SRI KRISHNA LEELAMRUTHAM (THE NECTARINE STORIES OF THE DEEDS OF LORD KRISHNA)

9. THE YAMALA-ARJUNA TREES GOT DELIVERANCE

When mother Yashoda was engaged in her household works, Lord Krishna thought of liberating the twin Arjuna trees who were the sons of Kubera namely Nala kubara and manigreeva. Kubera was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. With the unlimited blessings of Lord Shiva, he was endowed with wealth, pride, beauty and everything. Due to pride, they had been turned into twin Arjuna trees by Naradamuni's curse. These two sons on account of their pride, they were addicted to wine and women.  One day, they entered the garden of Lord shiva in the Kailash hill at the bank of Ganges river. They drank much. In that intoxicated state, they lost their consciousness. They entered the river Ganges and were playing with Gandharva girls in a naked state. Timely Naradamuni happened to pass the way. The Gandharva girls were ashamed and put on their clothes due to the fear of Naradamuni's curse. Because they drank much, their eyes were rolling and couldn't know the presence of the great Rishi and they both remained naked. In order to show mercy, Naradamuni gave a special curse. Naradamuni uttered, "Being puffed up with wealth and pride, a person may indulge in three things such as intoxication, sex and gambling. The materialistic enjoyment will hide their eyes with lust, greed, hatred, anger, jealousy and egoism. Whatever be the external appearance, one day the body is going to burn into ashes and eaten by worms". 

Sri Jagadguru Adishankaracharya says in Bhaja Govindam;

II MAA KURU DHANA JANA YAUVANA GARVAM

       HARATI NIMESHHAAKAALAH SARVAM

    MAAYAA MAYAMIDAM AKHILAM HITVAA 

       BRAHMAPADAM TVAM PRAVISHA VIDITVAA II 

                                                                 

                                                                                                Bhaja Govindam verses[20]

MEANING: "Pride not with your riches. All of these are destroyed spontaneously by time. Isolate yourself from the illusion or maya of the world and attain timeless truth by worshiping Lord Muraari".

Therefore Naradamuni cursed, " Since You both are ignorant and disrespectful at extreme level, I curse You both! May You both become twin Arjuna trees for one hundred years. But you will never lose your memory of this incident. You both will get deliverance Lord Krishna's touch." These two demigods became a twin Arjuna trees in Vrindavan. Lord Krishna got to know about this incident and approached Yamala-Arjuna trees in Vrindavan. When Lord Krishna bound with husking-stand  was approaching the twin Arjuna trees, the trees got liberated with greater force by the God Himself. A great sound emerged as soon as Lord Krishna pulled the trees with extreme force. The trees were broken and fell down and the two Siddhas came out of it with blazing fire in all directions. The two demigods praised the Lord that because of His touch, they got deliverance. They also praised Naradamuni for His merciful action towards them as Naradamuni wanted Nala kubara and Manigreeva to see Lord Krishna face to face. So that, they will devoid the materialistic enjoyment and seek the supreme personality of Godhead. Lord Krishna uttered that since Naradamuni was His great devotee, He obeyed His words to make the demigods of the Lord's consciousness. After the prayer made by Demigods, they returned back to their life.

The three wicked and useless things; intoxication, wine and women makes one to separate from Krishna consciousness. It is said in Puranas that one who is addicted to external appearance of the materialistic world, they will eat their own bodies after death. It happens when a person gets boosted with riches and pride. Therefore, Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya utters,

II BHAGAVAT GIITAA KINJNCHIDA DHIITAA

           GANGAA JALALAVA KANIKAAPIITAA

    SAKRITA PIYENA MURAARI SAMARCHA

            KRIYATE TASYA YAMENA NA CHARCHA II 

                           

                                                                                           Bhaja Govindam verses: [11]

MEANING: "Yama won't even reach the person who have read a few from Bhagavad Gita, tasted one drop of water from the river Ganges and even once in their lifetime worshiped the supreme Godhead (Lord Muraari)".

TO BE CONTINUED....