Srimad Mahabhagavata

- Keshav Bhat on dvaita.org

Srimad Bhagavata mahApurANa

The following series of postings are from a book by Dr. M.R Bail, published Dharmaprakash Publications in the 70's. Very few copies are available in circulation. I have attempted to bring this work verbatim. I would like to thank Sri Raghupathy Rao for kindly allowing me to post the contents of the book.

The material presented is in simple prose for the novice reader. If scholars on the list feel it is more appropriate for the posting to be on VMS list, please notify me. Errors, if any, are entirely mine. Once again, I requested learned members to correct and/or bear with me for any such lapses/errors.

Chapter 1

Srimad BAgavata mahAtmya from Padma PurANa -

Chapter 1 - Bhakta NArada samAgama

Introduction - Sri Badrayana Muni, out of his benevolence wrote the Srimad Bagavata Puranam, for all of suffering humanity. Out if the 12 branches of this tree of knowledge, the 11th branch contains the Supreme Nectar.

Once upon a time at NaimishAranya, ShownakAdhi rishi's requested SoothapurAnika, to tell that that which is pleasant to hear for Vishnu Bhaktas and will also inculcate jnAna, bhakti and vairAgya. In this kaliyuga, all virtues are disappearing and vices are growing. For their salvation please tell us how to save them and turn towards to Lord Krishna's feet.

Sootha replies: "I am very much pleased with your request which is really 'Lokopakartha', because your hearts are always pure, due to 'ananya bhagavat chintana'. I am going to tell you that, which is sarvasiddanta nispanna (giving jnAna) and samsAra bhayanAsana (leading to mukti) and bhakti vardana (pleasing to Lord Krishna). Hear me with attention".

Srimad BhAgavata was sung by Sri Shuka, for the uplift of those who are suffering from the pangs of that great python called 'kala'. But this bhAgavatha is available for those who have janmArtha puNya. When rAja ParIkshit was hearing srimad bhAgavata, the devAs came with amrutha and offered it to him, requesting bhAgavatha in return. [This amrutha would have saved him from death due to snake bite on the seventh day, as per rishi shApa]. Then Shuka said, 'Oh, Devas, your nectar is like glass piece when compared to with this BhAgavata, which is kaustubha mani. The Devas laughed at this remark. So, this BhAgavata is not available to all. Raja ParIkshit got mukthi merely by hearing the BhAgavata. Brahma in satyaloka weighed it against all the mukthi shAstras and found the former weighing more.

Especially in kaliyuga, those who read or hear BhAgavata will get vaikunta phala. Though Brahma had given chathusloki BhAgavata to nArada, he got from the sanakAdi rishi's the sapthAha vidhi, gave mukthi to ParIkshit within 7 days.

Then ShownakAdi rishi's asked sootha purAnika how nArada stayed at any place for 7 days, since he will be always wandering, singing about the Lord.

Sootha replies: Once nArada came to Badri in search of sathsanga, where he met the great Chatvari sanakAdi rishi's. They asked him why he was so dejected in appearance. nArada then recited the reason for his anxiety, for the benefit of the suffering, though he is always without attachment. "In this bharatavarsha, which is karmabhoomi for sat-sAdhana, I have been to all the punya kshetra's viz., pushkara, kurukshetra, rAmasethu, prayAga, kAshi, nAsik, haridwAr, srIranga etc., and finally came here as the best of all. Yet did not get peace of mind due to kali's influence. Sathya, thapa, dAna, and all virtues are disappearing. People are absorbed in sensual pleasures. All the varna and Ashrama dharmAs are disappearing. Women behave as they like.

one day I happened to go to VrindAvana, so dear to Lord Krishna, then I saw a wonderful sight. A young woman was crying by the side of 2 old persons, who were unconscious, surrounded by many women who w ere consoling her. I asked her who they were and who she was. She replied, " I am bhakthi and these 2 are my children, jnAna and vairAgya; the others are sacred rivers of Bharathavarsha viz., Ganga, Sindhu, Saraswathi etc., Oh Sage! hear my story. I was born in drAvida desa, brought up and nourished in Karnataka, grew old in GujarAta. Due to kali bhAda we have been reduced to this state and somehow by Lord's grace I have regained my youth here.But my children have yet to recover in spite of the assistance of these ladies (rivers). Now, please tell me a remedy for my wretched condition. You are yoganidhi".

nArada replied: 'really your troubles are due to kalimahima'.

