{"id":896,"date":"2008-11-15T15:27:37","date_gmt":"2008-11-15T09:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/?p=896"},"modified":"2009-07-04T21:04:45","modified_gmt":"2009-07-04T15:34:45","slug":"kk-21-shikhandi-and-sudyumna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/sweet_books\/excerpts-from-sri-krishna-karnamritam\/kk-21-shikhandi-and-sudyumna\/","title":{"rendered":"KK 21.1 – Shikhandi and Sudyumna"},"content":{"rendered":"

Verse 21<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
\n

stokastoka niruddhyam\u00e2na mridulaprasandi mandasmitam, <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

premodbheda\u2013nirargala\u2013prasrimara\u2013pravyakta\u2013romodgamam,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

shrotun shrotra\u2013manoharam vraja\u2013vadhu\u2013lil\u00e2m\u2013itho\u2013jalpitam mithy\u00e2\u2013sw\u00e2pam up\u00e2smahe bhagavatah krid\u00e2 \u2013 nimilad \u2013 drishah<\/span><\/em> .21<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Translation<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

S<\/span>ri Krishna is pretending to be asleep so that He may hear the attractive conversation of the Vrajavadhus. His face is radiant with a slight stifled softly blooming smile that has broadened due to the arousal of love. The hairs on His body are clearly standing on their ends. We worship such false sleep of Sri Krishna. 21.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n
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S<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

