|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 15 – Shukadev Maharaj the chief recipient of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran from Maharishi Vedavyasa

King Pareekshith sat on the river banks contemplating upon supreme Lord.  Soon, all the illustrious sages Vedavyasa, Sage Parashara,  Sage Shakthi,  Sage Vashishta, Sage Athri,  Sage Pulaha, Sage Pulasya etc… all the Rishis were assembled.  Pareekshith was refused to have a meal or water, the Rishis and Sages assembled were reverentially greeted by Pareekshith, he was extremely pleased to be in the association of them, he considered the curse as his highest fortune to meet all the illustrious Sages in one place.  He addressed the Sages “ Oh! Mahatma/Noble souls, kindly clarify my doubts and enlighten me.”  The illustrious Rishis and Sages assembled had a dilemma about who will be seated on the raised dais to answer the questions of King Pareekshith.  All the sages are highly proficient in all the Shastras, soon there arrived young Shukadev Maharaj who was sixteen years, son of Maharishi Vedavyasa took the raised seat under the auspicious tree.  

In the previous birth, Shukadeva was a divine parrot in the Goloka which eulogizes the endless glories of Radha and Krishna during their pleasing hours.  Later, it had received the immortal stories from Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash.  The little bird chased by Lord Mahadeva was entered into the womb of the wife of Maharishi Vedavyasa.  It spent nearly 12 months in the womb, it had the growth of ten months, the remaining two months it restricted its growth under control with its Yogic powers.  The infant was not willing to come out of the mother’s womb.  It made corrections of the utterance of Vedic chants by his father from the womb itself.  His father Maharishi Vedavyasa assumed that the child must be supreme Yogi, who does not want to come out of the mother’s womb, in the fear of Maya/illusion.  Finally, Maharishi Narada advised the infant to come out; the infant came out of the womb and immediately assumed the form of an adult of twelve years with his Yogic power. Soon he renounced the home and parents, left to woods for Tapasya and immersed in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, known as the highest state of spiritual advancement.  Maharishi Vedavyasa followed his son with affection, but Shuka was not answered his call at all, it was all those trees, shrubs and creatures were answered his call.  The ladies who were taking pleasure in the water sport were cautioned to cover their naked bodies at the arrival of Vedavyasa.  He enquired them whether they have seen his son Shuka, they replied that they have seen him.  He asked why they are too shy and covering their naked bodies at his arrival, the women have replied that ‘Shuka is an absolute Bramham’, therefore they did not feel to cover their bodies.    Shukadev Maharaj underwent extreme meditation in the dense wood. Maharishi Vedavyasa advised his disciples to recite the glorious form of the supreme Lord into the ears of Shuka.  The Supreme Lord Krishna who is adorned in marvelous crown decorated with feathers of the peacock, dark curly hair locks up to shoulder which attracts the pack of honey bees, he is adorned in fish-shaped marvelous ear ornaments, he has dark cloud complexion, he has beautiful long and compassionate eyes, his forehead  is adorned in the rich sandalwood paste and vermilion, he has attractive nose and lips resemble Bimba fruit that holds a bamboo flute,  his neck, and the chest is adorned in various precious ornaments of the gem and Vanamala, he is decorated with armlets, bangles, finger rings, and waist ornament,  he is attired in grand yellow silk garment and adorned in magnificent anklets,  he is holding a stick to graze cattle, he is smeared in dust raised from the hove of the cow. Shukadeva Maharaj envisaged the supreme form of Lord Krishna and attained a transcendental state.  He opened his eyes and found the disciples of Maharishi Vedavyasa, he enquired the source of the glorious form of supreme Lord.  Thus Shukadev Maharaj returned to Vedavyasa and learned the entire Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran from Naimisharanya which is going to relate to Pareekshith.