THE CURSE OF ASHTAVAKRA TO KRISHNA'S WIVES -
Mausala Parva describes the downfall of Yaduvansh and it is the favorite episode for many who want to bash and malign the Two Krishnas.
Let's come to Narayana first,many ignorants claim that Krishna failed to prevent the destruction of his clan.
Here is what Veds Vyas has to say:
Vyasa said, ‘The mighty car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races have all been consumed by the Brahmana’s curse. O chief of Kuru’s race, it behoveth thee not to grieve for their destruction. That which has happened had been ordained. It was the destiny of those high-souled warriors. Krishna suffered it to take place although he was #fully #competent #to #baffle #it. Govinda was able to alter the very course of the universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. What need then be said of the curse of even high-souled Brahmanas? He who used to proceed in front of thy car, armed with discus and mace, through affection for thee, was the four-armed Vasudeva, that ancient rishi. That high-souled one of expansive eyes, Krishna, having lightened the burthen of the Earth and cast off his (human) body, has attained to his own high seat. By thee also, O foremost of men, with Bhima for thy helpmate and the twins, O mighty-armed hero, has the great work of the gods been accomplished......(M.16.8)
Vyas clearly says that Krishna was fully competent to baffle the curse,but he let that happen,he was capable to alter the course of entire universe,then what was curse of brahmins in front of that.To lighten the burden of earth was ordained by Krishna himself,so he performed according to that only.
Now coming to Arjuna,many ignorantly claim about Arjun's defeat against Abhiras,we have already discussed it in previous posts,lets elaborate more.
The Wives of Krishna whom Arjuna could not save from Abhiras were actually Apsaras in previous birth and they were cursed by sage Ashtavakra to be caught by robbers for they mocked on Ashtavakra's deformity.
The story of Ashtavakra's curse which a certain section of people ignore is mentioned in various hindu scriptures,below is the checklist-
1)Mahabharat by Geeta Press.
2)All Dakshinatya recensions of Ved Vyas Mahabharat.
3)BharatGatha Summary by A. Purushothaman
4)Vishnu Purana.
5)Agni Purana.
6)Linga Purana.
7)Devi Bhagwat Purana.
8)Srimad Bhagwata Purana.
9)Brahma Purana.
Citations Below -
# 1)Geeta Press Mahabharat -
Vyas tells Arjuna about Ashtavakra's curse.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1LsneCK
# 2)Dakshinatya Mahabharata,Ved Vyas -
त्रैलोक्यमपि गोविन्दः कृत्स्नं स्थावरजङ्गमम्।
प्रसहेदन्यथा कर्तुं कुतः शापं महात्मनाम्॥ 15-9-31
`स्त्रियश्च ताः पुरा शप्ताः प्रभासे कुपितेन वै।
अष्टावक्रेण मुनिना तदर्थं त्वद्बलक्षयम्॥' 15-9-32
Those ladies(Wives of Krishna) in previous birth were Apsaras,they were cursed by Sage Ashtavakra to be caught by Robbers in next birth,that's the reason you could not save them,O son of Pritha.
Not only Kumbhakonam,all Southern(Dakshinatya) versions of Mahabharat mention this curse.
# 3)BharatGatha
Chapter 45,Swargarohanam.
"Vyasa tells Arjuna: It is due to the curse of the sage that the women whom you tried to protect were abducted by the robbers"
http://mahabharata-resources.org/variations/bharatagatha.html
# 4)Vishnu Purana
Vyas to Arjuna:
It is in consequence, then, of the curse of the Muni Asht́ávakra that these females, who were at first the wives of Keśava, have now fallen into the hands of the barbarians; and there is no occasion, Arjuna, for you to regret it in the least.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp155.htm
# 5)Agni Purana
Mentions the Curse of Ashtavakra to Krishna's wives.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1Hecnlc
# 6)Linga Purana
Mentions the Curse of Ashtavakra to Krishna's wives.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1LscmF1
# 7)DeviBhagawat Purana
64. O Madhusûdana! After Your death, due to the curse of Astâvakra Muni, your wives will be forcibly stolen away by indomitable robbers. There is no doubt in this.
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk04ch25.htm
Astavakra's curse is clearly mentioned here.
