Bhagavata katha – Day 2 – December 20, 2015
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sri Padavallabha Nrusimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaaya Namaha
We have attempted to sing Bhagavata as it was done in the olden times. These portions are all in Samskrit and are difficult to sing. In spite of that, we have tried to sing it in a simple way. There is a rule that these songs should be followed with Bhagavata stories. This is not a Bhajan, though it can be sung like a Bhajans if Sri Swamiji permits. But these are not Bhajans. But if you start to sing them, you will bring down the essence of these compositions. These are Saptaha Keerthanas. You can listen to them and sometimes sing along. These are the words that should be listened to prior to listening to Bhagavata.
Harih Om Tatsat!
Harirava tataara…
By listening to Bhagavata, the negative planetary influences, chronic ailments, being possessed by evil spirits, and fear of enemies are dispelled. The pain from Samsara is removed. People who are suffering from mental agony, lack of finances, absence of peace and harmony at home, complain that despite performing many rituals or reading scriptures, their troubles do not diminish. They say, “My children are always fighting, husband and wife are always arguing. Not one day have we visited the temple happily. How will I overcome my difficulties?” No Yantra, Mantra will give relief. You can try that also. But you must listen to Bhagavata. Chant the Bhagavata at least once in your house. All the evil spirits will run away. The (Peeda) difficulties faced due to planetary influences will disappear. Happiness will come running to you. Bhagavata is considered as the Kalpavriksha – the wish fulfilling tree! All your wishes are granted by Bhagavata.
Paramatma (Supreme Lord) identified with qualities (Saguna) is the seed (source) of this tree. This is a great tree! The entire universe, including the planetary system, is a big tree. The primary seed of this tree is Paramatma. Hence you must study this primary tree. Listen to the stories of the Lord. While listening to the stories of the Lord, those who shed tears are the true devotees. Others are not. You must focus with all your mind and body while listening to Bhagavata. Listen to the story of Sri Krishna. It is not just any story- it is the knowledge of the Self (Atma Vidya), the message of Vedanta, the ultimate secret of Creation! The Lord, as a little child, showed so many divine plays. If the Lord is the seed of this great tree, then Omkara represents the sprout of this seed. The 12 Cantos (skanda) are the branches of this tree. There are 335 chapters that are the smaller branches. The 18,000 Shlokas are the little twigs. All the letters of these Shlokas are the leaves of this tree. In Kaushik Samhita, Sri Krishna is described in the 12 Cantos in 12 parts. Even in Nada Chikitsa (Healing through music), 12 parts (Skanda) are defined in relation with the body. Those who have participated in these healing sessions will understand how Sri Swamiji uses different sounds to impact and heal the various nerves in the body. You must listen once. From feet up to the knees is the first part (canto); waist corresponds to the second part; navel with the third; stomach with the 4th part, heart with the fifth part; throat and face with the sixth, shoulders with the seventh part, eyes with the eighth part, the region between the eyes is the ninth part and the Brahma Randhra (top of the head) is the tenth Skanda; mind corresponds to the eleventh skanda. Mind is also an Indriya (sense). And Atma is the 12th Skanda.
Towards the end of Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of Kali Yuga, the great-grandson of Pandavas; the son of Uttara and Abhimanyu, King Parikshit was ruling the land. Once King Parikshit ventured into a forest for hunting. Due to the scorching heat, the king became very thirsty and was looking for water. One must have thirst for knowledge. That is the real thirst. Knowledge is the real water – elixir. He went to an ashram and asked for water. In that ashram, Shamika Maharshi was seated under a tree, eyes closed in meditation. Though the king called out to the Maharshi many times, the sage did not open his eyes. He was in penance. Their penance is not like ours. It lasts for a long period. It is penance with concentration and a firm resolve. We also meditate in our homes. We are thinking of who called on the phone, who is making noise around. You close your eyes, open them; again close your eyes and open! This is not meditation. Maharshis do not meditate like this. The king was very angry. He was extremely thirsty from morning. No one gave him water. Using his bow, he lifted a dead snake that was lying nearby and put it around the Maharshi’s neck. He did a grave mistake out of arrogance. Shamika Maharshi’s little son Shrungi became aware of this incident with his divine vision. He was enraged with the treatment meted out to his father. He cursed that the one who committed this inappropriate heinous act would be bitten by the venomous serpent Thakshaka and would die within 7 days. Without pausing to think, Shrungi pronounced this curse on the King. He then started screaming looking at the snake around his father’s neck. He was worried that the snake might be alive and may sting his father. He did not wait to see if it was dead. He cried for