconquerable king of vast prudence of that age. At that time, lord Indra faces a lethal threat from daityas, who are a superior power.

Gods of heavens deliberate for a long time and feel incapable of defeating the powerful daityas. Muchukunda offers to help gods and provides security and protection for an unspecified long period.

After ages, the gods are able to secure the service of Guha -Karteykeya, a son of lord Shiva. Now, the gods go to Muchukunda and express gratitude for the protection he ensured to gods. They also reveal the truth that ages have gone into oblivion and no one from his dynasty lives on earth.

The gods ask him to ask for a boon and blessing but do not assure of Kaivilaya Moksa -self-realization i.e. the true self, an area of control of lord Vishnu. Muchukunda listens to gods but does not say anything. After ages, he feels tired, terribly fatigued, and only wants to sleep, after tireless work of guarding the gods of heavens. One of the gods tells him if any stupid fellow disturbs him, the mere look will turn him into ashes.

At this moment, Krishna appears before Muchukunda and greatly enjoys ecstatic moments of a lifetime. He recognizes the lord and praises but wants to know the mystery. Lord tells him of the terror daityas create on earth, and therefore, to end the brutalities, he takes birth in the house of Vasudeva, a family of Yadu to get rid of the atrocious demons. Muchukunda is stunned and after serious reflections on life, existence, tapa and penance, devotion- bhakti and moksa, he speaks of the glories of the lord but is disinclined to live a life of three Gunas and so, seeks refuge in the Supreme Person, the Pure Consciousness. The lord is delighted at the devotion and so blesses him, “You will attain me, the Absolute, O Muchukunda.

Sri Suka continued.

The mystical time of joys abundant appeared infinite and inexhaustible. When Krishna emerged from the main gate of the city of Mathura, Kalayavana -Yavana was startled to witness a wonderful phenomenon. He appeared as if a rising moon, most dazzling and charming to the eyes. Endowed with four massive long arms, he was dark brown in appearance, gracefully and enchantingly attired in yellow silk with a white curl of hair around the neck, and the neck appeared brilliantly gem-adorned.

Yavana was lost in the glory and dazzle of the Supreme lord steadily coming out of the city of Mathura. He observed the lord minutely, looked into the eyes and face, and felt enchanted as the divine expressions appeared as fresh blossoming lotuses. He was thrilled as he looked at the ever beautiful and splendid cheeks while the divine smiles adorned with brilliant alligator-shaped earrings. The celestial sage had already described the divine beauty and gorgeous figure of Krishna.

Yavana was now, profoundly reflective. He thought long over the entire situation. Yavana followed him for a long time with the intent to overtake. However, he found it quite difficult to keep pace with the Supreme Lord. He observed the son of Vasudeva Krishna, who was fully armoured and the weapons dazzled the eyes. Next moment, the lord walked on foot he saw and was amazed to see him without weapons. He deliberated again and resolved to challenge him but did not reveal the purpose. Because the lord was unarmed, it would look apt if he had a fight he thought. He prepared himself for a duel with a defenseless person without a proper chariot or horse and pursued Krishna with the objective to outdistance Krishna while he walked with quick steps.

He was ready for an encounter with the lord, who was without weapons. He deliberated for some time as he swiftly chased lord Krishna, and resolved again and wanted genuinely an equal fight without prejudice or discrimination. Now, he was at the back of the lord. However, Krishna never looked back that someone was pursuing him with the objective to kill or defeat. Yavana failed to understand the mysterious play of the Supreme Person.

~*~

Great Lord appeared beyond reach. Possibly, the lord was beyond reach even for those, who were masters of yoga. Yavana did not understand Maya -delusory potency of the Supreme Lord. However, the lord did not indulge in deceptive acts or waywardness and so was quite simple and unassuming in conduct Yavana thought. The Knower of minds of all, the Supreme Spirit, the Lord of lords, Sri Krishna without inkling, tempted and lured the lord of Yavanas and took him far away to a great mountain cave. Unconsciously, he moved promptly to the door of a huge cave but he never allowed a feeling in the mind of Yavana to creep in that he had walked very fast. Every time, Yavana thought to catch hold of Krishna, the lord appeared within grip but still he slipped away and so Yavana eager for a combat with the great lord, failed to minimize the distance.

