|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 361 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  209

Kaler Dhoshanidhe Rajanasthi Hyeko Mahan Guna: | Keerthanadeva Krishnasya Mukthasanga: Param Vrajeth || Krithe  Yadhyatho Vishnum Threthayam Yajatho Makhai: | Dhwapare Paricharyayam Kalu Thadh Harikeerthanath ||

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, In this Kali era, singing in praise of Lord Krishna, the association of saintly men and ascetics would bring liberation from cycles of birth and death.  In the  Krita Yuga the illustrious Rishis and Sages conducted extreme penance and attained Lord Vishnu, in the Thretha Yuga the Rishis and sages were engaged in the fire sacrifice and elevated their souls,  in the Dwapara Yuga, the pious and righteous elevated their souls with the worship of Lord, in the Kali era, the remembrance of supreme Lord Hari and chanting his sacred names would bring liberation from repeated births.”

The human mind and intellect are structured in a manner to get easily attracted to material matters and spiritual matters as well.  The increased interest in the material world would cause fear and mental exhaustion; eventually, it would pave way for repeated births as well.  Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is an inspirational scripture that enlightens the souls to attain the highest of the spiritual state, to get rid of extreme fears, anxieties, sorrows, and miseries of worldly existence, and ultimately attain liberation from the cycles of repeated births with the constant practice of meditation.  It repeatedly denotes the immense potential of the human mind and intellect to rise from the destructible nature of Prakrithi/body-conscious to the state of bliss, attain the union with the supreme Bhramam which is free from afflictions.  Therefore the ultimate object of a Jeeva is to attain the union with the supreme soul that requires constant practice of meditation and learning from scriptures and being in the association of saintly men and ascetics.  The constant practice of meditation and a disciplined life would bring the serenity of mind/lack of expectation.

There are four types of deluge/Pralaya, such as Nithya Pralaya, Naimiththika Pralaya, Prakritha Pralaya and Bhrama Pralaya/Athyanthika Pralaya which is beyond ‘Time’.  ‘Prakarshena Layam Ithi Pralayam’ or Laya is the union, all the living and non-living things have to undergo constant transformation and ruin as per the law of nature.  The human body undergoes aging, illnesses, and death is defined as Nithya Pralaya.  The physical and mental exhaustion causes sleep which is called Naimiththika Pralaya.  The Prakritha Pralaya is the process after death, it is a known fact that the corpse would combine with the soil and enhances the productiveness of the soil.  The Bhrama Pralaya is the superior state, union of mind and intellect/thoughts in the supreme soul.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 360 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  208

Prabhavanthi Yadha Saththve Mano Budhdhi Indhriyani Cha | Thadha Krithayugam Vidhya Gnane Thapasi Yath Ruchi: || Yadha  Dharma Arththa Kameshu Bhakthir Bhavathi Dhehinam | Thadha Thretha Rajo Vriththirithi Janeehi  Budhdhiman || Yadha Lobhasthvasanthosho Mano Dhambhoadha Mathsara: | Karmanam Chapi Kamyanam Dhwaparam Thadhrajasthama: || Yadha Mayanritham Thadhra Nidhra Himsa Vishadhanam | Shoko Moho Bhayam Dhainyam Sa Kalisthamasa: Smritha: ||

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Mune, how did we get rid of the evil effects of Kali era? Kindly describe the Supreme Lord Vishnu as Kalasyeshwararoopa, Yuga, Yugadharma, and the Pralayakalpa.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, The Dharma has four feet, known as Sathyam/truthfulness, Shaucham/austerities,  Dhaya/kindness and Thapas/penance/control over senses.  It was in a perfect state during the Krita Yuga, it was the period people were possessed virtues like Santhushta/contentment, Karuna/compassion, Maithra/companionship, Shantha/serene, Dhantha/good control over senses, Thithikshava/serenity of mind, Athmarama/liberated souls, Samadhrisha/equality, Prayasha/hard work, Shramana/mendicant.  In the Thretha Yuga, the feet of Dharma got hurt; there was Adharma/immorality, Himsa/violence, Anrutham/wickedness, Asanthosha/unhappiness.  In the Dwapara Yuga, Dharma got hurt even more and more, people found pleasure in violence.  In the Kali era, the Dharma will get hurt three fourth of its nature, people will be miser, follow all those unwarranted habits and immoral deeds, selfish, unkind, hatred, ignorant take pride in knowledge.  Oh! Rajan, all that I have explained is the destructible nature of Prakrithi, the supreme soul is void of Thrigunas.  Oh! Rajan, even in this Kali era people whose mind and intellect are filled with Sathvikgunas, follows austerities and vows, contemplates upon the supreme Lord, practice learning scriptures, with this practice they could elevate their souls as in the Krithayuga.  Oh! Rajan, people whose mind and intellect are soaked in Dharma, Artha, Kama lives the life in Thretha Yuga.  People whose mind and intellect are drenched in Lobham/desires, Asanthosham/unhappiness, Manam/pride, Dhambham/ego, would perform all those spiritual and religious rites for fulfilling desires and live a life in Dwapara Yuga.  The People whose mind and intellect are soaked in Moha/lust and desire, Bhaya/fear,  Dhainyam/self-pity, Shokam/grief, Vishadhanam/depression, Himsa/violence, Nidhra/sleep, Anritham/untruthful, lives in the Kali era.  Oh! Rajan, an ignorant forgets the nature of the supreme soul and contemplates upon the supreme Lord to fulfill their desires.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 359 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  207

