Krishna overpowers Kalia the dreaded, multi-hooded snake in the River Yamuna, & begins to dance on its several hoods. When Krishna dances he hoods start breaking and get replaced by new ones, one by one. All the while Krishna keeps playing his sweet flute.
Kalia with several hoods symbolises our mind with the numerous desires we have. When one gets fulfilled, another arises, as the new hoods of Kalia. He keeps playing the flute, symbolises the discriminating power of Wisdom, 7 the focus on the Bliss/self.
Kalia asks Krishna, ”O Lord! You are the creator, you have created venomous snakes like me, but you have also created gods who drink nectar. What is my fault in this? Krishna replies, “Alright, I shall not kill you. But you must leave this place as you are causing distress to many people here.” He asks him to move to a place where Kalia can use the venom in self-defence, rather than spreading in the river.
In the same way, you need not give up ‘the venom’ of Desire, greed,etc., but to change their course. Let the yearning (desire) be tuned to attain God, to realise inner peace. Or if you opt for public life, the yearning should be for welfare of the people. Thus the orientation of the Yearning, when changed, can lead you to God.
If greed overpowers you, channelize it towards greed for doing more Japa, more meditation, more acts of benevolence. The yearning for Karma, can get sublimated to attainment of Rama. In this manner with the help of wisdom (discrimination), you can properly channelize any of the ‘Venoms’, for Godly acts.
As you grow in discrimination, you will also grow in dispassion, & gain the shat sampati ; the six spiritual wealths : 1.Shama (mind control), 2.Dama(sense control), 3.Titiksha(Forbearance), 4.Samadhan(freedom from debt), 5.Shraddha or Faith, 6. Ishwar-parnidhan(Concentration of mind on God).
Then the yearning for Moksha will automatically arise. Moksha is Liberation from All sorrows for ever & the Attainment of Supreme Bliss.
