On the banks of the Tungabhadra River, there was a town where a Brahmin named Atmadev lived. He was well-versed in all the Vedas, and his radiance was as bright as the sun. No beggar ever left his door empty-handed. His wife, Dhundhuli, was beautiful but quarrelsome by nature. Dhundhuli often started arguments, but Atmadev remained calm. Whenever Atmadev returned home, he found only conflict and unrest, making the house feel like a living hell. Over time, Atmadev grew old but remained childless. He performed many righteous deeds and gave generously, yet he did not experience the joy of having children. He became deeply worried that if he had no child, who would perform his funeral rites? Despite all efforts, nothing worked.
Atmadev Meets A Saint
One day, Atmadev decided to go to the forest and end his life since his home was filled with strife, and he had no children. Feeling his life was in vain, he set off for the forest. At the same time, a great saint was passing by a lake to quench his thirst. Atmadev approached the saint, bowed to him, and stood with folded hands. The saint asked, “What troubles you? You appear to be a Brahmin, as your face is radiant, but you look deeply sorrowful.” Atmadev replied, “I have become disillusioned with my life. I am childless—who will perform my last rites? Even my cow does not give birth. I have come to this forest to end my life.”
Hearing this, the saint used his divine vision to examine Atmadev’s fate and said, “Atmadev, give up your desire for children. I see you are not fated to have a child in your destiny, not in this life or the next seven lives. Perform devotion, and let go of the desire for a child.” Atmadev replied, “Please do not preach to me. I want only a son. If I don’t receive one, I will end my life right here before you.”
The Fruit For A Child And Dhundhuli’s Deceit
Seeing Atmadev’s insistence, the saint said, “No one can alter the destiny written by the Creator, but due to your sincere request, I can do something.” The saint manifested a fruit through his yogic power and said, “Give this fruit to your wife, and she will bear a wise son.” Hearing this, Atmadev was overjoyed and took the fruit to his wife, Dhundhuli. She said, “One doesn’t eat such a fruit immediately. I will take a bath and then eat it. You can give it to me and relax.”
Dhundhuli, however, was cruel and devious by nature. She called her sister and, weeping, said, “Sister, I am deeply worried. Atmadev has brought this fruit, and I am expected to conceive. I’ve heard that pregnancy and childbirth are very painful. I cannot bear such suffering.” Her sister replied, “I am also pregnant. Why don’t you give my husband some money and pretend to be pregnant? Once I give birth, I will send the child to your house, and I will claim that my child has died.” Dhundhuli agreed to this plan. Her sister also suggested, “Feed the fruit to the cow first, just to test it.”
The Birth Of Gokarna And Dhundhukari
Following her sister’s advice, Dhundhuli fed the fruit to the cow and pretended to be pregnant. When her sister’s child was born, Dhundhuli announced that she had given birth to a son. Atmadev was overjoyed, unaware of the deception occurring in his own home. He believed that the saint’s fruit had resulted in the birth of his son.
Three months passed, and during that time, the cow also gave birth to a child. This child had the body of a human but ears like a cow. He was radiant with divine beauty, a result of the yogic power of the saint. Atmadev’s happiness knew no bounds. Now, two children were in the house—one, his supposed son and the other, the cow’s child. Since the cow’s child had cow-like ears, Atmadev named him ‘Gokarna (one with cow-like ears).’ Meanwhile, Dhundhuli, in line with her cruel nature, named her son ‘Dhundhukari’ without proper religious rites.
Dhundhukari’s Evil Behavior
As time passed, Gokarna and Dhundhukari grew up. Gokarna became a learned and virtuous man, following the path of dharma and becoming a great scholar and saint. On the other hand, Dhundhukari gave in to his evil tendencies. He had no sense of purity or righteousness. His behaviour was extremely wicked—he ate like an animal, flew into fits of rage, indulged in dirty habits, and engaged in violence. Dhundhukari’s nature was aggressive and destructive from childhood. He started stealing, harbouring malice, and destroying others’ property as a daily activity. He even began eating meat. As his companions became worse, he immersed himself in immoral activities. Under the influence of prostitutes, he squandered all the family’s wealth on them.
