aaasss
aaasss
|| Sri Veda Vyasaya Namaha ||
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01 Srimad Bhagavatam, A Refuge Assured Long time back, before the dawn of Kali Yuga, a Satra or a spiritual gathering was organized under the leadership of Sri Shaunaka Rishi in Naimisharanya. Sri Sutacharya visited there like a bright Sun that dispels the darkness of night at the dawn of every morning. Sri Shaunaka Rishi singing the glory of the knowledgeable Sri Sutacharya said thus, यािन वेदिवदां े ो भगवान् बादरायणः । अ े च मुनयः सूत परावरिवदो िवदु ः ॥ You are well aware of the one who is propounded and explained only by Vedas, The Lord, and The Para Tattva. Also, His qualities and the nature of prakrti-purusha or the relation of Lord and Nature. Your understanding is consistent with that of all great Rishis and Saints. With the blessings of Lord Veda Vyasa, you have understood the essence and secrets or the decoded meanings in these scriptures. Like a very good teacher teaching to an affectionate student to ensure that he does not forget, so too, Lord Veda Vyasa himself has taught you affectionately. With Lord Sri Krishna's below teaching to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita: प र ाणाय साधूनां िवनाशाय च दु ृ ताम्। धमसं थापनाथाय संभवािम युगे युगे॥ BG-4-8 For the protection of virtuous, destruction of vice and establishing the dharma or the righteous path, I shall appear on the earth from time to time.
Sri Shaunaka Rishi continuing to inquire says, किलमागतमा ाय े ेऽ
न् वै
वे वयम् ।
आसीना दीघस ेण कथायां स णा हरे ः ॥ ूिह योगे रे कृ
े
े धमवमिण ।
ां का ामधुनोपेते धमः कं शरणं गतः ॥ Noticing the dawn of Kali Yuga, we have taken up a vow to conduct this spiritual gathering in this Holy Vaishnava Kshetra for a very long period. Till we accomplish moksha. We are very eager and have sufficient time to hear the stories of the Lord. We assume that your coincidence of arrival is as if you have been sent by Lord. The Lord of Yoga, Sri Krishna protected Dharma and Brahmana. Sri Sutacharya, after his disappearance from this earth, in whom is Dharma taking refuge? We request you to please tell us in detail. After the disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna, Dharma had to take refuge. Unless someone supports and nourish Dharma, it cannot sustain. Even at an individual level, this is so. Hence, we require someone to preach, teach and lead us to follow Dharma. After the disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna, God of Dharma took refuge in Lord Veda Vyasa. Lord Veda Vyasa composed Mahabharata including Bhagavat Gita & Vishnu Sahasranama, Eighteen (18) Puranas including Srimad Bhagavatam for protection of Dharma.
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For the protection of Dharma, both Jnana Bala or the power of Knowledge and Bahu Bala or the physical power is required. In good old ages, Jnana Bala was conferred by Guru and Bahu Bala was extended by the King. However, the virtuous of Kali-yuga are destitute and deprived of such Gurus or Kings. However, Srimad Bhagavatam offers both. It gives knowledge like a Guru and also protects from evil forces and wicked people like a good King. Those taking the refuge of Srimad Bhagavatam by studying & following Bhagavata Dharma, need not worry for clean & pure knowledge or protection from vice. Sri Sutacharya says, इदं भागवतं नाम पुराणं उ म
स
तम् ।
ोकच रतं चकार भगवान् ऋिषः ॥ ४०॥
िनः ेयसाय लोक
ध ं
यनं महत् ।
तिददं ाहयामास सुतमा वतां वरम् ॥ ४१॥ Bhagavan Veda Vyasa composed this Bhagavata Purana equivalent to Vedas, complete with the description of fame and glory of the Lord for the benefit of Virtuous. Subsequently, He initiated this great Bhagavata having complete Axiom of Philosophy, auspiciousness, cause for fortune and prosperity of the world to Aproksha Jnani & His beloved son Sri Shukacharya.
For लोक
िनःauspiciousness in the world and े यसाय or upliftment of
each & every Satvika Jiva ensuring their Mukti, भगवान् ऋिषः or Lord Veda
Vyasa
having उ म and
स
who
is
complete
with
his
attributes,
ोकच रतं the story of immeasurable fame and glory तम् equivalent
to
Vedas चकार composed इदं भागवतं नाम पु राणं This
Purana
named
Bhagavatam. This would िनः ेयसाय लोक
ध ं rejuvenates and energizes the
virtuous people of Kali Yuga suffering from several difficulties that are further multiplied by Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya or Arishadvargas and are tattered in life. With rasapana or having juice called Bhagavata, one will get energized to face another fight of life.
यनं all kalyana or prosperity required
will be bestowed by Srimad Bhagavatam. All Mangalya or auspiciousness is in this. There is no disease nor problem, nor difficulty nor an issue that would not be destroyed by doing service of Srimad Bhagavatam and cause auspiciousness. For us to do sadhana or accomplishment, we need a clean and pure mind. For a clean and pure mind, the Indrya or sensory organs have to cooperate, Srimad Bhagavatam bestows that. One should get birth in the right place, in the right family, Srimad Bhagavatam creates a suitable environment. It provides a Vaishnava family having wife, and children
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supporting sadhana. A practitioner requires Ksetra or a suitable place and wealth to study Srimad Bhagavatam. Also, the study means service to Guru. All this and more will be conferred by Srimad Bhagavatam. In the second verse of prayer of this Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Veda Vyasa has narrated the same and is repeated below for immediate reference:
धमः ो
तकैतवोऽ परमो िनम राणां सतां वे ं वा
वम व
ु िशवदं ताप
यो ू लनम् । ीम ागवते महामुिनकृते िकं वा परै री रः स ो िभ
व
ते ऽ कृितिभः शु ू षु
णात् ॥
Srimad Bhagavatam contains the complete knowledge of Dharma which holds one from falling down purifies, and puts on to the path leading to The Lord. This path seeks the continued practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising The Lord without any jealousy or expectation nor being deceptive. While being on the path, removes all sorts of difficulties, bestows prosperity, makes one sajjana or virtuous and solidify Bhakti or devotion. Hence, Srimad Bhagavatam composed by The Lord Veda Vyasa himself is great and guarantees to reveal The Lord who is always present in the heart of all the individuals. Also, Lord Sri Krishna himself is present in one of his form in Srimad Bhagavatam
as
he
told
to
in Lord Sri Krishna’s Presence on Earth in this Kali Yuga.
Uddhava
Hence, Sri Sutacharya says, िनः े यसाय लोक
ध ं
यनं महत् ।
Such supreme and excellent scripture was composed in which Dharma took refuge. In short, after the disappearance of Lord Sri Krishna, Dharma took refuge in Lord Veda Vyasa or Vasishta Krishna. Vasishta Krishna composed Srimad Bhagavatam in which is a form of Lord Yadava Krishna providing Abhaya or safety to Dharma and to all Dharmika or those who follow Dharma. सववे देितहासानां सारं सारं समुद्धृतम् । स तु सं ावयामास महाराजं परीि तम् ॥ ४२॥ In this Srimad Bhagavatam, the essence of all Vedas and legendary scripture has been summarised. This has been initiated by Sri Sukacharya and narrated to Parakshid maharaja, आ वतां वरम् – Mahamanasvi being great with the strong, bright & clean mind is the God influencing all living minds. Who is non-other than Sri Shukacharya. सववेदेितहासानां i.e. All Vedas viz. Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda & Atharvaveda. All historical & legendary scriptures Viz. Pancharatra, Mahabharata, Mula Ramayana, and all the eighteen (18) Puranas. समुद्धृतम् analyzed
and
filtered सारं सारं essence
essences has been composed in Srimad Bhagavatam.
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of
all
ायोपिव ं ग ायां परीतं परमिषिभः । कृ
े
धामोपगते धम ानािदिभः सह ॥ ४३॥
Parakshid Raja filled with remorse had taken the vow of Prayopavistam. He had stopped eating any food and drinking water and heard Bhagavata Katha day and night for the last seven days of his life with full of happiness. He was surrounded by maharishis. By that time, Lord Sri Krishna including the Pancha Pandavas with King Yudhishthira influencing Dharma, Bhima influencing Jnana had disappeared from the earth. कलौ न
शामेष पुराणाक ऽधुनोिदतः ।
त कीतयतो िव ा िव षभू रतेजसः ॥ ४४॥ The Kali Yuga had dawned and the people were engulfed in ignorance. On the bank of Ganges and as a remedy for Parakshid Raja, Srimad Bhagavatam raised like the Sun rises every morning dispelling the darkness of ignorance. The brilliant Sri Shukacharya who had accomplished the perfection of Bhakti Yoga and received Aproksha Jnana sang Srimad Bhagavatam in the middle of Rishis and the gathering in which I too was present says Sri Sutacharya.
अहं चा गमं त िनिव
दनु हात् ।
सोऽहं वः ाविय ािम यथाधीतं यथामित ॥ ४५॥ The Srimad Bhagavatam that I heard from the brilliant Sri Sukacharya and what I studied with his kind permission, I shall tell the same to best of my ability, said Sri Sutacharya. इित ीम ागवते महापुराणे पारमहं
ां सं िहतायां थम
े नै िमषीयोपा
ाने
तृ तीयोऽ ायः ॥ ३॥ With this, we complete a part of "The substory of Naimishya" third Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1. We could do so only with the grace of Guru Sri Raghavendra and all his philosophical associates including Sri Saunaka & his fellow Rishis, Sri Sutacahrya, Sri Sukachary, God Vayu, and Sri Hari as their Jnana Prasada. Let's pray for their continued blessings. || Hari Om ||
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02 Shaunaka Rishi's Virtue of Humility Srimad Bhagavatam was composed by Lord Veda Vyasa and initiated it to his brilliant & dear son Sri Sukhacharya. Sri Sukacharya arrived at banks of Ganga when Parakshid Raja had taken up the vow of Prayopavistam and narrated Srimad Bhagavatam as a remedy to him and to the gathering of acclaimed saints. Sri Sutacharya was also present in that gathering. Hence, Sri Sutacharya says to Sri Shaunaka and his fellow Rishis that he would narrate Srimad Bhagavatam to the best of his understanding. इित ुवाणं सं
ूय मुनीनां दीघसि णाम् ।
वृ ः कुलपितः सूतं बह्वृचः शौनकोऽ वीत् ॥ १॥ Lord Veda Vyasa, the composer of Srimad Bhagavatam records that in the long stories of penance conducted in the spiritual gathering at Naimaishya, the elder in both knowledge and age, the head of Rigveda, Sri Shaunaka Rishi praising Sri Suthacharya requesting for the narration of Srimad Bhagavata says, सूत सूत महाभाग वद नो वदतां वर । कथां भागवती ं पु
ां यदाह भगवा
ु कः ॥ २॥
Sutha, Sutha! Your eloquent narration of spiritual philosophy has gained eminence. You are fortunate for having heard Srimad Bhagavatam directly through Sri Shukacharya. It was extraordinary, hearing which Parakshid Raja went to the feet of the Lord or got Mukti from the cycle
of death & birth. Hence, please tell us Srimad Bhagavatam that was narrated by the great muni, Sri Shuka. Here, the head of Rigveda and eldest of thousands of Rishi is full of Bhagavata Dharma. Though Sri Sutacharya had already said that he will narrate Srimad Bhagavatam to best of his ability, Shaunaka Rishi filled with respect, regard, and simplicity without an iota of indifference expressed his eagerness to hear Srimad Bhagavatam filled with innocence. This is the virtue of humility. He did not take a line of waiting for Sri Sutacharya to start Srimad Bhagavatam. Though at the level of Prakriti or exterior senses, Sri Shaunaka Rishi knew the answers, with a desire to have the special knowledge through interior sense organs or at the level of Atma requests answers to several questions from Sri Suthacharya. He further inquired, क
न् युगे वृ ेयं थाने वा केन हे तुना ।
कुतः स ोिदतः कृ
ः कृतवान् संिहतां मुिनः ॥ ३॥
During which time, which places and for what reason was Srimad Bhagavatam composed? It was on whose request did Lord Sri Krishna Dvaipayana compose this scripture?
