Śrīmad Bhāgavata Skanda 2 — The Symphony of His Forms and Fame (4 of 5)
"The Bhagvan 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 Bhagvan Sriman Narayana, the embodiment of Satyam and Param."
"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 Bhagvan. This sacred path calls for unwavering devotion — a life dedicated to honoring, worshipping, admiring, and praising the Bhagvan, 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 Bhagvan 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."
"Salutations to Bhagvan Sriman Narayana, the eternal support of all, including the divine Goddess Lakshmi, and the very essence of the Srimad Bhagavata. Salutations to Bhagvan Veda Vyasa, the revered composer of this sacred scripture. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, who perpetually serves the Bhagvan 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."
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 Bhagvan 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.
Having sung of the Bhagvan’s Daśāvatāras through the words of the great Ācāryas, we now return to the sacred current of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, where the Supreme again reveals His boundless compassion — not through cosmic acts alone, but through tender, playful deeds in the cowherd pastures of Vraja.
Here, the Infinite takes the form of the innocent — Sri Krishna, the protector of cows, the delight of Gokula, and the savior of all.
His divine sports — subduing Kāliya, lifting Govardhana, and granting liberation even to foes — are not mere tales of wonder; they are eternal expressions of grace, reminding us that in every age, His love descends to protect, to purify, and to draw every heart toward Himself.
God Brahma continues with his discourse saying, “O Nārada! dear son of wisdom and melody, listen with reverence to the divine play of Sri Krishna, the Supreme Being whose every act is a blessing upon creation. These are not mere tales, but sacred truths—each one a pulse of eternal dharma, each one a window into the boundless compassion of the Bhagvan.
यद्वै व्रजे व्रजपशून् विषतोयपीतान्
पालांस्त्वजीवयदनुग्रहदृष्टिवृष्ट्या ।
तच्छुद्धयेऽतिविषवीर्यविलोलजिह्व
-मुच्चाटयिष्यदुरगं विहरन् ह्रदिन्याम् ॥ २८॥
तत्कर्म दिव्यमिव यन्निशि निःशयानं
दावाग्निना शुचिवने परिदह्यमाने ।
उन्नेष्यति व्रजमतोऽवसितान्तकालं
नेत्रे पिधाय्य सबलोऽनधिगम्यवीर्यः ॥ २९॥
In Nanda Gokula, the cowherd boys and their cattle once drank the waters of the Yamunā, unaware that it had been poisoned by the venom of the serpent Kāliya. As a little boy, Sri Krishna the Sanjeeva—the restorer of life—revived the lifeless cowherd boys and their cattle with a mere glance of His divine sight. His compassionate vision not only restored life but also purified the poisoned waters of the Yamunā.
Then, as if playfully leaping into the river, He confronted the monstrous Kāliya, whose venomous breath boiled the waters and darkened the sky. Dancing upon its many hoods with effortless grace, Krishna subdued the serpent and drove it away, cleansing the river for all time. Who but the Supreme Bhagvan could perform such awe-inspiring deeds!?
On the very night of that divine feat, as the residents of Vrajabhūmi rested peacefully, a sudden forest fire broke out, ignited by the dry summer leaves. The blaze threatened to consume the people and cattle of Vraja. In His boundless compassion, the Bhagvan, along with Balarāma, instructed everyone to close their eyes. Silently, He transported them all—people and animals alike—away from the fire’s path, shielding them from danger.
Such are the extraordinary, unimaginable acts of Sri Krishna, whose play is divine, whose protection is absolute, and whose mercy knows no bounds.
गृह्णीत यद्यदुपबन्धममुष्य माता
शुल्बं सुतस्य न तु तत्तदमुष्य माति ।
यज्जृम्भतोऽस्य वदने भुवनानि गोपी
संवीक्ष्य शङ्कितमनाः प्रतिबोधिताऽऽसीत् ॥ ३०॥
Once, Mother Yaśodā, seeing little Krishna's playful mischief, tried to discipline Him, thinking Him to be just an ordinary child. She attempted to tie Him up with a rope to keep Him in place. Yet, no matter how many ropes she brought—each longer than the last—they all fell short by the breadth of two fingers.
Despite her persistence, she could not bind the Bhagvan. But seeing her pure love and exhaustion, the compassionate Srī Krishna allowed Himself to be tied. This divine līlā, cherished by devotees, became known as Dāmodara—Dāma meaning rope and Udara meaning belly, the Bhagvan who was bound around the waist only by love.
