Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Nama Sankeertana of Lord & Bhakti Yoga


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 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.

We heard Bhoo Devi praising the attribute of प्रागल्भ्यं or proficiency in Lord. The compassionate Lord having this attribute blesses his dear devotees too with proficiency to take the right stand, or stand-up for truth, or establish a premise. In such devotees, self-confidence and proficiency starts manifesting in all day-to-day activities.

Even if the government uses all its might or if the whole world stands against, the blessed yogi having worshipped the प्रागल्भ्यं or proficiency in Lord would stand firm exhibiting proficiency. This is the Prasada of the divine gift bestowed by the Lord.

प्रागल्भ्यं प्रश्रयः शीलं सह ओजो बलं भगः

गाम्भीर्यं स्थैर्यमास्तिक्यं कीर्तिर्मानोऽनहङ्कृतिः २८॥

In the same breadth of proficiency, Bhoo Devi remembers the next attribute of Lord that is प्रश्रयः or Vinitha or civility or being humble or modesty. Though the Lord is proficient in all his acts, he never misuses it. He is stainless being मार्दवं or Soft and is प्रश्रयः or full of civility being humble and modest.

Though being the Lord of this whole universe, controlling everything with his Lordship, yet when he appeared as Sri Krishna, he exhibited this attribute with his parents, teacher, and all elders. He did the service of Guru Sandipani Rishi and washed the feet of the Brahmin friend Sudhama teaching अतिथि सेवा. He made a bed for his elder brother Balarama to sleep and he pressed his legs to soothe the fatigue. These and at every occasion, Lord exhibited the attribute of civility, humbleness, and modesty.

By worshipping this attribute of Lord or doing yoga with this attribute of प्रश्रयः of being humble and modest, the yogi too would be blessed with this attribute to his capacity. Humbleness and modesty start manifesting. He will respect the Sanyasi, Gurus, Elders, in Positions of authority and express love towards the weak and ignorant.

शीलं or Morality or Loka Manohara svabhavatvam or charming the entire world. Lord Sri Krishna was attractive. Everyone including Vasudeva, Devaki, Nandagopa, Yeshodha, those Gopas, Gopikas, friends, Cows, Calves, peacocks, trees, and even rivers danced to his tune. All were attracted to him. He captivated everyone's attention. When he had appeared as Sri Rama and was heading towards the forest, the whole of Ayodhya started following him, the trees bent towards him asking to take them along with him, he is Loka Manohara attracting everyone.

By worshipping the attribute of divine brilliance or Kanti in the Lord, doing the Gayatri mantra will be bestowed with the attraction to the divine charm of the Lord. The Lord holds the yogi captivated towards him. The desire to see him and be with him will increase. So too the attraction by others in such yogis increases towards their physical charm. Whereas by worshipping the Lord for his attribute, or doing yoga of the attribute of शीलं or as Loka Manohara svabhavatvam or charming the entire world, Lord would bless such attribute to individual capacity. Such personalities will easily be accepted by the world for their morality, integrity, and character. They would find a place wherever they go.

All the aspects of strength have been described by Bhoo Devi including सहस् or Might or the ability to bear the whole world; take the responsibility of creation, sustenance, control, confinement of Jiva, and release with moksha. These attributes are natural in our Lord. However, ओजस् or Vigour having energy and enthusiasm to defeat others is in Lord. Though a vigor of four times that of the opponent is required to win over and hundred times that of an opponent to kill, our Lord has immeasurable vigor; or Vitality.

By worshipping the attribute of सहस् or Might in the Lord, various benefits including to bear the family responsibilities of getting food to the table, educating children, conducting marriage, and so on will manifest. The ability to take the responsibilities at the office, or in the community will manifest. Also, the ability to bear grief or mental stress increases by worshipping the Lord as सहस्वन् or Mighty.

By worshipping Lord as ओजस्वि with the attribute of ओजस् or Vigour having energy and enthusiasm to defeat others, intellect will be able easily to defeat the opponents in a debate; those working in countries defense, guarding the boundaries of the countries will be able to defeat the aggressors; those managing business will be able to succeed in market dynamics; the working class would be able to carry out their acts with ease and enthusiasm.

