Sachi R

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.18 - 10 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, 10 January 2023 VI.18 - The failed attempt of Diti to avenge Indra who made Maha Vishnu kill her two sons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu and how Indra secured the allegiance of her 49 sons who became Maruts.

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Taken from Bhaktivedanta's commentary:

This chapter gives the history of Diti, the wife of Kaśyapa, and how she followed a vow to have a son who would kill Indra. It also describes how Indra attempted to foil her plan by cutting to pieces the son within her womb.

Sage Shuka quickly touches several dynasties and their offspring in his rambling narration. All of them can be summed up by stating that Bhagavan willed and arranged for the propagation of, creation of, divine, human and demonic beings

Bhrigu, the mind-born son of Brahma, took his birth again from Carshani, the wife of Varuna, and the great sage Vālmiki appeared from Varuna’s semen. Agastya and Vasishtha were two sons of Varuna and Mitra born as the foetuses of Urvashi incubated in a pot. Vamana was born as an incarnation of Maha Vishnu to address the issue of Bali, grandson of Prahlada who threatened Indra. These stories come later in the book.

Diti’s sons known as the Maruts became gods. Diti romanced her husband Sage Kashyapa who was enticed by her loving care. She then extracted a promise from him that she would get a son to kill Indra. Kashyapa regretted his giving her such a boon in a moment of weakness.

Kashyapa advised Diti to follow the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies to purify herself and worship Maha Vishnu. Indra came to know her plan. While she was pregnant, he came as a servant and stayed and watched her closely. Once, when she fell from her ritualistic purity, he managed to enter her womb. He decimated the foetus into forty-nine fragments (7x7). When Diti delivered, she was astonished to see Indra and 49 other offspring. Luckily this story ended well as the 49 children became Maruts and associates of Indra. They were all, like Indra, devotees of Maha Vishnu in a fine brotherhood!

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.17 - 9 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, 9 January 2023 VI.17 - The strange story of Chitraketu offending Parvati and her curse.

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King Chitraketu, who had now become a Vidyadhara, travelled in the direction following Sankarshana/Adisesha, possessing inexhaustible power of the body and senses on account of his great Yogic attainments, and extolled by hosts of Munis, Siddhas and Charanas. He lived in the valleys of Mount Meru, praying to Sri Hari, and living in the company of his near and dear ones.

Once, he was travelling aerially in the Vimana given to him by Sri Hari. He saw Lord Shiva, Parameshwara, seated with Parvati amidst his devotees. But Shiva had Parvati in his lap and was hugging her amorously.

Chitraketu laughed aloud and spoke, within everyone's hearing: "Here is Sri Rudra, the most important being and the teacher of the whole world. And yet he sits in the public assembly in the embraces of his wife, while he explains Dharma to others! What an irony that one with matted locks, known for his Tapas, amidst great Siddhas, holds his wife tight in public shamelessly like a vulgar person! Even a lowly person avoids such acts in public!"

Lord Rudra, whose mind was deep and unperturbable, only smiled at this a little but remained silent. The members of the assembly too sat silent, following the example of the Lord. 10. When Chitraketu, ignorant of Lord Siva's greatness, uttered these highly unbecoming remarks, Sri Parvati. was provoked into great anger. She addressed this conceited Vidyadhara- "How dare this one criticise us thus! Brahma, Narada, Kumaras, Bhrigu, all revere Shiva, whom Chitraketu now faults for his conduct!"

"This degenerate fellow of a Kshatriya who dares to override the views of all great men and criticise Rudra in this way- Rudra whose feet are fit to be contemplated upon by Brahma and others, who is the teacher of the whole world and who is the holiest among holy beings - this impudent man deserves punishment. A man so conceited and arrogant does not deserve to go anywhere near the Lord of Vaikuntha, who is served only by persons of great holiness devoid of this kind of arrogance. So, Oh, arrogant one! You wanton child! May you have an evil embodiment as an Asura, in order that you may not do this kind of offence to great men again!"

The drama did not end there. When cursed thus, Chitraketu descended from his aerial vehicle and humbly making prostrations to Sri Parvati, tried to pacify her.

Chitraketu said: "Oh Devi! I accept your curse with both arms. Whatever divinities bestow on one, whether it be favourable or unfavourable, is all the result of one's Karma. In this perpetual movement of Prakriti, nothing is important - a curse or a blessing, pain or pleasure, heaven or hell. They are all ephemeral. Bhagavan's Maya in the form of Karma makes for pleasure and pain, bondage and liberation, birth and death- in fact for the entire involvement of the Jiva in the cycle of transmigratory existence. Oh, Devi, I beg your pardon for my misdemeanour, but I do not ask for release from the curse you have pronounced."

Thus pacifying Parvati and Parameswara, Chitraketu went away in his aerial car, as all watched on in wonder.

There was a pregnant silence before Lord Shiva spoke to Sri Parvati in the hearing of all the Devas, Rishis, Asuras, Siddhas and attendants.

श्रीरुद्र उवाच

द‍ृष्टवत्यसि सुश्रोणि हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: । माहात्म्यं भृत्यभृत्यानां नि:स्पृहाणां महात्मनाम् ॥

T: "Oh beautiful lady! You have just witnessed the miracle of Lord Sri Hari. Even the servants of Lord Sri Hari display such dispassion! How great they are! They are only bothered about devotion to the Lord and serving Him, not about heaven or hell or any situation they are in. For them, this world is so unreal that it is like mistaking a flower garland for a snake. All of us including myself, Brahma, Sanatkumara, Narada and other offspring of Brahma, Indra and other Devas, are but parts of a part of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the Divine Self. Being myself a devotee of Maha Vishnu, I feel no displeasure towards Chitraketu."

Hearing these words of Lord Shiva, Devi Parvati was pacified, and no longer wondered at the conduct of Chitraketu.

Sage Shuka said, " Chitraketu's lack of reactive anger at Devi Parvati is the sign of holy men. Assuming the form of an asura, but endowed with knowledge and devotion, this Chitraketu was born as Vrittra in the

Dakshinagni of Tvashta, when he performed the Yajna for creating an agent to destroy Indra. I have now answered your question about how Vrittra, an asura, could have constant remembrance and love of the Lord."

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.16- 8 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, 8 January 2023 VI.16 - Sage Narada shows Chitraketu the reality of relationships and teaches the prayer that grants him the Darshan of Bhagavan Sankarshana.