CHAPTER II

nArada continues:

the only remedy I can think of is to pray to Lord Krishna. Has He not saved Drowpadi, Gajendra, PrahlAda and many others? Can you show me any instance when He ha slet down His bhaktAs? In kali yuga, in spite of evil influence, there is one redeeming feature viz., nAma sankeerthana. All chaturvida purushArtAs can be got by sincere nAma sankeerthana by a devotee. All the same, I will go to different holy places, where I can meet jnAni's and find out any immediate remedy for your distress". Before he left the place, nArada tried to wake up jnAna and bhakti by reciting vedAnta vAkya and srimad Bhagavad gIta close to their ears, without much success.

During the course of his wandering, nArada me sanakAdhi rishi's at Badari. He narrated the above episode he saw at VrindAva and requested a proper remedy for the predicament of bhakti and her children. Their advice was: "Do not worry. There is a simple remedy for the problem.The sathkarma which the 'ashareera vAni' suggested is beyond dravya yajna, thapoyajna, swadyAya yajna. Srimad bhAgavataAlApana is jnAna yajna and it gives bhakti and vairAgya. All difficulties will run away like a sneaky wolf before the Lordly Lion. The bhAgavata is the essence of veda's an upanishad's. It is a fruit which is vishwamanohara. Just as sugarcane, it is sweet juice top to bottom. sri bAdarAyana rishi not completely satisfied with purAna's and gIta wrote this last for shoka, dukha vinAshana".

Then nArada praised hte benefit of satsanga, which he said is available only after many births.

HAKTHI KASTA NIVARTHANA

nArada requested the great muni's to tell him details about the proper time, place etc., They replied, 'the best place is on the banks of holy Ganga; bhakti and her children will go there for their miraculous benefit".

Accordingly, nArada arranged for bhAgavata shravana on the banks of Ganga. This happy news spread all over the country and devaloka. Brighu, VashishtA, Chavana, Gowthama, VishwAmitra, mArkandeya and other vaishnavas, all purAnA's, 6 shastra abimAni devas, and theerthAbhimAni devas came running to drink this peeyoosha. There was nAma shabdha, jaya shabdha, shanka shabdha etc., Laja (fried paddy) and flowers of kalpavriksha were showered.

The auspicious function began with the narration of bhAgavatha. It is so meritorious, that merely by hearing it one will get mukthi in his hands (yasya shravana mAtrena mukthi karathale sthitha).

It should be worshipped daily by which the Lord is pleased. It contains 18,000 slokas, 12 skandas, and it is a conversation between parikshit and shuka muni. So long as one does not lend his ear one moment, he will be wandering the cycle of samsAra. What is the use of hearing many puranas? In whichever house, bhAgavata is going on, that residence will be a holy remover of all sins. Thousands of ashwameda and hundreds of vajapeya yajnAs, will not be equivalent to 1/16 of bhAgavata. Wherever the bhAgavata is read with proper meaning, the sins of crore janmAs will be wiped out. Whoever reads even 1/4 of bhAgavata sloka daily, he will get the merit of rAjasooya and ashwameda yajna. Daily recitation of bhAgavata, Hari chintana, thulasi poshana and denu sevana are all equally meritorious. If one hears bhAgavata in his last moment Govinda will come from vaikuntha, highly satisfied. Whoever gives this shukashAstrA to a vaishnavaon a golden seat, that person will Krishna sAyujya - there need be no doubt about this.

CHAPTER III

Sriamd bhAgavata is not available for ordinary people. unless one has accumilated koti janma phala. There is no niyama (any special rule) regarding the day or time. It should be read daily with sathya and brahmacharya. Othrewise one can have deeksha for one week and hear daily preferably in the month of magha with shraddha and bhakti. Due to kalidosha there will be many obstacles for sathkArya in the form of sickness and calamities. Further, to maintain concentration for prolonged periods is a challenge in kaliyuga. So, the sapthAha vidhi (7 days) is especially suitable for the present age. The merit derived by sapthAha is more than that can be obtained by thapas, yoga, samAdhi etc., and that too without much excertion.

