Chapter 34: Hell Ceases to Be
Sandipani welcomed his dear shishyas to his Gurukula.
"Welcome, my children! Welcome back to my humble dwelling!"
Both Krsna and Balarama fell flat at their guru's feet,
their brothers and Upashloka following suit. Sandipani blessed them all and
said, "So, he is Upashloka, I guess? Resembles you in all aspects except your
complexion! And this must be Krita! You have got your mother Rohini's gentle eyes
and your father's majestic form!"
Balarama smiled. Krita had never got enough of that compliment, though by now he knew
the lines before anyone said them!
Sandipani turned to Shaarana, Raajanya and Hemangada,
describing them with as many poetic phrases as he could, and accurately
identifying their similarities with their parents. After greeting them all, he
led them into the Gurukula, where a cheerful Sulabha Devi greeted them, and
embraced her two old shishyas. They greeted Sandipani Muni's son Madhu, who
fell at their feet, even though he was technically older than them. "Pranam
Prabhu!" said Madhu happily.
Sulabha Devi turned to Krsna. "I still don't think that we
have thanked you enough for bringing back Madhu from Yamaloka, Putras!"
"It was just our Gurudakshina Mata! Don't make our Punyas go
away by thanking us!"
"Yamaloka?" chirped in Shaarana, ever ready for stories.
"Yes, dear Shaarana, your elder brothers went all the way to
Yamaloka to bring back Madhu, and called it Gurudakshina. Shall I tell you the
story?" asked Sulabha.
The children cried, "Yes, Mata!" while both Baladeva and
Madhava turned pink with embarrassment. "It was nothing, really," began Krsna
but Sulabha stopped him. "No Putra, don't interrupt during the story!"
***
Your brothers Krsna and Balarama were extremely fast in
learning! They finished in one day what a normal student would take a month to
learn! Both me and your Gurudeva were extremely astonished at their progress,
and the day soon came when they had completed all that we could teach them.
They promptly came to us and asked, "Oh Mata! Oh Gurudeva!
Pray, tell us what we may offer you in gratitude for the ocean of knowledge you
have bestowed upon us!"
I looked at your Gurudev with meaning, for it was only the
previous night that I had lamented that Madhu was not there to meet and befriend
Balarama and Krsna! He shook his head fervently, but when I persisted, he finally
agreed, though reluctantly.
So I told your brothers, "Oh my dear children! There is but one regret which both of us have.
Twelve years ago, we had gone to Prabhasa Kshetra to worship Lord Somanatha
along with our son Madhu. Despite our warning, Madhu proceeded to take a dip in
the ocean, disregarding the turbulent waves and dangerous aquatic creatures
lurking among the waters. It was the last we saw of him!"
***
Krsna smiled as he remembered how his Gurumata had burst
into tears and Sandipani Muni had looked at both of them apologetically, for it
was obvious what she had been asking - she wanted her son back from the dead,
which was not possible. But Gurumata had continued to sob, which both Balarama
and Krsna had been unable to bear.
***
And I had only to utter my wish that I fervently desired
Madhu to be brought back from Yamaloka, when they said, "As you say, Mata. We
shall proceed at once to Prabhasa."
And they took our blessings and left Avanti towards
Prabhasa.
***
Sandipani Muni took the thread from there.
***
Your brothers reached Prabhasa within five days and
immediately summoned Lord Varuna. They asked the Lord of the Ocean about
Madhu's whereabouts, but Varuna told them, that he had no information about
what had happened to Madhu, since he had entered the lair of the asura named
Panchajana. Therefore both Krsna and Balarama dived into the depths of the sea
and reached Panchajana's abode, where they dueled with the deadly asura, whom
even Varuna could not vanquish. After slaying him, Krsna and Balarama searched
his abode and found a resplendent conch (the very same conch which your brother
possesses even now). Due to winning it from Panchajana, Krsna named this conch
Panchajanya.
Concluding that Madhu had been devoured by Panchajana, both
of them decided to proceed to Samyamani, the capital city of Yamaloka.
Obtaining from Varuna the divine Vimana to travel there, your brothers
journeyed to the Abode of Death.
***
"Yamaloka?!" cried all five boys with fear and astonishment.
"How could both of you go there, Bhratashri?" asked Krita.
"It was all the grace of Gurudeva, Krita." Replied Krsna.
Sandipani vehemently denied Krsna's statement. "It was all due to his own prowess,
Krita. I had nothing to do with it."
"And then what happened?"
"Upon reaching Yamaloka, they announced their arrival to
Lord Yama by blowing on the Panchajanya, the sound of which made Yama and his
attendants rush out in fear!"
Balarama caught Krsna's eyes. He knew the whole story. Krsna
had not blown the conch merely for announcing his arrival.
***
Samyamani, Twelve
Years Ago...
Krsna and Balarama stared at the capital of Yamaloka. An
architecturally grand city, it was devoid of the colours one found in most
prosperous kingdoms. The reason was obvious: Naraka could not be a beautiful
place, lest the sinners sent to face their punishment revel in its beauty.
