||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 50 – Jadabharatha Upakhyanam -1

Sutha Pauranika continues to describe the significance of reciting the sacred scripture Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran to Shaunakadhis, which brings an abundance of meritorious rewards to worshiper, the home where the recitation of this sacred scripture held would be sanctified; it removes all the sins of the worshiper like the holy river Ganga and Gaya.  

King Agnethra born in the clan of Priyavratha felt twelve hours of daylight is not enough to perform the tasks, he found the discipline that all the living beings on the Earth return to their nest and stayed away from the work during the night hours.  He created a magnificent chariot made of precious yellow metal of gems decorated, took round and round of the Earth, which removed the darkness of the Earth with its brilliance.   In this way he removed the darkness of night, it affected the lives of all the living beings on Earth, put their lives in chaos without sleep, thus it affected the creation of Lord Bhrama.  Swayambhuva Manu intervened and advised King Agnethra about the chaos caused in the Earth and the necessities of day and night.  King Agnethra established the Sapthadhvipa such as Jambu, Plaksha, Shalmali, Kasha, Krauncha, Shakha and Pushkara.  This Sapthadhvipa was surrounded by seven ocean of Salt, Sugarcane juice, Intoxicating drink, Ghee, Milk, Curd, and water.

Sutha Pauranika describes the legend of Rishabhadeva who was born in the clan of Priyavratha to Shaunakadhis " Oh! Sages,  Rishabhadeva ruled the Kingdom wisely for several years, later crowned his elder son Bharatha as the King, and returned to the woods of Bhramavarththa for Tapasya.  He undertook the vow of silence and wandered in the woods like a mendicant with no clothes on the body and disheveled hair,  he was least bothered about his surroundings or places.   Thus he lived in the woods meditating upon the supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith, ultimately attained Mukthi at the lotus feet of Mukunda.  I shall prostrate before supreme Rishabhadeva who had attained the highest of the piousness, performed his kingly duties and responsibilities, finally leaving all the material comforts, practiced intense devotion and faith upon the supreme Lord, eventually attained liberation from worldly existence."

The King Bharatha, elder son of Rishabhadeva wisely ruled the Kingdom/Ajanabham, later it came to known as ‘Bharath’./Bha – illuminating, radiating, Ra – living on it, Tha- crossing it /the country which beliefs in the highest of the supreme knowledge of Bhramam, the knowledge of the Supreme Lord who  resides as a soul in living beings and believes ‘Oneness-in-All’ which helps to elevate the soul from miseries, sorrows, grief, and pain and attain liberation from the worldly existence.  He ruled the Kingdom Bharath for several years, he considered subjects as his offspring, people were extremely happy.  Bharatha married and had children, he crowned the elder son as the King of Bharath and returned to woods for Tapasya on the river banks of Chakra/Gandaki located near the Pulahashram.  He contemplated upon the magnificent form of supreme Lord Narayana who holds conch, disc, mace and lotus flower, adorned in Srivatsa and Kausthubham.   He performed all the duties as the command of the supreme Lord.  He had accepted all the happenings in life as God’s willing.   His mind was serene, immersed in the worship of the Supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith/Bhakti yoga.

 One day it was the early hours of the morning, Rajarishi Bharatha went for a bath in the river chakra and engaged in the worship of the sun.  He saw a fully pregnant deer on the river bank quenching its thirst.  Suddenly heard the roar of Mrigapathi/lion close to the riverside, soon the deer got frightened and looked around in extreme panic, it took a high leap from the one side of the river to the other.  Due to extreme fear and shock, the fetus fell on the water.  Though the deer safely reached on the other side, shortly died of extreme grief of losing a child and pain.  The Rajarishi Bharatha witnessed the whole scenario in intense sorrow, he saw the infant of deer on the water.  He felt that it must be the command of God, to take care of the responsibility of the infant of the deer.  Thus, Rajarishi affectionately took the infant of the deer and brought it to the hermitage.

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 49– The significance of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran

Maharishi Shuka narrates to Pareekshith “ Oh! Rajan, whoever listens to the glories of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran, and understands its core spirit would be relieved from all the sins of several thousand of birth.  It is difficult to attain the form of a human, and people who do not read or listens to the Shukashasthra/Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran would remain a Chandala/outcaste, and there is no Purana is splendorous than the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran.  Who does not read or listen would take several births and undergoes the endless miseries and sorrows of the bottomless ocean of worldly existence.  The soul is originated from the supreme Lord, it has to return to the supreme Lord with devotion and faith, and otherwise, otherwise it has to keep taking several births to attain the same like the streams and rivers merge with the ocean.  There is no other way to stop the cycle of birth, other than intense devotion and faith upon the supreme Lord.  The person who does not listen to the glories of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is equivalent to a corpse, he/she is sinful and a burden to the Mother Earth.  The listening to this marvelous scripture of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is attainable for the souls who have performed an abundance of piousness in several thousands of births.   The Sapthaha/seven days of listening to this sacred scriptures would provide highly meritorious rewards.”

