Bābhravya
Bābhravya
Bābhravya was a brāhmaṇa of the Hārīta family. He lived at the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama as a close disciple and companion of the muni Nārada. When Arjuna came to the Saṃgama on pilgrimage, he asked Nārada a hard question about Nārada’s own nature. Nārada did not answer. He smiled and looked silently at Bābhravya. Bābhravya understood and told Arjuna what he himself had heard from Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. In this way Bābhravya is the link through which Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s explanation of Nārada reached Arjuna and was kept in the Kaumārika Khaṇḍa. That explanation includes Daksha’s two śāpas (curses) and Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s daily hymn to Nārada.
Who he was
Bābhravya belonged to the Hārīta family, a well-known brāhmaṇa line. What marked him was that he “always remained near Nārada” at the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama. He was a lasting devotee of the Saṃgama and a devoted disciple in Nārada’s closest circle.
The Kaumārika Khaṇḍa describes the Hārīta family as long settled at this holy place. The brāhmaṇa Aitareya was also born in the Hārīta family at the same place (Chapter 42). Bābhravya appears several chapters later as another distinguished member of this family.
The question about Nārada’s nature
Arjuna came to the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama on his pilgrimage and met Nārada there. He asked him directly: how can a muni who has every virtue, who is calm and wise, still be always wandering and fond of stirring up quarrels? These quarrels had ruined thousands of devas, kings and ṛshis. Was this not a contradiction?
Nārada did not answer directly. He gave a silent look at Bābhravya, showing that Bābhravya should reply. Bābhravya understood this well and said to Arjuna:
“What you say about Nārada is true, O son of Pāṇḍu. All men have the same doubt about this. I shall report everything to you as it had been heard from Śrī Kṛshṇa himself.”
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa’s visit to Mahīsāgara
Bābhravya told how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa had once come on pilgrimage to the Mahīsāgara Saṃgama. With him came Ugrasena, Vasudeva, Babhru, Rāma (son of Rukmiṇī), Yuyudhāna and others.
At the Saṃgama, Bhagavān Kṛshṇa made a piṇḍadāna (offering of rice balls to the ancestors) and gave gifts in charity. He worshipped Guheśvara and the other liṅgas. He bathed in the Koṭitīrtha and worshipped Jayāditya. Then he worshipped the mūrti of Nārada with deep devotion. In front of the gathered brāhmaṇas, Ugrasena put the same question about Nārada’s nature to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa.
Bhagavān Kṛshṇa explained Daksha’s two śāpas on Nārada. They were to wander always and to carry talk from one person to another. Nārada had accepted both of his own will. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa said that Nārada’s reports are always founded in truth, and so they never stain him. His wandering never turns away from the Supreme Being. Bhagavān Kṛshṇa also said that every day he recites the hymn to Nārada composed by Mahendra. For this reason Nārada has great love for him.
Bābhravya passed on this whole teaching faithfully to Arjuna.
Sources
- Skanda Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 54
- Skanda Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 42 (Aitareya born in the Hārīta family)