Battlefield Bhajans Vol. V

Iraq, 10 May 2008

Dedicated to HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Mass Casualty of Narsimha

In the 2nd Chapter, Verse 27, Krsna says to Arjuna,

jätasya hi dhruvo måtyur
dhruvaà janma måtasya ca
tasmäd aparihärye ‘rthe
na tvaà çocitum arhasi

“One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.”

Partha Sarathi Dasa receiving an Army Combat Award

On the night of 15 August 2007, this verse would manifest in front of my eyes. I have been debating to write about the following events for almost a year. The day started like any other mission. We were supporting operations on a small out post in Northern Iraq. At about 5:30 pm, we heard three loud explosions. The explosions were so big then shook the earth under out feet. The reports started coming in over the radio, three vehicle born improvised explosive devices detonated (car bomb) in a tower center. At first I didn’t think anything about it, but then another report came in that the vehicles used were three dump trucks filled with explosives. Initial report 200 dead. I just walked away, we had no medical personnel nor many supplies. I was in disbelief, how could someone justify this actions against innocent souls? I got my soldiers together and briefed them of the situation. I started to set up stretchers, and getting all the medical supplies together, preparing for the worse hoping for the better. We are also trying to find out if any US personnel were in the blast.

Darkness came, and with that reports of over 100 insurgents in a 5 km radius of our small patrol base. We donned all of our body armor and took additional securities. Just when this happen, I saw blue flashing lights come to our gate. I couldn’t get through the gate because of m gear, so shedding my body armor and helmet and only with a pistol, I squeezed through the small opening. It was an Iraqi Army ambulance, the soldier could speak no english except one word, ” Help!”. I searched him really quick and then climbed in the back, when I opened the door, I was met with the horrific sight of 10 children, bodies covered in blood, missing limbs. It was a mess, and I thought ” Krsna, they need you more than I do, please help them, please guide me.” In the second i had to react, I touched my Ugra Narsimha Sila that is always with me and said ” My Lord, we have a lot of work tonight, many will leave tonight. Be merciful to them and take their hand on the path home.”

I grabbed the worse child in my arms, and as they opened the gate to let the vehicle in, I started to notice I was feeling soaked with water, but as I laid the boy, who was no more than 5 years old, on the stretcher, I realized, my uniform was covered in the child’s blood and brain matter. Immediately I started to render first aid to the boy, wiping blood off his body, and chanting the Maha Mantra to him as I was working. But I saw he was leaving. I could do nothing more for him, than allow him to take darshan of the Lord before he left his body. As I pulled the Lord out, I was meditating that the Lord would look past and ignore these conditions He is giving darshan and bestow His smile on everyone He saw. I took the Sila and showed Him to the child, who then smiled and left his body.

avyakto ‘yam acintyo ‘yam
avikäryo ‘yam ucyate
tasmäd evaà viditvainaà
nänuçocitum arhasi

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body. BG. 2.25

As a devotee, I know the body is separate from the soul. That when the body dies, the soul moves to another body. No time to lament, many more devotees to tend to. I say tis because that is honestly what I saw, devotees in need, devotees suffering. I did not hesitate to run to the next casualty and stabilize him. As I was running from victim to victim, I was also instructing my soldier’s on how to best treat each wound.

With each patient I worked on, I felt more and more compassion for their suffering they have to go through. And somehow with each casualty I was able to recite verses, I thought I never knew or could memorize, each person heard about the Lord. This seemed to calm them down and they seemed absorbed. They spoke no english, but the sanskrit was purifying them. One old man, was in bad shape. I new he was dying, we did as much as we could possible do and prayed that he could hold on until the helicopter arrived to take him to the hospital but, half of his head was missing. As he laid there, I could only grabbed his hand and whisper in his ear the glories to the Lord. And soon, he left also. Still no time for being sad, much more service to do. This was the rest of the night, rendering aid to strangers, At one point we ran out of stretchers and used mattresses to transport casualties. It was a wild scene. The final total 56 evaced to a higher level of medical care and 5 left their bodies.

As the scene calmed down, I talked with guys and explained the nature of the soul. That these people were fortunate because Krsna was present and were Krsna is, there is no sense in being disturbed. I volunteered to pull first guard after the chaos. As my soldiers slept after showering, I was alone finally. I sang softly the Maha Mantra while cleaning up all the blood in the vehicles, and on the floor. As I was on my knees, in my bloody uniform scrubbing the blood and brain matter from the area around us, I reflected on the nights events. How this life is very precious, how the Lord arranged everything for us. How the only reason I was able to perform the way I did was because the Lord was present, in his form as Salagram Sila. Partha-sarathi dasa means the servant of Arjuna’s chariot driver (Krsna). The Lord is so kind to come down from His position as the Supreme Lord to render some service for His devotee. The Supreme Lord, again gave all glories to His devotee, He once again drove a chariot, He again took it upon himself to make arrangements for the conditioned soul to come back to Him. Standing up, I thought chanting japa will never be the same…

Sri Vyasa Puja Meditations

Where to start, this Vyasa Puja I felt Maharaja’s presence with me… I felt him sitting next to me, no joke. I am realzing more and more that I have dedicated my life to serving him. Now that doesn’t mean doing his laundry or cooking for him (these are important services) but means serving his desire for me to succeed in thsi life. It means to serve his instructions on me becoming a pure devotee. Serving is not simply, doing something directly for him. Really service is to follow his instructions with all your heart despite any sitauation you are in. To fully understand, what to lose… Maharaja will catch me. Maharaja will lead me to new places in KC. He WILL TAKE ME TO VRAJA! He will take my mind and kick it until it oozes KC.
It means i have to lok past my anarthas and honestly ask Nrsimha to destroy them as He took the life air from Hiranyakasipu. The glorification of Maharaja is seen by devotees everyday in our actions or inabilities to act. You understand what I mean? In the Army we say our soldiers are a direct reflection of their leaders. And in the same sense, we as discples are a direct reflection of Maharaja. So we should act accordingly.
I can go on all day, but I will end with this. Most importantly, I realized on Vyasa Puja, that Maharaja is my best friend….. and I am surrendered to his desire, to his instructions, to him…

Sankritan

BG: 32
Iso: 15
Various small: 100

Sadhana

Japa: 25 always increase never decrease The idea of 16 and i am done.. is wrong mentality, how could we want something to love to be finshed? We should be grantful that we have the Holy Name
Seva: The Lord is kind and still engaging me, still my reason for waking up everyday.
Reading Cc, Madhya-Lila: The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
Transcendental Diary Vol. 3

Verses

Trying to memorize 3 verses a week and offer to the Lord on Sunday.

Keep us in your prayers, we are dependent on your mercy.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Partha-sarathi Dasa
ISKCON IRAQ