Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam 12 - The Power of Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha organised by 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, Rudra, 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 Bhagavatam Shastra has been flowing. I seek the shelter of Guru Raghavendra at all times.

The Power of Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha organized by Narada Rishi 

As Narada Rishi thanked Sanatkumara for guiding and narrating Srimad Bhagavatam in Sapthaha, the most knowledgeable, the king of Yoga and the son of Lord Veda Vyasa, Sri Shukacharya arrived at the gathering.

तत्राययौ षोडशवार्षिकस्तदा व्यासात्मजो ज्ञानमहाब्धिचन्द्रमाः ।

कथावसाने निजलाभपूर्णः प्रेम्णा पठन् भागवतं शनैः शनैः ॥ ७८॥
दृष्ट्वा सदस्याः परमोरुतेजसं सद्यः समुत्थाय ददुर्महासनम् ।
प्रीत्या सुरर्षिस्तमपूजयत् सुखं स्थितोऽवदत् संशृणुतामलां गिरम् ॥ ७९॥

Sri Shukacharya

He had the divine charisma, appearing always as Sixteen years old was as pleasant as full moon reflecting in the Sea of knowledge. Having accomplished all that needs to be accomplished, was gentle and reciting the verses of Srimad Bhagavata filled with devotion. The bright and glowing Sri Shukacharya being a Guru or the teacher of Srimad Bhagavatam for all those who had assembled, the moment everyone saw him arriving the assembly, they got-up and offered him salutations with great respect and devotion. Narada Rishi came to the fore, washed his feet with water and sprinkled that water on all the assembled including himself with full of respect and devotion. 

After having taken the seat, Sri Shukacharya addressing the gathering said this:

निगमकल्पतरोर्गलितं फलं शुकमुखादमृतद्रवसंयुतम् ।

पिबत भागवतं रसमालयं मुहुरहो रसिका भुवि भावुका ॥

Hey, Virtuous & Warm-hearted ones, Lord Vishnu's bhaktas, you are having a taste for spiritual experience. In a tree called Vedas which is kalpavruksha or a wish-fulfilling, the tastiest fruit has been borne. Like the tastiest fruit is bitten by Shuka or Parrot and the saliva of parrot further increases the taste. So too, Srimad Bhagavata narrated by me Shuka is elaborated literature of Vedas is like the juice of fruit from the tree of Vedas and easy to relish. All of you enjoy and relish the Juice as also being done by the Virtuous of the higher world till you get moksha.

धर्मः प्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् ।

श्रीमद्भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वरः सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभिः शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात् ॥

Srimad Bhagavata contains the complete knowledge of Dharma which holds one from falling down, purifies and puts on to the path leading to The Lord. This path seeks continued practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising The Lord without any jealousy or expectation nor being deceptive. While being on the path, removes all sorts of difficulties, bestows prosperity, makes one sajjana or virtuous and solidify bhakti or devotion. Hence, Srimad Bhagavata composed by The Lord Veda Vyasa himself is great and guarantees to reveal The Lord who is always present in the heart of all the individuals.

Srimad Bhagavata is like a tilaka or the mark on the forehead among all Puranas. Also, is like a treasure for all those believers of Lord Vishnu and also to ones who have sacrificed everything and taken up Sanyasi Ashram. Not only it imparts knowledge but is also like a handbook for Serious Practitioners leading them to Mukti. One who hears or reads this Srimad Bhagavatam will get mukti. This elaborated Srimad Bhagavatam was not composed in Satya Loka, Svarga Loka or Heaven, Kailasa, Vaikunta by the Lord Veda Vyasa. This is exclusive for the people of Kali Yuga on this earth. Hence, one could forego anything in his life but should try to practice Srimad Bhagavatam always.

As Sri Shukacharya was talking, Lord Sri Hari appeared in his majestic form. He had four shoulders holding Chakra, Shankha, Gada, and Padma, wearing Yellow robes, full of ornaments and smiling. He was wearing the mark of Srivatsa in his chest wherein Goddess Lakshmi in her pleasant face was in her deep meditation trying to observe the Lords attributes unfolding like trying to hold a wave of water gushing down the mountains. He was towering in the middle of Prahalada, Bali, Uddhava, Arjuna and his other dear devotees. Narada Rishi filled with devotion offered the Lord arghya and padya and made him sit on the highest pedestal. As the Lord seated, all started doing nama sankeertana or singing the praises of the Lord. To watch this God Brahma along with Goddess Saraswati and God Rudra along with Goddess Parvati came from Satya Loka & Kailasa.

As Prahalada started with tala or clapping with hand and fingers with a rhythmic beat to set-off the melodic raga, Uddhava started clapping with brass tala, Narada Rishi played Veena, Arjuna started singing with raga of the music, Devendra was playing mrudangam. As Arjuna started singing, Sanakadi munis were repeating Jai Jai phrases at appropriate points of the song. Lord’s son Sri Shukacharya orchestrated the music. As they got absorbed, they were perplexed to see several forms of Lord in Shruti and in one form of Lord as their attention moved to svara. Their admiration for the Glory of the Lord was unimaginable to the people on earth. Among all of these Gods, Bhakti, Jnana & Vairagya were dancing to the music in ecstasy.

