|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 23– The legend of Lord Krishna  – Introduction to Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran

Namo  Bhagavathe Thubhyam Vasudevaya Dheemahi | Pradhyumnayanirudhdhaya Nama: Sankarshanaya Cha ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunakadhis, Maharishi Narada /Veenapani, arrived on the river banks of Saraswathi, metMaharishi Vedavyasa who was in deep thought, received Maharishi Narada with great honor worshiped him and offered a sanctified seat.”

Narada speaks “ Oh! Parasharya Mahabhaga, you have composed various scriptures, you have a thorough knowledge of supreme Bhramam which is eternal, and I could sense gloominess on your heart? What is the reason for that?”

Maharishi Vedavyasa prostrated before him and spoke “Oh! Maharishi, you are the knower of All, conducts journey through the three worlds like the sun, kindly enlighten me, and raise me from this gloominess.”

Vasanath Vasudevasya Vasitham Bhuvanathrayam | Sarvabhootha Nivasoasi Vasudeva Namosthuthe||

Maharishi Narada spoke “ Oh! Mahabhagava you have composed several scriptures for the welfare of living beings on the Earth.  You have composed Mahabharath to reveal the righteousness, you composed Puranas and described the glories of Upasana/worship, you have elaborately written of Dharma, Artha and Kama, but you have not described the splendor of ‘Vasudeva’ who resides as a soul in living beings. Oh! Mahamune, you have not written about the splendor of Lord Hari/ ‘Hari Dhehabritha Athma’, therefore all those scriptures you have composed were like the crow taking pleasure in a pond where Hamsa won’t enjoy.  Hence, you compose a scripture that describes the splendor of the Supreme Lord, and his sacred names, if there is any mistake occurs will be overruled. Oh! Mahabhaga, you are the knower of all, you are truthful, you are an eminent one, therefore compose a glorious scripture contemplating upon the supreme Lord, thereby elevate the Jeeva from all the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence and liberate the Jeeva from the cycle of repeated births.  The scriptures you have written in praise of the Supreme Lord as a Upasanamoorthi, that won’t help the souls to rise; it is like the ferry moving in the sea of uncontrollable wind.  The mind and intellect cannot be fixed in an idol or image or name for a long time.  Therefore, write the splendor of supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, let it be a journey to inner self for the Jeeva.  You have written Mahabharath to promote the Dharma, but it is not praiseworthy, whatever Dharma followed by the Jeeva, ultimately has to meet its end in Prakrithi unless and until it is performed with the purpose to attain the union with the Paramathma.  Oh! Mahamune, therefore you should have written for the elevation of the Jeeva and to attain union with the supreme soul.  If someone had failed to follow Swadharma, but constantly contemplates upon the supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith would not face any inauspiciousness even after they leave the mortal coil.  But if someone followed righteousness without the practice of intense faith and devotion upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord would not bring any auspiciousness to him/her.  Whoever practiced intense devotion and faith upon the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda will not return to Earth.  You have explained the Dharma performed by the body, not to elevate the soul, therefore compose a scripture that could raise the Jeeva from the cycles of birth and death.  This Universe and its living beings are not separate from the supreme Lord, without his presence nothing would exist or none could take pleasure in it, therefore praise the splendor of the Supreme Lord who is all-pervasive, resides as a soul in the living beings.”