One day, Atmadev confronted Dhundhukari, saying, “Your actions have become so wicked, it seems like you were born to destroy us. Why are you behaving this way?” Furious, Dhundhukari brutally beat his father, Atmadev. At that moment, Atmadev recalled the saint’s words about his fate of being childless. Seeing her husband being beaten, Dhundhuli tried to intervene, but Dhundhukari beat her as well.
Dhundhukari sold off all the household’s wealth, jewellery, and even utensils and squandered it on prostitutes. When everything was gone, there was nothing left to eat. Dhundhuli cried in despair, “It would have been better if I had remained childless. Now, where do I go? Who will help me? Such a catastrophe has befallen us—there is neither food nor water. Dhundhukari beats us every day.”
Atmadev’s Repentance And Gokarna’s Teachings
Atmadev sat thinking and began to weep, “If only I had heeded the saint’s advice.” Just then, Gokarna arrived and said, “Father, it is inappropriate for a learned man like you to mourn this way. You are a scholar of scriptures, yet you are crying like an ignorant person trapped in attachment to this worldly form. Leave the bonds of this world behind and go to the forest to meditate on the Lord, spending the rest of your life in contemplation.” Hearing Gokarna’s words, Atmadev agreed to go to the forest. He said, “I do not understand how to attain the Lord.”
Gokarna replied, “Seek the company and service of saints. You will become a great soul through the company and grace of saints. Listen to the stories and pastimes of the Lord. This path will lead you to the eternal abode of the Lord.” Atmadev left his home and journeyed to the forest, where he constantly meditated on the Lord and chanted His name day and night. Due to his penance and devotion, he attained Lord Krishna, just as Gokarna had advised him.
Dhundhukari Gains More Freedom
After Atmadev left for the forest, Dhundhukari became even more free in his actions. He increased his cruelty, and one day, he brutally beat Dhundhuli with sticks, demanding, “Tell me, where have you hidden the money?” Dhundhukari looted all the remaining wealth in the house. One day, he struck Dhundhuli with a burning stick, again asking about the money. Exhausted by the daily beatings, Dhundhuli somehow escaped and threw herself into a well, committing suicide. Thus, Dhundhuli met a tragic end while her husband, Atmadev, attained Lord Krishna.
Seeing Dhundhukari’s growing tyranny, Gokarna decided to leave and go on a pilgrimage with an indifferent attitude. Dhundhukari began living with five prostitutes, stealing livestock and other items to fulfill their desires. One day, the prostitutes said to him, “You have never given us necklaces.” Dhundhukari promised to bring them necklaces and began gathering wealth through theft.
Dhundhukari’s Fall And The Prostitutes’ Conspiracy
The prostitutes, fearing that Dhundhukari’s constant stealing would eventually lead to his capture and that they, too, would be sentenced to death, decided to kill him themselves. One night, while Dhundhukari was in a deep sleep, the five prostitutes came to his bedside and tied him up with ropes. When he woke up, he saw the women attempting to kill him. They tried to strangle him with a rope. Then, they filled his mouth with burning coals from the kitchen and eventually strangled him to death. Afterwards, they buried his body in the house and fled with all the wealth.
Dhundhukari Becomes A Ghost
Dhundhukari’s soul was cursed to wander as a ghost. He roamed in the form of a terrible whirlwind in all directions. When Gokarna returned from his pilgrimage, he learned that Dhundhukari had been murdered. Gokarna performed funeral rites and rituals in holy places to preserve the peace of Dhundhukari’s soul. When Gokarna returned to his father Atmadev’s home, he sensed that Dhundhukari’s soul, now a ghost, lingered there. Dhundhukari appeared in different forms—a sheep, then a buffalo, and finally as Indra. Being a wise sage, Gokarna immediately realised this was a ghost because it was taking on strange forms.
Without fear, he asked, “Who are you? Why are you putting on this act? How did you end up in this miserable condition?” Dhundhukari was crying loudly but could not speak. Gokarna realized that Dhundhukari had lost the ability to speak due to his great sins. Gokarna took water and chanted mantras, sprinkling the water on Dhundhukari. As soon as the water touched him, Dhundhukari regained his voice and said, “Brother, I am your brother, Dhundhukari. I am suffering terribly in this ghostly form. I have committed many sins, and now I regret them. Those prostitutes tortured me to death. I am wandering in this ghostly form—hungry and thirsty, but I cannot eat or drink. Please, help me attain liberation.”
