Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - Stree Stuti

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. 

|| Hari Om ||

Om Krishnaya Namah

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकीनन्दनाय च ।

नन्दगोपकुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥

Sri Krishna! Being a hope to the imprisoned Devaki & Vasudeva caused happiness by mesmerizing Nandagopa, Gopikas and even the Goddess of abundant beauty. Vasudeva! creation, sustenance, destruction and so on is a sports charm of you. Govinda! you are the cause & protector of Vedas.

Krishna, Vasudeva, Devaki Nandana, Nanda Gopa Kumara, Govinda, 
My repeated salutations to you.

नमः पङ्कजनाभाय नमः पङ्कजमालिने ।

नमः पङ्कजनेत्राय नमस्ते पङ्कजाङ्घ्रये ॥

My salutations to the Lotus of the navel. My salutations to the Lotus garlanded.

My salutations to Lotus petal eye. My salutations to the Lotus feet.

व्यासाय भव नाशाय श्रीशाय गुण राशऐ ।

हृद्याय शुद्ध विद्याय मध्वायछ नमो नमः ॥

Charming & the beloved Vyasa, the destroyer of emotional & behavioral disorders, the Lord of Goddess of abundance having heaps of attributes, bestower of clean knowledge, my repeated salutations to you and Acharya Madhwa.

यः स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥

This Srimad Bhagavatam gives the experience of the Lord and has the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta. It sheds spiritual light on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death and birth which is wrapped in ignorance. However, it is very secretive in nature. Hence, I pray to you Sri Shukacharya for your continued blessings.

यद्भनौ यत्क्र्शानौ यदमृतकिरणे यद् ग्रहेषू दितेषु

ज्योतिर्यत्तारकासु प्रथितमणिषु यद्यच्च सौदामिनिषु ।

सम्भूयौतत् समस्तं त्वदमितह्रदयाकाशनिर्यत्प्रकाशे

धीर श्रीराघवेन्द्रव्रतिवरभजते हन्त खद्योतरीतिम् ॥

The brightness of the Sun, Fire, Moon, Planets, Stars, Gems, Precious stones and Lightening put together is just like a firefly near the astonishing brilliance emanating from your lotus of Heart wherein the five forms of Lord Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha, Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna and Sriman Narayana are present in a significant way bestowing you the Brahmavarchas or the Sacred Knowledge.

Gentle & Holy Sage, Sri Raghvendra, भजते, I worship you by surrendering myself.

In that golden era of Pandava rule, all were devout Vaishnavas. Were they Kshatriyas taking care of borders or running the administrations or Brahmins doing priesthood or practicing Vedas or were they Shudras doing services like farming, or expert in skills of carpentry or forging gold & iron or they herded cattle and supported tradesmen, or were they Vaishyas doing trade or business or managing logistics all had their heart filled with bhakti towards Sri Krishna. So too, were young and old, men and women all had their heart dipped in bhakti.

The Lord is supreme. The way one needs to remember the Lord always is illustrated in this Srimad Bhagavata by himself in his form of Veda Vyasa through the noble women of Hastinapura. As Lord greeted and moved forward towards chariot, Arjun was holding the white umbrella, Satyaki, and Uddhava were fanning, the play of orchestra was melodious.
The noblewomen of Hastinapura had decorated their houses, they had drawn rangoli in front of their houses and stood all over to catch a glimpse of Lord. They bid farewell to Lord Sri Krishna known by the divine verses, and as the supreme Atma in all beings. These women had surrendered their hearts to the extremely charming Lord Manohara. They admired, praised and talked among themselves about their Lord saying,

स वै किलायं पुरुषः पुरातनो य एक आसीदविशेष आत्मनि ।

अग्रे गुणेभ्यो जगदात्मनीश्वरे निमीलितात्मन् निशि सुप्तशक्तिषु ॥ २१॥

Friends! Isn’t he the earliest man? The supreme Lord? When the whole universe was destroyed, all the nonliving substance made of Prakriti was converted to its subtle form as Pralayodaka or water. The water that is indistinguishable as Satvika guna, Rajasika guna or Thamisika guna. When the Goddesses Sri, Bhu and Durga responsible to influence Prakriti had taken-up the form of water, pupil leaf, and darkness respectively becoming inactive. And all souls starting from God Brahma to a blade of grass had fallen asleep in their latent form. The supreme universal soul provided refuge to all the souls in his stomach and slept alone on the pupil leaf. Isn’t he the same Sriman Narayana?

