॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 16 April 2023 - X a.20 - A marvellous description of the rainy season and the autumn that followed, comparing it to the progress of a spiritual seeker and the immanence of divinity.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
तयोस्तदद्भुतं कर्म दावाग्नेर्मोक्षमात्मनः । गोपाः स्त्रीभ्यः समाचख्युः प्रलम्बवधमेव च ॥
गोपवृद्धाश्च गोप्यश्च तदुपाकर्ण्य विस्मिताः । मेनिरे देवप्रवरौ कृष्णरामौ व्रजं गतौ ॥
T: The Gopas returned home with astounding accounts of how Sri Krishna had saved them all from the infernal forest fire, and how Balarama had vanquished the demoniac Pralamba. The citizens of Gokula mused that these two, Sri Krishna and Balarama, were veritably gods come in human form for their succour.
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The greatest poet of Sanatana Dharma is Vyasa. He now launches into a description of the famed Monsoon of India, and the autumnal season that follows it. Sage Vyasa is in a mood of spiritual fervour such that all Nature speaks to him in similes evoking aspects of our existence and opportunities for our upliftment through the principles enunciated in the Srimad Bhagavatam! Glory to Vyasa!
I am giving you only a sampler with my translations.
ततः प्रावर्तत प्रावृट् सर्वसत्त्वसमुद्भवा ।विद्योतमानपरिधिर्विस्फूर्जितनभस्तला ॥
सान्द्रनीलाम्बुदैर्व्योम सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुभिः । अस्पष्टज्योतिराच्छन्नं ब्रह्मेव सगुणं बभौ ॥
तडित्वन्तो महामेघाश्चण्डश्वसनवेपिताः । प्रीणनं जीवनं ह्यस्य मुमुचुः करुणा इव ॥
आसन्नुत्पथगामिन्यः क्षुद्रनद्योऽनुशुष्यतीः । पुंसो यथास्वतन्त्रस्य देहद्रविणसम्पदः ॥
गिरयो वर्षधाराभिर्हन्यमाना न विव्यथुः । अभिभूयमाना व्यसनैर्यथाधोक्षजचेतसः ॥
T: Then arrived the Monsoon, the source of all rejuvenation of life. Surrounding the radiant orbs of the sun and moon were the grand clouds, rampaging the skies! The dense dark clouds covered the skies. Vyasa says that it was much like the pure consciousness of Jiva gets clouded by the Gunas.
It was as if the Sun God, having collected taxes (evaporation!) from the people during summer, was giving back copious grants (rains!) for their development now.
The clouds opened their eyes in lightning flashes to the miseries of people scorched by summer and showered their copious waters of resuscitation like kind noblemen who give out of ready compassion.
Like the disparate senses and organs of a man overpower him when he is weakened by a lack of disciplined living, the downpour became rivulets that broke through all weakened barrages dried up in the summer.
Vyasa is reminded of dutiful pupils repeating the Vedic chants for practice in the evenings when he describes the quacking of frogs.
The earth was covered in patches of bright greens, whites and so on, like an army of variously uniformed contingents.
When a man advances in devotion to Sri Hari, his insides and outsides all shine in resplendence like Nature was shining now.
Vyasa compares the mountains standing in resolute fortitude facing the batter of rain to devotees who withstand all hardships and adversities much like a true devotee with his mind surrendered to the Lord.
He sees the usual pathways with footmarks, now being unused in the rain, becoming covered by fresh grass such that the paths are no longer identifiable. It is like how Brahmins lose their grip over Vedic chants owing to lack of practice.
Vyasa says the appearance of the splendid vibgyor rainbow appearing in the clear sky with the sun's pure rays was like the avatara of Nirguna Brahman in the form of the Guna-filled Nature all around.
There are many more descriptions, covering Bhagavan, Bhagavatas, and Bhaktas in comparison of their lives to the effects of the Monsoon to be witnessed all around.
एवं वनं तद्वर्षिष्ठं पक्वखर्जुरजम्बुमत् ।गोगोपालैर्वृतो रन्तुं सबलः प्राविशद्धरिः ॥
T: Vrindavan was now laden with flower and fruit in the celebration of Monsoon. Ripe dates and Jamoon fruits were aplenty. Sri Krishna and Balarama happily went to Vrindavan with their associates, Gopas.
दध्योदनं समानीतं शिलायां सलिलान्तिके । सम्भोजनीयैर्बुभुजे गोपैः सङ्कर्षणान्वितः ॥
T: Sri Krishna enjoyed feasting on curd rice sent by his mother, sitting on rocks surrounded by rivulets and streams, along with Balarama and other Gopas.
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After describing the Monsoon, Vyasa says that the season now changed to autumn. Autumn, with its cool breeze and clear skies, seems to smile on all life flourishing after being nurtured by rain. He says,
शरदा नीरजोत्पत्त्या नीराणि प्रकृतिं ययुः । भ्रष्टानामिव चेतांसि पुनर्योगनिषेवया ॥
व्योम्नोऽब्दं भूतशाबल्यं भुवः पङ्कमपां मलम् ।
शरज्जहाराश्रमिणां कृष्णे भक्तिर्यथाशुभम्॥
T: Then came autumn. The lakes and ponds were cleared of turbidity, and now gave rise to the happy blooming of lotuses! It was like men whose conduct had once turned turbid by falling on bad ways now resorting back to the Yoga of Yama and Niyama. The season of Sharad was like the rise of Bhakti in Sri Krishna which cleanses all people, from any walk of life, of their impurities. It cleared the skies, cleared the waters. The fields and pathways were free from slush, and there spread a calm cheer all around in Nature.
पुरग्रामेष्वाग्रयणैरिन्द्रियैश्च महोत्सवैः । बभौ भूः पक्वसस्याढ्या कलाभ्यां नितरां हरेः ॥
T: In towns and villages, people began their ritual celebrations of impending harvest, and the festivities propitiating Indra. The earth was laden with the crop of prosperity and Sri Krishna's presence sanctified the earth.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
