Prathama Skandha, nabama adhyaaya

Srikrishna with his maayaa comforted Yudhisthira. Then Yudhisthira along with four brothers, Srikrishna himself including other sages, riding their chariots marched towards the battle field where Great grand Father Bhishma lied on a bed of arrow. All of them including Srikrishna, bowed before Pitamaha (Great grand Father) Bhishma with humility. The sages present there to visit Bhishma were Byaashadeba, Narada, Parbata, Dhoumya, Bruhadaswa, Bharadwaaja, Parsuraama, Basistha, Trita, Asita, Grustschamada, Goutama, Kakhhibaana, Siddha, Atri, Kousika, Sudarshana, Kashyapa and Angarasha. Bhishma keeping lord Krishna in his heart, gazed at the Pandavas with sobbing eyes.

Bhisma said……….

Oh great sages present here, these Pandavas, son of Kunti had to live in the forests observing the paths of Brahmins renouncing all the comforts of life with much hardships. Only because of Gobinda’s company, they were saved from many difficulties. After death of her husband Pandu, Kunti, lovingly bride of our family had to stay in forest with five sons in many difficulties. It is only time which plays the game. Now oh son of morale (Dharmaputra Yudhistghira) rule the kingdom with your power of righteousness. See how Madhaba, being incarnation of Vishnu, was your dearest friend; he went as a messenger requesting for five villages for you brothers from the Kauravas. He was the charioteer and best friend of Arjuna. He is the one who understands every body’s heart. He comes in the form of the desire of his devotee. He is the friend, brother, son, and foe how he is desired and addressed by. See, how he has come in front of me while I am in my death bed. Reciting whose name removes all the agonies and gives an eternal state of being, whose vision removes the bondage of illusion, that Maadhaba has fulfilled my last desire to behold his lotus eyes. Now I can leave my body in peace.

Suta said……..

Listening to Bhishma’s words, Yudhisthira with humble voice asked Bhishma about the obligations of the people in chatuvarnas (four castes namely Brahmana, Khyatriya, Baishya and Shudra). He asked about many a ways of freedom from the mortal world. He queried about the right path to lead to salvation remaining as householder. Sincere work or renunciation and austerity; different duties of righteousness like charity, practice of morale and service which to be best method to salvation! Bhishma cleared all his doubts and discussed the duties of householders, women and the saddus, about the categories of ashrams like brahmachaarya(stage of studentship), graahastha( stage of householder) baanaprastha(stage of forest dweller) and sanyaasha(stage of renunciation) four vargas (most cherished things) like dharma(morale), artha(wealth), kaama(desire) and mokhya(salvation).

After speaking thus Bhishma felt the arrival of Uttaraayana.

About The Uttaraayana

[Uttaraayana is a period described in scriptures including Gita, as a period when the yogis get salvation. It has been described in scriptures that as the sun begins its journey towards north, the Devas awaken from their slumber and start their day. This period is the Uttaraayana. It is mentioned in the eighth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, that after having spoken about pure devotion (ananya-cetah satatam yo mama smarati nityasah) and how his devotees easily attain his abode, Krishna tells Arjuna of two paths taken by departed souls: one in light, the other in darkness. The period of uttaraayana is mentioned in relation to the path of light, traversing which one never returns. The six months of the sun's southern orbit, the night of the Devas, is known as daksinaayana. It is mentioned in relation to the path of darkness, by which a departed soul is destined to return even after attaining heaven.

Metaphorically, the two paths speak of time (kala). Sri Krishna says 'yatra kale tv anavrttim avrttim caiva yoginah prayata', "I shall now speak of that time at which departing yogis return and do not return." Krishna appears to be speaking about a particular time, yet in describing the path of light, he mentions not only time, but objects: "Fire, light, day, the fortnight of the bright moon, and uttarayana" (agnir jyotir ahah suklah san-masa uttarayanam). The path of darkness is also described in terms of times and objects: 'Daksinayana', smoke, night, and the dark fortnight (dhumo ratris tatha krusnah san-masa daksinayanam).

Stressing two paths, one of return, the other of no return, Krishna tells us that in the least we should take the path of no return by way of culturing spiritual knowledge. We should be concerned with this and passing beyond time and not any particular time of passage. More than the details of the paths, Krishna stresses that there are two of them: one of return the other of no return. Those who know these two, he concludes, are not bewildered. He implies in his conclusion that they are not bewildered because they take the path of no return, which is obviously better. As wise ones follow this advice and the path of light, as do most devotees.

Bhisma was an unalloyed devotee of Krishna, who waited until uttarayana to leave the world. He was a perfect yogi. Message from Bhishma’s waiting for Uttaraayana is that there are auspicious times at which ordinary persons are better off leaving from this world, uttarayana being one of them. Bhishma's life is also an example of living an extraordinary life in a mortal body.

Uttaraayana is also another name of Srikrishna himself whom Bhishma awaited to take his soul along with him. Srikrishna remains present before him during departure who is an unalloyed devotee and guids to his own abode. That happened to Bhishma who could have a vision of four armed Srikrishna before him during the time of his departure. According to the Hindu solar calendar, the year is divided into two halves, Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana. Uttarayana commences from Makara Sankranthi and Dakshinaayana from Karka Sankranthi. Uttaraayana begins in January and ends in July. Dakshinaayana begins in July and ends in December.

Shaastras (scriptures) prohibit the celebration of events like marriage or Upanayana during Dakshinaayana because it is believed to be the night of Gods.]

Bhishma remained calm when he felt the advent of Uttaraayana. With devotion he fixed his mind upon Vishnu. Finding Vishnu as Srikrishna standing on his side, whose image was looking aesthetic; all his exhaustion of war vanished, all his senses were freed from bondage. From the core of his heart he bowed to Srikrishna’s lotus feet. He began to plead- thus let my mind which is now free from the entire desire merge in your body oh Srikrishna.

Jaara mahimaa jogijane chintinapaanti jogadhyaane
Swasukhe thaai abirate prakruti bashe biswa arthe
Prakruti tahun ejagata prabaaha rupe aatajaata
Tamaala patra praaye barna je rupe mohe tribhubana
Pitabasana kati shohe prakaashe rabi rashmi praaye
Alakaa aabruta kapola biraaje badana kamala
Arjuna sakhaa paadatale mo chitta rahu sunischale

Whose glory is unknown to the hermits who meditate upon him for years together, who is traveling everywhere with and as the nature, whose celestial color attracts everybody, whose yellow apparel dazzle like the rays of the sun; whose face appears like a bloomed lotus; may my mind rest in him, the friend of Arjun. Let the mind be directed towards Sri Krishna who, with His scattered hair on the battlefield looked smoggy from the dust of the battlefield, his face decorated with perspiration and His skin pierced by my sharp arrows, with His protecting armor took pleasure in all of it. After hearing the command of his friend he drove his chariot between the opposing forces, where positioned he diminished the lifespan of the enemy by simply looking at them - let there be my love for that friend of Arjuna. With the soldiers looking from a distance, he with his transcendental knowledge eradicated the ignorance of him who, from a polluted intelligence, was reluctant to kill his kinsmen - let there be the transcendence of my attraction for His feet.

Against his own word got he, to nullify my promise of factually being more of violence, down from his chariot, he took up it's wheel, and rushed towards me like a lion about to kill an elephant, meanwhile dropping His outer garment. Wounded by the sharp arrows and without his shield, he, smeared with blood, in the angry mood of the great aggressor, began to move for the purpose of killing me - may that Supreme Lord who awards salvation become my destination. Let me, at this hour of death, be of love for the Personality of Godhead who, controlling the horses with a whip in his right hand and the reins in the left, so elegant to behold by all means protected the chariot of Arjuna

It was by looking at him that those who died in this world attained their original form. It was he who convinced the reluctant Arjun to fight with and to kill his own people in the Dharma Yuddha (war) through his magnetic divine words. Watching his attractive movements of his supremely spirited, fascinating acts and sweet smiles, the Gopis found imitating him in ecstasy, their original nature. In a royal performance of sacrifice of King Yudhishthhira, where the great sages and kings were assembled, whose Divine presence made all achieve eternal abode, him, now present before me, I do, having experienced the absorption of being freed from the misconceptions of duality, know to be the Unborn One of the conditioned body. It is He who, though being One alike the sun, in His being situated as the Super soul in the heart of all that are created by Him, is looked different upon from every angle. Now I found him inseparable from me.

Nirmala aatmaa rupa hoi praaninka hrude je basai
Je rupe drussti bhede rabi aneke boli anubhabi
Se hari paada juge bhaji pasili moha bhaba teji...................

Suta said……………………..

With his mind, speech, sight and activities thus fixed on Krishna only, he fell silent and stopped breathing, having merged in the living being of the Supersoul. After hearing this all from Bhishma as he merged into the Supreme Absolute and Unlimited, everyone fell silent like birds at the end of the day. Thereafter from everywhere sounded drums beaten by gods and men, with heartfelt praise from the pious royal order and showers of flowers falling from the sky. O descendant of Bhrigu (Saunaka), after having performed the funeral rites for the dead body, Yudhishthhira for a moment got afflicted. Then, the sages, satisfied and happy by the confidentiality of the glories of Lord Krishna, went back to their own hermitages with Him installed in their hearts. King Yudhishthhira with Lord Krishna went to Hastinapura to console his uncle Dhrutaraashthra and ascetic aunt Ghaandhaari. With the approval of his uncle and consent of Lord Baasudeba he thereafter, to the greatness of his forefathers, executed the royal duties over the kingdom.

End of Nabama adhyaaya

Prathama skandha, astama adyaaya

After cremating the bodies of their sons the bereaved Pandavas and their relatives immersed themselves in the Holy Ganga to take ablution. In order to soothe the hearts of deeply hurt and wailing kunti, pandavas and Draupadi, the sages including Vyashadeba and Sri Krishna, who were present in the bank of river Ganga discussed instances pertaining to truth.

SriKrishna says....................................

..

mithyaa sanshaara bishnu maayaa ke satya karipaare ehaa?
kaalara kridaa ejagata kaalaku kebaa saamaratha...!
sarji paalai puna hare kaalara kridaa e sanshaare...
............................................................................................................................