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त
पु ो महायोगी सम ङ्िनिवक
एका मित ि
कः ।
ो गूढो मूढ इवेयते ॥ ४॥
His son, Sri Shuka is a great yogi, balanced, does not see the differences as nirdosha hi samam Brahma or Stainless is Lord Sama or balanced. He would not see the difference between a Brahmin and an outcast or the elephant and dog, man and women, he would only see their Indweller, Lord Sama or Balance. Also, Sri Shuka has accomplished the pinnacle of Bhakti Yoga and would never believe in possession i.e. this is mine, that is yours and the other is his. His belief in Lordship is absolute. He is an awakened soul seeing Lord in everyone and everything. He is always alone, focussed on propitiating only Lord and has won the sleep and ignorance. No one knows him as he never exhibits himself and appears as if dull, ignorant or idiotic to ordinary. ानु या मृिषमा जम न ंदे ो ि या प रदधुन सु त त ी
पृ
ित मुनौ जगदु
वा
ीपु
दा न तु सु त
िच म् । िविव
ेः ॥ ५॥
He is a Mendicant practicing mendicancy or relying only on the donation or alms. But never waited for more than the time required to milk a cow. When he left the house and took-up mendicancy, his father Lord Veda Vyasa followed him. On the way, girls & women were bathing in a pond filled with water. A surprising incidence happened. Though Shuka being naked mendicant, passed by the pond, the women folk did not mind and were indifferent. However, when the elder Veda Vyasji fairly dressed, passed by, they blushed with shyness. To Veda Vyasji’s question, the women answering said, Lord, in your sight, you created an illusion in us having aspects that differentiate men and women. However, in that of your son Shuka, there was no such differentiation.
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कथमालि तः पौरै ः स ा ः कु जा लान् । उ
मूकजडवि चरन् गजसा ये ॥ ६॥
Being so focused on Lord, appearing as if aimless without feelings & mad, wandering in the state of Kurujangala & the city of Hastinapura, how did people recognize the great Sri Shukacharya? कथं वा पा
वेय
राजषमुिनना सह ।
संवादः समभू ात य ैषा सा ती ुितः ॥ ७॥ How did the grandson of Pandavas, the raja rishi Parakshid converse with such Bhakti Yogi and silent Sri Shukacharya? And how were the long stories of Bhagavatam told? स गोदोहनमा ं िह गृहेषु गृहमेिधनाम् । अवे ते महाभाग
ीथ कुव
दा मम् ॥ ८॥
Also, that great Sri Shukacharya would not stand in one place or in front of a house for alms more than the time required for milking a cow. Also, he would visit only to the house of virtuous. Whoever's house he visits, he would convert their house equivalent to a pilgrimage in a short time. Such was his divinity. अिभम ु सुतं सूत ा भागवतो मम् । त
ज
महा य कमािण च गृणीिह नः ॥ ९॥
Sri Sutha Puranika, we have heard that the son of Abhimanyu, Parakshid Raja was the best of Bhagavata following Bhagavata dharma to letter
and spirit. His birth itself was a wonder. Please tell us the extraordinary story of his birth and all his outstanding activities.
स स ाट् क
वा हे तोः पा ू नां मानवधनः ।
ायोपिव ो ग ायामना
ािधराट् ि यम् ॥ १०॥
Also, he brought fame to the family of Pandu and was an able Emperor. The Emperor of all the seven islands of this earth. Though had the responsibility of administrating as per the dharma set-up by his grandfather Yudhistra, for what reason did he abandoned the Empire and its wealth? What made him reach the bank of Ganges and take the vow of Prayopavistam by fasting until death? नम
य ादिनकेतमा नः िशवाय हानीय धनािन श वः ।
कथं स वीरः ि यम
दु
जां युवैषतो
टु महो सहासु िभः ॥ ११॥
The enemy Kings would bring their tax money of their kingdom to the Emperor and place it at the footrest of Parakshid Raja without failure. Yet, why the young Parakshid Raja did abandon the Empire and its complete wealth? What made him decide so? िशवाय लोक जीव
भवाय भूतये य उ म
ोकपरायणा जनाः ।
ना ाथमसौ परा यं मुमोच िनिव कुतः कलेवरम् ॥ १२॥
One who has complete trust & belief in the Lord, works for the auspiciousness, welfare, prosperity and happiness of virtuous are not selfish. This way, having benevolence and doing selfless charity, how did Parakshid raja bring in dispassion towards his clean body and decided to give up? 15 OF 80
त व नः समाच म े
पृ ो यिदह िक न ।
ां िवषये वाचां
ातम
छा सात् ॥ १३॥
Except for the world of Vedas & Vedanta, you have exceptional knowledge in all Shastras or indoctrination. Sri Sutha Puranika, please answer all our question. Though, Srimad Bhagavatam started from Janmadaysaya or the first verse of prayer, in the whole of first Skanda only the conversation between Sri Sutacharya and Shaunaka Rishi is happening. In fact, Srimad Bhagavatam, as narrated by Sri Shukacharya, starts only in the second skandha. So the question arises if the first Skanda is a part of Srimad Bhagavatam? Also, did Sri Shukacharya narrate the first skandha to Parakshid Raja or was his narration incomplete? How did Lord Veda Vyasa include the first skandha in Srimad Bhagavatam or what was the reason for inclusion? To have answers for all these, we need to know the practice of Shastras or Indoctrination. The Shastra says before the taking-up the practice of Vedas, one needs to know the Rishi or the first who explored, Devata or the Gods influencing & chandas or the meter in which the Rishi has sung. This is to pay gratitude to the Rishi who gave the mantra, propitiate the Gods who would confer with the blessings of purpose and chandas to have specific knowledge. Also, without doing so could lead to untoward. Similar to the study Vedas, Sri Sutacharya recites the below verse of prayer appropriate for the study of Puranas:
नारायणं नम ृ दे वी ं सर
ती ं
नरं चैव नरो मम् । ासं ततो जयमुदीरये त् ॥
Salutations to Lord Sriman Narayana, who supports all including Goddess Lakshmi and who is the subject of Srimad Bhagavatam. Salutations to Lord Veda Vyasa, the composer of Srimad Bhagavatam. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of fortune who is always at the service of the Lord and blessing all Bhagavatas with Srimad or in abundant. The abundance of hearing, studying, understanding Srimad Bhagavata that has Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya. Salutations to Gods Brahma & Vayu, the best of beings. Salutations to Sarasvati, the goddess of Knowledge and bhakti. Salutations to Gods Sesha and Shiva, the best of Vaishnava. Salutations to Srimad Bhagavatam that brings Victory. Hence, remembering the Guru, Parama-guru, Mulaguru, Gods and the Supreme Lord is Sanatana before taking-up any study. As this would guarantee the results or fruit. Therefore, the first three adhyaya has all the subject that is propounded by Srimad Bhagavatam. The subject of Lord, his creation & Lordship, Prakriti & His relationship, Tattva & His attributes, His various forms appearing directly, as Indweller and as Idol in all substance of Prakriti, Atma & His relationship, His other attributes of sustenance, regulation including confinement of Atma through Prakriti that influences Arishadvarga, liberation by bestowing Aproksha Jnana to Atma and
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subsequently moksha. This way salutations are paid as Narayana Namaskrutyam i.e. नारायणं नम ृ
Consistent with these and practices of Sri Sutacharya and Sri Sukhacharya which have been initiated by none other than Lord Veda Vyasa, Sri Shaunaka Rishi is asking the questions that shed light on the composer of Srimad Bhagavata, the mulaguru Sri Veda Vyasa and the reason for the manifestation of Srimad Bhagavatam. Also about Sri Shukacharya, the paramaguru who initiated Srimad Bhagavatam to various acclaimed rishis, through whose disciples Bhagavatam has reached us, and his student Parakshid Raja. This way salutations are paid as Vyasam to Lord Veda Vyasa, Devi to Goddess Lakshmi, Narottama or Bharati & Mukya Prana, as Naram i.e. Gods Garuda, Sesha, Rudra including their wives, नरं चै व नरो मम् । दे वी ं सर
ती ं
ासं.
Lord Veda Vyasa composing Srimad Bhagavatam has structured and weaved complete with Sanathana dharma having satsampradaya or auspicious practices. The practice of starting with verses of prayers to all Guru, Gods, and Lord. Knowing the subject of Lord, Rishi or the composer of Srimad Bhagavatam all Gods & Gurus having a stake to influence the fruit of studying Srimad Bhagavatam. Which means Srimad Bhagavatam starts from Janmadyasya or the first verse of prayer composed by all-knowing Lord Veda Vyasa having knowledge of past, present, and future. The same was initiated to Sri Shukacharya who in turn initiated to Parakshid Raja and other acclaimed Rishis present in
the gathering. While the narration of Srimad Bhagavatam as a conversation between Sri Shukacharya to Parakshid Raja starts in the second adhyaya. || Hari Om ||
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03 The appearance of Lord Veda Vyasa For “क
various
questions
of
Sri
Shaunaka
Rishi
like
न् युगे वृ ेयं थाने वा केन हे तुना “ i.e. during which time, which
places and for what reason was Srimad Bhagavatam composed? Sri Suthacharya says, ापरे समनु ा े तृतीये यु गपयये । जातः पराशरा ोगी वास
ां कलया हरे ः ॥ १४॥
At the ending of third Dwapara Yuga, Lord Veda Vyasa appeared in his original form of Jnana-Ananda to Parashara and Satyavati. The one day of God Brahma has 14 Manvantara, of that we are in seventh
named
Vayvasvathamanvantara.
In
this
Vayvasvathamanvatara, we are in 28th mahayuga wherein one mahayuga includes Kruta Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. Lord Veda Vyasa appeared in the just past 28th Dwapara Yuga of this Vayvasvathamanvantara. स कदािच र िविव
ा उप
ृ
जलं शु िचः ।
दे श आसीन उिदते रिवम
ले ॥ १५॥
He lives in the higher Badrinath of Himalayan Mountains. The Badrinath after Joshi mutt which is popular in Char Dham yatra is known as Vishala. Towards North of Vishala, on the banks of Saraswati River, another Badrinath with beautiful Badri trees is located. This is not accessible to human. Lord Veda Vyasa appears there. Further, in the hills of Nara & Narayana, another Badrinath called maha Badrikashram is located. Here
the Lord appears in the form of Narayana along with Nara doing tapas or austerity. On an early morning at the dawn of Sun, the stainless Lord Veda Vyasa took his bath in the holy Saraswati River. After completing Ahnika or morning activities of the day sat at a clean and lonely place engrossed in thoughts.
