Śṛgāla Moksha

Śṛgāla Moksha is the freeing of a king named Śṛgāla by Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. It is told in the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 121. Śṛgāla sent an insulting message to Kṛshṇa in Dvārakā and called him to a fight. When Kṛshṇa came, Śṛgāla was standing as a four-armed Vishṇu, but he dropped the pretence the moment he saw the true Kṛshṇa. He said that he was one of the gatekeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya or Vijaya, and that the time of his freedom had come. From Kṛshṇa’s tears at that moment the tīrtha called Bindu Saras was formed.

The insult from Śṛgāla (Chapter 121)

Kṛshṇa was seated in the divine Sudharmā hall of Dvārakā, among the Yādavas and his court. A brāhmaṇa arrived with a message from a king named Śṛgāla. The message was full of insults. Śṛgāla blamed Kṛshṇa for the deaths of great warriors, which he said Kṛshṇa had brought about by trickery. He said Kṛshṇa had caused the death of Duryodhana through Bhīma. He said Kṛshṇa had caused the deaths of Droṇa, Bhīshma and Karṇa through Arjuna’s hands. He said Kṛshṇa had himself killed Śiśupāla, Dantavakra, Kaṃsa, Narakāsura, Keśī, Mura and many others. Śṛgāla called Kṛshṇa to come and fight, or be destroyed.

Kṛshṇa smiled and honoured the brāhmaṇa messenger. The messenger had done no wrong and deserved respect, whatever the message said. Then, since the challenge could not be left unanswered, Kṛshṇa mounted his chariot and rode out to meet Śṛgāla. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 121)

Śṛgāla shows who he is (Chapter 121)

When Kṛshṇa reached the place where Śṛgāla was, he found the king standing with four arms, copying the divine form of Vishṇu. But when Śṛgāla saw the true Kṛshṇa, the Parabrahman in his full reality, his pretence fell at once. He dropped to his knees, let go of the false arms and bowed flat before Kṛshṇa.

With tears in his eyes Śṛgāla told the truth. “O Bhagavān Kṛshṇa! I am your doorkeeper, Jaya (or Vijaya) of Vaikuṇṭha. Long ago I received a śāpa (a curse) to take birth as an asura on earth. My time under the śāpa is now finished with this birth as Śṛgāla. I have been waiting for this moment, when you would come to me yourself, free me and let me return to your feet.” He begged Kṛshṇa to strike him. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 121)

The birth of Bindu Saras (Chapter 121)

Kṛshṇa was deeply moved by Śṛgāla’s words. His eyes filled with tears. They were tears of love for a devotee who had gone through many lives apart from him. Kṛshṇa’s tears fell to the earth and became a sacred lake called Bindu Saras. It is a tīrtha of the highest power, made from the tears of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa himself.

Then Kṛshṇa struck Śṛgāla. In that moment the king’s earthly body fell away. His divine form rose up, and he went to Vaikuṇṭha in a shining chariot. He was set again in his eternal post as Kṛshṇa’s doorkeeper. Kṛshṇa went back to Dvārakā and spent the evening with Rukmiṇī. (Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 121)

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 121