Continuing the bhAgavata mahAtmya, Sri Sootha tells the sownakAdhi rishi's how Uddhava expressed his concern regarding kalibhAda, when Lord Krishna was about to disappear from this world to Vaikuntha. Uddhava submits to the Lord 'Bhaktavatsala Govinda, who will relieve hte burden of the wicked from mother earth? who will protect your bhaktas?'.

The Lord replied: 'I am keeping my thejas (shakti/power) in srimad bhAgavata. It is my vakmai moorthy. It is my manifestation. Reading, hearing or even a glance will remove sins'.Sootha continues: Thus, when the sapthAha dharma was being told in the sabhA, a wonderful incident happened. Hear this, with attention. Bhakti along with her 2 children came running, chanting 'Sri Krishna, Hare, MurAre'. The muni's discussed among themselves, 'how did these charming persons get here?'. Then, Bhakti replied: in spite of kalibhAda, I am invigorated by your kathArasa. Devotion in Govinda not only removes physical defects, but even bhavarOga - cycle of janma and maRaNa. I have made permanent abode in the minds of vaishnavAs and Haridasas. In all the worlds, even a penniless person is really fortunate, provided he has devotion for Lord Hari in his heart. In such a person, Sri Krishna will remain bound by the strings of bhakti. So, Srimat bhAgavata is equivalent to Sri Krishna, both for the narrator and hearer, with shraddha and bhakti.

VIPRA MOKSHA

Sootha continues: "Now, when bhagavAn bhakthavatsala saw great devotion in those assembled vaishnavAs, He left His permanent abode and appeared before them in vanamAla, peethAmbara, ghanashyAma, Kaustubhamani, and other ornaments in the ear, hands, feet, with a sweet smile on his lustrous countenance. All VaikuntavAsis, vaishnavAs and uddhava were seated there, incognito. Then flowers were showered on Lord Krishna with jaya shabdA and shanka nAda. The whole audience was in 'thanmayavastha' having lost all consciousness about their body, house and possessions. Then, Narada said: 'I am seeing a rare sight of sapthAha mahimA here; not only the mooda, shata (foolish and arrogant) but also animals and birds are bereft of sins; In this mundane world, there is nothing equal to the bhAgavata kathA, especially in kaliyuga. Herewith follows a lost of those that ar epurified by this yag~nya. SanakAdi rishi's gave that list: "all those who commit sins - durAchArIs (bad character); vimargaga 9who folllow bad way of life); krodhAgnidagda (who are burnt by fire of anger); kutilascha kAmina (who are a prey to ladies); truthless; those who ill-treat parents; avaricious, cruel; jealous; proud; adulterous; those who commit sins by mind speech and body; arrogant; impure; those who covet others wealth are all purified by the sapthAha yag~nya in kaliyuga,

In this connection, a puratana ithihAsa (story) is told, hearing of which makes a person sinless. Once upon a time, on the banks of thungabadrA, there lived a brahmin called Atmadeva. He was well read (in smrithis and shruti), sadAchAra sampanna swadharma niratha. He was virtuous and pious. His beautiful wife, Dunduli, though born of sathkula (good family) was arrogant, talkative, in lokavartha, self-asserting and quarrelsome. Though they had plenty, and very happy otherwise, they did not get children. They gave cows, land, and wealth to deserving poor. Yet, they were worried due to lack of progeny.

One fine morning the dejected brahmin, left his house to the forest. At noon, feeling very thirsty he went to a tank close by. After quenching his thirst, he took rest, very worried in mind. At that time, a sanyAsi came there. Atmadeva approached the holy person with humility and prostrated before him. The sanyAsi asked the brahmin 'why ar eyou crying? What is the cause of your grief?' Atmadeva replied 'what shall I say about my poorvapaapa? Whatever I offer, the devas do not accept, because I have no children. So I'm very worried. Fie on that life that has no progeny. Fie on that wealth that is not shared by youngsters. Fie on that kula that has no issues. Even a cow reared by me is barren. Trees grown by me bear no fruit. Fruits taken home rot quickly. I am nirbhAgya. What is the use of this life?'

