Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1- The Influence of Arishadvarga and Gunas For Bhakti

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear, and clean knowledge. 

|| Sri Veda Vyasaya Namaha ||

|| Hari Om ||

Always being satisfied, having no expectations with full of attributes, stainless, creates, sustains, destroys, regulates all non-living including liberates all living just by expression of his attributes is the only Lord having the Lordship. My salutations to HIM. My Salutations to Goddess Lakshmi who always wonders about the attributes of Lord to whom she is dearest. By assigning the most important and difficult task of locating Goddess Sita or getting the Sanjeevani, has been dear to Lord. My Salutations to Prasanna Hanuman in whose abode resides Goddess of Bhakti. Appearing always as sweet sixteen and bitten the sweetest fruit of all seasons and in whose orchestration only the best of Bhagavatas like Indra, Bali, SanatKumara, Uddhava, Narada, Prahlada, Dhruva, do sankeertana, my salutations to Sri Sukacharya the dear son of Lord and all the Bhagavatas. By repetition of whose name the quintessence of Vedas would be understood easily, my prostration to such Guru Sri Raghavendra.

नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया ।
भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥
By serving Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavatas regularly and taking its refuge, all inauspicious will get destroyed. Also, Lotus of the heart filled with nectar called devotion towards the all auspicious and most popular Lord, Sri Krishna will flow constantly.

Detailing the process to hone Bhakti, Sri Suthacharya says,

As the desire in the stories of Lord Increases, नित्यं भागवतसेवया or our daily service towards Bhagavatas and Srimad Bhagavatam will start manifesting. This results in भक्तिर्भवति or bhakti in भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके or the one who has most special fame, The Lord. Hence, नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु, destruction of all possible (प्राये) sins or inauspiciousness is achieved. As the destruction of all sins cannot be achieved in the human form on earth having linga sharira. This is even after Aparoksha Jnana or Sight of the Lord. Sins would be there and hence sorrow too. But not like that of ordinary, very less though! Only after the destruction of linga sharira all sins will get destroyed and would be devoid of sorrow. The linga sharira bhanga will happen after dipping in Viraja Nadi. Hence, Sri Suthacharya is telling probably all sins have been destroyed. However, र्भवति नैष्ठिकी or one’s devotion becomes consistent. Even during most difficult times too, one would have devotion.

तदा रजस्तमोभावाः कामलोभादयश्च ये ।

चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥

The Arishadvarga having the influence of Rajo Guna and Thamo Guna will start disappearing and the mind will be stainlessly concentrated with Satvika Guna.

The Basic Constituent, Prakriti and its Guna.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Mangalacharna continued, understanding Jada Sristi we noted the following:

Tejovarimrudam yata vinimayo, from the processing of Fire, Water, and Soil, an earthen Pot is made by a potter.

Like the Potter makes earthen Pots, so too the Lord creates mahat-tattva, ahamkara tattva and all non-living Substance including Fire, Water, and Soil made of three Gunas and being in several forms of himself enters these non-living substance and is called Jada Sristi.
For a better understanding and to have clarity, we shall take the help of slokas from Bhagavad Gita:

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः ।

निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् || BG 14-5 i.e. Bhagavad Gita, 14th Adhyaya, 5th Sloka||

तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् ।

सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ॥ BG 14-6॥

रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् ।

तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ॥ BG 14-7॥

तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् ।

प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ॥ BG 14-8॥

The Prakriti constitutes Jada or non-living substance with three Gunas of viz. Satvika, Rajasika, and Thamasika. They would bind over the Jiva or being tightly who is not destructible. The Chaitanya or living Prakriti, Goddess Mahalakshmi will take three forms of Goddess Sridevi, Bhoodevi and Durgadevi who are responsible for Satvika, Rajasik and Tamasic Guna respectively during the creation.

Of this, Satvika Guna influenced by Goddess Sridevi is stainless and the reason for acquiring knowledge, curing the defects of diseased and binds the being to the Lord and Gods through a desire for Happiness and Knowledge.

Rajasika Guna influenced by Goddess Bhudevi is the reason for entertainment and would bind the being with action. The action to satisfy the desire. The desire for objects or subject or issues.

