Sachi R

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.03 - 30 March 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, 30 March 2023 - X a.03 - Jai Shri Ram! Hare Krishna! Today is doubly auspicious. It is Sri Ramanavami, and we are reading today about the birth of Bhagavan Sri Krishna!

I share below the recitation by Br. Devaki Chaitanya of the chapter, describing the wonderful interactions between Bhagavan, Devaki and Vasudeva.

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श्रीशुक उवाच

अथ सर्वगुणोपेतः कालः परमशोभनः । यर्ह्येवाजनजन्मर्क्षं शान्तर्क्षग्रहतारकम् ॥

दिशः प्रसेदुर्गगनं निर्मलोडुगणोदयम् । मही मङ्गलभूयिष्ठपुरग्रामव्रजाकरा ॥

नद्यः प्रसन्नसलिला ह्रदा जलरुहश्रियः । द्विजालिकुलसन्नादस्तबका वनराजयः ॥

ववौ वायुः सुखस्पर्शः पुण्यगन्धवहः शुचिः । अग्नयश्च द्विजातीनां शान्तास्तत्र समिन्धत ॥

मनांस्यासन् प्रसन्नानि साधूनामसुरद्रुहाम् । जायमानेऽजने तस्मिन् नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिवि ॥

जगुः किन्नरगन्धर्वास्तुष्टुवुः सिद्धचारणाः । विद्याधर्यश्च ननृतुरप्सरोभिः समं तदा ॥

मुमुचुर्मुनयो देवाः सुमनांसि मुदान्विताः । मन्दं मन्दं जलधरा जगर्जुरनुसागरम् ॥

निशीथे तम उद्भूते जायमाने जनार्दने । देवक्यां देवरूपिण्यां विष्णुः सर्वगुहाशयः ।

आविरासीद्यथा प्राच्यां दिशीन्दुरिव पुष्कलः ॥

तमद्भुतं बालकमम्बुजेक्षणं चतुर्भुजं शङ्खगदाद्युदायुधम् ।

श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं गलशोभिकौस्तुभं पीताम्बरं सान्द्रपयोदसौभगम् ॥

महार्हवैदूर्यकिरीटकुण्डल- त्विषा परिष्वक्तसहस्रकुन्तलम् ।

उद्दामकाञ्च्यङ्गदकङ्कणादिभिर्विरोचमानं वसुदेव ऐक्षत ॥

स विस्मयोत्फुल्लविलोचनो हरिं सुतं विलोक्यानकदुन्दुभिस्तदा ।

कृष्णावतारोत्सवसम्भ्रमोऽस्पृशन्मुदा द्विजेभ्योऽयुतमाप्लुतो गवाम् ॥

T: Thereafter, at the auspicious time for the appearance of the Lord, the entire universe was surcharged with all the qualities of goodness, beauty and peace. The constellation Rohini appeared, as did stars like Ashwini. The sun, the moon and the other stars and planets were very peaceful. All directions appeared extremely pleasing, and the beautiful stars twinkled in the cloudless sky.

Decorated with towns, villages, mines and pasturing grounds, the earth seemed all-auspicious. The rivers flowed with clear water, and the lakes and vast reservoirs, full of lilies and lotuses, were extraordinarily beautiful. In the trees and green plants, full of flowers and leaves, pleasing to the eyes, birds like cuckoos and swarms of bees began chanting with sweet voices for the sake of the gods.

A pure breeze began to blow, pleasing the sense of touch and bearing the aroma of flowers, and when the Brahmins engaging in ritualistic ceremonies ignited their fires according to Vedic principles, the fires burned steadily, undisturbed by the breeze.

Thus when the birthless Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, Ishwara, was about to appear, the saints and Brahmins, who had always been disturbed by demons like Kamsa and his men, felt peace within the core of their hearts.

Kettledrums simultaneously vibrated from the heavens. The Kinnaras and Gandharvas began to sing auspicious songs, the Siddhas and Charanas offered auspicious prayers, and the Vidyadharis, along with the Apsaras, began to dance in jubilation. The gods and great saintly persons showered flowers in a joyous mood, and clouds gathered in the sky and very mildly thundered, making sounds like those of the ocean’s waves. Then Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, who is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, appeared from the heart of Devaki in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon.

Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotus-like eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma. On His chest was the mark of Srivatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in golden yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His crown and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidurya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.

When Vasudeva saw his extraordinary son, his eyes were struck with wonder. In transcendental jubilation, he mentally collected ten thousand cows and distributed them among the Brahmins as a transcendental festival.

Let us pause for a moment and take in the scene. Imprisoned by the cruel Kamsa, Vasudeva and Devaki are suffering untold miseries. Their faith in Bhagavan has been pushed to the extreme. Yet, they are such pure and devoted souls that they simply are waiting for this moment. When this does come about, what are their reactions!? They begin to speak with the Lord!

