Srimad Bhagavatam III.06 - 31 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, 31 October 2022 IV.06 - Brahma goes with the gods to pray to Lord Shiva in his heavenly abode, Kailasa.

***

Srimad Bhagavatam is extolled as the greatest Purana for a reason. It narrates the stories with a high degree of authenticity and realism which captivates the reader. This is certainly true for me! See how Lord Brahma goes to Lord Shiva and prays for his compassion.

***

In this tragicomedy, it was but natural that all those assembled to perform the Yajna, including the gods, went for succour to Lord Brahma. They had been hurt badly by Shiva's army with weapons like tridents and swords. Bowing down to Brahma, they blurted out all the happenings. 

उपलभ्य पुरैवैतद्भगवानब्जसम्भव: । नारायणश्च विश्वात्मा न कस्याध्वरमीयतु: ॥

T: Knowing well in advance what was going to happen, both the lotus-born Brahma and Sriman Narayana had not attended Daksha's Yajna.

Brahma now calmly replied.

" It was a miscalculation that you people would be happy to perform that Yajna after blaspheming a great personality like Lord Shiva. Hence you have reaped this unhappy result. By excluding offerings to Lord Shiva, you have offended his lotus feet (shown utter disrespect to someone so great). But I can tell you that Lord Shiva will forgive you if you go at once and fall at his feet asking for mercy."

"Know that Lord Shiva is so powerful that his anger can destroy all the planets and their guardians instantly. Shiva was deeply aggrieved by the death of his beloved Sati, something that happened after he was roundly insulted by Daksha. Neither I nor Indra nor anyone else can truly know how powerful Lord Shiva is. Under the circumstances, the only thing is for all of you to go and beg for Shiva's forgiveness."

Lord Brahma himself led all of them to Kailasa.

Description of Kailasa

जन्मौषधितपोमन्त्रयोगसिद्धैर्नरेतरै: । जुष्टं किन्नरगन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिर्वृतं सदा ॥ 

कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारशतपत्रवनर्द्धिभि: । नलिनीषु कलं कूजत्खगवृन्दोपशोभितम् ॥

मृगै: शाखामृगै: क्रोडैर्मृगेन्द्रैर्ऋ क्षशल्यकै: । गवयै: शरभैर्व्याघ्रै रुरुभिर्महिषादिभि: ॥

T: The heavenly Kailasa is replete with precious herbs, vegetables, minerals and gems. It reverberates with Vedic hymns and resonates with Yogic practices. All the gods who reside there are advanced mystics, and there are Kinnaras, Gandharvas and Apsaras too.

The mountain sports wonderful waterfalls. There are the musical sounds of many birds. 

The heavenly Kailasa is full of many trees; to name a few- mandara, parijata, sarala, tamala, tala, kovidara, asana, arjuna, amrajati (mango), kadamba, dhuli-kadamba, naga, punnaga, campaka, patala, ashoka, bakula, kunda and kurabaka. The entire mountain is decorated with such trees, which produce flowers with fragrant aromas. There are other trees, such as the golden lotus flower, the cinnamon tree, malati, kubja, mallika and madhavi. In addition, it is replete with kata, jackfruit, julara, banyan trees, plakshas, nyagrodhas and trees producing asafoetida. Also there are betel trees, bhurjapatra, rajapuga, trees bearing many berries and so on. Many bamboo groves abound there.

There are different kinds of lotus flowers, such as kumuda, utpala and satapatra. The forest appears to be a decorated garden, and the small lakes are full of various kinds of birds who whisper very sweetly. There are many kinds of other animals also, like deer, monkeys, boars, lions, bears, salyakas, wild cattle, wild asses, tigers, small deer, buffaloes and many other animals that thrive there. Several types of deer exist there including Kasturi (musk deer). The banana groves fringe the lovely lakes. One of them is the Alakananda sanctified by Sati as she used to bathe there.

***

The gods passed the fragrant Saugandhika grove and watched with wonder the beauty of Kailasa. They passed the rivers Nanda and Alakananda. These rivers were sanctified by the feet of Lord Shiva. They then came upon a magnificent banyan tree. That tree was unimaginably tall and its canopy spread over an incredible area.

Lord Shiva as Dakshinamurti

तस्मिन्महायोगमये मुमुक्षुशरणे सुरा: । दद‍ृशु: शिवमासीनं त्यक्तामर्षमिवान्तकम् ॥

सनन्दनाद्यैर्महासिद्धै: शान्तै: संशान्तविग्रहम् । उपास्यमानं सख्या च भर्त्रा गुह्यकरक्षसाम् ॥

विद्यातपोयोगपथमास्थितं तमधीश्वरम् । चरन्तं विश्वसुहृदं वात्सल्याल्लोकमङ्गलम् ॥ 

लिङ्गं च तापसाभीष्टं भस्मदण्डजटाजिनम् । अङ्गेन सन्ध्याभ्ररुचा चन्द्रलेखां च बिभ्रतम् ॥

उपविष्टं दर्भमय्यां बृस्यां ब्रह्म सनातनम् । नारदाय प्रवोचन्तं पृच्छते श‍ृण्वतां सताम् ॥

कृत्वोरौ दक्षिणे सव्यं पादपद्मं च जानुनि । बाहुं प्रकोष्ठेऽक्षमालाम् आसीनं तर्कमुद्रया ॥

T: There the gods saw Lord Shiva, seated under that tree, the Guru of all mystics and Yogis and the deliverer of men. He was serene like eternal Time, and totally devoid of any anger. Shiva was surrounded by the Kumaras, Kubera- the noble lord of wealth, and many other liberated beings. 

Lord Shiva displayed total mastery over the senses and possessed complete knowledge of creation and liberation. He was a dear friend to all creation and most auspicious in his affection towards all.

Seated on a straw mat placed over a deerskin, in deep meditation, Shiva looked like the evening cloud, smeared as he was with ashes. There was the crescent moon on his crest of matted locks, a symbol of his divinity.

Lord Shiva was giving Brahma Jnana to Sage Narada. 

Shiva's left leg was placed on his right thigh, and his left hand was placed on his left thigh, in a typical Veerasana. Shiva held rudraksha mala in his right hand and his hand was poised in Tarkamudra (Jnanamudra).

All the gods bowed low to Lord Shiva. Shiva got up and bowed to Lord Brahma, touching his feet. Sage Vyasa compares this to the way Maha Vishnu, as Vamana, when born as the son of Kashyapa, bowed to him.

All the sages present also worshipped Brahma. Then Brahma began to speak to Lord Shiva, with a pleasant smile.