This world is only the illusion (maya) formed by Sri Vishnu himself. Who ever can turn the falsehood (maya) into truth? This visible universe is a mere play of time(God), who creates, nourishes and destroys too. Who ever can be mightier than time when the universe is just a play of time? Everybody alive is to die one day.......Nothing was yours which is lost, so weeping has no meaning. With these words Sri Krishna soothed the hearts of the wailing family.

to quote few lines of a poem of Pundit Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das on kaala or "time".....

"mahaabali dhanya dhanya tumbhe kaala
ke langhiba tumbha tikhna karabaala?"

Having defeated the wicked Duryodhana and his wicked companions including the other Kaurabas through Arjun's weapon Gandiva, Srikrishna secured to King Yudhistra his own kingdom. He helped Yudhisthira the elder Pandava to govern the nation through righteousness and to perform as many as three Aswamedha sacrifices. All the sages including Vyasha deva and the Pandavas began worshiping Lord Krishna when he mounted his chariot and was just intending to leave for Dwaraka. At the very moment Srikrishna watched Uttara the widow of Abhimanu, (the son of Arjuna) rushing towards him stricken with fear.

Uttara said: Protect me, great yogi. Save me. Lord of the universe, I see no asylum other than you in this world, where everyone is death to another. The son of Drona Aswasthaama who took asylum in the forests could not forget the past as he thought to be insults to him and discharged a missile from his arrow with the vow to slay all the Pandavas. Oh lord of the Universe let the weapon destroy my body please save the Pandavas and the child in my womb.

Suta said.......

That very moment the Pandavas also saw five burning beams of lights in the sky coming towards them and took up their own missiles. Perceiving the calamity of his beloved friends, who thought of none else other than him for protection, the almighty Lord, protected them with his own weapon, the great Sudarshana. Sri Krishn, the master of the universe, enveloped the womb of Uttara by his own maya in order to protect the son of Abhimanyu and the heritage of Pandavas . Even though the Brahmastra was unfailing and irresistible, it proved ineffectual when it met the effulgence of Lord Vishnu.

jaahaara maayaa e sansaare sanchai paalai sanhaare
e ki aascharjya ate taara sarba aascharjya je iswara...........

The Brahmaasta disappeared with an honor to Bishnu's Sudarshana. The Pandavas were rescued from the blast of Brahmastra. With a great sense of pleasure and loyalty, mother of the Pandavas, Kunti along with her daughter- in- law, Draupadi, five sons and grand- daughter -in- law Uttaraa, began to worship the lotus feet of Srikrishna and said Oh merciful Lord thou art the lone defender.

Kunti said…………..

Oh Krishna, I am your servant. You are the ancient most male. Your presence is in nature, inside and outside the creatures; you are omnipresent so unknown to your creation. Beneath your maayaa (illusion) you remain in your eternal form as soul covered with several senses. The person who falls in your maayaa can’t know you. As the director in a play makes the characters dance to his tune, you make the creation run as per your own desire. Pure headed saints with their power of meditation and devotion towards you recognize your maayaa and don’t fall pray to your maayaa even though remaining a part in it. You reside in the water of desolation (pralaya jala). From your navel appeared the devine lotus carrying Brahman. I worship thee, Oh lotus feet, oh lotus eye…. As you cared for your mother Devaki who was a prisoner in her brother Kansa’s abode, you cared for me, Kunti while struggling in the forests with my five sons. When kaurabas gave poisonous sweet (ladoo) to Bhima, you saved him; you saved them all form burning Jatugruha. When Pandavas lost the game of gambling from the Kaurabas and at last lost Draupadi my daughter-in-law whom Dussaasana dragged puling her hair in the crowded meeting of Kuru (kurusabhaa) and tried to make her naked, only you saved our honor. During our secret living we lived in many places. Everywhere you were with us Oh Madhaba. You secured us from mighty enemies and made my sons get victory. You saved them from Brahmaastra send by Aswasthaamaa; you saved my family and heritage. So now I fear nothing when you are the lone protector.

If a person being born in a high class, being blessed with good education and wealth prefers darkness of pride and vanity, lust and anger, how can he recognize you, the almighty? You are the father of those who are helpless and amputees. You appear in every form your devotee calls. You remain everywhere but due to illusion and ignorance people worship you in different forms and names.

same tu basu sarba dehe praan tohari maayaa mohe
bhajanti anya anya bhaabe kali jesane kali juge

Brahmaa and Siva are are all in you. who can know your truth remaining in this mortal body? How can people know you differentiating your various forms, assessing your creation and thereby creating sense of foe and friends among themselves? Your are the soul of the universe the divine. For the welfare of your creation you incarnated yourself as fish and turtle. You too took incarnation as Parashuram son of a saint . When the world was dwindling like a drowning vessel in the weight of sin of the demons, all the God including Brahmaa prayed you. Thus you took birth as a human being to save the men and women suffering greatly falling in the dark water of illlusion, nescience and agonies on this earth. Oh Krishna, born to Baasudeva and Debaki thus named as Basudeba. Played as the son of Nanda in Gopapura. When Indra (the king of heaven) got angry upon the residents of Gopa for not getting sacrifice and when he wished to destroy Gopa with heavy rain and thunder storm, you “Banamali” took the Gobardhana hill atop your left hand to protect the residents and wealth of Gopa thus your name is Gobinda. I worship you oh Lord; with out you I know nothing. In your childhood as krishna, mother Yashodaa tied you hard with a rope. It made me baffle how come Yashodaa tied the creator himself? And how the one whom every fear succumbs, wailed being afraid of his mother ? And came to know it was Yashodaa's devotion, sacrifice and righteousness in her previous life which made you born as her son. Oh Gobinda I am your refuse. Always rain your blessings upon us.