Hence, Lord Veda Vyasa has composed below the verse in Vishnu Sahasranama:

ओजस्तेजोद्युतिधर: प्रकाशात्मा प्रतापन:

ऋद्ध: स्पष्टाक्षरो मन्त्रश्चन्द्रांशुर्भास्करद्युति:॥३०॥

Oh, Lord! Your splendid supremacy in vigor, skills, and abilities are radiant like a high noon sun shining brilliantly providing heat. Like the radiant of the sun shatters the early morning dew and haze, your brilliance shatters the ignorance bestowing the clear and clean knowledge including bhakti and Vairagya.

You are Shabda Brahaman, residing in each of the mantras breaking the entanglement with Prakriti.

Oh, Lord! Your brilliance surpasses that of thousands of Suns raised together in the Lotus of Heart of Yogi yet with the pleasantness of thousand’s of the full moon.

The medicine for the unsteady, vulnerable, depressed, and resorting to suicide is worshipping the attribute of ओजस् or vigor having energy and enthusiasm in the Lord. Worshipping the Lord having immeasurable vigor, energy, and enthusiasm is the only remedy.

बलं is the strength required to do an act that includes physical as well as mental strength. The Lord is supreme having immeasurable strength to carry out all acts at his will including the creation of this vast Universe. His strength is inconceivable even by God Brahma, the best of Jiva.

By worshipping Lord as having immeasurable strength, conceivable by none to do acts at his will, the devout Yogi will be blessed by strength to do Vrikshasana, Garudasana, or stand on one for hours together or enough strength to do his day to day acts at their will.

The Lord has the attribute of गाम्भीर्यं or Profoundness. In this vast universe, there is an immeasurable number of acts, responses, and reactions happening by immeasurable living beings and non-living things. Though each of these acts, responses, or reactions are pulling in different directions, our Lord remains गाम्भीर्यं or composed. His intellectual ability to dive deeper gives him a complete understanding of the innate character of Jivas or living beings and Jada or the inanimate substance called Prakriti. The Lord had an in-depth knowledge in the creation of the vast inanimate universe suitable for the sustenance of innumerable living beings, controlling Jivas by bestowing ignorance and Knowledge to them, binding them with inanimate Prakriti, and releasing them with moksha. He is on top of things exercising absolute control. None including Goddess Mahalakshmi, Gods Brahma, Vayu, Garuda, Sesha, Indra, and others can completely understand him. He remains composed with profound knowledge, and so are his attributes, his thoughts, his words, and his acts.

By worshipping this attribute of composure and profoundness in the Lord, by doing yoga, the flickering in the Yogi will disappear and will be blessed with a steady mind.

Our Lord has the attribute of स्थैर्य or Stability and tranquillity. He does not quiver or shakes with physical incapability, nor is he busy and mentally disturbed with commotion. In all his acts, he remains stable, composed, and tranquil. By worshipping this attribute of the Lord, the devoted yogi is also blessed with

a)    Such attribute in himself

b)    Decline in temptations towards the glamor and attractions for worldly pleasure

c)    Increased Sankalpa or determination to do austerity

d)    धर्मचरण or observation of divine law increases by remaining focussed in propitiating Lord

e)    Determination to overcome obstacles brought about by evil Kali and his associates to disassociate from the auspicious and divine Lord

f)     And the Yogi will be able to successfully overcome obstacles set forth by Gods to test and bring about a determination

आस्तिक्यं or Trust, faith, and belief in the sacred Knowledge of Vedas and treating it is proof. The Vedas have to be treated as proof because it has truth in it. The Vedas are outlining the attributes of the Lord, its precise definitions, the process of propitiating him, accomplishing him, and the fruit of accomplishing him.

The description of the Lord, the definitions of his attributes, the process of accomplishing him, and the fruit there off in Vedas are all true as the Lord has understood that way. His creation is consistent with his understanding and brought about to existence that way. Hence, the आस्तिक्यं or Trust, faith, and belief in the sacred scripture of Vedas by the Lord are to bring the same into existence.

However, by worshipping the Lord as having the attribute आस्तिक्यं or Trust, faith, and belief as written in Vedas, treating it as proof, verifying the same during the process of practice, Yogi receives the Prasada or divine gift of आस्तिक्यं or Trust, faith, and belief in Lord and the proponents of Vedas. 