ri Krishna <\/span>has risen from the bed of love, Srimati R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni has put both Her arms around Him and He is at present seated on the love\u2013bed. Once again the ras<\/em>\u2013dalliance has started with enthusiasm. Sri Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2\u2013Govinda\u2019s vilaas<\/em> is very deep, mysterious and unknown to all in every aspect. Leave alone others, it is unknown even to the dearest sakhis<\/em>. No one is permitted to behold Their pastimes, other than the Manjaris<\/em><\/strong>. The sakhis<\/em> are so close to Them, but still they are not allowed to stay during the confidential pastimes. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seeing that the vil\u00e2s<\/em><\/span>[1]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> had started, Sri Lil\u00e2shuk went away with the sakhis<\/em> and after some time, when they learnt that it had ended, they returned to the gate of the flower\u2013grove. Inside the kunja<\/em> (flower\u2013grove) Sri Krishna heard the anklets of the approaching sakhis<\/em> and pretended to be asleep so that He could hear their conversation with Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni. Everyone thought He was sleeping. So they started joking freely. When Sri Lil\u00e2shuk saw Sri Krishna\u2019s eyes shut, in false sleep, He said defensively, “Although the Lord is overflowing with all beauty, He is pretending to be asleep to hear the sweet joking words of the Vrajavadhus.<\/em> We worship that false sleep.\u201d This proves that the sakhis<\/em>\u2019 humorous conversation with Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni is so wonderful that it steals the ear and heart of Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> Himself!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Srila Kavir\u00e2j Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has gained the exclusive blessing of Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni. By Her mercy, that witty conversation has been revealed in his ras<\/em>\u2013meditative heart. So he has served that wonderfully sweet, delicious, entertaining and nectarine conversation to us. Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2\u2019s sakhis<\/em> tried to embarrass Her with so many ras<\/em>\u2013words. She was not to be defeated. She too replied by turning the tables on them. One of the sakhis<\/em> said \u2013 “My dear Princess, You are very brave indeed! You left us at home and came to this forest to pluck the Punn\u00e2g<\/em> flower (the literal meaning of \u2018Punn\u00e2g\u2019<\/em> is \u2018the best of men\u2019 – that is Sri Krishna). How fortunate that the slayer of demon Baka (Sri Krishna) has not found You, otherwise we cannot imagine how You would have been defeated in His hands. Dear Friend, another question – have You heard – Sudyumna and Shikhandi have come to this forest? I believe You have learnt their art, is it true?”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Who were Sudyumna and Shikhandi?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sudyumna was Vaivasvat Manu\u2019s son. Before the birth of Ikshv\u00e2ku and all, Manu was childless. So under the guidance of Maharshi Vashishtha, he performed Mitra\u2013Varun yagna<\/em><\/span>[2]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. Although he wanted a son, his wife wished for a daughter. So they got a daughter named Il\u00e2. Manu was dissatisfied. So Rishi Vashishtha prayed to Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> to change Il\u00e2 into a boy. In this manner Il\u00e2 became a boy and her new name was Sudyumna. Once when Sudyumna went hunting in Sukumaar forest at the foothills of the Sumeru Mountain, he, along with his friends, turned into women<\/span>[3]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. Later on by the mercy of sage Vashishtha he gained femininity for one month and masculinity for the next month.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Shikhandi was the son of King Drupad. He was born as a daughter. Drupad who was so much desirous for a son that although he got a daughter, he performed all the rites meant for a son. When she attained marriageable age, he got her married to king Hiranyavarm\u00e2\u2019s daughter. When Hiranyavarm\u00e2 learned the truth from his daughter, he was furious and prepared to attack P\u00e2nch\u00e2l. Shikhandi left her home and entered a forest. Here lived a Yaksha (semi spiritual being) called Sthunakarna. By his boon, Shikhandi gained manhood and returned home. Then Drupad told everything to Hiranyavarm\u00e2 and pacified him. Arjun had placed Shikhandi in front of Bhishma (in his opinion Shikhandi would always remain a woman) who then gave up his arms and thus Arjun was able to defeat Bhishma. Today Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2-Krishna\u2019s clothes and mood had got exchanged due to love-dalliance. Seeing this, the sakhis<\/em> are teasing Sw\u00e2mini in this manner.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Sri Krishna heard this He got into trouble. The problem was that He wanted to burst into laughter. But if He laughed, He would get caught and would not be able to relish Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni\u2019s witty repartee, so He slowly contained His laughter. The laugh turned into a smile that made His face blissful and light up like a full moon. How sweet His face looked then! The laughter within Him reached His face softly, sweetly and started playing silently on His lips. You may ask, then how did Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni and the sakhis<\/em> not come to know that He was pretending? Well, when Sri Krishna actually sleeps, His lips always display a soft smile. So when He pretends to be asleep, no one can make out. Sri Lil\u00e2shuk has learnt this by the mercy of the false sleep itself. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Srimati R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni replied, \u2018Go away and don\u2019t act smart! As if I don\u2019t know about you folks. You are the main teachers of perverted acts. You think I don\u2019t know anything? You people are the greatest teachers of all Shikhandi-arts. You girls have no character at all and now you want to spoil mine and make me like you. So you signalled with your eyes and having left me alone with this debauchee you hid yourselves in the forest. Thank God that \u2018Sleep\u2019 is my dear friend. He came to protect me and embraced your hero. Just now Shikhandi came alone and told me, “Yesterday Krishna was with the sakhis<\/em> in the flower\u2013groves. Then I too had come there with my friend Sudyumna \u2013 all the sakhis<\/em> learnt this Shikhandi\u2013art from me. Sri Krishna learnt the art of eroticism from my friend Sudyumna. I have come here to put my friend\u2019s erotic\u2013art to test. Your sakhis<\/em> too wish that You should advise me regarding that art\u201d. When I heard Shikhandi I was so angry that I shooed him away. Full of lust, it is you who have made him your Guru. You foul-mouthed girls, I will never talk to You again.\u201d\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Sri Krishna heard Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni\u2019s reply He became very much inebriated with love. Although He tried His level best, He could not control His goose bumps. Sri Lil\u00e2shuk relished this nectarine bh\u00e2v<\/em> of Sri Krishna and said – “We worship this false sleep of Sri Krishna. May I be so fortunate as to behold this false sleep\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Srila Bhatta Goswmip\u00e2d says, Sri Lil\u00e2shuk who is immersed in great bh\u00e2v<\/em> has earlier prayed for an inspiration of Sri Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2\u2013 Krishna sporting in the fresh, secluded flower\u2013grove of Sri Vrind\u00e2van. Now in this verse he is praying to behold the false sleep of Sri Krishna which He performs in order to hear the sweet conversation of the Vrajasundaris<\/em>. Here \u2018Bhagavatah\u2019<\/em> (of Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>) is not used in the opulent sense, but it refers to Sri Krishna Who is engaged in the sport of love\u2013making, since the emotional poet is a worshipper in the mood of sweetness. \u2018Up\u00e2smahe<\/em>\u2019<\/strong> means \u2018we worship\u2019. This indicates that the poet wishes to relish Sri Krishna\u2019s pastimes with other devotees having similar mood, called \u2018saj\u00e2tiya<\/em>\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“You must relish the meaning of Srimad-Bh\u00e2gavatam in the company of saj\u00e2tiya<\/em><\/span>[4]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, serene, more advanced and rasik<\/em> devotees. <\/span>The Divine pastimes do not appear ras<\/em>-full or sweet without the company of such devotees.\u201d – [B. R. S. 1.2.91]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of saying \u2018we worship Sri Krishna who is displaying false sleep\u2019 the poet is saying \u2018we worship the false sleep of Sri Krishna.\u2019 <\/span>This proves the importance of the pastime. Everywhere we see that the devotees are more obsessed with the Lord\u2019s pastimes than with the Lord Himself. <\/span>This is because His true nature is manifested more wonderfully through His pastimes. Sri Krishna\u2019s sweet Vraja-lil\u00e2s<\/em> are incomparable. To show His mercy to the devotees, Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> manifests sweeter than sweet pastimes such as the R\u00e2s-lil\u00e2<\/em>. <\/span>By hearing such pastimes any one can easily gain success in devotion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The same is stated in S.B. \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018anugrah\u00e2ya bhakt\u00e2nam m\u00e2nushan deham-\u00e2shritah,<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

