Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.51 Summary

This chapter describes how Lord Sri Krsna caused Mucukunda to kill Kalayavana with his harsh glance, and it also relates the conversation between Mucukunda and Lord Krsna.

After placing His family members safely within the Dvaraka fortress, Sri Krsna went out of Mathura. He appeared like the rising moon. Kalayavana saw that Krsna's brilliantly effulgent body matched Narada's description of the Lord, and thus the Yavana knew He was the Personality of Godhead. Seeing that the Lord carried no weapons, Kalayavana put his own weapons aside and ran toward Him from behind, wanting to fight with Him. Sri Krsna ran from the Yavana, staying just barely beyond Kalayavana's grasp at every step and eventually leading him a long distance toward a mountain cave. As Kalayavana ran, he hurled insults at the Lord, but he could not grasp Him, since his stock of impious karma was not yet depleted. Sri Krsna entered the cave, whereupon Kalayavana followed after Him and saw a man lying on the ground. Taking him for Sri Krsna, Kalayavana kicked him. The man had been sleeping for a very long time, and now, having been violently awakened, he looked around angrily in all directions and saw Kalayavana. The man stared harshly at him, igniting a fire in Kalayavana's body and in a moment burning him to ashes.

This extraordinary person was a son of Mandhata's named Mucukunda. He was devoted to brahminical culture and always true to his vow. Previously, he had spent many long years helping to protect the demigods from the demons. When the demigods had eventually obtained Karttikeya as their protector, they allowed Mucukunda to retire, offering him any boon other than liberation, which only Lord Visnu can bestow. Mucukunda had chosen from the demigods the benediction of being covered by sleep, and thus since then he had been lying asleep within the cave.

Upon Kalayavana's immolation, Sri Krsna showed Himself to Mucukunda, who was struck with wonder at seeing Krsna's incomparable beauty. Mucukunda asked Lord Krsna who He was and also explained to the Lord his own identity. Mucukunda said, "After growing weary from remaining awake for a long time, I was enjoying my sleep here in this cave when some stranger disturbed me and, suffering the reaction of his sins, was burnt to ashes. O Lord, O vanquisher of all enemies, it is my great fortune that I now have the vision of Your beautiful form."

Lord Sri Krsna then told Mucukunda who He was and offered him a boon. The wise Mucukunda, understanding the futility of material life, asked only that he might be allowed to take shelter of Lord Sri Krsna's lotus feet.

Pleased at this request, the Lord said to Mucukunda, "My devotees are never enticed by material benedictions offered to them; only nondevotees, namely yogis and speculative philosophers, are interested in material benedictions, having mundane desires in their hearts. My dear Mucukunda, you will have perpetual devotion for Me. Now, always remaining surrendered to Me, go perform penances to eradicate the sinful reactions incurred from the killing you had to do in your role as a warrior. In your next life you will become a first-class brahmana and attain Me." Thus the Lord offered Mucukunda His blessings.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari