Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam 03 - The Pain of Bhakti and the Vow of Narada rishi

Hari Om

My highest Salutations to Lord Narasimha, the destroyer of ignorance and in whose abode resides the Goddess of abundance. My repeated Salutations to him at whose service are Gods themselves at all time. Also, my scaled Salutations to all Gods that includes Hanuman, Sarasvati, Garuda, Sesha, Shiva, Narada, Dhruva, Prahalada who are always brimming with devotion and are never exhausted at the service of Lord. My utmost Salutations to Srimad Acharya and all the Gurus of the lineage through whom the nectar of Bhagavata Shastra has been flowing and seek the shelter of Guru Raghavendra at all times.

The Pain of Bhakti and the Vow of Narada Rishi

The young lady, Bhakti and her two old children Jnana & Vairagya tattered with times of Kali, the Lord of Evil, in Brindavana, asked Narada Rishi that why didn’t Parikshit raja order death of Kali and allowed him a place on this earth? How could Lord see the difficulties of Virtuous?

Though Kali Yuga started on the day Duryodhana died, he could not influence till Lord Krishna was appearing on earth. In fact, he had to face the law when he tried to influence adharam. He was pardoned without a death sentence by Lord Krishna. Subsequently, Yudhishthira none other than God of Dharma & Bheemasena an avatar or incarnation of Mukhya Prana pardoned Kali without death. While he took his first step when Lord Krishna disappeared from earth and the second step when Pandavas did swargarohan or left to Heaven. Hence Kali Yuga started from the day Lord Krishna disappeared from the earth. Again, during the rule of Parikshit raja, he was caught for his misdeeds. When Parikshit raja pulled his sword out to kill, Kali fell at his feet seeking shelter and survived.

Also, the Virtuous who could not do rigorous austerity, meditation, Yoga, in earlier Yuga of Dwapara had to get a chance to reach the feet of The Lord. Hence, the weak or fragile ones could also accomplish pleasing The Lord by singing his glory and repeating his names very easily. Being kind & generous to the Virtuous, the Vaishnava, Yudhishthira, Bheemasena and Parikshit raja left Kali to live and conduct his Yuga.

Narada Rishi having clarified the above, he further explained that during the Kali Yuga all living & non-living will lose its characteristics and strength by becoming polluted. This includes The Soil, Water, Fire, Air, Food, Plants, Trees, animals, and human. The spiritual activities by priests have also been losing the strength as they too have been engaging in trade for food. Also, the spiritual activities that could yield moksha & liberate from the cycle of death & birth, are also losing its strength as the persons doing this have no control over their senses or indria and have become greedy, miser, angry, etc. The Holy Rivers and Holy places are losing its strength as bad people doing heinous crimes, non-believer and atheist are settling there. Also, these places are fretted with disputes and controversy.

Narada Rishi sings the Glory of Bhakti:

Young Lady, why are you so worried! By recollecting and seeing the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna in one’s mind all sorrow will disappear. Lord Krishna protected Draupadi in the middle of the assembly. So too, he protected the Gopikas of Brindavana. You are the most affectionate, to Lord Krishna and he attends you from wherever and however inferior or mean a place that you may be. That means, even if one is not having any authority or he is poor or may not look good or have diseases or an outcast or may be abandoned by society, but if he prays to the Lord with devotion or bhakti, The Lord will immediately respond. In Satya, Treta, Dvapara Yugas, one had to work very hard to earn Jnana & Vairagya. However, in Kali Yuga, one can earn only through Bhakti.

Narada Rishi recollects and says Young Lady, Bhakti that when The Lord created you, with folded hands filled with Bhakti, you asked him, how you could serve? Lord replied that you should take care of his devotees. You have accepted the instructions of Lord. With whomever you are there, he will get Jnana, Vairagya for liberation. The people of Brindavana have desired you and hence Jnana & Vairagya are still alive. So don’t be worried, we will find a way out.

Narada Rishi takes the vow, I will ensure that in each individual who takes birth in this dark Kali Yuga with Virtue, you will be founded in them, else let me not be known as Hari dasa or attendant of Lord. Even in the highest sinner, if Bhakti sprouts, he will surely get liberated from this cycle of death and birth.

Neither ghost nor the spirit of dead nor evil being nor one supported by evil spirit can touch a Vishnu Bhakta or one who has devotion in the Lord. Neither an ascetic, nor the one who has studied Vedas, nor the one who has done good deeds can please the Lord without Bhakti. However, asceticism with bhakti, Studying Vedas with Bhakti, doing good deeds with Bhakti would please The Lord. The Gopikas of Brindavana is a good example where they were able to please Lord Krishna with Bhakti. Only after thousands of birth does bhakti start budding and one would start confessing he should work on Bhakti. If one deceives Bhakti or a Bhakta or devotee, it would not do well for them. Though, Dhurvasa none other than Lord Rudra had a difficult time after blaming King Ambrisha, a dear Bhakta of Lord. It is worthless to do vratas or ceremony with a vow or go on pilgrimages, or Yoga, or homa, the Fire ceremony or rigorous reading of scripture. However, doing the same vrata, or pilgrimage or Yoga, or homa or reading scripture with Bhakti will liberate from the cycle of death & birth, Said Narada Rishi.

The Young Lady, Bhakti, having heard Narada rishi’s praises became hale & hearty, oozing with full of strength & vigor. The Young Lady, Bhakti, said, Dear Narada, I am very pleased and thankful to you without a stain. You are great and I will be always present in your mind, thoughts, and consciousness. The kindest one, I request you to revive my sons Jnana & Vairagya.

The most generous and kind-hearted Narada Rishi, touching Jnana & Vairagya started invoking those Gods responsible. He started uttering Vedas, Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahasaranama in their ears and asking them to wake up. While Jnana & Vairagya got up but were tired. They could not open their eyes nor sit. They appeared very hungry and weak. Having heard Vedas, Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahasaranama, they sat for a moment and again laid down unconscious. Hence, Narada Rishi became anxious, worried and helpless. Narada Rishi prays to Lord Govinda, Lord Bhargava and seeks his help. To everyone’s surprise, a voice without a body from the sky is heard. It says, don’t worry Narada Rishi, you will be able to revive Jnana & Bhakti. You need to perform a good deed and will be told to you by saints. Be assured that once this is done Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya will recover to their glory.

Narada Rishi having heard the voice from the sky was surprised and clueless on the deed or the saint to be approached. So too the Bhakti and all the Goddess of rivers. Leaving all behind in a safe place at Brindavana, Narada Rishi proceeds to find the saint. He starts going from one holy place to another and one hermitage to another talking to saints and virtuous, citing the situation of Jnana & Vairagya and seeking if they could help in any way. But in vain. However, he reached Badri and performed austerity or Tapa.

Hari Om


Sri Krishnarpanamastu