॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 27 February 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam VIII Summary- The stories of Gajendra Moksha, Shiva drinking the poison, Mohini, and Bali's redemption.
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The many stories of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu's avataras are covered here. His way of saving devotees is always unique in every case. Take Gajendra. He was the lord of elephants and roaming carefree in a heavenly forest. When his Destiny overtook him, he had the presence of mind to call for help. This is a great lesson for us that even in our good times, we are urged by Srimad Bhagavatam to remember the Lord constantly.
Gajendra's Prayer
दिदृक्षवो यस्य पद्ं सुमङ्गलं विमुक्तसङ्गा मुनयः सुसाधवः।
चरन्त्यलोकव्रतमव्रणं वने भूतात्मभूताः सुहृदः स मे गतिः ॥
T: "Ascetics and great sages who see all living beings equally, who are friendly to everyone and who ardently and strictly practise the vows of abstinence and detachment, roaming the forests in total harmony with all existence engaged in complete surrender to Bhagavan - the Lord whom they pray to is my only succour and saviour!"
So Gajendra, till a moment ago the wanton and reckless king of the jungle enjoying everything heedless of others, now remembers the correct path to be led trodden in life!
मादृक्प्रपन्नपशुपाशविमोक्षणाय मुक्ताय भूरिकरुणाय नमोऽलयाय ।
स्वांशेन् सर्वतनुभृन्मनसि प्रतीतप्रत्यग्दृशे भगवते बृहते नमस्ते ॥
"Dear Lord! You release hapless and ignorant souls in bondage just as animals are freed from fetters. You are Yourself totally free and the source of all liberation, full of eternal compassion and readiness to come quickly to any devotee's help! Indeed You alone pervade every being through an atom of Yourself, but are seen as individual souls in various stages of existence! Oh Lord, Infinite, and Ever-expanding, my Bhagavan! My prayers!"
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Bhagavan Shiva drinks Kalakuta Poison
The story of Bhagavan Shiva drinking the poison without a second thought out of compassion for all life shows what a true God is. He is always ready to do the impossible for his devotees.
तदुग्रवेगं दिशि दिश्युपर्यधो विसर्पदुत्सर्पदसह्यमप्रति ।
भीता: प्रजा दुद्रुवुरङ्ग सेश्वरा अरक्ष्यमाणा: शरणं सदाशिवम् ॥
विलोक्य तं देववरं त्रिलोक्या भवाय देव्याभिमतं मुनीनाम् ।
आसीनमद्रावपवर्गहेतोस्तपो जुषाणं स्तुतिभि: प्रणेमु: ॥
When that uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the gods, along with the Lord Himself, approached Bhagavan Shiva. Feeling utterly vulnerable and very much afraid, they sought His protection. The gods observed Lord Shiva sitting on the summit of Kailasa with his wife, Bhavani, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshipped by great saints praying for liberation. The gods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect.
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Mohini, the Enchantress
Bhagavan comes as Mohini to teach us a lesson. Many things will fascinate us and make us lose our sense of realism about life. We should always be on our guard. The best protection is prayer, as Lord Shiva shows when he prays to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu!
असदविषयमङ्घ्रिं भावगम्यं प्रपन्नानमृतममरवर्यानाशयत्सिन्धुमथ्यम् ।
कपटयुवतिवेषो मोहयन् यः सुरारीन् तमहमुपसृतानां कामपूरं नतोऽस्मि ॥
Assuming the form of a young woman and thus bewildering the Asuras, Bhagavan distributed to His devotees, the Devas, the Amrutha produced from the churning of the Ocean of Milk. Unto that Bhagavan, who always fulfils the desires of His devotees, I offer my respectful obeisances.
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Bali's Redemption
Maha Bali, the grandson of Prahlada, conquered the three worlds. The Lord came as Vamana Trivikrama to put him in his place, and yet showered His ultimate grace. Bhagavan even became his doorkeeper in Sutala as Bali recovered both his devotion and sense of propriety! See what Bali says,
पितामहो मे भवदीयसम्मत: प्रह्लाद आविष्कृतसाधुवाद: ।
भवद्विपक्षेण विचित्रवैशसं सम्प्रापितस्त्वं परम: स्वपित्रा ॥
किमात्मनानेन जहाति योऽन्तत: किं रिक्थहारै: स्वजनाख्यदस्युभि: ।
किं जायया संसृतिहेतुभूतया मर्त्यस्य गेहै: किमिहायुषो व्यय: ॥
“I recall my grandfather, renowned as Bhakta Prahlada, who suffered at his father’s hands but never swerved from devotion to You. I also know that all material possessions, prestige and family are indeed bonds that hold us back spiritually. Your treatment of me, therefore, has to be only a blessing in disguise!”
So We can summarise the entire Skandha in three words: Bhagavan's multi-faceted grace!
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