परावर ः स ऋिषः कालेना
रं हसा ।
युगधम ितकरं ा ं भुिव यु गे युगे ॥ १६॥ भौितकानां च भावानां श अ
ासं च त ृ तम् ।
धानान् िनःस ान् दु मधान् िसतायु षः ॥ १७॥
दु भगां जनान् वी
मुिनिद े न च ु षा ।
सववणा माणां य
ौ िहतममोघ क् ॥ १८॥
Lord with परावर ः or having knowledge of past, present & future saw the decline of Dharma from time to time through his divine eye. He saw the secret acts of time or Kala and its speed of actions. The speed at which water flows in a river or even the speed of wind can be measured by a human. However, the activity, actions, relations or Social environment over time cannot be measured and is beyond human comprehension.
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Those of us experienced and old enough could see the intensity, speed, and secrecy with which the Time would act on our social environment. What we were or thought & believed 30 years back or 20 years back or even 10 years back is totally different now. Only some dare to introspect on hindsight. The addition of relatives or newborn or loss of grandparents or parents or children or friends or, the change in occupation or economic status or the place of stay or our understanding on religion or spirituality or habits, routines & gossips or the general behavior and so on. Everything changes in a short span of our life. The changes that occur over Yuga is unimaginable. The geographical location of earth changes. Like the sunken city of Dwarka, some island sink and some appear. The people, their size, their lifespan, their behavior, everything changes without leaving a trail. Lord Veda Vyasa sees the evil Kali preside over Kali Yuga influence materials and Jiva. The materials including air, water, and soil losing its qualities. Kali occupying the mind space of individuals. He sees us losing faith in him, the faith in dharma and the faith in rituals. The decline in piousness, intelligence, and fortune. Hence, the Gods influencing nonliving material and living beings seek his intervention including those influencing Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya. Obliging these Gods and being concerned for the people of Kali Yuga, he starts thinking as to how to bring benefit to the people of all ashrama and Varna in Kali Yuga.
चातुह ं कम शु ं जानां वी दधा
स
वैिदकम् ।
ै वे दमेकं चतुिवधम् ॥ १९॥
ऋ जु ःसामाथवा
ा वेदा
इितहासपु राणं च प मो वे द उ
ार उद् धृताः । ते ॥ २०॥
To enable follow Vedic procedure having four priests carrying out invocation and offering sacrifice to fire that would bestow pleasant heart and lucid minds, Lord Veda Vyasa recuperates Vedas and compiles them into four sections of Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvana Veda. Also, he composes Ithihasa or History including Mahabharata, Pancharatra and Puranas which are equivalent to Vedas or called as fifth Veda. त
दधरः पैलः सामगो जैिमिनः किवः ।
वैश ायन एवैको िन
ातो यजु षामुत ॥ २१॥
अथवाि रसामासी ुम ु दा णो मुिनः । इितहासपु राणानां िपता मे रोमहषणः ॥ २२॥ Of this, he initiated Rigveda to Sage Paila. Paila became foremost promoting Rigveda. Similarly, Lord Veda Vyasa initiated Yajurveda to Sage Vaishampayana, Samaveda to Jaimini. Sage Samanta became the foremost expert of Atharvangirasa or Atharvaveda and promoted that. My father Romaharshana expertise on Ithihasa and Purana says Sri Sutacharya.
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त एत ऋषयो वेदं िश ै ः िश ै
ं
ं ैवदा
ने कधा । े शा खनोऽभवन् ॥ २३॥
Subsequently, all of these sages further divided the Vedas to much smaller branches and initiated them to their more disciples. With this Guru-Shishya or the Teacher-disciple system following various branches were set forth. Without the blessings of Guru, knowledge will not dawn. Only through knowledge, progress towards knowing Lord is possible. Lord Veda Vyasa is the mula Guru or foremost. Hence, his blessings are critical for understanding Shastra or Indoctrinations. Only through the worship of Lord Veda Vyasa, propitiating him, read his deeds and conduct regularly, the Shastras start revealing त एव वे दा दु मधैधाय े पु षैयथा । एवं चकार भगवान्
ासः कृपणव लः ॥ २४॥
The kind-hearted, generous & divine Bhagavan Veda Vyasa composed Brahma Sutra seeing the poor ability in people to practice yoga including contemplation of Lord’s attributes and Meditation, ीशू ि जब ूनां यी न ुितगोचरा । कम ेयिस मूढानां ेय एवं भवेिदह । इित भारतमा
ानं कृपया मुिनना कृतम् ॥ २५॥
The women folk, working class, the twice-born business class, army personnel, administrators & intelligentsia who have not taken up the study of Vedas would falter the righteous path of dharma. For their
benefit, the generous & kind hearted Lord Veda Vyasa composed Mahabharata to enable them to carry out Jnana Yagna and follow dharma.
एवं वृ
सदा भूतानां ेयिस ि जाः ।
सवा केनािप यदा नातु द् धृदयं ततः ॥ २६॥ Shaunaka Rishi, This way, though always acting for the protection of the virtuous, नातु द् or he expressed as if he is dissatisfied and unpleased i.e. he did not feel enough to stop his work. नाित सीदद् धृदयः सर िवतकयन् िविव
ा
टे शु चौ ।
थ इदं चोवाच धमिवत् ॥ २७॥
Expressing this feeling of dissatisfaction, Lord Veda Vyasa sitting on the banks of River Sarasvati engrossed, started having following thoughts: Here, we need to remind ourselves that the Lord is full of Knowledge & Bliss. Just with a thought, he could accomplish everything to his satisfaction. But, appearing on earth, following the process of happenings similar to other Rishis and Munis of earth, taking time He thought thus: धृत तेन िह मया छ ां िस गुरवोऽ यः । मािनता िन
लीकेन गृहीतं चानुशासनम् ॥ २८॥
Without being tricky and having the virtue of Chastity, I have been worshipping elders including Parashara & Satyavati as parents accepted the knowledge from Parashara as Guru divided the Vedas & initiated my
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disciples strengthened the Guru-Sishya parampara, carried out the Fire ceremony and attend the requirement of Virtuous.
भारत
पदे शेन
ा ायाथ दिशतः ।
ते य धमािद
ीशू ािदिभर ुत ॥ २९॥
By composing Mahabharata, I have ensured that even the women & working class could understand their dharma by shedding light on the concepts of Vedas. तथािप बत मे दै ो अस
इवाभाित
ा ा चैवा ना िवभु ः । वच
स मः ॥ ३०॥
By splitting Vedas, initiating to sishyas, strengthening Guru-Sishya parampara, composing Mahabarata having Bhagavad Gita & Vishnu Sahsaranama, my Lotus of Heart is glowing pretty bright with Brahmavarchas. Still, I am having the feeling of dissatisfaction or अस
and have to do more.
िकं वा भागवता धमा न ायेण िन िपताः । ि याः परमहं सानां त एव
ुति याः ॥ ३१॥
Probably, I have not propounded the Bhagavata dharma which is dear to Saints and can be understood by even ordinary through the essence of Stories. These are dear to Lord Achyutha who has no decline and causing me dissatisfaction says Lord Veda Vyasa following the Rishi & Muni dharma on the earth. From this, we could infer that Srimad Bhagavatam is a forerunner to Mahabharata i.e. One would gain Bhakti through Srimad Bhagavatam.
Through that Bhakti, one should study Mahabharata to understand the concept of Dharma easily.
त
ै वं खलमा ानं म मान
कृ
नारदोऽ
ख तः ।
ागादा मं ागुदा तम् ॥ ३२॥
With these thoughts, as Lord Krishna Dwaipayana was expressing the feeling of dissatisfaction, Narada Rishi arrived there. To the Badrikashrama. The Narada Rishi who stands as a street lamp showing the right directions to Gods like Prahlada & Dhruva. Whose mercy to the people of Kali Yuga is so enormous that any number of our prostration to his lotus feet falls short!
तमिभ ाय सहसा
ु ायागतं मुिनः ।
पू जयामास िविधव ारदं सु रपूिजतम् ॥ ३३॥ As Lord saw the arrival of Narada Rishi, he got up and welcomed Narada Rishi. इित ीम ागवते महापुराणे पारमहं
ां सं िहतायां थम
े नै िमषीयोपा
ाने
चतुथ ऽ ायः ॥ ४॥ With this, we complete a part of "The substory of Naimishya" fourth Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1. We could do so only with the grace of Guru Sri Raghavendra and all his philosophical associates including Sri Saunaka & his fellow Rishis, Sri Sutacahrya, Sri Sukachary, God Vayu, and Sri Hari as their Jnana Prasada. 27 OF 80
Jaganatha Dasa, who lived from 1728 to 1809 was a great saint and an Aproksha Jnani. The spiritual literary work of Harikathaamritasara in Kannada is his magnum opus. With below excerpt of his Mangalacharna in Kannada and its English translation, Let us pray Lord Veda Vyasa for his continued blessings:
ह रकथा ुथसार गु गल क णिद ा पिनतु पेलुवे। परम भगवद्
रदनादरिद केलुवुदु ॥
Harikathaamritasara is the essence of stories of Hari that are as delicious as nectar. The stories of Lord Hari, destroyer of Sins, difficulties & sorrow of virtuous. Shall narrate these after having understood with the mercy of Guru. The supreme devotees having accomplished Bhakti Yoga should hear this with great respect.
वे दपीठ िव रि भव श ािद सुरिव नान दायक मोदिच य गा लोकपिव सु च र । छे दभे◌ेद िवषाद कुिटलां तािदम
िवदू रा आदा नािद कारण बादरायण पािह स ाण ॥
A pedestal for Vedas having a form of Knowledge & Ananda blessing knowledge to Gods including Brahma, Rudra, Indra, purifying the three Lokas or regions have the highest fame. Tearing & removing the depressions or cheat without a beginning, middle or end and always protecting & energizing the virtuous, Lord Veda Vyasa bless us with the study of Srimad Bhagavatam. My salutations to You. || Hari Om ||
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04
Narada Rishi visits Lord Veda Vyasa
During which time, which places and for what reason was Srimad Bhagavatam composed? And so on were the questions of Sri Shaunaka Rishi. Answering all the questions, Sri Suthacharya lists the following literary works of Lord Veda Vyasa: 1.
Compiling Vedas into four sections as Rigveda, Yajurveda,
Samaveda and Atharvana Veda. 2.
Composing Brahma Sutra having the conclusive meaning of Vedas
with Jignasa or delibrations. 3. Composing Mahabarata detailing Vedas in the form of stories and Vedanta in the form of Vishnu Sahasranama & Bhagavad Gita. 4.
Puranas detailing the conclusive meaning of Vedas in the form of
stories. Before composing the eighteenth (18th) Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Veda Vyasa delays as if like an ordinary author or a rishi. In the north of Badri or Vishala, on the banks of River Saraswati after having carried out morning activities, while sitting at a lonely and holy place, Narada Rishi appears to Lord Veda Vyasa. Narada Rishi was wearing red robes, holding Veena and doing sankeertana. The Poorna or complete Lord having immeasurable attributes including being bhaktavatsala for whom devotees are most dear, delays composition of Srimad Bhagavatam. This is to credit the initiation of composing Srimad Bhagavata to Narada Rishi:
As Lord Veda Vyasa saw the arrival of Narada Rishi, Sri Sutacharya says, तमिभ ाय सहसा
ु ायागतं मुिनः ।
पू जयामास िविधव ारदं सु रपूिजतम् ॥ As Lord saw the arrival of Narada Rishi, he got up and welcomed Narada Rishi. He invites Narada Rishi as guest needs to be invited by everyone. Lord Veda Vyasa says ारदं सु रपू िजतम्, Narada Rishi, even the Gods worship you. Sri Suthacharya says, अथ तं सु खमासीन उपासीनं बृह दे विषः ाह िव िष वीणापािणः
वाः । यि व ॥ १॥
The generous, kind-hearted, & famous Narada Rishi, an object of all auspiciousness always holding Veena sat close to Lord Veda Vyasa wearing a closed-lip smile. Narada Rishi knew that Lord Veda Vyasa was delaying and had decided to compose Srimad Bhagavatam. However, he was conducting himself as any other Rishi on the earth. Every Jiva taking birth on this earth has a mission to be accomplished. Till the time of accomplishment, Jiva feels scared and confused. Helpless some times. Knowing the objective and developing the required skill should be the purpose of life. The completely satisfied Lord having no expectation was conducting like another helpless, confused or scared Jiva.
