Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam 02 - The Story of Jnana, Bhakti, Vairagya and the influence of Kali
Bhagavata is the king of all Puranas that removes ignorance, confers the highest spiritual knowledge, devotion in Lord, and vairagya, or dispassion towards all worldly attractions which has the potential to create illusions entangling to the cycle of death and birth. It brings happiness. Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam is not comparable with nectar which appeared during Kshirasamudramathana or the churning of the Milky Way.
Also, my scaled salutations to all Gods who are always brimming with devotion and are never exhausted at the service of the Lord that includes Hanuman, Sarasvati, Garuda, Sesha, Rudra, Narada, Dhruva, Prahalada.
My utmost salutations to Srimad Acharya and all the Gurus of the lineage through whom the nectar called Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam has been flowing.
I seek the shelter of Guru Raghavendra at all times.
One day during the spiritual gathering at Naimisharanya, Sri Shaunaka Rishi asked Sri Sutacharya,
शौनक उवाच
लोकविग्रहमुक्तस्य नारदस्यास्थिरस्य च ।
विधिश्रवे कुतः प्रीतिः संयोगः कुत्र तैः सह ॥ २३॥
The revered one! Narada Rishi is free from all worldly attachment, stable-minded, prudent, and intellectual. Where did he encounter the four Kumara brothers? How did he develop a keen interest to hear Srimad Bhagavata in Sapthaha procedure from them?
Sri Sutacharya replies,
सूत उवाच
अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि भक्तियुक्तं कथानकम् ।
शुकेन मम यत्प्रोक्तं रहः शिष्यं विचार्य च ॥२४॥
एकदा हि विशालायां चत्वार ऋषयोऽमलाः ।
सत्सङ्गार्थं समायाता ददृशुस्तत्र नारदम् ॥२५॥
Sri Shukacharya treats me as an unswerving student of his. He has initiated me with tales filled with devotion towards the Lord. I shall tell you those stories. One day, the four stainless and bright Kumars viz. Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, and Sanat visited Vishal Puri for a spiritual gathering. There they saw Narada Rishi.
The Kumaras asked Narada rishi,
कुमारा ऊचुः
कथं ब्रह्मन् दीनमुखः ब्रह्मन् दीनमुखः कुतश्चिन्तातुरो भवान् ।
त्वरितं गम्यते कुत्र कुतश्चागमनं तव ॥ २६॥
इदानीं शून्यचित्तोऽसि गतवित्तो यथा जनः ।
तवेदं मुक्तसङ्गस्य नोचितं वद कारणम् ॥२७॥
Oh, Brahmin! Why are you carrying a faint face? How did you become so worried? Where are you rushing? And from where did you come?
You appear worried like an ordinary human being in the cycle of death and birth who has lost all his wealth. This is not appropriate for a person like you who has a foregone passion for worldly matters. Please tell us the reason.
Narada Rishi replied,
नारद उवाच
अहं तु पृथिवीं यातो ज्ञात्वा सर्वोत्तमामिति ।
पुष्करं च प्रयागं च काशीं गोदावरीं तथा ॥ २८॥
हरिक्षेत्रं कुरुक्षेत्रं श्रीरङ्गं सेतुबन्धनम् ।
एवमादिषु तीर्थेषु भ्रममाण इतस्ततः ॥ २९॥
नापश्यं कुत्रचिच्छर्म मनःसन्तोषकारकम् ।
कलिनाधर्ममित्रेण धरेयं बाधिताधुना ॥ ३०॥
Kumaras! I thought that Bhooloka was a very auspicious place and special. I happened to visit various holy places like Pushkar, Prayag, Kashi, Godavari, Harikshetra, Kurukshetra, Sriranga, Sethubandhanam. But nowhere, I could feel happiness nor I could find peace of mind. Kali has invaded even all the holy places. Kali is a friend of adharma or the ones who don’t follow Dharma. Together, they have attacked even Vaishnavas who are supposed to be virtuous, residing in holy places.
