As we read in our previous blog, Shiva realised the little parrot was there. So, the parrot flew away quickly!
He flew far without stopping. He saw the ashram of Maharshi Veda Vyasa in sight. He went into his small Kutir. At that very moment, Vyasa’s wife, Vatika, the daughter of the respected Sage Jabali, yawned. Immediately, the parrot entered her mouth in his subtle form.
Vyasa saw what happened. When he noticed Lord Shiva coming to his Kutir, he stood up to greet him. Lord Shiva said, “The parrot I’m looking for is hiding here, great Rishi. It dared to mimic Parvati!” Vyasa saw everything that had happened with his Divyadrishti (special intuitive eye) in Kailasa.
“Lord, can we really blame this innocent parrot for wanting to hear the heartwarming stories of Lord Krishna, especially when you tell them so beautifully?” Shiva smiled upon hearing Vyasa’s words. “Moreover, after listening to your stories, he’s now free from any leftover karma! He’s pure and free from the twists of the mind. Let him be, O Mahadeva! Bless him to spread this spark of devotion and wisdom to all of humanity in the coming age.”
Shiva knew Vyasa was telling the truth because the parrot had absorbed everything with great devotion and sincerity. He gave his blessings to the parrot and went back. Vyasa thought carefully and smiled, knowing that Shiva’s sattvic anger would ultimately bring great benefits to everyone.
Isn’t that a sweet twist to the story?
Mystical Beginnings: The Parrot in Vaikas’s Womb
In his unseen form, the parrot stayed in deep meditation inside Vatika’s womb for sixteen years. (Some say 12 years.)
He didn’t want to come out and told Vyasa he was content inside. The parrot explained, “Once the soul enters the world, the mind gets tangled with desires and dislikes, and the intellect struggles with judgements and uncertainties. I’m okay here.” But it was time for him to fulfil his mission. Vyasa assured him he would be unaffected by Maya’s illusions and urged him to come out. And the parrot agreed.
The tale goes that when he was born as a child, he suddenly transformed into a sixteen-year-old boy glowing with unmatched radiance. He came as a child sage. They named him Shuka.
Shuka learned everything possible – scriptures, knowledge, traditions, and more — while he was still in his mother’s womb.
Vyasa also taught all his knowledge to Shukadeva. Shukadeva studied with guru Brihaspati for many years and became an expert in Veda Vedanta. He absorbed wisdom like a sponge in water.
Vyasa then suggested to Shukadeva that he should get married. But Shuka was bal brahmachari.
Shukadeva responded, “Father, I was born from the Divine Fire. I have a great father, like Veda Vyasa. I studied under a Guru like Brihaspati, the Guru of the Gods. I have learned Veda and Vedanta for many years, and now you’re asking me to enter the world of MAYA? It is purely a whirlpool of illusion and attachment.”
Vyasa explained that, according to the scriptures, life should follow stages like Brahmacharya (student), Gṛhastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest walker/forest dweller), and Sannyasa (renunciate). He tried to convince Shukadeva, but he firmly declined to marry.
Coming up next: Shukadeva’s journey to Vaikuntha to meet Lord Vishnu. You’ll love this part of the story!