Brahma's Prayer to Lord Shiva

ब्रह्मोवाच

जाने त्वामीशं विश्वस्य जगतो योनिबीजयो: ।

शक्ते: शिवस्य च परं यत्तद्ब्रह्म निरन्तरम् ॥

त्वमेव भगवन्नेतच्छिवशक्त्यो: स्वरूपयो: ।

विश्वं सृजसि पास्यत्सि क्रीडन्नूर्णपटो यथा ॥

T: Brahma address the Lord, "My dear Lord Shiva, I know that you control all creation, being its father and mother - Shiva and Shakti, and you are the Supreme Brahman beyond the cosmic manifestation as well. My dear Lord, you create this cosmic manifestation, maintain it, and annihilate it by the expansion of your personality, exactly as a spider creates, maintains and winds up its web."

"My dear Lord, you alone ordained that Yajnas be performed under the leadership of Daksha, for religious and economic rewards. The four Varnas and Ashramas are also set up under your order. Brahmins, therefore, pursue Yajnas assiduously."

"All the Lokas, including Vaikuntha, and the impersonal Brahman, being the destination of worthy seekers, is your arrangement. You have also created hells to condemn the miscreants to. "

न वै सतां त्वच्चरणार्पितात्मनां भूतेषु सर्वेष्वभिपश्यतां तव ।

भूतानि चात्मन्यपृथग्दिद‍ृक्षतां प्रायेण रोषोऽभिभवेद्यथा पशुम् ॥

T: "My dear Lord, devotees who have fully dedicated their lives unto your lotus feet certainly observe your presence as Paramatma in every being, and as such, they do not differentiate between one living being and another. Such persons treat all living entities equally. They are never overcome with anger, unlike lower animals who live in duality.  Those who differentiate between entities and pursue desire-driven activities are mean and jealous of others who are flourishing. Such people are given to speaking harsh words, and will naturally be punished by Destiny. Therefore, such people need not be directly killed by you! (The reference is clearly to Daksha!)"

"When worldly persons, completely ruled by Maya, commit offences, a holy and liberated person will not take offence, knowing that they are acting under the influence of Maya. Such a holy person does not bother to punish them. My dear Lord, you are totally beyond Maya. You are omniscient and all-merciful. So kindly be compassionate towards these lowly people!"

"Lord Shiva, you are always entitled to the Havis in Yajnas, as you are the ultimate giver of fruits and rewards! Please, therefore, forgive those bad priests who failed to offer you the oblation! (न यत्र भागं तव भागिनो ददु: कुयाजिनः)"

"My dear Lord Shiva, kindly forgive Daksha and give him back his life. Kindly let Bhaga get his eyes, Bhrigu his moustache and beard, and Pushan his teeth. Kindly be compassionate and restore their broken limbs and heal the gods and priests injured in the melee. Kindly be gracious and accept the oblation in the Yajna, and bless the Yajna to be completed."

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Srimad Bhagavatam III.05 - 30 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, 30 October 2022 IV.05 - Lord Shiva creates Veerabhadra who goes and decapitates Daksha and destroys his Yajna.

***

When Lord Shiva heard from Sage Narada that Sati, his wife, was now dead because of Prajapati Daksha’s insult to her and that his soldiers had been driven away by the Ribhus, Shiva flew into a terrible rage.

क्रुद्ध: सुदष्टौष्ठपुट: स धूर्जटिर्जटां तडिद्वह्निसटोग्ररोचिषम् ।

उत्कृत्य रुद्र: सहसोत्थितो हसन् गम्भीरनादो विससर्ज तां भुवि ॥

ततोऽतिकायस्तनुवा स्पृशन्दिवं सहस्रबाहुर्घनरुक् त्रिसूर्यद‍ृक् ।

करालदंष्ट्रो ज्वलदग्निमूर्धज: कपालमाली विविधोद्यतायुध: ॥ 

तं किं करोमीति गृणन्तमाह बद्धाञ्जलिं भगवान् भूतनाथ: ।

दक्षं सयज्ञं जहि मद्भटानां त्वमग्रणी रुद्र भटांशको मे ॥

T: Lord Shiva, spewing rage, bit his lips and suddenly pulled out a strand of his jata which was blazing like lightning. Rising and letting out a macabre laugh, he dashed that strand of hair to the ground. 

A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was now created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head looking like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he wore a garland of human heads.

When that gigantic demon asked with folded hands, “What shall I do, my Lord?” Bhutanatha Lord Shiva,  ordered, “You are born from me, and shall lead my Ganas (army). Go kill Daksha and destroy his people at the Yajna.”

***

This Veerabhadra was the Lord's anger incarnate. Empowered and ordered by Lord Shiva, he was confident in executing the task. He circumambulated Lord Shiva. He then rushed with all the Ganas in a tumultuous uproar, carrying a huge trident, poised to kill even the God of Death. As he rushed, his ankle bangles clanged terrifyingly.

All those assembled in the Yajna venue, along with their women, were scared to witness darkness loom over them all. Was it a sudden dust storm?  Since there was no wind or no cattle moving in large numbers raising dust, it was inexplicable. Were they some marauders creating a dust storm to enable their looting? It couldn't be because this was the well-run kingdom of King Barhi. 

Prasuti, the wife of Daksha, along with the other women assembled, became very anxious and said: "This danger has been created by Daksha because he caused the death of the innocent Sati!"

"Is this the Rudra Tandava dance of Shiva, with his matted locks flying around, as he destroys with his trident the guardians of the quarters at the time of the great Dissolution? He then dances and laughs terrifyingly, scattering the guardians like a storm blows away clouds!"

When Veerabhadra arrived, he bared his fearsome teeth, and his eyebrows danced to scatter all the astral bodies in the sky. His piercing effulgence was such that even Brahma was now powerless.

Daksha saw dangerous omens all around, on earth and in the sky. Shiva's army surrounded the Yajna area. They were of all shapes and sizes, carrying deadly weapons. They began to destroy the Yajna arrangements by breaking vessels, tearing down pillars and structures, and even urinating into the sacrificial fire. They entered the kitchen and ravaged it. Some blocked the way of the fleeing sages, some threatened the women assembled there, and some arrested the gods who were fleeing the pandal.

Maniman captured Bhrigu, Veerabhadra caught hold of Daksha, Chandesha caught Pushan and Nandi captured Bhaga. Shiva's army rained stones on all those assembled there. The assembled people ran helter-skelter to save themselves. Veerabhadra tore off Bhrigu's moustache and beard for his laughing at Shiva. He blinded Bhaga for having winked at Daksha when Shiva was insulted. He knocked off Pushan's teeth that he had bared by grinning at Shiva's insult. 

Veerabhadra sat on Daksha's chest and slashed at his neck with his sword. But Daksha seemed to be protected by some boon as his neck could not be cut. This angered Veerabhadra even more, and looking around, he swiftly took Daksha to the sacrificial altar and decapitated him in one stroke.