सत्यं नास्ति तपः शौचं दया दानं न विद्यते ।
उदरम्भरिणो जीवा वराकाः कूटभाषिणः ॥ ३१॥
मन्दाः सुमन्दमतयो मन्दभाग्या ह्युपद्रुताः ।
पाखण्डनिरताः सन्तो विरक्ताः सपरिग्रहाः ॥ ३२॥
तरुणीप्रभुता गेहे श्यालको बुद्धिदायकः ।
कन्याविक्रयिणो लोभाद्दम्पतीनां च कल्कनम् ॥३३॥
No one is engaging themselves in penance nor are they truthful with cleanliness, kindness, charity, or compassion. They have become stony-hearted. All are engaged in filling their stomach, yapping, talking against the truth, and giving wrong witnesses. Also, all are lazy, dull, and losing clarity. Hence, they have become unlucky faced with obstruction. They are deceptive, conspire by make groups, gang-up to support themselves pursuing falsehood. The ascetic or monks are wearing saffron robes only to show off. Though they should live in solitary, they are marrying and staying with their wives. Some monks have illicit relations with women.
The younger women are heading families and insisting their own way without considering the opinion of the elders in the family. Fancy and show-off are becoming kings. Youngsters are leading the old. Women are available for the money. Husbands and wives are always fighting.
आश्रमा यवनै रुद्धास्तीर्थानि सरितस्तथा ।
देवतायतनान्यत्र दुष्टैर्नष्टानि भूरिशः ॥ ३४॥
The foreigners have occupied ashramas, holy places, and rivers. These people are breaking the idols of God, destroying temples, and monasteries. Also, they are settling in the holy places.
न योगी नैव सिद्धो वा न ज्ञानी सत्क्रियो नरः ।
कलिदावानलेनाद्य साधनं भस्मतां गतम् ॥३५॥
There are no Yogis, nor Siddhas with an exhaustive knowledge of spiritualism nor they have achieved spiritual advancement. There are no Brahmins who are well versed with Vedic rituals. Kali is burning down all auspiciousness into ashes like when a fire engulfed the forest.
अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूला द्विजातयः ।
कामिन्यः केशशूलिन्यः सम्भवन्ति कलाविह ॥ ३६॥
In Kali Yuga, food is being sold in the streets of cities and towns. Brahmins are teaching Vedas for money. So also, the women are selling their beauty. In fact, Kali is dancing away to glory.
This was sometime after two sixty years from the time of disappearance of Lord Krishna from the earth.
Narada Rishi says,
एवं पश्यन् कलेर्दोषान् पर्यटन्नवनीमहम् ।
यामुनं तटमापन्नो यत्र लीला हरेरभूत् ॥३७॥
तत्राश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं श्रूयतां तन्मुनीश्वराः ।
एका तु तरुणी तत्र निषण्णा खिन्नमानसा ॥ ३८॥
Seeing all this, traveling to various parts of the earth, I arrived at the shores of Yamuna river in Brindavana. Here, I could see various sports charms of Lord Sri Krishna happening. Also, here, more surprises awaited me. I saw a young lady nursing two old men.
वृद्धौ द्वौ पतितौ पार्श्वे निःश्वसन्तावचेतनौ ।
शुश्रूषन्ती प्रबोधन्ती रुदती च तयोः पुरः ॥ ३९॥
दश दिक्षु निरीक्षन्ती रक्षितारं निजं वपुः ।
वीज्यमाना शतस्त्रीभिर्बोध्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ४०॥
Oh, Saints! Kumaras! The young lady was depressed. The old men were unconscious breathing low. The young lady was nursing these old men, crying and looking for help in all directions. In fact, she was looking for the help of the Lord, the protector of the universe. The old men were conscious sometimes and unconscious most of the time. There were about a hundred women who were fanning this young lady and the two old men, said Sri Narada Rishi.
दृष्ट्वा दूराद्गतः सोऽहं कौतुकेन तदन्तिकम् ।
मां दृष्ट्वा चोत्थिता बाला विह्वला चाब्रवीद्वचः ॥ ४१॥
I was surprised and curious to know what was happening. So I went there to witness and help the young women and the two old men. The moment she saw me, the young lady stood up seeking help from me.
The young lady said,
बालोवाच
भो भोः साधो क्षणं तिष्ठ मच्चिन्तामपि नाशय ।
दर्शनं तव लोकस्य सर्वथाघहरं परम् ॥४२॥
बहुथा तव वाक्येन दुःखशान्तिर्भविष्यति ।
यदा भाग्यं भवेद्भूरि भवतो दर्शनं तदा ॥ ४३॥
Hello! A well-conducted one, a compassionate one, please wait for a second. I am in a crisis. Please help me. The auspicious one, all the sins will disappear just by seeing you. Only the fortunate will have your sight. Just by conversing with you, all my difficulties shall disappear.
