॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 14 September 2022 - The second chapter of the second Skandha- Sage Shuka explains the path and process of liberation.
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एवं पुरा धारणयात्मयोनिर्नष्टां स्मृतिं प्रत्यवरुध्य तुष्टात्
T: The cycle of present creation began only when Brahma had the vision of Virat Purusha that brought back his memory of everything. Brahma’s knowledge dawned, encapsulated as Vedas, and his creative efforts began only thereafter.
“King Parikshit, the key to liberation can be secured only by first realizing that this world and its pleasures are not worthy of pursuit compared to the goal of eternal bliss.”
सत्यां क्षितौ किं कशिपो प्रयास्यैर्बाहौ स्वसिद्धे ह्युपबर्हणैः किम्।
सत्यंजलौ किं पुरुधान्न पात्र्या दिग्वल्कलादौ सति किं दुकूलैः॥
कस्माद्भजन्ति कवयो धनदुर्मदान्धान्॥
T: “How does a true seeker live after realizing the source of bondage in this world? He feels that when one can sleep well on the bare ground, there is no need for beds and cots. When he has his arms to rest his head on while lying down to sleep, there is no need for pillows. When he can drink water and eat food using his two cupped hands, there is no need for vessels! And when tree barks or even the bare sky will do well to protect this body, where is the need for silks? Alas, not knowing this simple truth about the bare necessities of life, so-called learned men go and cultivate with their flattery the rich and mighty hoping for gifts and rewards, when those rich are indeed intolerably arrogant about their wealth!”
आत्मा प्रियोऽर्थो भगवाननन्तः तं भजेत संसारहेतूपरमश्च यत्र
T: "Thus, one will now pray to someone dearest in life, namely Bhagavan, the Eternal Lord, and by His grace to get rid of attachments to this world."
Sage Shuka now explains the process of pursuing liberation.
“The seeker pursues the practice of meditation in austerity and solitude, envisioning the Lord in his heart.”
चतुर्भुजं कञ्जरथाङ्गशङ्खगदाधरं धारणया स्मरन्ति प्रसन्नवक्त्रं स्फुरन्महारत्नकिरीटकुण्डलम् अम्लानलक्ष्म्या वनमालयाऽचितम्
T: “Envision the Lord in your heart, eight inches high, four-armed and holding the Shankha, Chakra, Gada, and Padma, smiling, radiant in his divine gem-studded ornaments including the crown (diadem), wearing a forest-flower garland that never withers…”
Shuka’s description of Lord Maha Vishnu continues with beautiful verses.
ईक्षेत चिन्तामयमेनमीश्वरं यावन्नमनो धारणयाविष्ठते
T: “The one who meditates on the divine form of the Lord thus, starting with the feet first and slowly, worshipfully, moving to higher and higher parts of the Lord’s form, will achieve the withdrawal of his attachments from the external world of appearances that holds no true riches.”
“The meditator will thus prepare for his final journey. At that time, by his Yogic power, he will raise his Prana-life energy step by step from his lowest chakra, Muladhara, to Svadhishthana, Manipura, Ananahata and Vishuddhi. Then his Prana will cross Ajna and proceed to the Sahasrara. By a total withdrawal of his life breath inward, and moving his Prana upward, he proceeds to break the bond with the material world. His Atma escapes from this physical body. By Yoga, Dhyana, Austerity and Bhakti being practised systematically, all his life, that seeker has finally reached that cherished, final, moment of liberation. He has discarded all external things with sure discrimination, saying to every external object, “Not this, not this.” He thus merges into Brahman forever, a state of eternal bliss.”
“But there are those who still covet Ashtasiddhis (psychic and esoteric powers to master natural laws and forces to achieve supremacy in this material world); they also want heavenly pleasures. When such a seeker with desires leaves the body, he transits gradually through various experiences, passing purifying fire, different spheres, and some heavens full of pleasures, and eventually reaching liberation. This path is longer and slower than the direct route of the seeker mentioned earlier who has no desires left.”
Sage Shuka gives considerable detail about the stages and states one passes through in the second method which I have omitted here.
एतां गतिं भागवतीं गतो य: स वै पुनर्नेह विषज्जतेऽङ्ग॥
एते सृती ते नृप वेदगीते त्वयाभिपृष्टे च सनातने च ।
ये वै पुरा ब्रह्मण आह तुष्ट आराधितो भगवान् वासुदेव: ॥
न ह्यतोऽन्य: शिव: पन्था विशत: संसृताविह । वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोगो यतो भवेत् ॥
भगवान् सर्वभूतेषु लक्षित: स्वात्मना हरि: । दृश्यैर्बुद्ध्यादिभिर्द्रष्टा लक्षणैरनुमापकै: ॥
पिबन्ति ये भगवत आत्मन: सतां कथामृतं श्रवणपुटेषु सम्भृतम् ।
पुनन्ति ते विषयविदूषिताशयं व्रजन्ति तच्चरणसरोरुहान्तिकम् ॥
T:”Oh, King! This is the path to attain Bhagavan. This is the essence of the Vedas, and Brahma was the first to realize this by the grace of Vasudeva. There is, I assure you, no better way for liberation from this world of bondage. So remember just this: Cultivate supreme devotion to Vasudeva.”
“In summary, those fortunate ones who listen to this recitation and drink the nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam are surely bound to escape from worldly clutches, and reach the lotus feet of the Lord which is the final beatitude.”
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