He continuously pursued Krishna but was unable to reach and hold him. Quite desperate he was when he told, “O Yadu, it is not good for you. You are born in the great dynasty of Yadus, and to run away without even a meet-up, is quite wrong.”

He had failed to keep pace with the lord as evil lurking in the mind fuelled his ego and obsession to defeat the lord. On the other hand, the mysterious destiny not only guided him to the imminent collapse but also waited and prepared the background for the ultimate fall. Therefore, it prevented him from touching the sacred feet of the lord. He also failed to provoke the lord even as he uttered offensive and unpalatable words.

In spite of provocations and objections he raised, Yavana could not get at Krishna. Soon, the lord approached the opening of a mountain, entered a cave while Yavana followed the lord stealthily. He felt worn out but condemned and criticized, and at the same time, tried to measure the immensity of the power of the lord within. In the meantime, he continued the vigorous chase. When Yavana entered, he saw a different man sleeping inside the cave. An astonished Yavana stood perplexed, still and silent. An inactive and snoozing man also raised curiosity and many questions raised heads within but he failed to find answers of the divine mystery. He was incapable of fathoming the hidden desires of the lord, and therefore, deliberated seriously.

Yavana thought and whispered, “Look at this. He brought me to such a place after treading a long distance as if he were unaware of anything. Now, he was asleep like an innocent man.”

Thus, mystery of a long chase was still incomprehensible to Yavana. Yavana thought deep, and was baffled. As if he were a foolish man, he thought that it was Krishna, who slept inside the cave after a long run. Without restraint, he struck him with the foot. He did not know that a revelation of a great secret awaited him. Like an impudent and confused man, he disturbed a man, who was in deep sleep and eagerly awaited the reaction.

~*~

The unknown man in deep sleep, felt a bit agitated and slowly messaged his eyes and face, and after a few moments, opened eyes. He looked around and saw Yavana, who stood nearby and appeared stubborn and impudent. He was obviously quiet but within exasperation and anger distressed. He got up, observed the situation and appeared annoyed, and therefore, when he looked at Yavana, he emitted terrific fire and reduced Yavana to ashes.

The strange and mysterious man was a man of immense spiritual prowess. He was born in the dynasty of Ikaswaku, and was a distinguished and well-known son of Mandhata. Later on, the people knew him as Muchukunda. He was devoted to Brahma in letter and spirit, was a man of truth, and was true to the promises he made. He was an invincible king of understanding and judiciousness.

Once, lord Indra scared of the demons desperately tried to seek protection from different quarters. Lord Indra found it difficult to save life and the kingdom, therefore, ran about frantically to escape from the clutches of the mighty daityas. He covered nearly all the regions and directions but failed to find appropriate shelter. However, the fierce demons chased him fully equipped with lethal and mystical weapons. Lord Indra appeared before king Muchukunda and beseeched for a refuge.

He wanted protection for the gods of heavens terribly afraid of the demons. Bighearted king Muchukunda, known for firmness of word uttered, might and integrity, agreed to grant security to the gods for a long time. It was a long time and none could measure it but the mighty Muchukunda protected the gods of heavens. Celestial beings did not know the time limit but in terms of celestial years, it was indefinite.

~*~

After a long time, the gods of heavens appeared before Guha -Karteykeya, the younger son of lord Shiva -the destroyer and requested him to protect the gods. Karteykeya agreed to become the guardian of heavens and the general of the army of gods. The gods felt assured and satisfied.

All gods went to king Muchukunda and said, “O king, you made efforts to protect us from the demons, and therefore, we lived happily. You served the gods of heaven for many ages. During a long period, you faced challenges and suffered. Now, you may kindly take rest. O, crown of the brave, you left your kingdom on earth -a mortal plane where you nearly eliminated all enemies. You also left wealth and pleasures of life for the protection of gods. Now, it is more than a lifetime of many ages. It appears many ages have rolled on during the long unmeasured time. Now, the sons, the queens, the relatives, the friends, the learned men of the court, the ministers and the people of your time and age have died and none lives now. All are lost in the womb of death.”

