Sachi R

Index - Skandha VI-VII

Friday, January 13, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VII.02 - 13 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Friday, 13 January 2023 VII.02 - Sage Narada begins the story of Hiranyakashipu most impressively.

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Sage Vyasa warms up to the story of Narasimha Avatara. He makes Sage Narada begin to tell the story of Hiranyakashipu to King Yudhishthira.

There are many very interesting shlokas here. They paint the picture of a great asura who stopped at nothing to have his way. We understand that power, intelligence and communication skills manifest even more in those who pursue evil. They can mouth the highest wisdom better than even sages. The only difference is they never walk the talk!

I've created a slide show for you to read the shlokas. The audio is also playable in a separate window from my google drive by clicking the link below.

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Audio of recitation (opens in a separate window).

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Sage Narada narrates:

When Hranyakasha was slain by Varaha, the incarnation of Maha Vishnu, his elder brother Hiranyakashipu was stirred into uncontrollable rage. He looked fierce and ugly as he ground his teeth, grimaced and proclaimed to the asuras and Rakshasas following him, how Maha Vishnu, who is supposed to be fair and neutral, is easily won over by flattery and acts like a child impetuously to help Indra.

"I shall therefore sever Lord Vishnu’s head from His trunk by my trident, and with the profuse blood from His body I shall please my brother Hiranyaksha, who was so fond of sucking blood. Thus shall I too be peaceful. Once I kill Vishnu, the roots of the power that gods enjoy will be destroyed. While I get busy in this project, I want all of you to go and wreak havoc wherever people are pursuing prayer and purifying themselves by Brahminical rituals. These people engage in austerity, sacrifice, Vedic study, regulative vows, and charity. Destroy all the people thus engaged worshipping Vishnu as He is the personified reservoir of all Dharmic principles, and He is the shelter for all gods, pitris and common people. When the Brahmins are killed, no one will exist to encourage the Kshatriyas to perform Yajnas, and thus the gods, not being appeased by Yajna oblations, will automatically die. Set fire to every place where Vedas are chanted, cows worshipped and Yajnas conducted."

Hiranyakashipu's instructions were carried out meticulously, destroying cities and settlements everywhere. The demons killed mercilessly. The gods were distraught and wandered aimlessly.

Hiranyakashipu now turned to his grieving mother, Hiranyaksha's widow, and his sons. He consoled them with great philosophical words.

अम्बाम्ब हे वधू: पुत्रा वीरं मार्हथ शोचितुम्

दैवेनैकत्र नीतानामुन्नीतानां स्वकर्मभि:

नित्य आत्माव्यय: शुद्ध: सर्वग: सर्ववित्पर: ।

धत्तेऽसावात्मनो लिङ्गं मायया विसृजन्गुणान् ॥

T: "Dear mother, and sister-in-law, and dear nephews, grieve not the death of Hiranyaksha who has died as a great hero in battle. Indeed, people come together and get separated in life and death merely according to a divine plan over which no one has control, as it all functions according to one's past Karma. Know that the Atma is one, indivisible, eternal, pure and all-pervasive. It is beyond anyone's comprehension. Atma plays out this drama of life taking up various bodies."

"All life and its constant changes are like mere reflections of the moon in a lake, apparently moving due to the waves. "

"Birth, death, lamentation, foolishness and anxiety are due to mistaken identification with the body and its world. Thus we sometimes come to a proper understanding and sometimes fall again to a wrong conception of life."

Hiranyakashipu tells now a story to illustrate his point! He is indeed like a present-day Guru, good at telling stories!

Once a hero died in battle, by the name of Suyajna, the king of Ushinara. As he lay dead, his impressive ornaments in disarray, body drenched in blood, his women wailed unconsolably, embracing the corpse, and lamenting that they had lost their all. Yama decided to instil some wisdom in them, and appeared as an urchin.

The boy showed utter surprise at the scene. He spoke: "Alas, how amazing it is! These persons, who are older than me, know from experience that hundreds and thousands of living entities have taken birth and died. Thus they should understand that they also are apt to die, yet they are bewildered. The conditioned soul comes from an unknown place and returns after death to that same unknown place. There is no exception to this rule, which is the run of Prakriti. Knowing this, why do they uselessly lament? It is amazing that these elderly women do not have any higher sense of life than we do. Indeed, we are most fortunate, for although we are children and have been left to struggle in life, unprotected by father and mother, and although we are very weak, we have not been vanquished or eaten by ferocious animals. Thus we have a firm belief that the Supreme Being, who has given us protection even in the womb of the mother, will protect us everywhere."

"Oh weak women! Only by the will of God, who is never diminished, is the entire world created, maintained and again annihilated. This is the verdict of the Vedas. This world is His plaything.and He freely does as He pleases, to destroy and protect!"

