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Bhagavatam canto 4, verse 11.7: Class at Vrindavan.
“Unnecessary anger of the jivas verses unlimited anger of the Lord.”
manur uvaca: alam vatsatiroshena, tamo dvarena papmana, yena punya janan etan, avadhis tvam anagasah
Translation and purport by Srila Prabhupada. “Lord Manu said, my dear son, please stop. It is not good to become unnecessarily angry. It is the path to hellish life. Now you are going beyond the limit by killing Yakshas, who are actually not offenders.
Maharaja reads the purport, “In this verse, the word atiroshena means ‘with unnecessary anger.’ When Dhruva Maharaja went beyond the limits of necessary anger, his grandfather, Svayambhuva Manu, immediately came to protect him from further sinful action. From this we can understand that killing is not bad, but when killing is done unnecessarily or when an offenseless person is killed, such killing opens the path to hell. (Maharaja comments, “Other killing could lead to heaven. It is mentioned in second chapter of Bhagavad Gita. But this one could lead to hell when the limits are crossed.) Dhruva Maharaja was saved from such sinful action because he was a great devotee.
A kshatriya is allowed to kill only for maintenance of the law and order of the state; he is not allowed to kill or commit violence without reason. Violence is certainly a path leading to a hellish condition of life, but it is also required for maintenance of the law and order of the state. Here Lord Manu prohibited Dhruva Maharaja from killing the Yakshas because only one of them was punishable for killing his brother, Uttama; not all of the Yaksha citizens were punishable. We find in modern warfare, however, that attacks are made upon innocent citizens who are without fault. According to the law of Manu, such warfare is a most sinful activity. Furthermore, at the present moment, civilized nations are unnecessarily maintaining many slaughterhouses for killing innocent animals. When a nation is attacked by its enemies, the wholesale slaughter of the citizens should be taken as a reaction to their own sinful activities. That is nature’s law.”
Maharaja continues, “My dear son, please stop.” When I read that, I am reminded of Srila Prabhupada. Once, he also asked me the same thing, “stop it,” he said. This was in the year 1972. About 38 years ago, during the month of Kartik, in Radha Damodar temple, our team of 10-15 devotees traveled from Bombay to Vrindavan to see Srila Prabhupada. As I was sitting around Srila Prabhupada, right in front of him. We were giving report of Bombay and different activities and Srila Prabhuapda was appreciating or enquiring from time to time.
As he was talking to us, he was moving his head from side to side. So whenever he looked at me, he would stop for a fraction of seconds. Then he would move again and come back again to take a little closer look at me. I knew that Prabhupada was noting something and I was wondering what was getting Prabhupada’s attention. I was trying to figure out, oh have I forgotten my tilak or what? But I could not figure it out till Prabhupada said, “Stop it”. Then I realized what Srila Prabhupada was referring to.
Those days whenever I heard someone attentively, then I would automatically move my thighs. I did not even know what I was doing, going fast in my movement. I was in Vrindavan for the first time and I was listening to Srila Prabhupada in such proximity for the first time ever. I had seen him in Bombay on the stage and heard him before, but never ever so closely. So there I was, moving my thighs up and down and Prabhupada said, “Stop it!” That was the first thing he ever told me. And I stopped it. Whenever I do a little demonstration, I do it again. So spiritual master gives different instructions, do this and don’t do this. I thought this one phrase ‘stop it’ included the whole package – don’t do this, don’t do that and that, etc. Although he was giving indication to stop one item, I thought he was asking me to stop all the nonsense.
The Lord came to see Dhruva:
So Dhruva Maharaja chanted the mantra, “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya at a placed called Madhuban, not far from here. The main thing was his tapasya and remembrance of the Lord, taking bath in Yamuna regularly, as he was instructed by his spiritual master, Narada. He was thoroughly purified by the end of six months. He had darshan of the Lord or Lord was taking his darshan. Srila Prabhupada used to say this. If you want to see the Lord, it is not so easy. But if Lord wants to see you then it is very easy.