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Seeing all this, Narada Rishi inquired, पाराशय महाभाग भवतः क
दा ना ।
प रतु ित शारीर आ ा मानस एव वा ॥ २॥ िज ािसतं सुस
मिप ते महदद् भुतम् ।
कृतवान् भारतं य
ं सवाथप रबृंिहतम् ॥ ३॥
िज ािसतमधीतं च य अथािप शोच
सनातनम् ।
ा ानमकृताथ इव भो ॥ ४॥
The most eminent, distinguished and a treasure of attributes, Son of Parashara! Is your body & mind, fine? Have you accomplished all actions and the strategies that bring happiness to you? You know all the indoctrinations that are to be known or exists. Composition of Mahabarata is your stellar performance. It is complete having all meanings of Vedas, has all that is in this world including all objectives of life or Purusharta. Also, after deep thinking and proper understanding, the Vedanta or concepts on Sanatana or of oldest Lord has been well captured by you in Brahma Sutras. With all this, your goal should have been completed. Even then, without being pleased, why are you expressing dissatisfaction like any other Rishi? Lord Veda Vyasa replies,
अ
ेव मे सविमदं
त ू लम
यो
मगाधबोधंपृ
स वै भवान् वेद सम
ं तथािप ना ा प रतु ते मे । ामहे
ा भवा भू तम् ॥ ५॥
गु मुपािसतो य ु षः पु राणः ।
परावरे शो मनसैव िव ं सृ ज व ि गुणैरस ः ॥ ६॥ ं पयट क इव ि लोकीम परावरे
िण धमतो तैः
रो वायु रवा सा ी । ातस्य मे
ू नमलं िवच
॥ ७॥
Narada Rishi, All that you have said is true. There is no doubt in that. Yet my heart is not pleasant nor is my mind lucid. I am not able to find the reasons. You have vast & deep knowledge. You have born out of the intellect of God Brahma. You are his Son. Hence, I am asking the reason for my dissatisfaction to you. You should tell me. Deva Rishi, you are a saint even to Gods. You are aware of all deep mysteries. You have successfully worshiped Lord Bhagavan, the Supreme Purusha. The Lord Bhagavan who regulates all the reasons for the action. Has an immeasurable amount of Iccha Shakti or the power of will to create, sustain destroy, & so on the entire universe, the Jnana Shakti or the Knowledge required to do so and Kriya Shakti or the power to execute. And, without being touched or struck in any bind to actions. Like the Sun rays lights-up the three worlds, so too, Vayu or air and you too travel in all regions. With your power of yoga, like God Prana, you enter all Jiva worshipping Paramatma, the Supreme Lord in each of them. Hence, you have knowledge of everyone’s thoughts and feeling. You are a witness of all thoughts & feelings of any Jiva. 33 OF 80
Having done all spiritual practices as prescribed in the indoctrinations with full faith and propitiated the Omnipresent, Eternal, Independent & Supreme Lord Brahman, I should have been engulfed in bliss. But, I am not having such an experience! Please let me know the reasons, asks Lord Veda Vyasa. Lord Veda Vyasa having the knowledge of past, present & future has weaved even this incident to mesmerize the people and credit his dear devotee, Narada Rishi for the manifestation of Srimad Bhagavatam Narada Rishi says, भवतानुिदत ायं यशो भगवतोऽमलम् । येनैवासौ न तु ेत म े त शनं खलम् ॥ ८॥ Veda VyasaJi! Probably you have not composed literature having only the fame of the Lord! The fame which has the power to cleanse the stain of Kali. Lord would be most pleased with the writing of his Fame. Other than that, he would not be completely pleased with any other philosophy. Also, those philosophies that do not please him is useless and waste. यथा धमादय ाथा मुिनवयानुकीितताः । न तथा वासुदेव
मिहमा
नुविणतः ॥ ९॥
Great Saint, You have exhaustively explained Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha giving all details. And, one could do so. But the fame of Lord
Vasudeva would always become incomplete. It is immeasured. Hence, please elaborate on His fame.
न य चि
पदं हरे यशो जग िव ं गृणीत किहिचत् ।
त ायसं तीथमुश
मानसा न य हं सा िनरम
ु िश
याः ॥ १०॥
A Literature having words alphabets & their arrangement, depictions of sentiments, the figure of speech adorning the literary composition could be very attractive. But, if it does not extol the abundant fame of Lord Hari that purifies the world, then it is of evil. The swans of divine Manasarovar Lake would abandon the other polluted lakes as only suitable for Crows. Similarly, the Paramahamsa or the enlightened Spiritual Teachers would abandon the Literary Works that does not contain the fame of Lord Hari as polluted and corrupt. त ा
सग जनताघिव
नामा न
वो य
न् ित
यशोऽि तािन य ृ
ोकमब व िप । गाय
गृण
साधवः ॥ ११॥
However, those literary works having the name of Lord Achyuta in every verse can purify the sins of people. Since the enlightened spiritual teachers, the virtuous would hear, repeat, sing, praise & take refuge of Lord who has no decline through those literary works making it divine. There are three types of languages used for communication in Hindu scripture i.e Guhiya or secretive way, Samadhi or instructive way and Darshana or philosophical way. The all-knowing originator of Languages, Lord Veda Vyasa has blended all these ways of communication in his literature including Mahabharata. Hence, debates are done to date if 35 OF 80
Karna or Arjuna is real Hero! Also, Karna has been eulogized as a broad hearted, courageous & tragic hero by some. And so on allowing different views or positions yielding targeted messaging, though. Also, by telling only Dharma or rules to be followed, the individual would get perturbed. Mahabarata not only includes Guhiya, Samadhi & Darshana way of communication but says what is right and what is wrong in every step of the great story. Hence, Narada Rishi prays Lord Veda Vyasa to compose Srimad Bhagavatam having only Samadhi or the instructive way to enable people of Kali Yuga to easily understand without much contradictions. Remembering Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam 08 - Srimad Bhagavata, Redemption from Sins, The Siri Ramana Tava Charana poem, Sri Jaganatha Dasaru has brought forward the significance of Lord's name. The excerpts of same are furnished below for immediate recall: Narahariye ninna naamasmarane maadade narakakke Guriyaadeno | AP | Siriramana tava charana dorakuvudu hyaanginnu Parama paapishta naanu | P | Lord Narahari! Having not even remember your name, I am on the verge of falling into the Hell! My Lord, even Siri, the goddess of abundance looks to you for happiness. Where do I stand to pray to Your lotus feet? I am an extreme sinner!
Sri Puranadara Dasaru (1484-1564), is believed to be the अं श or part of Narada Rishi. Knowing us, as subservient to our Indriyas or senseorgans has composed the below "Acharavillada naalige" song in Kannada. Also, the song was in a famous Kannada film Upaasane (1974). This is a song of frustration for those wishing to move out of the clutches Indriyas. And unless felt so, would keep us away from Lord. Let's take look at it with English translation in a font: Acharavillada naalige, ninna neecha buddhiya bidu nalige Vicharavillade parara dooshipudakke, chaachi kondiruvantha naalige. ll Achara ll The Devious one! Give-up your mean mindedness, Oh! Tongue Being stupid & as if eager to blame others, Oh! Dangling Tongue The Devious one! Give-up your mean mindedness, Oh! Tongue Pratahkaladoleddu naalige, siri pathiyennabarade naalige pathita pavana namma ratipatijanakana sathathavu nudi kandya naalige ll Achara ll Getting up early morning, Oh! Tongue; should you not say SiriPati, Oh! Tongue The Pathita Pavana, purifier of sins, our dear Ratipatijanaka, the father of Anirudha Haven’t you seen the repetition of his name of Sri Krishna always, Oh! Tongue
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The Devious one! Give-up your mean mindedness, Oh! Tongue Chaadi helalu beda nalige, ninna bedikombuvenu nalige roodhigodeya SriRamana namava paduthaliru kandya naalige ll Achara ll Do not carry tales, oh! Tongue; I beg of you, oh! Tongue; Haven’t you seen the famous Lord, Sri Rama’s name always being sung, Oh! Tongue The Devious one! Give-up your mean mindedness, Oh! Tongue Hariya smarane madu naalige; Narahariya bhajise kandya nalige varada purandara vittalarayana; charana kamala nene naalige llAchara ll Keep remembering Lord Hari, Oh! Tongue; Haven’t you seen the worship of Lord Narahari Keep remembering the lotus feet of Lord Purundara Vlttala, the giver of boons, Oh! Tongue || Hari Om ||
05
The First Principles of Bhakti Yoga by Narada Rishi
Knowing that Lord Veda Vyasa was extending the kindest & generous gesture of crediting the manifestation of Srimad Bhagavatam to him, Narada Rishi prayed to Lord Veda Vyasa requesting him to compose stories having Lord’s names singing his attributes, elaborating his fame in the language of samadhi or instructive way. This would enable the following to the people of Kali Yuga: a) The cleansing pollutant of Kali, b) Redemption of Sins, c) Hone the attitude of Bhakti, d) The sight of Lord and e) The Lord himself Further, Narada Rishi continues to say, नै
म
ुतभावविजतंन शोभते ानमलं िनर नम् ।
कुतः पुनः श दभ मी रे न चािपतं कम यद कारणम् ॥ १२॥ Most of the spiritual activities that we do including Sandyavandana, or morning prayers, or visiting temples, and so on are as a duty. Many a time this becomes mechanical without being heartfelt nor expression of feelings and hence is not liked. Similar is in the study of indoctrinations or Shastras. If not done with Bhakti, then the activity would not yield progress. Also, doing with some expectations is inauspicious. Even after doing without expectations, but if not submitted to the Lord would not delight him. Hence, the practitioner should do all activities with
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heartfelt Bhakti in the Lord without any expectations to make the needle of merit move says Narada Rishi. Though from ानं or Knowledge is अमलं or stainless िनर नं purity i.e. One could remove all defects and also avoid it with Knowledge. One could be an expert in all indoctrinations of Philosophy including Amarakosha or Thesaurus, Grammer, all Vedas, Vedantas, Mahabarata, Ramayana, and so on. But if he has no devotion or Bhakti towards Lord Achyutha or अ
ुतभावविजतं, then न शोभते or he is not fit or of any
use is what Narada Rishi is saying. कुतः पु नः or If that is the status of Knowledge, which is on higher-order, then what could be told about actions. All actions should be done to propitiate the Lord and please him with नै
or abstinence of act
including its consequences. That is possible only when done with Bhakti. Hence, whatever action one might have undertaken including the best of charity like establishing Educational Institution or Hospitals or old age Homes or construction of Lakes or Ponds for water, or any best act but न चािपतं कम or if not submitted to the Indweller, the Lord then it is अभ or inauspicious.