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This chapter is full of interesting points. For the mourning king and his family, Narada arranges for the departed Jiva of the young prince to appear. He clarifies that as the transmigratory Jiva, he feels no permanent link to anyone or anything since every experience and association is merely the play of Karma.

Chitraketu stops mourning. The queens who had sinned by poisoning the prince to death atone their sins on the bank of the Yamuna as advised by Sage Angiras.

Once the king gets over his grief through this wisdom, Sage Narada teaches him the sacred prayer to Bhagavan.

Chitraketu pursues that Sadhana for seven days without food in intense Yoga.

Lord Sankarshana grants him the Darshan and reinforces the essence of Srimad Bhagavatam.

In order to facilitate the reading of these powerful shlokas, I have created a slideshow and embedded it. Some are prayers, and some are very insightful philosophical statements.

***

Sage Narada is the most resourceful, spiritually advanced, practical and influential game-changer you come across in Srimad Bhagavatam. He decides to bring the Jiva of Chitraketu's dead son to explain in his own way how his death was merely an event to be accepted as the reality of life.

The Jiva is requested to come back to life by Narada as a test. He refuses and speaks high philosophy.

नित्यस्यार्थस्य सम्बन्धो ह्यनित्यो दृश्यते नृषु

T: This transmigratory Jiva wanders from body to body. All the relationships we experience as humans are transitory and unimportant for the final goal of Moksha!

And so on.

Chitraketu stops mourning. The queens who had sinned by poisoning the prince to death atone their sins on the bank of the Yamuna as advised by Sage Angiras.

Once the king gets over his grief through this wisdom, Sage Narada teaches him the sacred prayer to Bhagavan.

The prayer Narada teaches has many verses, I shall quote only two.

ॐ नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते वासुदेवाय धीमहि । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च ॥

नमो विज्ञानमात्राय परमानन्दमूर्तये । आत्मारामाय शान्ताय निवृत्तद्वैतद‍ृष्टये ॥

T: "Oh Lord, Oh Supreme Being who are addressed as Om!, I offer my respectful obeisances to You. Oh Lord Vasudeva, I meditate upon You. Oh Lord Pradyumna, Lord Aniruddha and Lord Sankarshana, I offer You my respectful obeisances. Oh reservoir of spiritual potency, Oh supreme bliss, I offer my respectful obeisances to You, who are self-sufficient and most peaceful. Oh ultimate truth, one without a second, You are realized as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan and are therefore the reservoir of all knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances to You."

***

Narada then left with the great Sage Angiras for the Brahmaloka.

Fasting and drinking only water, Citraketu continuously chanted with great care and attention the mantra given by Narada for one week. He became a celestial being, Vidyadhara as a result. He also received the Darshan of Sankarshana.

Sankarshana explained in many verses the eternal truth of creation,who is Bhagavan, and how to attain salvation.

त्वमेतच्छ्रद्धया राजन्नप्रमत्तो वचो मम । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नो धारयन्नाशु सिध्यसि ॥

T: "Dear Chitraketu, if you adhere to my instruction, you shall attain supreme knowldge and the wisdom of enlghtenment. "

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, January 7, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.15 - 7 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, 7 January 2023 VI.15 - Sage Angiras and Narada explian the impermanent nature of all existence and relationships in life.

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While King Citraketu, overcome by lamentation, lay like a dead body at the side of the dead body of his son, the two great sages Nārada and Angiras spoke to him.

"Oh, King Chitraketu, do you have any relationship with this dead boy. Indeed, what was the nature of your relationship with him even when he was alive? People come together and drift apart like sand particles on the shore!"

"Sometimes a prospective father, being impelled by the potency of the Supreme Lord, can beget a child, but sometimes conception does not take place. Therefore one should not lament over the artificial relationship of parenthood, which is ultimately controlled by the Supreme Lord. Human existence itself is a short-lived reality! It is the Lord alone who controls creation, existence and dissolution."

Wiping his dishevelled face with his hand, the King began to speak. "Oh, Avadhutas! Who are you? Wise sages, some great saints, or one of the great heavenly sages like Vashishtha, Narada or Amgiras!? Thank you for bringing your wise words of consolation!"

Sage Angiras replied."My dear king, when you desired to have a son, I approached you. Indeed, I am the same Sage Angiras who gave you this son. And this here is the great sage Narada, the direct son of Lord Brahma. I know you are spiritually advanced, and therefore you should not allow this sorrow to overcome you."

तदैव ते परं ज्ञानं ददामि गृहमागत: । ज्ञात्वान्याभिनिवेशं ते पुत्रमेव ददाम्यहम् ॥

अधुना पुत्रिणां तापो भवतैवानुभूयते । एवं दारा गृहा रायो विविधैश्वर्यसम्पद: ॥

शब्दादयश्च विषयाश्चला राज्यविभूतय: । मही राज्यं बलं कोषो भृत्यामात्यसुहृज्जना: ॥

सर्वेऽपि शूरसेनेमे शोकमोहभयार्तिदा: । गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या: स्वप्नमायामनोरथा: ॥

T: "When I first came to your home, I could have given you the supreme transcendental knowledge, but when I saw that your mind was absorbed in material things, I gave you only a son, who caused you jubilation and lamentation."

"My dear King Chitraketu, now you are actually experiencing the misery of a person who has sons and daughters. Wife, house, the opulence of this kingdom, riches and possessions are all the same - temporary. One’s kingdom, military power, treasury, servants, ministers, friends and relatives are all causes of fear, illusion, lamentation and distress. Because they are impermanent, they are no better than illusions, dreams and mental concoctions they are no better than the hallucination of a celestial palace imagined in a dense forest."

"The Karma cycle makes us act, reap rewards, and imagine that everything is for real when indeed it is a temporary experience, nothing more."

"Through the mind, the Jiva suffers three kinds of tribulations — adhibhautika (natural and physical phenomena), adhidaivika (experiences brought about by the gods who control the elements) and adhyatmika (self-imposed as fruits of Karma). Therefore this body is a source of all miseries."

"Try to understand who you are — whether body, mind or soul. Consider where you have come from, where you are going after giving up this body, and why you are under the control of material lamentation. Once you understand the nature of existence, you will develop true devotion to Bhagavan, and thereby you will obtain peace."