So Lord was pleased with Dhruva Maharaja and came to see him. But Dhruva Maharaja had not taken note that his Lord was standing right in front of him. He was just absorbed in his meditation of seeing the Lord within his heart. So, to get Dhruva’s attention, Lord turned off the screen inside. Whatever Dhruva was seeing inside, on the smriti patal, the screen of the heart or consciousness; Lord turned off that screen, and Dhruva Maharaja immediately opened his eyes and Lord Vishnu was right there.
Unnecessary and excessive anger lead to sin and hell:
So now Dhurva Maharaja was trying to take revenge because his brother, Uttama was killed; although Uttama was some kind of competitor for Dhruva Maharaja for the throne or the lap of his father. Due to Dhruva Maharaja’s affection for his brother Uttama, he killed the yaksha who killed his brother but now he was unnecessarily killing some more yakshas and that is the topic of this verse. “This is not fair, enough is enough, O boy”, Manu said. He is the law maker. We call it Manu Samhita. For Dhruva Maharaja, he was a family member, grandfather to Dhruva.
Manu was old but not useless. Sometimes there is culture in the West to kill someone if one is useless. Old people may be weak in body but their wisdom comes handy. This is the Vedic culture. In Vedic culture, even old people could be useful, helpful with their wisdom. Utility is the principle. Young people are usually foolish. It is said young and foolish; but old and wise. Their experience could be shared or used. Same thing is happening here. Manu is the ruler of the universe. Even though we cannot see Manu (& see only politicians ruling the countries), the supreme manager or administrator is Manu Maharaja. He comes up with the laws for dos and don’ts. He is advising his grandson to stop unnecessarily killing others who are not responsible and hence should not be killed.
Manu says, “Others are not offenders. One person has killed your brother and you have already killed him. Alam .. stop it. Don’t become excessively angry.” If anger is excessive, then you will commit sins. That will open the gate to hell. ‘tamo dvarena papmana’. So Manu’s laws are based on Krishna’s. Manu is not an independent lawmaker separate from Krishna. Krishna has also said this in Bhagavad Gita that there are three gates kama, krodha and lobha. These are the gates leading to hell. So this advise is based on Krishna’s.
Punya janan etan. Others are pious, innocent. Why are you killing them? Maharaja reads purport of Srila Prabhupada, “We find in modern warfare, however, that attacks are made upon innocent citizens who are without fault. According to the law of Manu, such warfare is a most sinful activity. Furthermore, at the present moment, civilized nations are unnecessarily maintaining many slaughterhouses for killing innocent animals. When a nation is attacked by its enemies, the wholesale slaughter of the citizens should be taken as a reaction to their own sinful activities. That is nature’s law.”
Unnecessary killing of animals by humans: Cause of war
We all have experience of this. Sirla Prabhupada is taking this opportunity to take up the cause of animal slaughter. Especially cows, they cannot speak. Srila Prabhupada is speaking on behalf of the cows; as if the cows are saying, “Just because we cannot speak, just because we don’t have the passport, that doesn’t mean we are not citizens.” Srila Prabhupada is making this point, just because you have passport you claim to be citizens and the cows don’t have passport. They are also citizens, innocents. Not only innocent, but so useful. So gentle. Even looking at the cow, we feel peaceful. By looking at a buffalo, we may not. Looking at a dog, do you feel peaceful? No. This is very special. Just by looking at the cow, just by being with the cows, you feel peaceful. If you want peace of mind, stay with the cow, be with the cows or serve the cows. So there could be a whole cow mahatmya. Name of this land is Gokul, Govardhan. Cow centered culture. All we need is some land and cows. God says, you drink their milk, not their blood. So called civilized nations kill the cows and drink their blood. Including India, Indians also do this. India is one of the leading exporters of beef, second largest. This is a great misfortune.
Cruel Parliament:
Some years ago, in the Indian Parliament, cow slaughter was the agenda. Some of the Parliament members wanted to be kind to the cows. They said, “whereas when animals are killed or slaughtered in India; whereas the machinery is old and useless; whereas the blades used for killing animals are not sharp enough, therefore (the Members of Parliament concluded), we should modernize our slaughter houses. Certainly we should import the equipment that is used in America and Ireland so that there could be painless killing.” It was unanimously accepted. Just see what they said, “Cows, animals are suffering when they are slaughtered. We have to be kind to them. Let’s modernize. Let’s get the best equipments possible for slaughter. Let’s have sharpest blades so that when they are killed, they will not feel the pain. Before they can even think, they are gone. Are the Members of Parliament very kind? What do you think? Very kind?
