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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 15

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Hearing such praise, offered together by Dharma and the king of sages, Shri Hari listened, and spoke, pleased in his heart.

Krishna said to the sage Dharma, today I am pleased with you; whatever you wish to ask, I shall grant it in full.

Then Dharma said, blessed, blessed are you, ever pleased with me, O dark one! What I wish to ask, I now tell you with joined hands.

This sage, myself, Dharma, and Bhakti -- we know ourselves to be your own, O Lord; the demons have given us great suffering, by which we are all afflicted together.

Then Shri Krishna said, listen Dharma, I know all this secret; the demons' hostility is toward me, and so their enmity has fallen upon you.

The wicked torment saints and gods, offering wine, meat, and sacrifice; knowing them to be mine, the demons who reject me give suffering.

I shall slay them within a short time; set aside your fear and be at peace in your mind. None but I can kill them, though a million methods be tried by anyone else.

Dharma, you and Bhakti and this sage -- all remain joyful and content. I shall become a child in the name of Hari, and shall remove everyone's suffering at once.

All of you bear Durvasa's curse, and I too have come under it myself. So, Dharma, taking birth in your home, I shall bring happiness to all people.

Dharma has been destroyed; I shall restore its light. I shall establish the exclusive path of Ekantik Dharma in a fine way, with love.

So remain without doubt, man and wife, believing this truth of mine. Whatever hymns you have recited, and whatever mantras you have chanted --

whoever recites or chants them shall be saved from whatever calamity befalls them. Even while embodied, they shall not suffer, and at the final hour they shall attain happiness.

In abodes such as Shvetadvipa, they shall find joy. So spoke the merciful ocean of grace, Shri Krishna, pleased with Bhakti and Dharma.

Having granted such a boon, Bhagwan then disappeared. Then Dharma, Bhakti, and the sages felt immense joy in their hearts.

The Vishnu-vow was completed, and nothing remained unfulfilled, having met Krishna. They broke their fast and sat apart, saying, let this matter be kept secret.

When Shri Krishna manifests himself, it shall be known as it truly is. So resolving in their minds, they met one another with love.

Then Bhakti, Dharma, and the sages each returned to their own hermitage. Dharma's wish was fulfilled, and all sorrow was set aside, all happiness gained.

Then the couple set off for home, and came to Naimisharanya. There the forest was dense, thick with vines, and the path was covered over.

They lost their way as the day grew dark, and their minds grew fearful of the demons. At that time, in the midst of the forest, they came upon a woman together with her family.

She played about happily in the forest, with no fear in her mind at all; her family was very strong and numerous, and she gave no thought to anyone else's strength.

Dharma said to her, listen, woman, tell us who you are and your story; your family is all well -- from where have you gained such strength?

Then the woman spoke: what love is this, that you should ask? Go on your straight path -- what will you gain by asking?

My father is called Kusanga (Bad Company), my mother's name is Aghavati (Sinfulness); my own name is Avidya (Ignorance), and my husband is one who turns away from the Lord.

My daughter is named Mithya-parmana (False Proof), given in marriage to unrighteousness, you should know. Her offspring are without number -- what do you know of this matter?

Lust, anger, greed, and delusion, hypocrisy and its like, are my sons; hope, craving, envy, and mercilessness, deceit, ill-understanding, and folly are my other sons.

Harsh speech is my daughter; such a family fills my house completely. Slander and treachery never rest, and they constantly speak of joy and sorrow.

Seeking out friend and foe in the world, they hold love and hatred at every moment there; malice, deceit, and no forgiveness at all -- they preach senseless violence.

Fear, quarrel, and great calamity -- such is my offspring, beyond count. Ridicule, mockery, and constant jest -- these too are called my perverse folly.

Ego and pride, and the like -- all my kin perish in their own self-conceit. Such is my boundless family, which you would find hard to comprehend.

All the world knows me -- listen, Brahmin, I tell you this; none in the world can conquer me -- such is the statecraft I know.

The four sects and fifty-two doors -- all of them, without their knowing, are my servants. I dwell today in all moving and unmoving things -- I do not budge for anyone.

Ascetics and scholars are my own kin -- to dwell among them is dear to me. Yogis, ascetics, renunciates, and those who practice austerities -- I dwell among them constantly and inseparably.

Below, above, and in between, there are countless souls -- great and small, I have seized them all. I shall not let them go the way of liberation -- how far will you push me?

Hearing this, Dharma spoke: listen, sinful and shameless woman; you have reckoned only your own greatness, and you do not know the greatness of Krishna.

By the power and glory of the Lord of Radha, your entire family shall be destroyed of itself. Your offspring shall be thrown back, and lust and anger shall trouble no one any longer.

Krishna shall uproot unrighteousness entirely, and shall destroy your lineage. Maharaj cannot bear to see sin -- the Lord shall manifest himself for your sake.

So saying, Dharma and Bhakti went on, traveling far from that place. The night grew dark and dreadful, and lions and tigers roared.

Tigers, boars, and many monkeys fought among themselves there; buffalo, mongoose, and serpents too -- such fierce creatures beyond counting.

A forest fire had broken out and burned in many places, and the animals cried out in terrible distress. Vultures circled and cried above, causing unimaginable dread.

Owls and jackals hooted and howled fearsomely in great numbers. Lost in such a forest, they found no path, no village, no place at all.

Thorns and stones pierced them at every step, and great suffering fell upon them without measure. Hunger came upon them, and no water was found; their throats grew dry, and they could not even speak.

At that moment they met an ascetic, whose sight alone made one's mind recoil. His matted hair was reddish-brown, his head bald in front, his brows knit and his eyes red,

exceedingly dark, hideous and fearsome, like Rudra himself, yet merciless at heart; dressed like a wicked celibate student, without the least trace of mercy.

He seemed like some terrible ascetic adept, appearing suddenly before them. Dharma joined his hands to him, and the ascetic spoke.

Who are you, man and woman? Where do you live, and what is your name? Then Dharma spoke with respect: we are Brahmins, my name is Devsharma.

We live in the eastern land, and are exceedingly poor and destitute. Demons have tormented us greatly, and we have fled here to holy Vraj.

There we performed the Vishnu-vow, and Shri Krishna gave us darshan. Then we told him of our sufferings, and Shri Krishna heard them clearly.

Krishna said, I shall set things right; taking birth in your home, I shall destroy the demons -- know this to be certain and sure.

Having given this boon, Shri Krishna departed, and then the two of us came here. There we met you, Maharaj, and today we are joyful.

Hearing this, he grew exceedingly wrathful: I know well the full course of Krishna's deeds -- he strengthened the Pandava side, and killed my beloved Duryodhana.

So I too am Ashwatthama; hear my curse, man and woman: whatever son shall be born to you, tell me, shall he ever bear a weapon?

Without a weapon your enemy shall not die -- by my curse he shall never take up a weapon. Even if he does take a weapon in hand, he shall not defeat his enemy.

So saying, he vanished, and Bhakti and Dharma grew anxious. Bearing this great worry in their minds, Bhakti and Dharma remained there through the night.

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter, named 'Ashwatthama's Curse Upon Dharma,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch / Vadtal Gadi, AI-translated, unverified · Source details