कीर्ति is the Glory of the Lord that is spoken everywhere, the praises that are sung in rhyme, rhythm and dance. The Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabarata, and all Puranas or old literature narrates his glories. The Bhagavata who were present earlier, now and in the future, hear, read, and sing his glories and dance with ecstasy. By worshipping this attribute of कीर्ति or the Glory of the Lord, while the Yogi for sure will be blessed with such attribute to his capacity by the compassionate Lord, but also the Lord would bless his nama sankeertana or sing his name.

We had studied the process of Bhakti Yoga and the benefits of nama sankeertana in Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 – The Pursuit to hone Bhakti

Sri Suthacharya says,

तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया

पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चाsत्मा नं भक्त्या श्रुतिगृहीतया

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.

तस्मादेकेन मनसा भगवान् सात्वतां पतिः

श्रोतव्यः कीर्तितव्यश्च ध्येयः पूज्यश्च नित्यदा

Hence, being focused and with a single objective, one should propitiate the Lord through Hearing His Glories, Singing His Attributes, Meditation, and Worship.

यदनुध्यायिनो युक्ताः कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम्

छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को कुर्यात् कथारतिम्

Sri Suthacharya is telling that all those कोविदा or learned by यदनुध्यायिनो propitiating the Lord through hearing, singing, and meditation on the attributes and glory of the Lord at all times of the day tie up their minds to him or practice The Yoga of Mind which has the capacity to छिन्दन्ति or sheer these knots and tangle that has wrapped our Soul.

शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारतिः।

स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्राः पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात्

Sri Suthacharya addressing विप्राः, The Brahmins, Shaunaka and his fellow Rishis says,

While propitiating the Lord through hearing, singing, and meditating, one will be blessed with पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् or pilgrimage to holy places and dip in holy rivers. This would yield स्यान्महत्सेवया or service of Saints and Gurus who are close to the Lord. When pilgrimage and service of saints are done with श्रद्दधानस्य or Trust and Belief, शुश्रूषोः or Crave and eagerness to hear Lord’s Stories would increase. As the mind gets Prasanna or lucid, वासुदेवकथारतिः or there would be pleasure in hearing the stories of

Lord Vasudeva is brilliantly glowing brightly in a crystal clear mind.

Lord Vasudeva for whom the creation of the Universe that includes several forms of himself, all living beings & non-living things, sustenance, distraction, regulation, bestowing of both Ignorance & knowledge to confine to birth & death and liberation to provide moksha is a Lila or Sport.

शृण्वतां स्वकथाः कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः

हृद्यन्तःस्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत् सताम्

The most attractive, Lord Krishna in his dark skin like the color of monsoon cloud, standing in हृद्यन्तःस्थो or the Lotus of Heart like a सुहृत्, friend. A dear friend for the सताम् or virtuous waiting with great patience as if he has nothing else to do except for ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति, destroying all our Sins that cause inauspiciousness and ready to pour his mercy.

He is waiting for us to श्रवणकीर्तनः, hears, and sing his Glory. So that he could pour पुण्य, the mercy, and high merit.

Like he did to Kuchela, with a torn dress and made him Sudhama, having in abundance just for three fists of beaten rice. The rice filled with Love, brimming with devotion through hearing and singing the Glory of the Lord.

So too, he came as if he was at the beck and call of Prahlada! Also, in a form only dedicated to him! 

नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया

भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी

By serving Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavatas regularly and taking its refuge, all inauspicious will get destroyed.

Also, the Lotus of the heart filled with nectar called devotion towards the all auspicious and most popular Lord Sri Krishna will flow constantly, Says Sri Suthacharya.

Knowledge of the Lord comes by argument and reasoning. Illusion should be avoided by shunning Credulity and Superstition. The Knowledge of the Lord brings Trust & Belief. The Trust and Belief in the Lord lead towards the following of Varnashrama Dharma and gain Bhagavat Preeti or Lord’s love. It also makes the mind lucid with a desire to hear, sing, and meditate the stories of the Lord's glory with his attributes.

By worshipping Lord Sri Krishna this way, he starts to shear the layers of action with the sin of knots and tangles wrapped around the soul. Also, one would be blessed to take-up Pilgrimage, dip in Holy Rivers, and subsequently the service of Saints and Gurus. When done with full of Trust and Belief leads to वासुदेवकथारतिः or the pleasure in hearing Lord Vasudeva's stories and subsequently leads to a continuous flow of Bhakti.

 

|| Hari Om ||

|| Sri Krishnarpanamastu ||

 


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