Gokarna said, “But I performed funeral rites for you and conducted rituals at holy places, yet you remain in this ghostly state. Why haven’t you been freed?” Dhundhukari replied, “Brother, hundreds of funeral rites won’t free me. I have committed too many great sins.” Gokarna said, “If even hundreds of rituals can’t free you, then your liberation is impossible.” Dhundhukari pleaded, “Brother, I beg at your feet. Please help me attain liberation.” Gokarna instructed him to leave the house, saying, “You must leave this house now and return only when I call you.” Dhundhukari obeyed Gokarna’s command and wandered outside, waiting.
Gokarna spent the night pondering how Dhundhukari could be freed. The next morning, he consulted with scholars. Many offered suggestions based on the scriptures, but no clear solution emerged.
Gokarna’s Question To Sun God
Gokarna was a devout sage. He thought, “Instead of asking others, I should directly ask Sun God.” With deep devotion and faith, he chanted sacred mantras and stopped the Sun’s movement. He then asked, “How can Dhundhukari be liberated?” Sun God heard Gokarna’s prayer and replied, “Conduct a recitation of the Shrimad Bhagavatam for a full week, and Dhundhukari will be liberated within seven days.”
The Organization of the Shrimad Bhagavatam Recitation
Following Sun God’s guidance, Gokarna conducted the Bhagavatam discourse himself to liberate Dhundhukari. The time was set for the recitation, and when people heard that this sacred scripture had the power to absolve sins, both sinners and virtuous people gathered to listen. Gokarna called upon Dhundhukari, saying, “Sit on this bamboo with seven knots and listen to the spiritual discourse.” Dhundhukari, now in a wind-like form, entered one of the bamboo’s holes and sat inside.
Dhundhukari’s Liberation
Gokarna began the Bhagavatam recitation, appointing a Vaishnava as the main listener. He spoke in a clear voice, pausing each day at dusk. One of the bamboo knots broke at the end of the first day. Similarly, a knot broke at the end of each successive day. On the seventh day, when the last knot broke, Dhundhukari appeared in a divine form. He had a dark complexion, wore a yellow robe, and was adorned with a Tulsi garland. A magnificent crown rested on his head, and his ears were adorned with beautiful earrings. He bowed before Gokarna, saying, “Brother, I have now been freed from my ghostly existence and have become a divine associate of the Lord.”
Everyone witnessed this scene and praised the Lord. Just then, a divine chariot descended, and the attendants of Lord Krishna said, “Dhundhukari, come.” Dhundhukari boarded the chariot. Gokarna stopped him as he was about to depart and said, “Wait! How is this possible? Thousands of people have listened to the discourse, so there should be many chariots to take everyone, as I narrated the discourse equally to all, and everyone listened attentively.”
The Lord’s attendants replied, “Gokarna, there was no difference in your narration, but there was a difference in how people listened. Dhundhukari fasted, abstained from food and drink, and absorbed the discourse day and night. He meditated on it deeply, making him worthy of the supreme position. The others merely listened to the discourse but did not reflect upon it, so they were not liberated.”
After saying this, the chariot left. However, Gokarna, determined, said to all the listeners, “I will not rest until I send everyone to the divine abode. We will hold the discourse again. Come, listen, and reflect on the teachings with proper discipline.” Everyone agreed, and another Shrimad Bhagavatam discourse was organized.
The Second Recitation Of The Shrimad Bhagavatam
This time, all the listeners fasted, ate minimally, and listened to the discourse with discipline. When the seven days of recitation ended, many divine chariots descended, and all the listeners were taken to the supreme abode. Lord Krishna personally embraced Gokarna. As soon as the Lord embraced him, Gokarna attained a divine form. His complexion turned dark, he donned a yellow robe, and beautiful earrings sparkled in his ears.
Due to Gokarna’s immense grace, even the animals and creatures present during the discourse were liberated. They boarded the divine chariots and ascended to the Lord’s eternal abode. Where even great sages struggle to attain the Lord, Gokarna’s influence allowed all those who simply listened to the Bhagavatam discourse, including Dhundhukari, to reach the Lord’s divine realm.
Guidance By: Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj
