Exit with Krishna in mind

Sai R Vaidyanathan

As one’s last thought decides the trajectory of one’s next birth, Lord Krishna in the Gita recommends that to reach Him, one should remember Him in one’s final thought (just before death).

He says: “Whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature.” (Gita 8.5)

But many of us — on our deathbed — will be thinking of our family’s well-being, our money and property as our brain has done only that all its life.

So most amongst us will be reborn and will continue to move around in samsara (the cycle of births and deaths).

Freedom from repetitive births and deaths can happen if one only remembers Krishna while quitting the body. But it isn’t as simple as it seems as the brain too is bound by habit.

Even Narada, who constantly chants the Lord’s name, forgot it under pressure.

To a question by celestial sage Narada as to who his greatest devotee was, Lord Vishnu pointed to a farmer.

As Narada chanted the Lord’s name after every sentence, he asked the farmer, “How often do you remember the Lord?”

“As often as my work permits,” the farmer replied.

When they were alone, Narada laughed at Vishnu’s decision of choosing the farmer over him.

A few days later, Vishnu, giving Narada a pot full of oil, told him to go around a hill. “Be careful not to spill the oil anywhere,” He said.

Cautiously, Narada did as told. To his surprise, Vishnu asked, “How many times did you remember Me during the trip?”

Stumped, Narada said, “Not once, as my concentration was on the oil.”

In the hectic circus of life, it is easy to lose track of the Lord. Luckily, King Pareekshit came to know when he would die.

Curse turns into boon

Once, King Pareekshit of Hastinapur, grandson of Pandava Arjuna, had shown disrespect to sage Shameek. So his son Shringi cursed him to die of snake Takshak’s bite on the seventh day.

Condemned thus, Pareekshit invited sage Shukdev to tell him about the glories of Lord Krishna in his last week. As a result, the King transcended the world when Takshak ended his life.

But a week’s notice is a long time in a world that has so much traffic — and accidents.

Indradyumna’s tale shows that even thinking of the Lord for one moment is enough.

A jumbo’s devotion

Once, Pandyan King Indradyumna was cursed to turn into an elephant by sage Agastya.

In the form of an elephant, Indradyumna began roaming about in the woods. There, he saw a herd of elephants and decided to fight their king. Defeating him, Indradyumna became the leader of the pack — Gajendra (gaj - elephant, Indra - chief).

Now, he had it all — women and children, a huge following, power and a realm to reign on. One day, the herd reached a lake where a mighty crocodile lived.

As Gajendra rose from the water, he found his foot stuck — in the crocodile’s jaw. He pulled, gently at first, then with all his might, but to no avail.

Seeing their king in danger, the entire herd came to help, but the sea monster was tougher than they had imagined. Gradually, the entire herd went its way.

By this time, the crocodile had managed to tire Gajendra. With the last ounce of strength left in him, he invoked Lord Vishnu. Immediately, Vishnu dispatched his discus to counter the crocodile. Freed, Gajendra joined the Lord at his abode Vaikunth.

So, it is vital to start now so that finally, Krishna would be on one’s lips at death’s door for one to get moksha (freedom from the cycle of births and deaths).