"Is it not common that one dorps money on a public street, only to find it lying there afterwards as no one has picked it up! And yet, one is sometimes robbed within one's own house! That is the play of destiny. One remains alive, well protected at home by relatives and others. And one sometimes dies, no one being able to protect him."

"All life runs according to one's Karma. The body you loved so much is lying here lifeless. It is not matter, or even Pranic energy, that enlivens him. It is only the soul, or Atma, and once he is separated from the body and breath. he is gone, never to return!"

Now the boy (Yama indeed) tells a story. A female bird was entrapped by a hunter. Just as the male bird wailed and lamented at her predicament, and the fate of their young ones, the hunter shot and arrow and killed the male one! So evanescent is everyone's life. Where is the meaning in lamentation!!!???

Hiranyakashipu concluded that everyone was struck by the boy's philosophical words. They could understand that everything material is temporary, and will not continue to exist. They reconciled themselves as the boy vanished from the scene.

Sage Narada says Hiranyakashipu had done a splendid job in removing the grief of Diti and his sister-in-law.

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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Index - Skandha VI-VII

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VII.01 - 12 January 2023

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Thursday, 12 January 2023 VII.01 - Examples of how Bhagavan manages this creation and deals with even bad people for their own good.
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This Skandha includes the story of Narasimha Avatara and the greatest of Bhaktas, Prince Prahlada. The build-up to the story is fascinating.
After hearing about how Bhagavan foiled Vrittra through Indra’s Vajrayudha, and how Diti's plans to kill Indra went to nought, a pertinent question arises. Why is Bhagavan taking sides and helping Indra?

श्रीराजोवाच
सम: प्रिय: सुहृद्ब्रह्मन् भूतानां भगवान् स्वयम् । इन्द्रस्यार्थे कथं दैत्यानवधीद्विषमो यथा ॥
T: King Parikshit inquired: "My dear Sage Shuka, I have a big doubt. The Supreme Being, Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, being everyone’s well-wisher, is equal and extremely affectionate towards everyone. How, then, did He become partial like a common man for the sake of Indra and thus kill Indra’s enemies like Hiranyakashipu? How can a person equal to everyone be partial to some and inimical toward others?"
"Bhagavan is full of bliss. He has no need to side with gods to get happiness. What interest would He have in acting partially? How could He be afraid or envious of asuras?"
The great sage Shuka liked the question very much. He replied, "Dear King, indeed the Srimad Bhagavatam gives us insights into Bhagavan's ways of running this creation. The study of Srimad Bhagavatam counteracts the effects of worldliness and instils devotion. That is why Sage Narada and others constantly chant His glories and tell His stories."
" Indeed, Bhagavan is Nirguna, beyond the three Gunas of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. But in His creation through the energy of His Maya, He voluntarily enters into beings and acts according to their Gunas as the embodied soul! That is His Leela. The balance of power in creation keeps shifting from the Sattvic gods, to the Rajasic asuras, and to the Tamasic Yakshas and Rakshasas. Their tussles and victories are all His Leela! He decides who should win when, based on His grand script. Therefore, He is never taking sides, but merely, as the Ishwara, acts always as the witness of all this drama played out by the combination of His own consciousness and the Maya energy shaped into beings with Gunas.”
“The next important factor in this Leela is Kala or Time. Everyone acts according to his Karma within the script of Kala.”
“At the Rajasuya Yaga performed by your grand uncle Yudhisthira, the King was astonished at how Sri Krishna dealt with Shishupala. After Shishupala committed a hundred offences, Sri Krishna beheaded him with his Chakra. Then Shishupala's soul emanated from his body and entered into Bhagavan Sri Krishna! Knowing that there can be no better end to one's life on earth than to merge into Bhagavan, Yudhisthira was astonished why Shishupala, such an evil prince, received Bhagavan’s grace! Luckily, Sage Narada was present in the royal assembly at that very moment. So he asked the Sage to solve this riddle.
“Although these two men — Sishuupala and Dantavakra — repeatedly blasphemed Bhagavan, Lord Sri Krishna (Vishnu), the Supreme Brahman, their lives were such that they were quite well off, with no ill-health nor hellish suffering. We are certainly most surprised by this. How were they granted, in the presence of many exalted persons, the highest privilege of entering very easily into the body of Sri Krishna, a fate most difficult to attain?”
Sage Narada was pleased to clarify the matter for everyone’s benefit. “Dear King, blasphemy and praise, chastisement and respect, are experienced because of ignorance. The body of the conditioned soul is planned by the Lord for suffering in the material world through the agency of the external energy called Maya. The conditioned soul considers his body to be his self and considers everything in relationship with the body to be his. With this wrong conception of life, he is subjected to dualities like praise and chastisement. He thinks that when the body is annihilated the living being is annihilated.”
“ Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, Ishwara, is the supreme controller, the Paramatma of all living entities. Because He has no material body, He has no false conception of “I” and “mine.” When He chastises the demons it is for their good, and when He accepts the prayers of the devotees it is for their good. He is affected neither by prayers nor by blasphemy. Therefore, by enmity or by devotional service, by fear, by affection, or by lusty desire — by all of these or any one of them — if a conditioned soul somehow or other concentrates his mind upon the Lord, the result is the same!"
“It is amazing that by devotional service one cannot achieve such intense absorption in thought of Bhagavan as one can through constant enmity toward Him. That is my opinion. A worm constantly thinks of the grasshopper as his enemy, and through that meditation during hibernation, he eventually becomes a grasshopper! Similarly, if the conditioned souls somehow or other think of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, who is Sat-Chit-Ananda-vigraha, they will become free from their sins. Whether thinking of Him as their worshippable Lord or as an enemy, they will regain their original spiritual state because of constantly thinking of Him.”
“My dear King Yudhishthira, the gopis by their lusty desires, Kamsa by his fear, Shishupala and other kings by envy, the Yadus by their familial relationship with Krishna, you Panḍavas by your great affection for Sri Krishna, and we, the general devotees, by our Bhakti Yoga, have obtained the mercy of Sri Krishna.”
“Atheists like King Vena, however, being unable to think of Sri Krishna’s form in any of these five ways, cannot attain salvation.”
Narada then went on to explain how Shishupala and Dantavakra had taken birth after Bhagavan Maha Vishnu’s doorkeepers (Jaya and Vijaya) incurred the curse from Sanandana and other Kumaras by their misdemeanour in Vaikuntha. The two attendants were granted the opportunity to be born as Vishnu’s sworn enemies three times and be liberated by being killed by Maha Vishnu Himself! They were born as Diti’s sons Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Respected by all asuras and Daityas, they were most powerful and hated Maha Vishnu from birth. They were again born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and were killed by Sri Rama ( Narada says that story will be told at a later date by Sage Markandeya to Yudhishthira!) Finally, they were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra to be enemies of Sri Krishna.
Maha Vishnu came as Lord Narasimha to destroy Hiranyakashipu after he tortured his son Prince Prahlada for his unswerving devotion to the Lord.
Yudhishthira now wanted to know the story of how Prahlada became a staunch devotee.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Index - Skandhas I-III
Index - Skandha IV-V
Index - Skandha VI-VII