Fine sentiments of kindness destroyed:
So this is how slaughter houses are maintained. Srila Prabhupada is pointing out that in the purport. This is the cause of the war. Killing has its origin in animal slaughter. One of the major causes of war and killing among people is animal slaughter. With the appearance of Kali in Kali yuga came the four sinful activities. One of them is animal killing. As animals are killed, one of the four pillars of religion, which is called ‘daya’ or mercy is broken. Daya dharma ka mool hai (the foundation of religion is mercy). When the animals are killed and gobbled up, you become merciless. You lose all kindness, all friendliness. With animal killing, animal eating, all finer sentiments like kindliness are gone. Then such person could be a killer. He could he kill others. Kill and then go for lunch. He won’t feel bad at all. As tiger kills other animals, it just goes to sleep as usual as if he has done nothing. Killing is just a routine thing for a tiger. He doesn’t go to any temple to lament and say, “I am sorry. I killed that animal. How could I do such a thing? I take a vow I will never ever do such thing again!” Does any tiger or lion do such confession? No. Human beings are becoming like that. They can kill. They come with guns and bombs and kill. They don’t even know whom they are killing. The target people are not even their enemies. They just load the gun and go to market and kill hundreds of people.
One American lady in New York met Srila Prabhupada. At that time, America was battling in Vietnam War. She says, “Swamiji they are recruiting young men and sending them to war front. My son has been on the list, booked already.” She wanted that swamiji should say something to console her or pray to the Lord so that he doesn’t have to go to the war. So Prabhupada responded to this lady’s dilemma. Prabhupada didn’t express any sympathy. He said, “Oh that is nature’s law. He had been killing. You have been killing cows in your country. Correct? Now it is your turn to be killed. You killed cows and now it is the humans’ turn. It is nature’s law.”
So ‘atiroshena’, excessive anger is always exhibited. Not only anger, but lust and greed also. This could make the individual, family, community or nation go blind under the influence of these enemies – kama, krodha, lobha etc. (lust, anger, greed, pride, illusion and envy). When a person is blinded by kama or lust, he is called kamandha (blind due to lust) or similarly krodhandha (blind due to anger) etc. So lust becomes the cause of blindness. It is not that you have no eyes. But your eyes do not show you what is what just like in the darkness your eyes don’t see the obstacles. Similarly your lust could make you blind.
The two sons of Kubera:
The two sons of Kubera, the demigod in charge of treasury became blind due to pride. Narada Muni was passing by singing on his veena, Narayan, Narayan. Narada muni bajaya vina Radhika Raman nam. But these sons could not hear that. They were busy with their mada (pride). They were madandhan (blind due to pride). Thus they were cursed. This story has a connection to Damodar lila. But they were also blessed at the same time.
Story of Dantavaktra:
So this kama, krodha, lobha are dangerous things. Do you know Dantavaktra? During Krishna’s time on Earth, Jay Vijay appeared as Shishupala and Dantavaktra. Shishupala was killed in Hastinapur. After that, Krishna had gone from Hastinapur to Dwarka. The news of Shishupala’s killing had already reached Mathura and Vraja. Not far from Shantanu kund, Bahulaban in Vrindavan, there is a place called Datiha. It is the place of Dantavaktra. When Dantavaktra heard the news, he became furious and decided to kill the killer of Shishupala. So much anger, that he lost the sense of direction. He thought Krishna was hiding in Dwarka. But he didn’t know which direction to go for Dwarka because of his excessive anger. Do you have that experience when someone is extremely angry? Due to excessive anger, sometimes such a person ends up in doing something crazy.
So the advice is when you are excessively angry, stop! Don’t act. Don’t do anything drastic. An angry person loses his power of discrimination to decide what is right and what is wrong. In the present story of Dhruva Maharaja also, Manu Maharaja is also reminding, “My dear boy, you have lost the sense of discrimination. Your brother was killed by just one yaksha and not by others.”
