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Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 2 - Echoes of the Divine Lineage

 

Srimad Bhagavata, the pinnacle of Puranic wisdom, eradicates ignorance and nurtures devotion. It unveils the divine, cleansing sins and guiding seekers to truth. Rooted in Dharma, it inspires sincere worship, free from jealousy or deception, ensuring spiritual progress. Composed by Sage Vyasa, it solidifies bhakti and reveals the Lord within.

॥ Hari Om ॥

जन्माद्यस्य यतोऽन्वयादितरतश्चार्थेष्वभिज्ञः स्वराट्
तेने ब्रह्महृदा य आदिकवये मुह्यन्ति यत्सूरयः ।
तेजोवारिमृदां यथा विनिमयो यत्र त्रिसर्गोऽमृषा
धाम्ना स्वेन सदा निरस्तकुहकं सत्यं परं धीमहि ॥ १॥

"The Lord Sriman Narayana is the very essence of divine virtues, self-sustained, radiant with light, overflowing with boundless knowledge and bliss. He is the ‘Creator of The Universe,’ which encompasses countless forms of Himself, both the living beings and the non-living things. He sustains, transforms, and governs it all — bestowing both ignorance and wisdom, binding beings to the cycle of birth and death, and offering liberation to those who seek moksha. Thus, He is the Param, the Supreme.

In the dawn of creation, He manifested the first being, the four-faced Brahma, and gifted him the knowledge required to bring the cosmos into being. Through His blessings, wisdom unfolds. Though He seeks no gain for Himself, He creates and upholds the cosmos for the welfare of all living beings, endowed with all the wisdom necessary for such a grand design. For He is neither a juggler, nor a deceiver, crafting illusions in this world. Untainted by any flaw, He is the Satyam — the absolute truth.

With reverence, let us meditate upon Lord Sriman Narayana, the embodiment of Satyam and Param."


धर्मः प्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां
वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् ।
श्रीमद्भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वरः
सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभिः शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात् ॥

"The Srimad Bhagavata encompasses the entirety of Dharma, safeguarding the soul from falling by purifying it, and guiding the individual soul towards the divine path leading to the Lord. This sacred path calls for unwavering devotion — a life dedicated to honoring, worshipping, admiring, and praising the Lord, free from jealousy, expectation, or deceit. As one treads upon this path, all obstacles dissolve, prosperity is bestowed, and the heart becomes imbued with virtue, turning one into a Sajjana, a virtuous soul. Above all, it fortifies bhakti, deepening one’s devotion.

Thus, the Srimad Bhagavata, composed by the Lord in the form of sage Veda Vyasa shines as a beacon of truth, revealing Himself as Supreme Soul eternally resides in the heart of every living being."


नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।
देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥

"Salutations to Lord Sriman Narayana, the eternal support of all, including the divine Goddess Lakshmi, and the very essence of the Srimad Bhagavata. Salutations to Lord Veda Vyasa, the revered composer of this sacred scripture. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, who perpetually serves the Lord and bestows the blessings of abundance upon all Bhagavatas, enriching them with the divine knowledge of Srimad Bhagavata — a wealth that encompasses Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.

Salutations to the Gods Brahma and Vayu, the noblest of beings. Salutations to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Devotion, who inspires both wisdom and bhakti. Salutations to the divine Garuda, Sesha and Shiva, the greatest among the Vaishnavas.

Salutations to the Srimad Bhagavata, the sacred text that brings forth eternal victory and spiritual triumph."


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 Raghavendra, I worship you by surrendering myself.

In the twilight of Dvapara Yuga, as Kali Yuga approached with its shadows of ignorance, restlessness, and spiritual decline, the divine sage Veda Vyasa beheld a world in need of light. Though he had compiled the Vedas, composed the Mahabharata, and authored many Puranas, his heart remained unsettled. Why? Because the essence of devotion—bhakti, jnana, and vairagya—had yet to be fully distilled for the people of this age. Thus, by divine foresight, the Srimad Bhagavata was born—not merely as a scripture, but as a spiritual lifeline for Kali Yuga.

Bhagavata, the sovereign of all Puranas, sweeps away the shadows of ignorance and bestows the crown of highest wisdom. It kindles unwavering devotion to the Lord and sows the seeds of vairagya—a gentle detachment from fleeting worldly charms that weave the web of illusion, binding souls to the endless dance of birth and death.

Like a river of light in the age of darkness, Srimad Bhagavata washes away Kali’s stain, purges the weight of sin, and unveils the indwelling Lord within. With its touch, the heart blossoms with pure love, and its waters run crystal-clear with sacred knowledge, offering the seeker a glimpse of the eternal.

“No nectar churned from the cosmic oceans, nor amrita from the milky seas, can rival the immortal essence that flows from the divine stream of the Srimad Bhagavata. This celestial scripture, brimming with the nectar of devotion and wisdom, was first revealed by Lord Sriman Narayana to God Brahma. In turn, God Brahma, filled with reverence, initiated his son, Narada Rishi, into the mysteries of this sacred text. Indeed, Narada Rishi was entrusted with the summarized form of the Bhagavata in four divine verses, known as the Chatur Sloki Bhagavata, directly from the creator, God Brahma himself. With unwavering devotion, Narada recited these verses to Lord Veda Vyasa, offering Him and urging him to expand as an elaborate scripture, making its profound wisdom accessible to the common man.

