Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Story of Pandavas ascent to Heaven
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.
My salutations to you.
कामं ववर्ष पर्जन्यः सर्वकामदुघा मही ।
सिषिचुः स्म व्रजान् गावः पयसोधस्वतीर्मुदा ॥ ४॥
Yudhishthira’s kingdom had abundant food supplies. There was peace
and prosperity everywhere. The rain gods were very supportive of the needs of
farmers and made enough water available to plants, animals, and human
requirements. The mother earth made sufficient minerals available for the
material required for life. Also, people were frugal and satisfied without
causing an environmental imbalance. The cows had their udders full of milk and
would drop it on earth without being able to hold.
नद्यः समुद्रा गिरयः सवनस्पतिवीरुधः ।
फलन्त्योषधयः सर्वाः काममन्वृतु तस्य वै ॥ ५॥
The rivers, sea, mountains, plants & creepers bearing spices, all
yielded their riches sufficiently in all seasons in the righteous kingdom of
Yudhishthira.
In all, the kingdom & its people had gained the favor of Sridevi,
the Goddess of abundance.
Sri Sutacharya continues to say,
ययाहरद्भुवो भारं तां तनुं विजहावजः ।
कण्टकं कण्टकेनेव द्वयं चापीशितुः समम् ॥ ३२॥
पृथाप्यनुश्रुत्य धनञ्जयोदितं नाशं यदूनां भगवद्गतिं च ताम् ।
एकान्तभक्त्या भगवत्यधोक्षजे निवेशितात्मोपरराम संसृतेः ॥ ३३॥
निशम्य भगवन्मार्गं संस्थां यदुकुलस्य च ।
स्वःपथाय मतिं चक्रे निभृतात्मा युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ३४॥
Sri Shaunaka! Like removing a thorn stuck in bare feet with another
thorn, the unchanging Lord Tattva without death and birth had made use of Yadhu
clan to kill all the wicked and scandalous Kings. Thus reducing the weight of
Sin on mother earth.
Like, after plucking out a thorn from bare feet with another thorn and
throwing both away, Lord had created hatred among the Yadhu clan making them
kill themselves. Lord had done so maintaining equanimity between virtuous and evil.
After hearing that the incidence from Arjuna that Lord Sri Krishna had
left to his abode in Vaikunta and the near & dear relatives of Yadhu clan
had died, King Yudhishthira became निभृतात्मा, sated with all his desires including to
establish a righteous world. So, he decided to give up his kingship and ascend
to heaven.
It is noteworthy that the Pandavas had committed to one and only, Lord Sri
Krishna. They were resolute that they would be on this earth as long as Lord
Sri Krishna appeared. They had no desire
in ruling the kingdom, nor enjoy the perks, nor had they attachment with any worldly pleasure. The moment they heard the departure of Lord Sri Krishna
to Vaikunta, they too decided to give up everything on this earth and go to heaven.
King Yudhishthira represents our adherence to righteousness;
Bheemasena represents Bhakti or Devotion, Jnana or Knowledge, Vairagya
or Dispassion, Pragna or Prudence, Medha, or the Mental Power, Dhruti, or being
Resolute, Sthiti or Perseverance, Yoga, or Synchronization with the Axiom, Prana, or the Life Force and Bala or strength in us.
Arjuna represents spiritual practice through hearing and study.
Nakula & Sahadeva represents Charitra or conduct & Vinaya or
humility
As a practitioner of yoga, the five Pandavas representing the five good
qualities are required in us. They would be present in us as long as we
remember Lord Sri Krishna, sing his names that describe his attributes,
praises his fame, and glory.
Considering our body as the land of a dwelling of Lord Si Krishna, stopping to propitiate him is like the Lord disappearing from this
earth. And hence, the five Pandavas would decide and leave this earth to heaven.
यथा मत्स्यादिरूपाणि धत्ते जह्याद्यथा नटः ।
भूभारः क्षपितो येन जहौ तच्च कलेवरम् ॥ ३५॥
Like the various forms of Matsya, Kurma, Vamana, and so on taken by the
divine protector, Lord had taken the form of Sri Krishna in the Yadu clan. He
made that form of Sri Krishna disappear from the earth to go to his abode of
Vaikunta.
