Yadhavabhyudhaya-chapter17

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Chapter 17- Krishna brings parijatha tree to Dvaraka

 

Krishna travelled on Garuda with Sathyabhama to Indtraloka to return the earrings of Adhithi and the umbrella of Varuna, which Naraka confiscated from them.After being honoured by Indra and others Krishna, wishing to return to the earth, saw the nanadanavana, the celestial garden of Indra and showed the beauty of it to Sathyabhama. Desika says that the garden was so exquisite that Indra on seeing it used to feel as though he had only one eye instead of his 1000 eyes.

 

Krishna compared the beauty of the flowers and creepers to that of Bhama and said that the creepers dance to the tune of the music of the birds and the bees.

 

There were four kinds of trees in the nandanavana, namely, mandhAra, santhAna, kalpavriksha and harichandhana. The fifth was the parijata which came out of the milky ocean. The sprouts of the tree were like rubies, the leaves were like emeralds, the flowers of the tree were like jewels worn on the body and the bark was shining like gold. The tree can provide beads for japa, flowers for worship and bark for austere garment.

 

With the karpaka creeper around it and with red sprouts it reminded one of Lord Narayana, with Lakshmi, who was also born from the milky ocean, and wearing the kousthubha gem. The tree which was a sibling of crescent moon and kousthubha seemed to be smiling with the dew drops like the teeth, shining on the red lip-like sprouts.

 

Here Desika implies that Krishna has already willed to take the tree to Dvaraka, may be, to show the power of His maya which made Indra forget the great help rendered by Krishna and fight with him over the tree. Krishna said as he had to rush to Dvaraka as all are expecting him there, his eyes were taking in the beauty of the tree as though it was the breakfast before journey, meaning that the full beauty will be enjoyed later as he intended to take it with him. He put words in the mouth of Sathyabhama to achieve this end by saying that she looked as though she wanted to take the tree and plant it in her garden. He told her that along with this tree Dvaraka would shine even more than the capital of Indra because there were already the sankha and padma nidhis as in the capital of Kubera and also the assembly hall was called sudharma after that of devaloka.

 

In the next sloka Desika says that the suggestion of Krishna was accepted by Sathyabhama with joy.

 

Ittham AdhikavinA sameerithA

sA anvabhAvi kila sathyabhAmayA

Samarasyamiva thEna jagmushee

soukumAryasubhagA sarasvasthee

(Yad.17-44)

 

The speech of the Lord, who is Adhikavi (because he was the one who instructed Brahma, whose consort is Sarasvathi who graced Valmiki, known as Adhikavi) and which was sweet and soft and conveyed his intention, was welcomed bySathyabhama with glee.

 

This sloka is explained by Utthamur swamin with a delightful meaning as follows:

 

Desika himself, he says is fit to be called Adhikavi as he stands in front of everyone else being the kavithArkika simha. The word sathyabhAma is split as sathya+bhA+mA meaning true wisdom and glory (ma meaning Lakshmi) and the words of Desika, sarasvathi is enjoyed by those who have wisdom and glory.

 

Utthamur swamin also gives another explanation that refers to Ramayanakavya. The sarasvathi referred could be taken as Ramayanakatha that was composed by Valmiki, who is the Adhikavi and his words were enjoyed by Seetha whose glory and wisdom were true(bhA cha mA cha sathyA yasyAh thayA) when the kavya was sung by Lava and KuSa. This meaning , though it may look far-fetched, is beautiful.

 

Garuda, instructed by Krishna, uprooted the parijatha tree and hid it inside his wings which were like a big forest. Desika refers to Garuda as khyAthakeerthih amrthApaharathah, meaning that he was already renowned for arrying off amrtha. Garuda carried away amrtha to free his mother from slavery of Kathru, his stepmother and mother of the serpents, who laid the condition that he should do so. But it was taken back by Indra who followed him as soon as Vinatha, mother of Garuda was freed, before the serpents tasted it.