अथो महाभाग भवानमोघ उ
म
ा खलब मु
ुिच वाः स रतो धृत तः । ये समािधनानु
र ति चे ि तम् ॥ १३॥
The Holy one, you have the divine vision and have become famous for your chastity. Also, your vow or commitment to upholding honesty and the study of Vedas is worshipped by all. Hence, to liberate from the confinement of the cycle of death and birth of अ खलब मु
or all the
virtuous Jivas, please compose the extraordinary fame of Lord in the language of Samadhi. The fame of Lord for singing and admiration by Jivas at all times. ततोऽ था िक न यि व तः पृ थग् श न कु िच
ृ त पनामिभः ।
ािप च दु ः थता मितलभे त वाताहतनौ रवा
दम् ॥ १४॥
Without singing the fame of Lord, if one narrates anything else according to his own wish that would not be of any use to his objectives of Life or Purusharta. In fact, he would be stuck in the storm of his own creation. The storm manifested out of his wishes. His mind space gets occupied with diverse and contrasting views. Therefore, making him like a ship caught in a storm in the middle of the sea.
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जुगु
तं धमकृतेऽनुशासतः
भावर
य ा
तो धम इतीतरः थतो न म ते त
महान्
ित मः ।
िनवारणं जनः ॥ १५॥
All of us who are entangled with the thread of action and stuck in the cycle of death & birth are engrossed in materialistic activities. If you too, compose spiritual literature benefiting the most reprimandable material substance or worldly gains, the situation would become extremely जुगु
तं or disgusting. Because, from your statement, the
foolish people would consider and decide that even the reprimandable as dharma. We are so passionate about Science, our understanding of the Universe, gadgets like Mobile, Laptops, or even Technology like the internet and so on. The WhatsApp messages or Blogs as this is pretty cool, connecting all of us. This gives us a sense of progress and development. However, Narada Rishi knowing the future is requesting here to Lord Veda Vyasa not to endorse any of these. He says it would be जु गु
तं or disgusting.
Our belief that the word of Srimad Bhagavatam is being spread through this Internet may fall flat as this has been happening since ages. Maybe more than 5000 years. Even before we started cutting woods to get bark, chip it & make pulp by adding chemicals & cooking before rolling it as paper, recover some chemicals and puke rest causing more harm. Let alone the Internet. Also, it is not that the necessary knowledge like farming or trading or arms or even advanced
knowledge
like खगोल शा
or astronomy for calculating eclipses or auspicious time
was not available since then. िवच णोऽ वतमान
ाहित वेिदतुं िवभोरन पार गुणैरना न
िनवृ ि तः सु खम् ।
तो भवान् दशय चे ि तं िवभोः ॥ १६॥
You are a Genius! You are fully acquainted with the immeasurable energy of Lord Bhagavan and his sport. Also, the bliss that manifests after developing dispassion towards worldly life. Therefore, showing mercy on the virtuous people who have engrossed in worldly activities, please show them the spiritual path of िनवृ ि dharma or abstaining from sensual pleasures. So that, even they too can engage in Bhakti Yoga, break the cycle of death & birth by receiving Prasada of Aproksha Jnana from Lord. Consequently, get rid of Lingadeha or the shield of Prakriti encapsulating Atma and realize “Self”, prays Narad Rishi to Lord Veda Vyasa. The वृि dharma or worldly activities may yield immediate sensual pleasures. But it is short-lived. For example, one may work hard and get good Qualification or Profession or Business or earn a lot of money or earn high social status. This could be lost for any reasons. May be due to gambling, or robbery or have a spendthrift child or for health reasons or even reasons of force majeure like nature’s fury of rains & storms or social unrest. The same is not assured always by the act of time and its secret behavior in one’s life nor in any subsequent lives.
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However, not so with िनवृि dharma or spiritual path of abstaining from sensual pleasure to only please Lord. If one has accomplished good spiritual progress gaining high merits and for some reasons of anger or fun does wrongdoing. The kind-hearted and generous Lord would not quash those merits. But would allow him to correct or redeem sins and continue on a spiritual path from where he had left carrying forward the merits that he had already accrued even though of previous births. ा य
धम चरणा ुजं हरे भज प ोऽथ पते तो यिद ।
वाभ मभूदमु
िकं को वाथ आ ोऽभजतां
धमतः ॥ १७॥
If one gives-up the worldly activities of materialistic happiness to follow the path of Bhakti Yoga of propitiating Lord and meets death before accomplishing results, will it cause inauspiciousness? Says Narada Rishi with question affirmation. In other words, yes there will be always auspiciousness, for those who propitiate Lord having a heart filled with Bhakti without expectations even in future lives. Similarly, for those who are always involved in the worldly activities and averse to the worship of Lord, is there any special benefits? Says Narada Rishi with question affirmation. In other words, there would be no benefits after death for those who are involved in worldly activities.
Hence, Doing Bhakti Yoga without any expectations & contemplating the sport's charm of the Lord is the only key to success. You know that this is the only way to always remember and be mindful of Lord. Hence, please compose the famous sport’s charm of Lord that sings his glory as that is the most beneficial to the ordinary people. And brings auspiciousness to the world.
त त
ै व हे तोः यतेत कोिवदो न ल
ते यद् मतामु पयधः ।
ते दु ःखवद तः सुखं कालेन सव गभीररं हसा ॥ १८॥
Though, even if the Jiva reaches the height of Brahmloka or any other below intermediate regions, would not experience the supreme bliss. Also, on the timeline of the cycle of death & birth, worldly happiness & sorrow would continue. Hence, without making any special efforts for worldly happiness, the smart ones would practice Bhakti Yoga in Lord. The Gopikas of Vrindavana did so. Without getting attached to the day to day worldly matters, they worshipped Lord Sri Krishna by pouring all their heart & soul. Doing this way is supreme.
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Narada Rishi, with his heart brimming with Bhakti repeatedly addressing Lord Veda Vyasa as Great Saint! Says, न वै जनो जातु कथ ना जे ुकु से
वद
रन् मुकु ाङ् ्युपगूहनं पुनिवहातुिम े
सं सृितम् ।
रस हो यतः ॥ १९॥
Those who are at the service of the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Mukunda would never carry out actions of activities that would lead to the cycle of death & birth. If once, one tastes the nectar of Bhakti Yoga, he would get engrossed in the Lotus feet of Lord, never to leave like the business of honey bee has no time for Sorrow and sink in the ocean of ecstasy. While the bees fly to flowers to drink nectar, mosquitoes fly to the filth to multiply! इदं िह िव ं भगवािनवेतरो यतो जग थानिनरोधस त
यं वेद भवां
वाः ।
थािप वै ादे शमा ं भवतः दिशतम् ॥ २०॥
This universe itself is a shape & figure of the Lord. In all living beings is also Lord. However, he stands above all by surpassing all living chetana and nonliving achetana. It is He who does the Creation, Protection, Destruction, and so on. You know all about the Lord. I have just made an attempt to indicate about Him. Hence, please elaborate on the Sports Charm and attributes of the Lord says Narada Rishi with sentiments and posture oozing humility.
मा नाऽऽ ानमवे मोघ
र
पुं सः परमा नः कलाम् ।
अजं जातं जगतः िशवाय त हानु भावा ु दयोऽिधग
ताम् ॥ २१॥
You're eminent, your sight, your vision is efficacious and unfailing. Your appearance is the form of Paramatma, Lord Purusha. Kindly consider that. Though eternal having no death nor birth, you appear for the prosperity of this Universe. Hence, please sing the exclusive and the choicest fame of Lord.
इदं िह पुंस अिव
पसः ुत
वा
सू
ुतोऽथः किविभिन िपतो यदु म
च बु
द योः ।
ोकगुणानु वणनम् ॥ २२॥
The knowledgeable have concluded that better than worshiping Lord through Austerity (Tapa) or Studying Vedas or Fire Sacrifices (Yagna) or Self Study (Svaadhyaya) or Sacrifice to acquire Knowledge (Jnana Yagna) or Charity is singing the Divine Fame of Lord that includes his Holy attributes and His Sports Charm. अहं पुरातीतभवेऽभवं मुने दा
ा
ुक
ा न वे दवािदनाम् ।
िन िपतो बालक एव योिगनां शु ूषणे ावृ िष िनिविव ताम् ॥ २३॥ Oh! Great Sage, the result for having done all this including singing the divine fame of Lord having holy attributes, his sports charm is my life story itself. In my last birth, I was born to a maid who served at the house of Brahmins. The Brahmins who were engaged in deep study of Vedas through deliberations and arguments. Some Yogis visited them for 47 OF 80
Chatur Masa or the Vow of Four Months starting from rainy season. My mother had engaged me to serve those Yogis for all their needs, says Narada rishi. Looking forward to the continued blessings of Hari, Vayu, and Gurus to hear the Life Story of Narada Rishi. Being on the topic, Srinivasa Nayaka was a jeweler and popularly known as Navakoti Narayana for his wealth of over ninety million. But giving up everything to become Sri Purandara Dasaru. He lived during 1484-1564 AD and is believed to be a अंज or part of Narada Rishi. Tapping us gently to wake us up from the slumber of worldly pleasure, he has composed a song saying he has taken up the business of honey bees of relishing the nectar from the Lotus feet of Lord Purundara Vittala. Also, this song was in a Kannada film Navakoti Narayana (1964) sung by the famous duet S. Janaki & M. Balamuralikrishna. Let's take a look at it with English translation in a font:
madhukara vrtti ennadu adu balu cennadu || P || I have a business like that of the honey bee, that is very Good padumanAbhana pAda paduma madhupavemba || AP || Lord Padumanabha’s feet being the Lotus for sucking nectar kAlige gejje kaTTi nIla varNana guNa ALApisutta balu olaga mADuvantha || 1 || Wearing the anklets with jingles, setting forth the musical notes to sing the attributes of the blue colored Lord suitable for Olaga instrument I have a business like that of the honey bee, that is very Good ranganAthana guNa hingade pADutta shrngAra nODutta kangaLAnandavemba || 2 || Singing the attributes of Lord Ranganatha without being exhausted, admiring his handsomeness to be filled with happiness I have a business like that of the honey bee, that is very Good indirApati purandara viTTalanalli chendada bhaktiyinda Anandava paDuvantha || 3 || The Lord of Goddess Indra, Sri Purandara Vittala in whom doing good Bhakti and filling the heart with happiness, I have a business like that of the honey bee, that is very Good || Hari Om ||
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06
The Past Birth of Narada Rishi, an Illustration to Bhakti Yoga
Answering to Lord Veda Vyasa’s request to tell him the reasons for his dissatisfaction even after composing several spiritual scriptures, Narada Rishi requests him to compose Srimad Bhagavatam with narration on the fame of Lord and his attributes in the language of Samadhi. Also, propagate Bhakti towards Lord by repeated singing, hearing, praising & taking refuge of Lord through Nivruti dharma of abstaining from sensual pleasures of material substance and worldly gains for the following reasons: 1.
Nivruti dharma leads to the accomplishment of Purushaartha. Else one will be like a ship caught in the storm at the middle of the sea.
2.
Though Pravruti dharma or worldly activities may yield immediate sensual pleasures, is short-lived. To support this would not suit the stature of Lord Veda Vyasa and the virtuous could get mislead.
3.
The practice of Pravruti dharma is vicious in nature leading downwards. But in practice of Nivruti dharma options to redeem sins for any mistakes is possible and leads upwards.
4.
Whatever one may do, even accomplish the height of Brahmloka or any other below intermediate regions, would not experience the supreme bliss. Also, on the timeline of the cycle of death & birth, worldly happiness & sorrow would continue. Hence, without any special efforts for worldly happiness, the smart would practice Bhakti Yoga in Lord.
5.
When Lord Veda Vyasa himself composes, reading or hearing that will make the pollutant disappear leading to liberation from the cycle of death & birth to all virtuous. Also, the virtuous would become the devotees of the Lord.