Simply by having your thought in mind and chanting your name removes all the sufferings. Thus people surrender before you to be saved from all the illusions and bonding of this earth. Oh Gobinda rescuer of my sons may my mind always be in your lotus feet.

Suta said..........

Listening Kunti's prayerful words Srikrishna smiled a little and assured her with his magnetic voice. Srikrishna then marched towards Hastinapura and comforted blindfolded Gandhaari with warm words and after leaving Hastinapura began speaking to sages including Vyasha. At that time Yudhisthira with a mournful voice said.....

Yudhisthira said.........

Oh friend Maadhaba... I the son of righteousness(Dharmaputra) must have done huge sin in my previous birth to fall in ignorance of human bondage in this life. I must be going to suffer in hell after my death. I don't believe and understand the sayings, what is said in scriptures that killing for the good of one's nation and kingdom in the battle field is a righteous job. I know only the presence of God in every soul. I have fallen in the lust of my mortal body thereby killed my relatives in this war some young and some old. Their wives and relatives must be living miserably and must be cursing me for what I have done. How can I be able to remove such nasty stain of sin from my body and mind....! I must be going to have a tough punishment for my sins; in such way Yudhistira deplored before Srikrishna...

end of astama adhyaaya......................

Prathama skandha, saptama adhyaaya

Saunaka and other sages, after listing the story behind the birth of Narada, with feelings in their faces looked at Suta Muni and asked.....All the doubts in his mind of was evaporated when, in the bank of river Ganga, the divine sage Narad left him. After his departure keeping the divine sayings of narada in his heart what did Vyasha deba do, please do explain.......

Suta thus said..............

On the western banks of Saraswati, there is a hermitage called Shamyaaprasa, which is Vyasa’s own abode a forest surrounded by (Badari bana)jujube trees. That forest is also very sacred because on regular basis saints used to do sacrifices(yagna) in their respectve hemitages. Sage Vyasa sat down in meditation, by self-effort. In his sinless mind, which had been perfectly concentrated through the practice of devotion, he saw the Supreme Person as well as Maya, who depends for her very existence on him. He saw how the Jivatma gets deluded by this Maya and though beyond the three gunas, gets affected by identifying with it and suffers the evil consequences brought about by this identification. Knowing that the practice of devotion, to the Lord to be the direct means of counteracting these evils, the sage composed Bhagavata Purana, so that even the common people, who are ignorant of this fact would get benefited. Having composed and revised the Bhagavata Purana, the sage taught it to his son Suka, who loved to live in retirement.

During his meditation Vyasha could behold the Supreme God along with maya. And also could find how maya is a combined picture of trigunas which make the illusion between the real and false. For which souls are misguided. To make the souls get their right path, Vyasha deba rewrote Bhagabata with the treasure of devotion towards Krishna in his heart. He thus taught the gists of Bhagabata to his son Suka Deba who was also a saint.

Then Saunaka, the senior most sage asked, Suka is by his very nature selfless who is devoid of Maya or illusion then what is the requirement of any epic or scripture for him? I am puzzled about why Vyashadeba taught him Bhagabata, please clear out my doubts.

Suta muni thus said.................

Even though the mind of the pious sage was not bounded by any books or scriptures, he was devoted to Srikrishna and was seeing his presence everywhere. Thus he loved to practice krishna priti (loving the eternal) by reading Bhagabata regularly. Now I am telling you all, the story of Parikhita.

When in the end of the Mahabharata war the warriors of the Kauravas and Paandavas died like heroes and when Duryodhana had his thigh broken by a stroke of the mace dealt by Bhima, Duryodhana hid himself inside the Byasha-sarobara (River of Byasha) in order to save his life. When the night comes Duryodhana could see the son of Dronachaarya (Aswasthaamaa) coming towards him.

Duryodhana said him to kill the paandabas secretly, as a reward of which he will make him his minister. Aswathama then severed the heads of Droupadi’s sons, while they were asleep with an intention of pleasing Duryodhana, but which really proved most distasteful to him. At the news of the terrible slaughter of her sons, Draupadi wailed bitterly. Then Arjuna, comforting her said: “Plese be calm, I will be in peace only when I cut off the head of that Brahmana with my Gaandiba and present it to you so that you may set your foot on it and bathe after the cremation of your sons.” Having thus consoled his wife, Arjuna put on his armor and taking his Gaandiba, rode in a chariot with Krishna with the flag on it with the picture of Hanuman (kapidwajaa) in it, in pursuit of Aswathama.

