- Courtesy: His Holiness Śrī Śrī Vishwapriyatheerta Swamiji
- Compilation: Dr. Vamshikrishna Acharya Purohit
- Translation: Sandesh Upadhyaya K. Udupi
- Illustration : Srinidhi V. Kanakapura
We have seen the ethereal thought behind the conch which was offered to Bali Chakravarti by Śrī Śukrācarya. We shall now extend the contemplation and understand its bearing on our lives.
The conch tune evokes enthusiasm in those who hear it. That is why when the Pāṇḍavas went to the battlefield they blew their conches as mentioned in the Gita – pān̄cajan’yaṁ hr̥ṣīkēśaḥ dēvadattaṁ dhanan̄jayaḥ. It served two purposes. The advantages are stated as ’Ēkakriyā dvyarthakarī babhūva’. Firstly, the conch tune boosted the confidence of the soldiers who fought for the Pāṇḍavas. On the other hand, the Kaurava troops trembled upon hearing Kr̥ṣṇārjuna’s conch tunes.
Accordingly, at present, Bali Chakravarti is going to fight Indra. He blew the conch to evoke enthusiasm in his army. There is proverb ’ārambhaśūrāḥ khalu dākṣiṇātyāḥ’. It means, we all work with great enthusiasm while starting a job. However, after a while, we might not even turn up to complete the job and might become least bothered. This proverb is used to make fun of South Indians.
Similarly, Bali Chakravarti is now very angry with Indra. In that rage, he is heading to fight Indra. He might change his mind midway feeling ‘Who wants this battle?’ and possibly return. This should not happen. Thus, in order to keep Bali Chakravarti’s enthusiasm high till the very end, Śrī Śukrācarya gave him the conch.
We also enter a new course with huge dreams and enthusiasm. After we enroll, mid-way through the course, our interest gradually diminishes. In order to overcome that we should blow the conch or listen to its tune.
Nowadays, when one sets out to perform a good deed, there are more detractors than supporters. In such a scenario, if we blow the conch, our work will be completed without any obstacles. We will remain motivated. Good work should not stop midway. When we are on a pursuit for knowledge or on a quest to achieve something we should blow conch. This is why our ancestors used to blow the conch daily at home.
Dhruva performed penance with unwavering resolve. He meditated with an irreproachable and pure mind. The Lord came and stood before him. Yet Dhruva did not open his eyes. Dhruva kept looking at the Lord who dwelt in his heart with his inner eye. That is why he did not open his eyes though the Lord stood in front of him. Knowing this, the Lord concealed his inner form within Dhruva. Dhruva suddenly opened his eyes at that moment. There was a magnificent form of the Lord that stood in front of him. His eyes and mouth were wide open out of fascination. He was speechless.
Even if a petty thief comes, we keep our eyes and mouth open out of shock. It is therefore natural to be dumbfounded when the world-renowned great thief arrives. This thief steals the unseen sins which we have earned, without even making us realize it.
Kr̥tān̄jaliṁ brahmamayēna kambunā |
pasparśa bālaṁ kr̥payā kapōlē
The Lord touched His conch which is filled with Vēdic verses to the cheeks of Dhruva. The conch tune of the Lord is nothing but the Vēdas. Soon after the contact of the conch, Dhruva was filled with enthusiasm and began to praise the Lord. So, with an intention to make sure that Bali Chakravarti’s excitement never diminishes, Guru Śukrācarya gave him a conch. Bali Chakravarti set out after blowing the conch. This stirred excitement among his soldiers and they headed towards the battlefield.
A seeker of Madhva philosophy. Hails from Rupyapeeta (Udupi).
|| विष्णो: सर्वोत्तमत्वं च सर्वदा प्रतिपादय ||
(Hari sarvothama Vayu jeevothama tatva)