GITA 4.14

GITA 4.14

Oruththi maganaai-p-pirandhu or iravil
Oruththi maganaai oliththu valara
Tharikkilaanaagi-th-thaan theengu ninaindha
Karuththai pizhai-p-piththu kanjan vayittril
Neruppenna ninra nedumaley! unnai
Aruththuthu vandhom parai tharudhi yaagil
Thiruththakka selvamum sevakamum yaampaadi
Varuththamum theerndhu magizhndhu-el or empaavaai

In Her Tiruppavai, in the 25th verse, oruthi maganai pirandhu, Sri Andal tells that Sri Krishna was born in a jail in Mathura and in the same night He was brought to Gokulam across the river Yamuna, to grow in hiding, from evil persons of Mathura. We all know that the Lord dwells in every atman. He lived in this Nanda Bhavan in Gokulam.

 There is a beautiful hall with 84 pillars (chaurasi kambh). 

Here large idols of Sri Krishna, Sri Balarama, Yasoda and Nandagopa are installed. Sri Krishna is in a cradle. As a child, He crawled every nook and corner of this hall. Swami Koorathalwan asks Sri Varadaraja, why His palms are red like a lotus? Then he answers that perhaps, He was crawling as Sri Krishna in Gokulam, and the palms became red! During Sri Krishna jayanthi festival, it is customary for us to imprint the tiny feet of Sri Krishna on the floor. In Gokulam, perhaps what they needed was the paste and Child Sri Krishna would have just dipped His feet in the paste and walked all over!! The entire house will have His foot prints!! Seeing the foot prints with the Chakra and Shanka rekhas [designs], Perialwar in the guise of Yasoda admires and asks Him to come and eat fruits. Kulasekara Alwar in the guise of the unfortunate Devaki, yearns for a hug from behind, by the Child Sri Krishna. Yasoda asks the Moon why he is not halting over the Vraja Bhoomi Gokulam to see the Child Sri Krishna playing? In this house only, Gargacharya christened the Child as Sri Krishna.

 Near this place He killed the demons Puthana, Chakatasura and Thrinavasthasura. From these actions we can learn that He would kill our sins also. So, we have to remember that the only refuge for us is, His feet and not go after smaller gods and authorities and beg for smaller boons and rewards. After visiting these places and learning the great feats of the Lord, we can never think of small rewards. Our life should aim for high principles, noble thoughts and never go for selfish benefits. All are His properties and these are what implied in the 12th sloka:

kanksantah karmanam siddhim
yajanta iha devatah
ksipram hi manuse loke
siddhir bhavati karma-ja

Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world.

"Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. 

Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world."

Karmanam = for all actions done by people, kanksanta = desirous of, siddhim = result or reward, iha = these, devata = small gods [like Varuna, Indra, Kubera, etc.], yajanta = are worshiped. Manuse loke = in this world of human beings, karmaja = for an action done, siddhir= rewards, ksipram = at once, bhavati = are realized. Our actions like going round the temple 108 times or performing archana , etc., should be for the pleasure of Him, and not for expecting any results or rewards. Does it mean that we can not pray Sri Krishna for welfare or success in exams, settling marriage or seeking good jobs? No, we can surely pray for these but understand that it is the initial step only. But visiting these places and reminiscing His pranks and plays, we will feel a power generating in us. Then we will never feel like asking for favours. Our requirements should be minimum and our efforts also will be minimum. Major portion of our efforts should be for the welfare of others. If we do not take care of our Atman, we will feel a void in us. This will result in undue fear and depression. We should realize Atman is for others only. The body Atman has, is for working for the welfare of others and not for selfish needs. We have to pray for welfare of all and then pray for self. We can perform small yagnas to please smaller gods and get those smaller rewards, but Sri Krishna tells that He will not do that but grant the long term and long lasting rewards only. People desirous of such small and selfish rewards will go to such smaller gods only and not come to Him, the Paradevata. Just as an old man jumps and crawls to please his grand child, we should also leave all our inhibitions and crawl and play and giggle in this hall with 84 pillars, where the Child Sri Krishna once played. So, let us pray for His blessings and cling to His feet, the highest reward we can yearn for. Doing Jyotish homam, etc., are all not to the liking of Sri Krishna. Whatever our needs are there, we will pray Him and what He grants will be both long lasting and beneficial to us.

                                                                                              (continued)