Sage Narada then told Chitraketu that he would teach him a special mantra. After seven days and nights of chanting it, with devotion, the king would receive the gracious Darshan of Lord Sankarshana, whom even Lord Shiva and others had prayed to for grace in the distant past.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, January 6, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.14 - 6 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, 6 January 2023 VI.14 - How Vrittra, an asura full of Rajas and Tamas, developed such high devotion to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu - Sage Shuka tells his antecedents.

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Parikshit wonders how an asura, specifically born to wreak vengeance, full of Rajas and Tamas, displayed such high devotion to the Lord in his battle against Indra. Sage Shuka tells the profound story behind that phenomenon.

Here is another example of a sudden appearance of a glittering gem of wisdom in the meandering tales of Srimad Bhagavatam. This story has stuck in my head for many years.

***

वृत्रस्तु स कथं पाप: सर्वलोकोपतापन: । इत्थं द‍ृढमति: कृष्ण आसीत्सङ्ग्राम उल्बणे ॥

T: Vrittra was an asura tormenting the whole world. How did he develop such unshakeable devotion to Bhagavan Sri Krishna!? That too, as displayed in his terrible battle with Indra?

Vrittra's previous birth was as Citraketu, the King of Shurasena. He presided over a very prosperous and peaceful kingdom, and he was loved and obeyed by all. He had a thousand and more beautiful queens. He was not impotent. And yet, he got no children from his many wives.

One day, the great sage Angiras, son of Brahma himself, arrived at his palace. After giving several nuggets of wisdom on what defines prosperity and good administration under a king, he said, "if the king’s mind is fully controlled, his family and his administration will remain obedient to him. His provincial governors will collect and deposit taxes on time, without resistance. This flows down the hierarchy of the government.

"But, oh King Citraketu, I can observe that your mind is not pleased. You may not have achieved your desired goal. Is this because of you yourself, or has it been caused by others? Your pale face reflects your deep anxiety."

Chitraketu replied. " Oh, revered sage, you can understand everything external and internal regarding embodied, conditioned souls like us. Oh, Mahatma, you are aware of everything, yet you are asking me why I am full of anxiety. Therefore, in response to your order, let me disclose the cause. Just as a person aggrieved by hunger and thirst is not pleased by the external gratification of flower garlands or sandalwood fragrance, I am not pleased with my empire, opulence or possessions, which are desirable even for great gods, because I have no son. Therefore, O great sage, please save me and my forefathers, who are descending to the darkness of hell because I have no progeny. Kindly do something so that I may have a son to deliver us from hellish conditions."

Angiras decided to help Chitraketu. He performed as great Yajna to Tvashta, and gave the sanctified Yajna Prasadam to Chitraketu's principal queen, Kritadyuti. After that, in due course of time, a son was born to the King. Hearing news of this, all the inhabitants of the sShurasena were extremely pleased.

Chitraketu celebrated the son's arrival with all rituals and gifts. His joy knew no bounds and he loved his baby boy like anything.

But tragedy was not far behind. Chitraketu's several other queens grew extremely jealous and unhappy. They hated their lot for their neglect by the king and his inordinate fondness for the son of Kritadyuti and her consequent happiness. They went and poisoned the baby and the horrified queen discovered one morning her son dead in his cradle.

Sage Vyasa paints the tragedy in such hues and detail that no Bollywood melodrama nor a Zee TV soap can come anywhere near in its tear-jerking effect.

We can imagine what depths of sorrow and total devastation engulfed Chitraketu and the entire kingdom. All the queens shed crocodile tears along with Kritadyuti.

Just then, Sage Angiras arrived, accompanied by Sage Narada. The story continues.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.13 - 5 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, 5 January 2023 VI.13 - Indra is chased by Brahma Hatya Dosha for killing Vrittra and manages to cleanse himself by the Lord's grace.

***

Indra is an interesting character. He easily gets into trouble. He is always saved, but not before being bruised and stigmatised. He always recovers because the Lord wants him to continue playing his role in this Leela. Indeed, in this instance, for a brief period, when Indra was in hiding, to escape the sin of Brahma Hatya (murdering a Brahmin), the Indra Padavi or the post of Indra was occupied by King Nahusha, who began with a great meritorious CV but succumbed to the ills of power and glory that every Indra seems to suffer from and had to be banished back to earth!

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The sages told Indra that indeed he had incurred great sin, but it could be cleansed by performing the Ashwamedha sacrifice to propitiate Bhagavan Maha Vishnu. Meanwhile...

तां ददर्शानुधावन्तीं चाण्डालीमिव रूपिणीम् । जरया वेपमानाङ्गीं यक्ष्मग्रस्तामसृक्पटाम् ॥

विकीर्य पलितान् केशांस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषिणीम् । मीनगन्ध्यसुगन्धेन कुर्वतीं मार्गदूषणम् ॥

नभो गतो दिश: सर्वा: सहस्राक्षो विशाम्पते । प्रागुदीचीं दिशं तूर्णं प्रविष्टो नृप मानसम् ॥

स आवसत्पुष्करनालतन्तू- नलब्धभोगो यदिहाग्निदूत: ।

वर्षाणि साहस्रमलक्षितोऽन्त: सञ्चिन्तयन् ब्रह्मवधाद्विमोक्षम् ॥

तावत्‍त्रिणाकं नहुष: शशास विद्यातपोयोगबलानुभाव:। स सम्पदैश्वर्यमदान्धबुद्धिर्नीतस्तिरश्चां गतिमिन्द्रपत्‍न्या ॥

ततो गतो ब्रह्मगिरोपहूत ऋतम्भरध्याननिवारिताघ: । पापस्तु दिग्देवतया हतौजास्तं नाभ्यभूदवितं विष्णुपत्‍न्या ॥

T: Indra saw the sinful reaction (result of his sin) personified and chasing him, appearing like a Chandala (wild tribal) woman, very old, with a wasted body, covered with blood, emitting a terrible odour like a fisherwoman, calling out, “Wait! Wait!” Indra flew but did not escape the terrible figure until he plunged into the Manas Sarovar Lake.

Indra hid from his sin for one thousand years inside the stem of a lotus. Agni used to bring him offerings of food from Yajnas but was afraid to enter the lake! So Indra starved. King Nahuṣa was anointed as the interim Indra for his ability, knowledge, austerity and mystic power. But Nahusha let his new position get into his head

He was blinded and maddened by power and opulence, and coveted Indra’s wife! Therefore, Nahusha was cursed by a sage and later became a snake.