When Atmadeva spoke like this, the yogi pitied him and as a jnAni, gave the following advice. 'Oh, Brahmin, cast off this ajnAna about children. The ways of karma are inscrutable. Take courage and leave every samsAra vAsana. I am able to fathom your prArabhda karma. For 7 more births, you have no hope of getting a son. Look at SAgara of old; he was miserable due to his offspring’s. Cut off your desire for kutumbha (family).' The brahmin replied ' what is the good of viveka? Give me a son; or I will die with grief and lose my life in your presence. I am miserable.'

The sage further pointed out Chithrakethu's example and told him that a son will not give so much happiness as devotion the Lord. Since none of this made much of an impression, the sanyAsin relented and gave him a fruit saying, 'let your wife eat this, and you will get a son. But for one year she should be pure, truthful, liberal in alms and restricted in diet. Then, you will get a good son (sathputhra). The yogi went on his way.

Atmadeva returned home, and gave the fruit to his wife with the sayAsi's instructions. But the foolish wife, wept with her sakhee (companion. 'I am very much worried. I will not eat this fruit. If i do, I will get pregnant, there will be watery accumulation in my abdomen, I may not eat well with no strength to do housework. To expel the contents of conception is a difficult process. I am tender (sukumari). I cannot follow the rules of purity, satya, etc., as mentioned by the sage. Delivery and then nourishment of the baby are all unnecessary botheration. To remain barren or a widow is better I think'. With these silly arguments, she did not eat the fruits. One day her sister came to her house. Dunduli expressed her predicament. The clever lady replied, 'Look here, I am carrying at present. As soon as I deliver, I will give that child to you. In the mean time you pretend some contrivance that you are pregnant. For feeding the child, I will say I have lost my baby; you can say you do not have enough milk and ask me to feed it. The fruit, we can give to your cow, just to test the sanyAsi. Let this be a closely guarded secret. But, you have to give e enough money in return to my husband. Atmadeva was very much delighted, gave plenty in charity and got all ceremonies in great pomp. The child born was named as DundukAri.

After 3 months, the cow delivered a beautiful, lustrous, male child. But the ears alone had the shape of cow's ears. So, he was named Gokarna. Everyone was surprised and praised Atmadeva's good fortune. As these 2 children grew up the former became wicked and the latter was a wise jnAni. Dundukaran became dirty in his habits, irritable, cruel and always in bad company. He started spending Atmadeva's wealth. Finally, he began beating his father for money. Now, Atmadeva realized the sanyAsi's advice and cried 'where shall I go? Who will relieve me from my predicament?'

At that time, Goakarna, the jnAni met him. He advised his father that 'vairAgya' was the only remedy. Family and its surroundings are really valueless. It is a well-established truth. It is full of misery. Attachment to progeny and wealth is transitory. A really happy man is one who has no attachment, is silent and does not depend on others. Cast off this ignorance about family. Till the body falls down live alone in a forest. Gokarna's advice gave him some relief. Accordingly Atmadeva was ready to leave to the forest. 'But dear son, please tell me the duties there in detail; I am a fool bound by attachment and have fallen into dark hell. Oh, dayAnidhe, please save me.

Then begins Gokarna's famous advice to his father (of course, for all of us too): "Leave away attachment to your body. After all, one's body consists of bones, muscle, blood etc., In wife and children, cast off sense of possession. Taste vairAgya and practice sincere devotion to the Lord. Always worship Dharma, serve the virtous, conquer the thirst for sensual pleasures, and enjoy the stories of the Lord and His devotees."

Having heard the sound advice from his son, Atmadeva left his house and lived in the forest a long time. There, he worshipped Lord Hari daily, with sincere devotion and finally got His grace.