The divine souls compassionately looked at the king as if blessing the mighty soul in mortal frame.

After a moment, the lord of gods said gently, “O king, the Time-Spirit is mightier than the mighty. It is immortal. It is the Almighty and the eternal lord. O wise king, a herdsman drives away animals to the final destination at the end of day. Similarly, the Almighty sweeps away created beings -the animate or the inanimate to their ultimate destiny as if he were playing. O king, we pray for you. God bless you. You may ask anything other than Kaivilaya Moksa - It is stage in life when human beings attain enlightenment. The divine illumination leads to Moksa -salvation in a lifetime with cessation of Karmas because only the Imperishable lord Vishnu, the sole authority grants deliverance to the created beings, the ultimate self-realization.”

King Muchukunda listened to the gods attentively. He was tired after a long time of arduous work of protection and security of gods.

He went around the gods, prayed, worshipped, and then said to gods, “I am fatigued. I want to sleep.” A wish none could refuse to gift.

The gods granted the boon and blessed. He returned and entered a mountain-cave and went to sleep. However, before taking leave of gods, one god told him, “O noble king, if some unintelligent or unwise man disturbs you during sleep, you will reduce the foolish man to ashes the moment you will open eyes and look at him.”

That was how the great man of tapa Muchukunda reduced Yavana to ashes, for Yavana disturbed deep sleep of a person, who had gained enormous power through the virtue of dedication and service to the gods of heavens. He was the only man from the mortal world, the great earth, capable of granting protection to immortal gods whose life was in danger because of the ferocious daityas’s continuous threat, chase and dreadful infliction of injuries on gods in terms of loss of life, land and property. When Yavana turned to ashes, Krishna appeared before the great saintly king Muchukunda and delighted him with the sacred darshana -glimpses.

~*~

Beholding the lord attired in yellow silk as usual, was like a dark brown cloud and bore mark of a white thread on His sacred breast, and irradiated an eternal divine glow. Endowed with four arms, splendidly decorated with sylvan flowers, he wore a smiling and lovely, cheerful and heavenly countenance. A divinity incarnate lord stood before Muchukunda. Thus, the lord captivated a human being and enlivened him with loving smiles and endearing glances. He felt extremely blessed and so for some time, stood befuddled and thunderstruck, and therefore, for a long time, Muchukunda immensely enjoyed ecstatic moments of a lifetime.

A divine luster overwhelmed king Muchukund. After a short pause, he said humbly, “Who are you? O divine man, tell me. You are radiant, and dazzle eyes. Why do you wander in this thorny forest with lotus-like tender feet? What is the objective of arriving at this particular cave? Are you the sun god or the moon god or lord Indra -the lord of gods of paradise and the guardian of heavens and various other specific spheres? Are you the Effulgence (an incarnate of the Effulgent)? Kindly enlighten me O lord.”

He was desperate to find a cogent answer to the inquisitiveness taking birth. After a few moments, he spoke again, “I consider you no other than lord Vishnu, the Supreme Person out of the three most revered gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer respectively. You appear to be the most glittering and you…

You dispel darkness of the cave as well as the darkness of ignorance that engulfs a mind. You are the effulgence incarnate. O jewel among the men, if it pleases you, tell me about your birth and pedigree, karmas or family name. If you wish to know about me then I may tell you I am a Ksatriya from the family of Ikaswaku, and one of the sons of king Mandhata.”

He stopped for a moment and then said, “I am Muchukunda.”

He was silent, thought for a while and resumed, “I was extremely exhausted and weary because I was not only vigilant and but also protected and guarded the sacred abodes – the heavens of the gods and goddesses for many ages without respite or sleep. I cannot really measure the time and age. O great Soul, I granted protection to the gods of heavens against the atrocious and deadly invasion of the demons on noble gods. I did not sleep for ages. When Kartekeya, a son of lord Shiva became the guardian and General of the Army of the gods, I was relieved of the onerous responsibility. Later on, I entered the cave and slept. Some unknown person disturbed me only a few moments ago and a gaze of angry eyes reduced the stupid man to ashes. Because of the sins, he met an unfortunate end. Afterward, I noticed you.”