Seeing this, Shiva's army let out a huge roar of celebration. The Brahmins were dismayed that Daksha had been killed. Veerabhadra threw away Daksha's head on the southern side of the Yajna venue. After setting fire to the whole arena, Shiva's army returned to Kailasa.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Srimad Bhagavatam III.04 - 29 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, 29 October 2022 IV.04 - An adamant Sati goes to Daksha's Yajna and the worst happens.

***

मैत्रेय उवाच

एतावदुक्त्वा विरराम शङ्कर: पत्‍न्यङ्गनाशं ह्युभयत्र चिन्तयन् ।

सुहृद्दिद‍ृक्षु: परिशङ्किता भवान्निष्क्रामती निर्विशती द्विधास सा ॥

सुहृद्दिद‍ृक्षाप्रतिघातदुर्मना: स्‍नेहाद्रुदत्यश्रुकलातिविह्वला ।

भवं भवान्यप्रतिपूरुषं रुषा प्रधक्ष्यतीवैक्षत जातवेपथु: ॥

T: Maitreya continues the sordid narrative. "Bhagavan Shiva became silent, realising that Sati was likely to die either way - if held back against her desire or if she went to Daksha's Yajna. Sati was tormented by the dilemma of seeing the good sense of what her husband had counselled, and her great impetuous desire to go to her family function. She strode to and fro in indecision. Then she started crying, unable to accept Shiva's advice not to go. She blasted Shiva with her burning eyes of anger."

Sati decided to go, and left in a terrible huff. The words here are स्त्रैणनिमूढधीः meaning "the indiscretion natural to a woman."  

At once, the alarmed attendants of Lord Shiva rushed along, carrying her pet bird, her mirror and other womanly paraphernalia, and seated her on Nandi, holding a great umbrella over her. 

Followed by a singing party with drums, conches and bugles, the entire procession was like a royal parade.

***

Sati entered her father's Yajna place that was resounding with Vedic hymns, filled as it was with all sacred Yajna materials, and being attended by great sages and gods. 

Unfortunately, Daksha, and those present who were afraid of Daksha, treated Sati with indifference and discourtesy. Of course, Sati's mother and sisters, with tears in their eyes and with glad faces, welcomed her and talked with her very pleasingly. But Sati was so upset that she did not reply to their words of reception and did not accept the seat and presents offered. The reason was that her father neither talked with her nor welcomed her by asking about her welfare.

Sati noticed that there were no oblations for her husband, Lord Shiva (as was duly offered to all the gods). Next, she realised how her father had purposely not invited Lord Shiva, and also did not welcome the great god's wife and his own daughter when Sati arrived. Naturally, she became greatly angry, so much so that she looked at her father as if she were going to burn him with her eyes.

Sati's followers, the ghosts and the gargoyles wanted to attack Daksha and kill him. Sati stopped them. She now vented her rage and frustration aloud to the assembly.

"Lord Shiva is supreme, the most beloved of all living entities. He is unrivalled. He is equanimous in outlook towards all. No one but you could be envious of him when he is beyond enmity!"

"It is clear that although a Brahmin, you, Daksha, are finding fault in others when Shiva never faults anyone. Indeed he extols even the slightest of virtues in others! Is it not unfortunate that someone faults such a one as Lord Shiva!? It is a symptom of someone who is body-centred and hence materialistic. Such persons have envy that will cause their downfall."

यद्व्य‍क्षरं नाम गिरेरितं नृणां सकृत्प्रसङ्गादघमाशु हन्ति तत् ।

पवित्रकीर्तिं तमलङ्‌घ्यशासनं भवानहो द्वेष्टि शिवं शिवेतर: ॥

T: "Sir, The two sacred syllables Shi and Va, even when uttered once, instantly erase all the sins of any man. Shiva has the purest reputation and nobody dares to defy him. By your hatred, you are showing how greatly different you are from the embodiment of auspiciousness, Lord Shiva!"

"Lord Shiva confers his grace on all, even the seekers of liberation. Do you think those much greater than you, like Lord Brahma, do not revere Shiva whom you call inauspicious!? He may be surrounded by ghosts and demons, ash-smeared, wearing a garland of skulls, roaming the crematoria, but yet Shiva enjoys the highest reverence from Lord Brahma and such. They pick up the flowers offered at his feet and place them on their own heads as most sanctified!"

"If one hears such blasphemy of the Lord, one should block one's ears, if unable to punish the offender. Or one should cut off the offender's tongue, and kill him. After that one should end one's life."

"Father, I have received this body from you, and hence I consider it unworthy. Just as someone who has ingested poison is advised to vomit it, I shall give up this body now."

"The important thing is to perform one's Swadharma while not criticising others. Those who have realised the self do not need to engage in Vedic rituals, just as the gods travel by the aerial route unlike men who need to walk on earth."

"There are clearly two paths mentioned in the Vedas. The first is the path of  Karma Kanda and rituals for those who are full of material desires. The other path is that of detachment and austerity. These paths suit different temperaments. But there is a third, elevated category of realised souls who are beyond both."

मा व: पदव्य: पितरस्मदास्थिता या यज्ञशालासु न धूमवर्त्मभि: ।

तदन्नतृप्तैरसुभृद्‌भिरीडिता अव्यक्तलिङ्गा अवधूतसेविता: ॥

T: "Father, our path is that of the self-realised Avadhootas. How can one who is engaged in fruitive Yajnas and enjoying the food after sacrifices appreciate our path of renunciation and detachment from ritual formalities?"

"Father, I condemn myself because my body is contaminated by a relationship with a person who is an offender at the lotus feet of the greatest personality, Lord Shiva. When called "Dakshayani" by Shiva, alluding to my being your, Daksha's, daughter, my cheer and smile disappear instantly in shame. I shall therefore give up this body!"

Speaking these words to her father in the Yajna Shala, Sati sat down on the ground and faced north. Dressed in saffron garments, she sanctified herself with water and closed her eyes to absorb herself in the process of Yoga. Seated in a firm Yogic pose, she drew her Pranas (life breath) into her navel. Then she slowly raised it through her heart, throat and finally to between her eyebrows. She was giving up her body, which had been placed so lovingly by Lord Shiva in his own lap. She now ignited the fire of life within.

तत: स्वभर्तुश्चरणाम्बुजासवं जगद्गुरोश्चिन्तयती न चापरम् ।

ददर्श देहो हतकल्मष: सती सद्य: प्रजज्वाल समाधिजाग्निना ॥

T: Then Sati concentrated totally on the holy lotus feet of her husband, Lord Shiva, who is the supreme Guru of the world. Thus completely cleansed of all taints of sin, Sati relinquished her body in a blazing fire ignited by her meditation.

The universe was in tumult, distressed deeply by the way Sati had given up her body, owing to the unpardonable offence that Daksha had committed towards Lord Shiva as well as his glorious wife, Sati. Daksha would incur great infamy as he had become unworthy of his Brahmin status for not having prevented Sati's suicide.

In the chaos, Shiva's attendants who had come with Sati readied themselves to kill Daksha. Seeing them with raised weapons, Sage Bhrigu wanted to stop the desecration of the Yajna ceremony by those attendants. So he invoked the protector deities of the Yajna by uttering the appropriate mantras. Those deities called Ribhus were empowered by Soma oblations and warded off the attackers. 

हन्यमाना दिशो भेजुरुशद्‌भिर्ब्रह्मतेजसा

T: "The attackers were scattered in all directions by the power of Brahma Tejas." 

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Srimad Bhagavatam IV.03 - 28 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, 28 October 2022 IV.03 - Sati wants to visit her father's big Yajna, but Lord Shiva dissuades her.

***

Thus, the animosity between Daksha and Lord Shiva continued for a long time. Brahma had meanwhile appointed Daksha as the head of the Prajapatis. To celebrate the occasion, Daksha performed a series of Yajnas in a grand manner, named Vajapeya and Brihaspati-Parva. He was confident by virtue of Brahma's encouragement and his elevation. Many Brahmarshis, gods and sages attended the grand event with their wives, all bedecked for the occasion. 

Sati, wedded to Lord Shiva, and dwelling in Kailasa, witnessed wonderful groups of these heavenly attendees, all dressed up and animatedly discussing the grandeur of Daksha's Yajnas and the celebrations. She approached Lord Shiva.

सत्युवाच

प्रजापतेस्ते श्वशुरस्य साम्प्रतं निर्यापितो यज्ञमहोत्सव: किल ।

वयं च तत्राभिसराम वाम ते यद्यर्थितामी विबुधा व्रजन्ति हि ॥

तस्मिन्भगिन्यो मम भर्तृभि: स्वकैर्ध्रुवं गमिष्यन्ति सुहृद्दिद‍ृक्षव: ।

अहं च तस्मिन्भवताभिकामये सहोपनीतं परिबर्हमर्हितुम् ॥

T: Sati said, "My dear Lord Shiva, your father-in-law is now performing great Yajnas, and all the gods, having been invited by him, are going there. If you desire, we may also go. I think that all my sisters must have gone to this great Yajna with their husbands just to see their relatives. I also desire to decorate myself with the ornaments given to me by my father and go there with you to participate in that celebration."

"I can meet all my sisters and their families! I can also see the banners and flags, and witness the Yajna performed by great sages. I therefore very much want to go, please."

"Lord, you know well the origin of this creation and the interplay of Gunas. I am but a woman and don't know the supreme truth. Hence my attraction to my parental home. Oh, Lord, you are the never-born one (Shiva was not born in any womb), the blue-throated one! Please let me go and join the celebrations with all my finery and ornaments! See the skies, they are full of aerial vehicles with gods and sages travelling in great pomp!"

"My Lord, how I can not go there?  Even though you may be considering that I have not been invited, there is no harm if one goes to the house of one’s friend, husband, spiritual master or father without an invitation! Please..."

Lord Shiva smiled at Sati's importunity, but also remembered the piercing insults heaped on him by Daksha earlier in the assembly of all the gods. He spoke gently:

"My dear, it is true that one can go uninvited to one's relative or friend's house. But not when the host insults or criticises the guest out of his own ignorance (body identification.)

 

विद्यातपोवित्तवपुर्वय:कुलै: सतां गुणै: षड्‌भिरसत्तमेतरै: ।

स्मृतौ हतायां भृतमानदुर्दृश: स्तब्धा न पश्यन्ति हि धाम भूयसाम् ॥

नैताद‍ृशानां स्वजनव्यपेक्षया गृहान्प्रतीयादनवस्थितात्मनाम् ।

येऽभ्यागतान् वक्रधियाभिचक्षते आरोपितभ्रूभिरमर्षणाक्षिभि: ॥

T: "Although the six qualities of learning, austerity, riches, beauty, youth and lineage are virtues for the great ones,  anyone who is proud of possessing them becomes blind, and thus he loses his good sense and cannot appreciate the glories of great personalities."

"One should not go to anyone’s house, even on the consideration of his being a relative or a friend, when the man is disturbed in his mind and looks upon the guest with raised eyebrows and angry eyes."

"The insults of a relative or friend hurt more than deadly arrows of an enemy. This will rend one's heart day and night. Yes, your sisters are welcome there but know that since you are my wife, you will not be honoured. You will feel sorry and ashamed that you are married to me."

"One in ignorance and false ego fails to recognise and honour those with self-realisation, much like demons hate Sri Maha Vishnu."

"Yes, my dear, it is true that friends and relatives show mutual love and respect when they meet. But those in a transcendental state of self-realisation offer their respects to the Paramatma within, not to the embodied beings falsely identified with their ego."

सत्त्वं विशुद्धं वसुदेवशब्दितं यदीयते तत्र पुमानपावृत: ।

सत्त्वे च तस्मिन्भगवान्वासुदेवो ह्यधोक्षजो मे नमसा विधीयते ॥

T: "My dear, I am constantly in prayer towards Bhagavan Vasudeva, Adhokshaja, the manifestation of the Supreme Being fully revealed with no covering. I advise you not to go and meet your father, as he and his people are envious of me and have insulted me for no reason."

यदि व्रजिष्यस्यतिहाय मद्वचो भद्रं भवत्या न ततो भविष्यति ।

सम्भावितस्य स्वजनात्पराभवो यदा स सद्यो मरणाय कल्पते ॥

T: "If in spite of what I have explained, if you to ignoring my words, the future will not be good for you. You are most respectable, and when you are insulted by your relative, this insult will immediately be tantamount to death."

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Srimad Bhagavatam IV.02 - 27 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, 27 October 2022 IV.02 - Lord Shiva is insulted during Daksha’s Yajna.

***

This short chapter shows how when tempers fly high, words of insult and indiscretion fly thick and fast and do much damage to people. This was no different even at the beginning of creation! 

Vidura enquires from Sage Maitreya how anyone could have harboured bad feelings towards Shiva.

कस्तं चराचरगुरुं निर्वैरं शान्तविग्रहम् । आत्मारामं कथं द्वेष्टि जगतो दैवतं महत् ॥

एतदाख्याहि मे ब्रह्मन्जामातु: श्वशुरस्य च । विद्वेषस्तु यत: प्राणांस्तत्यजे दुस्त्यजान्सती ॥

T: “How could Daksha have become inimical towards Lord Shiva, the spiritual master of the entire world, who is free from enmity, is peace incarnate and is always satisfied in himself, the best among the gods? Sir, to give up one’s life is very difficult. Would you kindly explain to me how such a son-in-law and father-in-law could quarrel so bitterly that the great goddess Sati gave up her life?”