अथैनमस्तौदवधार्य पूरुषं परं नताङ्गः कृतधीः कृताञ्जलिः ।

स्वरोचिषा भारत सूतिकागृहं विरोचयन्तं गतभीः प्रभाववित् ॥

वसुदेव उवाच

विदितोऽसि भवान् साक्षात्पुरुषः प्रकृतेः परः । केवलानुभवानन्दस्वरूपः सर्वबुद्धिदृक् ॥

स एव स्वप्रकृत्येदं सृष्ट्वाग्रे त्रिगुणात्मकम् । तदनु त्वं ह्यप्रविष्टः प्रविष्ट इव भाव्यसे ॥

यथेमेऽविकृता भावास्तथा ते विकृतैः सह । नानावीर्याः पृथग्भूता विराजं जनयन्ति हि ॥

सन्निपत्य समुत्पाद्य दृश्यन्तेऽनुगता इव । प्रागेव विद्यमानत्वान्न तेषामिह सम्भवः ॥

एवं भवान् बुद्ध्यनुमेयलक्षणैर्ग्राह्यैर्गुणैः सन्नपि तद्गुणाग्रहः ।

अनावृतत्वाद्बहिरन्तरं न ते सर्वस्य सर्वात्मन आत्मवस्तुनः ॥

त्वमस्य लोकस्य विभो रिरक्षिषुर्गृहेऽवतीर्णोऽसि ममाखिलेश्वर ।

राजन्यसंज्ञासुरकोटियूथपैर्निर्व्यूह्यमाना निहनिष्यसे चमूः ॥

अयं त्वसभ्यस्तव जन्म नौ गृहे श्रुत्वाग्रजांस्ते न्यवधीत्सुरेश्वर ।

स तेऽवतारं पुरुषैः समर्पितं श्रुत्वाधुनैवाभिसरत्युदायुधः ॥

T: Vasudeva could understand that this child was the supreme Purusha, Bhagavan Narayaaa. With no more doubt or fear, he bowed low to the Lord who illuminated this place with His presence.

Vasudeva said: My Lord, You are Paramatma, Parama Purusha. Your form can be perceived by transcendental knowledge as the embodiment of bliss beyond material modifications. You created this universe through Your Maya, with the three Gunas. You suffuse all creation, but are beyond the Gunas.

The mahat-tattva, the total material energy, is undivided, but because of the material modes of nature, the interplay of Gunas, it appears to separate into earth, water, fire, air and ether. The visible material manifestation appears as new, but in fact, before the creation of the cosmos, the total energy is already present. Your creative energy thus remains separate from its effects. You cannot be perceived by the senses, nor experienced by the mind or words. With each of our senses, our perection is unidimensional. Your totality is beyond their sum total. For You, therefore, there is no external or internal. You never entered the womb of Devaki; rather, You existed there already. O my Lord, the master of all creation, You have now appeared in my house, desiring to protect this world. I am sure that You will kill all the armies that are moving all over the world under the demonian rulers. They must be killed by You for the protection of innocent people.

O my Lord, the God of all gods, after hearing the prophecy that You would take birth in our home and kill him, this barbaric Kamsa killed so many of Your elder brothers. As soon as he hears from his lieutenants that You have appeared, he will immediately come with weapons to kill You.

Now Devaki, still feeling overwhelmed, addressed Bhagavan.

देवक्युवाच

मर्त्यो मृत्युव्यालभीतः पलायन्

लोकान् सर्वान्निर्भयं नाध्यगच्छत् ।

त्वत्पादाब्जं प्राप्य यदृच्छयाद्य

स्वस्थः शेते मृत्युरस्मादपैति ॥ २७॥

स त्वं घोरादुग्रसेनात्मजान्न-

स्त्राहि त्रस्तान् भृत्यवित्रासहासि ।

रूपं चेदं पौरुषं ध्यानधिष्ण्यं

मा प्रत्यक्षं मांसदृशां कृषीष्ठाः ॥ २८॥

जन्म ते मय्यसौ पापो मा विद्यान्मधुसूदन ।

समुद्विजे भवद्धेतोः कंसादहमधीरधीः ॥ २९॥

उपसंहर विश्वात्मन्नदो रूपमलौकिकम् । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मश्रिया जुष्टं चतुर्भुजम् ॥

विश्वं यदेतत्स्वतनौ निशान्ते यथावकाशं पुरुषः परो भवान् ।

बिभर्ति सोऽयं मम गर्भगोऽभू- दहो नृलोकस्य विडम्बनं हि तत् ॥

T: "Bhagavan, No one in this material world has become free from the four principles birth, death, old age and disease, even by fleeing to various planets. But now that You have appeared, My Lord, death is fleeing in fear of You, and the living entities, having obtained shelter at Your lotus feet by Your mercy, are sleeping in full mental peace. My Lord, because You dispel all the fear of Your devotees, I request You to save us and give us protection from the terrible fear of Kamsa. Your form as Vishnu, the Paramatma Ishwara, is appreciated by yogis in meditation. Please make this present form of Yours invisible to those who see with material eyes. O Madhusudana, because of Your appearance, I am becoming more and more anxious in fear of Kamsa. Therefore, please arrange for that sinful Kamsa to be unable to understand that You have taken birth from my womb."

"O my Lord, You are the all-pervading Ishwara, and Your transcendental four-armed form, holding the Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma is unnatural for this world. Please withdraw this form and become just like a natural human child so that I may try to hide You somewhere!"

"At the time of devastation, the entire cosmos, containing all created moving and nonmoving entities, enter Your transcendental body and is held there without difficulty. But now this transcendental form has taken birth from my womb! People will not be able to believe this, and I shall become an object of ridicule."