A persistent probing continued and then, after a long pause, the glorious lord told, “No one can count his descendants, exploits and appellations.”

He, the eternal, now disclosed the truth about the king’s unfathomable past, present and future. No one could reach last part of His descendants and doings. The lord told of many incarnations, divine powers and the plans of creation, preservation and destruction.

At last, He said to the monarch, “Hear from me as I tell. Long ago, prayers to Brahma, the great Creator bore fruit. For the vindication of virtues and dharma of life and existence and for finding a solution to the menace of demons was essential.

The powerful demons were proving a threat to the gods and the goddesses in all the directions and regions. The daityas were making lives of human beings and the created beings miserable and swiftly converting the great earth into hell, and therefore, I decided to appear in the house of Vasudeva from Yadu dynasty to get rid of the atrocious demons.”

“Earlier, people gave me different names.” The Effulgent Being revealed the truth.

He told about the various demons and the ultimate death they met. He talked of Yavana, whom the pious king had just reduced to ashes. Again, he revealed many secrets of creation to the saintly king. After revealing the celestial plan of the truth of life and existence of the created beings, the Supreme Lord asked him to have a boon and blessings.

At this moment, the king recalled words of sage Garga, who had told that the Supreme would take birth in the family of Yadus. That truth stood materialized before him. For, the Effulgent was no one else but the Supreme God he realized.

~*~

A great truth stood revealed to the king that delighted and he learnt that the pleasures of transitory life are unreal and short-lived.

“The eternal, the great lord’ is the embodiment of happiness and bliss. After talking about enjoyment, contentment, abundance of wealth whether material or physical on earth, a man suffers notwithstanding devotion and dedication because all material joys are ephemeral.” He told.

Therefore, after offering a critical analysis of life and consequent sufferings, king Muchukunda said, “O lord, what is hidden from you. I do not wish to covet any boon other than an everlasting service at your sacred feet. A supreme blessing is worth converting into truth of life, an ecstasy divine. In the mortal world, men own nothing even if they assert they possess wealth, power and pleasures.

Even nursing possessive instincts is a waste…therefore, O lord I reject blessings and pleasures associated with the qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas such as religious virtues or merits, worldly pleasures, prosperity and wealth, and the annihilation of enemies. Therefore, I seek refuge in you, the Supreme Person, a Pure Consciousness free from the taint of Maya - deluding potency and, who is above the three Gunas (modes of Prakriti).”

The king emitted a divine glow as the truth of the Supreme Spirit enveloped when he said, “You bestow and bless supreme knowledge, O Supreme Lord…. and while a man is at your lotus feet, bless him O lord, so that he is divorced from the worldly fear and grief. O Supreme Spirit, I pray, kindly protect, distressed as I am.”

Thus, a great king attained salvation. He had a rich life of truth and dharma even as he lived a mortal existence.

 Finally, the great lord said, “O king, with your mind set on me, you should wander around the whole world in extreme delight and joy and be free from any worry or anxiety. Your devotion would continue uninterrupted forever, for divine blessings would infuse you with the eternal glow. As a Ksatriya, you protected not only the people, the gods and the goddesses but you were also engaged in the killing and hunting.

Therefore, you look upon me as an asylum and with a concentrated mind, should get rid of aberrant propensities. I tell you again that you should take recourse to asceticism and tapa, devotion and dedication, and then, you would take birth as a Brahmin, the foremost of the twice born, and the most beloved of all the created beings in next incarnation. So you will attain me, the Absolute.”

Muchukunda thus, became a realised soul, and merged with the Supreme Spirit. There is nothing more sacred and eternal than the holy name of the great lord. Worldly wealth and prosperity are transitory and illusory, and drive a man to the web of modes of Prakriti, and therefore, a man becomes a slave to three Gunas, which do not lead him to salvation.

While the great king performed earthly duties with devotion and dedication, he earnestly deliberated on the sanctified feet of the Supreme Lord. Only at the feet of the great god, a man gets deliverance. If it happens in contemporary times, it would lead man to freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth if only he surrenders with faith and devotion at the feet of the great lord.

Devotion and dedication toward an objective guides a man to success and glory.