Sage Maitreya began.

“Long ago, there was a great Yajna performed by all the gods and rishis and their followers. In that huge assembly, Daksha Prajapati, son of Brahma, made his entry as a magnificent and radiant personality. His entry was so dazzling that everyone in the assembly, all the gods and rishis, got up in respect, except Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. Daksha, being Brahma’s son, did not mind that his father did not rise in respect. He bowed to him in reverence. But he took umbrage at Lord Shiva badly. He spoke:

"Listen, oh Sages, Brahmins and gods of the sacred fire. I want to say what is good manners. I do not speak out of ignorance or envy. This Shiva has brought a bad name to the gods as he is shameless in his manners. He should revere me as I have given my daughter to him, and hence in a way am like a father to him. His appearance is ugly. He did not stand up to receive me, nor did he think it fit to welcome me with sweet words. My marrying off my daughter to him was a bad thing like teaching Vedas to a Shudra. He lives on cremation grounds, surrounded by ghosts and gargoyles. Naked, ash-smeared, he wears a garland of skulls. His name is Shiva the auspicious, but he is worshipped by crazy people. It was only on the advice of Lord Brahma that I gave Sati in marriage to him."

Then Daksha pronounced a curse on Shiva!

“Although all the gods receive a share of the offerings in a Yajna, Shiva shall not receive any share!”

On hearing this, Nandishwara, the carrier of Lord Shiva, rose in extreme anger. He pronounced a counter-curse on Daksha.

“Anyone who has shown respect to Daksha and placed him above Lord Shiva out of jealousy will be plunged into the world of duality and be denied transcendental knowledge. Pretentious householders busy with reward-seeking Vedic rituals will lose all wisdom. This Daksha considers the body as the most important and is addicted to sex, bringing shame to Vishnu’s path that he pretends to follow. He will soon have the head of a goat. Such men purposely insulting Lord Shiva shall continue in the cycle of repeated birth and death.”

“Coming to these Brahmins, who utilise their education, austerity and vows only for the purpose of maintaining the body; they shall be devoid of discrimination between what to eat and what not to eat. They will acquire money, begging from door to door, simply for the satisfaction of the body.”

Sage Bhrigu was quite upset at this blanket curse on all Brahmins. He got up and pronounced his own curse.

“Those who blindly follow Shiva will become atheists and go astray from scriptural injunctions. They will imitate Shiva by sporting matted locks and so on. They will live on meat and wine."

“The Vedas give the eternal regulative principles for auspicious advancement in human civilisation which have been rigidly followed in the past. The strong evidence of this principle is the Supreme Being, Janardana (Sri Maha Vishnu), the well-wisher of all living entities."

When such cursing and counter-cursing were going on between Lord Shiva’s followers and the parties of Daksha and Bhrigu, Lord Shiva became very morose. Not saying anything, he left the arena of the sacrifice with his followers.

The sacrificial Yajna was continued and completed after a thousand years, all those present offering their prayers to the great Lord Sri Hari, and later, after having the ceremonial bath in the Ganga, departing to their abodes.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Index - Skandha IV-V

 

Wednesday, 26 October 2022 IV.01 - Genealogy of Dattatreya, Nara-Narayana and others.

Thursday, 27 October 2022 IV.02 - Lord Shiva is insulted in Daksha's Yajna.

Friday, 28 October 2022 IV.03 - Sati wants to visit her father's big Yajna, but Lord Shiva dissuades her.

Saturday, 29 October 2022 IV.04 - An adamant Sati goes to Daksha's Yajna and the worst happens.

Sunday, 30 October 2022 IV.05 - An enraged Shiva creates Veerabhadra who goes and decapitates Daksha and destroys the Yajna.

Monday, 31 October 2022 IV.06 - Brahma goes with the gods to pray to Lord Shiva in his heavenly abode, Kailasa.

Tuesday, 1 November 2022 IV.07 - Lord Shiva graciously restores Daksha and others. Yajna is completed and Bhagavan Maha Vishnu appears and gives them His instructions.

Wednesday, 2 November 2022 IV.08 - The story of Bhakta Dhruva.

Thursday, 3 November 2022 IV.09 - Dhruva is blessed by the Darshan of Bhagavan Narayana and returns to the kingdom.

Friday, 4 November 2022 IV.10, IV.11 - Dhruva's fierce battle with the Yakshas to avenge Uttama's killing, and his grandfather's advice to cease hostilities.

Saturday, 5 November 2022 IV.12 - Dhruva becomes a great devotee and is finally escorted grandly to Vishnu Loka i.e. Dhruva Kshiti. 

Sunday, 6 November 2022 IV.13 - Dhruva's succession and the birth of Vena, an evil prince.

Monday, 7 November 2022 IV.14 - Vena's end.

Tuesday, 8 November 2022 IV.15 - The birth of King Prithu.

Wednesday, 9 November 2022 IV.16 - The Sutas and others describe in detail the glory of Prithu, an incarnation of Maha Vishnu.

Thursday & Friday, 10 & 11 November 2022 IV.17 & IV.18 - King Prithu extracts food from Mother Earth for much-needed nourishment for the people.

Saturday, 12 November 2022 IV.19 - King Prithu's hundred Ashwamedha Yajnas and Indra's obstructions. 

Sunday, 13 November 2022 IV.20 - Bhagavan Maha Vishnu gives His darshan to King Prithu and gives him also spiritual instruction and a boon that he desires. 

Monday, 14 November 2022 IV.21 - The enlightened statesman King Prithu walks the way of Dharma and talks to his people about right living.

Tuesday, 15 November 2022 IV.22 - The great Satsang for King Prithu with the Kumaras.

Wednesday, 16 November 2022 IV.23 - Prithu and Archi's penance and liberation.

Thursday, 17 November 2022 IV.24 - Lord Shiva's prayer to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu and his teaching to the Prachetas.

Friday, 18 November 2022 IV.25 - Sage Narada begins to tell a fascinating allegorical tale to King Prachinabarhi to teach him the higher truths.

Saturday, 19 November 2022 IV.26 - King Puranjana returns after a gruesome hunting of wild animals, and has to beg his wife for pardon as he went without her permission.

Sunday, 20 November 2022 IV.27 - Puranjana's worldly existence while Destiny's forces close in on him and his world of pleasure.

Monday, 21 November 2022 IV.28 - Puranjana's cycle of suffering, rebirth, near-death and emancipation.

