॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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.
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This chapter is the best one I have read so far in this Srimad Bhagavatam parayanam. You will find in ample measure the essence of our Sanatana Dharma:
- How merit is earned by the ardent devotee.
- The power of the Darshan of Bhagavan.
- The most essential spiritual teaching one needs for upliftment.
- The acme of devotion.
I have shared here a video of the text synchronised with the recitation for repeated listening.
I do believe this short chapter condenses the entire subject of Srimad Bhagavadgita.
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Lord Maha Vishnu was immensely pleased with King Prithu. He gave Darshan to Prithu and began to speak.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
एष तेऽकार्षीद्भङ्गं हयमेधशतस्य ह । क्षमापयत आत्मानममुष्य क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥
सुधिय: साधवो लोके नरदेव नरोत्तमा: । नाभिद्रुह्यन्ति भूतेभ्यो यर्हि नात्मा कलेवरम् ॥
T: Bhagavan said, "Dear King Prithu, Indra, the chief of gods, has disturbed your one hundredth Ashwamedha Yajna. He has come with me to apologise to you. Kindly excuse him."
"Oh, King, those with higher wisdom and also devoted to the welfare of all are considered the best among people. Such an advanced person is never inimical to others, knowing that all perceived differences like" "you" and "me" are entirely owing to bodily differentiation."
"King Prithu, you have advanced spiritually by adhering to Dharmic injunctions. If you allow yourself to be swayed by My Maya, then your advancement is a waste of time श्रम एव परं जातः"
"Those with a clear understanding of the physical creation and apparent differentiation due to Maya do not take the body and the physical relations and events seriously."
असंसक्त: शरीरेऽस्मिन्नमुनोत्पादिते गृहे । अपत्ये द्रविणे वापि क: कुर्यान्ममतां बुध: ॥
T: "How can a highly learned person who has absolutely no affinity for the bodily conception of life be affected by the bodily attachments to house, children, wealth and similar other physical assets?"
एक: शुद्ध: स्वयंज्योतिर्निर्गुणोऽसौ गुणाश्रय: । सर्वगोऽनावृत: साक्षी निरात्मात्मात्मन: पर: ॥
T: "The individual soul, Jiva, is undivided, pure, and self-effulgent, beyond the Gunas but as the embodied one, the receptacle of Gunas. He is all-pervading. He is without sny material covering, and He is the witness of all activities and beyond the limited "I" of an ordinary embodied soul."
य एवं सन्तमात्मानमात्मस्थं वेद पूरुष: । नाज्यते प्रकृतिस्थोऽपि तद्गुणै: स मयि स्थित: ॥
T: "Thus the wise one knows the Paramatma situated within himself, and distinguishes himself from bodily attachements even though situated in the body, and thereby establishes himself in Me."
य: स्वधर्मेण मां नित्यं निराशी: श्रद्धयान्वित: ।भजते शनकैस्तस्य मनो राजन् प्रसीदति ॥
T: "The one who devotes all his efforts in Swadharma, unattached, to Me, obtains My grace gradually by dedicated activities in a spirit of Bhakti."
"Purified by his effort, detached materially, and securing spiritual insight, he then attains to the peace of Brahmanhood by merging into Me."
"Just knowing how creation is only the play of the elements and senses and the mind, all within the supervision of the Atma, he secures liberation."
"The devotee is totally attached to Me and beyond the play of these forces of creation."
"Dear King Prithu, be equanimous, treat all equally- your superiors, peers and subordinates. Do not be disturbed by sorrow of pleasure. Do your best as the king, established in Me."
"A just, efficient and kind king collects fair taxes and reaps one-sixth of the merit (Punya) earned by citizens. An unfair king extorts taxes, and loses whatever Punya he has earned to his citizens."
"Be a worthy king, pious, adhering to Brahminical injunctions of Dharma. Soon you shall be visited by the glorious sages, the four Kumaras."
"King Prithu, I am immensely pleased with you. Ask for any boon you want!"
King Prithu was overwhelmed by the Lord's grace. He stood silently, soaking in all the instructions of the Lord. Indra came forward to fall at Prithu's feet in shame and ask for forgiveness. But Prithu raised him and embraced him in cordiality forgiving him for stealing the Yajna horse.
King Prithu now fell at the Lord's feet, embracing them and shedding tears of Bhakti. He could not speak.
The Lord was standing with His lotus feet firmly planted, His arm resting on Garuda.
King Prithu now spoke.
"Lord, You are supreme among the gods. What use would I have for boons secured from You in this material world, as such attainments are not difficult for anyone?"
" I can ask to merge into You. Even that is not desired by me. I would rather remain separate and hence be able to listen to Your glories!"
न कामये नाथ तदप्यहं क्वचिन् न यत्र युष्मच्चरणाम्बुजासव: ।
महत्तमान्तर्हृदयान्मुखच्युतो विधत्स्व कर्णायुतमेष मे वर: ॥
T: "My dear Lord, I therefore do not wish to have the benediction of merging into You and then be denied the nectar of Your lotus-feet. I want You to grant me ten-thousand ears to hear Your glories constantly sung by exalted devotees!"
"When one listens to Your glories, oh, Lord, from the great devotees, the fragrance of Your glory reaches one through the ears, and the bound entity forgets the limitations of this material existence and constantly remembers You and his relationship with You! My dear Lord, I, therefore, do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear Your prayers from the mouth of Your pure devotee."
"The perfection of chanting and hearing about Your glories was accepted even by the goddess of fortune, Sri Lakshmi, who desired to hear about Your limitless pastimes and divine glories."
"Let me share in the service of Your lotus feet with Devi Sri Lakshmi. But there is one risk, as she may quarrel about sharing the duty with me! Devi Sri Lakshmi is the mother of the universe, and yet I think that she may be angry with me because of my intruding upon her service and acting on that very platform to which she is so much attached. Yet I am hopeful that even if there is such a misunderstanding, You will take my side and support me! It is Your nature to side with the devotee and magnify even the smallest service done to You. I think You are so self-sufficient that even if she leaves You, nothing will be lost for You!"
"Lord, I want no other boon of a material nature, as it is all in the world of Maya."
Bhagavan Maha Vishnu was extremely pleased with this prayer. He readily granted Prithu's wish for eternal service. He commended Prithu for escaping the influence of Maya.
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By following the instructions of Bhagavan, anyone who would be diligent and devoted would receive all grace even in this world thus securing his here and also hereafter.
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King Prithu offered his prayers to all the gods, sages, Pitris and others who were preparing to leave with Bhagavan Maha Vishnu. As Bhagavan left for Vaikuntha, the rest followed Him.
After offering obeisances to the Lord, the king returned to his home.
