Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Impassionate Dasi Putra, Vidura

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 ||

Hare Srinivasa

कल्यण अद्भुत गात्राय कामितार्थ प्रदयिने ।

श्रीमद् वेन्कटनाथाय श्रीनिवासय ते नम: ॥

Your benevolence for granting wishes is incredibly vast and unsurpassed.

Divine Lord Venkateshwara! Destroyer of Sins! An abode of Mahalakshmi! Srinivasa!

My salutations to you.

भवाय नस्त्वं भव विश्वभावन त्वमेव माताथ सुहृत्पतिः पिता ।

त्वं सद्गुरुर्नः परमं च दैवतं यस्यानुवृत्त्या कृतिनो बभूविम ॥ ७॥

Vishwabhavana! From you, the whole universe has arisen. Suhrtpati! You are the mother, the father, you are the friend, as well as our teacher. Sadguru! It is you, who makes us walk on the right path. You are our lord, as well as being worshipped. We are safe and successful by taking refuge in your lotus feet which are auspicious. 

Lord! You are the only cause of our success.

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.

दयादाक्षिण्यवैराग्यवाक्पाटवमुखाङिकतः ।

शापानुृग्रहशक्तोऽन्यो राघवेन्द्रन्नविध्यते ॥

The face symbolizing Compassion; Modesty; Dispassion towards sensual pleasure; Eloquence; Power to remove curses is none else than you, Guru Raghavendra. My salutations to you.

The interest in worldly issues and topics is the cause of taking rebirth on earth. When we are able to refrain from involving in any worldly issues or topics or things, we will become eligible for moksha. The cause for the refraining could be several reasons. One is the difficulties that we have encountered over the number of births which keeps us away from messing up life.

Some would not get inspired to lie or use bad words. For some, being patient and refraining from anger would be natural. Some would refrain from corruption and hoarding illegal money. There are a large number of people who are happy and content, though having money sufficient for just two square meals. Similarly for dress & jewelry, while some are fond of fashionable dress and some are not so passionate. Thus, avoiding restlessness, intolerance, or anxiety. These virtues or winning over weakness to worldly issues or topics or things have happened over several births. But those who have accomplished dispassion over all worldly issues or topics or things are eligible for moksha.

The other cause of dispassion is of an external source. The example could be parents teaching their children to refrain from bad company, or substance abuse. So too, teachers, elders, or even spouses may advise or government rules or social stigma may keep us away from misdeeds having bind with the worldly matter. All these are of the external type. As the reason is external.

However, when a jiva takes a spiritual path, accomplish spiritual progress through Bhakti yoga, by hearing the Lord's glories, singing & meditating his attributes or Dhyana yoga, wearing his form on the memory or Dhaarana yoga, worshipping him, going on pilgrimage, and so on. Then the purification of consciousness takes place causing dispassion towards worldly matters naturally or Sahaja yoga.

Even after having lost 100 sons, and the kingdom to the Pandavas, King Dhritarashtra would have come to terms with life. Being the oldest of the Kuru dynasty, the Pandavas treat him admirably well with all royal luxuries. Hence, King Dhritarashtra remains attached to the day to day activities of life forgetting the objectives of Purushartha. In this part of Srimad Bhagavata, Lord Veda Vyasa gives the example of his story from Mahabharata to teach one of the important Bhagavata Dharma of Vairagya or dispassion. Let’s take a look at that.     

Sri Sutacharya says,

सूत उवाचविदुरस्तीर्थयात्रायां मैत्रेयादात्मनो गतिम् ।

ज्ञात्वागाद्धास्तिनपुरं तयावाप्तविवित्सितः ॥ १॥

Sri Shaunaka! The great Vidura during his pilgrimage had met Maitreya Rishi. He was a great philosopher. From him, Vidura had gained the spiritual knowledge on the transcendental philosophy required to surpass the intense cycle of death. All that he had to know was explained by Maitreya Rishi and also all his doubts were clarified. With such enlightenment, one day, Vidura returned to Hastinapura. 

यावतः कृतवान् प्रश्नान् क्षत्ता कौषारवाग्रतः ।

जातैकभक्तिर्गोविन्दे तेभ्यश्चोपरराम ह ॥ २॥

Vidura had enormous bhakti or devotion towards the Lord. Having all his doubts clarified, he had accomplished all that he had to accomplish. The divine peace had dawned on Vidura.

