Chp.IV
Krishna and the Caribbean
During the early years of the arrival of East Indians (May 30, 1845) in Trinidad in the West Indies, side by side with Shri Tulsidas' Ramcharitmansa and the Maha Bharata, the Prem Sagar inspired much courage, solace and peace to these indentured labourers who were faced situations and treatment not before anticipated.
If Rama of the Ramayana gave them strength and courage to bear the sufferings and pains and yet forge ahead, Krishn annointed them the joy and the love and peace of living as did the cowherds of Brindaban. |
As Rama thought them to love and respect and treat all in accordance to their individual deeds, Krishn removed complacency in emphasising to fight for and even die, if need be, for righteous and just cause. |
Each thought in their individual way that |
Whether the Prem Sagar's Krishn Chand Ji and the Mahabharata's Krishn Chand Ji is the same or not, did not matter or cause any concern to these people then or their descendants, now. The Bhagwad Gita translated in several popular languages by scholars and professors to varying faiths is well known and form the basis to many principles for living.
Here the attempt is to present some quotes from Krishn Chand Ji of the Prem Sagar .... and in the process as, Shri Sukhdeo Ji told Raja Parichhit:
"If you will meditate attentively,
you will understand all;
what the body is,
whose abode it is
and
who manifests light in it"
Chp.I
The Prem Sagar
published in English by
Ram Narain Lal Beni Prasad of Allahabad 211002
Prem Sagar Extracts |
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Although not strictly observed by all, bride's parents do NOT accept anything, including food, water or shelter, from their married daughter or son-in-law? This is observed mostly by those who performed "paw pujan" of the couple during their marriage ceremony. |
Krishn made a purification fire and lit the funeral pile himself to cremate Sattrajit ... Satyabhama's, one of Krishn's wives, father. Chp.LVIII |
Those were the days |
Marriage of Rukm's daughter, Chaurmati to Rukmini's son, Pradyumana. Rukm and Rukmini were brother and sister. Rukmini was married to Shri Krishn Chan Ji. "...it is an injunction of the Vedas, to give a daughter in marriage to a sister's son in the Decan country." Chp.LXII |
What is a woman's beauty? |
"A woman without a husband is as defective in beauty as night without the moon". Usha |
Narad Ji says: Chp.LXXXIV |
Who is Good and who is Bad? Chp.XXXIII |
Shri Básudeo Ji asks of Narad Ji: Chp.LXXXIV |
Narad Ji replies: Chp.LXXXIV |
THE SUDAMA STORY |
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Even today there are those who, like Sudama, live in poverty, not knowing when they would get anything to eat while their childhood playmates or their school days friends live in abundance. In all cultures and countries, the poor and the rich exist side by side. Each strive on their karma and not until the individual's karma dictate change, time permits change for better or for worse. In Sudama's life the time had come for that change. Sudama was a poor Brahmin who had studied under the same spiritual teacher as Shri Krishn Chand Ji. Krishn and Sudama were best of friends and yet, economically they were miles apart. Sudama who was married, lived in a hut with barely a roof over their heads. More often than not, they had nothing to eat, yet Sudama was very humble and day after day, his wife and himself consoled one another, praying that life for them would somehow change but that change seemed to evade them at every turn. One day Sudama's wife being grieved and frightened at their poverty, pleaded with her husband: Shri Krishn Chan Ji, who lives in Dwarika, is your chief friend and bestower of wealth, virtue, desires and final happiness to all. Please, just go to Him. Reminiscencing his days at his spiritual perceptor with Krishn, Sudama painlessly walked to Dwarika ... a city surrounded by water. Having entered the city and with discreet enquiries, Sudama arrived at the gateway of Krishn's house and on further enquiry, he was directed with politeness to where Krishn was seated on a jewelled throne.
Shri Krishn Chand Ji on seeing Sudama, promptly descended the throne and advancing to meet him, seized his hand with great affection, and led him in and placed him on the throne. Krishn's Adoration to Sudama Krishn's adoration of Sudama did not go un-noticed. The full court was present and so were Krishn's wives who asked between themselves: It was the conversation between Sudama and Krishn that followed that cleared the perplexities and bewilderment. Both reminiscencing about the times they shared at their spiritual perceptor's house, when Krishn recalled: Sometime after the conversation changed when Krishn reminded Sudama that since they parted from their perceptor's home he had not seen or heard of him. Krishn, expressing his pleasure at Sudama's visit, asked Sudama to tell where he was and what he was doing? And Krishn laughingly asked Sudama as to why he (Sudama) did not give him the present sent for him by his (Sudama's) wife? Sudama was abashed and his spirit drooped but Krishn quickly grabbed the tiny bundle that was pressed under Sudama's arm, and opened it. Without hesitation, Krishn ate two mouthful of the rice and was about to take the third when his wife, Sri Rukmani Ji held his hand and said: O great king! you have given him two world, would you not keep some place for your own habitation; this seem to be a Brahmin of excellent disposition and very good family, a great religious ascetic, and one who has abandoned all terrestrial objects because he has not exulted on obtaining wealth. I know therefore that he looks upon gain and loss alike, rejoices not at obtaining nor sorrows at loss. Sudama, however slept through the night and early next morning having taken his bath and performed his religious meditation and worhip, went and took leave of Krishn to return home. On his way home, Sudama reflected: Sudama was content with the outcome of events but when he reached home ...there was no home. Not even his hut in sight but a populous city had taken over. What a calamity, he thought. "Lord", he said, "what hast thou done? I had one affliction and thou hast given me another"? Sudama did the next best thing .. went up to the gateman and enquired as to whose dwelling stood in front of him and then he was shocked: Before Sudama could utter another word, accompanied by female companions, his wife .. adorned in jewels from head to foot ... came out and fell to his feet; thereafter she laid a carpet of silken cloth for him and with hands clasped she asked him: But Sudama having entered the house and on seeing the great profusion of wealth felt very much dejected and seemed lost. His wife, however, found this strange as asked: Sudama replied: Beloved! this wealth is very deceptive, it has deceived us; it is still deceiving and will continue to deceive the whole world. Krishn has bestoyed it upon me, not having confidence in my affection; when did I ask him, that he has given it to me? This is why my mind is sad. you did not ask anything of Shri Krishn Chand Ji; but, he being acquainted with the secrets of the heart, knows the thoughts of each individual; in my mind there was a desire for wealth, which Krishn has satisfied; do not form any other opinion in your mind upon this subject. Chp.LXXX - LXXXI |
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