GOKARNA MOKSHA

After Atmadeva’s departure from his home, his son DundukAri began beating his mother to give him his father’s hidden wealth. Unable to bear the ill-treatment, Dundulee committed suicide by drowning herself in a well. Now, DundukAri kept in his house may women who sell their bodies for money. He bought then clothes and ornaments by stealing. One day, they thought that the kings servants will come to know of the stolen wealth and confiscate it. They decided to do away with DundukAri before that happens. Accordingly, they bound him with strings, and burnt him. If anyone asked for his whereabouts, they said he was upcountry to earn more money! Here is a lesson for all of us. A wise man will never believe a wicked woman.

Due to ‘durmarana’ DundukAri became a virulent pretha. He had to run here and there, unable to bear thirst and hunger. His body was a vAtha shareera (wind). By hearsay, Gokarna came to know of his brother’s unnatural death. For his brothers sathgathi, Gokarna did sraddha in several theertha’s and finally in the holiest Gaya sraddha. In the course of his wanderings he came to his fathers house and slept on the open verandah. Dundukari (pretha) came to know this and appeared before him in a ferocious body, then as a ram, elephant, buffalo, as fire etc., Gokarna took courage and said ’who are you, wandering at night – bootha, pishAchi or rAkshasA?’ The pretha, unable to talk simply cried frequently and made some signs. Gokarna sprinkled some water on the pretha to remove the sins and it was able to make the following appeal to Gokarna:

“I am your brother, DundukAri. Due to my wicked behavior I have lost my brahmatwam (purity). I have committed innumerable sins. I have been very cruel. Now, I’ve attained pretatwA due to my misfortune. Bu God’s grace I’ve met you today. My dear brother, please relieve me from this miserable state”. Gokarna replied, “I have offered pinda (oblations) even at Gaya for your satgati. Even if this highest atonement has not given you relief, please tell me what I should do?” The preta of DundukAri suggested that some jnAni’s be consulted. Gokarna asked the preta to stay there and went in search. The learned people asked him to consult Soorya bhagavAn. Gokarna, stopped Soorya deva and requested him for an easy path to salvation. The reply of Soorya deva was “Do srimad bhagavath sapthAha. It embraces all dharma’s’.

Immediately, Gokarna made all arrangements and informed all relatives and friends who were interested in satgati. They all came in large numbers and the preta DunduKAri, unable to sit with others, occupied a bamboo with 7 knots, through a small hole. At the end of the 1st day’s prvachana, there was a big bang when, one o the knots in the bamboo burst. Similarly, at the end of each day, one more knot burst with a thunderous noise. On the seventh day, at the end of dwadasa skanda, DundukAri the greatest sinner, appeared before the audience shining with thulasi mAla, ghanashyAma, pItAmbara, mukuta, kundula etc., Prostrating before his brother Gokarna, he said, “My dear brother, you have graciously relieved me from ‘pretakasmala’. Not only that, this holy sapthAha gives Krishnalokaphala. All sins tremble before it. Sins committed by mana, vAcha, and kAya (mind, speech and body) are burnt away. In our bharata varsha (sAdhana bhoomi) the great have said that one’s janma I nishpala (useless) who has not heard bhAgavata. After all, human body is a frame of bones tied together by ligaments, filled with muscle and blood. This body ends in ashes if burnt, worms if buried and or excreta of birds if exposed. So, before it is too late, while limbs and senses are in a sound state one has to take advantage of this sAdhana sareera, which is given by God, by hearing sapthAha which will remove all sins. If one does sapthAha sincerely, his knots of ignorance (ajnAna and samsaya) will be broken (bidyathe hridaya granthi), all karma vAsanAs will disappear (ksheeyanthe chasya karmani)”.

At the end of bhAgavata sapthAha conducted by Gokarna, a fully decked vimAna came from vaikuntha and the bhakta’s there took only Dunduli’s son. Then Gokarna, asked them a question: ‘There are many hear who heard the Lord’s story. They are all equal partners. But, why is there difference in the result?’

Haridasa’s replied: “There is a difference in the method of hearing. After hearing one should do manana (think of the subject matter again). Others have not done that. Further, the pretha of DundukAri was fasting for 7 nights and has heard with pointed attention, digested the subject well with love and devotion. Without a fixed mind, jnAna is useless; without concentration, japa is useless. A country with avaishnavas, family without sadAchAra, a guru without confidence in him, a servant without obedience to his master, any hearing with a vicious mind, are all taboo. Gokarna, all of you are sure to reach vaikuntha if you listen with shraddha”.