तं बन्धुमागतं दृष्ट्वा धर्मपुत्रः सहानुजः ।

धृतराष्ट्रो युयुत्सुश्च सूतः शारद्वतः पृथा ॥ ३॥

गान्धारी द्रौपदी ब्रह्मन् सुभद्रा चोत्तरा कृपी ।

अन्याश्च जामयः पाण्डोर्ज्ञातयः ससुताः स्त्रियः ॥ ४॥

प्रत्युज्जग्मुः प्रहर्षेण प्राणं तन्व इवागतम् ।

अभिसङ्गम्य विधिवत्परिष्वङ्गाभिवादनैः ॥ ५॥

मुमुचुः प्रेमबाष्पौघं विरहौत्कण्ठ्यकातराः ।

राजा तमर्हयांचक्रे कृतासनपरिग्रहम् ॥ ६॥

Sri Shaunaka! Seeing the arrival of the uncle Vidura, King Yudhishthira along with his brothers, Dhritarashtra, Yuyutsu - The only leftover son of Dhritarashtra born to the maid of Gandhari, Sanjaya – The charioteer of  Dhritarashtra and who gave a live commentary of the great war of Kurukshetra to Dhritarashtra, Kripacharya, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Subhadra, Uttara, Kripi, along with other men and women members of the family along with their children. received. They did so with their heart filled with zest. With this, Vidura who was tired because of the long travel regained his energy. His transformation appeared like a dead body coming live. Each one of them who came to receive him paid respects by offering salutations expressed their love and welcomed Vidura. The sadness of separation with Vidura for a long time had disappeared among everyone and the tears of joy had rolled down without giving a clue. In fact, it was only after some time they realized and started wiping their cheeks. King Yudhishthira offered Vidura a seat and paid reverence.     

तं भुक्तवन्तं विश्रान्तमासीनं सुखमासने ।

प्रश्रयावनतो राजा प्राह तेषां च शृण्वताम् ॥ ७॥

After Vidura took bath, had food, and was relaxing, King Yudhishthira holding him in high esteem and filled with humility addressed Vidura and asked questions to him with a voice audible to all assembled.

We have heard the story of Yama Dharmaraja being cursed by Manduka muni to be born as Shudra in chaturvarna or the four varnas of Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and Brahmana. Vidura is an incarnation of Yama Dharmaraja and was a Dasiputra or the son to the maid of Ambika and Ambalika through Lord Veda Vyasa. Vidura literarily means wise, intelligent and a skilled one.

While self-esteem is great, but supremacy or a passion towards a particular caste is not a tenet of Sanatana Dharma. Mahabarata illustrates that though Vidura was of Shudra varna, Lord Sri Krishna was pleased with him, stayed in his house, and had blessed him with Aparoksha or Atma Jnana.

Vadiraja Tirtharu (1480 – 1600), was a great saint and he is believed to be the next God Vayu in the coming Kalpa. To bust the myth and prejudice of caste system, he has composed the song “Ava kulavo Ranga” praising Lord Sri Krishna and his supremacy, the indweller of one and all. Let’s take a look at English lyrics and translation of “Ava kulavo Ranga”

Ava kulavo Ranga, ariyalagadu ||

Ava kulavendariyalagadu govakaivagollanthe ||

Devalokada Parijatha hoovu satige tandanante ||

Of which caste are you, Ranga? I am ignorant

I am ignorant of the caste of a cowherd taking care of the cows

And the one who brought the celestial flowers of Parijatha to his wife

Gokuladalli Puttidanante govugallannu kaydaanante |

Kolalanudi mruga pakshigala maralu madidanante ||

Taralatanadi orala nigaahi marava muridu matte hari |

Tereda bayolageerelu lokava irisi taayige tordanante ||

 Seems, you took birth in Gokula to take care of cows

Played the flute to mesmerize the animals and birds

Also, it’s told that being mischievous used the wooden mortar and felled the twin trees

Keeping this vast universe in your mouth opened it to show the rest six and seven regions.

Of which caste are you, Ranga? I am ignorant

Gollatiyara maneya pokku kallatanava maddanante

Ballida putani vishavanundu mellane Trunana kondanante

Pakshi tanna vaahanavante haavu tanna haasigeyante||

Mukkanna tanna mommaganante muddu mukhada chelvanante

Seems, you entered the house of fellow cowherds to steal

Consuming the poison that evil Putani breastfed, killed even the evil Trunavarta easily

Also, it’s told that the Bird, God Garuda is your vehicle and the snake, Sesha is your bed

The three-eyed God Rudra is your grandson, yet you have a beautiful, charming baby face

Of which caste are you, Ranga? I am ignorant

Karadimagala tandanante Sharadhimagalu madadiyante

Dharaniyannu bedidanante Irelu lokada Odeyanante||

Hadaginindali bandanante kadala dadeyali nindanante |

Odane Madhvarigolidanante Odeya Hayavadanante||

Seems, you brought the daughter of the bear Jambavanta and made the daughter of Yamuna as your wife

Also, it’s told that you begged for three-foot steps of Land from Bali, though being Lord of this whole universe

Traveling in a ship seems you arrived and stood at the shores of Udupi. 
And was immediately pleased with Acharya Madhva and it seems you are the Lord Hayavadana.

Of which caste are you, Ranga? I am ignorant

For Sound bites, may wish to follow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxfSbFAux0   

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||