help. Hearing the cries of Shrungi, Shamika Maharshi’s Samadhi was disrupted and he opened his eyes. From the child, he came to know of the King’s ill-doing and the curse. He was unhappy with the King’s act. But he was more disappointed by Shrungi’s curse on the king. He said, “He is our King. We should always forgive him irrespective of what he does since he has given us refuge. He is devoted to the Lord.” He scolded his son for having cursed a devotee of the Lord. “Why did you do this? Our king is greatly devoted to God. How can you curse him? We should never insult or hurt him.” He immediately sent one of his disciples to the King to inform him of this predicament. The King, on realizing that he would be killed by a snake, made all attempts and arrangements to be protected from snakes. No animal could enter his place. He arranged for all ministers, family, soldiers and doctors to be around him. He sent servants to discover all places from where snakes could enter. He did all that was humanly possible to escape from this curse. He did everything that was suggested by anyone. But King Parikshit knew that no one can change destiny. So he wanted to spend the last seven days of his life in gaining knowledge. He invited all sages and scholars. He explained to them that he has only 7 days to live. What could be done in 7 days? He wasted a lot of time earlier. He had listened to Bhagavata earlier but without concentration. He asked many Pundits, “What can I do to gain liberation? What mantra should be chanted? What rituals to perform?” The king was intelligent; he knew that no mantra could help him. As a result of the merits from his previous lives, Shuka Maharshi came to the king. He realized that he must listen to Bhagavata once. That is the only way to liberation. King Parikshit offered his respects and honored Shuka Maharshi appropriately. He then prayed to him to show the path to liberation in 7 days. He begged Shuka Maharshi to help him. Shuka Maharshi was impressed with the firm determination and intention of King Parikshit and decided to narrate to him the Bhagavata. That was the only way. One who listens to Bhagavata is certainly blessed with liberation. He took the king to the banks of Ganga for purification. Then he began the prayer extolling the greatness of Sri Hari prior to commencing the Bhagavata.
Abhang: Hechi Tora Bhakti Avadati Deva
After taking a dip in Ganga and having prayed to Lord Vishnu thus, Shuka Brahma took his seat on a Darbhasana (seat made of Darbha grass) facing north. He then addressed King Parikshit who was anxious and eager to listen to Bhagavata. He knew death was imminent in the next 7 days and was in fear. It did not necessarily mean after seven days, but could be any day in that span. He prayed to Shuka Brahma to begin the narration. Shuka Brahma then prepared to narrate the great Bhagavata that he received from his father. Bhagavata Katha is divided into 12 Cantos. In the 1st Canto, the story of Bhaarata is described till the arrival of Shuka Maharshi. The 2nd Canto talks of the Vishnu devotees and Kings in the Vaivaswata Manvantara. It also describes the various incarnations in the previous Manvantaras including that of Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Vamana and Narasimha Avataras. The story of Dhruva, Gajendra Moksha, Kapila-Devahuti conversation is also extolled. In the 12th Canto, the disappearance/demise (Niryaan) of Sri Krishna is elaborated. In the 10th Canto, the marriage of Devaki-Vasudeva, the birth of Sri Krishna, his divine plays, and Rukmini’s marriage have been described. This way, many such incidents have been described in the 10th Canto. By God’s grace, we will also now listen to the 10th Canto beginning with Sri Krishna Bhajan.
Jai Hari Krishna
Bhajan: Eka Tattva Nama
Sri Swamiji then explained the same story in Kannada and Telugu.
King Parikshit was Lord Krishna’s great-grandson. After the Pandavas were no more, Parikshit was crowned the King. On one side is Dwapara Yuga and on the other, Kali Yuga is starting. This is the story that happened in a single day, with one foot in Dwapara Yuga and another foot stepping into the Kali Yuga with the dawn. King Parikshit arrogantly wore the golden crown and was roaming around in the forest. Kali Yuga has begun, the vision is blinded. When the mind is not steady, one cannot make the right decisions. One is in his own world with thoughts revolving around one incident of worry. (The story of Shamika Maharshi is narrated again). This is the story that happened on the first day of Kali Yuga that we are now living in.
Everyone fears death. We do not know from which of the 9 outlets (Nava dwaara), Prana (life force) will leave the body. For a few people, the Prana does not leave the body easily; they remain bed-ridden. Similar to when they are in coma. They do not want to leave this body. There are a few others who are happy and ready to leave the body. But they never die. God keeps them alive. It is said that sinners have long life. God takes good people sooner but leaves the sinners with a very long life. Sometimes we wonder why! Kali Yuga should continue; the lineage should grow! Cruel wild animals have to increase; crimes increase – it is only after it reaches the peak will there be Pralaya (destruction) leading to the end of Kali Yuga. All this is the play of God. It will be like this. You cannot question, “Why?”