यदा मुकुन्दो भगवानिमां महीं जहौ स्वतन्वा श्रवणीयसत्कथः ।
तदा हरेवाप्रतिबुद्धचेतसामधर्महेतुः कलिरन्ववर्तत ॥ ३६॥
The form of Lord Sri Krishna is worthy of being worshiped. Through which
he exhibited his sport’s charm, he brought delight, divinity, and
auspiciousness in this world. The moment he disappeared, the Kali Yuga causing
wickedness and entanglement of the innocents and discriminates with worldly
pleasure had started.
In the metaphysical sense, Srimad Bhagavata says clearly that Kali will
step into those minds at the time where there is no remembrance of Lord Sri
Hari and in the hearts having no devotions to Lord Sri Hari.
युधिष्ठिरस्तत्परिसर्पणं बुधः पुरे च राष्ट्रे च गृहे तथाऽऽत्मनि ।
विभाव्य लोभानृतजिह्महिंसनाद्यधर्मचक्रं गमनाय पर्यधात् ॥ ३७॥
The intelligent and smart king, Yudhishthira noticed the aggression with
which Kali operated the cycle of greed, lies, hypocrisy, violence, wickedness,
and doing unjust by entering into the minds of people living in each house in
his capital city, towns, and villages. Hence, King Yudhishthira, the symbol of
righteousness understood that his time of departure had come. He decided to
take up the journey to heaven.
स्वराट् पौत्रं विनयिनमात्मनः सुसमं गुणैः ।
तोयनीव्याः पतिं भूमेरभ्यषिञ्चद्गजाह्वये ॥ ३८॥
King Yudhishthira, the emperor of the planet earth wrapped by the sea of
water as its robes announced that he will relinquish from the lordship. He
considered a humble and well mannered Parikshid was equal to him, as his successor for the throne of Hastinapura.
He coronated his grandson as King of Hastinapura.
मथुरायां तथा वज्रं शूरसेनपतिं ततः ।
प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमग्नीनपिबदीश्वरः ॥ ३९॥
Lord in his form of Anirudha had ruled the Kingdom of Shoorasena at
Mathura. He too coronated his son Vajranabhi as the King in Mathura. Meanwhile,
King Yudhishthira carried out the death ceremony of all his near and dear
including those who had died in Dwarka.
We had noted that Lord Sri Krishna had taken another form of Pradyumna as his son. Also, he had taken the form of Anirudha, the son of
Pradyumna. The sons of Krita Verma and Satyaki were coronated as the Kings of
Indraprastha.
After coronating Parikshid as emperor, King Yudhishthira handed over
Parikshid raja to Kripacharya requesting him to be his Guru. Then,
King Yudhishthira announced to the common public in the capital that he will
take-up Maha Prastana to proceed to his place of origin.
विसृज्य तत्र तत्सर्वं दुकूलवलयादिकम् ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः सच्छिन्नाशेषबन्धनः ॥ ४०॥
King Yudhishthira removed the exclusive royal dresses of the king he was
wearing. He removed the ornaments including his crown, bracelets, necklaces, and
wristband. Shedding all his pride and prestige and without having a
trace of feeling sadness, he gave-up all that caused materialistic pleasure and
bound the soul with a cycle of death and birth.
वाचं जुहाव मनसि तत्प्राण इतरे च तम् ।
धृत्या ह्यपानं सोत्सर्गं तं पञ्चत्वे ह्यजोहवीत् ॥ ४१॥
त्रित्वे हुत्वा च पञ्चत्वं तच्चैकत्वेऽजुहोन्मुनिः ।
सर्वमात्मन्यजुहवीद्ब्रह्मण्यात्मानमव्यये ॥ ४२॥
King Yudhishthira meditated on Gods on the lower hierarchy dissolving
into those of higher. Like the Gods responsible to influence Indriyas or
sensory organs into their Lord, Indra. The dissolution of God Indra into
Goddess Parvati.
King Yudhishthira knew that the speech has its birth in the mind. Hence,
he meditated, वाचं जुहाव मनसि i.e. the dissolution of Goddess Parvati Devi influencing speech, into
God, Shiva responsible to influence the mind.
God Shiva has his origin in Prana Vayu, the provider of life force.
Prana is in his five forms of Prana, Vyana, Udana, Samana, and Apana. So, the
God Shiva तत्प्राण would dissolve in the Prana form of five Vayus.
