||Srimad Bhagavath
Mahapuran||
||Om Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya||
Chapter – 28 – The legend
of Devi Bhakti/devotion
The grand recital of Srimad
Bhagavath Mahapuran was organized by Maharishi Narada in Naimisharanya, all the
illustrious Rishis and sages Shuka Shauna with eighty-eight Sages assembled,
Sanaka, Sanandhana, Sanathan and Sanathkumara and Goddess Bhakti and
her two elderly sons Gnana and Vairagya arrived.
The raised platform was occupied by Sage Sutha Pauranika, the recital of the significance of Bhagavath Mahapuran began, instantly Goddess Bhakti and her sons Gnana and Vairagya regained their youthfulness. Maharishi Narada became delightful to see that
even a drop of the Bhagavath Mahapuran brought tremendous changes in Gnana
and Vairagya, he was confident that the recital of entire Bhagavath Mahapuran would
do remarkable changes in Gnana and Vairagya to regain their youth. Devi Bhakti was immensely pleased to see her
children Gnana and Vairagya cheerfully dancing around after listening to the
significance of the recital of Bhagavath Mahapuran. She prostrated before the sacred scripture
and Sutha Pauranika who was seated on the raised platform. She earnestly prayed to Sutha Pauranika “
Mahatma, where should I be seated?” Sutha Pauranika replied, “ Devi, kindly
take your seat in the hearts of the Sages and Rishis assembled”. The inner meaning of this dialogue was
Bhakti/devotion should be in the hearts of all the living souls, the place
where the supreme Lord wanted to be seated with Devi Bhakti. Once the supreme Lord take seats in the heart
of devotees, he will not leave the place.
Devi Bhakti is his dearest darling; he would always go behind her. Therefore, the practice of devotion is the
initial state of attaining success in spirituality. The Supreme Lord and Devi Bhakti take seats
in the heart of devotees whose heart free from impurities like jealousy, pride,
anger, lust, ego etc…
Once, Maharishi Narada met
a woman who was seated on the river banks of Yamuna in deep meditation. Narada was immensely pleased to see her
devotion, he went near to the woman who immediately opened her eyes and
prostrated before Maharishi. Narada
enquired her who was she meditating upon? She said “ Maharaj, I am completely
troubled with the beautiful little boy Krishna, he is not leaving my mind for a
second, my mind is always chasing him.
Therefore, I am not able to perform any of my household tasks, I am
getting shouting from my in-laws for not doing any household tasks
perfectly. They are calling me I am out
of mind. Once, my mother-in-law asked to milk
the cows; I went to the cowshed and collected the milk while returning the
black little boy appeared before me asking for milk. I have poured all the milk collected on his
palm to quench his thirst, I felt highly pleased. In a few
seconds, I got out of my dream and saw all the milk collected were spilled on the floor, my
mother-in-law screamed at me for wasting the milk. Once, I was assigned the work of cleaning the rice when I was seated before the grinding
stone, the marvelous little child Krishna appeared before me, I had a pleasant
conversation for hours and hours, thus time has passed.
My mother-in-law shouted at me calling insane for talking to myself for
hours and hours. I am troubled with the
little child of Yashomathi. Once, she asked to
get water from the river Yamuna. I took
the mud pot and went to the river to fetch water.
I have filled the mud pot, but it was too heavy to carry, soon there
arrived the little child of Yashomathi and offered help. I thought it is good that he arrived to help
me in the right time, we lifted the mud pot together, but he left his hand, the mud
pot fell on the ground and broken, I have returned home empty-handed, once again my
mother-in-law started shouting at me. I
have decided I have to remove this little child from my intellect, then only I
can perform any of the household tasks.
Maharaj I have tried all practices to shut him out of my mind and eyes,
kindly advise me which practice I should follow to get my mind free from his thoughts.” Maharishi Narada was stunned to hear the request of the young maiden of the cowherd, he thought the entire world is chasing
behind the little son of Yashomathi, abandoning their homes and material well-being, practicing various Yogic practices,
performing austerities and follows different methods of worships, meditation,
etc.. The cowherds of Vraja were immensely
devoted to the supreme Lord and he resided in their hearts as well as in their intellect. Therefore the practice of
devotion would bring the eternal presence of the supreme Lord in the hearts of
devotees. Hence, Sutha Pauranika requested Devi Bhakti to reside in the hearts
of all the Sages and Rishis assembled to listen to the glorious myths of Srimad
Bhagavath Mahapuran in the Naimisharanya.