The Sutha Pauranika describes the piousness of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran “ Oh! Rishis and Sages, Lord Krishna was lived on this Earth for hundred and twenty-five years and prepared to leave the Earth on the banks of Prabhasa,  Uddhava could not bear the separation from the Lord, he stood before Lord Krishna with folded hands.  He lived hundred and fifteen years with Lord Krishna,  he was too devoted and a sincere attendant to him, he could not bear the pain of living alone without the presence of Krishna, his eyes were filled in tears, has fallen on the feet of  Lord Krishna and requested to take him.  The compassionate Lord advises Uddhava, was known as Uddhava Gita.  Uddhava said “ Oh Govinda, the Kali era is approaching, the evilness of the Kali era had begun,  I have the deepest concern about the souls on the Earth,  Oh!supreme Lord if you leave the Earth, who would elevate the soul on the Earth? Oh! Lord, you have manifested on the Earth to elevate the pious souls,    though you have no specific appearance, you had the mercy to reveal the marvelous form to us.  In the Kali era, it will be difficult for the devotees for Nirgunopasana/formless Lord/Aroopa, Avyaktha and Achinthya form of Lord.    The mind can absorb the sounds and forms easily, but beyond that, it will be almost impossible for the souls to concentrate on the formless.    Therefore you have to show mercy on people who strive to meditate upon you.”  The compassionate Lord Krishna immerses in the thought to remove the qualms of Uddhava and advises him about the worship of visible as well as Akshara, the sacred scripture Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran as the representation of supreme Lord and which is the safest asylum of the souls, thus people who venerate Him as the supreme soul would not come back on Earth, will not take rebirth.  Thus, Lord Krishna invested all his divinities in the sacred scripture Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran.  Therefore listening to the myths, reciting its glories or even witnessing this sacred scripture would free the souls from the sins.”  

Maharishi Narada and Sanakadhis engaged in a discussion, there appeared Devi Bhakti with her two aged sons Gnana and Vairagya after listening to the significance of the glorious scripture; she was dancing to the tunes of chanting the sacred names of supreme Lord.  Sanakadhis advises Devi Bhakti who is the remover of sorrows and grief, illnesses and distress to take a seat in heart of devotees of Vaishnavas, and devotees who listen and recites the glories of the supreme Lord.  The Sanathkumaras describes the qualities of a listener of this sacred scripture, the people who are absorbed in material affairs, sinners, wicked, morally wrong and untruthful.  The people who are polluted with the impurities of the mind, lust, and anger.  The people who have committed Panchaugrapapa/ five severe sins, such as addicted to intoxicating drinks, illegal relationships, theft, disrespecting preceptor, and all those sins committed on a daily basis.

