The Deliverance of King Nrga

Looking at the creature, a huge lizard, the boys were astonished.

Tying the lizard with ropes made of leather and threads, they could not lift the lizard out.

He gave up the lizard form and assumed the form of a devata (svargi).

Please tell us about yourself, if you think it fitting, as we want to hear (vivitsatam).

“You must have heard about me when the charitable personalities are listed.”

Yadi in this case indicates no doubt, as in the usage, "if the vedas are evidence" which means "since the vedas are evidence."

“What is not known to you? Rather, everything is known to you.”

According to ancient authorities these statements indicate only a countless number of cows. Others say that it is not incorrect that he stated that he gave such numbers of cows everyday, in different places and times, since giving even one cow at a place like Kuruksetra or at such times as an eclipse of the sun is equivalent to ten millions of cows.

In this verse he describes in detail the cows.

This verse gives details of the acts of charity. “I gave to brahmanas who were well known for austerity (tapa sruta) and well versed in the vedas (brahmani vadanya) because of study.”

15 This verse describes other things he gave in charity. He gave (pradanam) to the brahmanas, who are mentioned in the previous verse, and also made (caritam) tanks and wells.

16.."But what sin made you become a lizard?" This verse answers that question.

“Straying from the brahaman, the cow mixed with my herd, not knowing that it belonged to that brahamana (avidusa), I gave the cow to another brahmana.”

The second receiver said, "You have the cow to me." The first owner said, "You took her away from me."

Hearing that, I was put in extreme perplexity (bhramah).

"I do not accept gifts from kings." Saying this, the brahmana gave up his cow and left.

The other brahmana refused also. "I do not want to give up this cow even for a hundred thousand that you offer, or even ten thousand more." He also left.

This description in this verse took place after Nrga died.

Yamaraja brought him to his city Samyamani (yamaksayam).

“Do you first want to experience the sinful reaction for unknowingly taking away the brahmana's cow, or the pious reactions to your charities?

I do not see an end to the results of your charities---I do not see an end to your living in svarga loka (bhasvatah lokasya).”

I said, “First I will experience the results of my sins."

Then Yamaraja said, "Fall."

Nrga had mixed bhakti because performing karma with a little devotion. Taking shelter of this mixed bhakti, he thus expressed himself humbly before the Lord as his servant.

At sometime, a great devotee desired to attain a temple for a beautiful deity and to obtain scriptures like Gita and Bhagavatam. Nrga, being very generous, readily supplied these things. Being satisified with Nrga, the devotee said, "O King, I give blessings that you may see the Lord."

From the time of getting that blessing, Nrga Nrga had great desire to see the Lord.

“Remembrance of you is not lost even today, first as a lizard and then as a proud devata, which is also unfavorable for remembrance.”

He does not say so directly (my), out of humility.

He rejoices at his good fortune, being astonished at seeing Krsna. How can I see you, who are the object of meditation for great yogis like Sanaka and others in their pure hearts through the eye of the Upanisads. And you are directly adhoksaja, svayam bhagavan, the breaker of the cart (adhoksam means under the axle). And you have come to the sight of me, among the lowest, with intelligence blinded by great suffering. You are usually only visible to those who have destroyed the bondage of samsara (bhava aparvargah). So how are you visible to me? It should not be so. It happens only by the blessing of some great devotee.”

Having attained the position of the servant by the Lord's mercy, by a sudden burst of faith, he begins to recite the lord's names and then asks permission to leave. “You are the supreme deva among devas (devadeva), and since you are the master of the whole universe, you should be my master as well (jagannatha). Please see me, your cow, (govinda) with your merciful glance, because you are the supreme among the forms of Visnu (purusottama). As you are the ruler of the jivas (narayana), you should rule over me, though I am a low jiva. Make my senses concentrate on you (hrsikesa). You are famous for having liberated Nrga (punyasloka). Do not leave my heart (acyuta). You will not suffer any loss in doing so (avyaya). May my mind have your feet as their object of meditation.”

“I have a relation as servant to you, but you are the object of all types of love. I offer respects to you, within whom exist all bhavas or loving relationships.”

He first mentions the lord as the object of santa bhava, the form of brahman (brahmane). He is the object of dasya bhava as the possessor of unlimited powers (ananta saktaye), the form of grandeur. He is the object of sakhya bhava as Krsna, who gives constant bliss, which is also the name of Arjuna, who had similar name, form and qualities as Krsna, being treated equally by him. Smrti says “Krs means earth or existence, and na bliss.”

He is the object of vatsalya bhava as Vasudeva, son of Vasudeva. He is the object of madhurya bhava as the husband of those who have deep devotion (yoganam pataye) such as Rukmini.

Krsna gave him permission to leave, instructing him by saying "After enjoying you will attain me."

The property of a brahmana, even if tasted just a little, by theft or what not, cannot be enjoyed by even a person powerful as fire, with great sense of austerity.

“If it is like indigestible food, it is not so bad as poison is it?”

“ Siva could digest the halahal poison so it is not real poison. But there is no antidote for taking from the brahmana.”

“Even taking poison is preferable to taking a brahmana's property. Poison destroys the drinker.”

“Can it be compared to fire, which inflicts death on those who contact it?”

“ Fire leaves the roots intact. The fire which burns the brahmana's property is a special type of fire, difficult to control. Just as a fire burning in an old tree increases and cannot be extinguished by rainfall for many years, this fire burns the tree even to the root under the earth---that is, it destroys the family at its root.”

"My friend and helper, without my giving it, is enjoying my wealth, therefore let him enjoy it." This is the meaning of not getting proper consent (duranujnata). Enjoying in this way destroys oneself, ones sons and ones grandsons. If using force or the influence of the king, one enjoys, then ten generations previous and after suffer.

Those who desire brahmana's property for themselves also desire hell. They are foolish, not seeing their own falldown.

The kings and those born in his family must suffer.

Hankering after a brahmana's property one loses life span. What to speak of actually taking the property.

“But what if a brahmana takes my property or hates me even if i did no wrong, what should I do?” The answer is given in two verses.

“O my followers (mamaka), I am instructing anyone who is my devotee, not just you. Otherwise I would have to give up thinking of them as my followers.”

Just as I pay respects (praname), you should pay respects.

This is not an exaggeration to instill fear. There is direct proof as stated in this verse.