God redeems His devotees always

CHENNAI, AUG. 9. The objective of devotion to God is to enable the mind to concentrate on Him without allowing it to be distracted by thoughts pertaining to other worldly matters. Thus the most natural form that devotion assumes is one of loving meditation on God as can be seen in the case of devotees like the Gopis of Brindavan. But it is intriguing to note that liberation from rebirths was attained by some through emotions like fear, attachment or hatred of the Almighty. The case of Sisupala was explained in detail by Sage Narada to Yudishtra when they were witness to the absorption of Sisupala into Lord Krishna when the Pandava conducted the Rajasuya sacrifice.

It was to explain to King Pareekshit that the Lord does not show any favouritism that Sage Suka narrated this incident at length in the course of his exposition of the Bhagavata Purana. When Yudishtra was in a dilemma as to who he should honour first among the assembled kings at his sacrifice, Sahadeva pointed out to Lord Krishna who was present there and told him in no uncertain terms that the Lord be honoured first. Sisupala was greatly offended by this act as he harboured hatred towards Krishna. This antipathy had its origin right from his birth though he was related to Krishna.

Sisupala was born with a grotesque figure and as predicted that he would become normal when the person who would be instrumental in his death touched him, he was transformed when Krishna lovingly fondled him as a baby. His aunt then obtained a promise from Him that He would not kill him even if he committed 100 faults in a day. Sisupala grudged and insulted Him all the time but Krishna kept His promise and pardoned him; but in this instance his tirade against Krishna before the august assembly exceeded the limits and his end came.

In his discourse, Paranur Sri Balakrishna Sastrigal said that had the Lord hated Sisupala he would not have been fortunate to be liberated and attain union with Him. Narada told Yudishtra how Sisupala was born with hatred in his heart due to a curse. He was one of the two attendants of Lord Vishnu in His transcendental abode and happened to stop the sages Sanandana and others from entering the precincts. Enraged they cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born in the world thrice as demons - Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha, Ravana and Kumbhakarna, Sisupala and Dantavakra - when they would hate the Lord. He redeemed them during His advents and hence there is no room to say that the Almighty harboured animosity towards them. In fact, they regained their former glory.

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