King Parikshit on realizing that he has been cursed asks for guidance from the scholars on what he must do to attain salvation. Though he understands that death is inevitable, he admits that he is in fear that he may suffer pain when he is bitten by the snake. Why worry about the pain? One who wants to jump in a well and die, should not be concerned about the depth of the well, or whether the water is warm or cold. He can simply jump into the well. Some people say, “Oh! In the morning it is very cold! How will I die??” Do you want to wrap yourself in a blanket and then die?? One who wishes to die must be ready to sacrifice.
King Parikshit then thinks, “What can I achieve in seven days? So far I’ve not listened to the Bhagavata Katha properly.” He was very arrogant that Lord Krishna was his own great-grandfather. “Why think about him? He is related to me and will appear whenever I seek Him. He will answer my phone call.”
Lot of people have this kind of arrogance even in the Ashrama. They say, “After all there is some program in Ashrama. I can go later.” This is very wrong. You sit the rooms in Ashrama here and say, “It is ok, I will go later in the evening. Anyway Swamiji will come and give darshan.” You don’t come at all sometimes and miss darshan. You should never do that. The moment you think you should have darshan, you must come immediately.
Now King Parikshit wishes for liberation. Due to his merits and the little effect that was left of the Dwapara Yuga, Shuka Maharshi arrived there even without being sought. Shuka Brahma means the parrot-faced Maharshi. Everyone was extremely happy to see him since he is the personification of Bhagavata! It was he who bestowed Bhagavata to this world. He is highly knowledgeable. King Parikshit explained his situation to Shuka Muni. He did not overtly say things like, “You already know my problems, now you tell me.” One should always let out their sorrow, share their problems with people who are very close to them. Then the burden definitely is reduced. You must not say “Why bother them with our worries?” If you do so, your sorrow will not go away. You can only tell people who really care about you, who wish well for you. The unhappiness will reduce to a large extent.
King Parikshit requested Shuka Muni to guide him, show him a way through which he can attain salvation in 7 days. Then Shuka Brahma explained the Bhagavata Katha.
It is said that if one listens to Dashama Skanda (the 10th Canto), they are blessed with liberation, all their sins are destroyed. It is a very important phase in Bhagavata. This is the story I’ve narrated so far in broken Hindi.
Sri Swamiji narrates the same in Telugu.
King Parikshit was the last in the lineage of Sri Krishna. Wouldn’t the compassionate Lord bless him with Mukti? It is even said the Lord Krishna himself caused King Parikshit to be cursed so that he will not have to live in Kali Yuga. That is why it is said that no gods want to be here in Kali Yuga. Unfortunately some people like me are stuck here and are suffering. Look at my state, I am really distressed! I can neither live here nor go away. I’ve had enough and want to leave sometimes. Because you, who do not know the taste of the other world, you wish to continue to live here. My Vaikuntha, my home is different, that’s a different place, different kingdom. My lord is different. Why am I here? I feel I came for nothing. I’m here amidst the ignorant, demons, people who lie, people who cheat Guru – I feel very sad about it. I wonder why I should befriend humans! Every minute your mind changes! Morning you are in one state of mind, evening it changes. Morning, with all devotion you are ready to give me your lives; but by evening you are angry with me. I don’t want the association of such people. You say, “Swamiji is everything, He is God,” just for a second. A few days later, you commit mistakes and say, “Swamiji did wrong; Swamiji made me do this wrong!” I keep thinking I don’t want to stay amidst these people, I don’t want these relatives.
Yet on the other hand, with some hope, I keep searching, yearning for true devotees and will hold their hand and take them along. They are very small in number. I wish that number would increase. There are a few, I have got such devotees too. I want to make them better. I want to test them further. Those who will withstand these tests and still cling to me are my true devotees. Those who go through immense hardships and yet remain firm, they are true devotees. They are my relatives. Remember this very well. You should not think, “Oh! I’m going through so many difficulties.” You should say, “I’m happy! If Swamiji is happy that I’m going through this difficult time, I’m also happy. Ok!” Only then I can stay in this world, otherwise I do not wish to stay in this world.
Similarly, unable to allow His great-grandson to live in Kali Yuga, Krishna sent Shuka Brahma to him. He very subtly explained the various chapters of Bhagavata.
The Hindi TV channel people persisted for the last 5-6 months that I record Bhagavata. In spite of me telling them that I do not know the language fluently, they insisted that I narrate, however I wish to. Representatives from Samskaar Channel and Ramdev Baba prayed for this recording to be done. I take the ownership of any mistakes that have happened; the fruit of all the good is for you. That’s all!
Jai Guru Datta.
Compiled by Shruthi Jagadish