Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam 10 – Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha to Uplift of Dundukari

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.

Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha to Uplift of Dundukari

After Atmadeva had left his home to take up vanaprastha ashrama, Dundukari used to beat-up his mother and took away all her wealth. Dunduli unable to manage her son jumped into a well and committed suicide. Gokarna became more pious and was on a pilgrimage visiting Holy places. He maintained a very low relation with the material world. Hence, in happiness or dejection, friends or enemies, relatives did not bother him and remained at peace & tranquil. 

Dundukari continued with his bad habits and had illicit relations with five women. All of them started staying in the house.

These women would always have demanded valuable things. To meet their demands, Dundukari, would attack the travelers and rob them. By robbing profession, he had accumulated a lot of wealth. Seeing this, his five women friends thought that Dundukari had a lot of wealth. They were worried that if Dundukari gets caught, they may also have to face the law. Hence they planned to murder him and take away the wealth. 

Like every day, Dundukari returned home in the evening after having completed his day’s affairs. His five women welcomed him, served him food and they slept for the day. In the midnight when Dundukari was fast asleep, all the five women together tied-up his hands & legs. When Dudukari opened his mouth to scream. They stuffed cloths into his mouth and wrapped his face. Also, they put a noose at his neck and tightened it to choke him to death. However, Dundukari continued to breathe. Being desperate, they covered his face with burning coal and killed him.  After they killed him, they dug a pit in an unused corner of the house and buried the body on the same night.

The death of Dundukari was not known to anyone in the village. On any acquaints enquiry of Dundukari, the five would say that he had gone to a foreign land for earning money. 

So, Sanatkumara says that one should not have an affair with women who are socially insensitive. While they talk as if very loving & caring, but they will ultimately bid badly. And further continues to tell the story.

Later, these five women distributed the stolen wealth of Dundukari among themselves. They abandoned the house and disappeared. Meanwhile, Dundukari, for all the crime he had done, had to become a ghost. He had to leave on this earth like wind and without a form or body. Without appearance, he had to wander and face the heat of the Sun or the wetness of the Rain. He had to face extreme hunger and thirst without being able to eat to fill his stomach nor drink water to quench his thirst. This way he was struggling day and night. Having no one for help, he would scream to God for help. 

Gokarna, who had been on pilgrimage returned home and heard the happenings with Dundukari from neighbors. Being concerned for Dundukari and worried if he had to assume ghost, carried out Shraddha or ceremony for peaceful passway of the dead. Also, he carried out Shraddha in Gaya and in all places of pilgrimage he made. These way having done shraddha for dead and pilgrimage, Gokarna returned to his place. As the sun had set, being dark, he went to the house where Dundukari would live and slept that night outside the house. In the midnight, shocking horror awaited him. He could see a Ghost that was taking different forms like that of Ram, Elephant, and Buffalo. Also, it appeared in the form of Indra and Agni Gods. Sometimes in the form of Human. 

Having seen the ghost, Gokarna without being scared wondered that someone has done a lot of sins and suffering badly. He enquired the ghost, who was he? What is the reason that you had to have such a violent form? Are you a Preatha, dead person or a Pishacha, Ghost or Brahma Rakshasa, Spirit of dead Brahmin? Tell me the truth! However, having no voice, the ghost made some signs. Hence, Gokarna took some water in the hand and after repetition of mantra seeking the Lord's help, threw it on the Ghost. With the strength of the mantra, the Ghost was able to speak and narrated his story. The Ghost says I was your older brother, Dundukari in my previous life. For all my sins, I don’t have a Passway to other worlds. I cannot draw a conclusion that the sins I have done is within some limits. I had become a danger to society. I am surviving on air. It was those women whom I trusted and believed were the reason for my death. You have to help and free me from my present status for my prosperity.  

Gokarna was surprised and told the Ghost that he has been doing Shraddha or ceremonies for peaceful passway in various holy places including the holiest, Gaya with proper procedure. However, that had not helped the diseased Dundukari. Hence, Gokarna asked the ghost to suggest the way forward. The Ghost said to Gokarna that performing hundreds of Shardha would also not help as he was a big sinner. The Ghost seeking help told Gokarna that he should find a different remedy. Gokarna not knowing the way forward asked the Ghost to return to its place and assured it that he will try to find a way forward from the more learned. 

Gokarna spent the night thinking about how to help his deceased brother. After, dawn he got up. He exchanged greetings with his neighbors and narrated the fate of Dundukari. He asked remedy from learned, Yogis & Saints but in vain. They could not find any remedy written in any dharma shastra. Hence, they suggested him to seek the help of Sun who is a witness for all happenings. Gokarna started praying the Sun God. Without blinking his eyes, he meditated and made the Sun stop still. He prayed for the blessing of Sun God and repeatedly asked the way for getting mukti to his past brother, Dundukari. The Sun God pleased with Gokarna’s devotion suggested through a voice from the sky to perform Bhagavata Sapthaha. All those present around him also heard the message and were pleased. 

Gokarna with full of enthusiasm and devotion took-up the dhiksha or initiation for parayana or reading of Srimad Bhagavata. He followed all procedures including Brahmacharya or vow of chastity very strictly. This news spread far and wide. People from towns, cities, and villages started flocking to participate in Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha. People who were handicapped also reached there. All congregated with a sense of purpose and feeling of remorse to get rid of their past sins. They were with full of devotion and keen to move closer to the Lord. Gokarna with cleanliness sat on a dais and had a Vishnu Bhakta sitting in front of him as a main Shrothru or audience. 

As he started, the ghost of past Dundukari also arrived there. It was not visible to anyone. Without giving any clue to anyone settled on to hollow bamboo. The hollow bamboo was appropriate and had seven joints. It was placed on the corner of the dais. Gokarna, following all the procedures, started reciting Srimad Bhagavata. He narrated the philosophical investigation of stories in Srimad Bhagavata for day to day application. 

As he completed the first day’s portion of Srimad Bhagavata, a loud sound of rupture was heard from the bamboo. All the people there were surprised. They saw that a bamboo lying in the direction of sound had ruptured at a joint. However, no one could understand the correct reason for the rupture. Even on the next day as Gokarna concluded the second day’s portion, similar incidence happened with the second joint of bamboo getting ruptured with a loud sound. Similarly, each day the scenario repeated with one joint rupturing as Gokarna concluded the day’s portion. 

In seven days, Gokarna had completed all twelve Skanda or chapters of Srimad Bhagavata. In these seven days, Dundukari had left his Ghosthood and acquired a divine form. He was wearing a garland of Tulsi or Basil leaves. Also, he was wearing yellow robes. He appeared in his dark skin like the color of monsoon cloud. He wore a gold crown and fish-shaped earrings that was studded with jewels. As he took this divine form, he thanked Gokarna for helping him to get rid of Ghosthood.

Hari Om

Sri Krishnarpanamastu