KRSNA RESCUES NANDA MAHARAJA FROM THE ABODE OF VARUNA
The king of the cowherd mean, Nanda Maharaja, observed the prescribed fast on the eleventh day of the lunar month and then considered how to break his fast properly on the twelfth day.
By circumstance only a few more minutes remained, and so he decided to take his bath at the very end of the night, although astrologically that was an inauspicious time. Thus he entered the water of the Yamuna. A servant of Varuna, the demigod of the ocean, noticed Nanda Maharaja entering the water at a time forbidden by scripture and took him away to the demigod’s abode.
In the early morning the cowherd men unsuccessfully searched for Nanda, but Lord Krsna immediately understood that he had been captured by Varuna. So the almighty Lord went to Varuna’s court. Seeing that Krsna had arrived, Varuna worshiped Him with elaborate offerings. The demigod, in a state of great jubilation upon seeing the Lord, spoke as follows: “Now my body has fulfilled its function. Indeed, now the goal of my life is achieved, O Lord. Those who accept Your lotus feet can transcend the path of material existence. My obeisances unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Soul, within whom there is no trace of the illusory energy, which orchestrates the creation of this World. Your father, who is sitting here, was brought to me by a foolish, ignorant servant of mine who did not understand his proper duty. Therefore please forgive us.”
Satisfied with Lord Varuna’s words, Sri Krsna took His father and returned home, where their relatives were overjoyed to see them.
PAINTING BY JADURANI – DEVI DASI (1985)