As this Dantavaktra was lost, Narada Muni came and asked, “May I help you, sir? You seem to be lost.” Dantavaktra said, “Yes please. You know I want to kill Krishna. Could you help me?” I am finding it difficult to get Him. Narada Muni said, “No problem. I will tell Krishna that you want to kill Him. Then He will come to you to get killed.” So Narada Muni went flying, and playing his Veena. Dwarkadhish Krishna heard that Dantavaktra wanted to kill Him. Narada Muni said, “Could you please go to him. He desperately wants to kill You. He cannot come here. Could you please appear before him?” Immediately Lord mounted the chariot with Daruka. And off they went. In no time, Krishna arrived at the gate of Mathura, at the place of Datanvaktra and said to him, “Here I am”. They started fighting and soon Dantavaktra was killed. Hari bol.
Battle with Jarasandha – bigger than Mahabharat war:
Much earlier to the Dantavaktra story, Krishna and Balaram were brought to Mathura by Akrura and they killed Kansa. Kansa’s two wives Asthi and Papti started crying and they went back to their father’s house, to Jarasandha. When Jarasandha got the news, he became furious and wanted to take revenge. Jarasandha also wanted to kill Krishna who killed his son in law, Kansa. He came with a big army.
The battle of Mahabharat is more popular. But this battle was bigger than Mahabharat in one sense. The battle of Kurukshetra lasted for 18 days. But this battle lasted for 18 years. This happened on the eastern side of Yamuna in Lohavan. Krishna and Balaram were fighting with Jarasandha and his army for 18 years. Of course, the battle did not take place every day. Throughout the year, it was a cold war or preparations for the actual war.
Jarasandha was brining big army every year. In Kurukshetra, there were 18 aukshahinis of army (640 million), 7 on Pandavas side and 11 on Kauravas side. But here, there were 23 aukshahinis of sena. Jarasandha was bringing 23 aukshahinis of sena every year. Bhagavatam mentions, Krishna and Balaram they would take only small army. 23 aukshahinis verses a small army of Krishna and Balaram.
There is another distinction between these two wars. In Mahabharat war, only Krishna took part and that too without any weapons. He was just there. Balaram showed no interest. In fact, He went on pilgrimage during Mahabharat war. Both had different opinions about the war. But in this war, both the brothers, Krishna and Balaram were fighting shoulder to shoulder. They were of the same opinion and their strategy was like this, kill the army of Jarasandha but don’t kill Jarasandha. Each year they would kill the entire amry of Jarasandha, sparing him alone. Only he would survive. Then Jarasandha would run back to his capital and contact his friends and gather another army as big as 23 aukshahinis. They would come marching every year, like a season. He would take some time to prepare and as soon as the army was ready, they would march to Mathura for war. For Krishna and Balaram, it was an easy job. They would just go across Yamuna. They were in town. When Jarasandha brought his army, Krishna and Balaram would go across Yamuna and battling with Jarasandha’s army, killing army and sparing Jarasandha. This happened 17 times.
What was Krishna doing? Was it excessive anger of Krishna battling so many times. No. It was as per the Lord’s plan. Earth was in trouble, had taken the form of a cow and had gone to the demigods. Demigods went to the Lord. The Lord said, “Yes, it looks like I will have to appear; you cannot handle this situation, O demigods.” So much of ‘dharmasya glani’ (decline in religious principles). So the Lord had to come to kill demons and to protect the devotees. You could imagine how many demoniac people were killed there! 23 aukshahinis multiplied by 17. 391 aukshahini divisions of army were killed.
What do you think? Did Jarasandha do service or disservice to Krishna? Jarasandha did service to Krishna. How? Krishna had appeared to kill the demons. And Jarasandha was gathering all the demons and offering them one after the other like a svahah offering in fire sacrifice. Krishna had come for this business of killing the demons. Some have retail while some have wholesale business. Krishna’s battling with Jarasandha was a wholesale business, it was wholesale killing. Otherwise, Krishna would have to go door to door to find each demon and kill him. Then go to another village, town etc. so Jarasandha was doing all this homework and was presenting it to Krishna. Jarasandha’s friends must be demoniac. They were cooperating with him, assisting him. So big battle took place in Vraja mandal, Vrindavan region. Krishna exhibited His anger and there is no limit on anger when Lord becomes angry. His anger is limitless.
Hari bol.