In one of his divine manifestations, God Shiva incarnated as the son of Veda Vyasa, taking the form of Shuka. Under his father’s tutelage, Shuka was initiated into the expanded and complete Srimad Bhagavata, absorbing its boundless wisdom. Thirty years after Lord Krishna's departure from the mortal realm, on the ninth tithi of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, Shuka appeared before the cursed King Parikshit. Seated on the sacred banks of the Ganga, Shuka began the divine narration of the Bhagavata, which he recited over the course of seven days. King Parikshit, the primary listener (shrothru), received the wisdom with unwavering attention. Present at this holy assembly was Sri Sutacharya, who absorbed the sacred discourse. Thus, it is believed that the Bhagavatha Sapthaha procedure—the tradition of reciting the Bhagavata over seven days—was originally laid out by God Brahma, established by Sri Shukacharya, and popularized by Narada Rishi.

Later, Sri Sutacharya carried the torch of this divine wisdom to the forest of Naimisharanya, where he narrated the Bhagavata to the assembled Shaunakadi rishis. With great devotion, they preserved and passed on the celestial wisdom, ensuring that the divine stream of Bhagavata continued to flow across generations.

“About two hundred years later, the great devotee Gokarna performed the Srimad Bhagavatha Sapthaha, beginning on the auspicious day of Ashad Shukla Navami. For seven days, he recited the divine scripture with unwavering devotion and eloquence, filling the hearts of the listeners with bhakti (devotion) and vairagya (detachment). The profound vibrations of the sacred verses purified the atmosphere, liberating all who heard them from the bonds of ignorance and worldly suffering.

During this Sapthaha, the primary listener (shrothru) was none other than Dundukari, Gokarna’s stepbrother. Dundukari, in his previous life, had led a sinful existence, which resulted in his soul being trapped in the form of a wandering ghost. Bound by the fruits of his misdeeds, he endured immense suffering. However, driven by a deep longing for liberation, Dundukari sought refuge in his virtuous brother, Gokarna. Filled with compassion, Gokarna resolved to perform the Bhagavatha Sapthaha for his brother’s deliverance.

As the seven-day recitation concluded, the divine attendants of Lord Vishnu, adorned in brilliant golden attire, descended in their celestial plane (Vimana). With resplendent grace, they came to take Dundukari to Vishnu Loka, the eternal abode of the Lord. Freed from the ghostly existence, Dundukari, now radiant with divine effulgence, ascended the celestial plane, symbolizing the soul’s liberation through the grace of Srimad Bhagavata.

Moved by the miraculous liberation of his stepbrother and the transformative power of the Bhagavata, Gokarna resolved to extend this divine blessing to the common people. During the following month of Shravana, he repeated the Bhagavatha Sapthaha, this time addressing a larger audience for the Loka Kalyana (welfare of the people). With unwavering devotion, he spread the sacred message far and wide, bringing auspiciousness, spiritual awakening, and divine grace to all who listened.

Thus, the divine tradition of the Bhagavatha Sapthaha became a beacon of hope and liberation, illuminating the path of bhakti and moksha for countless souls. Even today, the story of Gokarna and Dundukari stands as a testament to the liberating power of the Srimad Bhagavata, demonstrating how its recitation can dissolve lifetimes of karma and grant eternal salvation.”

Should you have not read the story of Dundukari and Gokarna in the earlier blog, you may wish to explore the following: 

The Srimad Bhagavata is also believed to have ascended from the lower world through another divine lineage. In this tradition, Lord Sriman Narayana imparted the sacred knowledge to God Sesha, who then transmitted it to Sanatkumara. From Sanatkumara, the wisdom was passed on to Sankhayana, who initiated Parashara. Parashara, in turn, imparted the knowledge to Maitreya, who revealed it to Vidura, continuing the unbroken chain of divine wisdom.

Around 260 years after Lord Krishna's departure, Narada Rishi organized a grand Bhagavatha Sapthaha in Ananda, Haridwar, on the sacred banks of the Ganga. During this monumental event, Sanatkumara narrated the Bhagavata, gracing the gathering with divine wisdom. During this recitation, the personified forms of Jnana (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion), and Vairagya (detachment), journeying from Mathura, became the primary beneficiary. Their divine presence blessed all who were assembled. This way, Narada was able to revive and establish Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya in the hearts and minds of the devotees, bestowing spiritual enlightenment in this age of Kali Yuga.

Should you have not read the story of Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya, their encounter with Narada Rishi, and the Sapthaha carried out at Ananda, Haridwar, you may wish to explore the following: 

Thus, we must remember with deep reverence these ancient singers of Srimad Bhagavata, those who organized and carried forward the Bhagavatha Sapthaha tradition, and the ever-flowing Bhagavatha Ganga, the divine stream of wisdom. In doing so, we open our hearts to receive the choicest blessings of these enlightened souls, guiding on the path of devotion, knowledge, and ultimate liberation.”

Let us journey together through Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 2—the sacred stream that purifies, enlightens, and uplifts. As seekers of bhakti, jnana, and vairagya, may we receive its grace with open hearts. In honoring this tradition, we awaken divine purpose within and carry its light forward for the good.

॥ Hari Om ॥



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Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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