Responding, Narada asked,
नारद उवाच
कासि त्वं काविमौ चेमा नार्यः काः पद्मलोचनाः ।
वद देवि सविस्तारं स्वस्य दुःखस्य कारणम् ॥ ४४॥
Young Lady! Who are you? Who are these old men? Who are the women around you? What is the reason for your sorrow? Please elaborate.
The young lady said thus:
बालोवाच
अहं भक्तिरिति ख्याता इमौ मे तनयौ मतौ ।
ज्ञानवैराग्यनामानौ कालयोगेन जर्जरौ ॥ ४५॥
गङ्गाद्याः सरितश्चेमा मत्सेवार्थं समागताः ।
तथापि न च मे श्रेयः सेवितायाः सुरैरपि ॥ ४६॥
My name is Bhakti and these two are my children, Jnana and Vairagya. We have been tattered by time. See, I am still looking young, but my children have turned old. These goddesses are the life force of various rivers. They have come in their physical animate form. Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, Krishna, Pushkarni, Tungabhadra, Sarayu, Kalindi are their names trying to nurse us in vain.
Though we have been served by Goddess themselves, we are unable to find peace and stability.
इदानीं शृणु मद्वार्तां सचित्तस्त्वं तपोधन ।
वार्ता मे वितताप्यस्ति तां श्रुत्वा सुखमावह ॥ ४७॥
Oh! You appear like a wealth of austerity. My story is pretty much mundane and widespread. Though a repetition to you, I seek your kind and complete attention. Please hear me and bestow peace to us, said the young lady.
Continuing,
उत्पन्ना द्रविडे साहं वृद्धिं कर्णाटके गता ।
क्वचित्क्वचिन्महाराष्ट्रे गुर्जरे जीर्णतां गता ॥ ४८॥
I was born in Dravida Desha, grew up in Karnataka, led a youthful life staying for some time in Maharashtra. But I became old as I reached Gujarat.
तत्र घोरकलेर्योगात्पाखण्डैः खण्डिताङ्गका ।
दुर्बलाहं चिरं याता पुत्राभ्यां सह मन्दताम् ॥४९॥
Though I was young and full of vigor all the time, the dawn of Kali Yuga took a toll on my body. The non-believers of Vedas destroyed my body parts. I was old for a long time. Hence, I had become weak, losing the hue of my charm. So also my children.
वृन्दावनं पुनः प्राप्य नवीनेव सुरूपिणी ।
जाताहं युवती सम्यक्प्रेष्ठरूपा तु साम्प्रतम् ॥५०॥
इमौ तु शयितावत्र सुतौ मे क्लिश्यतः श्रमात् ।
इदं स्थानं परित्यज्य विदेशं गम्यते मया ॥ ५१॥
However, as I stepped into Brindavana along with my children, I became young and youthful. But not my children. They still remain old and are very sad too. Hence, I do not want to stay here anymore. I wish to move to another foreign land.
जरठत्वं समायातौ तेन दुःखेन दुःखिता ।
साहं तु तरुणी कस्मात्सुतौ वृद्धाविमौ कुतः ॥ ५२॥
त्रयाणां सहचारित्वाद्वैपरीत्यं कुतः स्थितम् ।
घटते जरठा माता तरुणौ तनयाविति ॥ ५३॥
अतः शोचामि चात्मानं विस्मयाविष्टमानसा ।
वद योगनिधे धीमन् कारणं धीमन् कारणंचात्र किं भवेत् ॥५४॥
I am shocked and upset. And two of my children are always together. But, have you ever seen a young mother having old children? Why is such discrimination? This has made me sad. You appear as Jnani, very knowledgeable, and a treasure house of yoga. Hence, please tell me what could be the reason for this misfortune.
Narada rishi replies,
नारद उवाच
ज्ञानेनात्मनि पश्यामि सर्वमेतत्तवानघे ।
न विषादस्त्वया कार्यो हरिः शं ते करिष्यति ॥ ५५॥
Sadhvi! A virtuous One! Let me meditate at the lotus of my heart to see through my divine eye. Let me take a look at the reasons for all your difficulties. Meantime, gather courage and do not feel saddened. Lord Sri Hari shall remove all your difficulties and restore happiness.
