Bhagavata katha – Day 1 – December 19, 2015
There is a rule that Bhagavata can be understood by everyone in any language. Hence, Indians should not complain that it is being narrated in a different language. Lord Krishna has Himself stated that any Indian who listens to Bhagavata in all Indian languages will surely attain liberation and gain true knowledge. Do not say you cannot understand another language. This is not like Puranas. This is not a debate. You gain as much as you understand in whatever language it is being narrated in. In between, Hari Nama will be chanted and so you will understand the meaning well.
We will talk a little bit about the Bhagavata Tattva (principle) and we will chant the shlokas like Bhajans.
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Bhajan: Sumukha Ganapati
To know Sri Krishna’s principle is very difficult. But with sincere devotion and faith, it is possible to understand His tattva. Without devotion and sincerity, knowing Sri Krishna’s tattva is very difficult. We must use our strength, devotion and consciousness (Chaitanya) in our heart completely for penance, for listening to Bhagavata. We must listen with complete concentration. Without concentration, you will not even be able to sit. Hence it is very necessary for every devotee to read Bhagavata, listen to it and contemplate on it. In our land, knowing Bhagavata is becoming more difficult. In Uttar Pradesh, Bhagavata Parayana happens regularly. In South India, it has started now. It first began in Tamil Nadu, then in Kerala. Now in Andhra and Karnataka also Bhagavata Parayana has started. Bhagavata is the story of Sri Krishna and it also contains the Atma tattva – the knowledge of the Self. To know Bhagavata Tattva, we must have earned merit in previous lives. We should also have the Samskaara (culture) in the family. We must lead a simple life and must attempt to increase our devotion. Day and night we must chant the names of Lord. In Maharashtra people sing the names of Lord Vitthala in the morning and at night.
This must be practiced in every house. At the time of sunrise and sunset, one must sing and dance to the names of Lord and try to know the tattva. This is Bharatiya Dharma. One should sincerely attempt to follow this and try to understand the Bhagavata, Sri Krishna’s tattva, there is no Vedanta that is not covered in Bhagavata.
Learning one Vedanta topic takes years. But with Bhagavata, you can learn it in a day; you can study it for a year and practice it for an entire lifetime. It can either be elaborated or kept simple. You just need to call out to Lord Krishna with pure love. Bhagavata is in this. But you have to constantly strive to attain such Bhakti. It requires Sadhana. Guru can help you. If you don’t have a Guru, you can become your own Guru. Your Atma (Self) is your Guru. You can start reading the books of Bhagavata, and trust that your inner self is your Guru. You will be able to follow.
Vaasanaat Vaasudevasya Vaasitam Te Jagat Trayam
Sarva Bhoota Nivaasosi Vaasudeva Namostute.
Nigama Kalpa Tarorgalita Phalam
Sukham Kaadamruta Drava Samyutam
Pibata Bhagavata Rasamaalayam
Muhurho Rasika Bhuvi Bhaavukaaha
Srimad Bhagavata Katha is the essence of the Vedas. It is the Bhashya of Upanishads and Brahma Sutras. It is the meaning of the great Gayatri Maha Mantra. It is the nectar of Sri Krishna’s divine play. So by chanting and listening to Bhagavata, one gains the merit of having read all these great scriptures. This can pull the soul out of the cycles of births and deaths. This is a Kala chakra (wheel of time). It is very difficult to stop this. We don’t know when it started or when it will end. This is a great secret. Such is the cycle of births and deaths.
Shastras say it is because of the Karma earned. Some say they have the ability to die or take birth according to their wish. Everyone says death is imminent once the body grows old. After death what happens is not known. There are so many explanations to this birth and death. But Bhagavata relieves us from this cycle of birth and death; from the dualities of happiness and sorrow. This is certain. This cycle is very difficult. You may not be able to understand from Guru or God. But Guru shows the way. But you have to do sadhana yourself. That is also not very easy. But if you have the slightest wish to come out of this cycle of births and deaths, you must read Bhagavata.
Have faith in Bhagavata. It first removes the agitation in the mind. Our mind is very unsteady due to the senses (Indriyas). It has lots of doubts all through the day; every moment it doubts. You may have lots of debates to overcome these doubts but they only increase. But you can progress in the path of devotion. Those who read Bhagavata can progress steadily and come out of this cycle. It helps increase devotion, removes agitation and liberates us. Every one of us wants liberation. We ask, “How to get liberation? Who will give? Where will I get Bhakti?” Bhakti is not sold in a store. But we should develop bhakti every single day. It takes us out of this endless cycle. The path of devotion towards Bhagavata takes us forward. Today is an auspicious day that we are starting the pravachan of Bhagavata and you are fortunate to listen to it.
