||Srimad Bhagavath
Mahapuran||
||Om Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya||
Chapter – 42–Puranjana
Upakhyanam
Maharishi Narada narrated “
Oh! King Prachina Barhis, listen to me carefully. There were two inseparable companions Puranjana and Avignyatha conducted a journey and visited various places. Once they arrived in a marvelous kingdom
called Bhogavathi, which has nine gates, it has numerous fortresses built in
gold and precious gems. Soon Puranjana has fallen for the splendor of the Kingdom while taking pleasure in watching its
beauty, there found a beautiful young maiden on the entry gate of the palace,
there was a five hooded serpent on the back of her head. Puranjana instantly fallen in love with this
young maiden, and ended up marrying her, Avignyatha reminded him to take any
decision after thorough thought, Puranjana has nothing to think about, so he
married Puranjani and started living in the Kingdom. Avignyatha bade farewell to his closest
companion Puranjana and repeated that whenever he needs any assistance he would
appear for him. Thus the closest friends
Puranjana and Avignyatha separated.”
Maharishi Narada said “Puranjana
and his wife took intense pleasure in the company of each other, both of them
could not bear the separation not even for a second. He performed all the tasks which Puranjani
wanted or desired, they have performed various righteous deeds as well. Several years have passed, this couple had
several children and this couple forgot to notice the passage of the ‘Time’. Once, Devi Jara approached Chandavega and said " Oh! Rajan, I am in search of a suitable groom for me, none is willing to marry me because of my ugly appearance, kindly help me to marry Puranjana." The Chandavega replied " Oh! Devi, it is not going to happen in your life, no one will marry you, I can assist you to battle against Puranjana with my numerous army men." Thus the city Bhogavathi was attacked by the
Gandharva Chandavega, he had powerful warriors surrounded the city from all the
sides. Puranjana’s lost innumerable
warriors in the battle, finally, he had the five hooded serpent for his protection,
but that too gave up fighting against the Chandavega’s powerful warriors. While the battle was in progress, Jara the
daughter of Mrithyu was in search of a suitable groom silently entered in the
Kingdom. As a result, the people have become too old and attacked by
various illnesses, did not spare Puranjana and his wife Puranjani. The Kingdom witnessed its ruin, the couple
had indifferences, children became uncaring towards parents, finally the
Mrithyu has arrived, Puranajana left his mortal coil thinking of his dearest wife
Puranjani.”
Maharishi Narada continued
“After the death of Puranjana, he took the birth of a female as he was thinking
of his wife at the last minute of death.
The next birth Puranjana was born as the daughter of King of Vidharbha. Vaidharbhi was grown up into a beautiful
young woman and married to Pandya King Malayadhwaja.
This couple had one daughter Asha and seven sons Kirthana, Smarana, Padhasevana, Archana,
Vandhana and Dhasya. The King grew old
and gave up mortal coil like a Yogi; soon his wife decided to ascend in his funeral
pyre and gave up life. At this very
moment, someone addressed her “Who are you? How are you related to this man on
the funeral pyre?”. Vaidharbhi stopped
crying and looked in confusion at the Bhramin before her. The Brahmin began “ Oh! Dear friend, you
don’t remember me at all. I am your
closest companion Avignyatha, long ago we together came for a visit to places
and you have settled in one of the magnificent Kingdom Bhogavathi.” The Brahmin could see a spark of acquaintance
in the eyes of Vidharbhi, he continued “ We were inseparable, we were like two
swans floating on the serene waters of the Manasa Lake. You were too dear to me, so was I. Suddenly, you have left my company and went
in search of the pleasures of the Kingdom of Bhogavathi, you have completely
forgotten about me. But I had always
thought of your welfare in my heart, waiting to get back to you. Now the time has arrived, I have been waiting
to reveal my identity to you, and take you back with me. You are neither Puranjana nor the princess of
Vidharbha. You have completely forgotten
your real nature, you and I have no difference at all. I am Supreme soul/Paramathma who resides as soul/Jivathma
in you that keeps taking births through 82 Laksh of Yonis. Manasa Lake is the heart where
we lived together in bliss. The Kingdom
Bhogavathi is the Human Body, the beautiful young maiden is the Mind/intellect and illusion, five hooded serpent represents Panchendhriyas, the ten attendants are
Karmedhriyas, nine gates of the city represents Navadhwaras in the human body, Chandavega represents
Time/day and night as warriors of fair and dark-complexioned, Jara is aging, eventually, Mrithyu is Death. Therefore, realize yourself as Jeevathma
which should unite with the Paramathma with the instrument Bhakti/devotion, in
order to attain Moksha/liberation from
repeated births.”
Maharishi Narada concluded,
“ Oh! King Prachina Barhis, I wanted you to realize the importance of devotion
and surrender to the supreme Lord which could only bring cessation from
repeated births. The listening to the
glorious myths of supreme Lord and association of saintly people only could provide
intense devotion. The regular practice
of chanting the glorious names of Lord, worship of supreme Lord, remembrance
of Lord, selfless service to the devotees of Lord, meditation and complete
surrender to supreme will provide you Moksha.”
In this way, King Prachina Barhis attained the supreme knowledge from
Maharishi Narada and with the continuous practice of the knowledge attained the
lotus feet of Supreme Lord.