Aswathama, who was now sad at heart for his shameful act, saw at a distance that Arjuna was rushing towards him, he ran for life in a chariot as far as he could on earth. When he saw that his horses were tired and had none to protect him, that son of a Brahmana thought of Brahmastra as the only means to protect his life. Even though he did not know how to withdraw the missile, he sipped a little water and finding his life in peril, fitted the same to his bow with an attentive mind. A fierce flame blazed forth from the missile and enveloped all sides. When Arjuna saw the danger to his life, he addressed Krishna as follows.

hey krushna krushna jogeswara sharana jananka sodara
sanshaara anala dahane dare smaranti tate jane
taahaanku deu mokhya gati abhaya brahme se pashanti
aadi purusha niranjana prakruti pare to bishraama
swarupe maayaa tu sanharu kaibalya rupe tu biharu
enu tohari gati muhin maayaara bale najaanai
e jiba loke ghora maayaa tutai jaare karu dayaa
e je tohara abataara khandiba abanira bhaara
tora sharana je pashai sanshaara taaku nalaagai
enu mohara gati tuhi to maayaa bala mu jaanai

Arjuna then addressed Krishna............... Oh krishna you are the true friend of those who have surrendered themselves before you. To get rescue from the blaze of life people call you as their last resort. You being in nature oh ancient being give those salvation who recognize your being everywhere. You bless him and pour compassion on him to break the maayaa who surrenders before you. Now I am surrendering before you please do save my life from the recent danger the brahmaastra thrown by Aswasthaamaa.

Krishna replied..............................

The son of Drona, (Aswasthaamaa) has done a sinister job. His sin is running after him even if he hides himself in deep forests. He is afraid of his own sin so much that a sight of you makes him forget his conscience and without knowing the principle of calling back the brahmaastra, he discharged it from his bow towards you. Now as you know Brahmastra can't be overpowered by any other missile, other than itself so I suggest you to discharge Brahmastra from your bow Gandiba to control the Brahmastra already in action.

On hearing the Lord’s words, Arjuna fitted a Brahmastra to repel the Brahmastra. The two flames filling the heavens as well as all the space between heaven and earth swelled like the sun and the fire at the time of universal destruction. Perceiving the mighty flames of the two missiles, all the people, who were being scorched by their heat, thought it to be the fire of universal destruction. Seeing the distress of the people and the impending destruction of all the worlds and finding the approval Sri Krishna, Arjuna withdrew them both. Then he quickly nabbed the cruel Aswathama, and bound him with a rope as one would bind a sacrificial animal. Having forcibly bound the enemy with a rope and when he was about to be taken to the camp, the Lord said to Arjuna in rage: “Arjuna, you ought not to spare him. Do kill this fallen Brahmana, who murdered at night innocent boys in the state of asleep .

matta pramatta unmatta baala banitaa nidraagata
sharanaagata ratha hina sankate dekhi ripujana'
ehaanku badha je karanti jibana thaaun se maranti
para jibana maari aani aatmaaku posanti je praani
taanku maarante bahu punya bede kahanti bipra jana
........................................

..........................................................

Srikrishna said, Oh Arjuna, those persons who kill their foes in the state of drunk, unguarded, madness, insane, asleep, tender age, stupid, terror stricken, surrendered,
or whose chariot has broken, or kill a woman, they die even in the state of living. But to slay this merciless wretch who maintains his own life at the cost of others is a great deed of righteousness.

Affirming the words of Sri Krishna, who was putting his righteousness to test. Arjuna did not slay Aswathaamaa even though he had killed his own sons. Taking him to his camp, Arjuna dumped him before Draupadi, who had been grieving all the while for her dead sons. Draupadi looked intently at Aswathaamaa, who was being bounded with cords like a sacrificial animal, whose face was pale on account of his shameful act. Draupadi, who was tender by nature took compassion on the offender and bowed to him and said, “Let him be freed, a Brahmana that he is and worthy of our utmost adoration. That worshipful Dronacharya, by whose grace you learnt the science of archery with its manifold secrets and acquired the knowledge of the various missiles is himself present in the form of his son. His wife Gautami who is very pious should not suffer the loss of son as I am doing. Let not his mother wail even as I do.”

On that occasion Bhima in an outraged manner said, “For him, who murdered sleeping youngsters without any gain, death has been declared as a boon.” Hearing the words of Bhima as well as Draupadi, Sri Krishna asked Arjuna to carry out the commands of both Bhima and Draupadi. Arjuna instantly understood the words of Sri Krishna and with his sword cut off the gem on Aswathaamaa’s head and expelled him from his camp. That was a grave insult for a brahmin duing that period. That was recognized as vile as death for a Brahmin. Thus Aswasthaamaa exited from the kingdom towards a forest.

End of Saptama Adhyaaya..............

Prathama skandha, sastha adhyaaya

Conversation between Narada and Byaasa Deba continues.......

Byasha Deba then asked....Oh adorable sage, then you were just a kid when the sages blessed you Haribani. How did you practice austerity? When they left, how was your life? How did you cast away your mortal being? Please explain me in detail.....

Narada those spoke, oh saint....then I was only a boy of five years old when my mother passed away due to snake biting. Then I left home and walked towards the northern direction in search of the Brahmins who left me. In that journey I passed through prosperous lands, cities, villages, temporary habitats of cowherds, mines, hamlets, stray habitations by the side of mountains and rivers, mountains charming with minerals of various colors, trees with boughs broken by elephants, lotus-ponds frequented by gods and rendered vocal by birds of diverse notes and adored by bees hovering about. Having journeyed across these all alone, I came in sight of an extensive and formidable forest dense with rushes, bamboos, reeds and which presented a dreadful appearance, infested as it is with serpents, owls and jackals. Wearied in mind and body and overcome with thirst and hunger, I bathed in the pool of a river and felt refreshed. In that forest, uninhabited by man, I sat down at the foot of a Aswastha tree and contemplated with a serene mind on the Lord residing in my heart, as I had heard from them. Even as I meditated on his Lotus-feet with a mind overpowered by love, tears rushed to my eyes as a result of eagerness to behold Sri Hari, who gradually appeared on the screen of my heart.

takhyana parama aanande hari bijaye mora hrude
atyanta prema bhare dehe udgama hele tanu ruhe
aananda shaagare budili ubhaya loka na jaanili
rupe ki debaa pataantara mana bachana aagochara
........................................

