||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 87 – Varnnashrama Dharma – 3

Dharmaputhra asked, "Oh! Maharishi, kindly narrates the duties and responsibilities of the Grihastha to attain pure devotion and faith?”

Maharishi Narada replied “ Oh, Dharmaja, Grihastha should perform all the righteous tasks and completely surrender to the supreme Lord, it would elevate their soul.  They should cultivate intense devotion and faith with the association of saintly men, listening and reciting the glories and myths of the supreme Lord.  Listening to the glories and myth of the supreme Lord provides the knowledge that the possession the material things, wealth, child, family, relatives, and friends are impermanent. It would provide the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who is all-pervading, he is creating all the things in this Universe with illusion, and he is the creator, preserver, and destroyer.  This supreme knowledge would give serenity of mind; it removes the impurities of the mind, sense of oneness in all, service to humanity, humility, simplicity, kindness, devotion, faith, etc.  Eventually, they will surrender all the deeds upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.  A Grihastha should perform Yajja/fire sacrifices, and charities according to his capacity, he should follow austerities and vows on the auspicious days, he should spend solid hours in the service of Supreme Lord, he should perform austerities/Nishkamyakarma during auspicious hours in the temples, mountain, river, holy pond, and family temple.  A Grihastha should perform five types of Yajja such as Manshya Yajja, Pithruyajja, Bhoothayajja, Dhaivayajja, and Rishiyajja/Bhramayajja.  The GnanaYajja is considered a supreme path to attain Mukthi, he should visit holy places, shrines, holy ponds are the dwelling place of trinities and illustrious Rishis, prostrate before the saintly people and their preceptor and all the performed righteous deeds should be surrendered to supreme Lord, it would give the piousness of watering a tree on its roots.  In the four Yugas the supreme Lord is worshiped in four different ways, Dhyanam Krithayuge/penance in Krita Yuga, Yajjam Threthayuge/performance of fire sacrifice in Thretha, Arcchanam Dwapare/worship of Lord in Dwapara Yuga and Keerthanam Kaliyuge/chanting sacred names in Kaliyuga.”

Maharishi Narada continued “ Oh! Rajan, A sannyasin should be a reservoir of knowledge, he should have a thorough knowledge of all the Dharma. He should be profound in Dharma Vidharma/immorality and Paradharma/learning the righteousness of the other people, Upadharma/learning the Shasthrarththa, Shabdha/Shruthi and Vidharma/deeds that’s against righteousness.  He should have deep knowledge of Jeevathma and Parmathma, and he should engage in the contemplation of the supreme Lord and unite the mind with the Nirguna Bhramam.  Oh! Rajan, any righteous deed performed without the devotion to supreme Lord Narayana is considered as unrewarding, it is like bathing of an elephant.   The intellectuals with the intense devotion to the supreme Lord would remove Thrishna, Eshana, etc..  The fools consider the supreme Lord Narayana as an ordinary human being without the knowledge of his supremacy.  The wise people learn to wash off impurities/Shadvarga/Kama-Krodha-Lobha – Madha – Mathsarya/ with strict regular practices, they will have the knowledge of illusion causes worldly existence, and they contemplate the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings.  The wise resides in auspicious places and remain Bikshu who lives on alms, they constantly engage in righteous deeds, they take a seat on the clean place and practice Pranayama and practice the union of mind with the supreme Bhramam, thus they become Yogi and eventually attain Moksha from repeated births. Oh! Rajan, a renounced/intellectual realizes that the supreme Lord who’s presence causes the functioning of intellect, mind, various emotions, Gnana and Karmendhriyas, and Panchathanmathra/essential elements.  The body is a vehicle, the senses are the path of the chariot, and the stable mind and intellect is the charioteer, and the supreme soul is a bow, and the vital air is an arrow.   The union of Bhramam provides Mukthi and the greatest enemy of the liberation of the soul are Ragadhvesha/impurities of the mind.  The Swatik people win over enemies with their bodies and virtues as a chariot, devotion like prowess, and wisdom like a sword; they take shelter in the supreme soul and enjoy the bliss.  The people who take immense pleasure in the worldly matters would heave themselves in the darkness of the bottomless well of worldly existence, therefore Ragadhvesha/Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Ashcharya are the thieves.  Oh! King, The influence of Maya can be understood from the rays of Lord Surya even though they are not two, and the nature of heat from Lord Agni.  The knowledge of Bhramam which is beyond Gunas or Nirgunas, supreme Lord is pure and bliss as well, with this knowledge everyone could attain Moksha.  I was celestial Gandharva Barhana in my previous birth, took immense pleasure in the association of celestial Apsaras, unexpectedly I have obtained birth as Shudra due to the Karmadhosha.  During those days I have engaged in the worship of saintly men, and listened to their teachings and served them sincerely.  Later, I have obtained the status of the son of Lord Bhrama/ Narada.  Therefore, the intense devotion and faith upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord is the greatest way to attain Mukthi and make life fruitful.  Oh! Rajan, you have supreme Lord Krishna who is supreme Lord resides as a soul in living beings, with you.   He is absolute Bhramam, a renounced soul and firm.   He is supreme Lord Vishnu incarnated on the Earth, you are sincere devotees of him, hence surrender all your deeds at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, in this way you will attain all the Shreyas in your life.”  Dharmaraja Yudhishtira reverentially prostrated before Maharishi Narada.    Later, Shuka Bhramam narrated the Varnnashrama Dharma to King Pareekshith, afterward, it was retold to Shaunakadhis by Sutha Pauranika.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 86 – Varnnashrama Dharma – 2