One day, while playing with his friends in the fields of Gokula, little Krishna was accused of eating mud. His companions, including Balarāma, ran to Mother Yaśodā and reported the mischief. Concerned and slightly alarmed, Yaśodā rushed to her son and scolded him lovingly, asking whether the accusation was true. Krishna, with innocent charm, denied it and invited her to look into his mouth to see for herself. As she peered inside, expecting traces of mud, she was instead met with a vision that defied all worldly understanding. Within the tiny mouth of her child, she beheld the entire universe—the sun, moon, stars, oceans, mountains, and all fourteen worlds, including herself and Krishna again within that cosmic panorama. Overwhelmed by awe and fear, Yaśodā was momentarily bewildered, unable to grasp the magnitude of what she had seen.
But the ever-compassionate Bhagvan, Srī Krishna, calmed her by bestowing upon her the knowledge of realism—the truth of His omnipresence, His transcendence, and His nature as the ultimate protector. With the veil of ignorance lifted, Mother Yaśodā's heart settled into peace and divine tranquility. The divine lila concluded not with grandeur, but with the quiet restoration of maternal affection, as Yaśodā embraced Krishna once more, unaware of the cosmic truth she had just glimpsed.
नन्दं च मोक्ष्यति भयाद्वरुणस्य पाशा-
द्गोपान् बिलेषु पिहितान् मयसूनुना च ।
अह्न्यापृतं निशि शयानमतिश्रमेण
लोकं विकुण्ठमुपनेष्यति गोकुलं स्म ॥ ३१॥
Bhagvan Sri Krishna saved His father, Nanda Mahārāja, from great dangers—once from the deadly grip of a massive python, and another time from the clutches of Varuṇa, the god of the ocean. In each instance, the Bhagvan protected His dear ones with ease and compassion.
When Vyomasura, the son of the demon Mayāsura, imprisoned the innocent cowherd boys in mountain caves, Sri Krishna swiftly came to their rescue. He destroyed the demon clan and freed His companions, restoring peace once again in Vraja.
The humble and hardworking inhabitants of Gokula, who cared for their cows with love, worshipped Krishna with simple hearts. They slept peacefully at night, free from expectations or worldly desires. Pleased with their pure devotion, Bhagvan Sri Krishna granted them the supreme blessing—elevation to His eternal abode of Vaikuṇṭha.
गोपैर्मखे प्रतिहते व्रजविप्लवाय
देवेऽभिवर्षति पशून् कृपया रिरक्षुः ।
धर्तोच्छिलीन्ध्रमिव सप्तदिनानि सप्त-
र्षो महीध्रमनघैककरे सलीलम् ॥- ३२॥
Bhagvan Sri Krishna once instructed the residents of Vṛndāvana to discontinue the traditional offering of sacrifices to Indra, the king of the heavens. He encouraged them instead to worship Govardhana hill, the cows, and the simple duties of dharma tied to their own lives.
Enraged by this, Indra unleashed torrential rains upon Vraja, threatening to flood the land and destroy the people and their cattle. But Bhagvan Sri Krishna, only seven years old at the time, out of His causeless mercy toward the innocent and devoted residents, effortlessly lifted Govardhana hill with one hand—holding it aloft like an umbrella.
For seven continuous days, He sheltered the entire community beneath the hill, protecting them from Indra’s wrath and proving that He alone—the Supreme Bhagavān—is the ultimate protector, not the celestial gods but Bhagavān Himself.
क्रीडन् निश निशाकररश्मिगौर्यां
रासोन्मुखः कलपदायतमूर्च्छितेन ।
उद्दीपितस्मररुजां व्रजभृद्वधूनां
हर्तुर्हरिष्यति शिरो धनदानुगस्य ॥ ३३॥
One night in Vṛndāvana, under the serene radiance of the full moon, the Bhagvan prepared to bless the Gopikās with the divine Rāsa Līlā—a sacred dance of love and devotion. The forest was bathed in moonlight, and Bhagvan Sri Krishna filled the night air with the enchanting melody of His flute, as sweet and intoxicating as honey.
Drawn irresistibly by the music, the Gopikās left their homes and began walking toward the forest, their hearts captivated by the sound that stirred their souls.
But as they made their way through the moonlit groves, the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa—an attendant of Kubera, the celestial treasurer—attempted to abduct them. Seeing this vile act, Bhagvan Sri Krishna immediately intervened. With effortless power, He struck down the demon and severed his head from his body, thus rescuing the Gopikās and preserving the sanctity of the night.
ये च प्रलम्बखरदर्दुरकेश्यरिष्ट
मल्लेभकंसयवनाः कुजपौण्ड्रकाद्याः ।
अन्ये च शाल्वकपिबल्वलदन्तवक्त्र
सप्तोक्षशम्बरविदूरथरुक्मिमुख्याः ॥ ३४॥
ये वा मृधे समितिशालिन आत्तचापाः
काम्बोजमत्स्यकुरुसृञ्जयकैकयाद्याः ।
यास्यन्त्यदर्शनमलं बलपार्थभीम
व्याजाह्वयेन हरिणा निलयं तदीयम् ॥ ३५॥
Bhagvan Sri Krishna vanquished countless demonic forces that threatened the balance of the world. Among them were Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Keśī, Ariṣṭa, and many more. He defeated fierce wrestlers like Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika, the mighty elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, and the tyrant Kaṁsa himself.
He also destroyed Yavana, Narakāsura, Pauṇḍraka, and great military leaders like Śālva, the demon monkey Dvivida, Balvala, Dantavakra, and the seven ferocious bulls. Others such as Śambara, Vidūratha, and Rukmī were also slain by the Bhagvan.
Formidable warriors from kingdoms like Kāmboja, Matsya, Kuru, Sṛñjaya, and Kekaya—all rose to challenge the Bhagvan or His devotees. Whether they battled Sri Krishna directly, or faced Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhīma, or other warriors on behalf of the Pāṇḍavas, they were ultimately vanquished.
Yet, despite being slain in battle, these souls—by the touch of the Bhagvan Sri Krishna divine presence—were liberated and attained Vaikuṇṭha, the eternal spiritual abode. For even the Bhagvan justice is mercy, and His enemies too are uplifted by contact with Him.
कालेन मीलितधियामवमृश्य नॄणां
स्तोकायुषां स्वनिगमो बत दूरपारः ।
आविर्हितस्त्वनुयुगं स हि सत्यवत्यां
With the onset of Kali Yuga, and under the powerful influence of Time (Kāla), human intellect and lifespan began to decline. Observing the diminishing Jñāna Śakti—the power of knowledge—and Dhāraṇa Śakti—the power of concentration—among the people of this age, the compassionate Bhagavān took measures to preserve divine wisdom.
To ensure that the sacred knowledge would remain accessible even in this age of degeneration, He divided the vast tree of the Vedas into four distinct branches—Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva. He then energized these branches with divine force, empowering sages and scholars to retain, study, and transmit them across generations.
Thus spoke Brahmā, his voice like the rumble of cosmic truth. And Nārada, his heart brimming with devotion, listened with rapt attention, his veena silent, his eyes moist with awe. The ṛṣis gathered around, their minds illumined by the nectar of this divine discourse.
As the sage Vyāsa, the Bhagavān assumed the sacred mantle of preserving eternal wisdom for the ages to come. Moved by compassion for humanity’s fading memory and waning intellect in Kali Yuga, He became the guardian of divine revelation and the torchbearer of Vedic truth. With meticulous devotion, Vyāsa divided the single, resounding Veda into four—entrusting the Ṛgveda to Sage Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaiśampāyana, the Sāmaveda to Jaimini, and the Atharvaveda to Sumantu.
But His compassion did not end there. To make the vast expanse of spiritual knowledge accessible to all, He composed the Mahābhārata—the grand scripture of humanity—within which shines the Bhagavad Gītā, the heart of all Vedānta. He wove together the Purāṇas and Itihāsas, shaping them into luminous vessels of timeless wisdom. Through his disciple Romaharṣaṇa, He initiated the great tradition of Purāṇic narration, ensuring that the sacred stories of dharma, bhakti, and the divine play of the Bhagavān would echo through every age.
Thus, Vyāsa’s legacy endures as the bridge between heaven and earth—a compassionate act of divine authorship through which the eternal Veda found human voice. His work resounds with the music of creation, the mystery of life, and the ceaseless call of the Infinite toward truth and liberation.
Centuries later, this divine current of knowledge found poetic expression in the luminous verses of Śrī Vedānta Deśika, the 13th-century philosopher-saint and master of Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta. With profound devotion and philosophical depth, he composed the Daśāvatāra Stotram—a garland of ten resplendent hymns celebrating the Lord’s incarnations, from Matsya to Kalki.Śrīmad Bhāgavata Skanda 2 — Vyāsa preserves divine wisdom; Vedānta Deśika exalts the Lord’s ten incarnations of compassion.