श्रीभगवानुवाच

त्वमेव पूर्वसर्गेऽभूः पृश्निः स्वायम्भुवे सति । तदायं सुतपा नाम प्रजापतिरकल्मषः ॥

युवां वै ब्रह्मणाऽऽदिष्टौ प्रजासर्गे यदा ततः । सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं तेपाथे परमं तपः ॥

वर्षवातातपहिमघर्मकालगुणाननु । सहमानौ श्वासरोधविनिर्धूतमनोमलौ ॥

शीर्णपर्णानिलाहारावुपशान्तेन चेतसा । मत्तः कामानभीप्सन्तौ मदाराधनमीहतुः ॥

एवं वां तप्यतोस्तीव्रं तपः परमदुष्करम् । दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि द्वादशेयुर्मदात्मनोः ॥

तदा वां परितुष्टोऽहममुना वपुषानघे ।तपसा श्रद्धया नित्यं भक्त्या च हृदि भावितः ॥

प्रादुरासं वरदराड् युवयोः कामदित्सया । व्रियतां वर इत्युक्ते मादृशो वां वृतः सुतः ॥

अजुष्टग्राम्यविषयावनपत्यौ च दम्पती । न वव्राथेऽपवर्गं मे मोहितौ मम मायया ॥

गते मयि युवां लब्ध्वा वरं मत्सदृशं सुतम् । ग्राम्यान् भोगानभुञ्जाथां युवां प्राप्तमनोरथौ ॥

अदृष्ट्वान्यतमं लोके शीलौदार्यगुणैः समम् । अहं सुतो वामभवं पृश्निगर्भ इति श्रुतः ॥

तयोर्वां पुनरेवाहमदित्यामास कश्यपात् । उपेन्द्र इति विख्यातो वामनत्वाच्च वामनः ॥

तृतीयेऽस्मिन् भवेऽहं वै तेनैव वपुषाथ वाम् । जातो भूयस्तयोरेव सत्यं मे व्याहृतं सति ॥

एतद्वां दर्शितं रूपं प्राग्जन्मस्मरणाय मे । नान्यथा मद्भवं ज्ञानं मर्त्यलिङ्गेन जायते ॥

युवां मां पुत्रभावेन ब्रह्मभावेन चासकृत् । चिन्तयन्तौ कृतस्नेहौ यास्येथे मद्गतिं पराम् ॥

इत्युक्त्वाऽऽसीद्धरिस्तूष्णीं भगवानात्ममायया । पित्रोः सम्पश्यतोः सद्यो बभूव प्राकृतः शिशुः ॥

Now Bhagavan smiled and replied.

"My dear mother, you and father here, Vasudeva, were in your ancient birth Prishni and Prajapati Sutapa. You prayed for progeny and followed severe austerities as advised by Lord Brahma.

My dear father and mother, you endured rain, wind, strong sun, scorching heat and severe cold, suffering all sorts of hardships according to different seasons. By practising pranayama to control the air within the body through yoga, and by eating only air and dry leaves fallen from the trees, you cleansed from your minds all dirty things. In this way, desiring a benediction from Me, you worshipped Me with peaceful minds. At the end of twelve thousand years, you had My Darshan. You wished for a child just the same as I am in appearance. You were still bound by bodily attachments due to Maya and did not seek liberation. I was later born through your physical union as Prishnigarbha. Later, you were Sage Kashyapa and Aditi! I was then born again to you as Vamana, Upendra. This is the third time I am born as your son!"

"Both of you, husband and wife, constantly think of Me as your son, but you should always know that I am the Parama Purusha. By thus thinking of Me constantly with love and affection, you will achieve the highest perfection: returning home, back to Godhead."

Now Bhagavan remained silent and presently transformed Himself into a newborn human infant.

Just as Vasudeva was carrying out Bhagavan's instructions, Yoga Maya was born at that exact moment as the child of Yashoda in Gokula. All the guards and doorkeepers everywhere were under Her influence and deep asleep. The iron chains binding Vasudeva broke free. The prison doors flung open. As Vasudeva lifted the baby in a basket and moved out, the divine Adi Shesha appeared, and held his immense hood as an umbrella, sheltering them from Indra's torrential downpour. As Vasudva moved towards Gokula, the Yamuna parted in the middle and gave way. This was, Sage Vyasa says, very much like the way the Lord of the Ocean gave way for Sri Rama to build a bridge across to Lanka!

When Vasudeva reached the house of King Nanda, he saw that all the cowherd men were fast asleep. He then placed his own son on the bed of Yashoda, picked up her newborn girl child, an expansion of Yoga Maya, and then returned to his cell in the prison house of Kamsa.

Vasudeva then placed the female child on the bed of Devaki, bound his legs with the iron shackles, and assumed his place there as before.

Exhausted by the labour of childbirth, Yashoda was overwhelmed with sleep and did not understand what kind of child had been born to her.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.02- 29 March 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 - X a.02 - Bhagavan sets in motion the events leading to His incarnation as Sri Krishna. The gods come and pray to Him after he has entered into Devaki.

