Datta Maata 217: Understand the strength of God and live fearlessly praying to God

We have earlier discussed how the celestial woman, Opuvu had to suffer the curse. We have learnt that showing egoistic attitude and trying to examine the noble souls and mahātmas is wrong. Let us continue that discussion.

After sage Dūrvāsa had cursed Opuvu and left, she was born as a bird to Kandhara and Madanika. Since Kandhara was the king of birds; Madanika, who although inherited the demonic lineage, was born as a bird and started living with Kandhara. They named the celestial woman who was born to them because of curse, as 'Tarkshini'. Drona, Mandapālā's youngest son, a Vedic scholar married her. When Tarkshini was pregnant for 3 months and 15 days, she had been to Kurukshetra. At that time, war between Kauravās and Pāndavās was going on. Bhagadatta and Arjuna were fighting very fiercely. Arjuna's arrow straight away pierced the pregnant bird. Immediately, it started to bleed and eventually dropped four eggs on the floor. The birds in those eggs had good longevity and hence they landed on the field as if they fell on cotton. Exactly at that time when they had fallen down on the land, a huge bell got loosened from an elephant and it exactly fell on the eggs, covering them completely. That bell and eggs were present as it is. Sage Shamīka wanted to have darshan of Bhīshmā since he heard the latter was lying on bed of arrows. He heard some tender sounds of small birds in Kurukshetra. He was trying to identify the place of origin of the sound. He called his disciples and removed the big bell. He was surprised to see four tiny birds underneath the bell that were glowing with radiance. He felt great affection for them. Shamīka told his disciples, "Observe the miracle of the Lord, his illusion! Both jara (old age) and marana (death) occur only with Paramatma's resolution. In this great battle, where even the greatest of warriors withered away, these birds are able to fight against death. This means that this is God's resolution alone. If a person is destined to live, he can overcome any dreadly danger. Looking at the demons running away, during the battle between demigods and demons, out of fear from the demigods, their Guru Shukra said something good, "Do not become cowards. Even if you run away, you cannot protect your lives. One will live only for the number of years that Lord Brahma has pre-written. Fighting or running away does not make one to live more. There are few who, despite living happily die. Few others die while running away. There are some who die while eating, drinking water or while crying. Some give up the bodies despite leading a healthy life because of being bound by time. The death does not leave even those who engage in severe penance. It is mandatory to even those who practice Yoga. Once, Devēndra had beaten Shambarāsura with his his weapon, Vajrāyudha. However, the demon survived. But, there are so many other demons who died because of the same weapon. When this so strange, where is the need for you to run away?" Shamīka, recollecting the words of Shukra, gave upadesha to his disciples thus, "Daivānukūlatā lōke Maha bhagya pradarshini! Dear disciples! I remember only one thing seeing the birds' survival even in this battle field - All fortunes will come to those who have God on their side. If God is on their side, every thing is on their side. These birds have complete blessings of God. Hence, I wish to bring them up. So, take them to our hermitage and place them carefully in a tree's hole which is free free from cats, rats and other animals." The disciples took those birds carefully to Shamīka's hermitage and placed them in a tree's hole cautiously. The birds lived happily in the caring hands of Shamīka.

From this story, we must understand the strength of God and live completely praying to God, devoid of any fear.

Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!