Where Vyāsa chronicled the divine deeds as sacred history, Vedānta Deśika sang them as a celestial symphony—each verse a radiant offering of bhakti, each incarnation a reflection of the Lord’s compassion, wisdom, and eternal protection of the cosmos.
DASAVATARA STOTRA (VEDANTA DESIKA) WITH LYRICS
dēvō naśśubhamātanōtu daśadhā nirvartayanbhūmikāṁ
raṅgē dhāmani labdhanirbhararasairadhyakṣitō bhāvukaiḥ |
yadbhāvēṣu pr̥thagvidhēṣvanuguṇānbhāvānsvayaṁ bibhratī
yaddharmairiha dharmiṇī viharatē nānākr̥tirnāyikā || 1 ||
May that Divine One bring us auspiciousness— who, assuming ten distinct roles upon the cosmic stage, performs His drama in the sacred theatre of the universe, witnessed by pundits steeped in rasa, the essence of devotion.
In each incarnation, He dons emotions befitting the scene, embodying the appropriate mood for every form He takes. Thus, the Supreme Bhagvan, through varied dharmas and diverse forms, plays the heroine of this divine play—ever enchanting, ever free.
nirmagnaśrutijālamārgaṇadaśādattakṣaṇairvīkṣaṇai-
rantastanvadivāravindagahanānyaudanvatīnāmapāṁ |
niṣpratyūhataraṅgariṅkhaṇamithaḥ pratyūḍhapāthaśchaṭā-
ḍōlārōhasadōhalaṁ bhagavatō mātsyaṁ vapuḥ pātu naḥ || 2 ||
May the divine Matsya form of the Bhagvan protect us— that wondrous fish who plunged into the ocean depths to retrieve the lost Vedas, scattered like pearls in the abyss.
With swift glances, He searched the watery realms, as if exploring the lotus-filled recesses of a celestial lake. His movement stirred the waves into rhythmic dance, and the ocean shimmered with the thrill of His play.
Like a majestic swing rising and falling with joy, His form glided through the waters—graceful, unstoppable, divine.
avyāsurbhuvanatrayīmanibhr̥taṁ kaṇḍūyanairadriṇā
nidrāṇasya parasya kūrmavapuṣō niśvāsavātōrmayaḥ |
yadvikṣēpaṇasaṁskr̥tōdadhipayaḥ prēṅkhōlaparyaṅkikā-
nityārōhaṇanirvr̥tō viharatē dēvassahaiva śriyā || 3 ||
May the Bhagvan’s Kūrma form protect us— the divine tortoise who bore Mount Mandara upon His back, scratching the itch of the three worlds with playful ease.
As He lay in yogic slumber, His breath stirred the ocean winds, and the waves danced like silken veils in rhythm with His exhalation.
The churned ocean, transformed by His divine touch, became a swing of joy—a cosmic cradle of nectar and motion. There, the Bhagvan reclined in bliss, ever united with Śrī, delighting in the eternal rhythm of creation and grace.
gōpāyēdaniśaṁ jaganti kuhanāpōtrī pavitrīkr̥ta-
brahmāṇḍapralayōrmighōṣagurubhirghōṇāravairghurghuraiḥ |
yaddamṣṭrāṅkurakōṭigāḍhaghaṭanāniṣkampanityasthiti-
rbrahmastambamasaudasau bhagavatīmustēvaviśvambharā || 4 ||
May the Bhagvan’s Varāha form protect the worlds eternally— He who, as a divine boar, plunged into the cosmic deluge and lifted the Earth from the abyss with His mighty tusks.
The roar of His breath echoed like thunder, drowning the sounds of dissolution with sacred fury. With tusks firm as a million mountain peaks, He held the Earth steady—unshaken, eternal, sublime.
Thus, the Bhagvan became the Viśvambhara—the bearer of worlds, sanctifying creation and restoring dharma with divine strength.
pratyādiṣṭapurātanapraharaṇagrāmaḥkṣaṇaṁ pāṇijai-
ravyāttrīṇi jagantyakuṇṭhamahimā vaikuṇṭhakaṇṭhīravaḥ |
yatprādurbhavanādavandhyajaṭharāyādr̥cchikādvēdhasāṁ-
yā kācitsahasā mahāsuragr̥hasthūṇāpitāmahyabhr̥t || 5 ||
May the fierce roar of Vaikuṇṭha’s lion, who emerged with unbounded might and ancient weapons in hand, protect the three worlds in an instant of divine fury.
