Srimad Bhagavatam – day 107
Janārdhanāya namah
“Please explain about the lineage of Manus (head of a time period), the history of the kings belonging to this lineage and about the worlds that exist above and below the earth. O Maitreya Maharishi! Please explain about the size and movements of these various worlds.
Please explain about animals, humans, Devatas, worms and insects, about beings that are born from the womb, those living beings that are born from sweat, birds, snakes, reptiles and living beings that emerge from eggs and about plants that emerge directly from earth.
The primordial cause, Srinivasa, using three attributes of nature (trigunas) as his carrier, incarnated as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to systematically create, sustain and annihilate the universe. Please explain to me in minute detail His transcendental activities.
Please explain about the varna-ashrama divisions within the society in accordance with appearance, way of life and characteristics. Please describe about the birth of great sages and their activities. Kindly elaborate the divisions within Vedas.
In addition, please explain in minute detail about Yagna-karmas (sacrificial actions), about the Yoga of action (karma yoga) and about the special knowledge that is attained due to giving up action in totality (sarva karma sanyasa). Please explain the path that enlightens about Prakriti-Puruśa (nature- self), about Nārada pancarātra tantra and other tantras which were created by the Supreme Lord.
Please explain about the havoc created in the society by those who traverse the paths that have been rejected by the Vedas. Please explain about the connections that the different species of living beings develop amongst themselves and the way they undergo transformations.
What are the different ways in which the force of Mahat and other principles dissolve? At the time of dissolution what are the principles that should be adhered to offer devotional service to the Lord? What principles exist in the Lord when He is in Yoga-nidra (yogic sleep)? What is the principle of human being? What is the true form of the Supreme Lord? Please explain these to me.
Kindly describe in minute detail the knowledge obtained from the Upanishads and the benefits of offering services to Guru. What are the tools specified by learned scholars in order to obtain spiritual knowledge? This is because without the required spiritual efforts (sadhana) the human being cannot acquire devotion (bhakti), spiritual knowledge (jnana) and dispassion (vairagya).
O Mahatma! Due to the power of this unending illusion, my divine eye has closed. Nevertheless I seek to know about Srihari. Treating me as your friend, kindly answer my questions.
Sarve vedāś ca yajñāś ca tapo dānāni cānagha
Jīvābhaya-pradānasya na kurvīran kalām api
O Mahatma! The meritorious act of preaching dharma to the living being and thus offering protection to him is far superior than all activities pertaining to Vedas, yagnas, deeds of charity and penance.”
When Vidura humbly pleaded in this manner, Maharishi Maitreya, who was thus inspired to narrate the stories of the Supreme Lord, was totally filled with happiness. With a charming smile he addressed Vidura.
With this the seventh chapter of the third canto comes to an end.
Third Canto eighth chapter
In this chapter the birth of Lord Brahma is explained. Brahma, who thus emerged from the lotus-navel of Sri Mahavishnu, could not locate the Supreme Lord and hence he entered into the waters. Through his intense austerities he pleased Mahavishnu. These topics are also covered.
Maharishi Maitreya addressed Vidura and said, “How astonishing! Vidura, you are the foremost amongst all the devotees of that Supreme Lord! After all, you are born out of the fractional aspect of Yama, the Lord of death. Due to your birth in the Puru lineage it has become worthy of worship for even holy beings. In each and every word you are describing the glories of that Supreme Lord in newer and newer ways.
Human beings strive at all times to obtain worthless material comforts. In order to obtain them they suffer limitlessly. To dispel their sufferings, the Supreme Lord has inspired you to ask such questions.
The Supreme Lord has directly imparted this knowledge to great saints. I will now teach you that supreme knowledge called Bhāgawata Purāṇā.
The Supreme Lord known as Bhagawan is totally replete with the six primary qualities of prosperity, fame, strength, knowledge, dispassion and beauty. He is the cause of all causes. He is the form of unending knowledge. He is indivisible. He is known as Lord Sankarśaṇa. He resides in Pātala loka which is located at the bottom of the universe.
Sanatkumara and other supreme sages decided to learn from Him about the essence of the Absolute Truth. They approached Him who was seated in Pātala loka. At that moment Lord Sankarśana was meditating upon Lord Srihari, who was his support.
Janārdhanāya namah