SRIMAD BHAGAVATA MAHATMYAM: STORY AS TOLD IN CHAPTERS 1 TO 3 Once, during his travels through the three worlds, the celestial sage Narada came to Prithvi (the Earth) and visited many holy places only to find that dharma (religion and virtuosity) had disappeared. Then, when he came to Vrindavana, on the banks of the holy river Yamuna, where Bhagavan had performed his various lilas, he saw a young lady, surrounded by many other women (who were her attendants), who was shedding tears profusely and lamenting. Lying besides her were two very old men, virtually lifeless. Narada speaks to this lady and enquires the reason for his sorrow. The young lady says that she is Bhakti and that the two old men lying besides her are her two sons, Jnana and Vairaagya. While she is young and healthy her sons have grown old, have lost all their strength, and are virtually dead. How can this be? What is the reason for all this, she asks Narada. This part of the story is told in chapter 1 and was narrated briefly in my earlier post. We now continue with the story as told in chapter 2. Narada said, O my dear child (baale), you are lamenting needlessly. Just remember the lotus feet of Sri Krishna and all of your sorrows will disappear. verse 1. Draupadi and the gopis were protected and delivered by Krishna when they remembered Him. You are Bhakti and always very dear to Him, more dear than His own life (satatam praaNotidhikaa, verse 3). In Satya and the other yugas, Jnana (Bodha) and Vairaagya are the means for moksha but in Kaliyuga only Bhakti is the means for liberation. Hence, the Lord Himself decided to send you, Bhakti, down here to Earth. Therefore, you should meditate upon Him. Bhakti bowed to the sage with folded hands and asked Narada what indeed she should do. Narada said, Once, when you bowed to Krishna with folded hands and asked Him what you can do, He told you to nourish His devotees. He sent Mukti along as your maidservant and Jnana and Vairaagya also came as your sons. They were all here, with great joy, until the end of Dwapara yuga. When Kali began, with your permission, Mukti returned to VaikuNTha, because of the rise of irreligiosity (adharma). But Jnana and Vairaagya stayed with you. Because of the general neglect of people of this yuga, they have lost all their strength and have become lifeless. Since you came to Vrindavana, where Bhakti is ever present, you alone have been rejuvenated but your sons have not been. Mukti returns briefly from VaikuNTha when you remember her. But do not worry, continued Narada. There is no age like Kaliyuga. I will established your glory in each and every home, with each and every person. In Kaliyuga, Bhakti and Bhakti alone is the means - the proof for that are the Gopis. With Bhakti present, Sri Krishna will appear and stand before anyone. Bhakti was happy to hear about her own glories from Narada. You have relieved of my sorrow with your great kindness. But my two sons, please revive them, please nourish them. Hearing this the sage Narada, overcome by compassion, started chanting all the Vedas and Upanishads (Vedanta), and the Gita, over and over. They gained a bit of strength and opened their eyes but went back to their sleeping stupor. They hair was as white as a ducks feather and they remained like lifeless logs due to extreme thirst and hunger. Naradas repeated attempts were successful. While the celestial sage was worried, a voice was heard from the sky. Dont worry, O sage. Your efforts will bear fruit. Let there be no doubt. There is one pious duty that you must perform on behalf of these two. Everyone was amazed. Everyone heard the words spoken by this voice from the sky. Narada too was amazed. But the voice had only delivered a secret message. What should he do? Narada started wondering from one holy place to another and asked many holy men. Everyone heard the story but no one had an answer. Some said, It is impossible. Some said, Impossible to know. Others were dumbfounded and still others just ran away after hearing Naradas query. All the three worlds were confounded. If Jnana and Vairaagya cannot be revived by chanting of the Vedas, Upanishands, Gita, over and over, what else could be done? Thus, Narada came to Bhadarikashrama, where great sages like Atri muni had performed penances. That is where he met the four Sanatkumaras. They were radiant like a koti (crore, ten million) suns. Narada said, O great sages, because of my great fortune, I have now met you. Please tell me, soon, what I should do. What is that one pious deed? You are always remembering Lord Hari. You are always surrendered to Him. You are always young, like five year old boys. You are always residing in VaikuNTha. You are older than even the oldest of all. Even in this Kaliyuga, old age (jaraa) does not affect you. When you so much as frowned a little with your eyebrows come together, the