# 8)SrimadBhagwat Purana
Canto 1 - The disappearance of Lord Krishna and the retirement of the Pandavas
Ashtavakra’s body was curved in eight places and so he walked in a very peculiar manner. Upon seeing this, those same girls were unable to check their laughter, and so the Muni became very angry and cursed them to be kidnapped by rogues, in spite of their becoming the wives of the Supreme Lord.
http://nitaaiveda.com/Compiled_and_Imp_Scriptures/Shrimad_Bhagavatam/Canto-1/The_disappearance_of_Lord_Krishna_and_the_retirement_of_the_Pandavas.htm
# 9)Brahma Purana
Complete version of Brahma Purana is not available online,however Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Purport of Srimad Bhagwatam says that the story of Ashtavakra's curse to Krishna's wives is mentioned in Brahma Purana as well as in Vishnu Purana too,so we can follow the words of acharya.
Below is what's given in the Purport -
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has justified the contradiction by research in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and Brahma Purāṇa. In these Purāṇas it is said that once the fair denizens of heaven pleased Aṣṭāvakra Muni by their service and were blessed by the muni to have the Supreme Lord as their husband. Aṣṭāvakra Muni was curved in eight joints of his body, and thus he used to move in a peculiar curved manner. The daughters of the demigods could not check their laughter upon seeing the movements of the muni, and the muni, being angry at them, cursed them that they would be kidnapped by rogues, even if they would get the Lord as their husband. Later on, the girls again satisfied the muni by their prayers, and the muni blessed them that they would regain their husband even after being robbed by the rogues. So, in order to keep the words of the great muni, the Lord Himself kidnapped His wives from the protection of Arjuna, otherwise they would have at once vanished from the scene as soon as they were touched by the rogues.
http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/15/20
Please note: The wives of Shri Krishna were cursed by sage Ashtavakra to be captured by Abhiras while the Vrishni and Andhaka warriors were cursed by another group of sages - Vishwamitra, Kanva and Narada,Described in the first chapter of Mausala Parva.
So the story of Ashtavakra's curse is not only in many Mahabharat editions,but also in several Puranas.The Northern recensions of Ved Vyas Mahabharat like KMG don't have this story as they don't have the complete 100k verses,so this verse of Ashtavakra's curse is missing from them,but there is no story in KMG which contradicts the curse of Ashtavakra.
#JiShNu
Mausala Parva describes the downfall of Yaduvansh and it is the favorite episode for many who want to bash and malign the Two Krishnas.
Let's come to Narayana first,many ignorants claim that Krishna failed to prevent the destruction of his clan.
Here is what Veds Vyas has to say:
Vyasa said, ‘The mighty car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races have all been consumed by the Brahmana’s curse. O chief of Kuru’s race, it behoveth thee not to grieve for their destruction. That which has happened had been ordained. It was the destiny of those high-souled warriors. Krishna suffered it to take place although he was #fully #competent #to #baffle #it. Govinda was able to alter the very course of the universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. What need then be said of the curse of even high-souled Brahmanas? He who used to proceed in front of thy car, armed with discus and mace, through affection for thee, was the four-armed Vasudeva, that ancient rishi. That high-souled one of expansive eyes, Krishna, having lightened the burthen of the Earth and cast off his (human) body, has attained to his own high seat. By thee also, O foremost of men, with Bhima for thy helpmate and the twins, O mighty-armed hero, has the great work of the gods been accomplished......(M.16.8)
Vyas clearly says that Krishna was fully competent to baffle the curse,but he let that happen,he was capable to alter the course of entire universe,then what was curse of brahmins in front of that.To lighten the burden of earth was ordained by Krishna himself,so he performed according to that only.
Now coming to Arjuna,many ignorantly claim about Arjun's defeat against Abhiras,we have already discussed it in previous posts,lets elaborate more.
The Wives of Krishna whom Arjuna could not save from Abhiras were actually Apsaras in previous birth and they were cursed by sage Ashtavakra to be caught by robbers for they mocked on Ashtavakra's deformity.
The story of Ashtavakra's curse which a certain section of people ignore is mentioned in various hindu scriptures,below is the checklist-
1)Mahabharat by Geeta Press.
2)All Dakshinatya recensions of Ved Vyas Mahabharat.
3)BharatGatha Summary by A. Purushothaman
4)Vishnu Purana.
5)Agni Purana.
6)Linga Purana.
7)Devi Bhagwat Purana.
8)Srimad Bhagwata Purana.
9)Brahma Purana.