इतरे च तम् i.e. Vyana would dissolve into Prana. And, धृत्या ह्यपानं i.e Apana would dissolve into Prana
having Vyana within. Then, त्रित्वे हुत्वा च पञ्चत्वं i.e Udana & Samana dissolves into the Prana with Vyana and Apana.
These, पञ्चत्वं forms of Prana, Vyana, Udana, Samana, and Apana dissolve in their basic
and primary form of तच्चैकत्वे i.e Mukya Prana.
The Mukya Prana too dissolves into the सर्वमात्म or the indweller Lord in each of
the beings. And that very Lord is ब्रह्मण्यात्मानं or no different from the
omnipresent and अव्यय or imperishable Lord. This was the order of Meditation done by the
Pandavas under the leadership of King Yudhishthira. And is the same order of
dissolution of this whole universe.
This is called Brahma Yagna. The confinement of a being in a cycle of sorrow-stricken death &
birth is released by doing this Yagna at the time of death.
चीरवासा निराहारो बद्धवाङ्मुक्तमूर्धजः ।
दर्शयन्नात्मनो रूपं जडोन्मत्तपिशाचवत् ॥ ४३॥
Subsequently, Pandavas wrapped themselves with ordinary clothes, gave up
food & water to take up the vow of silence. They had completely lost an
attachment to their individual body. They had realized that the body was made
by processing non-living substances like water, earth, fire, air, and either.
Hence, treating so, the Pandavas appeared in disarray. Their hair was
scattered, clothes were unkempt, and they appeared like ghosts and goblins.
अनवेक्षमाणो निरगादशृण्वन् बधिरो यथा ।
उदीचीं प्रविवेशाशां गतपूर्वां महात्मभिः ।
हृदि ब्रह्म परं ध्यायन् नावर्तेत यतो गतः ॥ ४४॥
The Pandavas had earned a lot of love and affection from the ministers,
priests, attendants, administration staff, and from all the subjects of the
kingdom through their righteous rule. Hence, the people of the kingdom became
dejected and sorrow-stricken hearing the announcement of King Yudhishthira to
take up Maha Prastana of proceeding to his place of origin in heaven.
However, the Pandavas were sucked in a meditative state. Only the Lord,
his names, his attributes, his glory, his fame had occupied them. Hence, being strong-hearted and resolute they
left towards the Himalayas in the North like a blind seeing nothing and a deaf
hearing nothing.
सर्वे तमनुनिर्जग्मुर्भ्रातरः कृतनिश्चयाः ।
कलिनाधर्ममित्रेण दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्टाः प्रजा भुवि ॥ ४५॥
ते साधुकृतसर्वार्था ज्ञात्वात्यन्तिकमात्मनः ।
मनसा धारयामासुर्वैकुण्ठचरणाम्बुजम् ॥ ४६॥
Bheemasena, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva saw the advent of immorality,
wickedness, jealousy, greed, and so on in the people by the aid of Kali. Realizing
that they too had very little space in the mind and consciousness of people,
followed King Yudhishthira going towards the Himalayas in the North with their
mind occupied in the lotus feet of the Lord.
तद्ध्यानोद्रिक्तया भक्त्या विशुद्धधिषणाः परे ।
तस्मिन् नारायणपदे एकान्तमतयो गतिम् ॥ ४७॥
अवापुर्दुरवापां ते असद्भिर्विषयात्मभिः ।
विधूतकल्मषा स्थानं विरजेनात्मनैव हि ॥ ४८॥
As the Pandavas meditated the lotus feet of Lord in their heart, they
reached the highest pinnacle of devotion. Hence, their mind got completely
purified with crystal clear and continuous thoughts of the supreme Lord.
As our mind is desirous of various current topics that are muddled with
different thoughts can never achieve progress, such progress was achieved by
Pandavas. They realized pure consciousness.
द्रौपदी च तदाज्ञाय पतीनामनपेक्षताम् ।
वासुदेवे भगवति ह्येकान्तमतिराप तम् ॥ ४९॥
Observing that the Pandavas had achieved the highest state of serenity,
Draupadi too accomplished the highest state of serenity by completely
submitting herself to the Lotus feet of Lord as was done by Pandavas.
With the enormous yogic power, they had gained by the
blessings of Lord Sri Krishna, the Pandavas disassociated themselves with their
body and shed it on earth to travel to heaven.
They merged with their original forms in heaven.
