36 - Agastya recites the Hymn Krişhņāmruta 

Vasishtha said: 

1. After comprehending the entire reason thereof, the pot-born sage Agastya became delighted in his mind and said to Rama, the scion of the family of Bhrugu. 

Agastya said: 

2. Listen, O Råma of great fortune, I shall tell you what is conducive to your welfare, whereby you will attain, erelong, the spiritual attainment and assimilation of the Mantra. 

3. If a person knows the characteristic features of devotion that is of three types, O highly intelligent one, and strives for it, he will realize it quickly. 

4. Once, with a desire to see Ananta, I had been to the Netherworlds, rendered splendid with great joy by the leading royal serpents. 

5-7a. There, O Brāhmaṇa of great fortune, great men of spiritual achievement were seen by me all round viz. Sanaka and others, Närada, Gautama, Jājali, Kratu, Rubhu, Hamsa, Aruņi, Valmiki, Shakti and Asuri. These and many other great Siddhas beginning with Vätsyayana1 were sitting near the lord of serpents and worshipped him for the sake of knowledge.

1. This Vätsyāyana is probably different from the author of the  Kama-sütras. 

7b-10. O Brāhmaṇa of great forune, this our goddess of earth who bears all living beings was seated in front of him assuming her own form (of a goddess), listening continuously to those stories. Whatever the goddess of earth asked Sheșha, the direct support of the Earth, the sages sitting there could hear, due to his blessings. The auspicious hymn Krişhņapremāmruta was heard by me there, O dear one. 

11-12. I shall expound to you that hymn of prayer for the sake of which you have come here. 

The goddess of Earth had already finished hearing the incarnation of the boar etc., the story that destroys sins, that accords pleasure and salvation and that is the cause of knowledge and perfect wisdom. 

After hearing everything, O dear one, the goddess of Earth bowed down once again to Dharadhara (i.e. Sheșha, the support of the Earth) with delight and spoke to him in order to know the activities of Krişhņa. 

Dharani said: 

13-15. Lord Krişhņa had embellished the birth (life) of all men who had their abodes in the Vraja (Cowherds' Colony) belonging to Nanda. He had assumed the physical body sportingly. He has many names caused and conditioned by his (various) conquests (appended with the word 'victory to'). I have been desirous of hearing the most important names among them for a long time. Hence O Väsuki (? Sheşha) mention those names of the son of Vasudeva. There is nothing more meri torious than this, in the three worlds. 

Shesha said: 

16-17a. O goddess Earth of great beauty, there is (a prayer composed of hundred and eight names. It bestows. salvation upon the people. It is at the acme of all auspicious things. It confers eight-fold spiritual attainments beginning with Animā (minuteness). 

176-18. It destroys millions and millions of great sins. It endows the listener with the merits accruing from all holy centres. It accords the fruits of all Japas and Yajñas. It is destructive of all sins. Listen O gentle lady, I shall recount it. 

19. By a simple repetition, a single name of Krișhņa yields that fruit which is yielded by repeating three times the thousand holy names. 

10. Hence, this prayer is more meritorious and destructive of sins.1 

O beloved lady, I myself am the seer for these one hundred and eight names. The metre is Anuşhtup (eight-syllabled one) and the deity is Yoga that is a favourite of Krişhņa.

1. The ensuing prayer mainly contains references to incidents in the life of Krişhņa as described in the tenth Skandha of the Bh. P. with a sprinkling of some Vedāntic terms to indicate the identity of Krishna with Para-Brahman and Vişhnu.  

The Prayer: 

21-24. (1) Shrikrişhņa, (2) Kamalūnātha (Lord of the goddess of fortune), (3) Vasudeva (son of Vasudeva), (4) Sanatana (The Eternal one), (5) Vasudevätmaja (Vasudeva's. son), (6) Punya (the meritorious one), (7) Lila-Mănușha-Vigraha (one who has assumed human body out of the sportive spirit), (8) Shrivatsa-Kaustubha-Dhara (one who has the mark called Śhrivatsa and one who wears the gem Kaustubha), (9) Yasoda Vatsala (the darling child of Yasodá), (10) Hari, (11) Chaturbhu jätta-Chakrasigadā-shankhädyāyudha (one who has taken up discus, sword, mace, conch and other weapons lifted up in his four hands), (12) Devakinandana (the delighter of Devaki), (13) Shrisha (the consort of Śhri), (14) Nanda-gopa-Priyatmaja. 

Thus Mantrajapa, Kavacha and stotra conclude the Tantric way of Krishna worship. (the beloved son of the cowherd Nanda), (15) Yamuna Vegasamharin (one who has curbed the current of the Yamunā), (16) Balabhadrapriyānuja (the loving younger brother of Balabhadra), (17) Putană-jīva-hara (one who has taken away the life of Pūtanā), (18) Shakațăsurabhañjana (one who shattered the demon who assumed the form of a cart). 

25. (19) Nandavraja-Janānandin (one who delights the people in the cowherds' colony belonging to Nanda), (20) Saccidananda-Vigraha (one whose person is constituted of existence, knowledge and bliss), (21) Navanitaviliptānga (one who has smeared all his limbs with butter), (22) Navanitanata (one who dances for the sake of butter), (23) Anagha (sinless). 