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 48– Sankhya Yogam

Kapila beautifully narrates the presence of supreme Lord as a soul in living beings to his mother Devahoothi.  “ Oh! Mother, I shall narrate to you in detail about the greatest of the philosophies, if you understand the essence of it you could deviate your mind from the things you are witnessing are filled with delusion before you to the supreme Lord.  It is the supreme knowledge that could elevate your soul with the knowledge of self.  It would liberate the souls from repeated births and elevate the souls from worldly attachments, worldly bondage, miseries, sorrow, pain, and agony.  The supreme Purusha has no beginning or changes, he is beyond virtues, he is beyond Prakrithi which is constantly bound by changes, he has supreme brilliance, he is all-pervading, he is flawless.  The intellect which constantly memorizes the glories of supreme Lord attains Moksha, therefore it is the responsibility of the soul to practice intense devotion and faith upon him.  The intellect which possesses the Swathik nature constantly remembers the supremacy of Lord in everything, the intellect which has no practice of devotion would wander around worldly matters.  The intellect which is seeking sensual pleasures and worldly matters relentlessly undergoes pain and sorrow.  The intellect which constantly contemplates upon the supreme Lord would attain the stability of mind and freedom from sorrow and happiness.  The practice of listening or reciting to the glories of Lord, worship of the Lord would keep the steadiness of intellect which could help to face happiness and sorrow as two inevitable parts of life, eventually, it would take away the soul from worldly bondages.  Oh! Mother, you have to bring back the intellect which is soaked in worldly matters, and concentrate on the supreme Purusha who resides as a soul in living beings.   The five sense organs/Panchendhriyas which carries out the duty of seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, and feeling touch, are connected with the Panchabhoothas known as essential elements that are Earth, Ether, Water, Fire, and Air.  The sound related to Sky, the movements related to Air, the form related to Agni, the taste related to Water, and the smell related to Earth and the ten Karmendhriyas.  Pancha Koshas are Prana/vital air, Apana/breathe in, Udhana/help for secretion, Samana/that helps for blood circulation and Vyana/air that digest the food consumed.  The Gnanendhriyas mind and intellect, ego,  all these factors are bound by ‘Time’.  The supreme Lord/Purusha resides as a soul in the living beings it has no changes, and the rest of those factors are bound by ‘Time’.  The Swathik mind is serene, pure and balanced is free from worldly bondage,  sorrow, agony, pain, and happiness.  Oh! Mother, the supreme soul resides as a soul in living beings, he is the doer/Kartha, and he is the cause/Karanam and effect/Karyam as well.  Oh! Mother, therefore, the supreme soul resides as soul/Prana in the living beings causes the functions of Panchendhriya, Karmendhriya, and Gnanedhriya.  Oh! Mother, contemplate upon the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings, with intense devotion, faith, renunciation, and wisdom.”

The creation of living beings with the five essential elements known as Earth, Water, Ether, fire, and Air.  The Panchendhriyas, Karmendhriyas, Gnanendhriyas and the Pancha Prana perform its tasks only when the soul is restored in the human body which has imperishable nature.  All the living beings have to die and immerses in the Prakrithi which is constantly changing. The basic law is whatever contributes by the Prakrithi should go back to it. The Purusha/soul is eternal that has no changes at all, therefore the supreme Lord which resides as a soul in every living being should go back to Him, there is no other choice for it.   Otherwise, it may keep taking several births and undergoes pain, agony, sorrow, miseries, etc... of the worldly existence.  Hence, Kapila advice his Mother Devahoothi to utilize her intellect to contemplate upon the supreme Lord who resides as a  soul to liberate from worldly existence.  Moksha is the ultimate destination of every soul, to attain the same, the soul should put into practice the attachment with detachment, and persistently strive to unite the soul in the remembrance of the Supreme Lord.

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 47– The legend of Dhaththathreya

Kardhama Prajapathi and Devahoothi had nine daughters married to Saptha Rishis, Sage Vashishta and Atharvana respectively.  Sage Athri married to Anasooya, this couple had no offspring for quite some time.  They undertook extreme penance, the trinities Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Maheshwara appeared before them.  Sage Athri was contemplating upon Lord Vishnu, he was astounded to watch the mercy of Lord Bhrama and Lord Maheshwara and eulogized the trinities.  Lord Vishnu replied “We are immensely pleased with the devotion of you; we are ‘one’, assumed three different forms.  You have prayed for virtuous offspring, therefore we are offering you three virtuous sons who represent three of us.”  Thus Devi Anasooya blessed with three children Soma who is the essence of Lord Bhrama, Dhaththathreya who is the essence of Lord Vishnu,  and Durvassa who is the essence of Lord Shankara.

Dhakshaprajapthi and Prasoothi had sixteen daughters.  The thirteen daughters were Sradda, Maithri, Dhaya, Shanthi, Thushti, Pushti, Kriya, Unnathi, Buddhi, Medha, Dhidhiksha, Hri, and Murthi and these thirteen daughters were married to Lord Dharma,  and one of the wives of Lord Dharma,  Murthi gave birth to Rishi Nara and Narayana.  One daughter of Dhakshaprajapathi and Prasoothi was Swaha married to Lord Agni, one daughter Swadha was married to Pithrus, and Sathi was married to Lord Shiva.  Devi Sathi and Lord Shiva had no offspring, Devi Sathi was deeply distressed, later she had to sacrifice her life in the fire because she was married to Lord Shiva who is a mendicant with no clothes on, roam around with spirits in the funeral grounds, a supreme Yogi who undergoes meditation for several years, smeared in ashes from funeral pyre, adorned in serpents and Rudraksha, disheveled matted hair locks of reddish-brown color.  Dhakshaprajapathi was least pleased with the marriage of Devi Sati and Lord Shiva, so he sought after the advice of Lord Bhrama who suggested that they would make great pair.  The marriage of this couple was taken place in a humble manner and the couple started living in the Mount Kailash.

