- Anugraha : H.H. Sri Sri Vishvapriya Teertha Swamiji
- Author : Dr || Vamshi Krishna Acharya Purohit
- Translator : Sri Sandesh Upadhyaya K
- Illustration : Sri Shreenidhi V
Emperor Bali set out to the battlefield to defy Indra after completing Vishwajit Yāga. On that occasion, his grandfather Sri Prahlādaraja gifted him some articles which have a vital message for all of us. These are valuable life lessons that Sri VēdaVyāsa is conveying through stories like these. Let us explore these in a spiritual context. In the previous issue, we have contemplated upon the Lotus garland that would never wilt.
Bali Chakravarti’s guru śukrācārya blessed him with a conch (śaṅkha) and had instructed him to blow it and proceed as it would fetch him good fortune. The conch sound symbolizes victory. The conch sound is capable of providing victory for the battles which are fought within ourselves and on the battlefield. That is why our elders used to blow the conch at home during sunrise and sunset. When it is dark, many evil spirits come. We cannot prevent these invisible evil spirits. However, the conch sound can prevent them from entering.
Conch also protects our intellect from ignorance-extremes arising within. It safeguards us from the external fear. That is why Guru śukrācārya presented Bali with a conch. In other words, the auspicious sound of the conch fetches us śukradaśe (good times). There is felicity in the name Śaṅkha itself. Śaṁ-khanatīti śaṅkhaḥ, śaṁ means happiness, khanatī translates to digging. When we know there is a treasure, we dig and dig deep. Similarly, the conch digs happiness from within and delivers it to those who are listening to the auspicious sound. This is the etymology of the Sanskr̥ta term of conch, śaṅkha.
When we face a lot of problems, we say that our stars are not aligned (Grahacāra Dōhsā). If something great happens then people term it as śukradaśe (stars are aligned). The tranquility of the mind is obtained when planet Venus (śukra) in one’s horoscope is at an exhalted position. Therefore, we can get conch (felicity) because of planet Venus (śukradaśe) figuratively that is what Bali obtained from śukrācārya. When our happiness is buried under the mountain of problems, it is very hard to listen to one’s preaching as it is hard to focus at that point of time. So, the mind should be relieved. With this perspective, śukrācārya gave a conch (the sign of victory) to Bali Chakravarti.
Goddess Lakṣmī is associated with the conch. The conch is a symbol of knowledge. It is noteworthy that Lord Hayagrīva who is an embodiment of knowledge has a conch in one of his hands. This implies that conch is synonymous to knowledge, and Goddess Lakṣmī. The bottom line is that, if we aspire to reach the Almighty, it can only be fulfilled through śāstras taught by a Guru (master). Only then will it contribute to one’s salvation. We can reach the Almighty only through the śāstras. It is to inculcate this life lesson that Sri VēdaVyāsa made Guru śukrācārya present Bali with a conch.
A seeker of Madhva philosophy. Hails from Rupyapeeta (Udupi).
|| विष्णो: सर्वोत्तमत्वं च सर्वदा प्रतिपादय ||
(Hari sarvothama Vayu jeevothama tatva)
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