Kali Purusha is chastised

 

Kali Purusha is chastised

(Bhagavata Purana)

The Mahabharata was over. Normalcy had come back. The kingdom was full of widows, old people  and children as most men who were of a marriageable age had been sacrificed in the war. King Yudhistira established a just rule that aimed at helping the people. After a few years, the old king Dritharashtra and his queen Gandhari expressed a desire to retire to the forest. The mother of the Pandavas also wanted to retire from worldly life. Although reluctant, Yudhishtira gave them his consent and they left the kingdom.

Lord Krishna too had gone back to Dwarka and was ruling his country. Unfortunately, too much of prosperity had brought greed, arrogance and anger to the Yadava clan. Small quarrels became big and the tribes started killing each other. Balarama got distressed and walked into the ocean. Lord Krishna was killed while sleeping by a hunter who shot his arrow mistaking Krishna’s feet for a deer.

Yudhistira and the other Pandava brothers decided to leave for the Himalayas along with Draupadi. They anointed Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu (Arjuna’s grand son) as the king to the throne and left for their last journey.

The young king Parikshit was sad to see his elders leave, but was wise. He understood that it was his turn to protect the kingdom and its people. To his credit, he did a good job of managing the kingdom. The people were recovering after one of the worst wars that they had witnessed. New generations were born and families were growing, Happiness and prosperity were returning to the kingdom.

One day King Parikshit was doing the rounds around the outskirts of the capital. Kings normally did the rounds of their kingdom and also interacted with many citizens just to understand how things were.  Parikshit reached the place called Kurunjala in his kingdom.

On the way, Parikshit heard about Kali purusha pretending to be a king and committing atrocities. He proceeded towards the place where he heard Kali was.

In the meanwhile, Dharma (as represented by a bull) and Pruthvi (Mother Earth) (represented by a cow) were sharing their misery in the age of Kali.

Dharma asked Pruthvi, “Mother, you are looking lustreless. What is troubling you? Is it that Indra has not given the rains and made these plains dry and barren? Or is it the atrocities committed by Kail who is being cruel to you and your offsprings? Or you worried about the humans who live in your shelter who are becoming victims of vices, jealousy, anger and greed? Or do you feel sorry for me, Dharma, who has lost all support except for one leg.”

Pruthvi looked at Dharma sadly and said “Lord Krishna helped ensure that both of us were being well taken care of so that humans and animals on earth are safe and happy. Now that he has left the planet, there is no one to really help us. Kali is doing whatever he wants to do by capturing the minds of the humans. I am distressed to do my duties in a situation without the blessings and guidance of my Lord Krishna.”

Kali happened to be passing by. Hearing Dharma and Pruthvi sharing their plight, he got angry and started beating them. King Parikshit reached the spot at the time. He 

saw the bull trembling under the beating and trying to balance itself on one leg. Parikshit also observed Mother Pruthvi looking weak and sad and trying to avoid the beating. Parikshit consoled Dharma and Pruthvi and spoke to Kali in anger “Why are you pretending to be a king? Why are you troubling the helpless creatures?” So saying, Parikshit drew his sword.

Fearful of Parikshit, Kail purusha bowed before him and asked him for forgiveness. Following his dharma of not killing someone who surrendered, Parikshit ordered him out of the kingdom.

Kali purusha while afraid did not move. He asked Parikshit, “Oh Maharaj, I have been given a job of creating unrest in the human mind. The same way you have been given a job of protecting your citizens. If you banish me from your kingdom, where shall I go? I need a place.”

Parikshit realized this problem had to be resolved. He thought for some time and said “Go to those lands where there are five kinds of sins – greed, untruthfulness, theft, vulgarity, renunciation of God and religion, quarrel, pride, misfortune and fraud. Kali purusha bowed and left to lands beyond.

Parikshit told Dharma and Pruthvi “In the earlier yugas, Dharma was standing on the four legs of compassion, purity, austerity (sacrifice) and truthfulness were your support and legs. Three of them were broken by the misbehaviour of men who were cruel, impure and selfish. Now your leg of truthfulness is barely strong. If the king or the citizens resort to lying you will become weaker. As for Pruthvi, she deserves to be protected and nurtured. Any king or people failing to do so will reap the benefits of her sorrow.”

Parikshit then went back to his kingdom. As long as there is truthfulness, kindness, purity and generosity, Kali purusha remained powerless. Slowly as human kind became more greedy and selfish and started ill treating mother Earth (Pruthvi) and not following any of the principles laid down by Parikshit, their minds became more confused and angry resulting in war and destruction.