Indra’s sins were diminished by the influence of Rudra, Lord Shiva. Also, Goddess Lakshmi protected him as she dwelt inside the Manas Sarovar lotus. Indra was finally relieved of all the reactions to his sinful deeds (Karma Phalas) by strictly worshipping Lord Maha Vishnu. Then he was called back and reinstated in his position by the celestial sages. He then performed the Ashwamedha Yajna diligently to propitiate Maha Vishnu.

Sage Shuka concludes that this chapter too gives an inkling of the power of prayer and the glory of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.12 - 4 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, 4 January 2023 VI.12 - Vrittra dies a great hero's death as he shows how he is also a great Jnani and Bhakta to the astonishment of all the gods and Rishis.

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मृत्युं वरं विजयन्मन्यमानः Sage Shuka tells King Parikshit how it was wonderful to see that Vrittra was indeed not interested in victory in the battle. He was happy to receive the blow of death from Indra as he would be fulfilling his mission or sacred Karma and thereby reaching Bhagavan's abode!

Naturally, Indra killed Vrittra despite great reluctance. He also realised this macabre drama was just Bhagavan's Lila!

Indra, using his thunderbolt, which was many times more powerful than Vrittra's trident, now broke the trident to pieces and cut off one of Vrittra's arms. Nevertheless, Vrittra now used his remaining arm to strike Indra with an iron mace, making the thunderbolt fall from Indra’s hand. Indra, being very ashamed of this, did not pick up the thunderbolt from the ground. All the gods and sages assembled to witness this battle marvelled at Vrittra's bravery.

युयुत्सतां कुत्रचिदाततायिनां जय: सदैकत्र न वै परात्मनाम् ।

विनैकमुत्पत्तिलयस्थितीश्वरं सर्वज्ञमाद्यं पुरुषं सनातनम् ॥

T: Vrittra exclaimed, " Come on, Indra! Fight! Warriors face defeat and victory not by their deeds but by the supreme will of the Lord! But for the Lord, eternal, the Supreme Being, there never is any creation, sustenance or dissolution of anything in this universe."

"All living beings work like birds caught in a net, who cannot move independently. Indra, as a wooden doll that looks like a woman or as an animal made of grass and leaves cannot move or dance independently, but depends fully on the person who handles it, all of us dance according to the desire of the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead. No one is independent. The various godly manifestations that create and sustain do so merely with the power invested in them by Bhagavan."

Vrittra spoke high truth. Birth and death, victory and defeat, are all a part of the cosmic drama enacted with the three Gunas by Jivas under the force of Maya. Both the pure Atma and Bhagavan are beyond all that.

"Come on, Indra, fight! Consider this battle a gambling match in which our lives are the stakes, the arrows are the dice, and the animals acting as carriers are the game board. No one can understand who will be defeated and who will be victorious. It all depends on Providence."

Indra struck with the Vajra and severed Vrittra's remaining hand before he could strike him again with the club. Vrittra fell to the ground, and the asura became so gigantic that he quickly swallowed into his mouth Indra as well as his Airavata. Indra was given up for lost by all the dismayed gods, but protected by Narayana Kavacha, and armed with the Vajra, Indra managed to cut his way out of Vrittra. He then beheaded him in a laborious process which took a whole year.

When Vrittra was killed, the Gandharvas and Siddhas beat kettledrums in jubilation. With Vedic hymns they celebrated the prowess of Indra, showering flowers upon him with great pleasure.

The life spark then came forth from Vrittra's body and returned home, and dissolved into Bhagavan as the gods witnessed in wonderment.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.11 - 3 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Tuesday, 3 January 2023 VI.11 - Vrittra faces Indra with courage and resilience and says he is surrendered to the will of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu who has advised Indra to use the Vajra to kill him.

***

Vrittra advised his lieutenants to stand their ground and fight in the Dharma of warriors. But they were afraid. The gods attacked them from all sides. Vrittra addressed the gods. "Why do you attack these warriors of mine who are shamefully lacking in courage? Face me!"

The angry and most powerful hero Vrittra terrified the gods with his stout and strongly built body. When he roared with a resounding voice, which resembled that of a lion, the gods fainted and fell to the ground as if struck by thunderbolts. Vrittra strode with his trident and trampled on them. When Indra launched a deadly club at him, he was able to easily grasp it with his left hand. Vrittra now struck Airavata so hard that he bled from his head. Vrittra obeyed the code of warriors and let Indra regroup. Indra now revived Airavata with his hand that had the touch of Amrita.

When Vrittra saw Indra, his enemy, the killer of his brother, standing before him with a thunderbolt in his hand, desiring to fight, he became mad with anger. Laughing sarcastically, he spoke as follows:

"He who has killed a Brahmin, he who has killed his spiritual master — indeed, he who has killed my brother — is now, by good fortune, standing before me face to face as my enemy. O most abominable Indra, when I pierce your stonelike heart with my trident, I shall be freed from my debt to my brother."

"Indra, you are bereft of all shame, mercy, glory and good fortune. I shall strike you with my trident, and after you die with great pain, even fire will not touch you; only the vultures will eat your body."

"On the other hand, if I am killed with your Vajra, thunderbolt, I shall thus be relieved of my obligations to the reactions of my karma, and my fortune will be to receive the dust from the lotus feet of great devotees like Narada".

"Indra, your club was as ineffectual as a request for money from a miser! But the thunderbolt you carry will not be useless. You need have no doubts about this because it has been empowered by the prowess of Lord Vishnu and the strength of Dadhichi’s austerities. Since you have come here to kill me in accordance with Lord Vishnu’s order, there is no doubt that I shall be killed by the release of your thunderbolt. Lord Vishnu has sided with you. Therefore your victory, opulence and all good qualities are assured."

"By the force of your thunderbolt, I shall be freed of material bondage and shall give up this body and this world of physical desires. Fixing my mind upon the lotus feet of Lord Saṅkarshana, I shall attain the destination of such great sages as Narada."

ममोत्तमश्लोकजनेषु सख्यं संसारचक्रे भ्रमत: स्वकर्मभि: । त्वन्माययात्मात्मजदारगेहेष्वासक्तचित्तस्य न नाथ भूयात् ॥

T: " Oh Lord, Bhagavan! I am wandering in this Samsara because of my past Karmas. Now I, therefore, seek only the association of your great Bhaktas. My attachment to my body, wife, children and home is continuing by the spell of Your Maya, but I wish to be attached to them no longer. Let my mind, my consciousness and everything I have, be attached only to You!"

