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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

God redeems His devotees always

 

CHENNAI, AUG. 9. The objective of devotion to God is to enable

the mind to concentrate on Him without allowing it to be

distracted by thoughts pertaining to other worldly matters. Thus

the most natural form that devotion assumes is one of loving

meditation on God as can be seen in the case of devotees like the

Gopis of Brindavan. But it is intriguing to note that liberation

from rebirths was attained by some through emotions like fear,

attachment or hatred of the Almighty. The case of Sisupala was

explained in detail by Sage Narada to Yudishtra when they were

witness to the absorption of Sisupala into Lord Krishna when the

Pandava conducted the Rajasuya sacrifice.

 

It was to explain to King Pareekshit that the Lord does not show

any favouritism that Sage Suka narrated this incident at length

in the course of his exposition of the Bhagavata Purana. When

Yudishtra was in a dilemma as to who he should honour first among

the assembled kings at his sacrifice, Sahadeva pointed out to

Lord Krishna who was present there and told him in no uncertain

terms that the Lord be honoured first. Sisupala was greatly

offended by this act as he harboured hatred towards Krishna. This

antipathy had its origin right from his birth though he was

related to Krishna.

 

Sisupala was born with a grotesque figure and as predicted that

he would become normal when the person who would be instrumental

in his death touched him, he was transformed when Krishna

lovingly fondled him as a baby. His aunt then obtained a promise

from Him that He would not kill him even if he committed 100

faults in a day. Sisupala grudged and insulted Him all the time

but Krishna kept His promise and pardoned him; but in this

instance his tirade against Krishna before the august assembly

exceeded the limits and his end came.

 

In his discourse, Paranur Sri Balakrishna Sastrigal said that had

the Lord hated Sisupala he would not have been fortunate to be

liberated and attain union with Him. Narada told Yudishtra how

Sisupala was born with hatred in his heart due to a curse. He was

one of the two attendants of Lord Vishnu in His transcendental

abode and happened to stop the sages Sanandana and others from

entering the precincts. Enraged they cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be

born in the world thrice as demons - Hiranyakasipu and

Hiranyaksha, Ravana and Kumbhakarna, Sisupala and Dantavakra -

when they would hate the Lord. He redeemed them during His

advents and hence there is no room to say that the Almighty

harboured animosity towards them. In fact, they regained their

former glory.

 

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