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, in this Kali era, the supreme Lord Vishnu will incarnate as Kalki.  The Jagathpathi would be born to the virtuous Bhramin couple in the village of Shambala, would mount on a horseback, holding Devadaththam/powerful sword, to destroy the wicked on the Earth and once again free the Earth from the influence of the Kali era.  An ignorant will not have the knowledge of the human body that has to face ruin, one day it would become food for the worms or burn into ashes, and during the lifetime he/she engages in various atrocities and undergoes hellish torture while living on the Earth.  The Mother Earth will laugh at the living beings in mockery, seeing their pathetic state, chasing for material well-being and futile effort to own the Earth without even the knowledge of its impermanent nature, and unaware of his own death.  She laughs at the people while preparing to conquer the Earth, without the knowledge that they are constantly chased by Lord Mrithyu, finally disappear from the Earth. The people will constantly chase after material comforts, without getting satisfied in any of the matters, finally get distressed.  The major part of the Earth is surrounded by water, if the Mother earth pulls herself inside the water, the whole world will submerge underwater, Alas! The people in the Kali era will not even exist.  Oh! Rajan, the Earth was ruled by numerous Emperors and wise rulers; they had to leave the Earth empty-handed.  Therefore, we have taken birth on this Earth to elevate our souls while living in the material comforts without getting attached to it. Oh! Rajan, I have narrated the legends of most eminent and powerful rulers on the Earth, after listening to their stories; you should have Vairagya/sense of abandonment, Vignana/wisdom and Viveka/perfect judgment. Oh! Rajan, you must have thoroughly understood whom should you contemplate upon and what should not get attached in the life on Earth.  The people who have not turned their mind and intellect on the supreme soul resides as a soul in living beings, will not attain freedom from the cycles of birth and death. Oh! Rajan, elevate your soul listening to the glorious myths sung in praise of Uththamasloka, on a regular basis that would provide intense devotion at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Krishna.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 358 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  206

King Pareekshith speaks “ Oh! Mune, after the return of the supreme Lord Krishna who is the jewel of the Yadhu clan to his supreme abode, kindly describe the Kings who ruled this kingdom.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, once the supreme Lord Krishna departed to his abode, the kali era has begun, there were several illustrious Kings who ruled the Earth wisely.   In this Kali era, people will not follow Dharma/righteousness,  Sathyam/truthfulness, Shaucham/austerities, Kshama/endurance, Dhaya/kindness, that are essential for the development of a Kingdom/country.  The people will have a short life span and memory loss; therefore, people will be in extreme fear, insecure, jealous and hatred to each other.  The people will give importance to wealth; the wicked people work together to loot the wealth of others, people will mislead the society and the people with the power of wealth.  The married couple gets over-attached to each other and soaks in the sensual pleasures, take great interest in a physical relationship.  The people will find excessive interest in worldly matters and sensual pleasures with the wrong perception that it will accompany them always.  The people will not follow even basic hygiene, will not take a regular baths, they chase for material well-being, selfish and swollen with pride.  They take great interest in increasing the charm and physical appearance, take an increased interest in hairdos.  There will be unseasonal rains, extreme heat, famine, drought, floods; extreme cold, infectious diseases that will increase rapidly.  The humans will be prepared to commit any sin for wealth and richness.  The people will undergo various infectious diseases and constantly get worried about it. In this Kali era, people will not have good health, and will not follow Varna Ashrama Dharma and Pagandis/insane, demonstrate the Dharma and put the people into trouble.”

Iththam Kalau  Gathapraye  Janeshu Garadharmishu | Dharmathranaya Saththvena  Bhagavan Avatharishyathi || Charachara Guror Vishoreeshwarsya Akhilathmana: | Dharmathranaya Sadhunam Janmakarmapanuththaye ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 357 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  205

The Dhwadhasha Skandha of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran describes the concept of ‘complete surrender’/Ashraya.  The human intellect always seeks for welfare, happiness, and protection, and often gets disappointed in missing any of these comforts, ignorant seek protection and comfort in the members of the family or material things, eventually get over-dependent on it, and lower themselves to the status of a beggar.  The study of spirituality teaches whom to depend? Who’s the provider of comfort and protection of the Jeeva until death?  it educates to lean on the supreme soul who is the cause for the functioning of mind and intellect, protector of the soul while the three states such as sleep, awaken and dream.  The illustrious Yogis and Rishis attained union with the supreme soul and lived in a state of Bhramam/supreme bliss. 

The highest of the revelation was made by the ancient Rishis were all those imaginary relationships in the human lives are formed by the ‘thoughts’/ intellect and mind, due to the existence of the supreme soul, if the mind and intellect did not function properly; none of the relationships would have been formed or exists.  Therefore the intellectuals found that the ‘thoughts’ are the primary cause for the interest in material matters and bondage.  The thoughts that are constructed  about the material well-being, people and comforts bring disappointments in the long run due to its destructive nature as Prakrithi, hence they vested thoughts on the indestructible supreme soul which beyond birth or death, eternal, and changeless.  The thoughts have subtle and fleeting nature as the Prakrithi, therefore it cannot get attached to people or wealth, or fame, or richness for a long time, soon it will find boredom, like the sun rays falling on the Earth does return to its origin.  Spirituality is the practice of all that have learned from scriptures about the subtle nature of the supreme soul reside as the soul in all the living beings, its indestructible nature and the thorough knowledge of material matters and bondage, that have destructible nature of Prakrithi, hence the  practice of  not getting attached to the material well-being and elevate the soul with the constant practice of meditation and Pranayama, eventually attain the union of the soul with the supreme soul, to lead a contented life.