bhajate tadrishih krid\u00e2 yah shrutv\u00e2 tat-paro bhavet.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

– [S.B. 10.33.37]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> Himself has said in Padmapur\u00e2n-<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“mad-bhaktaan\u00e2m vinod\u00e2rthang karomi vividhah kriy\u00e2h.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Meaning – “I perform various pastimes to entertain my devotees.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The magnificent ras<\/em> of the pastimes make Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> Himself wonder struck.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> is remembering the most amazing sweetness of R\u00e2s-lil\u00e2<\/em> performed with the Vrajadevis<\/em>, and is remarking in wonder \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Although I have many attractive pastimes, whenever I remember the R\u00e2s-lil\u00e2<\/em>, I do not know why, my mind is enwrapped in some inexpressible bh\u00e2v<\/em> and I lose myself.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has named Sri Krishna\u2019s Lil\u00e2-Kath\u00e2s<\/em> (the narration of pastimes) as \u2018Amrita-tarangini<\/em>\u2019 (flow of nectar) and has prayed for that ras-<\/em>river to appear on his tongue \u2013<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“O Krishna! The narration of Your pastimes is like a river of nectar that uproots the tree of materialism and destroys all worldly desires. Great sages such as N\u00e2rad relish its drops every moment and frolic happily. Its gurgling sound is extremely joyous to the ears and there is a whirlpool of ras <\/em>in it. May that river of nectar always flow from my tongue!\u201d – (Stavam\u00e2l\u00e2)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

(to be contd……)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n

[1]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> love – dalliance<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[2]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> a type of fire-sacrifice<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[3]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span>Due to a spell<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[4]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> Devotees belonging to the same samprad\u00e2y<\/em> and in the same bh\u00e2v<\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Srila Kavir\u00e2j Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has gained the exclusive blessing of Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2r\u00e2ni. By Her mercy, that witty conversation has been revealed in his ras\u2013meditative heart. So he has served that wonderfully sweet, delicious, entertaining and nectarine conversation to us. Sri R\u00e2dh\u00e2\u2019s sakhis tried to embarrass Her with so many ras\u2013words. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,107],"tags":[389],"class_list":["post-896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-excerpts-from-sri-krishna-karnamritam","category-verse-21","tag-excerpts-from-sri-krishna-karnamritam"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=896"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2166,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896\/revisions\/2166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}