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I began to dwell in the abode of tranquility and never ending joy. I lost consciousness of both myself and the object of my perception. But suddenly when I was unable to see his inexpressible view, I felt disturbed and sprung up on my feet like one troubled at heart. Longing to behold him once more, I fixed the mind on my heart and looked for it, but could not see it. Now I felt miserable like one whose desire had not been satiated. To me thus struggling in that forest, the Lord, who is beyond words, spoke in sublime voice, “My child, in this birth you are unfit to behold me; for I’m difficult of perception for those who are not completely merged in my thought and enlightened. It was only to arouse in you a burning desire to see Me that I have once revealed My form to you. Through services rendered by you to the saints even for a short period your thoughts are irrevocably fixed on Me. Therefore casting of this reprehensible body you will attain to my own attendant. The thought you have thus fixed on me shall never cease. By my grace you will continue to remember me even when the whole creation has perished.”

Since then, I continued to chant his holy names and fixed my thoughts on Him and roamed about on the earth awaiting end of my material body. In my wandering my mind became pure and serene. At last the very moment of my departure came when the divine light as a lightening in blue clouds was seen to me again. Immediately I renounced my material body. Due to blessings of the supreme my eternal body went to the void. Visnu was sleeping in his bed of Ananta in the midst of river of milk (khira saagara). My divine body merged in him.

At the end of one thousand revolutions of the four yugas when Brahma rose and wished to bring forth this creation again, Marichi and the other sages as well as myself were evolved out of his senses. With my vow of constant chanting of the name of the Supreme , I wandered inside as well as outside the three worlds; and by the grace of Maha Vishnu, my passage is nowhere obstructed. Playing upon this Beena, bestowed upon me by the Lord himself, I go about singing the stories of Sri Hari.

As I sing of his exploits, of Shrihari, whose feet represents all sacred places, soon reveals in my heart as if summoned by me. Narration of the Lord’s doings has been found to be a vessel to cross the infinite ocean of mundane existence for those whose mind is incessantly tormented by the craving for sense enjoyments. A heart afflicted with lust and greed every moment does not attain tranquility so surely not even by the various practices of Yoga, such as self-control and so on. But only through the worship of Lord Mukundha this is achieved.

Sinless Vyasa, I have thus told you all that you have asked me, the secret of my birth and its doings and the means of satisfying your soul.

End of sastha adhyaaya.................

Prathama skandha, panchama adhyaaya

Narada said,...... Oh pious sage, you are the most knowledgeable, produced the illuminated Bhagabata, you produced the sacred Mahabharata which contains the gist of four Vedas, your mind is always set upon the Brahma, but still your mind seems to be very disturbed. What could be the reason?

Byaashadeba said.........


Tumbhe kahila muni jete mora abhyaasha bahu mate
beda puraana artha jete mu sarba sampaadili chitte
tathaapi aatmaa tosha nohe stira na rahe mana dehe
tumbhe je brahmaanka nandana bhale jaanila mora mana.........

Oh Pious Sage, whatever you told about me is very true. I cultured the four Vedas, and all the Purans. I kept the knowledge thereby in my heart. But still my soul is unsatisfied. My mind is not calm. Who can make this unsteady mind calm than Gobinda (Krisn)...? I realise, due to deficiency in devotion to krisn my mind is in such state.

Oh Son of Brahma, you are very nearer to the Krishn. Since your knowledge is unfathomable, you know all hidden truths in as much as you have worshiped the most ancient existence(God), who is the ruler of both Prakriti and Purusa and who by his very thought creates, sustains and reabsorbs the universe with the help of the three gunas, though remaining unattached to the same. As air travels inside and outside all the creatures; as soul travels everywhere it wishes, you travel trilokas (swarga, martya, paataala) as per your wish as the Sun God does. You are lucky enough to take your bath with the sacred water fallen from Vishnu's lotus feet. So who besides thou can describe his glory to make my disturbed mind serene?........................

Narada Said Thus................


Oh saint.......You are right. Since you did not feel the glory of Krishn in your heart, even though you mastered all the knowledge of humanity like righteousness and philosophy, your mind is not calm. So do listen to the glory of the supreme God........

je dharme krushna tosha naahi, se dharma nisphala atai
dharma sampada kaama arthe jete kahila beda pathe
jebe gobinda guna graama abhyaasha thaantaa kichi shrama
tebe ki mana asantosha kahibi shuna upadesha..............