doorkeepers of VaikuNTha (Jaya and Vijaya) were forced to fall down to the Earth. O, I am so fortunate to have met you. Please tell me what I have to do to revive Jnana and Vairaagya. The (four) Kumaras said, Dont worry, O sage. Rejoice now. You are the crown jewel of all the Bhaktas and the renounced. You are always to head the list when the servants of Shree Krishna are enumerated. The great sages have shown many paths. Some of them are difficult paths but they all take one to higher lokas, like swargaloka. Other paths lead to VaikuNtha and they remain concealed and are revealed only to the most fortunate (verses 56 and 57). We will tell about that one pious deed hinted to you by the voice you heard from the sky. The Kumaras continued. There are many kinds of yajnas - dravya, jnana, tapa, yoga, swaadhyaaya - as described by various realized souls (scholars). The sage Shuka has spoken the Srimad Bhagavatam and it is the mere hearing of this that will revive Jnana and Vairaagya. The power of the chanting of Srimad Bhagavatam is very great and it will revive Bhaktis sons and bring her great joy. Even pralaya (dissolution or deluge) can be repelled by the great sounds of Srimad Bhagavatam chanting. All of the evil effects of Kaliyuga can be driven out by the chanting of Bhagavatam, like the fleeing of jackals when a lion roars. And, so it is that Bhakti, along with Jnana and Vairaagya, will dwell in each home and rejoice and play in each persons heart. To which Narada said, I tried to revive Jnana and Vairaagya by chanting all the Vedas and Vedantas (Upanishands), and the Gita, but that did not revive them. The stories of Srimad Bhagavatam, and all slokas of the Bhagavatam, each and every one, are nothing more than the Vedas and Vedantas. Why would Bhagavatam be able to do anything Vedas, Vedanatas, and Upanishads (Gita, which is all the Upanishads) could not do. Please tell me, O great sages. Do not delay. You are forever kind to those who have come to seek shelter of your lotus feet. The Kumaras said, Bhagavatam and its stories are the product of the very quintessence of the Vedas and the Upanishads. Hence, it is the greatest of all and the effects produced by Bhagavatam too are different (verses 67 and 68). Think of a tree. All the way from the roots to the branches one can find its vital ingredients but its essence cannot be tasted. Only the fruit of the trees reveals its essential glorious taste that brings joy to all the worlds. Ghee is present in milk but only when the ghee is extracted can it relished, even by the Gods. Sugar is present withing the sugarcane, but can be tasted only when it is extracted. And, so it is with Srimad Bhagavatam. It was revealed by Shuka for the specific taste of nourishing Bhakti, Jnana and Vairaagya. It was you who instructed Vyasa, when the latter was dejected, and spoke to him about the four slokas that are the very essence of Srimad Bhagavatam. So, why O great sage, are you now amazed by what we have told you? One should make other hears the Srimad Bhagavatam (i.e., instruct them, speak to them about) in order to dispel their pains and sorrows. Narada said, I surrender to the great sages like you. It is only when ones good fortune rises (like the rising sun) that one comes in contact with great sages like yourselves. This can only be accumulated over many many lifetimes. The mere sight (darshanam) of such personalities, destroys all misfortunes and evils, and allows the growth of shreyas (the highest good) and extinguishes the fire caused by the sorrows of this samsara. Such great fortune, which dispels the darkness of ignorance, allows the rise of discrimination (vivekah). Thus ends the story as told in chapter 2. Here we find the solution to Naradas dilemma. The four Sanatkumaras teach Narada how Bhakti will be established in each and every heart in this Kaliyuga. This is what I had alluded to in my earlier post. After Lord Venkateswara returned with His consorts, to the Sri Balaji Temple, after the grand Kalyana Utsavam celebrations on Nov 16, 2013, I suddenly decided to read chapter 2 of the Bhagavata Mahatmyam, as a part of the daily parayanam. I did not find time to do this because of the Kalyana Utsavam but did so in the temple late that day. All the devotees, who had assembled to volunteer their time, also waited patiently until I finished reading all the 76 slokas, along with the preliminary dhyaanam slokas. It appeared to me that Venkateswara Himself wanted all present to hear how Bhakti will be established in Kaliyuga, along with Jnana and Vairaagyam. Indeed, that is a great blessing. Hare Raama Hare Raama Raama Raama Hare Hare l Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ll Govinda Govinda !! Hari Bol ! Sadguru Maharaj ki Jai !!
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 05:58:34 +0000
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