Tuesday, 22  November 2022 IV.29 Part 1 - Sage Narada explains in detail the allegory of Puranjana and the insight that can be gained.

Wednesday, 23  November 2022 IV.29 Part 2 - Sage Narada answers Prachinabarhi's questions about Karma and its effect beyond this bodily existence.

Friday, 25  November 2022 IV.31 - The Prachetas prosper for a long time, then hand over the kingdom to son Daksha and retire to spiritual life. They receive instruction from Sage Narada and attain liberation.

Saturday, 26 November 2022 - Highlights of the first four Skandhas of Srimad Bhagavatam readings.

Sunday, 27 November 2022 V.01- King Priyavrata's rule amidst asceticism.

Monday, 28 November 2022 V.02- King Agnidhra's courtship, marriage and progeny.

Tuesday, 29 November 2022 V.03- King Nabhi wants a son with divine qualities. Bhagavan's grace.

Wednesday, 30 November 2022 V.04- The advent of King Rishabha Deva and his exemplary activities.

Thursday, 1 December 2022 V.05 - Rishabha Deva gives spiritual instruction and becomes a Paramahamsa Avadhuta.

Saturday, 3 December 2022 V.07- Bharata becomes the exemplary king after whom our country is named, and then renounces everything to become an ascetic in the Himalayas.

Sunday, 4 December 2022 V.08 - Bharata develops an obsessive attachment to a young deer and suffers the consequences.

Monday, 5 December 2022 V.09 - Bharata takes birth in a good Brahmin family. His otherworldly behaviour is mistaken for utter stupidity and he is almost sacrificed by a dacoit to propitiate Kali, who then comes to save him.

Tuesday, 6 December 2022 V.10 - Jada Bharata is drafted as one of the palanquin bearers of  King Rahugana. Bharata's apparent incompetence in that menial duty makes the king angry. From Bharata's reply to his censure,  Rahugana realises Bharata is a Brahmajnani Avadhuta and apologises.

Wednesday, 7 December 2022 V.11 - Bharata gives spiritual instruction to King Rahugana on the nature of reality.

Thursday, 8 December 2022 V.12 -  For the benefit of King Rahugana,Bharata gives invaluable insights into the path of liberation.

Friday, 9 December 2022 V.13 -  How bad indeed is the suffering and delusion of a materialistic person? This is answered very tellingly by Sage Bharata to King Rahugana by comparing him to man hopelessly lost in a forest.

Saturday, 10 December 2022 V.14 -  Sage Shuka pointedly explains the analogies employed to depict the utterly miserable existence of a worldly man.

Sunday, 11 December 2022 V.15 -  The line of succession that follows King Bharata and the story of King Gaya, celebrated for his greatness.

Monday, 12 December 2022 V.16 -  The description of the globe called Earth by Sage Shuka.

Tuesday, 13 December 2022 V.17 -  The description of great rivers like Alakananda (Ganga) and the prayer of Lord Shiva to Bhagavan Sankarshana.

Wednesday, 14 December 2022 V.18 -  The incarnations of Bhagavan in different Varshas (regions) and the prayers He received.

Thursday, 15 December 2022 V.19  Part 1-  Bhakta Hanuman's prayer to Sri Rama in Kimpurusha Varsha and Sage Narada's spiritual instruction.

Friday, 16 December 2022 V.19  Part 2-  Physical Features catalogued by Sage Shuka of Bharata Varsha and Jambu Dweepa. He then explains why birth in Bharata Varsha is an enviable opportunity for emancipation.

Saturday, 17 December 2022 V.20 -  An elaborate description of different regions described as Lokas and its citizens and the way they worship Bhagavan Maha Vishnu.

Sunday, 18 December 2022 V.21 -  The Sun's glory and his trajectory to illumine our lives.

Monday, 19 December 2022 V.22 -  The cosmic arrangement.

Tuesday, 20 December 2022 V.23 -  The grand arrangement of all celestial beings and constellations around the abode of Maha Vishnu in Dhurva Loka - called as Shishumara.

Wednesday, 21 December 2022 V.24 -  Description of the nether regions like Patala. Sage Shuka permits himself some commentary on the episode of Bali.

Thursday, 22 December 2022 V.25 -  Description of Lord Sankarshana, or Adishesha, also called Ananta, and a prayer to him.

Friday, 23 December 2022 V.26 -  Here is a blood-curdling description of hell and what takes man to hell. Finally, Sage Shuka reinforces the importance of Bhakti. End of Skandha V.

Index to Skandhas I-III

Index to Skandha VI

Srimad Bhagavatam IV.01 - 26 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, 26 October 2022 IV.01 - Genealogy of Dattatreya, Nara-Narayana and others.

***

Sage Maitreya begins to furnish the genealogy of Manu’s successors through his sons and daughters.

Svayambhuva Manu gave his daughter Akuti to Prajapati Ruchi on the condition that her son would be handed back to him for adoption.  Ruchi was an advanced Brahmin sage and his son born through was Yajna, an incarnation of the Lord. Once adopted, Yajna married the daughter of Akuti and Ruchi, Dakshina, who was born as a partial incarnation of Sri Lakshmi. The twelve sons of Yajna and Dakshina were named together called Toshitas, all gods. Yajna himself became Indra. 

Devahuti, Manu’s other daughter, has been described in detail already, as she married Kardama and begot nine daughters and Bhagavan Kapila.

Marichi became the first of the Sapta Rishis. Kardama’s daughter Kala married Marichi and begot Sage Kashyapa and daughter Purnima. One of Purnima’s daughters was Devakulya who later emerged as the holy Ganga from Vishnu’s feet.

Anasuya married Sage Atri and begot the famous trio of Dattatreya, Chandra and Durvasa.

Their birth is narrated here in brief.

Sage Atri embarked on a severe penance to propitiate the Supreme Being and obtain the boon of worthy progeny.  While Atri was engaged in these severe austerities, a blazing fire came out of his head by virtue of his Pranayama, and that fire was seen by the three principal gods of the three worlds, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In response, the three gods approached the hermitage of Atri, accompanied by gods, the Gandharvas, the Siddhas, the Vidyadharas and the Nagas. 

The sage was standing on one leg, but as soon as he saw that the three gods had appeared before him, he was so pleased to see them all together that despite great difficulty he approached them on one leg.

Thereafter he began to offer prayers to the three gods, who were seated on different carriers — Nandi the bull, Hamsa the swan and Garuda the eagle. The Trinity held in their hands Damaru the drum, Vedic symbol the kuśa grass and Sudarshna Chakra, the discus. The sage fell straight down from the vertical to the horizontal and said this prayer,

अत्रिरुवाच

विश्वोद्भवस्थितिलयेषु विभज्यमानैर्मायागुणैरनुयुगं विगृहीतदेहा:।

ते ब्रह्मविष्णुगिरिशा: प्रणतोऽस्म्यहं वस्तेभ्य: क एव भवतां म इहोपहूत: ॥

T: Oh, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, you are the Supreme Being who have divided Yourself into three bodies by accepting the three Gunas, for creation, sustenance and dissolution in every time cycle. I offer my respectful obeisances unto all of you and beg to inquire whom of you three I have called by my prayer.”