All the righteousness (Dharma) are futile if there is no devotion towards God almighty. Otherwise there will be a sense of ego which is the hindrance on every track of success and realisation. If man begins to think he has done, he has archived so and so, this makes him feel proud of himself and ends in over estimating himself in this process. This over estimation invites other negative forces like greed, lust, hatred, cruelty and pushes him towards the path of darkness and failure. Work with devotion for the supreme in mind of course will make the man selfless/unselfish, calm and successful in the true sense of the term. What ever a man acquires righteousness(Dharma), Wealth(Artha), Passion (Kaama) in life time, if mind is not devoted to the God can never get peace and tranquility.

Speech, which though full of sweet expressions, if never utters the glories of Sri Hari is considered to be kaaka baani or voice of crows that feed upon the dirty leavings of food. That is like the tirth (sacred water) inside which the name of krishna is not recited. The wise men, similar to the Swans, that are traditionally believed to have their adobe in the lotus beds of Manasarovar, never takes delight in such Speech or bathing in such Tirtha. On the other hand, that composition which, though faulty in diction, consists of verses each of which contains the names of the immortal Lord, bearing the impress of his glory, wipes out the sins of the people like the holy water.

Even the wisdom that is free from blemish and is a direct means to the attainment of liberation does not adorn one’s soul so much, if it is devoid of devotion to God. How then can action with an interested motive, which is rooted in sorrow at every stage and even disinterested action that has not been dedicated to God serve to heighten one’s glory. Therefore with a concentrated mind now recall the exploits of Sri Vishnu, who wields unthinkable power, with a view to the liberation of the entire humanity.

je laabha kehi na labhanti se laabhe jaara chitta chinti
se arthe jatna je karanti sansaare pandita bolaanti
kaalara bale puna puna e bhaba madhye taa bhramana
purba arjita karma bashe dukh sadrush sukha aase
e adha urdhwa pathe praanie bhramanti nirate
taahaanka madhye jane jane lobhile se phala dhaarane
se phala paai sukhe khaai bhramane shrame nalagaai
bhramina praani jebe paaie puni bhramanti taahaa khaai
enu mukunda paadagate je praani bhajanti nirate
mukunda paada taara gati anyara praaya na bhramanti
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If heart and mind of a person remains in that acquire (possession) which is not acquired by anybody (mortal) and that wealth which is the greatest wealth in the world, will be called as wise in this universe. The greatest wealth is neither any riches nor fame. It is righteousness. The greatest acquire is none other than salvation which is least desired by most of the creatures bounded by the effects of trigunas(Satwa, Raja and Tama). In this mortal earth, in the flux of time souls wander from one body to another, due to the effects of their past deeds. Good deeds in the past life comes as happiness in the present life which is also an opportunity to make a soul forget the path of righteousness; thus accumulates sins and misery for future life. Wanting happiness and pleasure of senses makes a soul slave of his deeds (karma). He who takes an easy going life without least effort for salvation in his present life wanders in the skewed path of ups and downs in several births.

only that being who constantly keeps his mind and heart on the lotus feet of the supreme, does not wander wildly. He who is able to offer all his deeds before the God remains serene in body and mind...........

This universe is non other than the Lord, who is yet apart from it, being responsible for the continuance, destruction and coming into being of the world. You know it yourself; yet I have indicated it to you by way of a hint. O Vyasa of unfailing vision, know it for yourself that you are a ray of the highest person and that though unborn you have taken birth for the good of the world. Therefore, describe at length the exploits of the Lord for the good of those who are working under the impulse of the trigunas and lack spiritual sense in your Bhagabata.

During the previous existence, I was born as a son of a maidservant of a Brahmana. While yet a boy, I was asked to serve wandering ascetics, who wished to stop at our place during rains. Though a mere child, I was free from all childish frolics, was quiet submissive. I was engaged in all kind of services to them. With the willing consent of those Brahmanas I ate, once in twenty four hours, whatever was left in their dishes, and was therefore cleansed of all sins. Thus engaged in their service, I attained purity of mind, which conceived a liking for their religious activities. There in that society of saints, who were constantly chanting the name of Sri krishna, I began to listen and chant his glory. They blessed me the greatest and sweetest ever song of the glory of Krishna and departed. I developed an attraction for the Lord of delightful fame.Then my mind firmly got established in the Supreme. Through such a mind I began to perceive the whole of this gross and subtle world as assumed in me, the absolute through Maya. Through that wisdom, I came to know the glory of that Maya of Lord Vasudeva, the maker of this world, by knowing which, men attain his Adobe.

enu e krushnaarpita karma kale tutai bhaba bhrama
aatmaare gyaana prakaashai tritaapa maana khyaya jaai
byaadhi upuje jaara bhoge se drabye chikistschaa nalabhe
enu gobinda rasha teji jebe bishaya rase majji
se kaahin tariba sanshaare padiba ghora andhakaare


The devotion in Lord Krishn (Supreme) is the pure devotion and greatest among all forms of devotions. That devotion only can free the mind from all the bondings. That devotion can make the soul enlightened and vanishes the abominable burning of triple fire (lust, anger, hatred) upon human life. So those objects which are the cause of disease (disease of soul, body and mind) in life has no healing besides devotion towards God. He, who leaving this path is devoted towards the pleasure of senses indeed falls prey to expanded darkness...

Thus Oh enlightened saint describe the glory of Srikrishna in Bhagabata for the well being of mankind that is only the key to your peace of mind....................


End of Panchama Adhyaaya...................

