Kl38. How King Nrga Was Saved? Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

KRISHNA LEELA

The princes of Yadu dynasty,
Once went to a forest nearby,
Feeling very much thirsty,
They found a well closeby.

There was no water inside,
Instead they found a giant lizard.
And wondered, from this trap,
Why it couldn't escape?

To get the lizard out,
Which was very stout,
Their efforts they tried,
But only they failed.

This news Krishna heard,
To the well He hurried,
Elongating His hand left,
He gave it a quick lift.

With the touch of the Lord,
The shape of the Lizard,
Suddenly it disappeared,
A Heavenly body appeared.

To know who he was,
They were all curious.
Knowing well who he was,
Krishna asked for the cause.

"I was King Nrga, My Lord,
You must have heard
King Iksvaku, my father,
Of him You're well aware."

"As part of my charitable vows,
Countless number of cows
With their calves first ones,
I gave them to the Brahmins."

"Lo, one cow that was given,
To a well learned Brahmin,
It got back into our cowsheds,
Unnoticed by our cowherds."

"The same cow joined once again,
Those I gave to another Brahmin,
Thus for an unknown sin,
I was thrown by my action."

"Both the owners complained,
One lakh cows they declined.
In lieu of the one I offered.
But that cow only they preferred."

"The Lord of death, when I died,
Despite the charities what I did,
Gave me the life of a lizard,
Even for this minor sin, my Lord."

"A touch of Your hand, he told,
Would release the shape I hold,
I'm highly grateful, My Lord,
For the mercy You showed."

Freed from his sin then.
He was sent to the Heaven.
So this reveals, "A sin is a sin
However little it may be one."