From there vantage point they could hear the torturous
screams of the Jivatmas who had been sentenced Naraka by Lord Yama for their
misdeeds on earth. All twenty eight hells situated in Yamaloka echoed with
millions of such cries of those Jivatmas. Any sane person would lose their mind
on hearing those shrieks of agony. Since Madhu had died when he was under
fourteen years of age, he would not have experienced any of these Narakas, but
would be either held custody by Yama based on his previous karmas, or be sent
to higher lokas.
As they proceeded towards the gates, another thousand screams
pierced their ears. Krsna looked at his brother, his decision etched on his
face. Balarama said, "I agree with your decision. So, will you take the
honour?"
In reply, Krsna lifted the Panchajanya. He pressed it to his
lips, and blew. The atmosphere of Yamaloka vibrated with the deafening sound
emitted by the conch. And in that instant, all
the millions of screams pervading the air ceased to be.
*
In Asipatravana, the Forest of Sword Trees, the attendants
of Yamaraja paused in their punishments. The swords they carried had melted,
and the sword-like leaves on the trees had all turned into soft flower-like
leaves.
The inhabitants of Raurava, the Hell of Terror, started
laughing and singing with joy. Similarly, those situated in Bhairava Hell began
to dance with excitement.
Meanwhile, in Kumbhipaka, where the sinners were thrown into
a vat of boiling oil, the oil transformed into cool, scented water, to the
utter amazement of the Jivatmas. In the fields of Lohasoochika, or Fields of
Iron Needles, the sharp needles softened into velvet-like carpets.
The prisoners of Shringatavi, where they were impaled onto
sharp spikes, suddenly fell onto the soft ground, the spikes disappearing in
wisps of smoke.
The Vaitarani river which surrounded Yamaloka, burning with
heat, suddenly became cool and refreshing, causing the Pitris, the forefathers,
to stare in astonishment.
As each of the twenty-eight hells ceased to be hells, the
millions of sinners populating Naraka watched in bewilderment as millions of
celestial Vimanas arrived from the firmament, each being guided by four-handed
personalities bearing a Chakra, Shankha, Gada and Padma. While this was
happening, Yamaraja, Chitragupta and his attendant Narantaka rushed to the
gates of Samyamani, to see all of the
sinners in Yamaloka ascend the divine Vimanas and proceed towards
Vaikuntha. Chitragupta and Yama looked at each other in disbelief and then
noticed Lord Krsna and Balarama standing in front of them.
Narantaka charged towards Krsna, his rage evident on his
face. "How dare you release these millions of Jivatmas, who have committed so
many crimes, without even informing us of your plans?!"
And with his weapons he tried to harm Krsna. Krsna smiled,
and all of Narantaka's weapons fell to the ground. Call your master, oh
Yamaduta. I shall talk directly to him."
Within the time of this duel, Yama and Chitragupta had
arrived, their faces depicting their fury. Without a thought, Yamaraja flung
his Kaladanda, his Spear of Death, towards Krsna. Balarama couldn't stand this
unwanted duel any longer, and jumped into the fray, swiftly catching the
Kaladanda with his left hand and hurling it back at its owner.
Yama was terrified. When it seemed as if his weapon would
hit himself, Lord Brahma appeared in their midst. Bowing to Krsna and Balarama,
he waved away the Kaladanda, and said to Yama, "Realise the glory of Narayana,
Oh Yamaraja, and accept his decree. It is by His Will that you have this Post
of the Lord of Death, and therefore, if he has decided so, then acknowledge his
decision to grant Moksha to all the Jivatmas of Naraka."
Yama took a moment to digest this huge piece of information,
then along with Chitragupta and Narantaka, bowed down his head towards Krsna
and Balarama. "I accept your decision, my Lords. Tell me, of what service may I
be to you?"
Krsna smiled. "Oh Yamaraja, we have come to retrieve the
soul of my Guru Sandipani Muni's son, as Gurudakshina. Please give back Madhu's
soul to us, so that we may fulfil our Dakshina towards our great Guru."
Yama turned to Brahma, who nodded fervently, as if not
wanting to restate what he had just said. Then, with Brahmadeva's help, Yama
created a new body and infused within it the soul of Madhu. AS madhu came back
to life, Krsna smiled and blessed him with happiness and true knowledge for the
duration of his new life.
***
"And as soon as Krsna blew his conch, Lord Yamaraja rushed
to the gates of Samyamani, fearing an intrusion, but upon seeing Krsna and
Balarama, he offered his respects and immediately restored Madhu to life!"
continued Sandipani.
Krsna's brothers and son looked at him and Balarama with a
mixture of wonder and pride, as both of them became red. Sandipani resumed. "Along
with Madhu, these two returned to Avanti, to this very place where we stand.
Since this place marks the arrival of your brothers from Yamaloka, I consulted
with Gargachrya and named it Ankapada, or The Mark of Return. Gargacharya further
informed me that, by the decree of Brahmadeva, all who worship Narayana at this
place attain Vaikuntha after their life."
Madhu looked at Krsna and Balarama. "I offer my obeisance to
both of you, Oh Lords, for you have blessed with me with all Knowledge of
Thyselves." Together with Madhu, Krita, Raajanya, Shaarana, Hemangada and
Upashloka fell at the feet of Krsna and Balarama, while Sulabha Devi and
Sandipani Muni looked on with pride. Taking leave from their Guru and Gurumata,
the two avataras of Narayana bade farewell to them all and returned to their
city of Dvaravati.
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