Narayaneeyam Dashakam 52
Narayaneeyam Dasakam 52 -
Brahma Garva Shamanam
(Brahma's Delusion)
BRAHMA STEALING CALVES AND GOPA BOYS:
After watching the glories of Lord Krishna, Brahma decided to test Lord with the power of his maya. Krishna and his friends sat down on the banks of the River Yamuna to have their lunch. They set the calves to search for green grass. The calves went deep into the forest and did not return for some time. Afraid of some mishap to their animals, the cowherd-boys wanted to go in search of the calves, but Krishna told them to continue with their lunch, and he went in search of them with a half-eaten rice ball in his hand. In the forest, Krishna was unable to find the calves; when he returned, he saw that his friends had vanished as well. In fact, Lord Brahma had stolen these calves, and the gopa boys took them to a cave and made them sleep under the spell of his mystic power. He wished to see what Lord Krishna would do without the calves and gopa boys. Through his divine powers, Krishna understood that this was the work of Lord Brahma. He decided to play a trick on Lord Brahma himself.
Krishna made no effort to release the gopa boys and the calves. Instead, he multiplied himself into the gopa boys and calves, duplicating their original forms and minds, flutes, curd pots and horns. Down to the minutest details, he copied their dress, behaviour, mannerisms, colour, voices and other characteristics. These divine forms of the Lord were so perfectly matched to the original that no one could even sense a change. As the sun went down, these Krishna-gopas and Krishna-calves wended their way home to Brindavan along with Krishna. On entering the village, each Krishna-gopa bid farewell to Krishna and went to his house with the Krishna-calves. Krishna had so perfectly copied each boy’s characteristics that not even their own mothers could find anything strange. The Krishna calves, too, went straight to the mother-cows.
Krishna continued to sustain this Leela so that the people of Brindavan were not aware that the original boys and calves were missing. Every morning, the Krishna-gopas and Krishna-calves would go as usual to the meadows. The calves would graze, and the Krishna-gopas would play together all the games that Krishna and the cowherd boys used to play. In the evening, they would return home again. Day by day, the mothers began to feel an overwhelming love for their children, caring for them lovingly in the evenings. They were reluctant to send them to the grassland in the morning. The cows, too, began to adore their calves more. They could not stop snouting them and could not seem to stop licking them.
In this way, Krishna enjoyed the lavish love and tender care of so many parents and animals at once, bringing immeasurable happiness to all the gopikas. All the other gods and celestial beings watched with wonder at these Supreme impersonifications and envied those fortunate enough to enjoy Krishna's divine manifestations.
One day, as usual, Krishna, Balarama and the other Krishna-gopas took their calves to graze in the grass fields. The cows were already grazing on the hill slopes of Govardhana. Seeing their beloved calves, they came rushing down the mountain to cuddle them and lick them with great joy. Balarama, who was watching all this, said to Krishna, "Krishna, do you know the reason why everybody has become more loving towards their children? Why can even the cows bear to be separated from their calves? And the strangest thing is that they all look like you to me." Krishna then narrated to Balarama the entire incident of Brahma hiding the boys and the animals.
By now, a year was almost over. It was one year of our solar calculation, but only a moment in Brahma’s calculation. When he came again after a moment, he saw all the gopa boys and calves playing with Krishna as usual. He was greatly puzzled at this since he was certain that all the cowherd boys and calves taken away by him were still sleeping in the cave. Very soon, Brahma realised that his mystic power was almost nothing compared to the maya of Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Just like the light of a candle which pales into insignificance in the face of the sun, so did the mystic of Lord Brahma become insignificant in front of Lord Krishna’s maya. As soon as he acknowledged this, like a mist clearing, he saw the beloved face of Krishna in each of the gopa boys and calves. To his eyes, wherever he looked, he could only see the four-armed Lord Vishnu in each one’s form.
Getting down from his vehicle, the swan, Brahma, went thrice around Krishna and bowed low. "My Lord, your maya is infinitely great and divine", he said and sang in praise of the Lord. He then released the gopa boys and calves. Then, seated on his swan, he went back to Sathyaloka. The divine duplicates also vanished when the originals came back.