“I called for the Supreme Being, desiring a son like Him, and I thought of Him alone. I know He is far beyond any mental speculation of man. Now all the three of you have come here. Kindly let me know for what reason you have come, for I am greatly bewildered about this.”

The Trinity smiled and replied, “Oh, Sage, you have been perfect in your austerities, and your prayer shall not be in vain. We are together that Supreme Being. You will have sons who will represent a partial manifestation of our potency, and because we desire all good fortune for you, those three sons will glorify your reputation throughout the world.”

The Trinity disappeared. Soon, Atri’s wife Anasuya begot Chandra, an amsha (partial incarnation) of Brahma. Dattatreya, the amsha of Vishnu. Durvasa, the famous sage of yore, the amsha of Shiva.

Sage Angira and Shraddha had daughters and a son, Brihaspati, who became the preceptor of the gods.

Pulastya begot in his wife, Havirbhu, Agastya, the celebrated sage, and Vishrava. Vishrava begot Kubera, and his step-brothers, Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana.

After narrating the names of other progeny, the descendants of Sage Bhrigu and Khyati are listed. 

In that lineage were born Sage Markandeya and sage Shukracharya also called Ushana and Kavi.

Manu’s daughter Prasuti married Daksha and begot sixteen daughters. Thirteen married Dharma, one married Agni, one went away to the world of Pitris, and the last, Sati, married Lord Shiva.

Dharma and Murti gave birth to Sri Nara-Narayana. This duo is the famous one dwelling in Badarikashrama. On their birth, the entire world was full of joy. Everyone’s mind became tranquil. All around, the air, the rivers and the mountains became pleasant. The duo’s arrival was celebrated in the heavens. The gods made a fervent prayer, knowing this manifestation of Maha Vishnu was going to ameliorate the condition of the entire creation.

Sage Maitreya says that Nara-Narayana later became Arjuna-Sri Krishna!

Daksha’s sixteenth daughter, Sati, was the wife of Lord Shiva. Upon seeing the disrespect shown by her father Daksha to the supreme god, Lord Shiva, Sati immolated herself.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandhas I-III

Index - Skandha IV-

Srimad Bhagavatam III.33 - 25 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, 25 October 2022 III.33 - Devahuti prays to Bhagavan Kapila and attains liberation.

***

Concluding his narration of the avatara of Bhagavan Kapila and His instruction to His mother Devahuti, Sage Maitreya narrated how Devahuti became freed from all ignorance concerning Bhakti and Jnana. She prayed to Bhagavan Kapila:

 

“Lord, even Brahma, born in the lotus from Your navel, prayed to You. You are indeed beyond any need for activity, but out of Your own will, you take avataras. This is indeed inconceivable."

स त्वं भृतो मे जठरेण नाथ कथं नु यस्योदर एतदासीत् ।

विश्वं युगान्ते वटपत्र एक: शेते स्म माया-शिशुरङ्‌घ्रिपान: ॥

तं त्वामहं ब्रह्म परं पुमांसं प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्यात्मनि संविभाव्यम् ।

स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहं वन्दे विष्णुं कपिलं वेदगर्भम् ॥

T: “Oh, Lord, You, in whose abdomen all universe resides, have deigned to be born in my womb! What a wonder! At the end of the Yuga, you will lie down on a banyan leaf as a small baby, holding and sucking your little foot!”

“You are Maha Vishnu Himself born as Kapila. You are the Para Brahman on whom sages of purified minds meditate. You remove their ignorance by Your lustre. I pray to You!”

Bhagavan Kapila spoke most lovingly to His mother.

“Mother, practise as I have told you, and you will surely attain self-realisation. You will be freed from the fearful attachments to the body. Those who do not know this path of Bhakti cannot escape the cycle of birth and death.”

Bhagavan took leave and left, His mission accomplished.

***

Devahuti practised Bhakti Yoga assiduously and entered Samadhi in her husband Kardama’s cottage, which was bedecked with flowers and looked like a garland for the holy river Saraswati.

Her austerities rendered her frail and aged. Her home was luxurious and decorated with gold and jewels. It needed no external light to shine. Its gardens attracted singing birds.  The whole atmosphere spoke of Nature’s grace. She was still attended upon by the heavenly damsels Sage Kardama had appointed. This ensured Devahuti’s body was not in distress.

Devahuti constantly recalled her son and missed him. The luxuries and beauty all around meant nothing to her. She pined like a cow would her dead calf.

Devahuti began to meditate constantly upon the Supreme Lord, Maha Vishnu. She realised the Absolute Truth. All her material bonds disappeared.

The place where Devahuti achieved her self-realisation is known all over the three worlds as Siddhapada. Devahuti’s body has merged into the river. 

***

Bhagavan  Kapila proceeded north-eastward from the hermitage when He took His leave. Even now He dwells in the northeastern region, out of grace towards the siddhas and rishis who pray to Him as the preceptor of Sankhya.

***

“Oh, Vidura, whoever listens to this narration of Bhagavan Kapila’s incarnation will be redeemed and attain the Lord’s lotus feet. (उपलभते भगवत्पदारविन्दम् )”

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

This concludes the third Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Index Skandhas I-III

Srimad Bhagavatam III.32 - 24 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, 24 October 2022 III.32 - Kapila describes the two divergent paths of self-seeking persons and devotees of the Lord.

***

कपिल उवाच

अथ यो गृहमेधीयान्धर्मानेवावसन्गृहे । काममर्थं च धर्मान्स्वान्दोग्धि भूय: पिपर्ति तान् ॥

तच्छ्रद्धयाक्रान्तमति: पितृदेवव्रत: पुमान् । गत्वा चान्द्रमसं लोकं सोमपा: पुनरेष्यति ॥

निवृत्तिधर्मनिरता निर्ममा निरहङ्कृता: । स्वधर्माप्तेन सत्त्वेन परिशुद्धेन चेतसा ॥

T: Kapila said, “ A householder pursuing Artha (economic goals), Kama (sense pleasures) and Dharma (prescribed duties for earning merit) acts consistently out of a worldly interest. Such people lack true devotion and detachment and worship the gods/deities (who preside over worldly gains) and their forefathers. They go in their afterlife to the Moon sphere ( a place of pleasures earned through Punya) but return to this world again once the rewards are exhausted. Their condition is eventually one of dissolution and not liberation. This path of the householder is the dark path.”