स एव भूयो निजवीर्यचोदितां स्वजीवमायां प्रकृतिं सिसृक्षतीम् ।

अनामरूपात्मनि रूपनामनी विधित्समानोऽनुससार शास्त्रकृत् ॥ २२॥

It is He who has founded and set forth the Vedas. With a desire to give name and form to Atma, it is He who is motivated with his astonishing vigor started creation using Prakriti. Goddess Mahalakshmi is the ‘Jiva Maya’ influences Prakriti and just by raising her eyebrows, she instructs even the best of being God Brahma who is more than keen to serve at her feet. Also God Garuda, Shesha, Shiva to even a blade of grass. Even in such a powerful Goddess, Mahalakshmi is the Lord as her Indweller.

As ‘Jiva Maya’ having the three forms of Sri, Bhu, and Durga, Goddess Mahalakshmi ties all the three types of Jiva to Prakriti and confines them to death & birth. In her form of Sri influencing Satvika Guna, she confines uttama or the best who is capable to accomplish bliss & Vaikunta. As Bhu influencing Rajasika Guna, she confines the second type who is madyama or mediocre and would swing them between happiness and sorrow i.e. Heaven, Earth, and Hell. With her third form of Durga influencing Tamasika Guna, she binds the third type who is adhama or worse and who would work hard to accomplish only Hell.

The other two forms of Goddess Mahalakshmi are ‘Atma Maya’ through which she is at the command of Lord as his Iccha Shakti or will power and executing the same; as ‘Guna Maya’ she influences all nonliving substances.

The power to Goddess MahaLakshmi for creating delusion, bind the Jivas with Prakriti, and causing name & form is the blessings of Lord. Though He appears being अनाम or without popularity lacking name & fame, as all his deeds are not known to anyone; He appears as if he is working hard to accomplish the same through Goddess Mahalakshmi; Also, he is अरूपात्म, having no form made of Prakriti like God Brahma to a blade of grass, he has entered in all Jivas to be a part in them. He is the only authority standing untouched, moves the world forward and governs.

स वा अयं यत्पदमत्र सूरयो जितेन्द्रिया निर्जितमातरिश्वनः ।

पश्यन्ति भक्त्युत्कलितामलात्मना नन्वेष सत्त्वं परिमार्ष्टुमर्हति ॥ २३॥

The yogis who do rigorous practice and get perfection in controlling their sense organs, gain knowledge through rigorous studies, develop a desire to hear and sing Lord’s names and fame. Hearing & singing the name and fame of Lord, they reach the crescendo to accomplish pure heart. In such, the lotus of heart blossoms flowing the nectar of bhakti. It is this very Lord, Paramatma whom we are seeing, says one to her fellow noblewomen. As she says, her eyes fill with tears of joy and fear. She pleads,

“Oh my Lord! Please don’t let this knowledge in me of your Lordship, Supremacy, Compassion, Generosity, and so on, lessen. My Lord! Let this remain at all times and in each of my birth.”    

In fact, it is only doing bhakti in this Lord would purify the consciousness of Jivas and not through any other methods of yoga.

स वा अयं सख्यनुगीतसत्कथो वेदेषु गुह्येषु च गुह्यवादिभिः ।

य एक ईशो जगदात्मलीलया सृजत्यवत्यत्ति न तत्र सज्जते ॥ २४॥

Lord Veda Vyasa and the other devotees of high intellect have composed texts embedding secrets into Vedas and others scriptures praising & propounding the glory of this very Lord. Being only one and having all other beings as his Ishwarya or wealth is the Isha, the Lord. Being stainless and dazzling, He creates; protects; destroys; regulates; confines by bestowing knowledge & ignorance; and releases with moksha and stays uninfluenced by doing so. Friends! We are seeing that very Lord here said another noblewoman of Hastinapura.  
  

यदा ह्यधर्मेण तमोधियो नृपा जीवन्ति तत्रैष हि सत्त्वतः किल ।

धत्ते भगं सत्यमृतं दयां यशो भवाय रूपाणि दधद्युगे युगे ॥ २५॥

The Kings and rulers of the country need to protect the subjects, ensure peace and enable prosperity. However, when the Kings themselves accept Tamasika Gun and walk the path of adharma including exploitation. Then the Lord appears from time to time. He accepts Satvika Guna to protect the virtuous as Dharma, Bhaga, Satya, Ruta, Eshas, and Daya.

As Dharma, he upholds the one falling; As Bhaga, he has enormous wealth and makes it available to his devotees; Lord is full of bliss. As Satya, he brings happiness to his devotees; As Ruta, Lord composes scriptures including interpretations to bring knowledge to his devotees; In Vedas, Vedanta bhaasya, Ithihasa, and other scriptures, He is the protagonist. He has the highest fame as Eshas. And as Daya, he is Karunakara or the compassionate.

Hence, the Lord protects the wealth, upholds truth & justice and brings fame through compassion.

