 |
| Jambavan Fights Krishna Photo Credit: History and Mythology |
After making his way to the end of the dark tunnel, Krishna saw the small bear playing with the shiny gemstone. He stood before the boy and his nurse, preparing to ask after Jambavana’s whereabouts, when the boy and his nurse let out bloodcurdling screams. Jambavana, from somewhere deep in the cave, came rushing toward the sound, fury in his veins at the threat of an intruder.
Under normal circumstances, Jambavan would have recognized his Lord, Sri Krishna. However, he was blinded by fear and the powers of the Syamantaka, so he rushed toward Krishna with a steel sword.
After sparring for many days, Jambavan began hurling stones at Krishna. Krishna hurled back, again for many days. Soon enough, Jambavan turned to the trees for weapons. He began to swing their mighty trunks at Krishna, who blocked them with the trunks of other trees. After many days, they went hand to hand, Krishna firing blow after blow.
After almost twenty-eight days of fighting, Jambavan began to tire. As he grew faint, he began to wonder at who this mortal might be who could outlast him in a fight. He called for a truce at day twenty-eight and took a good look at his opponent. As his vision cleared, his senses returned.
“My dear Lord, I now see who you are. You are the same Supreme Personality of Godhead whom I worship as Lord Ramacandra, the source of my strength, wealth, reputation, and wisdom. No one else has such immeasurable strength; no one else could defeat me in this way.” {1}
Immediately, Krishna began applying salve from his lotus hand to Jambavana’s wounds. “You have been blinded by the stone. You are a faithful servant, and I release you from all harm.”
“Lord Krishna, please, take this stone from me. In repayment for my trespasses, I want to offer you my daughter Jambavati, who is of marriageable age. Will you accept these gifts as a token of my devotion to you?”
“I will gladly take your daughter to be my wife, but the stone I will return to its rightful owner, that I might clear my name from accusation in Dwarka. I will take my leave now. You have honored me well.”
NOTE {1}: Prabhupada, ch. 56.
Read Part 4
Read Part 6
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Prabhupada, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead. Juhu, Mumbai: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1974.
2. Hudli, Anand. "Ganesha chaturthi, legends, and prayers." Hindu-Net. September 16, 1996. Accessed July 2012. http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/1996_9/msg00099.html.
3. History and Mythology Blog. "ACK-119: Syamantaka Mani." Posted April 27, 2009. Accessed July 2012. http://hmindia.blogspot.com/2009/04/ack-119-syamantaka-mani.html.
4. Srhi2424. "Syamantaka Mani." HubPages. Last modified July 16, 2011. Accessed July 2012. http://shri2424.hubpages.com/hub/Syamantaka-Mani.
*Clip art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy
No comments:
Post a Comment