From the pillar of a demon’s palace, He burst forth— not born of womb, nor bound by time, but summoned by the cry of dharma and the faith of a child.
That form—half-lion, half-man—was no ordinary birth, but a sudden blaze of justice, a thunderous answer to tyranny, a protector whose glory knows no bounds.
vrīḍāviddhavadānyadānavayaśōnāsīradhāṭībhaṭa-
straiyakṣaṁ makuṭaṁ punannavatu nastraivikramō vikramaḥ |
yatprastāvasamucchritadhvajapaṭīvr̥ttāntasiddhāntibhi-
ssrōtōbhissurasindhuraṣṭasudiśāsaudhēṣu dōdhūyatē || 6 ||
With one footstep, He sanctified the heavens; with another, He claimed the earth; and with the third, He placed upon Bali’s head— not in conquest, but in grace.
His story, like a banner unfurled across the skies, ripples through the palaces of the gods, echoing in every direction as the river of dharma flows.
May the mighty stride of Trivikrama, the cosmic dwarf turned giant, protect us— He who humbled the pride of the generous yet ego-bound Bali, piercing the glory of the demons with the brilliance of His crown.
krōdhāgniṁ jamadagnipīḍanabhavaṁ santarpayiṣyan kramā-
dakṣatrāmiha santatakṣa ya imāṁ trissaptakr̥tvaḥ kṣitim |
datvā karmaṇi dakṣiṇāṁ kvacana tāmāskandya sindhuṁ vasa-
nnabrahmaṇyamapākarōtu bhagavānābrahmakīṭaṁ muniḥ || 7 ||
May the fierce sage Paraśurāma, who blazed with wrath born of his father’s torment, cleanse this world of unrighteousness once again.
With relentless resolve, He subdued the pride of kings, purging the earth of tyranny not once, but twenty-one times. He offered the conquered land as dakṣiṇā, and then withdrew to the ocean’s edge, dwelling in silence, his mission complete.
May that divine muni, who uprooted injustice from the lowest worm to the highest throne, remove all traces of abrahmaṇyam—the loss of dharma—from our hearts.
pārāvārapayōviśōṣaṇakalāpārīṇakālānala-
jvālājālavihārahāriviśikhavyāpāraghōrakramaḥ |
sarvāvasthasakr̥tprapannajanatāsaṁrakṣaṇaikavratī
dharmō vigrahavānadharmaviratiṁ dhanvī satanvītu naḥ || 8 ||
May Rāma, the bow-bearing Bhagvan, whose arrows blaze like the fires of cosmic dissolution, and whose valor scorches oceans and demons alike, protect us with His unwavering vow of dharma.
He moves with fierce resolve, His arrows piercing through the veils of adharma, His path lit by the flames of righteous wrath.
Yet, to those who surrender even once, in any state, He is the eternal refuge— the embodiment of dharma itself, who silences unrighteousness with grace and strength.
phakkatkauravapaṭṭaṇaprabhr̥tayaḥ prāstapralambādaya-
stālāṅkāsyatathāvidhā vihr̥tayastanvantu bhadrāṇi naḥ |
kṣīraṁ śarkarayēva yābhirapr̥thagbhūtāḥ prabhūtairguṇai-
rākaumārakamasvadantajagatē krishnasya tāḥ kēlayaḥ || 9 ||
May the divine sports of Krishna bless us with auspiciousness— those playful acts that vanquished demons like Pralamba and Dhenuka, and humbled tyrants from Kaṁsa to the Kauravas.
His childhood pastimes, sweet as milk blended with sugar, were inseparable from His boundless virtues— courage, charm, compassion, and divine mischief.
The world tasted the nectar of His boyhood, and even sages stood spellbound, as the Supreme played like a child, making the earth His playground of grace.
kālēna mīlita-dhiyām avamṛśya nṝṇāṁ
stokāyuṣāṁ sva-nigamo bata dūrapāraḥ |
anuyugaṁ sa hi satyavatyāṁ
veda-drumaṁ viṭapaśo vibhajiṣyati sma || 10 ||
As Time dims the minds of men, and lifespans shrink in Kali’s age, the Bhagvan, seeing the fading grasp of truth, divides the vast tree of the Vedas into branches— making divine wisdom accessible once more.
He appears in every age, adapting form and message to the needs of the time. In the womb of Satyavatī, He rises again, to restore dharma and guide the lost.
॥ Hari Om ॥
Comments
Post a Comment