As the music ended, Narada Rishi submitted the sankeertana to Lord. The Lord for whom the devotees are most dear said that I am pleased with your act of singing, so ask me any boon that you wish to have. The best of Bhagavatas always involved with Lord without any expectations to themselves requested the Lord only to make his presence along with them in a significant way in all those devotees who conducts or participates in Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaha. Lord blessing the same said so be it and disappeared. 

Starting with Sri Shukacharya, all prostrated to the place where Lord last stood or to the invisible footprint. That included Sanatkumar, Narada Rishi and all other Rishi including Brighu Rishi. The Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya who had taken their physical form were found into Srimad Bhagavatam by Sri Shukacharya. For any sort of poverty, sorrow, a physical disorder including fever, Illusion, ghosthood, black magic including crossing over the sea of death and birth Srimad Bhagavatam would solve. 

Hearing Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam from Sri Sutacharya, Saunaka Rishi asks when did Sri Shukacahrya narrate to Parikshit Raja and when did Gokarna and SanatKumara narrate. Please clarify.

Sri Sutacharya says, Thirty years after the disappearance of Lord Krishna, on the 9th thiti in the bright period of the month Bhadrapada, Sri Shukacharya started narration for seven days with Parikshit Raja as main Shrothru or audience. About Two hundred years thereafter Gokarna narrated Srimad Bhagavata starting Ashad shuda navmai for seven days. We have also read that in the month of Sravan of the same year, Gokarna repeated. Thirty years thereafter i.e. about 260 years after the disappearance of Lord Krishna, Narada Rishi organized Bhagavata Sapthaha in Ananda, Haridwar on the banks of Ganga and Sanatkumara narrated Srimad Bhagavata. 

Sri Sutacharya further says that the only medicine to cure psychological illness. It is very dear to the Lord, the Lord resides in it, kalikalmasha or the filth created by pollution of Kali can be cleaned only by Srimad Bhagavata. Gives bukti or all materialistic happiness and then mukti. Everyone should hear with respect and devotion. Gives better results than going to pilgrimage said Sutacharya. 

The assistants of Yama Raja, the God of death would always be on their toes looking out to take the life of people who have expended their lifespan on earth. However, Yama Raja keeps instructing his assistants saying, make no mistake of touching Lord Vishnu’s devotees or Vaishnava’s or those who have the desire to hear Lord’s Stories. They are not under my jurisdiction. They will be dealt with by the messengers of Lord Vishnu.

In this materialistic world where there is little substance, don’t get consumed. Relish the flavor of the Juice of Srimad Bhagavatam for at least half an hour a day. Parikshit raja who joined the Lord’s feet by hearing Srimad Bhagavatam is the witness! Says Sri Sutacharya who was present and witnessed Parikshit raja leaving his physical body to join Lord’s feet. Further, he says that those who are always narrating the verses of Srimad Bhagavatam would become Kings in the Vaikunta. 

This is the Philosophy of all Philosophies or quintessence of Philosophy. The best for purification of mind for those desirous to accomplish success. There is nothing which is not in one’s reach if one hears or reads or narrates Srimad Bhagavatam with attention towards procedure and devotion! Says Sri Sutacharya. Hence, let’s pray to our Gurus and their indweller, Lord, that let us be blessed with the service of Srimad Bhagavata at all times and particularly during the last moments of our Life. Let Srimad Bhagavatam fill our heart.

Hari Om

This auspicious Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam has been recorded by Lord Veda Vyasa in Uttara Khanda of Padma Purana.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Shukacharya in the second skandha, 4th adhyaya, the 17th verse says following Bhagavata dharma:

तपस्विनो दानपरा यशस्विनो मनस्विनो मन्त्रविदः सुमङ्गलाः ।

क्षेमं न विन्दन्ति विना यदर्पणं तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १७॥

There is no assured happiness at all times, even if one does the best of Penance or the highest Charity or is a famous Celebrity or is the brightest mind or knows the entire Vedas or is the most Prosperous unless he offers his Penance, or Charity or Fame or Intelligence or Knowledge of Vedas to that Splendid, full of Auspicious and Renowned Lord. My Salutations to such Lord.

The whole of Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam, what has been read, understood and written by me in these twelve blogs is only of my limit. Also, this little has been possible only because of the blessings of Guru Sri Raghavendra and all his philosophical associates including Sri Shukacharya. Hence, I submit to them in who resides, Mukya Prana and in whom resides various forms of Lord including Srinivasa, Lakshmi Narasimha and Veda Vyasa who are not different. Hari Om. Sri Krishnarpanamastu.