The reason for Ignorance or wrongful knowledge is Thamasika Guna influenced by Goddess Durgadevi. This causes negligence, dissolution, laziness, and sleepiness. The extreme of this is expressed in Lord of Kali and his evil associates.

Indrias, The Product of Prakriti.

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।

तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् || BG 3-29 i.e. Bhagavad Gita, 3rd Adhyaya, 29th Sloka||

Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna that the Indrias or Sensory Organs generated from Prakriti are engrossed and stuck with actions. Hence, the knowledgeable ones who knows this should not mislead the others.

The sensory organs include the Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, and Skin. Also, manas or mind and buddhi or intellect.

Indrias and the Influence of Gunas.

रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत ।

रजः सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तमः सत्त्वं रजस्तथा ॥ BG 14-10॥

Under the control of the Lord, when Satvika Guna increase in a being the Rajasik and Tamasic Guna comes under its control. Similarly, Rajasika Guna increase in a being the Satvika and Thamasika Guna comes under its control. While Thamasika Guna increase in a being the Satvika and Rajasika Guna comes under its control. The influencing Goddess takes the lead and the rest two would ignore.

सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते ।

ज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत ॥ BG 14-11॥

लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा ।

रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥ BG 14-12॥

अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च ।

तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥ BG 14-13॥

When all the sensory organs are glowing with knowledge and happiness than Satvika Guna would be dominant. If stinginess, hard works without any result, engaging in satisfying the sensory organs, confusion and restlessness mean the dominance of Rajasika Guna. Dullness, laziness, forgetfulness and indiscriminate behavior towards good deeds mean the dominance of Tamasic Guna.

ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसाः ।

जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः ॥ BG 14-18॥

Those of Satvika Guna, with the power of Knowledge accomplished by Prasada or blessing of Lord, go to the higher worlds of Jana Loka and beyond. Those of Rajasika Guna, satisfying the desire of sensory organs will move in the middle worlds of Heaven and Earth. The ones with Thamasika Guna filled with ignorance and carrying out bad deeds go to the lower worlds of Hell and beyond.

The behavior of Indrias.

To Arjuna’s question that though an individual doesn’t want to commit Sins, due to some pressure he does. Who motivates this?

Lord Sri Krishna says, 

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।

तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥ BG 3-34॥

Each of the sensory organs has likes and dislikes. Hence, are associated with Kama or Desire, Krodha or Anger, Lobha or Greed, Moha or Attachment, Mada or Pride and Matsarya or Jealousy or Arishadvargas. These likes and dislikes are impediments to one’s progress and hence should not get subjugated to these organs.

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।

महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ BG 3-37॥

The one who instigates Sin is the evil Kalanemi through his power to create DESIRE. And so too KRODHA or RAGE.

These two manifest from Rajasika Guna. No amount would satisfy the desire. The dissatisfaction would lead to Anger. These are the reasons for committing Sins. The desire is the cruelest enemy impending progress.

Of all six Arishadvargas, Kama or Desire is the most powerful one as it is a cause for the other five viz. Anger, Greed, Attachment, Pride, and Jealousy. Hence, one should make all efforts to control desire.

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।

यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥ BG 3-38॥

Like a smoke covering the Fire, the dirt & impressions covering the mirror, Amniotic sac covering the baby in the womb, the desire has engulfed the whole of beings.

Here, Lord Sri Krishna is saying that, like a smoke covering the Fire called Lord, the dirt with impressions covering the mirror called mind, Amniotic sac covering the baby in the womb-like being, the desire has engulfed the whole of beings.

When the smoke engulfs the fire, the brightness of the fire cannot be seen. Similarly, the smoke called desire of the being obstructs the sight towards oneself and the All-knowing Lord Paramatma who glows brightly. When the dirt with impressions covers the mirror, the reflection of the image in the mirror is not clear. So too the mind. When the mind is exposed to the dirt and impressions of desire, it cannot reflect on oneself nor the indweller, the Lord clearly. As the baby in the Amniotic sac of a mother’s womb is incapable to do any of its activity. So too the being. Not be capable to carry out an activity of knowing oneself or the indweller, the Lord.      