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 46– The legend of Daksha Prajapathi – Devi Sati’s immolation - 3

 Veerabadhra approached Daksha Prajapathi and severed his head; it multiplied the fear of the deities assembled and they ran out of the sacrificial arena.  All the deities appealed to Lord Bhrama who said “Oh! Deities, you all have committed a grave sin, shame on you.  We trinities were not present in the Yagna, how could you attend such a Yagna which does not give any respect or offerings to Lord of Lords? Therefore, you all are responsible for this chaos, and you have no choice other than asking for forgiveness from the supreme Lord Shiva and please him.”  Thus all the deities with Lord Bhrama approached Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash.  The abode of Lord Shiva filled with lush green land of plants of banana, Palasha, Shalmali, Kadamba trees and creepers, filled with numerous birds and animals, streams and ponds, varieties of flowers of rich fragrances, rich herbs and trees of coconut and jackfruit, it is a place of recreation for peacocks and Chakora birds, a place of rich natural beauty.  The deities were astounded to watch the supreme Lord Shiva in deep meditation; he was seated on the Kusha grass, imparting the supreme knowledge to Maharishi Narada. 

All the deities prostrated before Lord Shiva and eulogized his glories.  Lord Bhrama eulogizes “ Oh! Bhagavan, you are the creator of Universe and its living beings, we are a part of it, we did not realize your splendor, we have committed a grave sin, kindly forgive us.  Kindly shower your mercy upon us.  Your Ganas killed numerous deities and Rishis, kindly protect us and bless to complete the Yagna which should be guarded and completed in your presence.  Therefore, kindly join  us, in the future, there will not be any Yagna without giving oblations to Lord Rudra who symbolizes Yagna and proceedings of Yagna. ” 

All the deities with Lord Shiva marched to Yagna Arena of Daksha Prajapathi.  The Yagna began, the Rishis and deities were rewarded with the lost part of their bodies, Sage Bhrigu regained his beard from the goat, the person who lost the teeth was suggested to have appropriate soups as a meal, the people who lost their eyes have regained the sight. Finally, the head of the goat was restored to Daksha Prajapathi.  All the deities and Sages eulogized the mercy of Supreme Lord Shiva. 

Daksha Prajapathi eulogizes supreme Lord Shiva “  I shall reverentially prostrate before supreme Lord Shiva, Oh! Bhagavan I have committed the unforgivable sin, kindly forgive my sin and bless me.”  Lord Shiva said “ Oh! Prajapathe, what you sow shall you reap. All that happened not because of you or me, it was pre-destined.”  There appeared Lord Vishnu, all the deities assembled with Dhaksha Prajapathi eulogizes Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu gets highly pleased.  The deities eulogized “ Oh! Srikantha, we shall reverentially prostrate before you.”

Lord Vishnu speaks “ we trinities are the cause of the creation of Universe and its living beings, we are beyond comparison, we reside as a soul in living beings, we have no definite forms or appearances, invisible as well.  We are beyond time or description, therefore who finds differentiation in Bhrama, Vishnu and Rudra /trinities are irrational, like each part of the body parts have different appearances, it works under the sole command of Prana.  Whoever worships Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva as the Jeevathma/soul and the Supreme Lord resides as a soul in all living beings, would attain serenity of mind.”

Whoever listens to the glorious myths of Daksha Prajapathi would get relieved from all the impurities of the mind and worshiper would get relieved from the sins and attains intense devotion.

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 45– The legend of Daksha Prajapathi – Devi Sati’s immolation - 2

The deities, Rishis, Sages and people assembled were extremely distressed and expressed their grief “Oh! Devi Sati who is the consort of Lord Shiva had the ill fortune; she lost her body due to the ill manner of her father.  It is really bad luck for Devi Sati,  it’s the  wickedness of  Daksha Prajapathi who is responsible for all the humiliation of Devi Sati who was deeply hurt by the deeds of her father.”  Seeing this, the Ganas of Lord Shiva became in a fury destroyed the entire Yagna arena.  Sage Bhrigu who was the priest performing the fire sacrifice, invoked the deities and chased the furious Ganas of Lord Shiva, were returned in utter failure.

