Garga Bhagavatham : Vrindavan Khanda - Chapter 5

 

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Redemption of Vatsasura

 

Sri Narada says:- One day while Sri Hari along with Balaram and other cowherd boys was grazing calves, He saw Bakasur who had come near Yamuna river. He was looking as tall as the Shweta mountain. The demon had very long legs and was sounding like the thunder of clouds. Seeing him, the cowherd boys ran away out of fear. His beaks were as hard as diamonds. As soon as he came, he swallowed Sri Hari. Seeing this all the cowherd boys started weeping. They became neutralized by excessive weeping. At that time all the Devatas came there in a very disturbed and upset condition. Indra immediately attacked Vakasur with Vajrayudh. Being hit by Vajrayudh, Vakrasur fell, but did not die and stood up again. Brahma was angered and hit with his Brahma Danda. The demon fell down and lost consciousness for a few seconds. Then the demon got up and stood with the vibration of his body and a big yawn. He was not killed. That strong demon roared like thunder. At the same time, the three-eyed Lord Shankar came and attacked that great demon with the Trishul. By that attack one of the wings of the demon was cut off, even then the most fearful demon could not be killed. Then Vayudev fired Vaayavyastra, by this the demon was blown a little upwards but again he came back and stood in his original position. Then Yama attacked him with Yama Danda but the fiercely mighty demon could not be killed even by the Yama Danda. The Yama Danda was broken but the demon was not injured. In the meanwhile, Suryadev with his fierce rays came in front of the demon. The Sun god took a bow in his hands and fired a hundred arrows at Bakasur. Those arrows stuck his wing, even then the demon could not be slain. Then Kubera attacked him with a sharp sword, by this his other wing eas also cut off. But death did not come to the great demon. Thereafter Somadevata used Niharastra against the demon. By this attack the demon suffered extreme chillness and fainted, but did not die, again he stood up. Now Agnidev used Agneyastra on the demon, by this the hair on his body was burnt but the most wicked demon was not killed. After this God of waters, Varuna tied him up with his rope and pulled him to the ground. By this the demon was damaged and deranged but did not die.

 

      Then the speedy Bhadrakali came and attacked with mace. By the attack of the mace, Vakasura fainted and because of the extreme pain, he lost his presence of mind. His head was injured, even then he stood up vibrating and flapping his whole body, he stood up and roared like the thunder of stationary clouds. At that time the very powerful Skand attacked the demon with great force, with all his strength. Because of this attack on the demon, who was in the form of a bird lost one of his legs, but was not killed. Thereafter roaring like a thunderbolt the demon attacked all the Devatas with his strong and sharp beaks and repulsed the attacks on him. All the Devatas were running in the sky and Vakasur was chasing them. After this, the demon returned to the same place and filled the entire universe with his battle cry.

 

    At that time Godly saints, Brahma rishis and Stars blessed the son of Nand to be victorious quickly. At that same moment Sri Krishna, within the body of Vakasur expanded His Glowing and Divine body. Hence throat of the demon became excruciatingly painful. He spat out SriKrisna in a flash. He tried to catch Sri Krishna with his hard beaks, Sri Krishna pounced and caught hold of the demon's tail and banged him against the ground, but the demon stood in front with his beaks wide open. Then SridKrishna caught hold of his beaks with both His hands and tore him apart like an elephant breaks the branches of trees.

 

    Then from the dead body of the demon, a bright light emerged and merged with Sri Krishna. Then Devatas hailed the victory and showered flowers. Whereupon all the cowherd boys came running from all directions and wrapped around Sri Krishna and said 'Friend! today you have escaped from the jaws of death safely!'

 

   Like this, after slaying Bakasur, Sri Krishna, Balaram, and the cowherd boys sent the calves in front and followed them singing happily and returned to their palace. The cowherd boys who returned home told in detail about the valorous deeds of the Complete Eternal Lord Sri Krishna. Listening to this all the Gopas were very much overawed.

 

Bahulashwa asked:- Godly Sage! Who was this Vakasur earlier and why did he get the body of a wading bird? How fortunate he is to merge into Complete God of Gods Sri Krishna.

 

Sri Narada said:- King of Kings! There was a demon named 'Hayagreev' and he had a son who was called 'Uthkal'. He vanquished all the Devatas in battle and snatched the position of Indra. That powerful demon also stole the wealth of many other men and kings. He enjoyed all the wealth and kingdoms for a hundred years. One day roaming here and there, he reached the alcove of saintly sage 'Jaajali' which was situated at the confluence of Ganga and the Ocean. Using a fishing rod he started catching fish.

Although the sage objected, the wicked one did not stop. The great sage cursing him said ' Wicked minded one! you catch fish like a wading bird and eat them, hence you become a wading bird'. What next? That very moment Uthkal took the form of a wading bird. When he lost his beauty, all his pride went away. With folded hands, he bowed before the sage and fell at his feet.

 

Uthkal said:- Sage! I did not know your great power of penance. Sri Jaajali! please save me. It is known that meeting righteous and godly men is like a gateway to salvation. You are such a godly person who does not distinguish between friend and foe, respect and disrespect, gold and mud, happiness, and misery. On this earth what is not attainable by the darshan of such godly men? By the grace of saints, one can easily attain the positions of even Brahma, Indra, kings, and even yogic accomplishments. Greatest of saints, Jaajali! what is great about obtaining virtue, wealth, and pleasures of life without the grace of Godly men? By the grace of Godly saints, even the Eternal Lord can be got.

 

Sri Narada says:-  King! At that time, listening to the words of Uthkal, which were full of humility, sage Jaajali was pleased. He had done penance for sixty thousand years. He told Uthkal thus.

 

Sri Jaajali said:- In the Vaivaswat age when at the end of twenty-eighth Dwapara yuga, at Vrindavan, inside Mathura in Bharatvarsh, The Complete Lord Sri Krishna will be moving around grazing calves. At that time you will merge with Sri Krishna. There is no doubt about this. Even demons like Hiranyaksha being enemies of the Lord have attained the Lotus Feet of the lord.

 

Sri Narada says:- Like this, demon Uthkal who was in the form of Vakasur got merged with Sri Krishna by the grace of sage Jaajali. What is there that will not be easier to attain with the contact of Godly Saints?

 

     

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