At the Ashram of Sandipani Muni and the Guru-dakshina

Though he is the teacher of the world, Krishna studied humbly under Sandipani Muni in Avanti and, as his guru-dakshina, brought back the teacher's lost son from the realm of Yama.

After Kansa's death, Krishna freed his parents Vasudeva and Devaki and placed Ugrasena back on the throne of Mathura. Vasudeva then arranged for the sacred thread ceremony, the upanayana, of both his sons, with the family priest Garga Muni performing the rites. Having become twice-born, the brothers wished to live as true students and went to the ashram of Sandipani Muni at Avantipura, the city now known as Ujjain.

The Lord, who is himself the source of all knowledge, did not come to the ashram as a master. He served his teacher like any other disciple, with humility and devotion, as a good student should. Sandipani was delighted with them and taught them the Vedas with their branches, the science of archery and weapons, law, logic and statecraft. The brothers grasped each subject the moment they heard it once, and it is said that they mastered all the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days and nights. Popular tradition also remembers that the poor Brahmin boy Sudama studied with Krishna at this same ashram.

When their studies were complete, Krishna and Balarama asked their teacher what guru-dakshina they could offer. Sandipani and his wife had seen their extraordinary power, and after consulting each other they made one request. Their son had drowned in the ocean at Prabhasa, and they asked to have him back.

The brothers rode their chariot to the seashore. The ocean god appeared with offerings and told them that a demon named Panchajana, living in the waters in the form of a conch, had carried the boy away. Krishna plunged into the sea and slew the demon, but the boy was not inside its body. Taking the conch that had grown from the demon's body, Krishna went with Balarama to Samyamani, the city of Yama, the lord of death, and blew it there. Yama came out at once, worshipped them and asked how he could serve. Krishna asked for his teacher's son, who had been brought there because of his past karma. Yama gladly returned the boy.

Krishna placed the boy before his parents and asked whether there was anything more he could do. Sandipani blessed them, saying that their knowledge would always remain fresh and their fame pure. From then on that conch, Panchajanya, became Krishna's own, and its sound was later heard at Kurukshetra.

This leela teaches that even the greatest should approach a teacher with humility, and that gratitude to the guru is a debt we should repay with all our strength.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 45

Place

Avantipura (Ujjain) – Prabhasa – Samyamani

Lesson

Even the greatest approach the teacher with humility and repay the guru with all their strength.