Citations Below -
# 1)Geeta Press Mahabharat -
Vyas tells Arjuna about Ashtavakra's curse.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1LsneCK
# 2)Dakshinatya Mahabharata,Ved Vyas -
त्रैलोक्यमपि गोविन्दः कृत्स्नं स्थावरजङ्गमम्।
प्रसहेदन्यथा कर्तुं कुतः शापं महात्मनाम्॥ 15-9-31
`स्त्रियश्च ताः पुरा शप्ताः प्रभासे कुपितेन वै।
अष्टावक्रेण मुनिना तदर्थं त्वद्बलक्षयम्॥' 15-9-32
Those ladies(Wives of Krishna) in previous birth were Apsaras,they were cursed by Sage Ashtavakra to be caught by Robbers in next birth,that's the reason you could not save them,O son of Pritha.
Not only Kumbhakonam,all Southern(Dakshinatya) versions of Mahabharat mention this curse.
# 3)BharatGatha
Chapter 45,Swargarohanam.
"Vyasa tells Arjuna: It is due to the curse of the sage that the women whom you tried to protect were abducted by the robbers"
http://mahabharata-resources.org/variations/bharatagatha.html
# 4)Vishnu Purana
Vyas to Arjuna:
It is in consequence, then, of the curse of the Muni Asht́ávakra that these females, who were at first the wives of Keśava, have now fallen into the hands of the barbarians; and there is no occasion, Arjuna, for you to regret it in the least.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp155.htm
# 5)Agni Purana
Mentions the Curse of Ashtavakra to Krishna's wives.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1Hecnlc
# 6)Linga Purana
Mentions the Curse of Ashtavakra to Krishna's wives.
Screenshot - http://bit.ly/1LscmF1
# 7)DeviBhagawat Purana
64. O Madhusûdana! After Your death, due to the curse of Astâvakra Muni, your wives will be forcibly stolen away by indomitable robbers. There is no doubt in this.
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk04ch25.htm
Astavakra's curse is clearly mentioned here.
# 8)SrimadBhagwat Purana
Canto 1 - The disappearance of Lord Krishna and the retirement of the Pandavas
Ashtavakra’s body was curved in eight places and so he walked in a very peculiar manner. Upon seeing this, those same girls were unable to check their laughter, and so the Muni became very angry and cursed them to be kidnapped by rogues, in spite of their becoming the wives of the Supreme Lord.
http://nitaaiveda.com/Compiled_and_Imp_Scriptures/Shrimad_Bhagavatam/Canto-1/The_disappearance_of_Lord_Krishna_and_the_retirement_of_the_Pandavas.htm
# 9)Brahma Purana
Complete version of Brahma Purana is not available online,however Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Purport of Srimad Bhagwatam says that the story of Ashtavakra's curse to Krishna's wives is mentioned in Brahma Purana as well as in Vishnu Purana too,so we can follow the words of acharya.
Below is what's given in the Purport -
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has justified the contradiction by research in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and Brahma Purāṇa. In these Purāṇas it is said that once the fair denizens of heaven pleased Aṣṭāvakra Muni by their service and were blessed by the muni to have the Supreme Lord as their husband. Aṣṭāvakra Muni was curved in eight joints of his body, and thus he used to move in a peculiar curved manner. The daughters of the demigods could not check their laughter upon seeing the movements of the muni, and the muni, being angry at them, cursed them that they would be kidnapped by rogues, even if they would get the Lord as their husband. Later on, the girls again satisfied the muni by their prayers, and the muni blessed them that they would regain their husband even after being robbed by the rogues. So, in order to keep the words of the great muni, the Lord Himself kidnapped His wives from the protection of Arjuna, otherwise they would have at once vanished from the scene as soon as they were touched by the rogues.
http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/15/20
Please note: The wives of Shri Krishna were cursed by sage Ashtavakra to be captured by Abhiras while the Vrishni and Andhaka warriors were cursed by another group of sages - Vishwamitra, Kanva and Narada,Described in the first chapter of Mausala Parva.
So the story of Ashtavakra's curse is not only in many Mahabharat editions,but also in several Puranas.The Northern recensions of Ved Vyas Mahabharat like KMG don't have this story as they don't have the complete 100k verses,so this verse of Ashtavakra's curse is missing from them,but there is no story in KMG which contradicts the curse of Ashtavakra.
#JiShNu
Comments
Post a Comment