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श्रीशुक उवाच

प्रलम्बबकचाणूरतृणावर्तमहाशनैः । मुष्टिकारिष्टद्विविदपूतनाकेशिधेनुकैः ॥

अन्यैश्चासुरभूपालैर्बाणभौमादिभिर्युतः । यदूनां कदनं चक्रे बली मागधसंश्रयः ॥

ते पीडिता निविविशुः कुरुपञ्चालकेकयान् । शाल्वान् विदर्भान्निषधान् विदेहान् कोसलानपि ॥

एके तमनुरुन्धाना ज्ञातयः पर्युपासते । हतेषु षट्सु बालेषु देवक्या औग्रसेनिना ॥

सप्तमो वैष्णवं धाम यमनन्तं प्रचक्षते । गर्भो बभूव देवक्या हर्षशोकविवर्धनः ॥

Translation:

Sage Shuka said: Under the protection of Magadharaja, Jarasandha, the powerful Kamsa began persecuting the kings of the Yadu dynasty. In this he had the cooperation of demons like Pralamba, Baka, Chanoora, Trinavarta, Aghasura, Mushtika, Arishta, Dvivida, Demoness Putana, Keshi, Dhenuka, Banasura, Narakasura and many other demoniac kings on the surface of the earth.

Persecuted by the demoniac kings, the Yadavas left their own kingdom and entered various others, like those of the Kurus, Panchalas, Kekayas, Shalvas, Vidarbhas, Nishadhas, Videhas and Kosalas.

Some of their relatives, however, began to follow Kamsa’s principles and act in his service. After Kamsa, the son of Ugrasena, killed the six sons of Devaki, a portion of Bhagavan entered her womb as her seventh child, arousing her pleasure and her lamentation. That plenary portion is celebrated by great sages as Ananta, who belongs to Sri Krishna’s second quadruple expansion.

भगवानपि विश्वात्मा विदित्वा कंसजं भयम् । यदूनां निजनाथानां योगमायां समादिशत् ॥

गच्छ देवि व्रजं भद्रे गोपगोभिरलङ्कृतम् । रोहिणी वसुदेवस्य भार्याऽऽस्ते नन्दगोकुले ।

अन्याश्च कंससंविग्ना विवरेषु वसन्ति हि ॥

देवक्या जठरे गर्भं शेषाख्यं धाम मामकम् । तत्सन्निकृष्य रोहिण्या उदरे सन्निवेशय ॥

अथाहमंशभागेन देवक्याः पुत्रतां शुभे । प्राप्स्यामि त्वं यशोदायां नन्दपत्न्यां भविष्यसि ॥

अर्चिष्यन्ति मनुष्यास्त्वां सर्वकामवरेश्वरीम् । धूपोपहारबलिभिः सर्वकामवरप्रदाम् ॥

नामधेयानि कुर्वन्ति स्थानानि च नरा भुवि । दुर्गेति भद्रकालीति विजया वैष्णवीति॥

कुमुदा चण्डिका कृष्णा माधवी कन्यकेति च । माया नारायणीशानी शारदेत्यम्बिकेति॥

गर्भसङ्कर्षणात्तं वै प्राहुः सङ्कर्षणं भुवि । रामेति लोकरमणाद्बलं बलवदुच्छ्रयात् ॥

सन्दिष्टैवं भगवता तथेत्योमिति तद्वचः । प्रतिगृह्य परिक्रम्य गां गता तत्तथाकरोत्॥

गर्भे प्रणीते देवक्या रोहिणीं योगनिद्रया । अहो विस्रंसितो गर्भ इति पौरा विचुक्रुशुः ॥

भगवानपि विश्वात्मा भक्तानामभयङ्करः । आविवेशांशभागेन मन आनकदुन्दुभेः ॥

स बिभ्रत्पौरुषं धाम भ्राजमानो यथा रविः । दुरासदोऽतिदुर्धर्षो भूतानां सम्बभूव ॥

Translation:

To protect the Yadus, His personal devotees, from Kamsa’s attack, Bhagavan, Paramatma, the Supreme Soul of everyone, ordered Yoga Maya as follows.

The Lord ordered Yoga Maya:

O My Shakti, who are worshipable for the entire world and whose nature is to bestow good fortune upon all living entities, go to Vraja, where there live many cowherd men and their wives. In that very beautiful land, where many cows reside, Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, is living at the home of King Nanda. Other wives of Vasudeva are also living there incognito because of fear of Kamsa. Please go there.
Within the womb of Devaki is My partial plenary expansion known as Sankarshana or Adishesha. Without difficulty, transfer Him into the womb of Rohini.
O all-auspicious Yoga Maya, I shall then appear with My full six opulences as the son of Devaki, and you will appear as the daughter of mother Yashoda, the queen of King Nanda.
By sacrifices of animals, ordinary human beings will worship you gorgeously, with various paraphernalia, because you are supreme in fulfilling the material desires of everyone.

Bhagavan blessed Yoga Maya by saying:

In different places on the surface of the earth, people will give you different names, such as Durga, Bhadrakali, Vijaya, Vaiṣhṇavi, Kumuda, Chaṇḍika, Kṛiṣhṇa, Madhavi, Kanyaka, Maya, Narayani, Ishani, Sharada and Ambika.

(We see clearly that all the forms of Devi we worship as Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati are included in this list. All of them are manifestations of Yoga Maya of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu.)
The son of Rohini will also be celebrated as Sankarshana because of being sent from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini. He will be called Rama because of His ability to please all the inhabitants of Gokula, and He will be known as Balabhadra because of his extensive physical strength.

