Slokam 2

Yagnyas are performed, usually to invoke the Paramathma, so that boons can be obtained,  to either set right a deficiency or to evolve to a higher level. Requests for a descendant, with appropriate qualities,  who can continue the lineage of kings is a common purpose of rulers. 

Nabhi’s yagna is performed with the desire for lineage. The sages conducting the yagna and the king, prayed for a descendant that had the qualities of the Paramathma Himself.

The Paramathma cannot be duplicated into another being with the same qualities,  since He is the supreme singularity in this universe.  So the Paramathma appears as a vision to the sages and Nabhi and gives them the assurance that He Himself will be born as his Son.

The Paramathma then vanishes in the sacrificial fire. 

In everyone of our families,  the child is born with a certain set of qualities. Every mother’s desire is for Sri Krishna to be born as her child. Children born out of intense yagna or meditative effort would certainly have dharmic qualities. Sri Krishna is indeed born into every family that follows the path of dharma and has practiced devotion.

Nurturing and upbringing our children, the way Yashoda brought up Sri Krishna,  would be the first step towards evolution of society as a whole.  Many of us are not able to spend adequate time in nurturing the little Paramathma’s that are born into our families.  We are caught up in the web of worldly pressures, and the most important aspect of child upbringing gets neglected.  We leave the child to the care of the school and friends, relatives and associates. None of these institutions or associations can substitute for family attention.  As a result,  our future generations stray away from the spiritual path and society as a whole declines into chaos and disorganization.  The evils of the modern world set in and become stronger by the day.  Kali takes over and we decline into immoral ways. 

When Sri Krishna is born into a royal family,  His rule stops this decline and restores dharma. 

May we be fortunate to be ruled,  and guided, both at the national and at the family level to strengthen values and pre-empt misfortune.