Extinguishing the Forest Fire 429
reason. Just as Garuda went to the island of the Kaliya snake, so he also
used to go to the Yamuna to catch fish to eat. There was, however, a great
yogt known as Saubhari Muni, who used to meditate within the water
there and who was sympathetic with the fish. He asked Garuda not to
come there and disturb the fish. Although Garuda was not under anyone’s
order, being the carrier of Lord Visnu, he did not disobey the order of the
sreat yogi. Instead of staying and eating many fish, he carried off one big
fish, who was their leader. Saubhari Muni was sorry that one of the leaders
of the fish was taken away by Garuda, and thinking of their protection, he
cursed Garuda in the following words: ‘“Henceforward from this day, if
Garuda comes here to catch fish, then—I say this with all my strength—he
will be immediately killed.”

This curse was known only to Kaliya. Kaliya was, therefore, confident
that Garuda would not be able to come there, and so he thought it wise to
take shelter of the lake within the Yamuna. But Ka4liya’s taking shelter of
Saubhari Muni was not successful; he was driven away from the Yamuna
by Krsna, the master of Garuda. It may be noted that Garuda is directly
related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is so powerful that he
is never subjected to anyone’s order or curse. Actually the cursing of
Garuda—who is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam to be of the stature of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan—was an offense on the
part of Saubhari Muni. Although Garuda did not try to retaliate, the
Muni was not saved from his offensive act against a great Vaisnava
personality. Due to this offence, Saubhari fell down from his yogic
position and afterwards became a householder, a sense enjoyer in the
material world. The falldown of Saubhari Muni, who was supposed to be
absorbed in spiritual bliss by meditation, is an instruction to the offender
of Vaisnavas.

When Krsna finally came out of Kaliya’s lake, He was seen by all His
friends and relatives on the bank of Yamuna. He appeared before them
nicely decorated, smeared all over with candana pulp, bedecked with
valuable jewels and stones, and almost completely covered with gold. The
inhabitants of Vrndavana, cowherd boys and men, mother Yasoda, Maha-
raja Nanda and all the cows and calves, saw Krsna coming from the
Yamuna, and it was as though they had recovered their very life. When a
person regains his life, naturally he becomes absorbed in pleasure and
joyfulness. They each in turn pressed Krsna to their chests, and thus they
felt a great relief. Mother Yasoda, Rohini, Maharaja Nanda and the cow-
herd men became so happy that they embraced Krsna and thought they
had achieved their ultimate goal of life.
