21 - The Episode of Kalindi

Lord Krishna said: 

1-2. O lord of birds, now I shall tell you the birth of Kalindi too. 

A daughter was born to Vivasvat of the solar race. O lord of birds, she was Kålindi known also as Yamuna, the daughter of the sun. She practiced penance with a desire to obtain lord Krishna for her husband. 

3. Penance, they say, is a self-reflection, whereby reality is sought to be determined or it is a way of repentance for the sins of previous life. 

4. Praya is a penance wherein the mind is controlled. Hence, Prayashchitta (expiation) is a way of self-control. It is not the tonsure of head which they do while entering penance. 

5. This penance has its root in remorse. O lord of birds, you may bear in detail. 

O lord, I have not uttered the sacred mantra. I have thrown myself in the forest conflagration in the form of Kleshas (i.e., worldly afflictions). 

6. I have not remembered the ambrosial name of Hari. Rather, I have remembered his faults. I have not thought upon the ambrosial essence of Hari's teachings. Rather, I have indulged in gossips with the common people. 

7. I have not worshipped the lotus-feet of Hari. On the other hand, I worshipped my sons and friends. I did not bow at the lotus feet of Hari. On the other hand, I worshipped the feet of my friends. 

8. I have not seen the face of Hari covered with tresses grey as the incense smoke. I have fondled with my sons with affection and not caressed your loving face. 

9. I have adorned my sons and friends with ornaments but not the face of my lord who can eschew the effects of my sins which I committed in my previous life. 

10. I did not partake of the remanent of food offered to you but I partook of six varieties of food at the house of my friends. I did not offer you flowers and fragrances but did the same to my sons and friends. I am now tired of my sons and friends. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

11. I have polluted my tongue by consuming the prohibited vegetables not sanctified by mantras, a part of which has not been offered to you, which are not permitted in the coteries of your devotees and which are forbidden in the codes that prescribe rules of conduct. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

12. I have not purified my body by worshipping you with the eight-syllabled mantra or by visiting holy places or by blowing conches in front of your idol. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

13. I have incurred sin by not offering perfumes and flowers, ornaments or clothes. My body is polluted by anointing it with the perfumes prepared by those who are not the devotees of Vishnu. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

14. O Vasudeva, my feet are burnt since they have not traversed the shrines of Vishnu. My eyes are burnt since they have not sighted your charming face. 

15. My hands are burnt since they did not perform your worship. I have incurred sin by indulging in sinful activities. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

16-17. O lord, do not mind my faults, have pity on me. I have sincerely placed myself at your service. O lord, as many hair do I have on my body so many sins do I have on my head. When shall I see your face, O lord? 

18. I have not attained even the slightest pleasure since I gave up your worship, in spite of the fact that I have my husband, sons, friends, servants, buildings, cattle and wealth. Hence forth, I shall not visit my kins and friends. I shall ever remain your devotee, nay a slave. 

19. Those who regard their kins and friends as the sources of joy have their faces filled with urine and faeces. This is what I know. 

20. Wealth spent on friends is a mere waste. It turns into filth, dirt and impure matter. Given to the devotees of Hari it becomes the cause of attaining Hari. 

21. Whatever has passed so far, I have suffered utterly thereby. Please, favour me with the company of the noble by your grace and not with the company of the wicked by your indifference. 

22. O lord, my body is tarnished by association with the wicked. It is not detached from worldly pleasures. Without you, what course shall I adopt, o lord, have mercy on me and favour me with protection. 

23. Thus the daughter of Surya repented. And she set her mind on Hari after repentance. 

24. Lord Hari is the best of all gods. He embodies all merits. Everything in the Universe emanates from him. Hence, he contains all qualities. 

25. He is the first and foremost of the gods as the letter a is in the series of alphabet. Brahma and other gods do not possess all merits. But somehow, by the favour of Lakshmi or the aggregate of virtues accumulated in previous lives Brahma has come to embody all virtues. 

26. But Brahma is not so complete in merits as Lakshmi. Lakshmi is not so complete in virtue as Vishnu. Bharati is not so complete as Vayu. Varuni is not so complete as Shesha. 

27. Parvati is not so complete as Rudra. Others too are not complete either. 

Brooding over the matter in her mind, she practiced penance on the bank of Yamuna river. 

28. At that time, I had gone ahunting on the bank of Yamuna.¹ I saw her there practicing penance. I spoke to my friend Arjuna.

1. Yamuna--a celebrated river, said to be the sister of Yama.

29. O friend, approach the maiden immediately and ask her about the purpose of her penance. 

30. Thus asked, Arjuna approached her and asked her the purpose of her penance. After knowing her purpose, he returned and told me all that he had learnt of her. Then, at the auspicious hour, I married her. 

31. I did so, for I was moved by her penance. I had no personal motive, o lord of birds. I always remain in full bliss otherwise. What more joy or comfort could I derive from this alliance. 

32. I married just to favour her, but not for my pleasure, I shall now tell you the story of Lakshmana and the reason why I married her. 

33. Listen, I am going to tell you a great secret. There is nothing that the preceptor will not disclose to his disciple.