Devavrata, the Flute of Kṛshṇa

Devavrata was a brāhmaṇa of a calm mind. He lived in tapas (austerity) and truthfulness. He knew the rites and yajñas (fire rituals) as the Vedas lay them down. He once heard that Kṛshṇa, the master of yajña, was present at a gathering, and went to see him. He worshipped Kṛshṇa with a Tulasī leaf, water, a fruit and a root. He gave this simple offering with honest love.

Kṛshṇa smiled without full faith and accepted it. Because of this slight lack of respect in the smile, Devavrata was reborn as a bamboo. But the worship had real puṇya (merit), so he became very dear to Kṛshṇa. By that puṇya he shines as the chief of all, as Kṛshṇa’s flute. Its sweet, soft notes charm the three worlds. At the end of the age he will be one with Vishṇu and will reach the state of Brahman.

How the flute’s story was told

Kṛshṇa himself told Vedavyāsa who the flute was, at Badarīkāśrama. Vyāsa had asked about the different things of Vṛndāvana. His question was who the noble one was that had become the flute, the one place of joy for all people.

Kṛshṇa answered that there was a brāhmaṇa of a calm mind, given to tapas and truthfulness, whose name was Devavrata. Kṛshṇa then told how Devavrata worshipped him with simple things. He told how his own slight lack of respect in accepting the offering led to the rebirth as a bamboo. He told how the puṇya of the worship created a deep bond between them. (Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 73)

The worship and what came of it

Devavrata had heard that Kṛshṇa was near and was set on seeing him. He came to the house where Kṛshṇa was receiving devotees. He worshipped Kṛshṇa with what he had: one Tulasī leaf, water, a fruit and a root. These are the simplest things one can offer. The text says they were given with “affectionate intelligence”.

Kṛshṇa accepted them, but with a smile that lacked full faith. Because of the pāpa (sin) of that half-hearted smile, Devavrata took the very fierce state of a bamboo. Because of the puṇya of the worship itself, he became very dear to Kṛshṇa. Both bore fruit. The bamboo was cut and made into the flute that never leaves Kṛshṇa’s lips. (Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 73)

The flute as the chief

Kṛshṇa said that Devavrata shines as the chief because of the puṇya he gathered. The Pātāla Khaṇḍa describes the flute in Vṛndāvana as a thing that binds the whole world. Its notes “delude the three worlds”. When the gopīs (cowherd women) of Vraja hear the flute, the knots of their garments come loose and they are drawn to Kṛshṇa. The flute carries Kṛshṇa’s sweetness to every living being that has ears.

Kṛshṇa declares that at the end of the age Devavrata, being one with Vishṇu, will reach the state of Brahman. (Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 73)

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Pātāla Khaṇḍa, Chapter 73