26. (24) Navanitalavahärin (one who takes in a bit of butter), (25) Muchukunda-Prasádakrut (one who conferred grace on Muchukunda), (26) Șhidaśha-strisahasresha (Lord of sixteen thousand ladies), (27) Tribhangi (one who has assumed tribharga pose), (28) Madhurākruti (one whose form or features are sweet). 

27. (29) Shukavāgamrutåbdhindu (one who is the moon arising from the occan of nectar in the form of Shuka's speech i.e. the Bhagavala Purāņa), (30) Govinda, (31) Govidāmpati (Lord of those who know Gau (cow or speech), (32) Vatsapalanasañchárin (one who moves about protecting calves), (33) Dhenukäsura mardana (one who suppressed the demon Dhenuka). 

28. (34) Trņikrutatruņåvarta (one who rendered demon Truņăvarta as powerless and despicable as a blade of grass); (35) Yamalarjunabhañjana (one who uprooted the twin Arjuna trees; (36) Uttalatălabhettru (one who broke the tall palmyra tree), (37) Tamálashyāmalakruti (one whose figure or complexion is as dark as the Tamāla tree). 

29. (38) Gopagopishvara (Lord of the Cowherds and Cowherdesses), (39) Yogin, (40) Süryakotisamaprabha (one having the lushtre equal to that of ten million suns), (41) Ilapati (Lord of the Earth), (42) Paramjyotih (the supreme splendour), (43) Yadavendra (Lord of the Yådavas), (44) Yadodvaha (Leading scion of the family of Yadu). 

30. (45) Vanamálin (one having garlands of sylvan flowers), (46) Pitavasas (yellow-robed), (47) Pärijätāpaharaka (one who brought away the divine Pärijäta tree) (48) Govar dhanācaloddhartru (one who has lifted up the mountain Govar dhana), (49) Gopala, (Protector of the cows), (50) Sarvapālaka (Protector of everyone and everything). 

31. (51) Aja (The unborn), (52) Niranjana the unsullied) (53) Kämajanaka (father of cupid) i.e. Pradyumna, (54) Kañjalochina (the lotus-eyed), (55) Madhuhan (the slayer of demon Madhu), (56) Mathurānātha (The lord of Mathura), (57) Dvārakānātha (the lord of Dvărakā), (58) Balin (the powerful). 

32. (59) Vrundāvanäntasañchărin (one who moves about at the outskirts of Vrundāvana), (60) Tulasidāmabhūshaņa (one who is bedecked in Tulasi garlands) (61) Syamantakamaņer-hartru (one who has taken away the Syamantaka jewel), (62) Naranārāyaṇā- tmaka (one who is identical with Nara and Nārāyaṇa). 

33. (63) Kubjákruşhtāmbaradhara (one who was attracted by the hunchbacked lady and one who wore the garments (brought by her), (64) Māyin (one who wields the power of illusion), (65) Paramapuruşha (The supreme person), (66) Mushti kāsura-Chāņūra-Mallayuddha-vishārada (one who was an expert in the wrestling bout with the demon Mushtika and Chāņūra). 

34. (67) Saṁsäravairin (one who puts an end to the worldly existence), (68) Kamsări (the enemy of Kaṁsa), (69) Murări (the enemy of Mura), (70) Narakantaka (the slayer of demon Naraka), (71) Anadibrahmachārin (one who is an eternal celibate or a religious student) (72) Krịşhņāvyasanakarshaka (one who dispelled the distresses of Krişhņā i.e. Draupadi). 

35. (73) Shishupäla-shiracchettru (one who cut off the head of Śhiśhupala), (74) Duryodhanakulāntakrut (one who put an end to the family of Duryodhana), (75) Vidūråkrūravarada (one who bestowed boons on Vidura and Akrūra) (76) Vishvarūpapradarśhaka (one who revealed his cosmic form). 

36. (77) Satyavak (of truthful speech), (78) Satyasamkalpa (of truthful will), (79) Satyabhamarata (one who is devoted to Satyabhama), (80) Jayin (victorious), (81) Subhadra Purvaja (Elder brother of Subhadrä) (82) Vishnu (All-pervading) (83) Bhishmamuktipradāyaka (one who bestowed salvation on Bhīşhma). 

37. (84) Jagadguru (the preceptor of the universe), (85) Jagannatha (the lord of the universe), (86) Venuvādyavishārada (one who is an expert in playing on the flute-pipe), (87) Vrushabhäsuravidhvamsin (one who destroyed the demon Vruşhabha in the form of a bull, (88) Bakāri (one who is the killer of the demon Baka), (89) Bāņabahukrut (one who cut off the arms of Bāņa). 

38. (90) Yudhishthirapratishthätru (one who established Yudhishthira (on the throne), (91) Barhibarhāvatamsaka (one who adorned himself with peacock feathers), (92) Párthasärathi (the charioteer of Arjuna), 93) Avyakta The unmanifest one), (94) Gitāmrutamahodadhi (The ocean of the nectar of Gita--the song celestial. 

