Narayaneeyam Dashakam 61

 

Narayaneeyam Dashakam 61

- Vipra Patni Anugraham

(Lord Krishna blessing Brahmanas ' wives)

Click here to listen to Dashakam 61

The Blessing of the Brahmins’ Wives

In the enchanting forests of Vṛndāvana, Lord Krishna once set out with his companions, the cowherd boys, and their calves. What appeared to be a simple excursion into the woods was, in truth, guided by a deeper divine intention. The Lord, ever compassionate and all-knowing, wished to bless a group of devoted souls, the wives of certain Brahmins, whose hearts were filled with love for him, though they had never been graced with his direct presence.

As the day wore on, the boys who accompanied Krishna began to feel the pangs of hunger. Their playful energy waned, and they turned to Krishna for help. Smiling gently, he directed them to a nearby group of Brahmins who were engaged in performing an elaborate Vedic sacrifice. “Go to them,” he said, “and ask for food in my name and in the name of Balarāma.” Trusting his words, the boys approached the learned men and humbly requested nourishment.

However, the Brahmins, though well-versed in sacred knowledge and deeply absorbed in ritual, paid no heed to the boys’ request. Their minds were fixed on the precise execution of the sacrifice, and they failed to recognise the divine opportunity before them. Bound by formalities and the rigidity of ritual, they overlooked the living presence of the Divine whose name had been invoked. Disheartened, the boys returned to Krishna and recounted what had happened.

Krishna, unperturbed, smiled knowingly. He then asked the boys to go instead to the wives of those Brahmins. “Tell them that I am here,” he said, “and they will surely respond.” The boys followed his instruction and approached the women, conveying Krishna’s message.

The moment the Brahmins’ wives heard the name of Krishna, their hearts overflowed with joy and devotion. For long, they had cherished a deep, inward love for him, nurtured through stories and contemplation. Now, hearing that he was nearby, they could no longer contain their longing. Without hesitation, they gathered various offerings of food, prepared with care and devotion, and set out to meet him. Ignoring social conventions and even the objections of their husbands, they moved forward, drawn irresistibly by divine love.

When they finally beheld Krishna, standing gracefully amidst the forest, adorned with a peacock feather and radiating an indescribable charm, they were overwhelmed. Their eyes drank in his form, and their hearts found complete fulfilment. For them, this was not merely a meeting; it was the culmination of their deepest spiritual yearning.

Among them was one woman who had been prevented from physically joining the others. Yet her devotion was so intense that she meditated upon Krishna with unwavering focus. Through that inner communion alone, she transcended worldly limitations and attained liberation, illustrating the boundless power of pure devotion.

Krishna, moved by the sincerity of the women, accepted their offerings with grace. He spoke to them with kindness, acknowledging their love and devotion. Yet, in his wisdom, he instructed them to return to their homes and continue their worldly duties. He assured them that their devotion had already reached him and that their spiritual fulfilment was assured. In this way, he harmonised the path of devotion with the responsibilities of daily life.

Meanwhile, the Brahmins, upon learning what had transpired, began to reflect deeply. They realised that despite their scholarship and strict adherence to ritual, they had failed to recognise the Supreme when he had called upon them. In contrast, their wives, guided by pure love and devotion, had attained what they themselves had missed. This realisation humbled them and awakened a new understanding, one that placed devotion above mere ritual practice.

Thus, this sacred episode reveals a timeless truth: that the Divine is not attained through ritual alone, but through a heart filled with sincerity, surrender, and love. Bhattathiri prayed to Lord Guruvayoorappan, who blessed the Vipra Pathnis, to eradicate all his sufferings.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 01

ततश्च वृन्दावनतोऽतिदूरतो
वनं गतस्त्वं खलु गोपगोकुलै: ।
हृदन्तरे भक्ततरद्विजाङ्गना-
कदम्बकानुग्रहणाग्रहं वहन् ॥१॥

tatashcha bR^indaavanatO(a)tiduuratO

vanaM gatastvaM khalu gOpagOkulaiH |

hR^idantare bhaktatara dvijaanganaa

kadambakaanugrahaNaagrahaM vahan || 1

Once, you went into the forest far away from Vrindaavana, with the cows and the cowherds. In your heart, you carried the desire to bless the large group of Brahmin women who were greatly devoted to you.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 02

ततो निरीक्ष्याशरणे वनान्तरे
किशोरलोकं क्षुधितं तृषाकुलम् ।
अदूरतो यज्ञपरान् द्विजान् प्रति
व्यसर्जयो दीदिवियाचनाय तान् ॥२॥

tatO niriikshyaasharaNe vanaantare

kishOralOkaM kshudhitaM tR^iShaakulam |

aduuratO yaj~naparaan dvijaan prati

vyasarjayO diidiviyaachanaaya taan || 2

Then you saw that the boys were exhausted by hunger and thirst in the forest, which was without any dwellings where some food could be obtained. Not very far away, some Brahmins were performing a Yagna. You sent the boys to them to beg for some food.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 03

गतेष्वथो तेष्वभिधाय तेऽभिधां
कुमारकेष्वोदनयाचिषु प्रभो ।
श्रुतिस्थिरा अप्यभिनिन्युरश्रुतिं
न किञ्चिदूचुश्च महीसुरोत्तमा: ॥३॥

gateShvathO teShvabhidhaaya te(a)bhidhaaM

kumaarakeShvOdana yaachiShu prabhO |

shrutisthiraa apyabhininyuH ashrutiM

na ki~nchiduuchushcha mahiisurOttamaaH || 3

O Lord! The boys then went to the Brahmins, and they mentioned your name and asked for food. But the great Brahmins who were known to be well-versed in Vedas (Shrutis) acted as if they had not heard anything and did not respond in any manner.

 Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 04

अनादरात् खिन्नधियो हि बालका: ।
समाययुर्युक्तमिदं हि यज्वसु ।
चिरादभक्ता: खलु ते महीसुरा:
कथं हि भक्तं त्वयि तै: समर्प्यते ॥४॥

anaadaraat khinnadhiyO hi baalakaaH

samaayayu-ryuktamidaM hi yajvasu |

chiraadabhaktaaH khalu te mahiisuraaH

kathaM hi bhaktaM tvayi taiH samarpyate ||4

Those gopa boys returned sad due to the neglect of Brahmins, and this seemed to be very apt in the case of those who were wedded to rituals and were completely devoid of any devotion. Indeed, for long they were not devoted to you, so how was it possible that they would offer food to you?

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 05

निवेदयध्वं गृहिणीजनाय मां
दिशेयुरन्नं करुणाकुला इमा: ।
इति स्मितार्द्रं भवतेरिता गता-
स्ते दारका दारजनं ययाचिरे ॥५॥

nivedayadhvaM gR^ihiNiijanaaya maaM

disheyurannaM karuNaakulaa imaaH |

iti smitaardraM bhavateritaa gataastedaarakaa

daarajanaM yayaachire || 5

You told the boys with a tender smile to go and announce your arrival to the housewives. You smilingly told them that those women were full of compassion and that they would give food. Thus being told, the boys went to the housewives and requested them.

 Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 06

गृहीतनाम्नि त्वयि सम्भ्रमाकुला-
श्चतुर्विधं भोज्यरसं प्रगृह्य ता: ।
चिरंधृतत्वत्प्रविलोकनाग्रहा:
स्वकैर्निरुद्धा अपि तूर्णमाययु: ॥६॥

gR^ihiitanaamni tvayi sambhramaakulaaH

chaturvidhaM bhOjyarasaM pragR^ihya taaH |

chiraM dhR^ita tvatpravilOkanaagrahaaH

svakairniruddhaa(a)pi tuurNamaayayuH || 6

As your name was mentioned by the boys, the women who were eager to see you were very excited. They quickly came to you, carrying with them four types of food, despite the prohibition of their husbands.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 07

विलोलपिञ्छं चिकुरे कपोलयो:
समुल्लसत्कुण्डलमार्द्रमीक्षिते ।
निधाय बाहुं सुहृदंससीमनि
स्थितं भवन्तं समलोकयन्त ता: ॥७॥

vilOlapinchChaM chikure kapOlayOH

samullasatkuNDala maardramiikshite |

nidhaaya baahuM suhR^idaM sasiimani

sthitaM bhavantaM samalOkayanta taaH || 7

The peacock feather was quivering in the locks of your hair. Your two cheeks were glowing with the reflection of the earrings. Thy hand was placed on the shoulder of Thy friend. The women joyfully saw Thee standing in this manner in front of them. They saw you with infinite joy.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 08

तदा च काचित्त्वदुपागमोद्यता
गृहीतहस्ता दयितेन यज्वना ।
तदैव सञ्चिन्त्य भवन्तमञ्जसा
विवेश कैवल्यमहो कृतिन्यसौ ॥८॥

tadaa cha kaachit tvadupaagamOdyataa

gR^ihiita hastaa dayitena yajvanaa |

tadaiva sanchintya bhavantamanjasaa

vivesha kaivalya mahO kR^itinyasau ||8

One of the women, who was physically prevented by her husband from coming near you, meditated on you with intense devotion and, in an instant, attained salvation(union with you). How fortunate, indeed, she was!

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 09

आदाय भोज्यान्यनुगृह्य ता: पुन-
स्त्वदङ्गसङ्गस्पृहयोज्झतीर्गृहम् ।
विलोक्य यज्ञाय विसर्जयन्निमा-
श्चकर्थ भर्तृनपि तास्वगर्हणान् ॥९॥
 

aadaaya bhOjyaanyanugR^ihya taaH punaH

tvadanga sangaspR^ihayOjjhatiirgR^iham |

vilOkya yaj~naaya visarjayan imaashchakartha

bhartR^Inapi taasvagarhaNaan || 9

Accepting their offerings for food, you blessed them. They were always desirous of having physical contact with you and so abandoned their houses. Seeing this, you sent them back to conduct the Yagna rituals properly. You also rendered their husbands free from any ill feelings towards them.

Dasakam: 061 -- Slokam: 10

निरूप्य दोषं निजमङ्गनाजने
विलोक्य भक्तिं च पुनर्विचारिभि:
प्रबुद्धतत्त्वैस्त्वमभिष्टुतो द्विजै-
र्मरुत्पुराधीश निरुन्धि मे गदान् ॥१०॥
 

niruupya dOShaM nijamanganaa jane

vilOkya bhaktiM cha punarvichaaribhiH |

prabuddhatattvaistvamabhiShTutO dvijaiH

marutpuraadhiisha nirundhi me gadaan ||10

The Brahmins realised their own mistake. They also recognised the great devotion of their wives. Those of them who reflected thus and then understood the Reality and sang your praises. O Guruvaayurappa! Eradicate my sufferings.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!