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, January 2, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.10 - 2 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Monday, 2 January 2023 VI.10 - Indra confronts Vrittra with the special weapon fashioned with Sage Dadhichi's bones into the famous Vajrayudha.

***

Having given advice on how to secure the infallible weapon to defeat Vrittra, Bhagavan Maha Vishnu disappeared.

Indra and the gods went to Sage Dadhichi beseeching him for - of all things - his bones! The sage smiled. He was an expert in Atharvana Veda. He joked, " Oh, gods! Don't you know how much everyone is attached to the physical body and afraid of death as it destroys the body?" The gods, themselves unconvinced, muttered, "But oh, noble sage! You belong to a different category of realised souls. Nothing is impossible for you! You are most generous to gift away your body too."

Sage Dadhichi smiled again and said he had wanted to test their understanding of Dharma. Yes, he would give them his body as a gift. He repeated how sacred would be anyone's act of gifting his all for others' welfare. After all, the body perishes and then becomes perhaps food for dogs.

Dadhichi went into Samadhi, united his consciousness with Parabrahman, and gave up his body. Vishwakarma, the celestial master architect and engineer, was ready at hand and then fashioned the thunderbolt or Vajrayudha for Indra to use, out of the bones of Sage Dadhichi, mainly his backbone.

Indra, armed with the Vajra, now rushed to confront Vrittra. There ensued a terrible battle between the gods and asuras on the banks of the Narmada river. It was the beginning of Treta Yuga. Great heroes fought from either side. When Vrittra gave the call to fight, his cry was so fierce that the gods trembled. The asuras rained deadly blows with their weapons on the gods. The gods countered the weapons. The asuras now resorted to hailing stones and uprooted trees. But the gods were equal to the task of nullifying all their attacks. The asuras were now afraid to see their weapons totally ineffective.

When Vrittra saw that the asuras were preparing to run away and desert him, he proclaimed courageously.

कलेवरं योगरतो विजह्याद् यदग्रणीर्वीरशयेऽनिवृत्तः

T: "Oh, great asuras, don't you know that death is inevitable for everyone? Why fear the chance of dying a hero's death in battle!? It is as sacred to die in battle as it is for the perfectly realised Yogi who merges his Pranas with the cosmos and voluntarily drops off his body. One should not take even one step back from the enemy!"

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.09 - 1 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Sunday, 1 January 2023 VI.09 - Indra kills Vishwaroopa for betrayal. Tvashta then creates a monstrous adversary to finish off Indra.

***

Vishwaroopa was also called Trishiras, the one with three heads. He used to drink Soma (offered to gods) from one head, wine from the second and eat food with the third. While performing Yajnas for Indra and the gods as their official priest, he also secretly propitiated the asuras for whom he had always harboured a soft corner. One reason was that his father Tvashta was one of the asuras in some way.

When Indra came to know that the Yajnas being performed by Trishiras Vishwaroopa on his behalf for the welfare of the gods was being undermined by the same Vishwaroopa who was propitiating and empowering their enemies, viz. the asuras, he was enraged. He went and cut off the three heads of Vishwaroopa and killed him.

Although Indra was so powerful that he could neutralize the negative results of the sin committed in killing his Brahmin priest Vishwaroopa, he decided to perform atonement and went through the process for a year. Thereafter, he requested help from four quarters who would accept the effects of his sin on his behalf, and they were the earth, water, trees and women.

In return for King Indra’s benediction that ditches in the earth would be filled automatically, the land accepted one-fourth of the sinful reactions. Because of those sinful reactions, we find many deserts on the surface of the earth. In return for Indra’s benediction that their branches and twigs would grow back when trimmed, the trees accepted one-fourth of the reactions. These reactions are visible in the flowing of sap from trees. In return for Lord Indra’s benediction that they would be able to enjoy lusty desires continuously, even during pregnancy for as long as sex is not injurious to the embryo, women accepted one-fourth of the sinful reactions. As a result of those reactions, women manifest the signs of menstruation every month. And in return for King Indra’s benediction that water would increase the volume of other substances with which it was mixed, water accepted one-fourth of the sinful reactions. Therefore there are bubbles and foam in water.

हतपुत्रस्ततस्त्वष्टा जुहावेन्द्राय शत्रवे । इन्द्रशत्रो विवर्धस्व मा चिरं जहि विद्विषम् ||

T: Vishwaroopa's father, Tvashta performed a Yajna to create a being to avenge Indra. He offered oblations in the sacrificial fire, saying, “O enemy of Indra, flourish to kill Indra, the enemy, without delay.”

From the southern quarter (considered as Death) came out a monstrous figure who looked like the destroyer of the entire creation at the end of the millennium. Like arrows released in the four directions, the demon’s body grew, day after day. Tall and blackish, he appeared like a burnt hill and was as lustrous as a bright array of clouds in the evening. The hair on the demon’s body and his beard and moustache were the colour of melted copper, and his eyes were piercing like the midday sun. He appeared unconquerable as if holding the three worlds on the points of his blazing trident. Dancing and shouting with a loud voice, he made the entire surface of the earth tremble as if from an earthquake. As he yawned repeatedly, he seemed to be trying to swallow the whole sky with his mouth, which was as deep as a cave. He seemed to be licking up all the stars in the sky with his tongue and eating the entire universe with his long, sharp teeth. Seeing this gigantic demon, everyone, in great fear, ran here and there in all directions. That demon was Vrittra or one who covers everything.

The gods made a futile attempt to subjugate Vrittra. He dispelled them easily. Defeated, as their last resort, the gods went to Maha Vishnu, Narayana.

"Lord. we are all afraid of Time, but Time itself is in your control. Please protect us!"

अविस्मितं तं परिपूर्णकामं स्वेनैव लाभेन समं प्रशान्तम् ।

विनोपसर्पत्यपरं हि बालिश: श्वलाङ्गुलेनातितितर्ति सिन्धुम् ॥

T: "Lord, nothing outside can impress You as You are fully satisfied within Your own inner prosperity. Thus You are equanimous reposeful. Anyone who seeks someone else's help other than You is a fool trying to cross a waterbody holding the tail of a dog!"