Once Prahladha with his men arrived in the Mount Sahyadhri, while walking on river banks of Cauvery, met Lord Shiva and reverentially greeted him and enquired “ Oh! Supreme Lord, you are the cause for creation, preservation, and destruction.  You do not require any support system for your existence and you do not require any wealth or grains for your existence.   I am fortunate to meet you.  The humans take immense pleasure themselves in wealth, richness, and grains,  and the material world.  Oh! Mahamathe, you are highly delightful without any of the material things.  How is it possible for you?.”

Lord Shiva replied “ Oh! Vishnupriya, listen to me carefully.  Humans can attain liberation from the worldly existence with wisdom and pure devotion.  The Supreme Lord who has the brilliance of thousands of Aditya removes the darkness of ignorance in the heart of worshipers.  Oh! Dhaithyadhipa, the living beings on Earth attains birth due to their interest in sensual pleasures/Bhoga, and desire/ Iccha,  they take several births on the Earth without getting satisfied with their interest in sensual pleasures.  Finally, they have attained the birth of a human which is for taking pleasure in life on Earth as well as life after death with the grace of Lord Mahavishnu who is wielded in illusion.  Some people perform various deeds for the sensual pleasure and their welfare on the Earth, and virtuous people perform deeds for the welfare of the Universe.  Therefore, any task performed for the welfare of the senses is momentary, all the material happiness is not long-lasting, without discarding the interest in material happiness or material affairs it is impossible to attain supreme bliss.  The human body attained with the grace of the Supreme Lord is not for taking limitless sensual pleasures, and live like an animal,  thereby constantly troubled Bhauthika/ worldly matters.  These kinds of people are constantly anxious about children, wealth, possession, and family, lead an utterly confused life with no faith in scriptures, undergo depression and unhappiness.  The Kings are anxious about losing wealth and glories, and the wealthiest people undergo threat from King, thief, and fire, fear of loss of beloved ones, etc.  These people are like honey bees, that keeps collecting nectar from numerous flowers and deposit in its hive,  Alas! finally, someone will take away the honey hive.    In this way, one day the hard-earned wealth will take away by somebody and it causes extreme distress.   Some people are like giant serpents, take immense pleasure in meals.  The intellectuals, scholars and renounced soul lives without any trepidation, they gain supreme wisdom from the preceptor and abandon interest in the worldly matters.  They are contented with the bed of Kusha, and sacred ashes, they are grown beyond respect and disrespect, praise or insult constantly engages in the practice of union with the supreme Bhramam, finally remains in a transcendental state.  Oh! Vishnupriya, you are greatest among the devotees of Lord, I shall strongly recommend the path of righteousness as the ultimate Mukthi.”  Prahlada reverentially prostrated before Lord and returned to his palace.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 85 – Varnnashrama Dharma - 1

Maharishi Narada continued “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme Lord is beyond forms or the description can be realized with a calm and serene mind, meditation, worship with intense devotion and faith.  In this way, you can please the Supreme Lord who resides as ‘Antharathma’/soul, can be considered as your preceptor and contemplates upon him with intense faith and devotion.”