ततो जगन्मङ्गलमच्युतांशं समाहितं शूरसुतेन देवी ।
दधार सर्वात्मकमात्मभूतं काष्ठा यथाऽऽनन्दकरं मनस्तः ॥

सा देवकी सर्वजगन्निवास- निवासभूता नितरां न रेजे ।

भोजेन्द्रगेहेऽग्निशिखेव रुद्धा सरस्वती ज्ञानखले यथा सती ॥

Translation:

Thus instructed by Bhagavan, Yoga Maya immediately agreed. With the Vedic mantra om, she confirmed that she would do what He asked. Thus having accepted the order of Bhagavan, she circumambulated Him and started for the place on earth known as Nanda-gokula. There she did everything just as she had been told.

When the child of Devaki was attracted and transferred into the womb of Rohini by Yoga Maya, Devaki seemed to have a miscarriage. Thus all the inhabitants of the palace loudly lamented, “Alas, Devaki has lost her child!”

Thus Bhagavan, who is the Paramatma of all living entities and who vanquishes all the fear of His devotees, entered the mind of Vasudeva in full opulence.

While carrying the form of Bhagavan within the core of his heart, Vasudeva bore the Lord’s transcendentally illuminating effulgence, and thus he became as bright as the sun. He was therefore very difficult to see or approach through sensory perception.

Indeed, he was unapproachable and unperceivable even for such formidable men as Kamsa, and not only for Kamsa but for all living entities.Thereafter, accompanied by His multidimensional expansions, the fully opulent Bhagavan, Ishwara, who is all-auspicious for the entire universe, was transferred from the mind of Vasudeva to the mind of Devaki. Devaki, having thus been initiated by Vasudeva, became beautiful by carrying Bhagavan, the original consciousness for everyone, the cause of all causes, within the core of her heart, just as the east becomes beautiful by carrying the rising moon.

Devaki then kept within herself Bhagavan, the cause of all causes, the foundation of the entire cosmos, but because she was under arrest in the house of Kamsa, she was like the flames of a fire covered by the walls of a pot, or like a person who has knowledge but cannot distribute it to the world for the benefit of human society.

Because Bhagavan was within her womb, Devaki illuminated the entire atmosphere in the place where she was confined.

तां वीक्ष्य कंसः प्रभयाजितान्तरां विरोचयन्तीं भवनं शुचिस्मिताम् ।

आहैष मे प्राणहरो हरिर्गुहां ध्रुवं श्रितो यन्न पुरेयमीदृशी ॥

किमद्य तस्मिन् करणीयमाशु मे यदर्थतन्त्रो न विहन्ति विक्रमम् ।

स्त्रियाः स्वसुर्गुरुमत्या वधोऽयं यशः श्रियं हन्त्यनुकालमायुः ॥

स एष जीवन् खलु सम्परेतो वर्तेत योऽत्यन्तनृशंसितेन ।

देहे मृते तं मनुजाः शपन्ति गन्ता तमोऽन्धं तनुमानिनो ध्रुवम् ॥

इति घोरतमाद्भावात्सन्निवृत्तः स्वयं प्रभुः । आस्ते प्रतीक्षंस्तज्जन्म हरेर्वैरानुबन्धकृत् ॥

आसीनः संविशंस्तिष्ठन् भुञ्जानः पर्यटन्महीम् । चिन्तयानो हृषीकेशमपश्यत्तन्मयं जगत् ॥

Translation:

Seeing her jubilant, pure and smiling, Kamsa thought, “Bhagavan, Vishnu, who is now within her, will kill me. Devaki has never before looked so brilliant and jubilant.” Kamsa thought: "What is my duty now? The Supreme Lord, who knows His purpose will not give up His prowess. Devaki is a woman, she is my sister, and moreover, she is now pregnant. If I kill her, my reputation, opulence and duration of life will certainly be vanquished."

A person who is very cruel is regarded as dead even while living, for while he is living or after his death, everyone condemns him. And after the death of a person in the bodily concept of life, he is undoubtedly transferred to the hell known as Andhatama.

Sage Shuka said: Deliberating in this way, Kamsa, although determined to continue in enmity toward Bhagavan, refrained from the vicious killing of his sister. He decided to wait until the Lord was born and then do what was needed.

While sitting on his throne or in his sitting room, while lying on his bed, or, indeed, while situated anywhere, and while eating, sleeping or walking, Kamsa saw only his enemy, the Supreme Lord, Hrrishikesha. In other words, by thinking of his all-pervading enemy, Kamsa became anatagonistic to the thought of Bhagavan.

ब्रह्मा भवश्च तत्रैत्य मुनिभिर्नारदादिभिः । देवैः सानुचरैः साकं गीर्भिर्वृषणमैडयन् ॥

सत्यव्रतं सत्यपरं त्रिसत्यं सत्यस्य योनिं निहितं च सत्ये ।

सत्यस्य सत्यमतसत्यनेत्रं सत्यात्मकं त्वां शरणं प्रपन्नाः ॥

एकायनोऽसौ द्विफलस्त्रिमूलश्चतूरसः पञ्चविधः षडात्मा ।

सप्तत्वगष्टविटपो नवाक्षो दशच्छदी द्विखगो ह्यादिवृक्षः ॥

त्वमेक एवास्य सतः प्रसूति- स्त्वं सन्निधानं त्वमनुग्रहश्च ।

त्वन्मायया संवृतचेतसस्त्वां पश्यन्ति नाना न विपश्चितो ये ॥

बिभर्षि रूपाण्यवबोध आत्मा क्षेमाय लोकस्य चराचरस्य ।

सत्त्वोपपन्नानि सुखावहानि सतामभद्राणि मुहुः खलानाम् ॥

त्वय्यम्बुजाक्षाखिलसत्त्वधाम्नि समाधिनाऽऽवेशितचेतसैके ।

त्वत्पादपोतेन महत्कृतेन कुर्वन्ति गोवत्सपदं भवाब्धिम् ॥

स्वयं समुत्तीर्य सुदुस्तरं द्युमन् भवार्णवं भीममदभ्रसौहृदाः ।

भवत्पदाम्भोरुहनावमत्र ते निधाय याताः सदनुग्रहो भवान् ॥

येऽन्येऽरविन्दाक्ष विमुक्तमानिनस्त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्धबुद्धयः ।

