॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 30 September 2022 - Maitreya begins his narration.
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I don’t have to point out that we have seen many recursive stories, with frequent references to the same episodes with a twist. This is like a wonderful cloth woven with a beautiful, repetitive design.
We saw briefly how the Suta narrates Srimad Bhagavatam to the rishis headed by Shaunaka, how Sage Narada narrates the Srimad Bhagavatam to Sage Vyasa, and how Sri Shuka narrates the scripture, as documented and taught to him by his father Vyasa, to King Parikshit, how Sri Krishna narrates it to Uddhava, how Maha Vishnu gave it to Lord Brahma who then gave it to Sage Narada, and now we see how Vidura receives it!
It is no doubt confusing but the idea is that this sacred scripture has been handed down through the best vehicles of wisdom in a grand tradition. As long as we gather that point, we are fine.
The stories of specific incarnations will come soon!
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The great sage Maitreya compliments Vidura. Belonging to the dynasty of Kurus, ready for Bhakti, Vidura has raised questions that call for a recitation again of the Srimad Bhagavatam. There is also a hint that each narrative has some twist.
“Vidura, the Lord Himself gave this to rishis and seekers ready for the liberating teaching of Bhakti. They were all dispassionate about this life.”
“Some time ago, Sanatkumara, the chief of the boy-saints, accompanied by other great sages, approached Sankarshana with these very questions. Sankarshana was the great snake supporting the world from the nether region.”
(At this point, I must mention that the name Sankarshana is used for Balarama, known to be an incarnation of Adi Shesha. So we can connect the dots.)
“The divinely endowed Sankarshana was in meditation on the Lord. He slightly opened his lotus-like eyes and spoke.”
Vyasa the poet slips in this bit: Having descended via the Ganga river, the matted locks of the sages were wet, as they touched Sankarshana’s feet. His feet were often worshipped by the serpent king’s daughters to get blessed with good husbands.
“As the sages began to chant Sri Hari’s name, Sanakarshana was moved and opened his eyes. He had a thousand hoods, each encrusted with a splendid jewel, and adorned with a crown. He happily taught them the Srimad Bhagavatam. Sanatkumara in turn gave it to Sage Sankhyayana. In his turn, as Sankhyayana narrated the Srimad Bhagavatam, it was received by Sage Parashara (father of Sage Vyasa and the author of Vishnu Purana) and Brihaspati himself! Parashara then gave it to me, Maitreya.”
“The Lord in primordial condition lay as Garbhodakashayi on the great snake Ananta (Adishesha) in the waters, and was in Yoga Nidra for a very long time (a few aeons). When Brahma was born in a lotus that arose from His navel, Brahma looked around to see what he was to do. He had a fuzzy memory from the past that he should undertake the creation process, but did not know where to start. Just like the potent fire dwells within fuel wood, the Lord remained within the water of dissolution, submerging all the living entities in their subtle bodies. He lay in the self-invigorated energy called Kala (Time). The living entities would emerge from His body. As the force of Maya or Kala Shakti stirred Him, a lotus arose from His navel.”
Note: in the beginning, there was only one to witness what happened to Brahma other than the Lord. That was Adishesha alias Sankarshana. No wonder the Sanatkumaras got this story from him!
“That lotus was luminous like the sun and dried up the waters of dissolution, setting the stage for creation. Maha Vishnu entered that lotus as Paramatman and impregnated it, creating Lord Brahma, the embodiment of the Vedas.”
“Lord Brahma knew not what he had to do. He looked all around and grew four heads/faces.
“Brahma could not understand for what purpose and by whom he had been created. He decided to enter the lotus stem and work his way, which he did, but still could not fathom the Lord.”
“Brahma reached the Lord’s chakra, which is nothing but the Kalachakra. It generates the fear of death in all living beings.”
“Brahma also saw Adishesha, with his bejewelled and crowned a thousand heads, on which Vishnu rested, but still he was confused.”
We read before that Brahma then meditated because he heard "Tapa Tapa".
“Brahma then meditated hard for a hundred years, and at last manifested Maha Vishnu in his own heart. The luminosity of the Lord now illuminated all directions. What he saw as the form of Maha Vishnu was wonderful.”
प्रेक्षां क्षिपन्तं हरितोपलाद्रे: सन्ध्याभ्रनीवेरुरुरुक्ममूर्ध्न: । रत्नोदधारौषधिसौमनस्य वनस्रजो वेणुभुजाङ्घ्रि पाङ्घ्रे : ॥
आयामतो विस्तरत: स्वमानदेहेन लोकत्रयसंग्रहेण ।विचित्रदिव्याभरणांशुकानां कृतश्रियापाश्रितवेषदेहम् ॥
पुंसां स्वकामाय विविक्तमार्गैरभ्यर्चतां कामुदुघाङ्घ्रि पद्मम् । प्रदर्शयन्तं कृपया नखेन्दुमयूखभिन्नाङ्गुलिचारुपत्रम् ॥
T: “The Lord’s dusky appearance in His golden garment beggared the emerald mountain lit by the evening sky. He held all creation in its seed form within. His divine body decorated with exquisite jewels and flowers and Tulasi leaves beggared anything else considered beautiful in creation.”
A question arises: how does the poet employ such comparisons when the creation was not done yet? Remember we all are a part of the creation and Maitreya is in our midst using comparisons to make us understand. Also, although no creation had yet taken place in this cycle, Brahma recalled in a fuzzy way life from previous cycles. Thus he thought of those similes.
The poet describes the beauty of the Lord’s feet and fingernails, to give an idea of how wonderful was the vision given to Brahma after his long Tapas.
Brahma now saw the Lord in His complete form and understood what was expected of him by the Lord. He began to pray to the Lord.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