Maha Vishnu himself gave the Upadesha of Bhagavata to Brahma; from Brahma to Vyasa, from Vyasa to Shuka Muni and from Shuka Muni to King Parikshit and eventually to all of us. Thus starting from Vishnu, it has been initiated to us and we are fortunate to be listening to this now.
Lord Shiva gave this Upadesha to Parvathi Devi in Amarnath Caves. Many people know this story, this is known as the conversation between Lord Shiva and Parvathi Devi. Parvathi Devi asked for knowledge and Lord Shiva initiated her with Guru Gita. Similarly Bhagavata was also narrated by Lord Shiva to Parvathi Devi. At that time, it was the previous birth of Shuka muni. In that birth, Shuka Muni was in the form of a parrot. In that form, he heard this Bhagavata that was being narrated to Parvathi Devi from Lord Shiva. Shuka brahma gave the knowledge of Bhagavata to the common man.
What is Bhagavata? What does it contain? Everyone always says Bhagavata, Bhagavata!
It is said ‘Bhagavataa Proktam Bhagavatam’.
This is the story narrated by the Lord himself; He has explained the story of Creation.
Bhagavata Roopam Bhagavatam
It is a form of the Lord.
Bhagavatya pravartitam Bhagavatam
By the compassion of mother, the knowledge that is gained is Bhagavata. In another subtle form, Bha – stands for light, Ga – for Gyana (knowledge), Va- for fulfilment of desires and Ta – represents all-encompassing nature. One should study Mahabharata early in the morning; Ramayana at noon, and at night, Bhagavata must be studied.
One must not gamble. It causes losses. It destroys your business and family. This is taught in Mahabharata. At noon, Ramayan must be studied. This story explains how a wife and husband should conduct themselves, how brothers should be, how parents must be respected. Evening/night is the time for thieves. Who is the thief? One who steals our hearts – Sri Krishna. Don’t say do not talk about a thief at dusk.
We have spent a large portion of our lives in the activities of morning and noon each day. The day can be split as 4 parts, morning, noon, evening, and night. Similarly, in human life, there are 3 phases. In the period of first 25-30 years, man comes across people like Duryodhana and Yudhishthira. Think about it. Read Mahabharata once. You will experience this. You will come across crooked people like Shakuni and also generous people like Karna. You will also see knowledgeable people like Sanjaya and Vidura. You will also see people blinded by their love for children like Dhritarashtra. In society, you will have to deal with all these kinds of people. This knowledge is gained by studying Mahabharata. In our families, you will be able to find different people having qualities matching these characters of Mahabharata. Hence you must study Mahabharata.
In the mid-life, 30-50 years, how one must live can be learned from Ramayana. Maintaining cordial relationship among the brothers and from the personality of a great role model like Sri Rama it can be learnt from Ramayana.
The dusk time of human life, is the Vanaprastha time. This must be spent only in thinking about God. It is the period of old age. Morning time is comparable with childhood, noon with middle age and evening with old age. One day represents the phases of our entire life. There are many difficulties in old age. You must be very courageous. You must practice from now. You must gain the strength and courage required to live through old age. You should not cry that there is no one to care for you. Old age comes with 3 feet – two feet and a walking stick! At noon man walks with two feet, similar to man in middle age, and in the beginning we crawl on 4 feet, representing the 4 parts of the day.
With this we begin this subtle topic of Mahabharata, Ramayana and Bhagavata with Lord Krishna, with a bhajan.
Chanting the name of Hari gives us the knowledge of the Self.
Bhajan: Hari Hari Bolo Saare Paapa Ko Dho Daalo
Bhajan: He Krishna Vasudeva Govinda Murari
Tomorrow we will continue this story for the second day. Though it is a Sunday, on the occasion of Datta Jayanthi, we will continue this discourse tomorrow.
Yesterday I told about a bird story – Kala & Bhairav. And last night some miracle happened. Gangadhar’s son Somu came (the artist). He experienced a miracle that will benefit his whole family. He will tell us about it.
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Shruthi Jagadish