6.
Those who are at the service of the Lotus feet of Lord, Sri Mukunda would never carry out actions of activities that would lead to the cycle of death & birth. Also, such people will not be troubled or tattered in samsara. Though they have to face minor issues and appear as if struggling in samsara, but they would be blessed with enough strength to easily overcome and get moksha.
As an illustration of the practice of Nivruti dharma, Narada Rishi cites his life story of previous birth. He says, in my last birth, I was born to a maid who served at the house of Brahmins. The Brahmins who were engaged in deep study of Vedas through deliberations and arguments. Accomplished Sages and their followers visited them for Chatur Masa or the Vow of four Months starting from rainy season. My mother had engaged me to serve those Yogis for all their needs, says Narada rishi. Narada Rishi continues,
ते म पेता खलचापलेऽभके दा े ऽधृत ीडनकेऽनु वितिन || च ु ः कृपां य िप तु
दशनाः शु ू षमाणे मुनयोऽ 51 OF 80
भािषिण ॥ २४॥
Though I was a small boy, with the grace of Lord, I was able to exercise my will overall sensory organs. I had no specific desire for worldly things including playing like other children. Speaking very little, I was meeting all their requirements. Being pleased with my sober behavior, the impartial Sages having no likes and dislikes to good and bad, bestowed kind and generous favors on me. उ
लेपाननुमोिदतो ि जैः सकृ म भु े तदपा
एवं वृ
िवशु चेतस
मएवा
िक
षः ।
िचः जायते ॥ २५॥
The companions of holy sages prepared bhog or food for submission to Lord as naivedya during their prayers every day. Subsequently, they had the same as Prasada. After their acceptance of Prasada, I would clear the place of their eating. I would have उ
or the leftover food with
their due permission. As they had the Prasada of Lord, once a day, I too used to have food only once a day. Doing so, all my sins got cleansed. This way daily doing the service of sages, my heart became light, crystal clear, stainless and devoid of any pollutant. Also, daily I observed the prayers of yogis, the way they worshipped to propitiate the Lord and sang His glory excellently. I was attracted to their dharma and developed a keen desire to do the same.
त ा हं कृ ताः
कथाः गायतामनु हे णा णवं मनोहराः ।
या मेऽनुपदं िव
तः ि य व
ममाभव ु िचः ॥ २६॥
Maha Rishi, Vyasji! This company of wise & virtuous, their pastime of singing, repeated reading, narration, discourses on the attributes of Lord, his sports charm gave me access to hear the fascinating stories of Lord Sri Krishna. With full faith and devotion, I heard every word of them on the famous Lord who likes being praised. This stole my heart and ममाभव ु िचः brought delight in doing so, says Narada Rishi. This way, the company of wise & virtuous brought excellent benefit to me. All this happened because of absolute and unlimited favor on me by those virtuous & extremely kind-hearted Sages. त
ं
दा ल
ययाहमेत दस
चेमहामुनेि य व माययाप
े मिय
ा
िलता मितमम । िण क
तं परे ॥ २७॥
The Great Sage! By then, my heart had fallen in love with the most charming Lord Manohara. My mind space got occupied by the most Famous Lord yielding unwavering Bhakti. Consequent to the steady Bhakti, I started seeing the beautiful form of universe constructed of Prakriti influenced by Goddess Maya as an idol of Lord Brahaman and same Lord Brahaman reflecting in my soul.
इ ं शर ावृिषकावृतू हरे िव स ी मानं मुिनिभमहा िभभ
तो मेऽनु सवं यशोऽमलम् । ः वृ ाऽऽ रज 53 OF 80
मोऽपहा ॥ २८॥
As the virtuous sages sang the stainless fame of Lord three times a day for four months of both the seasons of Varsha or Rain and Sharad or autumn, I heard those sankeertana having fascinating stories of Lord Sri Krishna. Hearing their soft words full of love & affection, the Lotus of my heart blossomed in which the light of bhakti glowed. This bhakti destroyed Rajasika & Thamasika Guna that had occupied my Soul. त
ैवं मेऽनुर धान
बाल
ि त दा
हतैनसः । ानुचर
च ॥ २९॥
Also, my devotion in those Yogis became intense helping me to serve them with full of humbleness. As I served those great Saints, the sins in me started to flee. My heart filled with faith, the sensory organs further came under my control and made myself available to their service physically, through speech and mind. ानं गु तमं य अ वोचन् गिम
ा ा गवतोिदतम् । ः कृपया दीनव लाः ॥ ३०॥
When the kind-hearted sages planned to proceed to their next destination after the vow of four months, they initiated me with the most secret Knowledge. The one they had received directly from the divine mouth known for having an abundance of knowledge, the Lord himself.
येनैवाहं भगवतो वासुदेव
वेधसः ।
मायानुभावमिवदं येन ग
त दम् ॥ ३१॥
That secret knowledge helped me understand the divine Maya of Lord Vasudeva for whom the acts of creation, sustenance, destruction & so on are a Sport. With this, one would be superbly blessed to understand the eminence of the Lord and realize self or Atman. एत ंसूिचतं
ं
यदी रे भगवित कम
ाप यिचिक
तम् ।
िण भािवतम् ॥ ३२॥
Brahmarishi! My father, God Brahma who is the best of beings can sing Vedas only because of your initiation & support. Submission of all our actions to Lord Purushottama is the only divine medicine for curing difficulties causing distress. I am indicating this secret what I have learned and understood as submission to you. आमयो य भूतानां जायते येन सु त । तदे व
ामयं
ं न पुनाित िचिक
तम् ॥ ३३॥
एवं नृणां ि यायोगाः सव सं सृितहे तवः । त एवा िवनाशाय क
ेक
ताः परे ॥ ३४॥
If the food substance causing ill health is used to prepare the medicine and if that very medicine is used to cure the disease, will not heal. Similarly, all Karya or actions of human deeds are associated with sins causing bind to the cycle of death & birth. Therefore, with the same 55 OF 80
kriya yoga, the cycle of death & birth cannot be broken. However, by submission of same Karya or deed to the Lord, the relation of that very activity or deed will get disassociated with the individual. So too, the sins associated with such actions or deeds will fall without an attachment causing no-bind with the cycle of death & birth. यद ि यते कम भगव ानं य दधीनं िह भ
रतोषणम् ।
योगसम
तम् ॥ ३५॥
The deserving actions leading to the activity of propitiating Lord for pleasing him by submission bestows knowledge & bhakti. The knowledge and bhakti thus obtained is a part & parcel of Bhakti Yoga. कुवाणा य कमािण भगव गृण
गुणनामािन कृ
ानु
यासकृत् । र
च ॥ ३६॥
All actions of those activities associated with pleasing Lord is considered as His dictum to be performed. Hence, people accept such directions of Lord Krishna by remembering him and singing his attributes repeatedly with unrelenting efforts. Also, they worship the Lord in his four formations as,
नमो भगवते तु द् यु ायािन
ं वासु देवाय धीमिह ।
ाय नमः स षणाय च ॥ ३७॥
Salutations to Bhagavan Vasudeva and our meditation to Him. Also, Salutations to his forms of Sankarshana, Pradumna, and Aniruddha. इित मू िभधाने न म मूितममूितकम् । यजते य पु षं स स
शनः पु मान् ॥ ३८॥
This way doing the sankeertana of the four formations of Lord Vasudeva, who has no influence of Prakriti being in the form of mantra or sacred text and to whom all worship would reach as he is the only Yagna Purusha is a Jnani or Learned & smart. इमं
िनगमं
वे
मदनु ि तम् ।
अदा े ानमै य
न् भावं च केशवः ॥ ३९॥
I too, as per the wish of Lord Bhagavan carried on with my life having great devotion in him. Doing activities that have been submitted to him. Pleased with that, Lord Keshava, always being worshipped by Gods Brahma & Shiva blessed me with Atma Jnana or self-realization, Ishwarya, and bhakti.
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म द आ
ािह ।
ुतिव ुतं िवभोः समा ते ये न िवदां बुभु ािह दु ःखै मु रिदता नां सङ्
तम् ।
े शिनवाणमुश
ना था ॥ ४०॥
The Lord of the treasure of Knowledge, you are poorna or complete. You should compose the fame of Lord, his sports charms that is adorable. By remembering him, singing his fame, thinking about him, all that has to be known will be understood. Even for the most intellectual, the delibrations will get completed as nothing will remain to be discussed. Also, the various types of difficulties causing sorrow will start disappearing. But for this, there is no other strategy to accomplish Solace, says Narada Rishi. इित ीम ागवते महापु राणे पारमहं
ां सं िहतायां थम
े
ासनारदसं वादे
प मोऽ ायः ॥ ५॥ With this, we complete a part of "Conversation between Lord Veda Vyasa and Narada Rishi" as fifth Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1. We could do so only with the grace of Guru Sri Raghavendra and all his philosophical associates including Sri Saunaka & his fellow Rishis, Sri Sutacahrya, Sri Sukachary, God Vayu, and Sri Hari as their Jnana Prasada.
By comparing this conversation to the second verse of Mangalacharna wherein Lord Veda Vyasa has said, धमः ो वे ं वा
तकैतवोऽ परमो िनम राणां सतां वम व
ु िशवदं ताप यो ू लनम् ।
ीम ागवते महामुिनकृते िकं वा परै री रः स ो
व
तेऽ कृितिभः शु ूषुिभ
णात् ॥
Srimad Bhagavatam contains the complete knowledge of Dharma which holds one from falling down, purifies and puts on to the path leading to the Lord. This path seeks the continued practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising The Lord without any jealousy or expectation nor being deceptive. While being on the path, removes all sorts of difficulties, bestows prosperity, makes one sajjana or virtuous and solidify bhakti or devotion. Hence, Srimad Bhagavatam composed by The Lord Veda Vyasa himself is great and guarantees to reveal the Lord who is always present in the heart of all the individuals. Deva Rishi Narada has a deep understanding of Lord Veda Vyasa’s teachings to letter & spirit. In fact, being an axiom, he has siddhi or perfection. Therefore, his conversation is an elaboration of the above second verse of mangalacharna. Consistent to the ो
त or projjhita
dharma of being jealous and having expectations always that is worthy of being shunned by the virtuous, Narada Rishi has submitted to Lord requesting to preach िनवृि Nivruti dharma of abstaining from it. 59 OF 80
This is a worthy milestone because of all that is in rest of Srimad Bhagavatam is an elaboration of this first five Adhyaya of first Skanda. Also, all that is in the first five Adhyaya is summarised in the first three Adhyaya and in turn summarised in the first three verses of Srimad Bhagavatam and further summarised as the first verse. Also, every reading and contemplation of these five Adhyaya is like peeling a layer before reaching the core. Hence, let’s pray to Lord Hari, Vayu & Gurus to bless us with repeated studies of these five Adhyaya and the study of rest of Srimad Bhagavatam. || Hari Om ||
07
The Past Birth of Narada Rishi & The Sight of Lord
We saw the way Narada Rishi through a narration of his past life story has put forth the complex formula of Bhakti Yoga in a simple & straight forward way by breaking-up each of its ingredients. Also, the relevance and the role of Karma Yoga in the impenetrable philosophy of the practice of moksha has been described. The way the tasks or actions needs to be executed without getting touched by the Sins associated with it through submission to the Lord has been detailed by Narada Rishi. Sri Suthacharya says, एवं िनश
भगवान् दे वषज
भू यः प
तं
न्
कम च ।
ासः स वतीसु तः ॥ १॥
As the long stories of penance at Naimisharanya organized Sri Shaunaka Rishi continues, One day, Sri Suthacharya narrating the conversation between Lord Veda Vyasa and Narada Rishi, addressing Sri Shaunaka Rishi says that after hearing the past life story of Narada Rishi, Lord Veda Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, questioned thus, िभ ुिभिव विसते िव ानादे टृ िभ वतमानो वय
व।
ा े ततः िकमकरो वान् ॥ २॥
Deva Rishi, after those sages who initiated you with special knowledge of Tattva Jnana, what did you do? Probably, you were too-small boy then. Isn't it?
