bhagavatam krishna leelas 6 - sri shirdi sai baba temple ... vikas lessons... · krishna, we need...
TRANSCRIPT
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BHAGAVATAM – Krishna Leelas 6
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The news of Krishna's exploits was constantly pouring into Kamsa's court and he could
see his death getting closer. So, he thought of a new plan to put an end to Krishna's life.
Arishtasura
Kamsa had a demon named Arishtasura in his service. He was entrusted with the job of
eliminating Krishna. Arishtasura went to Brindavan and began to create trouble there.
He wanted to create a lot of trouble so that Krishna would challenge him!
Arishtasura entered the village like a great bull with a gigantic body and horns, digging
up the earth with his hooves. When the demon entered Brindavan, it appeared that the
whole land trembled, as if there were an earthquake. Arishtasura entered Brindavan
with such a fearful appearance that just on seeing this great demon, all the men and
women were afflicted with great fear, and the cows and other animals fled the village.
Arishtasura damaged many a house with his horns. He uprooted several trees and killed
a number of cows and calves too. The situation became very terrible. All the inhabitants
of Brindavan began to cry, "Krishna! Krishna, please save us!" Getting the news of
Arishtasura's intolerable activities, Krishna decided to punish the demon.
Krishna, accompanied by his brother, Balarama, went to
where the demon was creating trouble. He challenged him
with a clap of his hands. Balarama, when he saw the furious
bull, asked Krishna not to face him but Krishna paid no heed
to his advice. Arishtasura, mad in rage to hear the challenge,
rushed at Krishna. Krishna caught hold of his horns, pushed
him back, and then threw him on the ground with a violent
jerk. Giving him no chance to raise again, Krishna twisted his
neck with such a force that he fell down dead with a thud.
Arishtasura left the form of an asura, took a Brahmin form, and told “O Krishna! I am the
disciple of Brihaspati. Because of a curse, I became a demon. You have relieved me
from the curse with your mercy.”
Demon Keshi
Now Kamsa was trembling with fear at the very thought of Krishna. Every demon sent
by him had been killed at Krishna's hands and he was now convinced that his end was
quite near too. Kamsa now sent Keshi, his strongest demon, to put an end to Krishna's
life.
This demon used to roam in the form of a dark black horse, very dreadful to look at.
Even Devatas feared to see eye to eye with him. Keshi came to Brindavan at Kamsa’s
bidding. He galloped into the village of Brindavan, his hooves thundering and his mane
and tail flying. People were so afraid that they shut their doors and the scared cattle
broke loose to run for safety.
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Krishna knew the horse was another demon sent by his Uncle Kamsa. He went to
challenge Keshi. Keshi at once recognized Krishna, and galloped full speed straight
toward Him, intending to trample Him. Krishna, however, grabbed Keshi’s legs and
threw the great horse a hundred yards. Keshi
landed with a terrible thud, and was
unconscious for a few moments. He regained
consciousness and got up to attack again. This
time Keshi galloped toward Krishna with his
mouth wide open and teeth bared. Krishna
shoved his fist deep into that mouth and
flipped Keshi onto the ground. Krishna’s fist
felt to Keshi like hot iron, and all his teeth fell out. Then Krishna enlarged the length and
girth of His arm to such an extent that Keshi's throat got choked and his belly got
inflated. Finally it burst causing the demon to fall down dead on the ground. All the
villagers congratulated Krishna, and the demigods watching above sent showers of
flowers down upon Krishna.
Do you have any demons in your life that try and destroy you? These are things like bad
habits – eating too much, watching too much TV, too much video game, etc. Like
Krishna, we need to quickly destroy these demons and triumph over them.
Akrura’s Message to Nanda
The years rolled by and Krishna grew to be a boy of twelve years. The time for Kamsa’s
death was fast approaching. Narada, the divine sage, who ever acts as the instrument
to carry out Lord’s wishes, went to Kamsa and said, “O Kamsa, you have been tricked.
Devaki’s eighth son still lives in the house of Nanda in Brindavan. The female child you
sought to kill was Yashoda’s baby. The two were exchanged on the night of Krishna’s
birth. Krishna and his brother Balarama killed all the asuras you sent to kill them.”
Kamsa was terribly agitated and angered by hearing this. He drew out his sword and
rushed to kill Vasudeva, Krishna’s father. But Narada stopped him and explained that
Vasudeva was quite innocent. Nevertheless, Kamsa had Devaki and Vasudeva put into
chains and thrown into the darkest dungeons. Narada departed, and Kamsa sent for his
ministers and counselors. They decided to take recourse to treachery in order to
achieve his objective of killing Krishna.
Kamsa sent for Akrura. He was the chief of Kamsa’s charity department, He was a very
saintly person. “Akrura, my dear friend” Kamsa said. “You are trusted wherever you go.
Please go to Brindavan, and bring the two sons of Vasudeva, Nanda, and other family
members to witness the Dhanur-Yagna, and to see the sights of the town. My powerful
elephant will kill the brothers, and if they, by any chance, escape the elephant, my
wrestlers will quickly do away with them. My wonderful plan cannot but succeed.”
Akrura gladly agreed to go to Brindavan. He had a keen desire to see Krishna, who is
Lord Vishnu, Himself. Riding a chariot, he proceeded to Brindavan.
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Akrura reached Brindavan just as the sun was setting. Krishna and Balarama, refreshed
after a bath, were strolling in the courtyard, where the cows were being milked. In
great excitement at beholding the beautiful, shining face of the Lord, Akrura jumped
down from his chariot, saw Krishna’s footprints
first with tearful eyes, paid obeisance to them,
and then fell at the feet for Krishna and prostrated
before him. Krishna raised him to his feet and
embraced him warmly. Then the brothers took
him inside. They made him comfortable, and fed
him a delicious meal. Then Nanda and Akrura
exchanged greetings.
While they were talking, Akrura told them how Narada had come to Kamsa and revealed
to him the secret of Krishna’s birth. He also disclosed everything about Kamsa’s
treacherous plot to kill Krishna. At this, Krishna and Balarama laughed heartily. Nanda
ordered at once that the carriages and presents be got ready for their trip to Mathura.
He had it proclaimed throughout Brindavan that early the next morning they would
proceed to Mathura to witness the great Dhanur-Yagna. LEARN WHAT HAPPENED IN
THE NEXT LESSON!
Questions:
• Where did Krishna live?
• What is an asura?
• What form was Arishtasura in?
• Did Arishtasura meet a tragic end, or did Krishna help him?
• What form did the demon Keshi take?
• How many demons, from this and previous lessons, can you remember that
Kamsa sent to kill Krishna?
• What were their names and forms?
• Do you remember who Devaki and Nanda are?
• Where did Kamsa put them? Why?
• Who was Akrura? Was he happy to see Krishna? Why?
• What was Kamsa’s latest plot to kill Krishna?
MahaLakshmi Ashtakam
Namstestu Mahamaye Shripithe Surapujite
SankhaChakra GadhaHaste MahaLakshmi Namostute (1)
Namaste Garudarudhe Dolasura Bhayankari
SarvaPapaHare Devi MahaLakshmi Namostute (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Pg1RoMJP4
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Jumble Words – All words are from this lesson
K H O C E
D H T U
R S E A C
R Y M C E
U P R O
W O S E R H
S N P H U I
L V E R A E
L X P E O T I
T C A E R E
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Coloring exercise – Lord Krishna