Sorrow and Happiness
O N Ravi
Sorrow and Happiness, a pair of opposite, which entwine the human lives in their grip cannot be avoided by any one. Every man or woman, born in this world is subjected to this cardinal principle of life. Everyone born in this world brings with him or her, the vasanas of the earlier births and accordingly undergo the pain or pleasure as per his or her earlier actions. Even divinities when they descend to the world to undertake and complete their assigned roles by the Supreme Lord, are equally subjected to this rule without exception. The illustrious personalities of our Itihasas appeared to have undergone greater hardships and pain than what we do in this dark age of Kali. The lives of Lord Rama, Nala and Damayanti or Pandavas bear testimony to this eternal truth. Though Krishna avatara was a "Poorna Avatar" (descent of the Lord with All His qualities as All Knower), the accounts contained in Srimad Bhagavata as well as Mahabharata, would reveal that He also subjected Himself to sufferings and pain like other ordinary human beings. Thus, the karma theory is applied equally to all beings born in the world.
The beauty of Srimad Bhagavath is that it is fully suffused with devotion and love towards Lord Krishna. While this Purana narrates the story of the Vasudeva and Devaki begetting eight children, out of which six were killed by Kamsa (who was a rebirth of a demon by name Kalanemi), with the seventh one being Balarama, part of adishesha(the thousand hood serpent) . He was carried to the womb of Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva, by the powerful Yogamaya. She Herself was born as the daughter of Yashoda and Nandagopa, at the instance of Lord Narayana. Lord Vishnu Himself, was born as the eighth child to Devki but was shifted to the house of Nandagopa. Goddess "Durga" born to Yashoda, wife of Nandagopa, was brought back as the child of Devaki. While all of us know this part of the incident narrated in Srimad Bhagavata, most of us may not be aware of the background of why the six children born to Devaki, were killed and why such a fortunate couple like Devaki and Vasudeva should undergo untold sufferings and mental agony at the hands of the demon Kamsa. Some Puranas outline the reason for the same.
Interestingly, it is Sri Devi Bhagavata, that relates the background to why those six children were killed by demon kamsa. It also narrates the reasons for the incarceration of the couple, Devki and Vasudeva, and their consequent agony and sufferings at the hands of Kamsa .
In the Swayambhuva Manvantara, (in the earlier Kalpa or period of creation) both Devaki and Vasudeva were born as "Presni and Suthapas Prajapathi (creator of human beings). They were directed by Brahma to do procreation to facilitate His work of creation. They did intense penance and austerities towards Lord Vishnu, who pleased with their prayers, appeared before them asked them the boon that they wanted. Instead of asking the Highest Knowledge, they sought from Him as a boon that He should be born as their Son. Accordingly, Lord was born as a son with the name "PresniGarban" to them.
Then when they were again born as Sage Kasyapa and Athithi, Lord was born as their son Vamana.
Once Sage Kasyapa, carried away a cow from Lord Varuna, (Rain God) to conduct a yagna (fire sacrifice). Despite persistent demands from Rain God, he declined to return the same. Varuna, complained to Lord of Creation, Brahma, about the conduct of Sage Kashyapa. Annoyed with the Sage's action, Lord Brahma chided the Sage in harshest terms on the impropriety committed by him. He further upbraided the Sage that as a repository of highest knowledge and virtues, he should not have committed such a heinous act. Thereupon both the Gods cursed Sage Kasyapa, to be born in the world as Cowherd.
On another occassion, Sage Kasyapa's wife Athithi was cursed by Thithi,(second wife of the Sage) to be born in the world, be imprisoned and to undergo the painful sight of her newly born children being killed in front of her. This was on account of the fact that when Thithi was pregnant, Athithi made her son Indra (Lord of Gods) destroy the foetus and hence Tithi cursed Athithi.
Hence, Sage Kasyapa and Athithi were born as Devaki and Vasudeva and underwent the painful ordeal.
As regards the six children who were killed by cruelty of Kamsa, they were the children of Sage Marichi and Urnai in their earlier birth. They once laughed at Lord Brahma and hence He cursed them to be born in a demonic family. They were subsequently born as children of Hiranyakasipu, (demon father of the great devotee Prahlada). The demon upset with their action of worship of Lord Brahma, cursed them to be born in the world and be immediately killed by the demon Kamsa.
This was the background story as narrated in Devi bhagavatha, as to why the pious couple who gave birth to Lord Krishna, had to undergo suffering and immeasurable pain as also why the six children were killed upon their birth.
As regards Nandagopa and Yashoda, though they were not the actual parents of the Lord, yet they enjoyed His full Grace as the foster parents of the Lord. They witnessed the best of Leelas, (Divine plays) of the Lord.
As per Srimad Bhagavata, Nandagopa, was one of the Eight Vasus, by name Drona and his wife's name was Dhara. They propitiated Lord Brahma, and asked Him of a boon to have unswerving devotion towards Lord Narayana, through which they could attain to the birthless state. Hence, they got the unique privilege of bringing up Lord Krishna, as their child. On account of their innate purity and good Karma which was without any blemish, Goddess Yogamaya was also born as their daughter. This illustrates the power of Karma.
Though we read and listen to all these stories, we do not go beyond a point to analyse from the scriptures the divine purpose behind each of these incidents.
Now, insulating ourselves from the storyline, let us imagine the perspectives of both women, Devaki and Yashoda as ordinary human beings. The result will be one which is full of sorrow and another full of joy.
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