Accordingly, all those who attended the sapthAha repeated the yajna in mAgha mAsa as per instruction of Haridassa with devotion. At the end of the period, Lord Hari Himself manifested along with His bhaktas. Sri Hari was so pleased, that He blew the ‘pAnchajanya sankhA’, and embraced Gokarna. All those assembled were led to vaikunthA, just as Sri Rama took ayodhyavAsins.

Phalasthuthi:

Whoever hears this sapthAha yajna phala along with Gokarna’s episode, he will never have gharbavAsa (birth) thereafter. Even a long time penance with only air, water, or leaf as sustaining food, deep meditation, and yoga will not take a person as high as the sapthAha sravana. This episode was read by sAndilya muni at Chitrakoota with great joy. Even once heard this very holy (paramam pavitram) episode will remove all sins. If sung at sraddakAla, all pithru’s (ancestors) will be satisfied; and if read daily with devotion one will get napunrbhavam (redemption from rebirth).

SHRAVANA VIDHI KATHA

SanathkumAra’s say “Now we are going to tell you in detail, the vidhi of this auspicious sravana yajna. At first, one should call learned persons to fix a muhutha (auspicious time). BhadrapAda or AshAda or Margasira are the best months to begin, and they are moksha soochaka for those who hear. Invitations are to be sent to various places about the sapthAha, requesting all men, women and even soodras to come with their families. It should be made clear in the invitation that for the non-attached this is a rare opportunity for meeting the virtuous. After inviting them with all humility, one should arrange for their accommodation and provide them all comforts.

The best place is on the banks of an holy river (teertha) or tank (vapi) or vana, temple or an house. It should have enough room, purified, cleaned and swept and decorated with a matapa of plantain trees, flowers, fruits, flags and festoons.

The vakta should be a learned person, sadAchAri and free from vices. He should occupy a comfortable seat facing east of North. He should be assisted by equally learned on his side, to clear doubts from the audience. The narrator and the important hearers (vakta and srotru) should observe some austerities (deeksha). They should not shave; only light food once a day, no gossip, no anger etc., They should begin the pArAyana early in the morning after bath and sandhyAvandana.

The event should start with vignaeshwara pooja, pitrutarpana, necessary prayaschitta vidhi, and, Lord Hari should be worshipped with the following request: Oh, storehouse of kindness (kaRuNAnidhe) I am helpless. Drowned in the ocean of samsAra, due to my karma. Please lift me up from this ocean”. Then, the grantha should be worshipped. Finally, with a coconut in in hand, one should praise Lord Krishna and prostrate before the book. It has been proclaimed that the BhAgavta is Lord Krishna Himself – pratyaksha Krishna wahi. “Oh Lord, kindly accept my humble yajna for my liberation from the ocean of birth. I am your servant. Let there be no obstacles in my humble attempt”. Then the narrator should be regarded as Suka muni and worshippedwith clothes etc., One should set apart 5 brahmins to repeat ‘Om namobhagavate Sri VAsudevAya’. Before the hearer takes his seat, he should bow down before the Brahmins and vaishnava devotees with humility.

All those engaged in the sapthAha should forget the outside world. Only those who listen with a pure mind with get the best result. The katha should be recited from sunrise till midnight (asooryaudyatdiardharatri) with a loud voice (dheenakaNta) and peacefully. There may be a small interval at noon (ghatikadwayam). Rest of the time should be utilized for vaishnava keertana.

To avoid being disturbed by calls of nature, one should take light food at night only, after the narration. If strong and healthy, one can even fast as the preta of DundukAri did, but complete fast may not enable us to concentrate.