Lord Shiva who is the knower of All could witness all that happened in the Yagna of Daksha Prajapathi.  Maharishi Narada arrived in Mount Kailash and prostrated before Lord Shiva was enquired for the welfare as usual.  Maharishi Narada informed all that happened in the palace of Dhakshaprajapathi to Lord Shiva.  He could not tolerate the separation from his dearest wife Devi Sati, and the troubles to his Ganas.  Lord Shiva in a rage produced boisterous shriek of pain and agony, he opened the reddish-brown matted hair lock and forcefully thrashed it on the ground.   A dreadful form Lord Veerabhadhra who has a massive appearance, black complexion, adorned in a garland of the skull, disheveled matted hair locks, sparkling eyes that releases the fire like Lord Surya, and holding trident, emerged out of one of the layers of the matted hair lock.    Lord Veerabadhra with folded hands asked “Oh! Lord Bhoothanatha, kindly orders me! How could I serve you?”   Lord Shiva commanded him “Kill Dhaksha Prajapathi and his people who caused the death of my dearest wife and humiliation of my Ganas.”

Lord Veerabhadhra accompanied by Ganas arrived in the Yagna arena like a whirlwind, producing boisterous shrieks and the sounds of the drum.   The entire Palace wrecked with the sounds and created devastation by the Nandhi and Ganas.  They ruined the entire Yagna arena,  and caused impurities in the fire,  all the deities, and Rishis and Sage was started running out of the palace in fear were got wounded.   They fastened Sage Bhrigu, Daksha Prajapathi, and all his men, and punished them for disgracing Lord Shiva in the assembly of Prajapathis which was held some time ago.    They plucked the beard of culprits and set into the fire, they plucked their eyes and broken their teeth, in this way they took revenge on people who disgraced Lord Shiva.  They mercilessly severed the head of Daksha Prajapati,  they twisted the head of him and removed.  

||Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 44– The legend of Daksha Prajapathi – Devi Sati’s immolation -1

The Supreme Lord Shiva who is the knower of All understood the upcoming inauspiciousness to Devi Sati.  He immersed in meditation, Devi Sati looked at Lord Shiva in a fury like Daksha Prajapathi and proceeded.  Lord Shiva ordered Nadikeshwara and Ganas to accompany Devi Sati.   Thus Devi Sati was accompanied by Lord Shiva’s Ganas with the sounds of various auspicious drums; she arrived in the Palace of Daksha Prajapathi.   Her heart was full of puzzlement, hurt, and anger.  Lord Bhrama and Lord Vishnu were not present for the Yagna.  Soon, Daksha Prajapathi could hear the sounds of auspicious instruments; he watched it was Devi Sati with her Ganas.    She was not received in honor, no one stood in respect or no one was willing to offer a seat for her.  Daksha Prajapathi looked at her in disdain; she had to face sheer humiliation from his father.   Her sisters and mother were kind to her; they rushed to her and received her with great love.    No one in the audience was dared to receive her with respect due to the strict orders from Daksha Prajapathi.  Devi Sati felt utter shame and regretted not following the advice of Lord Shiva.  She did not take the seat offered by her sisters or mother, Devi Sati realized the extreme dislike of his father against Lord Shiva, she checked the Yagna arena there was no seat for Lord Shiva or oblations for him, it severely wounded her heart.   She understood her father’s intention to humiliate her husband.   All the deities were silent, and Daksha Prajapathi was in great fury.     Devi Sati’s face has become reddened in a rage, her lips trembled, she shrieked out “ Oh! Prajapathi, how could you keep enmity towards the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in the living beings?  How could you hurt my Lord Shiva who does not hurt anyone? How could you hurt him with your wrong intentions? He finds wellness in wrong-doers and wishes welfare for all; you have not seen the goodness in him.  People who utter his glorious name ‘Shiva’ would get rid of all the sins instantly; you have not understood his splendor that is why you are disrespecting him.  I will not stand with people who disrespect Lord Shiva.  Whoever utters harsh words against Lord Shiva should not be heard, and they should be punished and get their tongue should be severed. Therefore, I am not willing to stand here anymore, I have born from your contaminated body, so I am going to abandon them as well.  I am deeply hurt by your deeds, if I return to my Lord, I would not live in peace, he may address me ‘Dhakshayani’  which I can’t bear the guilt or shame, hence I am abandoning the body you have given me.”

Maitreya speaks “ Oh! Vidura, listen to me carefully, Devi Sati covered her body with the marvelous yellow silk garment, she sprinkled the water on the place and took a seat, she seated on the straight posture, took a deep breath and hold the air on the throat, and concentrated on the middle of the eyebrows, she completely rejected the conscious of the body enlarged the fire in the body, thus she embraced the fire.  She contemplated upon the lotus feet of supreme Lord Shiva who is Jagathguru/Universal preceptor, and her dearest Lord who is all-pervading as soul; in this way she offered her body in the Agni.”