Bhakti Bhavas

January 27, 2019 09:24 pm | Updated 09:24 pm IST

It is only fitting that Suka chooses to quote Narada’s narrative to Yudhishtira at the Rajasuya sacrifice when Sisupala attains Sayujya with Krishna as an answer to some of Parikshit’s doubts about bhakti, pointed out Sri Ramanujam in a discourse. Narada is a devotee par excellence and one who is happy singing the greatness of bhaktas. He defines true bhakti as total and constant involvement in God to such an extent that one is not aware of anything else but only this thought. It does matter whether it is due to selfless love and devotion to the Lord, friendliness, fear or hatred, or any other passion. The Gopis attained this state through Prema Bhakti; devotees such as Uddhava, Vidhura and many others, including Narada himself, through Dasya bhakti. Likewise, the kinship of Vrishnis, the friendship of the Pandavas, or Vatsalya of Yasodha and so on can be seen as other ways to express devotion. In this way, even intense hatred or fear can lead to salvation if it is felt with one-pointedness to the exclusion of other considerations.

The worm imprisoned by a wasp in its hole only thinks of the wasp always and it finally attains to the form of that wasp. Kamsa fears Krishna with such intensity and at all times. He does not fear anyone else. This oneness of thought in the form of fear of Krishna is his forte. In the same way, Sisupala’s enmity to Krishna is very intense and strong. It reaches a peak when Krishna is accorded the status of being the pre-eminent person at the Rajasuya yaga. Thus provoked, he begins to utter curses and abuses against Krishna. The whole assembly becomes uneasy to hear this. When the number of curses transcends the limit, the Lord’s Sudarshana chakra attacks Sisupala and a jyoti from his body enters Krishna feet. Intense contemplation helps one to attain God.

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