The real Gopa boys were now sitting in the same place from where Brahma had moved them away. But he had cast a spell on them as a result of which they could not remember anything that had happened. The original calves were grazing peacefully. To them, Krishna also appeared as he had been a year previously. Although he returned after one year, the gopa boys thought that he had returned in a moment. While enjoying his lunch with the other boys, Krishna chuckled to himself about their not realising that for one year they had all been involved in the mystic activities of Lord Brahma.
That evening, the gopa boys returned home and told the others how Krishna had saved them yet again from the jaws of death. They related how he had killed the demon Aghasura. The gopa boys actually spoke of the event which had taken place a year ago, but which they thought was only a few hours earlier. Day by day, the people of Brindavan spoke lovingly of the deeds of Krishna, even though they continued to be unaware of his divine nature.
Bhattadri, happy with Lord's mercy and divine power with which he subdued Brahma, requested Lord Guruvayurappan to remove his afflictions.
Destroying the pride of Brahma:
भूमातिरेकमभिवीक्ष्य तदाघमोक्षे ।
ब्रह्मा परीक्षितुमना: स परोक्षभावं
निन्येऽथ वत्सकगणान् प्रवितत्य मायाम् ॥१॥
anyaavataaranikareShvaniriikshitaM te
bhuumaatirekamabhiviikshya tadaaghamOkshe |
brahmaa pariikshitumanaaH sa parOkshabhaavaM
ninye(a)tha vatsakagaNaan pravitatya maayaam || 1
Brahma, watching you give salvation to Aghasura, and observing your great power which was not seen in other incarnations, decided to test you and, using his power of maya, caused the entire herd of calves vanish from there.
नानेतुकाम इव धातृमतानुवर्ती ।
त्वं सामिभुक्तकबलो गतवांस्तदानीं
भुक्तांस्तिरोऽधित सरोजभव: कुमारान् ॥२॥
vatsaanaviikshya vivashe pashupOtkaretaan
aanetukaama iva dhaatR^imataanuvartii |
tvaM saamibhukta kabalO gatavaamstadaaniiM
bhuktaamstirOdhita sarOjabhavaH kumaaraan || 2
The cowherd boys were worried by the disappearance of the calves. As though trying to bring them back, You left your half finished meal and as if to obey Brahma’s wish, Started searching for the calves and then that Brahma hide, The cowherd boys also with their half finished meals witnessing the indisputable power of your glory, during the liberation of the demon Agha, so far not seen in any of Your other incarnations, Brahma, with his mind determined to test You, used his power of maya, and caused the Gopa boys to disappear from view.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 03
शिक्यादिभाण्डमुरलीगवलादिरूप: ।
प्राग्वद्विहृत्य विपिनेषु चिराय सायं
त्वं माययाऽथ बहुधा व्रजमाययाथ ॥३॥
vatsaayita stadanu gOpagaNaayitastvaM
shikyaadi bhaaNDa muralii gavalaadiruupaH |
praagvadvihR^itya vipineShu chiraaya saayaM
tvaM maayayaa(a)tha bahudhaa vrajamaayayaatha || 3
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 04
भूयस्त्वमेव पशुवत्सकबालरूप: ।
गोरूपिणीभिरपि गोपवधूमयीभि-
रासादितोऽसि जननीभिरतिप्रहर्षात् ॥४॥
tvaameva shikya gavalaadimayaM dadhaanO
bhuuyastvameva pashuvatsaka baalaruupaH |
gOruupiNiibhirapi gOpavadhuumayiibhiH
aasaaditO(a)si jananiibhiratipraharShaat ||4
You alone were in the form of the slings and horns held by the cowherd boys, who were also You alone in their form. The cows and calves were also your form alone. The mothers, that is, the Gopikas and cows, received the gopa boys and the calves with great joy and love.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 05
मत्वा तनूज इति रागभरं वहन्त्य: ।
आत्मानमेव तु भवन्तमवाप्य सूनुं
प्रीतिं ययुर्न कियतीं वनिताश्च गाव: ॥५॥
jiivaM hi ka~nchidabhimaana vashaatsvakiiyaM
matvaa tanuuja iti raagabharaM vahantyaH |
aatmaanameva tu bhavantamavaapya suunuM
priitiM yayurnakiyatiiM vanitaashcha gaavaH || 5
While before this happened, the Gopikas and cows, due to the self-centeredness of the soul, were greatly loving them as their children, but when they got you, who is God himself, as their child,
They were drowned in ecstasy and great joy.