"You saved Manu coming as Matsya! Now save us from this Vrittra. You also saved Lord Brahma from being blown away by the primordial wind! Save us!"

"The Lord takes many incarnations. He accepts various transcendental bodies among all types of living entities, and among human beings, He especially appears as Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. He always protects us, gods, from the attacks of asuras. He is the cause of both male and female energy principles in creation. We are sure He will give us His protection, although no one can really see Him in His entirety."

As the gods prayed thus, Lord Narayana appeared in all His glory, surrounded by His attendants. The darshan overwhelmed the gods. They fell flat in front of Him. Then they slowly rose and pleased the Lord by offering Him prayers.

ॐ नमस्तेऽस्तु भगवन्नारायण वासुदेवादिपुरुष महापुरुष महानुभाव परममङ्गल परमकल्याण परमकारुणिक केवल जगदाधार लोकैकनाथ सर्वेश्वर लक्ष्मीनाथ परमहंसपरिव्राजकै: परमेणात्मयोगसमाधिना परिभावितपरिस्फुटपारमहंस्यधर्मेणोद्‌घाटिततम:कपाट द्वारे चित्तेऽपावृत आत्मलोके स्वयमुपलब्धनिजसुखानुभवो भवान् ॥

T: "Oh Lord, all debates and intellectual efforts to know You are futile, incapable of revealing You, who are transcendental to their physical conceptions. You are one without a second, and therefore in You contradictions like doing and not doing, happiness and distress, are not contradictory. Your potency is so great that it can do and undo anything as You like. With the help of that potency, what is impossible for You? Since there is no duality in Your constitutional position, You can do everything by the influence of Your energy."

"The total material energy is the cause of the material manifestation, but the material energy is caused by Him. Therefore He is the cause of all causes, the source of intelligence and the senses. He is perceived as the Paramatma in everything. Without Him, everything would be dead."

"Lord, You, as that Paramatma, You are the only one remaining."

"Your devotees are the real friends of all living entities. Offering their minds unto You and enjoying transcendental bliss, they are experts in achieving the real goal of life. Oh Lord, You are the soul and dear friend of such devotees."

"Everything and everyone, including human beings and even the Daitya demons and the Dānavas, is but an expansion of Your energy. O supremely powerful one, You have always appeared in Your forms as the various incarnations to punish the demons. We, therefore, pray that You appear today as another incarnation, if You so desire, to kill the great demon Vrittrasura."

"Dear Lord, You are omniscient, and therefore You know very well why we have taken shelter at Your lotus feet. Please save us!"

The Lord listened with His causeless mercy. Being pleased, He then replied to the gods.

"Oh best of the intelligent gods, although it is true that nothing is difficult for one to obtain when I am pleased with him, a pure devotee, whose mind is exclusively fixed upon Me, does not ask Me for anything but the opportunity to engage in devotional service. Lord Indra, all good fortune unto you. I advise you to approach the exalted Sage Dadhichi. He has become very accomplished in knowledge, vows and austerities, and his body is very strong. Go ask him for his body without delay . When the sage with immense compassion gives up his life and gifts you his body, the architect Vishwakarma will prepare a thunderbolt from his bones. This thunderbolt will certainly kill Vrittra because it will be invested with My power. Vrittra is also a devotee and will never be envious of you after this."

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.08 - 31 December 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Saturday, 31 December 2022 VI.08 - Vishwaroopa teaches the Narayana Kavacha prayer to Indra. This prayer when chanted confers great felicity on the devotee. So I am reproducing the entire prayer with audio from Brahmacharini Devaki Chaitanya. The meanings given below are from Swami Tapasyananda.

OCR scan from Swami Tapasyananda:

Parikshit said: 1-2. It behoves you to tell me what that occult armour of Mantras called Narayana-kavacha is, protected by which Indra was able to conquer as easily as in play, his enemies who were equipped with all vehicles and weapons and wrest from them the suzerainty over the three worlds. You ought to explain how Indra could conquer his well-armed enemies under its protection.

Sri Suka said:

3. After choosing Vishwaroopa, the son of Tvashta as a priest, Indra asked him to impart to him the Narayana-kavacha and Vishwaroopa did so. Now listen attentively to what he said. Vishwaroopa said:

4-6. The Narayana-kavacha should be repeated and meditated upon when one is faced with a dangerous situation. Washing hands and feet, doing Achamana (sipping water ceremonially), and putting on the Pavitra (the grass ring), a person should sit facing the north with a pure mind and controlled speech. With the two Mantras, the eight-syllabled Om Namo Narayanaya and the twelve-syllabled Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya he should perform Anganyasa and Karanyasa before he meditates on Narayana-kavacha. In the Anganyasa, the eight-syllabled Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya should be spread over the body by the touch of the fingers, along with the repetition of each of the syllables, in their order on the eight parts of the body - feet, knee, thigh, abdomen, heart, chest, face and head. The utterance of each syllable should be prefaced and followed by the sound Om. Or the order of the parts touched and the syllables uttered may be reversed also.

7. In Karanyasa the twelve-syllabled Mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevaya should be spread by touching the fingers and the phalanges of the thumbs in due order, uttering the syllables of the Mantra from the Pranava to ya in their order with each touch. Each syllable should be prefaced and ended with the utterance of Om.

8. Next, he should do Nyasa of the Mantra Om Vishnave Namah. The syllable Om should be placed on the heart; vi on the head: sh between the brows; na at the tuft.

9. The syllable ve should be placed in the eyes, na in all the joints; and ma meditated upon as a powerful weapon (Astra) representing the Deity of the Mantra, with whom the worshipper should get identified.

10. Then using Visarga with ma and adding phat to the sound, he should utter the formula mah astrāya phat and project it in all directions, snapping the thumb and middle finger together in each of the directions to ward off evil spirits.

11. One should then meditate on the Supreme Being, the one object fit for meditation by all, possessed of all His powers like lordship (Aishwarya) and having the form of c Consciousness, energy and austerity. He should then repeat the following Mantra constituting the Narayana-kavacha:

Narayana-kavacha Mantra (12-34)

12. Om! May Hari-who is seated on Garuda, who is endowed with eight powers, who has eight arms, and who holds in them His eight weapons-conch, discus, shield, sword, mace, arrow, bow and rope-ensure my protection in every way.