Also is like a smoke covering the Fire called good beings, the dirt & impressions covering the mirror called mediocre, Amniotic sac covering the baby in the womb called evil beings is the Power of Desire.

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते ।

एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ॥ BG 3-40॥

Through the Sensory Organs, Thoughts and Intellect, the desire will take a foothold in a being and starts regulating the knowledge to mislead.  

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।

मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥ BG 3-42॥

Better than Body is Sensory Organs. Still better is Thoughts and more is Intellect. Supreme is the Indweller, The Lord.

Similarly, the Gods responsible to influence the Sensory Organs and their King Indra is surpassed by Goddess Parvati responsible for understanding and she is surpassed by her husband God Rudra responsible to influence the mind. God Rudra is surpassed by Goddess Bharati and Saraswati who are responsible to influence Intellect. Bharati, residing in the abode of God Prasanna Hanuman, an incarnation of Vayu is Goddess of Bhakti. The Kshara or destructible Gods Vayu and Brahma, the best of beings has surpassed all Gods. The Akshara or indestructible Goddess Lakshmi responsible to influence Prakriti surpasses Gods Brahma and Vayu.  The best of all is Lord Purushottama surpassing Kshara and Akshara.  

    

Sri Krishna

Actions for Next Steps

Hence, Lord Sri Krishna asks Arjuna,

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।

पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥ BG 3-41॥

Control the Thoughts and the Sensory Organs that are feeding the Thoughts. Gain knowledge and take up a deep study of Indoctrinations or Shastra to Destroy the Desire or Evil Kalanemi.

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।

जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥ BG 3-43॥

By understanding the Lord Paramatma through intellect and controlling the thoughts, Trump over the enemy called Desire or Evil Kalanemi.

However, in Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Dharma, Kama, Artha, Moksha through an eye of Bhakti we noted that:

The quest to know about the Lord and understand him in itself is very special. One should have a burning Desire to know about Him. As much, as one struggles to push himself out for breath when pushed into the water. Also, of the essence of all Shastras, the one which gives special benefit is

भक्तिरधोक्षजे or Bhakti in Lord Adhokshaja.

 The Bhakti dharma is the manner one needs to live as defined in Shastra.

This is the Bull’s eye.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 – Bhakti in Lord Tattva, we noted that:

The Lord who is unchanged from past, present and in future has his form as knowledge and bliss. There is no one equivalent to him or surpassing Him. He has the complete knowledge for creation, sustenance, destruction,etc., of the universe. He is also well known as Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan. Hence, the Philosophers call him Tattva.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 – The Pursuit to hone Bhakti, we noted:

Having great trust & belief in Lord Tattva, Rishis study the Bhagavata Shastra repeatedly to gain Jnana and Vairagya. This would blossom the Lotus of Heart, Bhakti and glow the Light of Love towards the Lord. They would see the

Splendid Lotus-eyed Lord in their Heart.

Hence, Sri Suthacharya is saying here, in this part of Srimad Bhagavatam that,
By serving Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavatas regularly and taking its refuge, all inauspicious will get destroyed. Also, Lotus of the heart filled with nectar called devotion towards the all auspicious and most popular Lord Sri Krishna will flow constantly. 

Hence, the Arishadvarga having the influence of Rajo Guna and Thamo Guna will start disappearing and the mind will be stainlessly concentrated with Satvika Guna.

It is important to remind ourself from Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Dharma, Kama, Artha, Moksha through an eye of Bhakti of:

Any practice, even spiritual! Which does not generate delight of hearing the glory of Lord is just a labor and of no use. The Lord Vishvaksena has his army in every nook and corner of the creation. He controls and commands. 

|| Hari Om ||

Arghya

Keraya neeranu kerege chelli, Like pouring back the water from the lake,

Varava padedavarante kaaniro, Be seen as blessed.

Hariya karunadolaada bhagyava,
The accomplishments happening due to Lord Hari's grace,

Hari samarpane maadi badukiro, Credit back to Lord Hari.

Sri Purandara Vithala raayana Charana kamalava nambi badukiro.
Live to have trust in the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Purandara Vithala.

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

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