“In contrast, there are devotees who discharge worldly responsibilities as Svadharma, without attachment, fully immersed in the Lord with purified minds. They reach liberation and do not come back. Their afterlife is spent in Satya Loka, with continued spiritual evolution until the great dissolution when they merge with the Lord. This path of the devotee is the illumined path.”

“Therefore, My dear mother, by devotional service take refuge in the Lord who is seated in everyone’s heart.”

“My dear mother, one may worship the Lord with a special self-interest. Such people are no different from Brahma, or the Kumaras, or sages like Marichi. They all have to come back to the material world again by the Lord’s will at the time of the next cycle of creation. The interplay of Gunas and the effect of Kala is such. That is how the creation cycle repeats.”

“Then there are those who are too worldly, discharging their prescribed duties well, but all with an eye on the fruitive result. They exhibit Rajas and pursue sense-gratification. They worship their forefathers and engage themselves day and night in improving the economic condition of “I” and “Mine” (कामात्मानोऽजितेन्द्रिया: गृहेष्वभिरताशया:). They lack true devotion and ignore the Lord (विमुखा हरिमेधस:). Such people easily descend to lowly acts and suffer the consequences.”

“My dear mother, the best path is one of Bhakti, because it purifies the mind and fosters a true detachment.”

ज्ञानमात्रं परं ब्रह्म परमात्मेश्वर: पुमान् । द‍ृश्यादिभि: पृथग्भावैर्भगवानेक ईयते ॥

T: “The Lord alone is Supreme Knowledge. He is Paramatma, Ishwara. He incarnates in many forms. For one without a proper realisation of this truth, duality and relativity do not disappear.”

“Indeed all creation has emanated from the Supreme Being.”

यथेन्द्रियै: पृथग्द्वारैरर्थो बहुगुणाश्रय: । एको नानेयते तद्वद्भगवान्शास्त्रवर्त्मभि: ॥

T: “Just as an object is perceived and sensed differently by different senses, the same Lord Bhagavan is perceived and interpreted differently in different scriptures.”

“My dear mother, if anyone enters into ignorance or forgetfulness, he is unable to understand where his path will take him. Spiritual instruction like what I have been telling you is not meant for those who suffer from jealousy, who lack purity, or hypocrites or materialists.”

य इदं श‍ृणुयादम्ब श्रद्धया पुरुष: सकृत् । यो वाभिधत्ते मच्चित्त: स ह्येति पदवीं च मे ॥

T: “Anyone who meditates upon Me with faith and affection even once, who hears this about Me, surely goes back home, back to My state.”

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

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Srimad Bhagavatam III.31 - 23 October 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, 23 October 2022 III.31 - Kapila explains how the Jiva develops in the womb and gets into the cycle of suffering again.

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Providence pushes the Jiva into another human birth when he is cleansed after suffering in hell and other lower life forms. The Jiva enters the mother’s womb through the seed of his father.

Kapila explains how the foetus develops, first as Kalala, then becomes disc-like after five days, called Budbuda. Then in ten days like an eggplant, called Karkura. In three months, progressively, his head, bones, limbs, hair and genitals are formed. (Modern ultrasound imaging can determine the gender with 98% accuracy after 12 weeks!)

By the sixth month, the baby can be felt by the mother kicking. He can feel hunger and thirst. Kapila says that the foetus is most uncomfortable, cramped, and in dirty surroundings. What the mother eats affects him. By divine will, the baby remembers his past lives and what Karma has brought him here. He begins to pray in a condition of utter suffering to the Lord.

जन्तुरुवाच

तस्योपसन्नमवितुं जगदिच्छयात्तनानातनोर्भुवि चलच्चरणारविन्दम् ।

सोऽहं व्रजामि शरणं ह्यकुतोभयं मे येनेद‍ृशी गतिरदर्श्यसतोऽनुरूपा ॥

यस्त्वत्र बद्ध इव कर्मभिरावृतात्मा भूतेन्द्रियाशयमयीमवलम्ब्य मायाम् ।

आस्ते विशुद्धमविकारमखण्डबोधम् आतप्यमानहृदयेऽवसितं नमामि ॥

T: The baby cries, “I seek shelter at the feet of the Lord, who incarnates on earth divinely to redeem its inhabitants. It is His grace that I am here and now. Bound by my Karma, surrounded by His creation, I, as the Jiva, salute the Lord who is pure, immutable, indivisible, and omniscient, and dwells in every heart!”

“The Supreme Being is beyond Purusha and Prakriti. My Karma is due to His Maya. Only by His grace can I be redeemed. As a human, I have an understanding of the Lord’s creation and also my body-sense. I am most averse to being borne into the world again, although this womb is so uncomfortable! I know that the moment I am born, I shall be trapped in total ignorance. I therefore shall strive to avoid future births by remembering the Lord always!” 

Come the tenth month, the baby is born. Head first he plunges into the world of ignorance. He cries aloud in distress. He cannot express himself, and those around him do to him what they think he needs. He can’t even resist what they do to him. In his cradle, he is bitten by mosquitoes and insects. 

He grows up Into youth, proud of his body, going after his desires, pushing aside all opposition, totally unaware that what he gets as pleasure and pain is all the play of Karma. 

All the Jiva’s actions from this point only accumulate more Karmas and prepare for hell and future births. Evil company destroys virtues like modesty, truth, kindness and self-restraint. He becomes a pet of womenfolk. Women’s enticements are Pramada, the door to the greatest fall for a man. Only Narayana in His avatara as Nara-Narayana has been able to resist the temptation of a woman.

A woman is the embodiment of Maya. Kapila makes it clear that whatever effect a woman has on a man is true the other way too. A woman falls for the man’s promise of wealth, children and a home, not knowing these are all the ruses used by Maya for her fall.

***

The Jiva transmigrates in the subtle body called Linga Sharira when he leaves the material body. The Linga Sharira carries all Karmas and Samskaras. Birth and death are said to happen when the Linga Sharira gets a human body or leaves a human body.

Even when the physical eye is gone, the Jiva can see through the Linga Sharira. It just does not have a body with eyes. Therefore man need not fear physical death. He is also not in a pitiable state of victimhood, because he can always make his own destiny! Knowing what is explained here, as the Jiva, he should strive for betterment. 

सम्यग्दर्शनया बुद्ध्या योगवैराग्ययुक्तया । मायाविरचिते लोके चरेन्न्यस्य कलेवरम् ॥

T: “Endowed with the right outlook, fortified by Bhakti, Yoga and Vairagya, a realistic understanding of the gloom of physical bondage, one should relegate his body to this illusory world through his reason. Thus one can live with detachment in this material world.”

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

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