SIRD Malaysia

Sreemad Bhaagavatam is a Paaramahamsya Samhita.  The truths, values, principles and message it delivers skandha after skandha are such that every human should yearn for, to make life laudable and fulfilling.

Any value becomes so only when it evokes sufficient emotional persuasion and intellectual compulsion. Vyasadeva knows this well, and so he has imbued his narration with an abiding note of devotion, making it sweet, nourishing and ecstatic. Thus Sreemad Bhaagavatam excels as a masterly spiritual, devotional and philosophical composition.

The 11^th skandha, the Mukti Skandha, is special because of the character, content and purpose of the whole composition.  The Sage author wants the reader and listener to install the Lord in their heart, dissolving thereby the three-fold torment, life in this world is bound to bring to any human mind.

Mukti Skandha marks the finale of the whole text. In it Vyasadeva prefaces the last message of Sri Krishna to Uddhava, with the dialogue that transpired between King Nimi of Videha and Nine Yogis. Nimi sought to know  the Bhaagavata Dharmas, which had the sublimity to make the Lord bestow His own Self to the devotees. Thus the Sage highlights the place and importance of devotion as well as devotional characteristics, even raising them above the adored Vedic rituals.

Krishna's exposition to Uddhava follows this.  How lofty and liberating should it then be!

Krishna represents human life in its fullness.  It shows us even today how should one live in the world, fulfilling all duties and functions, without being tormented in any manner. Mind, with spiritual enlightenment and enrichment, imbibes many a potential and possibility, which otherwise will be inaccessible to it.

Having done his complex role in the world, Krishna is all ready to return.  As if to provide the external cause for it, Brahma, with his team, arrives and submits a memorandum to the Dwaraka Lord entreating him to return to His abode.  Greeting them fervently, Krishna confirms that his intention was also to do so, but after destroying his clan, as otherwise they would misbehave and destroy the society, like overflowing oceans.

"Let me destroy them, and as part of the same process meet my physical departure too", was the consoling response he gave Brahma and his team.

Can human life be full to such an extent? Krishna's life was to protect the noble and destroy the wicked, to ensure the overall balance and harmony of the world.

We have nothing of Krishna or his family left. Dwaraka, where he lived, had also sunk in the sea. All we have of him are the words he spoke to Arjuna in Kurukshetra and Uddhava in Dwaraka.  The two, a mutual contrast in a way, are equally a distinct confirmation, restatement.   In both dazzles the inner spiritual immortality, that crowns human life! Mind is the focus everywhere, with its immense potentials and possibilities, with an exhortation to sink within and unearth the great treasure.

Uddhava coming to know that Krishna was soon to leave, submits before his Lord: "I am unable to keep away from your feet even for a half a second.  So take me where you go". Earnest devotees even to this day repeat these lines fondly, especially on devotional occasions.

Touched by Uddhava's appeal, Krishna said:  "Keep me in your heart. Take the mind away from all around.  Walk, seeing me everywhere. Go to Badarikashrama and sit there between Nara and Narayana Mountains, contemplating upon me."

Innocent Uddhava faithfully heard his Master, but could not, alas, heed His command. Innate delusion was still lingering in him, despite his long association with Krishna. Sensing the crisis, he sought Krishna to instruct him for eschewing ignorance and delusion, so that he could obey his Lord and leave.  Imagine the scene, submission, crisis and quest, deeply in your heart. It is in answer to this that Krishna gave his last message to his dearest and trusted devotee.

Uddhava heard his Lord, and left as He said, carrying His sandals on his head, turning back, with eyes flowing in full. The contemplating Uddhava still lives there, beckoning one and all to win the much needed redemption, the human mind craves for, like Arjuna who heard Krishna, taking back his bow and arrows and fighting relentlessly in Kurukshetra.  Though both are a contrast, the redress extended is the same – to get away from the shackles of the mind and heart, wrought by inborn delusion, and float in the ecstasy of purity and wisdom, the only ornaments to human mind and heart!

It is important to know that Krishna has left nothing of his to us, except His immortal words, revealed by Vyasadeva. This is howSreemad Bhaagavatam shines before and beckons us as Pratyakshah Krishna!

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