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ाय ु व कया वृ
ा विततं ते परं वयः ।
कथं चे दमुद ा ीः काले ा े कलेवरम् ॥ ३॥ Svayambhuva! Being on your own, How did you spend the rest of your life? Also, at the time of death, how did you leave the body? What was the process? Lord Veda Vyasa asks this question because there are four types of death, The death! Like it comes to all leaving being at the end of each life span. Based on our individual deed, one has to face this difficult time. As most of us are attached with a sense of possession, we feel bad even for loss of small & inconsequential. The highest value of possession we attach is towards our body. Hence, to forgo this and overcome the loss would be terrifying and painful. As a practice of this, few take up the vow of non-possession or Aparigraha Vrata. In The First Principles of Bhakti Yoga by Narada Rishi, we saw how Sri Purandara Dasaru (1484-1564 AD), a अं श or part of Narada Rishi, earlier as Srinivasa Nayaka was a jeweler and popularly known as Navakoti Narayana for his wealth of over ninety million. But he gave up everything to live on alms and sing the glory of Lord. He called this as taking up the business as that of honey bee relishing the nectar from the Lotus feet of Lord Purundara Vittala.
These acts of non-possession do not strike the chord to most of us. The reasons could be the state of denial we live in on the encounter of death or maybe the poor understanding of the trade-off between possession and pain of death and so on. The second type of death is that of the devotees of Lord. Those who are on the path of devotion and yet to have accomplished self-realization and Aproksha Jnana. For these, the attachment to worldly affairs including the body is not as much as those encountering the first type of death. But they are not completely detached too. However, they would have the confidence in the Lord with the expectation of a better re-birth as a pious Vaishnava. They would not suffer as much as in the first type of death. They would be able to see the body as temporary and worthy to forego. They will also be able to intermittently remember the Lord during the last hours of death lowering the pain. But they fail at the last moments of life engaging themselves with worldly thoughts denying peaceful pass away. The third type of death being those blessed with Aproksha jnana. Here, the Jiva will be able to remember the Lord even in last moments and see his forms. Bheeshamacharya is a good example. Bleeding profusely on the sharp bed of arrows he leaves the body in front of the Lord. As Lord presents himself in the assembled crowd of Pandavas in his forms of Sri Krishna, Veda Vyasa and Parshurama making the death peaceful.
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However, he too not having the specific sight of the form of Indwelle, he has to return to earth. However, in the fourth type of death being auspicious, the Jiva leaves the body seeing the Indweller, the Lord. Blessed with overflowing bliss, goes to higher regions and not to return. Here, he waits in the higher region till pralaya and subsequently appears only in Mukta Vaikunta or the abode of Lord demarked only for Muktas or those released from the cycle of death & birth. ा न ेष
िवषयामेतां वधा
ृितं ते सुरस म ।
ाल एष सविनराकृितः ॥ ४॥
Devarishi, The time though, has the unique ability to destroy everything! The story you are narrating is that of ा
or previous Kalpa and
crores of years back. Even then, how do you have memories of a past life? Could not time destroy past life memory? नारद उवाच, Narada Rishi replies, िभ ु िभिव विसते िव ानादे टृ िभमम । वतमानो वय
ा े तत एतदकारषम् ॥ ५॥
At the time of departure of those great Yogis who had initiated me with िव ानादे ष or special knowledge of Tattva Jnana as instruction. I was a small boy. I shall narrate to you the way I spent my life thereafter. Kindly hear.
एका जा मे जननी योिष ूढा च िक री । म ा जेऽन गतौ च े सा ईश
त ानक
ेहानु ब नम् ॥ ६॥
ाऽऽसी ोग ेमं ममे
ती ।
िह वशे लोको योषा दा मयी यथा ॥ ७॥
अहं च त
कुले ऊिषवां
िद े शकाला ु
दपे या ।
ो बालकः प हायनः ॥ ८॥
एकदा िनगतां गेहाद् दु ह ी ं िनिश गां पिथ । सप ऽदश दा
ृ ः कृपणां कालचोिदतः ॥ ९॥
तदा तदहमीश
भ
ानां शमभी
तः ।
अनु हं म मानः ाित ं िदशमु राम् ॥ १०॥ I was the only son of my mother. Being women, not very intelligent, she had an attachment. My mother worked as a housemaid. She was kind, dear and had tied me with a bond of affection. She would deeply think of my prosperity. However, being in other’s control, she could not do much. Like the puppets are under the control of Puppetry, so too the Jiva or being is under the control of the Almighty, the Lord. Empathizing with her, I too responded to my mother and stayed with her in the house she worked. I was just over five years old. I did not know much. Even the directions from my place or the state I lived nor the time. However, I was enthused about the knowledge initiated by the accomplished sages, gushing with excitement to take up the practice and accomplish Siddhi
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or perfection. Also, my intrinsic qualities of moving around from place to place singing the glory of Lord was building-up. The most important question to any seeker of moksha is if he has to go ahead to the Himalaya or Kashi leaving behind the materialistic world of family, friends and the responsibility associated with it is answered here by Narada Rishi. After having received the most secret Knowledge of Tattva Jnana or axiom as a boy in his previous life from the sages, Narada Rishi does not forsakes his mother and walk away. However, he waits for an appropriate time. Narada Rishi replying to the questions of Lord Veda Vyasa says, The days passed, we both as mother and son continued to stay being social support to each other. We shared happy moments and overcame the negative. While I was still small, one night, when my mother went out of the house to milk a cow, she stepped on a poisonous snake. The snake bit my poor mother. How can I blame the snake? The God of death wished so. Always wishing the best to his devotees, I believed that this too was Lord’s blessings and walked away towards North.
ीता नपदां
पु र ाम जाकरान् ।
खेटखवटवाटी वना ुपवनािन च ॥ ११॥ िच धातु िविच ा ीिनभभ भुज ु मान् । जलाशया िच
वजला िलनीः सु रसेिवताः ॥ १२॥
नैः प रथैिव मद् मरि यः ।
नलवेणुशर
कुशकीचकग रम् ॥ १३॥
एक एवाितयातोऽहम ा ं िविपनं महत् । घोरं ितभयाकारं
ालोलूकिशवािजरम् ॥ १४॥
As I walked alone, I came across rich states having enough wealth with cities, towns, villages. Also, I saw dwellings of nomadic, cattle herds, several types of mines, rivers, small dwellings at the foot of mounds and hills. As I walked, large trees, farms, mango groves, gardens, forests passed by. I saw bamboo grooves and trees broken & destroyed by elephants. I neared a thick forest wherein the chattering of birds, their chirp sound, and the song of cuckoos became distinctively different and filled the atmosphere with serenity. The landscape there had turned more beautiful. The ponds and water bodies were filled with Swans, Ducks, water Lillies, and Lotus. Each of the lotus flowers appeared as if competing with one another in terms of color, their bloom, and moisture waiting to reach the feet of Lord. However, they swayed to the light breeze as if they were lost dancing in ecstasy filling the
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surroundings with fragrance submitting themselves to the most fascinating Lord Manohara. As I walked ahead through the beautiful landscape, I entered a forest that was thick and dark allowing shaft of light here and there. The atmosphere there had suddenly changed. The buzz of bees, hoot of an owl, and cry of birds, their shriek, and screams of jackals became more often. Also, the sound from the swaying of tall grass, rubbing of branches and bamboo groves due to heavy breeze sharpened. These sounds, darkness, the sight of worms, bees & flys over the carcass left over by carnivores’ animals brought horror and wilderness to the place. I was in a thick, dark and scary forest inhabited by wild & ferocious. As an Individual or race or as human beings, we have a notion and built a paradigm of exclusivity. However, in this world created by the Lord, there is an immeasurable diversity. Putting aside our ego, we need to understand & study from this diverse creation to accomplish spiritual progress. Narada Rishi, not standing nor sitting at one place keeps traveling to all fourteen regions starting from Patala to Vaikunta singing the glory of this creation and of Lord has done sadhana or practice in his previous births. Narada Rishi is Sharnagatha or having submitted himself to Lord.
पर ा े
या ाहं तृट्परीतो बुभुि तः ।
ा ा पी ा दे न ा उप
ृ ो गत मः ॥ १५॥
By then my body had become tired. Walking up and down the gradients of the countryside, negotiating the shrubs, bushes & their thorns, stepping on sharp pebbles & stones, my feet were crying in agony and legs demanded rest. I was hungry, my mouth had dried with the feeling of thirst overwhelming me. I took a bath in the nearby river, had water, did Achamana i.e sipping water from palm for three times and touching various parts of body invoking various forms of Lord with his names for purification. This way my tiredness subsided.
त
ि मनुजेऽर
आ नाऽऽ ानमा ायत रणा औ
े िप लोप थ आ थतः । थं यथा ु तमिच यम् ॥ १६॥
ोजं भाविनिजतचेतसा ।
ा ुकला
ासी े शनै ह रः ॥ १७॥
ेमाितभरिनिभ पुलका ोऽितिनवृ तः । आन स
वे लीनो नाप
पं भगवतो य अप
न् सहसो
मुभयं मुने ॥ १८॥
नःका ं शुचापहम् । थे वै
ाद् दु मना इव ॥ १९॥
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Subsequently, I sat below a Pupil tree in that uninhabited river bank and started meditating the Indweller as initiated to me by the accomplished Sages. As I started contemplating the Lord’s auspicious lotus feet that were of the bright red color of crimson with the nail plates turning pinkish under the dazzling brilliance of the free edges having the brightness of the sun, the bhakti in me started glowing, my mind was lucidly filled with happiness. Also, the body filled with goosebumps experienced a light shock wave and sucked me into a deep state meditation. Not giving up, I moved my attention upwards to see yellow robes of Lord covering his knees, wearing the golden waistband, Srivatsa and being four-armed. However, I was flushed with bliss, the tears of joy started flowing, choking my throat, but I was unable to come out of the meditative state. The Lord Sri Hari appeared in my Lotus of Heart making me wonderstruck. As I was thinking that there is nothing to which the Lord is second to, the next moment Lord disappeared अप
न् .