आरुह्य कृच्छ्रेण परं पदं ततः पतन्त्यधोऽनादृतयुष्मदङ्घ्रयः ॥

तथा न ते माधव तावकाः क्वचिद्भ्रश्यन्ति मार्गात्त्वयि बद्धसौहृदाः ।

त्वयाभिगुप्ता विचरन्ति निर्भया विनायकानीकपमूर्धसु प्रभो ॥

सत्त्वं विशुद्धं श्रयते भवान् स्थितौ शरीरिणां श्रेय उपायनं वपुः ।

वेदक्रियायोगतपःसमाधिभि- स्तवार्हणं येन जनः समीहते ॥

सत्त्वं न चेद्धातरिदं निजं भवेद्विज्ञानमज्ञानभिदापमार्जनम् ।

गुणप्रकाशैरनुमीयते भवान् प्रकाशते यस्य च येन वा गुणः ॥

न नामरूपे गुणजन्मकर्मभि- र्निरूपितव्ये तव तस्य साक्षिणः ।

मनो वचोभ्यामनुमेयवर्त्मनो देव क्रियायां प्रतियन्त्यथापि हि ॥

श‍ृण्वन् गृणन् संस्मरयंश्च चिन्तयन्नामानि रूपाणि च मङ्गलानि ते ।

क्रियासु यस्त्वच्चरणारविन्दयो- राविष्टचेता न भवाय कल्पते ॥

दिष्ट्या हरेऽस्या भवतः पदो भुवो भारोऽपनीतस्तव जन्मनेशितुः ।

दिष्ट्याङ्कितां त्वत्पदकैः सुशोभनैर्द्रक्ष्याम गां द्यां च तवानुकम्पिताम् ॥

न तेऽभवस्येश भवस्य कारणं विना विनोदं बत तर्कयामहे ।

भवो निरोधः स्थितिरप्यविद्यया कृता यतस्त्वय्यभयाश्रयात्मनि ॥

मत्स्याश्वकच्छपनृसिंहवराहहंस- राजन्यविप्रविबुधेषु कृतावतारः ।

त्वं पासि नस्त्रिभुवनं च यथाधुनेश भारं भुवो हर यदूत्तम वन्दनं ते ॥

दिष्ट्याम्ब ते कुक्षिगतः परः पुमा- नंशेन साक्षाद्भगवान् भवाय नः ।

माभूद्भयं भोजपतेर्मुमूर्षो- र्गोप्ता यदूनां भविता तवात्मजः ॥

श्रीशुक उवाच

इत्यभिष्टूय पुरुषं यद्रूपमनिदं यथा । ब्रह्मेशानौ पुरोधाय देवाः प्रतिययुर्दिवम् ॥

Translation:

Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, accompanied by great sages like Narada, Devala and Vyasa and by other gods like Indra, Chandra and Varuna, invisibly approached the room of Devaki, where they all joined in offering their respectful obeisances and prayers to please Bhagavan, who can bestow blessings upon everyone.

The gods prayed: O Lord, You never deviate from Your vow, which is always perfect because whatever You decide is perfectly correct and cannot be stopped by anyone. Being present in the three phases of cosmic manifestation — creation, maintenance and annihilation — You are the Supreme Truth. Indeed, unless one is completely truthful, one cannot achieve Your favour, which therefore cannot be achieved by hypocrites.

You are the active principle, the real truth, in all the ingredients of creation, and therefore You are known as Antaryami, the inner force. You are equal to everyone, and Your instructions apply for everyone, for all time. You are the beginning of all truth. Therefore, offering our obeisances, we surrender unto You. Kindly give us protection.

The body [the total body and the individual body are of the same composition] may figuratively be called “the original tree.” From this tree, which fully depends on the ground of material nature, come two kinds of fruit — the enjoyment of happiness and the suffering of distress. The cause of the tree, forming its three roots, is association with the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance. The fruits of bodily happiness have four tastes — adherence to duty, economic development, sense gratification and liberation — which are experienced through the five senses for acquiring knowledge in the midst of six circumstances: lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst.

The seven layers of bark covering the tree are skin, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and semen, and the eight branches of the tree are the five gross and three subtle elements — earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. The tree of the body has nine hollows — the eyes, the ears, the nostrils, the mouth, the rectum and the genitals — and ten leaves, the ten airs passing through the body. In this tree of the body there are two birds: one is the individual soul, and the other is the Paramatma.

The efficient cause of this material world, manifested with its many varieties as the original tree, is You, O Lord. You are also the maintainer of this material world, and after annihilation You are the one in whom everything is conserved. Those who are covered by Your external energy cannot see You behind this manifestation, but theirs is not the vision of learned devotees.