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam VI.19 - 11 January 2023

Devi Temple, Mahabalipuram 8c. CE.

॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

Wednesday, 11 January 2023 VI.19 - Sage Shuka explains the spirit and content of Pumsavana Vrata performed by Diti.

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King Parikshit is keen to understand what types of prayers and austerities constituted the Pumsavana Vrata undertaken by Diti under the instruction of Sage Kashyapa. What fruits can be obtained by such a Vrata?

Sage Shuka is happy to elaborate.

श्रीशुक उवाच

शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे योषिद्भ‍‌र्तुरनुज्ञया । आरभेत व्रतमिदं सार्वकामिकमादित: ॥

स्नत्वा शुक्लदती शुक्ले वसीतालङ्‌कृताम्बरे | पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्भगवन्तं श्रिया सह ॥

T: " Pumsavana Vrata is to be undertaken after getting permission from the husband by a lady who wants to fulfil all her desires by worshipping Bhagavan Maha Vishnu along with Sri Lakshmi Devi. This year-long Vrata or ritualistic practice should be begun in the bright half of Margashirsha Masa. This should be done after hearing the story of Diti and her sons Maruts."

He details how the woman should clean herself, how to dress herself, and what worship should be done before eating, and so on. It is a pretty detailed list of instructions. There is a mantra to be uttered during the offering. There is fasting on Full Moon, and on Krittika star days. There is a distribution of food to Brahmins.

The prayers are jointly made to Maha Vishnu and Lakshmi. If the woman for whatever reason is unable to do the Vrata on any particular day, the husband should do it without fail.

Girls waiting for marriage will get good husbands. Women will bear good children, and become beautiful and prosperous.

तुष्टा: प्रयच्छन्ति समस्तकामान्हो मावसाने हुतभुक् श्रीहरिश्च

T: The deities will receive all the offerings (made to Brahmins and also directly) and Lord Maha Vshnu will be immensely pleased to grant all that one desires."

This ends the Sixth Skandha!

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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

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!

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॥ 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."

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॥ 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.

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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.

***

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!

***

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.

***

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."

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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