|| Hari Om ||
08
Bhakti Yoga Sutra of Narada Rishi, The Genesis of Srimad
Bhagavatam Narada Rishi being Sharanagata or having submitted to Lord has complete faith in him. Admiring The glory of Creation, seeing Lord in every living species including human beings, large trees, mango groves, bamboo grooves, shrubs, bushes, and plants that grow in water, birds travel in the sky, wild animals, bees, flies and so on. And also seeing Lord in all non-living objects including rocks, clouds, and water bodies and so on. Narada Rishi narrating his experience of previous birth to Lord Veda Vyasa says, िद
ु
दहं भूयः िणधाय मनो िद ।
वी माणोऽिप नाप
मिवतृ
इवातु रः ॥ २०॥
After having glimpses of auspicious Lord, I wanted to see him again. I tried my best to take my mind to the Lotus of Heart to meditate. I tried repeatedly becoming desperate but in vain. This made me dissatisfied, struggling and sickened. एवं यत ं िवजने मामाहागोचरो िगराम् । ग
ीर
णया वाचा शुचः शमयि व ॥ २१॥
ह ा
िन भवान् न मां
टु िमहाहित ।
अिवप कषायाणां दु दश ऽहं कुयोिगनाम् ॥ २२॥ सकृ म
िशतं
पमेत
ामाय तेऽनघ ।
ामः शनकैः साधु सवान् मु ित
यान् ॥ २३॥ 71 OF 80
स ेवयादीघया ते जाता मिय ढा मितः । िह ाव िममं लोकं ग ा म
नतामिस ॥ २४॥
मितमिय िनब े यं न िवप ेत किहिचत् । जासगिनरोधेऽिप
ृित मदनु हात् ॥ २५॥
As I was desperately trying to meditate in that forest uninhabited by human beings, the independent Lord having no obligation whatsoever addressed me through a voice without appearance. His voice was gentle and full of grace. He told me, “In this life of yours, you would not have the sight of me anymore. Since various impressions of worldly matters remaining on your mind are active. The sight of me to yogis having not fully completed their practice is extremely rare. However, to keep the desire of my sight active in you, I have shown my form only once. When a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga has a desperate desire of me, the remnant impressions on worldly matters start disappearing little by little with the advancement of practice. Consequent to this there will be no delay in obtaining me, said the most kind-hearted one. Continuing, the voice without appearance said, for having served the sages for a long time, your consciousness has become stable and established in me. After foregoing the body made of Prakriti, with my blessings you will get associated with me. Also, your desire in me will remain firm, established and never get disturbed. Even after the
destruction of present creation or pralaya, you will be blessed with remembrance of this experience of sight of me.” Narada Rishi not just in his previous birth was born to a housemaid the Lord says he has been serving the pious for a very long time and has been serving in previous births too.
एतावदु
ोपरराम त हद् भूतं नभोिल मिल मी रम् ।
अहं च त
ै महतां महीयसे शी
नामा न गां पयटं
ावनामं िवदधेऽनु क
हत पः पठन् गु ािन भ ािण कृतािन च ु मना गत
तः ॥ २६॥ रन् ।
ृहः कालं ती न् िवमदो िवम रः ॥ २७॥
Having told thus, the all-powerful invisible Lord became silent. My desperation and restlessness had disappeared. I prostrated to the direction of voice expressing my gratitude & submission. I admire the Lord as He is the most powerful even among the powerful, yet pouring his mercy on me. Like the cow pulls back the cud from the stomach to re-chew, I fill my heart with happiness re-calling the sight of the Lord and his voice. हत पः or Keeping aside my inhibition and shyness, I sing the names of the Lord that are अन
or infinite, गु , filled with mystery
and भ ा or auspicious. Also, I sing his sports charm & dance. Shedding aside the desire for worldly matters, pride & jealousy, I kept my mind lucid & a heart filled with joy, toured around the earth to find no place devoid of Lord. Yet, I looked forward to the day when I could shed the
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body made of Prakriti and the day I see the Lord as he showed up in my Lotus of heart, says Narada Rishi. Continuing to address Lord Veda Vyasa, Narada Rishi says, एवं कृ
मते
कालः ादु रभू यु
स
ामला नः ।
ाले तिड ौदामनी यथा ॥ २८॥
माने मिय तां शु ां भागवती ं तनुम् ।
आर कमिनवाणो
पत ा भौितकः ॥ २९॥
Brahma Rishi, Sri Veda Vyasji, This way my mind space was filled only about the Lord Sri Krishna. I had completely lost all the desires towards the worldly matter. Having no place in my body, mind or thoughts all the sins in me started fleeing. अमला नः or I experienced this process of purification. My ears had no desire to hear anything about worldly happenings, nor did my eyes see anything else other than Lord and my tongue did not long for yummy stuff. Untouched by any sins and making myself pure-hearted, I was spending my time looking forward to the day when I could shed the body made of Prakriti. On a monsoon day, I was meditating the auspicious and divine form of Lord, the time that I was looking forward had passed like a lightening. My Prarabdha Karma that I had to experience in that life had got completed bringing an end to my life. Hence,
पत ा भौितकः that
body made of Panchabhoota i.e. earth, water, fire, air & either had fallen apart.
We have seen the three types of Karma Viz. Sanchita, Prarbdha and Agami Karma in “The Axiom of Yoga continued” As Lord Veda Vyasa had asked a question to Narada Rishi on the process of death in his previous birth, Narada Rishi has replied that when he was doing meditation on the form of Lord, death happened. Being similar to that of Bheeshmacharya. Hence, he had to once again take birth as Narada Rishi, the son of God Brahma in the next creation. क
ा
इदमादाय शयानेऽ
ुद तः ।
िशशियषोरनु ाणं िविवशेऽ रहं िवभोः ॥ ३०॥ सह युगपय
उ ायेदं िससृ तः ।
मरीिचिम ा ऋषयः ाणे
ोऽहं च जि रे ॥ ३१॥
The pious Narada Rishi seeing Lord in each individual & doing service to people in his previous birth on earth exhausted his lifespan. After that, he stayed in the higher region of Satya Loka preceded by God Brahma. He says, at the end of that lengthy period of time measured as Kalpa, Lord Sriman Narayana िशशियषा or had intended to lay sleeping on the pupil leaf floating on the Pralaya Jala or the ocean formed by the dissolution of the whole universe. Therefore, God Brahma ended his entire creation to enter the Lord. At that time, I too entered the stomach of Lord with the help of ाणं or God Prana.
After a span of thousand yugas, Lord Brahman intended to start creation. During that creation, I too appeared along with Rishi Marichi. 75 OF 80
अ बिह लोकां अनु हा हािव
ीन् पय ोरिवघातगितः
दे वद ािममां वीणां मू
त तः ।
र
िवभू िषताम् ।
िय ा ह रकथां गायमान रा
गायतः
िचत् ॥ ३२॥
हम् ॥ ३३॥
वीयािण तीथपादः ि य वाः ।
आ त इव मे शी ं दशनं याित चे तिस ॥ ३४॥ Since then, अनु हान् with the blessings of Lord Maha Vishnu, I am able to travel to लोकां
ीन् i.e. all the three regions including this, upper and
lower regions. Also, अ बिह inside the body, mind & consciousness of all beings knowing their thoughts & feelings towards Lord and outside अिवघात or unimpeded. This form of mine अ
त तः or with
the vow of worshipping the Lord by singing his names & sports charm having description of his attributes & glory is continuing uninterrupted without decline. This Veena instrument named Mahati is blessed by Lord Bhagavan who is Omnipresent, Eternal & Complete generates the sound as wished by his form of Shabda Brahman. Playing this instrument, singing the divine names and the stories of the sport's charm of Lord Sri Hari, I travel.
When I sing the stories of his sport with divine names, the Lord who loves being praised, whose lotus feet is purifying and a supportive foundation to all holy places of Pilgrimage comes running to me hurriedly as if being called loudly and blesses me with his sight at any time without any restrictions. एत
ातुरिच ानां मा ा
भविस ु
वो
श
या मु ः ।
ो ह रचयानुवणनम् ॥ ३५॥
यमािदिभय गपथैः कामलोभहतो मु ः । मुकु से वया य
था ा ा न शा ित ॥ ३६॥
Always being engaged with worldly happenings make the consciousness sick with emotional & behavioral disorders. To them, singing sports charm of Lord is like a ship helping them to cross the vast river of Sindu flowing in the planes far and wide. This is my experience, says Narada Rishi. “The Jiva getting repeatedly beaten-up with arishadvargas like desire, stinginess & so on, should hear the stories of Lord Sri Krishna desirous of Solace & tranquillity. This is not possible by any other Yoga marga including Yama, Niyama and so on, says Narada Rishi propounding Bhakti Yoga as Axiom” Remember, this is the same what Sri Sutachary had said in "The Pursuit to Hone Bhakti", तां
कथाः कृ
ः थो
ः पु
वणकीतनः ।
भ ािण िवधुनोित सु त् सताम् ॥ 77 OF 80
The most attractive, Lord Krishna in his dark skin like the color of ः थ, the Lotus of Heart like a सु त् ,
monsoon clouds, standing in
friend. A dear friend for the सताम् or virtuous waiting with great patience as if he has nothing else to do except for
भ ािण िवधुनोित,
destroying all our Sins that cause inauspiciousness and ready to pour his mercy. He is waiting for us to वणकीतनः, hear and sing his Glory. So that he could pour पु
, mercy, and high merit.
Like he did to Kuchela, with a torn dress and made him Sudhama, having in abundance for just three fists of beaten rice. The rice filled with Love, brimming with devotion through hearing and singing the Glory of the Lord. So too, he came as if he is at the beck and call of Prahlada! Also, in a form only dedicated to him! सव तिददमा ज कमरह
ातं य ृ ोऽहं
यानघ ।
ं मे भवत ा तोषणम् ॥ ३७॥
The Stainless Lord Veda Vyasji, य ृ ोऽहं or since you have asked and instructed, I have answered all your questions by narrating my past birth story as an illustration including the actions and the spiritual practice I undertook. By answering this as submission, I am blessed. In this is embedded your glory and fame hearing which अ तोषणम् or the virtuous will be satisfied filling their heart with happiness and removing
distress. As I am blessed by your beloved devotees, the Great Sages and yourself I am able to put forth these answers. Also, you had asked that even after classifying the Vedas & initiating to several rishis to strengthen Teacher-Student tradition, composing Brahma Sutra, Mahabarata & 17 Puranas, yet your heart is not pleasant nor is your mind lucid, to which I have submitted my answer requesting composition of Srimad Bhagavatam having The glory of the Lord and his devotees. This was possible with your blessings. Wondering on the greatness of Narada Rishi, Sri Sutacharya says, एवं स
ा
भगवा ारदो वासवीसुतम् ।
आम
वीणां रणयन् ययौ या
अहो दे विषध ोऽयं य गायन् मा ि दं त
को मुिनः ॥ ३८॥
ीित शा ध नः ।
ा रमय ातु रं जगत् ॥ ३९॥
Sri Shaunaka Rishi, this way the auspicious and divine Narada Rishi had a conversation with Supreme Lord Veda Vyasa, bid farewell by taking his permission and moved on playing Veena which is his musical instrument. How fortunate is Narada Rishi! Always playing his Veena singing the sport's charm of Lord with bow and arrow. Not only fills his heart with happiness but also brings happiness to common people who are exhausted with the fight of Life. After hearing the opinion of Narada Rishi, Lord Veda Vyasa took up the composition of Srimad Bhagavatam on the banks of river Saraswati.
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इित ीम ागवते महापु राणे पारमहं
ां सं िहतायां थम
े
ासनारदसं वादे
ष ोऽ ायः ॥ ६॥ With this, we complete "The Conversation between Lord Veda Vyasa & Narada Rishi” the sixth Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1. We could do so only with the grace of Guru Sri Raghavendra and all his philosophical associates including Sri Saunaka & his fellow Rishis, Sri Sutacahrya, Sri Sukachary, God Vayu, and Sri Hari as their Jnana Prasada. || Hari Om ||
Keraya neeranu kerege chelli,
Like pouring back the water from the lake, Varava padedavarante kaaniro, Be seen as blessed. Hariya karunadolaada bhagyava, The accomplishments happening due to Lord Hari's grace, Hari samarpane maadi badukiro, Surya Argya
Credit back to Lord Hari.
Sri Purandara Vithala raayana Charana kamalava nambi badukiro. Live to have trust in the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Purandara Vithala.
|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||