Excerpts From Bhagavatam

From Darkness to Effulgence (Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya)

The great battle of Mahabharata in the battlefields of Kurukshetra was over. The victory was of Righteousness but the price paid was too high. Though the pride and arrogance of the high and mighty Kauravas had mingled with dust and the coronation of Yudhisthira as the emperor of India took place, but there was hardly any body to rejoice and share the affluence with. The five Pandava brothers have acquired their kingdom but had lost most of their loved ones. A dull and sad peace was reigning all over.

Now Lord Krishna would leave Hastinapur and go back to His own city of Dwaraka. His charioteer Daruka was ready with the Divine chariot. There were garlands, sandal wood, water-filled earthen pots and flags all around to wish Him a safe journey. The Lord had taken leave from His cousins and aunt Kunti. The whole atmosphere was intense with sadness, because everyone knew that He was not coming back ever again.

As he placed one of His lotus feet on the chariot, Uttara, the widow of Abhimanyu, came rushing towards Him. To refresh your memory, the great Abhimanyu, the greatest of the great warriors of the battle was no other than the very dear nephew of Lord Krishna, the only son of His beloved sister, Subhadra. Rushing towards Him with extreme fear and utter distress, Uttara exclaimed:

"Oh, Supreme Lord! Protector of the universe! Save and protect me! In this fearful world, there is no other Savior than You! Oh Lord of the Universe! Let this fiery weapon that has entered within me burn me to ashes, but Oh Protector of the Pandavas, save the only Pandava child that is in my womb."

Now, Uttara was carrying the child of Abhimanyu and Aswathama, the son of Drona, had released the Brahmastra, to extinguish the Pandava clan. The five Pandava brothers also saw five fiery arrows rushing towards them. But even before they could get ready for counter attack, the Lord called in His Sudarshan Chakra and disintegrated the inevitable Bramastra against the five brothers.

But he did much more than that for Uttara and her unborn son. He entered inside her body with all His Divine Beauty and Prowess and stood between the child and Brahmastra. Who or what could prevail against the King of Kings?

Then came forward Kunti, His aunt and sang the most wonderful song in praise of Him. Even in SrimadBhagavat, which is strewn with so many eloquent, so many devotional, so many heart-warming songs and prayers to the Lord, Kunti's song stands out as unique. I would like to translate, as best as I can, and share with you two of the twenty-six most beautiful verses known as Kunti's song.

"Oh, Lord of the universe! May we always and under all circumstances meet danger, since all our moments of danger have given us the wonderful privilege of beholding Your benevolent face again and again and again." And then,

"Oh God! You, Whose very name frightens fear away, once as a child stood before Mother Yashoda, rubbing your lotus eyes filled of tears mixed with kajal, because you broke some pots of curd and was afraid of punishment. Who can fathom the extent of Your Divine Play?"

Uttara's son was born in time and was named Vishnurat(protected by Lord Vishnu). But from his early childhood, he used to eagerly search for the Wonderful Being, in the size of a thumb, who saved him in his mother's womb and whenever met any one, used to asked himself 'Is he the One?' So he came to be known as Parikshit(One who is testing).