We had noted in Mahabharata the Book of Seekers that the oldest tradition of Sanatana Hindu scriptures outlines the process to understand the axioms of the fundamental nature of reality. These realities have been depicted by the omnipotent Lord himself, with his dearest, and devout Gods by showing up on this earth. Though the Lord can "ईच्छा मात्र जगत् सृष्टि" i.e create the entire universe by wishing so, however expressing his compassion towards you and me to understand the Metaphysics, the fundamental realities he came down to earth. In fact, Sri Krishna was there in the present place of Mathura. And the war did happen in Kurukshetra. Also, the same has been recorded by Lord Veda Vyasa in the form of stories.
Hence, our body including the sensory organs, mind, and intellect too is the form of mother earth in the metaphysics observing the fundamental nature of reality. Like Lord Sri Krishna had shown up in Dvapara yuga, so too, the omnipresent Lord Sri Krishna will be exhibiting his sports charm in us when we remember him, his Lordship, sing his names having a description of his attributes, fame, and his glory. Therefore, as long as the sensory organs, mind, and intellect do the service of Lord, the body becomes the dwelling place for Lord, till such time does exist Dharmaraja in one of his forms supporting and aiding us towards adherence to righteousness. Else, Lord would be dormant in his Yoga Nidra making King Yudhishthira to walk away to his place of origin. Hence, in other words, in those Jiva who have no thoughts of Lord, nor they sing and propitiate Lord, or those who are distant from Lord have no dharma. In The Subject, Eligibility, and Fruit, we had extensively understood dharma including its definition as one that holds us from falling down.
Hence, our body including the sensory organs, mind, and intellect too is the form of mother earth in the metaphysics observing the fundamental nature of reality. Like Lord Sri Krishna had shown up in Dvapara yuga, so too, the omnipresent Lord Sri Krishna will be exhibiting his sports charm in us when we remember him, his Lordship, sing his names having a description of his attributes, fame, and his glory. Therefore, as long as the sensory organs, mind, and intellect do the service of Lord, the body becomes the dwelling place for Lord, till such time does exist Dharmaraja in one of his forms supporting and aiding us towards adherence to righteousness. Else, Lord would be dormant in his Yoga Nidra making King Yudhishthira to walk away to his place of origin. Hence, in other words, in those Jiva who have no thoughts of Lord, nor they sing and propitiate Lord, or those who are distant from Lord have no dharma. In The Subject, Eligibility, and Fruit, we had extensively understood dharma including its definition as one that holds us from falling down.
The life force to a being is provided by Mukya Prana. His form is
Bheemasena representing Bhakti or Devotion, Jnana or Knowledge, Vairagya or
Dispassion, Pragna or Prudence, Medha, or the Mental Power, Dhruti or being
Resolute, Sthiti or Perseverance, Yoga, or Synchronization with the Axiom, Prana, or the Life Force and Bala or Strength. In him and only through his support of
bhakti, jnana, vairagya, and so on could we accomplish Lord Sri Krishna. As we
do so, Lord Sri Krishna and Dharmaraja start dwelling in us.
So, as long as Bheemasena providing the life force bestows Bhakti, Jnana, Vairagya, Pragna, and so on, Lord Sri Krishna will be actively exhibiting his sports charm in us. Also, Dharmaraja dwells in us, so does exist a practitioner like Arjuna
accomplishing perfection and target through the spiritual practice of hearing
and study. The outcome of the practice
of Arjuna gives birth to Nakula & Sahadeva representing Charitra or conduct
& Vinaya or humility in us.
Sri Sutacharya says,
यः श्रद्धयैतद्भगवत्प्रियाणां पाण्डोः सुतानामिति सम्प्रयाणम् ।
शृणोत्यलं स्वस्त्ययनं पवित्रं लब्ध्वा हरौ भक्तिमुपैति सिद्धिम् ॥ ५१॥
Sri Shaunaka! Hearing this divine,
auspicious, and the purest story of the Pandava's journey to heaven with full
faith, attention, and devotion; the story of the journey of the devout and dear
friends of Lord Sri Krishna would yield Bhakti in the lotus feet of Lord. The
Bhakti inturn yields Mukti shearing the bind of the cycle of death and birth.
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां प्रथमस्कन्धे पाण्डवस्वर्गारोहणं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः ॥ १५॥
With this,
we complete "The Story of Pandavas ascent
to Heaven” the
fifteenth Adhyaya, of Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1.
|| Hari Om ||
 |
| Arghya |
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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