If you missed my last post, I talked about how King Janaka had a special plan to test Shukadeva before accepting him as a disciple. It was a fascinating part of the story where Shukadeva’s determination and wisdom were about to be put to the test. If you want to dive into that chapter and see how King Janaka challenged Shukadeva, read the previous chapter.
While walking with a cup in his hand, Shukadeva’s mind warned him to look at all those things and all those distractions. He was so concentrated on that cup of oil that even though he went all around the city, he didn’t look at anything else except that cup of oil.
When he came back to King Janaka, assuming that he had passed that test, King Janaka asked him,
“Tell me, what did you see in the city? Did you like the city?”
Shukadeva said, “Let me tell you that I didn’t see anything in the city. I don’t know what was happening there, because I was so afraid that I would be killed if I looked away from this cup of oil, so I was fully concentrating on this cup.”
So Janaka said, “I want you to know that this is me. Just to see that the oil didn’t spill, you needed so much attention. Keeping my connection with the divine needs even more attention, but still, look at me, I am still involved with everything around me.”
King Janaka declined to grant initiation to Shukadeva and added, “Now I see that you can concentrate while meditating, but you require humility to be initiated. You will have to wait for initiation. For now, you go back to your father Ved Vyasa.”
Shukadeva returned to his father Ved Vyasa, and said, “Father, He won’t give me initiation.”
In response, Ved Vyasa told him, “My son, there is no alternative, as He is the only perfect saint, and you must receive initiation from him.”
He then advised Shukadeva, “Because you were criticising and having negative thoughts about King Janaka, now you must repent for that, and you need to be humble.”
And Shukadeva learned that lesson. He again went to King Janaka. But this time, he was not allowed to enter the palace. He was asked to wait outside.
King Janaka asked his guards, “Where is he standing?”
“He is standing in a pit.” the guards responded.
A pit is the designated area where the palace usually disposes of its garbage.
King Janaka said, “Tell him to stand right there.”
So, he stood there.
As evening came, the day’s garbage was thrown out. A heap of garbage covered him, but he just stood there in a pit.
Then King Janaka inquired, “What’s happening?”
The guards said, “He’s standing right there.”
It is said that he waited for twelve years in the garbage dump outside King Janaka’s palace. He stood there and allowed that garbage to fall on his head, and in that way, he developed humility.
One fine day, King Janaka said, “Ask him to wash up, give him some fresh clothes, and bring him here.”
So, that was done, and then he went in front of King Janaka.
Finally, after twelve years, he got an initiation from King Janaka! Shukadeva shone brightly, as radiant as a thousand suns. His presence was gentle, loving, and divine.
When the time came, King Parikshit asked him to tell Srimad Bhagavatam in his assembly. After praying to Mahadeva, Shukadeva began his narration. However, whenever the story involved Radha, he couldn’t say her name. Just thinking about Radha would put Shuka into a deep state of meditation. When he returned, he would continue the story without mentioning Radha. So, it is said that Radha is not mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
My master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, says that the word ‘Radha’ means returning to your source. It’s not surprising that just thinking about Radha led Shuka into deep Meditation.
Gurudev elaborates, stating, “‘Dhara’ means that which comes from the source, while ‘Radha’ means that which goes back to the source. To experience Lord Krishna, we must go to the source. Lord Krishna is the source, and Radha is the way or path to the source. Even if you are Rukmini or Satyabhama, until you become Radha, until you return to the source, you cannot attain Lord Krishna.”
And that brings us to the end of Shukadeva’s journey from birth to his initiation by his master. I hope you enjoyed learning about this fascinating story! Stay tuned for more articles like this, where we’ll dive even deeper into such captivating tales. Don’t forget to check back on my website for more updates!