13. In the water may He protect me as the Great Fish from Varuna's weapons. In the land let Him protect me as the mystic Dwarf. In the sky may His universe-encompassing Trivikrama form protect me.

14. In danger zones like the battlefront, the forest and the like, may He protect me as the Man-lion, the destroyer of Asura hosts, whose terrific roars pierced the quarters and caused the foetus in (Asura) females to abort.

15. In my travels may the Divine Boar, whose body represents sacrifice and who lifted the earth on His tusks, protect me. On the top of mountains may Rama with the axe protect me. During my sojourn in foreign lands, may Rama, the elder brother of Bharata, along with Lakshmana, protect me.

16. May Narayana protect me from the destructive incantations of enemies as also from my own listlessness. May Nara save me from pride. May Datta, the master of Yoga, save me from falling from the path of Yoga. May Kapila, the master of the Gunas of Prakriti, save me from the bondage of matter.

17. May Sanatkumara save me from the influence of Cupid. May Hayagriva save me from the folly of offering insult to Divinities. May the great Devarshi Narada safeguard me from showing negligence in the worship of the Supreme Being. May Hari as the Divine Tortoise save me from any conduct leading to hell.

18. May the worshipful Dhanvantari protect me from unwholesome food. May Rishabha Deva, noted for his conquest of the senses, save me from the miseries arising from the pairs of opposites. May Yajna protect me from the scandalous criticisms of men. May Balabhadra protect me from the attacks of the populace; and Adisesha, the king of the serpents, from the fear of deadly serpents known as Krodhavasas.

19. May the worshipful Dvaipāyana save me from 1gnorance. May the Buddha save me from atheism and indolence. May Kalki, come as a powerful incarnation for the protection of Dharma, save me from the evils of the age of Kali.

20. May Kesava protect me with his mace at daybreak (prātah). may Govinda with the flute protect me during the second watch of the day (āsangava). May Narayana assuming all his powers protect me during the forenoon (prāhnah). May Vishnu with the discus in hand protect me during the noon (mādhyadina).

21. May Madhuisudana armed with his powerful bow protect me in the afternoon (aparāhnah). May Madhava, who has become the Trinity, protect me in the evening (sāyam). May Hrishikesa protect me in the first watch of the night (pradosha). May Padmanābha protect me both in the second watch of the night and at midnight.

22. May the Lord with the Srivatsa mark on his chest protect me during the watch following midnight. In the pre-dawn watch may Janārdana wielding the sword protect me. May Dāmodara protect me during the Sandhyas (Junction periods of day and night) and may Visweswara, the embodiment of Time, protect me at dawn.

23. May the sharp-edged discus Sudarsana, fiercely destructive like the fire of cosmic dissolution, and speeding anywhere on being released by the Lord, burn up the enemy forces as dry grass by fire.

24. O mace, Thou the favourite weapon of the Lord emitting fire and having the impact of the thunderbolt! May you pound, pound all evil forces like the Kūshmāndas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Vināyakas, Bhütas and Pretas! Smash, smash all enemies to smithereens!

25. O the famous conch Panchajanya! Blown by the Lord, frighten, frighten and drive away by your terrific sound all evil influences like Rakshasas, Pramathas, Pretas, Matris, Pisāchas, and Brahmarāksasas.

26. O sharp-edged sword, (Nandaka) used by the Lord! Cut to pieces, cut to pieces the ranks of my enemies! O shield with the mark of a hundred moons! Cover the eyes of sinful enemies! Blind them who have evil eyes!

27-28. Whatever beings and influences there are, causing us fears and standing in the way of our progress be they planets, comets, men, serpents, wild animals, Bhütas or one's own sins-may they all disperse and be destroyed, O Lord, by Thy name, form and weapons!

29. May the worshipful Garuda, the all-powerful, the embodiment of Veda and the object of adoration by Säma chants, protect us! May Vishwaksena, protect us in all difficult situ- ations by the power of his name!

30. May Hari's name, form, vehicles, weapons and chief attendants give protection to us, our intellect, senses, mind and Pranas!

31. If the truth is that the worshipful Lord alone is all existence, gross and subtle, may all troubles and difficulties of ours be dissolved by the power of that Truth!

32. Though the Lord is without any differentiation for those who are experiencing the unity of all existence, still by His Yogamaya (which is His free will) He assumes various powers, forms, weapons and adornments.

33. It is the truth that He is the substance in everything. May He, the all-powerful and the all-knowing One, protect us always and everywhere presenting Himself in forms appropriate to the situation.

34. May the Lord as Nrisimha (Man-lion) protect us, above, below and around, on four sides and in the four corners, within and without, by driving away all causes of fear by his roars and by extinguishing the powers of all others by his unmatched puissance.

35. O, Indra! I have now imparted to you that psychic armour called Narayana-kavacha. Protected by it, you can easily conquer all the leaders of the Asuras.

36. Wearing this, if you look at or touch with your foot anyone, that man will at once be rid of all fear.

37. He who protects Himself with this armour has nothing to fear from kings, thieves, planets, or wild animals like tigers.

38. Once a Brahmana of Kausika's lineage invoked this Mantra in a desert without any water to do purificatory rites, and by the application of the Yogic technique, left the body then and there.

39. Over that region where this Brahmana left his body, Chitraratha, a leader of the Gandharvas, once passed in his aerial car surrounded by many Gandharva women.

40. As he passed over the spot, the vehicle was upturned, and all the occupants came down topsy-turvy to the ground. On the advice of the saint known as the Balakhilyas, Chitraratha collected the bones of the dead Yogi, consigned them to the Saraswati where the river flows eastwards, took his bath in it,

and went home.

Sri Suka said: 41. Whoever hears this or meditates upon this with full faith, he receives the homage of all living beings. He is freed from all kinds of fear.

42. Having obtained the knowledge of this meditation from Vishwaroopa, Indra obtained victory over the Asuras and became the master of the resources of all three worlds.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, December 30, 2022

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.07 - 30 December 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, 30 December 2022 VI.07 - Indra gets into major trouble by dishonouring in his assembly Brihaspati the Guru of all gods. Brahma explains that without a Guru, the gods are lost. Therefore on his advice, the gods manage to secure a new Guru in the young Brahmin, Vishwaroopa.

***

In the previous chapter, Sage Shuka has mentioned that Indra lost his Guru, Brihaspati, by offending him. Naturally, Parikshit is most interested to understand how such a thing happened, as Guru is held in paramount status by all wise people. Sage Shuka tells the story.