39. (95) Kaliya-phanimāņikyarañjita-Shripadāṁbuja (one whose glorious lotus-like feet were brightened and coloured by the Māņikya (ruby) stone on the head of) the serpent Kåliya, (96) Dämodara (one who had been tied with a rope round his belly), (97) Yajñabhoktru (one who partakes of his share in the Yajña), (98) Dånavendravināšhana (The destroyer of leading Dänavas). 

40. (99) Nárayaņa, (100) Param Brahman (the supreme Brahman) (101) Pannagāšanavāhana (one whose vehicle is Garuda, the devourer of serpents), (102) Jalakridasamāsakta Gopivastrapahāraka (one who removed the garments of the cowherdesses who were enthusiastically engaged in aquatic sports). 

41. (103) Punyaśhloka (one whose renown is meritorious), (104) Tirthapada (one whose foot is itself a holy spot), (105) Vedavedya (one who can be comprehended through the Vedas), (106) Dayanidhi (Storchouse of mercy), (107) Sarvatirthātmaka (one who is identical with all holy spots), (108) Sarvagraharūpin (one who has the forms of all planets), one who is greater than the greatest. 

42-43. Thus is the prayer of one hundred and eight names of Lord Krişhņa. This prayer which delights Krişhņa had been composed by Krişhņa (Dvaipayana Vyasa) who was a devotee of Lord Krişhņa after hearing the nectar of the Gita formerly. This has been heard by me from him. Its name is Krişhņapremāmruta. It bestows the greatest bliss.1 

1. VV. 44-47 give the benefits accruing from the recitation of this stotra. 

44-45. It destroys the misery of the greatest harassment. It enhances the greatest longevity. Whatever one does in this birth such as charitable gifts, holy rites, penance, pilgrimage to holy centres etc. shall be fruitful millions and millions of times, if one reads and listens to this. This grants sons to those who have no sons. It bestows thc correct goal to those who are helpless. 

46. It brings wealth to the poor people. It brings victory to those who are desirous of victory. It increases the merit and bestows nourishment of children and herds of cattle. 

47. It suppresses infantile ailments and evil planets or spirits etc. It causes calmness. In the end, it bestows the memory of Krishņa. It dispels the three types of distresses in the worldly existence. 

48-50. It achieves what has not been achieved, O gentle lady. It provides material for Japa for our souls2 [Mantri] "Obeisance to Krişhņa, the leader of the Yādavas, to the Yogin whose Mudră (gesture of esoteric significance) is perfect knowledge, to the lord. Obeisance to the Lord of Rukmiņi. Obeisance to one who understands Vedānta." 

One should repeat this Mantra, O gentic lady, day and night. He shall have the blessings of all planets; he shall be a favourite unto all. He shall be surrounded by sons and grandsons. He shall be prosperous with all achievements. After enjoying all worldly pleasures, he shall attain the Sayujya (Merging with the Lord) with Krişhņa." 

2. VV. 48-50 state another Krishna mantra and its phalatruti (benefits accruing from it). 

Agastya said: 

51-52. "After saying this much, lord Ananta who is that form of the lord (Vişhņu) named Samkarşhaņa, who supports the Earth and the worlds, and who is the bestower of honour, pointed out this prayer once again and stopped. Then all those who had been eager to listen to the tales and who were seated all round him viz. Sanaka and others became immersed in the ocean filled with delight. They honoured that lord of Serpents. 

The Sages said: 

53. “Obeisance, obeisance to you the sanctifier of the entire universe. O lord of the nature of no change and loss, O dispeller of distress of the devotee who resorts to you, Obeisance to the supporter of the Earth, to the ocean of mercy. Obeisance to Sheșha the lord of the universe, 

54. O lord, we have been made to imbibe Krishnāmruta by you. We have been made rid of all sins by you. People like you, O lord, are sympathetic with the wretched ones. Undoubtedly, you uplift your own people who bow down to you." 

55. After bowing down to the feet of the lord of Serpents, after directing the mind to the feet that fulfil all our desires and after circumambulating the supporter of the Earth, all of us went to our respective residences. 

56. Thus, O Rama, the prayer named Premāmruta of lord Krişhņa, the perfect one, the lover of Rädhä, has been recounted to you. It bestows all achievements upon the listener. 

57. This extremely rare prayer has been heard directly from lord Śheșha who was recounting the tales of the lord, O Rāma of great fortune.

 58-61. All the Mantras, prayers and Kavachas that are in the three worlds can be realized and assimilated by practising this." 

Vasishtha said: 

“After saying this, O great king, after recounting the prayer Krishna-Premamruta 'no sooner did the sage cease to speak than an aerial chariot came there. It was followed by four wonderful Siddhas who could assume any form they desired and who had the speed of the mind. The male and the female deer bowed down to the feet of Agastya, galloped and joyously climbed the chariot. 

Even as all the living beings, Agastya and Bhargava were. watching, they assumed divinc bodies marked with conchshell, discus etc. They then went to the world of Vişhņu bowed down to by all the Devas.