Dharmaputhra speaks to Maharishi Narada “ Oh! Maharishi, kindly describe the Varnnashrama Dharma?”

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, listen to me carefully, once I went to meet Lord Narayana in Badarikashram, he narrated the marvelous Varnnashrama Dharma, the righteous path to approach the eternal Bhramam was divided into four known as Varnnashrama Dharma.  The significant virtues required in an individual is Sathyam/truth, Dhaya/kindness, austerities/Thapas and Shuchi, Thithiksha, Shamam, Dhamam,  principles of non-violence, self-sacrifice, celibacy, Swadhyaya, Marjjavam, happiness, Samyadhrik/oneness in all, service to humanity, belief in non-duality, Athmavichar/contemplation upon self, Maunam/vow of silence, Shravanam, Keerthanam, association with the saintly men, performance of fire sacrifices and various rites, worship of Lord, good companion,  and humility,  is the greatest virtues required for the grace of supreme Lord.  The twice-born/Brahmin who was born from the face of supreme Lord required following strict austerities, the performance of Yagna and Yaga, learning scriptures Upanishads, and Veda, and spreading knowledge of Veda.   A Vipra should have the knowledge of Modham, Shamam, Dhamam, Shaucham, Kshamam, Gnanam, austerities, Dhaya, good control over senses, worship of Lord, and truthfulness.   He should take up studies under preceptor; he should be devoted to the preceptor, honest, humble, and sincere and should have great respect towards the preceptor.  He should perform rites to honor preceptor, worship Lord Surya during the hours of Sandhya, perform rites to please Earth and deities, he should practices lessons in Veda, he should obtain alms to serve his preceptor, he should consume the meal in lesser quantity, he should strictly follow celibacy, he should not live in the house of women, he should not clean shave or cut nails,  he should avoid fragrant scents,  and intoxicating drinks, he should have thorough knowledge of the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord.  He should serve his preceptor like a servant, he should not be proud.   The Kshatriya who was born from the arms of Supreme Lord, required following service to the Kingdom, he is the protector of the borders of the Kingdom, he should have qualities like Shaurayam, Veeryam, Dhrithi, Thejas, Thyagam, good control over sense, patience, and he should ensure the protection of twice-born.  The Vaishya who was born from the thighs of the supreme Lord required qualities like devotion, commerce, and ensuring the happiness of the three Varnas/Bhramin, Kshatriya and Shudra.  The Shudra has the responsibility to worship Lord without any Vedic chants, he should be truthful, they should undertake the protection of cow, agriculture, and all the labor tasks.  The women should undertake strict austerities, righteousness, and vow, she should have the qualities like  humility,  truthfulness, devoted service to her husband, love, and affection, happiness, intelligence, untiring, cleanliness, steadfast, good health, free from anxieties and depression, she should consider her husband as Lord Narayana, ultimately she will attain the abode of Lord.  The people of four Varnna should strive for obtaining knowledge of all-pervading nature supreme Lord and ultimately attains the abode of Lord.  The Vanaprastha attain the abode of Rishis, he should eat the fruit ripened from the trees, fiber roots are grown on its own, he should not consume any of the vegetables produced in the farm or field, he should not consume cooked meals, they should stay in hermitage or cave and perform the fire rituals, he should be capable of withstand any of the extreme climatic conditions.  He should have perfect control over senses; he should have knotted hair locks, hairs and nails should not be removed, he should have Dhanda and Kamadalu, gradually he will burn/immerses himself in the Gnana and Yogagni, eventually he will sacrifice all those loin clothes, Danda and Kamandalu and walk on the Earth without fear, body consciousness, I consciousness, and meals.  He will be in the association of ascetics; completely staying away from practice or learning scriptures, he will be serene, live alike of deaf, dumb and blind.”

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, The Purusharththa is the ultimate object and Varnnashrama Dharma is the way to attain the ultimate object.   Dharma is the path to get attached to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in us and gets disconnected from all that is perishable nature.  The attachment to the Supreme Lord can be attained with the guidance of a preceptor.  Our mind has the potential to desire for the material things as well as eternal, the desire for eternal truth is the final object/Moksha.  It is the union of the soul with the supreme soul/supreme Bhramam.  The elevation of the soul is possible through Varnnashrama Dharma which was established by supreme Lord.”