O Lord, You are always in full knowledge, and to bring all good fortune to all living entities, You appear in different incarnations, all of them transcendental to the material creation. When You appear in these incarnations, You are pleasing to the pious and religious devotees, but for nondevotees You are the annihilator.

O lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one’s meditation on Your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of consciousness, one follows in the footsteps of great saints, sages and devotees. By this simple process, one can cross the ocean of consciousness as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a calf.

O Lord, who resemble the shining sun, You are always ready to fulfil the desire of Your devotee, and therefore You are known as the wish-fulfilling tree (Vancha Kalpataru). When acharyas completely take shelter under Your lotus feet in order to cross the fierce ocean of cconsciousness, they leave behind on earth the method by which they cross, and because You are very merciful to Your other devotees, You accept this method to help them.

O lotus-eyed Lord, although non-devotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet.

O Madhava, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of the goddess of fortune, if devotees completely in love with You sometimes fall from the path of devotion, they do not fall like non-devotees, for You still protect them. Thus they fearlessly traverse the heads of their opponents and continue to progress in devotional service.

O Lord, during the time of maintenance You manifest several incarnations, all with transcendental bodies, beyond the material modes of nature. When You appear in this way, You bestow all good fortune upon the living entities by teaching them to perform Vedic activities such as ritualistic ceremonies, mystic yoga, austerities, penances, and ultimately samadhi, ecstatic absorption in thoughts of You. Thus You are worshipped by the Vedic principles.

O Lord, cause of all causes, if Your transcendental body were not beyond the modes of material nature, one could not understand the difference between matter and transcendence. Only by Your presence can one understand the transcendental nature of Your Lordship, who are the controller of material nature. Your transcendental nature is very difficult to understand unless one is influenced by the presence of Your transcendental form.

O Lord, Your transcendental name and form are not ascertained by those who merely speculate on the path of imagination. Your name, form and attributes can be ascertained only through devotional service. Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand Bhagavan.

O Lord, we are fortunate because the heavy burden of the demons upon this earth is immediately removed by Your appearance. Indeed, we are certainly fortunate, for we shall be able to see upon this earth and in the heavenly planets the marks of lotus, conchshell, club and disc that adorn Your lotus feet.

O Supreme Lord, You are not an ordinary living entity appearing in this material world as a result of fruitive activities. Therefore Your appearance or birth in this world has no other cause than Your pleasure potency. Similarly, the living entities, who are part of You, have no cause for miseries like birth, death and old age, except when these living entities are conducted by Your external energy.

O supreme controller, Your Lordship previously accepted incarnations as a fish, a horse, a tortoise, Narasimhadeva, a boar, a swan, Lord Ramacandra, Parashurama and, among the demigods, Vamanadeva, to protect the entire world by Your mercy. Now please protect us again by Your mercy by diminishing the disturbances in this world. O Kṛṣṇa, best of the Yadus, we respectfully offer our obeisances unto You.

O mother Devaki, by your good fortune and ours, Bhagavan Himself, with all His plenary portions, such as Baladeva, is now within your womb. Therefore you need not fear Kamsa, who has decided to be killed by the Lord. Your eternal son, Sri Krishna, will be the protector of the entire Yadu dynasty.

Sage Shuka concludes, after thus offering prayers to Bhagavan, Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Being, all the gods, with Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva before them, returned to their homes in the heavenly regions.

Note: Tomorrow is the story of Sri Krishna's birth, and it also happens to be...Sri Ramanavami!

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam X a.01 - 28 March 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, 28 March 2023 - X a.01 - The build-up to the incarnation of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

***

The Prologue of Swami Tapasyananda at the beginning of the tenth Skandha is a scholarly essay covering all aspects of Sri Krishna's interesting life and the concept of Bhakti. I shall keep quoting portions from time to time to enliven the narration.

Yesterday the audio and the complete first chapter text were shared. I shall confine myself to the free translation in English here.

***

King Parikshit thanks Sage Shuka for the detailed recounting of the dynasties of the Lunar and Solar lineages. He now focusses on the incarnation of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu in the famed Yadu dynasty and wants to know everything! He says only a sinner would get bored and say,"Enough!" when Sage Shuka describes the glorious feats of the Lord!

निवृत्ततर्षैरुपगीयमानाद्भवौषधाच्छ्रोत्रमनोभिरामात् ।

क उत्तमश्लोकगुणानुवादात्पुमान् विरज्येत विना पशुघ्नात् ॥

T: "The glories sung of Bhagavan by the liberated souls, the delightful stories of the Lord who ameliorates the sufferings experienced in this existence, the happiest experience of listening to the praises of the Lord's divine attributes - who would get bored with that except an unfortunate sinner!?"

In an echo of the famous Shloka sung in every Bhagavadgita chanting, Parikshit says his ancestors, the famous Pandavas, could cross the terrible stormy waters of the Kurukshetra imbroglio and evil machinations of their close enemies only through the Lord's eternal grace. Did He not, indeed, enter Uttra's womb with his Sudarshana chakra to dispel the danger to Parikshit as a foetus?

प्रयच्छतो मृत्युमुतामृतं च मायामनुष्यस्य वदस्व विद्वन्

T: "Oh, wise Sage! Kindly tell me of Him who dispenses the Amrutha to His devotees and yet punishes with death the evil ones, all through His Divine Maya!"