Prathama skandha, chaturtha adhyaaya

emante bhaagabata baani suta muninka mukhu suni
muninka madye karma suddha saunaka naame kula bruddha
sarba muninka abadhaane pucchanti madhura bachane
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When Suta was speaking Bhagabata, Saunaka, the oldest of the sages applauded him and said. Suta, you are highly blessed and the best of narrators. Please repeat to us the same sacred story of the Lord as the divine sage Suka recited. In which Yuga was the discourse held and at what place, what was the occasion for it? And at what instance did the sage Vedavyasa compose this Purana..!

Saunaka then said......

Vyasadeba's son Sukamuni, was a great Yogi who was seeing oneness everywhere, whose mind was exclusively set upon God and who was beyond mundane life. Once Sukadeba being naked was moving towards a river where Debakanyas (celestial women) were bathing. The debakanyas did not react to his behavior but seeing Vyasadeba behind him, hid themselves in river. At the stange behaviour of the women, Vyasadeba asked, girls.....my son is too young and I am old enough, he is naked and I am wearing my cloths then why did you hid yourself in the water seeing me only? The women replied, holy saint, your son has no body on this earth although he is alive, he is neutral to the senses so we had no problem seeing him naked but you have not yet reached that stage so forgive us for the disobey.

Then asked Saunaka to tell about the same Sukadeba and to explain how did the royal sage Parikshit come to have a talk with him? To explain why did that emperor who served to enhance the glory of the Pandavas, took his seat on the bank of the Ganga with a vow to fast unto death, spurning his imperial fortune? It is really strange, how that brave prince, when he was so young, relinquished that fortune, which is so difficult to renounce. Men, who are devoted to the the almighty, live not for their own sake, but only for the welfare, affluence and prosperity of the world. Saunaka then pleaded, why then did he cast off his body, which was the support of other beings, like someone in a state of disfavor? He requested then........please tell us; for we know you have mastered the entire range of Puranas and Itihasas.

Reply of Suta muni

Oh respectful saints, then listen to glories of Krishna. When the Tryetaya Yuga(era) was in the verge of completion and Dwapara yuga was about to come Byasadeba who is also a part of the manifestation of Vishnu was borne with human body. His parents were Parashara and Yonagandha. One fine morning after finishing his morning ablution in the river of Ganga, he was sitting meditatively in the Badarikasrama. The sage, who had an unfailing eye and could read the past as well as the future, saw how in the wake of Kali yuga, people are weak and seek, lacking devotion and faith, how their conscience losses in lust and how they become dull-witted and short lived.

kali aagame praaninkara jemante hoiba bebhaara
shraddhaa chaadibe ati dure durbala hoibe sharire
buddhi hoiba lobhe graasha swabhaabe alapa aayusha
durbhaagaa hoibe sakale ehaa jaanile joga bale.................


Finding the people so unlucky, the sage began to investigate by means of his divine insight as to wherein lies the welfare of men belonging to all the grades of society and stages of life. Perceiving that the Vedic sacrifices are the purifiers of men, he divided the one Veda into four. He thus separated the four Vedas under the names of Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. The Itihasas and Puranas are called the fifth Veda. Seeing that the women, the Sudras and the fallen Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas were debarred even from hearing the Vedas, and did not know how to perform acts that are conductive to good, the sage was good enough to compose the Mahabharata in which the gist of Vedas was composed in order that all could attain blessedness through the same.

Even though Vyasadeba dedicated himself whole heartedly in doing good to living creatures, his heart was not satisfied with that. Feeling uneasy at heart, the sage, who knew the secret of Dharma(righteousness), sat reflecting in a reclusive place on the holy bank of Saraswati and said to himself “Observing the vow of celibacy I reverently studied the Vedas, served the elders and worshiped the Yagna(sacrificial fires) and honestly followed their precepts. I have also revealed the purport of the Vedas through the Mahabharata, in which persons who are debarred from reading Vedas can find their respective duties and other things explained. Though I stand foremost among those who are greatest in wisdom, and possess uncommon powers, my soul it seems has not yet realized. My mind yet is not serene to attain salvation. What could be the reasons?

While the sage was thinking thus, the sage Narada called at his hermitage. When the sage saw Narada, he instantly rose to receive him and duly offered worship to the celestial sage.

The term oneness defined.....
(Oneness is a relative term having a subtle meaning which otherwise can be called as lack of ego. A person who sees oneness everywhere, treats everybody........men, women, animals, birds, tree etc as souls like him who are part of the supreme. He never thinks he is different from others in any way. So all the outward senses will cease to exist. We get angry upon somebody, desire , praise, nag or trust upon somebody because we treat the other as the other from us. But if one treats the other, a mere soul like him, (as souls are not different, they only are small parts of the supreme ray) all the emotions both negative and positive- will end in void. His mind will always dwell in the abode of eternal joy. That only is possible in case of an enlightened (Sthitapragyan) what, in Bhagabt gita is being mentioned. Sukadeba or Suka Muni was such an enlightened soul, who although was staying on earth, always remained lost in the eternal bliss and remained unaware of his mundane state. That's why he was unaware of his nakedness and the celestial women couldn't find any fault in him. His father Vyasadeba was serving for the humanity but still he was deprived of that divine bliss in which his son always happened to be lost. That was his thought in the bank of river Saraswati. )

End of Chaturtha Adhyaaya.................