“Now, I am going to tell you certain rules for observing sapthAha vratha. One should observe strict brahmacharya; sleep on the floor; eat on leaves; control his senses and indriyas; should observe truth, purity, kindness, silence, sincerity, humility. The BhAgavata and the reciter should be worshipped with cymbals and drums. There should be jaya sabda, nAma sabda, and sanka sabda. As atonement for any error, the BhAgavata should be mounded on a golden seat and presented. 12 brahmins should be fed with honey and payasam and given generous dakshina. If the above instructions are followed carefully, bhava bandana will be relieved and all sins will disappear. There is no doubt about this. Finally Sanatkumara said, ‘Srimad BhAgavata alone, all comforts here and mukti thereafter will be in your hands’.

NArada also was very much pleased after hearing about the BhAgavata mahatmya from the great rishi’s and submitted to them as follows:

"I am really grateful to you. I am able to visualize Lord Hari, who alone is capable of removing sins. Really, hearing (shravaNa) is superior to all other duties (sarvadharmebhyo varam). Sri Krishna of Vaikunta is easily available by hearing about His greatness with devotion".

At this time, the great yogeswara suka muni came there wandering. He looked very young, of 16 years, son of Sri VedavyAsa, like a moon in the ocean of knowledge (jnAna samudra chandrika). The audience got up when they saw his luster (parama tejas) and offered him a seat, worshipped him and heard his sweet voice with pointed attention. Sri Suka said: Hey Rasika, drink this BhAgavta, which is a ripe fruit of the tree kalpataru (which is capable of giving anything one desires) made of holy Vedas. Further it is full of sweet juice. Unlike other books, BhAgavata is full of moksha dharma. Only a few fortunate will get this as poorva punya. It deals only with Atma vicAra. This is meant for those who are free from jealousy and hatred. It inculcated bhakti in the Lord and removes all difficulties, Srimad BhAgavta is said to be the greatest asset (poorna tilakam) of bhaktAs. Even at Swarga, Satyaloka, Vaikunta, or KailAsa its sweetness (rasa) is not available. Do drink it hear and now - never lose such a golden opportunity.

Sri Suta continues: "At this time, Lord Hari made himself manifest in the midst of the assembly along with His favorite disciples Prhalada Bali, Uddhava, Phalguna and worshipped by Narada, Seeing Sri Hari seated gracefully on his seat, the august audience did Hari keertana. At that time Prahlada was tAladhAri, Uddhava was kamsyadhAri, Narada was VeeNAdhAri, Arjuna was doing raagAlApana, Indra played Mridanga, SanatkumArAs raised jaya stotra, when Sri Suka was reciting the BhAgavata in clear words with piety. All of them danced and sang with profound devotion. Lord Sri Hari was pleased and addressed them, "I am very pleased with your devotion, now you can ask any vara you desire". The non-attached devotees requested only bhakti in Sri Hari. Then the Lord disappeared from their midst. The muni's, deva's and others prostrated to Lord Hari being very satisfied with hearing the nectar like kathA.

Now, SanakAdi rishi's request Soota purAnika to tell them when the BhAgatawas narrated by Brahma to Narada, when Gokarna repeated the same, and also when raja ParIkshit heard from suka muni, 'please clear our doubts'.

Sootha replies: "30 years after Sri Krishna's disappearance from the world, in Kaliyuga in Sravana navami, Sri Suka recited this to raja ParIkshit. 250 years later, Gokarna repeated it. Since then, 300 years have rolled on, when you are hearing it (kArtika Krishna navami). So, this is all that is to be told in reply to your queries. Oh, Sinless ones, especially in Kali yuga, BhAgavata varta will remove all ailments of samsAra. It is dear to Lord Krishna (Krishna priyam), removes all sins (sakala kalmasha nAsanam) the only source of salvation (mukteika hetu) in this world, and bestower of Ananda and bhakti".

Sri Sootha ends the chapter by pointing out that 'this samsAra is really useless. It is full of poison like sense objects. One who attaches himself to these without turning to sukha sAstra will wander in a crooked way. Raja ParIkshit is a real witness to attaining mukti by hearing the BhAgavata. Thus, I have told all about that which is very sacred, pure and the essence of all sAstra's. There is none equal to this for those who desire salvation. Do drink the essence of 12 skandas of BhAgavata. Whoever hears or narrates to pure devotees with sincere devotion, both of themwill get immediate benefit. There is nothing that is unavailable to them.

Last chapter continues in the next posting…