अहो अलं श्लाघ्यतमं यदोः कुलमहो अलं पुण्यतमं मधोर्वनम् ।

यदेष पुंसामृषभः श्रियः पतिः स्वजन्मना चङ्क्रमणेन चाञ्चति ॥ २६॥

Oh! Wonderful! How great is the clan of Yadhus! The Lord of abundance, Sripati has appeared in their clan of Yudhus bringing them respect and fame. Also, his appearance has made the Madhuravan, divine and auspicious. His walk and play as a child embellished Madhura. Madhura remains splendid.

अहो बत स्वर्यशसस्तिरस्करी कुशस्थली पुण्ययशस्करी भुवः ।

पश्यन्ति नित्यं यदनुग्रहेषितं स्मितावलोकं स्वपतिं स्म यत्प्रजाः ॥ २७॥

Oh! Wonderful! Even the city of Dwarka has surpassed the fame of heaven. And has brought about significant fame to the region of the earth as pure, divine and auspicious. Also, the Lord has blessed the people of the city through his charming and tight-lipped smile. Hence, they receive the mercy and compassion of the Lord at all times. They are fortunate being blessed to have the view of Lord Sri Krishna. 

नूनं व्रतस्नानहुतादिनेश्वरः समर्चितो ह्यस्य गृहीतपाणिभिः ।

पिबन्ति याः सख्यधरामृतं मुहुर्व्रजस्त्रियः सम्मुमुहुर्यदाशयाः ॥ २८॥

Friends! I wonder how many numbers of births, those respectable women have propitiated the Lord through the vow of austerity including bathing in divine rivers, visiting holy places, fasting, and so on to hold the hands of Lord. That could be the reason why the handsome Sri Krishna having every part of the body stunning shares an intimate friendship with the fortunate girls of Gokula. His captivating lips arouse a taste surpassing their most liked fruit. Hence, they hold him tight and kiss his lips to drink the sweet अमृतं or the nectar of अधर or lip. That too, मुहुर् continuously. And are lost in the ecstasy thinking of him. 
  

या वीर्यशुल्केन हृताः स्वयंवरे प्रमथ्य चैद्यप्रमुखान् हि शुष्मिणः ।

प्रद्युम्नसाम्बाम्बसुतादयोऽपरा याश्चाहृता भौमवधे सहस्रशः ॥ २९॥

एताः परं स्त्रीत्वमपास्तपेशलं निरस्तशौचं बत साधु कुर्वते ।

यासां गृहात्पुष्करलोचनः पतिर्न जात्वपैत्याहृतिभिर्हृदि स्पृशन् ॥ ३०॥

Lord Sri Krishna killed the strong Shishupala and others to reduce the weight of sin on mother earth. In swayamvara, through his strength and talent, he got married to the Ashtamahishi, namely Rukmani, Jambavati, Satyabhama, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra, and Lakshana, the mothers of Pradyumna, Samba and others.

He released thousands of women held illegally by Bhaumaasura in the jail after defeating and killing him. He gave refuge to these thousands of women by marrying them. Doing so, the Lord destroyed the superstitious belief that women are not of pure conscious, nor independent and eligible to take-up job of propitiating Lord. In fact, he brought high esteem to the brilliance of women folk.

Whatever glory be described of these wives of Lord Sri Krishna by whomever! No matter, how much ever! But they have their Lord as Bhagavan Sri Krishna having the lotus-like beautiful eyes. Being naughty & playful, they receive the Parijata flower yielding trees from their Lord. Mischievously sometime, gently serious sometimes invoke the bliss of love without missing a second are always in his company! How fortunate are these wives of Lord? wondered the womenfolk of Hastinapura.

एवंविधा गदन्तीनां स गिरः पुरयोषिताम् ।

निरीक्षणेनाभिनन्दन् सस्मितेन ययौ हरिः ॥ ३१॥

This way, as the women of Hastinapur, talked about the glory. The handsome Lord Sri Krishna with his tight-lipped smiled and expressed his love, affection, and goodwill through eyes. He conveyed his greetings appearing in each of those women’s lotus of the heart. He left them behind wonderstruck and spellbound.      

अजातशत्रुः पृतनां गोपीथाय मधुद्विषः ।

परेभ्यः शङ्कितः स्नेहात्प्रायुङ्क्त चतुरङ्गिणीम् ॥ ३२॥

Sri Krishna was accompanied by chaturanga sena with four armed battalion constituting chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers. The King Yudhitira, an ajatashatru having no enemies was extremely sensitive to the journey of his dear friend Sri Krishna. Hence, he had arranged battalion as protection during the journey.

अथ दूरागतान् शौरिः कौरवान् विरहातुरान् ।

सन्निवर्त्य दृढं स्निग्धान् प्रायात्स्वनगरीं प्रियैः ॥ ३३॥

The separation with the dearest friend had overwhelmed Pandavas. Hence, they were following Sri Krishna. However, Sri Krishna insisted their return to Hastinapura and sped up along with Arjuna, Stayaki, and others as they had planned.  

|| Hari Om ||

Surya 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 ||