They were drowned in ecstasy and great joy.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 06
निश्शेषगोपगणलालितभूरिमूर्तिम् ।
त्वामग्रजोऽपि बुबुधे किल वत्सरान्ते
ब्रह्मात्मनोरपि महान् युवयोर्विशेष: ॥६॥
evaM pratikshaNa vijR^imbhita harShabhaara
niHsheSha gOpagaNa laalita bhuuri muurtim |
tvaamagrajO(a)pi bubudhe kila vatsaraante
brahmaatmanOrapi mahaan yuvayOrvisheShaH || 6
In this manner, day by day, every moment, the Gopas served You in Your many forms with ever-increasing joy. Even your elder brother Balaram could not find that it was you in the various forms till the end of one year. Though you two are in reality of the nature of Brahman, there is a vast difference. You are special.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 07
दृष्ट्वा विवेकमसृणे द्रुहिणे विमूढे ।
प्रादीदृश: प्रतिनवान् मकुटाङ्गदादि
भूषांश्चतुर्भुजयुज: सजलाम्बुदाभान् ॥७॥
varShaavadhau nava puraatana vatsa paalaan
dR^iShTvaa vivekamasR^iNe druhiNe vimuuDhe |
praadiidR^ishaH pratinavaan makuTaangadaadi
bhuuShaamshchaturbhuja yujaH sajalaambudaabhaan || 7
At the end of one year, Brahma was extremely perplexed as he could not distinguish which set of gopa boys and calves were the old ones and which were the new ones. You revealed to him each and every one of Your new forms, adorned with a crown, shoulder ornaments, etc. and having four arms and the radiance of the rain-bearing clouds.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 08
भोगीन्द्रभोगशयनान् नयनाभिरामान् ।
लीलानिमीलितदृश: सनकादियोगि-
व्यासेवितान् कमलभूर्भवतो ददर्श ॥८॥
pratyekameva kamalaa parilaalitaangaan
bhOgiindra bhOgashayanaan nayanaabhiraamaan |
liilaa nimiilitadR^ishaH sanakaadi yOgi
vyaasevitaan kamalabhuurbhavatO dadarsha || 8
The lotus-born Brahma saw each one of them as You alone. As Him whose feet were caressed by Goddess Lakshmi, everyone of them reclining on the bed of the serpent Adisesha; each form with eyes shut in the trance of Yogic sleep; each form being worshipped by the sages Sanaka and others; seeing all these charming poses, Brahma was convinced of Your identity.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam: 09
नारायणाकृतिमसंख्यतमां निरीक्ष्य
सर्वत्र सेवकमपि स्वमवेक्ष्य धाता ।
मायानिमग्नहृदयो विमुमोह याव-
देको बभूविथ तदा कबलार्धपाणि: ॥९॥
सर्वत्र सेवकमपि स्वमवेक्ष्य धाता ।
मायानिमग्नहृदयो विमुमोह याव-
देको बभूविथ तदा कबलार्धपाणि: ॥९॥
naaraayaNaakR^itiM asankhyatamaaM niriikshya
sarvatra sevakamapi svamavekshya dhaataa |
maayaa nimagna hR^idayO vimumOha yaavat
ekO babhuuvitha tadaa kabalaardhapaaNiH || 9
Brahma saw the innumerable forms of Narayana everywhere. He saw himself as an attendant. His mind was totally overpowered by Maya, and he was completely confused. Then you became one, holding a half-eaten ball of rice in your hand.
Dasakam: 052 -- Slokam:10
नत्वा च नूतवति धातरि धाम याते ।
पोतै: समं प्रमुदितै: प्रविशन् निकेतं
वातालयाधिप विभो परिपाहि रोगात् ॥१०॥
nashyanmade tadanu vishvapatimmuhustvaaM
natvaa cha nuutavati dhaatari dhaama yaate |
pOtaiH samaM pramuditaiH pravishanniketaM
vaataalayaadhipa vibhO paripaahi rOgaat ||10
Oh Lord! Then Brahma, with his pride, destroyed, bowed down to You, repeatedly, and singing Your praises, heartily, left for his Satyaloka. You came back to Brindavan with all the calves and gopa boys, who were most happy. Oh!Guruvayurappa! May You save me from illness.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
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