Sri Sutacharya says,
सूत उवाच
क्षणमात्रेण तज्ज्ञात्वा वाक्यमूचे मुनीश्वरः ॥ ५६॥
Shaunaka! Narada Rishi is well versed in yoga. He has the ability to see the happenings of all three times anywhere in the vast universe. That includes the past, present, and future. He was able to quickly understand the cause of old age to the children of Bhakti.
Narada Rishi says,
नारद उवाच
शृणुष्वावहिता बाले युगोऽयं दारुणः कलिः ।
तेन लुप्तः सदाचारो योगमार्गस्तपांसि च ॥ ५७॥
जना अघासुरायन्ते शाठ्यदुष्कर्मकारिणः ।
इह सन्तो विषीदन्ति प्रहृष्यन्ति ह्यसाधवः ।
धत्ते धैर्यं तु यो धीमान् सधीमान् धीरः पण्डितोऽथवा ॥ ५८॥
Devi! Hear me carefully. Kali Yuga has started for some time now. This is the time of frightful Kali. Hence the conduct of virtuousness, the divine path of Yoga, austerity, and so on have fallen out in the daily life of people.
They have become rascals taking up misdeeds like Aghasura, the demon minister of King Kamsa. Wherever you see, the virtuous are suffering. The miscreants are comfortable and doing well. Therefore, only intelligent and brave are scholars in divine philosophy.
अस्पृश्यानवलोक्येयं शेषभारकरी धरा ।
वर्षे वर्षे क्रमाज्जाता मङ्गलं नापि दृश्यते ॥ ५९॥
Gradually, the weight of earth has been increasing on God Sesha who is carrying it on his hood. Let alone touching, the earth has become unworthy to even see. There is no auspiciousness leftover, said Narad rishi.
Continuing, Narada rishi said,
न त्वामपि सुतैः साकं कोऽपि पश्यति साम्प्रतम्।
उपेक्षितानुरागान्धैर्जर्जरत्वेन संस्थिता ॥ ६०॥
Devi! Nowadays, no one is climbing the stairs of spirituality. Nor has anyone the blessings to see you along with your children. There is no Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya left in the present-day people of Kali Yuga. Everyone is engaged in day-to-day activities and worldly matters.
वृन्दावनस्य संयोगात्पुनस्त्वं तरुणी नवा ।
धन्यं वृन्दावनं तेन भक्तिर्नृत्यति यत्र च ॥ ६१॥
Only due to your arrival to Brindavana, you have become young. This is because of the greatness of Brindavana, People here are soaked with devotion towards Lord Sri Krishna. In your various forms, you have been dancing to your glory in the hearts and minds of the people of Brindavana.
अत्रेमौ ग्राहकाभावान्न जरामपि मुञ्चतः ।
किञ्चिदात्मसुखेनेह प्रसुप्तिर्मन्यतेऽनयोः ॥ ६२॥
However, no one is intending for your children, Jnana and Vairagya. Hence, they are unable to give up their old age yet. It is the greatness of Brindavana that makes the appearance of your children as if in deep sleep. Also, they have got some divine happiness here, said Narada Rishi.
Narada Rishi, having already visited and assessed the happenings on the earth, assured the young lady, Bhakti that the situation would get better. He told one should gather all the courage, face Kali & his family and win over him like a brave soldier fighting in battle surrounded by enemy soldiers.
As people with affection have been occupied with themselves, their near & dear, and have no time for devotion towards Lord. Hence you all have become very old. As you stepped into Brindavana, the devotion sprouted here in the people. They are singing the names of Radha Krishna and their glory. This has made you young again. However, the people of Brindavana were not influenced by your children. They have not yet taken up the study of divine scripture nor given up worldly matters. Only for the reasons of devotion, they faintly breathe.
Bhakti asks Narada rishi,
भक्तिरुवाच
कथं परीक्षिता राज्ञा स्थापितो ह्यशुचिः कलिः ।
प्रवृत्ते तु कलौ सर्वसारः कुत्र गतो महान् ॥६३॥
करुणापरेण हरिणाप्यधर्मः कथमीक्ष्यते ।
इमं मे संशयं छिन्धि त्वद्वाचा सुखितास्म्यहम् ॥ ६४॥
Why did King Parikshit spare the sinner, Kali? His control over various walks of life has taken away the quality of all materials. How does the compassionate Lord accept the difficulties suffered by his devotees? The divine one! By hearing you, I am feeling a little peace. The muddle in my mind is settling. Please clarify all my doubts.
Hari Om
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
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