Indra, the lord of all gods, was seated in his splendid heavenly assembly, with all the gods and celestials in attendance and offering their praises to him. Lord Brihaspati, the spiritual Guru of the gods, entered the assembly. Indra, being too absorbed in his own power and opulence, forgot himself and did not show respect to his Guru. Brihaspati realised that Indra's arrogance had to be tamed. he at once left the assembly, clearly indicating he had disowned Indra and the gods.

Indra quickly realised the enormity of his misbehaviour. He and the gods were most worried as they were in a constant race against the asuras/demons who were powerful and also had Sage Shukracharya as their Guru. It was now easy for the asuras to come and take over from the gods. Indra could not locate Brihaspati who had rendered himself invisible. The asuras grabbed their chance and hurt the gods badly, physically. All the gods approached Lord Brahma for a solution.

त्रिपिष्टपं किं गणयन्त्यभेद्यमन्त्रा भृगूणामनुशिक्षितार्था: । न विप्रगोविन्दगवीश्वराणां भवन्त्यभद्राणि नरेश्वराणाम् ॥

T: "Deeply devoted to their Guru, Bhrigu's descendant Sage Shukracharya, the asuras have become invincible, and don't fear the gods anymore. Indeed, anyone who disrespects Brahmins, injures or mistreats cows, or has no devotion to Bhagavan/Ishwara, brings misfortunes upon himself!"

"Go at once to Sage Vishwaroopa, son of Sage Tvashta. Beg him to accept the position of your Guru, although he has earlier shown his inclination towards the asuras. Save yourselves!"

Indra and the gods lost no time in rushing to Vishwaroopa and pleading, importuning, begging him to be their Guru and the official priest of the gods to avert their vulnerabilities against asuras.

Vishwaroopa acquiesced.

"Oh, gods, although the acceptance of priesthood is decried as causing the loss of previously acquired brahminical spiritual merit and power, how can someone like me refuse to accept your personal request? You are all exalted commanders of the entire universe. I am your disciple and must take many lessons from you. Therefore I cannot refuse you. I must agree for my own benefit."

"A Brahmin true to his vocation should subsist only on grains fallen in the fields, with no pursuit of any monetary or material gain. This principle is violated by accepting the job of a priest. But I wish to honour your request as you are worthy of my respect."

Vishwaroopa assumed the position of the Guru and priest of the gods. He composed and taught them the Narayana Kavacha, a powerful mantra to offset the powers conferred on the asuras by the grace of Shukracharya. Therefore Indra thus reclaimed his former status of superiority over the asuras.

***

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.06 - 29 December 2022

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Thursday, 29 December 2022 VI.06 - Brahma advises Daksha to extend his progeny through daughters. The various wives of Sage Kashyapa and their famous progeny.

***

This chapter discusses the progeny of the daughters of Daksha. Lord Brahma asked him not to be discouraged by the way his many sons were converted to a non-worldly spiritual path by Narada. The daughters, who were later begotten, were spared the influence of Sage Narada who was merely an actor in the drama of life called Maya.

There are so many names mentioned in this chapter that anyone would be overwhelmed. Also, many gods are mentioned. It appears that the circular nature of Time and creation in the Srimad Bhagavatam implies that we come across the same personalities again and again in different contexts. I am not going into all the names.

Ten of the daughters of Daksha were given in marriage to Yama/Dharmaraja, thirteen to Sage Kashyapa, and twenty-seven to the moon god, Chandra. In this way, fifty daughters were distributed, and of the other ten daughters, four were given to Kashyapa and two each to Bhoota, Angiras and Krishashva. Because of the union of these sixty daughters with various exalted personalities, the entire universe was filled with various kinds of living entities, such as human beings, gods, demons, animals, birds and serpents.

Kashyapa, who is also named Tarkshya, had four wives — Vinata (Suparna), Kadru, Patangi and Yamini. Patangi gave birth to many kinds of birds, and Yamini gave birth to locusts. Vinata gave birth to Garuda, the carrier of Lord Vishnu, and to Anooru, or Aruna, the chariot driver of Surya, the Sun-god. Kadru gave birth to different varieties of serpents.

Krittikas were all wives of Chandra, the Moon-god. It seems he was partial to Rohini, one of the wives, and this caused Daksha to curse him. This made him childless. In fact, we read that the waxing and waning of the moon are due to this curse. However, because Prajapati Daksha had cursed him to suffer from disease and decay, the moon god could not beget children in any of his wives.

Kashyapa’s wives produced children from whom the population of the entire universe has come. Their names were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kashtha, Arishtha, Surasa, Ila, Muni, Krodhavasha, Tamra, Surabhi, Sarama and Timi. From the womb of Timi, all the water creatures took birth, and from the womb of Sarama, ferocious animals like tigers and lions took birth.

From the womb of Surabhi, the buffalo, cow and other animals with cloven hooves took birth, from the womb of Tamra the eagles, vultures and other large birds of prey took birth, and from the womb of Muni, the angels took birth.

The sons born of Krodhavasha were the serpents known as Dandashooka, other types of serpents and mosquitoes. All the various creepers and trees were born from the womb of Ila. The Rakshasas, bad spirits, were born from the womb of Surasa.

The Gandharvas were born from the womb of Arishtha, and animals whose hooves are not split, such as the horse, were born from the womb of Kashtha. From the womb of Danu, came sixty-one sons.

Paulomas and Kalakeyas, sons of Kashyapa, were physically very strong and expert in fighting, and their aim was to disturb the Yajnas performed by the great sages. Arjuna went to heaven and singlehandedly killed all these demons, and thus Lord Indra became extremely affectionate toward him.

Rahu and one hundred Ketus attained important planetary positions.

Aditi's children were the gods, including the Bhagavan himself. The names of the sons of Aditi are Vivasvan, Aryama, Pushan, Tvashtha, Savita, Bhaga, Dhata, Vidhata, Varuna, Mitra, Shatru and Urukrama.

Sanjna, the wife of Vivasvan/Surya, the sun god, gave birth to the twins Yama and the river Yamuna. Yami, while wandering on the earth in the form of a mare, gave birth to the Ashvini-kumaras.

Chaya, another wife of the sun god, begot two sons named Shani and Savarni Manu, and one daughter, Tapati.

And so on.

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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