Srimad Bhagavatam – day 23
Sa saṁhitāṁ bhāgavatīṁ kṛtvānukramya cātma-jam
Śukam adhyāpayām āsa nivṛtti-nirataṁ muniḥ
The great sage Maharishi Vyasa composed śrimad Bhāgawata Samhita, thereafter scrutinized his work thoroughly and then taught it to his son Maharishi śuka, who was an exponent in supreme knowledge and who had attained ultimate dispassion. He got him to read the text,” said Maharishi Suta.
Here Sounaka and other saints put forth their doubt, “O Maharishi Suta! What was the necessity for Maharishi śuka, who had attained total dispassion and who was an exponent in self-knowledge and had realized the Self, to study this Bhagawatam? He was already all-knowing and had reached the pinnacle state. He was experiencing supreme bliss; He was totally self-realized. What then was the need for him to read and study this Bhagawatam? What was the reason behind the study of this huge text?”
Maharishi Suta replied, “To those yogis and saints who dwell in the Self, there is no necessity of reading any scriptures or sacred texts! Undoubtedly this is true. Nevertheless, they possess unselfish devotion towards the omnipresent Lord. Lord Srihari’s glories and supreme traits (gunas) are infinite. At the same time they are melodious and pleasant. As a result, they attract even the hearts of such saints who dwell in the Self.
This saint had deep love towards the dear devotees of the Lord. The venerable Maharishi śuka, the son of Maharishi Vyasa, being attracted towards the qualities of the Supreme Lord, studied, every single day, this great text Bhagawatam. He recollected the glories every single day.
O Maharishis! Now along with the story of Lord Krishna, I shall narrate the birth of raja-rishi Parikshit, his noble deeds, the manner in which he attained liberation as well as the story of the Pandavas ascent to Heaven. Please listen.
During the war, Dristadyumna, the commander in chief of Pandava army, together with many other warriors from Pandava and Kaurava camps attained heaven. Bhima attacked Duryodhana with his mace and broke his thighs. At that time Ashwatthama wanted to bring happiness to his king Duryodhana. He chopped the heads of Draupadi’s sons, who were sleeping, and gave them as a gift to Duryodhana. However Duryodhana disapproved this and was not pleased.
Draupadi greatly bemoaned the ghastly death of her sons. To console her Arjuna said, “O Draupadi, using the arrows from my bow Gandiva, I will behead that lowly Brahmin Ashwatthama, the murderer of children and gift it to you. With this I shall wipe away your tears. After cremating your sons, you can kick the head of Ashwattama and then have your bath”.
Pacifying Draupadi in this manner, Arjuna, who had Krishna as his friend, wearing his kavacham and taking the bow in his hand mounted the chariot and chased Ashwatthama. From a great distance Ashwatthama saw Arjuna who was approaching him at unimaginably high speeds. He was petrified. In great panic he boarded his chariot and sped at great speeds to save his life. In this way he ran for as far as he could. By then his horses were tired.
Ashwatthama could not find anyone who could save him. He thought the mighty weapon Brahmastra alone could save him. Although he did not have the knowledge of recalling this weapon, Ashwattama who was panicking for his life which was in danger, quickly performed acamana (a purification procedure) and going into meditation released the Brahmastra upon Arjuna.
That weapon, which could take away life, travelled in all directions and neared Arjuna. Brahmastra should not be used per one’s whims and fancies. One should have total knowledge about it. He should know not only the procedure to release it but also to pacify it and recall it back. Ashwathama did not know the procedure to recall it. He simply released the weapon as he was panic stricken.
Seeing the Brahmastra approaching, Arjuna addressed Krishna and said,
Kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahā-bāho bhaktānām abhayaṅkara
Tvam eko dahya-mānānām apavargo ‘si saṁsṛteḥ
O Krishna! O Paramatma! You the one who showers ‘abhaya’ (assurance of fear-not) upon the devotee! To people who have fallen into this samsara and are burning in its flames, You are the embodiment of liberation who destroys their samsara”.
There are many who talk about getting rid of this samsara. But they are unable to do so. Instead they increase their bondages. At such times they do not chant the names of the Divine Lord. In case they would have chanted the divine names, it would have disappeared. Instead of thinking about the Supreme Lord, they make their own varied plans. Only when there is total faith in the Lord and the person believes that God is everything, then the plans he has made will turn out to be successful.
“O Krishna, you are the cause of this universe. You are beyond illusion. Due to your transcendental nature you have rejected māya and stay eternally in the Parabrahma state. You have taken on the dharma of bringing about auspiciousness to these people who are drowned in illusion. This incarnation of yours is solely to reduce the load of this earth”.
Arjuna prayed in this manner.
Sriman Narayana.