॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 3 February 2023 VIII.05 - Brahma's prayer to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu to restore the Devas defeated by Asuras due to Sage Durvasa's curse. This is the build-up to Samudra Manthan.
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This chapter describes the fifth and sixth Manus, and it also tells the prayers of the gods and the curse of Sage Durvasa. Sage Shuka continued his narrative:
The brother of Tamasa, the fourth Manu, who has previously been described, was the fifth Manu, Raivata. The sons of Raivata included Arjuna, Bali and Vindhya. During the reign of this Manu, Indra, the King of heaven, was known as Vibhu. Among the gods were the Bhutarayas, and the seven Rishis were Hiranyaroma, Vedashira and Urdhvabahu. The Rishi known as Shubhra, by his wife, Vikuntha, gave birth to the Supreme Being, Vaikuntha. This Supreme Being, Bhagavan, manifested a Vaikuntha Loka at the request of Sri Lakshmi. His power and activities are mentioned in the Third Skandha.
The sixth Manu was Chakshusha, the son of Chakshu Manu. Among the sons of the sixth Manu were Puru, Poorusha and Sudyumna. During the reign of this Manu, Mantradruma was Indra, the King of heaven. Among the gods were the Apyas, and among the seven Rishis were Havishman and Viraka. The wife of Vairaja, whose name was Devasambhuti, gave birth to Ajita, an incarnation of Bhagavan. This Ajita, taking the shape of a tortoise and holding the mountain known as Mandara on His back, churned the ocean and produced Amrutha for the gods.
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Raja Parikshit was very eager to hear about the churning of the ocean, and therefore Sage Shuka began to explain to him how the gods, having been cursed by Sage Durvasa when he was slighted by Indra, were defeated in battle by the Asuras.
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When the gods were deprived of their heavenly kingdom, they went to the abode of Lord Brahma and informed Lord Brahma of what had happened. Then Brahma, along with all the gods, went to the shore of the Ocean of Milk and offered prayers to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu who was resting on the milky ocean.
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I quote below some choice shlokas chanted by Brahma in praise of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu.
अहं भवो यूयमथोऽसुरादयो मनुष्यतिर्यग्द्रुमघर्मजातय: ।
यस्यावतारांशकलाविसर्जिता व्रजाम सर्वे शरणं तमव्ययम् ॥
T: Lord Brahma said, "Know, dear gods, that I, Lord Shiva, all of you, all of Asuras, and indeed all humans, animals and other creatures, are all manifestations of the same Almighty by just an atom of His power. Better we all go and surrender to Him!"
तस्माद् व्रजाम: शरणं जगद्गुरुं स्वानां स नो धास्यति शं सुरप्रिय: ॥
T: The Lord is in favour of enhancing Sattva, and hence loves the gods who are expressions of Sattva Guna. Let us pray to Him, the Jagadguru!"
When Brahma leads the gods to the abode of Maha Vishnu, he offers an elaborate prayer full of Upanishadic truths about reality, the Godhead and the way the universe is under His protection. He also says,
न यस्य कश्चातितितर्ति मायां यया जनो मुह्यति वेद नार्थम् ।
तं निर्जितात्मात्मगुणं परेशं नमाम भूतेषु समं चरन्तम् ॥
T: Who can understand Your Maya, oh Lord? We are all bewildered. Our only recourse is to pray to You! After all, You are equally present in all beings, and You are completely self-possessed in Your powers!"
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