Parikshit is also intrigued about this: Balarama has been just mentioned as the son of Rohini who was born in Devaki's womb! How come? Also, why did Sri Krishna leave his father's home and go to Nanda Gokula? Why did he kill his own uncle? How long did he live as a Yadava incarnate? Parikshit has all along been on a fast without even sipping water, but he now says:

नैषातिदुःसहा क्षुन्मां त्यक्तोदमपि बाधते । पिबन्तं त्वन्मुखाम्भोजच्युतं हरिकथामृतम् ॥

T: "Sir, this extreme bodily woe of not sipping even water during these many days does not really hurt me, for I have been drinking in the glories of Sri Hari Katha Amrutha from your lotus-face (मुखाम्भोज)."

***

Sage Vyasa makes the Suta tell Shaunaka how Sage Shuka was most delighted by this passionate interest of Parikshit inn Sri Krishna's story, and how he began his narrative.

"Oh, Rajarshi! Your interest is focussed rightly! Questions about the Lord's glories and pastimes have the same effect as the Ganga, they sanctify the questioner, the one who answers, and of course those who hear the accounts!"

***

Bhumi or Mother Earth was unable to bear the atrocities of Asuras and evil kings who were Asuras in another form. She went as a cow and begged Lord Brahma for relief. Brahma decided to take the matter up with the highest authority, and invoked Bhagavan Maha Vishnu Himself within himself, surrounded at that moment in time by her, Lord Shiva and other Devas. The revelation he received and shared was this: "Bhagavan is soon going to be born through His power as Kaala or Time among the Yadus. Go at once and, all of you, take birth among the Yadus and cowherds there! Bhagavan will be born to Vasudeva. Even Apsaras should be born as women to be engaged in His service! Adishesha will be born as His brother."

विष्णोर्माया भगवती यया सम्मोहितं जगत् । आदिष्टा प्रभुणांशेन कार्यार्थे सम्भविष्यति ॥

T: " Bhagavan's Vishnu Maya, who deludes all creation, will be born on earth to carry out His orders."

***

Surasena ruled over Mathura. It is the land of Yadus and Bhagavan lives there forever. Vasudeva married Devaki there. The two began their post-wedding journey as man and bride for Vasudeva's city in a chariot. That chariot was being driven by Devaki's cousin, Kamsa who was delighted to do this. They were surrounded by a retinue of servants brought as dowry and many decorated vehicles. There were celebratory bands playing. Just then, Kamsa heard a divine oracle loud and clear. "Oh, Kamsa, you fool! This Devaki's eighth child will kill you!" Kamsa revealed his true nature at once and drew his sword to cut off the head of Devaki whose hair he had now grabbed. The noble soul, Vasudeva, also known as Anakadundhubhi (divine drums played out when he was born), spoke. "Oh, Kamsa, you are noble and the pride of Bhojas, how can you kill your own sister, that too during her nuptials!? Isn't death a sure certainty that no one can escape? All our life experiences accrue as a result of our own past Karmas. The Jiva changes bodies like a caterpillar changes its form. Life is like a dream, sometimes a nightmare, all unreal! This is the play of Maya. Jiva, instead of identifying himself with his Paramatma, thinks of himself as this body. When one harms someone, Yama lurks to give retribution. Just look at Devaki, frightened and crying piteously, your own sister!"

These words did not placate the evil-minded Kamsa. Vasudeva now reflected. "Let me tell Kamsa, "don't kill Devaki. We shall hand over our children to you." Anything can happen, but at least death is now averted. Life is indeed a mystery and throws a curved ball."

Vasudeva now bowed low to Kamsa. He was most aggrieved within but said as pleasantly as he could. "Don't fear anything from Devaki, Kamsa, as the oracle spoke. I shall hand over all our children to you, even though only one of them is said to be dangerous to you". Kamsa was relieved. He let go of Devaki and Devaki and Vasudeva went home.

Devaki had, one after another, eight sons, and a daughter. The first one of them was delivered by Vasudeva as a newborn to Kamsa. A pleased Kamsa said in a tone of charity, "Take the child back, Vasudeva. I need to be afraid only of your eighth born!" Vasudeva returned home with his child, of course, unsure of the future as Kamsa was known to be evil.

In the meanwhile, our favourite hero, Sage Narada, visited Kamsa. He had a startling revelation and warning to Kamsa, who sided with Asuras.

"Oh, Kamsa, I have to tell you that all the Yadus who live in Gokula under Nanda, who are fond of Devaki and Vasudeva, are all Devas born to destroy Asuras who are considered burdensome to Mother Earth!"

Kamsa did not take this warning lightly. He began to intensely hate the Yadus of Gokula as Devas, archenemies. He took Devaki and Vasudeva and put them in a well-guarded prison. He began killing Devaki's every child as soon as born in prison. Every child looked to him to be an impersonation of Vishnu. After all, human history is replete with stories of kings who killed mercilessly anyone they suspected or feared. Kamsa also realised that he had been in the past the Asura Kalanemi who was killed by Vishnu. Kamsa, therefore, began a systematic persecution of the Yadus. In the meanwhile, he also deposed his father, Ugrasena, put him in jail and announced himself as the unchallenged king of the entire Surasena kingdom and also other clans.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