|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 321 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  172

Yevam  Gurupasanaika Bhakthya  Vidhya Kutarena Shithena  Dheera: | Vivrishchya Jeevashayamapramaththa:  Sambadhya Chathmanamadha Thyajasthram ||

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Yogeshwareshwara, I have a doubt still lingering in me, kindly remove all my qualms. What is the reason for the grief?”

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, the mind, and intellect originated from the supreme soul, the thoughts of three Gunas initiates in it, eventually, the mind stuck with the thoughts related to people, matter, sound and appearance, like the heat/Sookshma in the atmosphere causes the woods/Sthoola to absorb it and when it crushes with each other/friction produces fire and burns into ashes/Sookshma.  In this way, the mind and intellect lean on the cluster of thoughts while the person is awake and it disappears while asleep, like the thread spread across the clothes, forget its origin from the cotton, in the same manner, the mind and intellect forgets its origin from the supreme soul.  Oh! Udhdhava, you have to approach a preceptor who helps you to come out  of the cluster of thoughts with the supreme knowledge, the ignorance can be removed with the powerful sword of knowledge of Bhakti and Vidhya, along with the constant practice, you can unite your soul with me.”

The human mind and intellect are either wedged in the harsh experiences of the past or anxiousness about the future, both are destructive nature of thoughts.  The positive thinking removes the cluster of unwanted thoughts, anxiousness, and it prepares the mind to fight against any adverse situation with a serene mind.  It can be achieved through rigorous practice of meditation, Pranayama, reading, and recitation of scriptures, being in the association of saintly men and ascetics.  We have no hold on the past and future, therefore living in the present without the knowledge of the supreme soul in vain. One should learn lessons from the harsh experience of the past, and plan the future without getting overexcited, with the awareness of it may or may not work due to the influence of ‘Time’.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 320 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  171

Thasmathvam Udhdhavothsrijya Chodhanam Prathichodhanam | Pravriththam Cha Nivriththam Cha Shrothavyam Shruthameva Cha || Mam Eka Meva  Sharanam Athmanam Sarvadhehinam| Yahi Sarvathma Bhavena Maya Sya Hyakuthobhaya: ||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, listen to me carefully,  it is not easy to attain me with the knowledge of Veda or Vedantha, Scriptures, practices of Yogas, offering charities and contributions, recitation of Vedic chants, or following series of vows and austerities, or offering an abundance of wealth and money as charity to Brahmin or good causes.  You can attain me with the constant association with the intellectuals, pious, saintly men and ascetics, and learn from them, discard your attachment and interest in worldly matters and practice contemplation upon me; it will elevate your soul from the miseries and grief.  Oh! Udhdhava, there are several illustrious Rishis and Sages, and pious souls attained me in that way, I shall name them Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Naga, Mriga, Gaga, Vidhyadhara,  Manushya, Vaishya, Shudra, Sthree, Vrishaparva, Bali, Maya, Vibheeshana, Sugreevah, Hanuman, Riksha Gaja, Gridhra, Vanika, Vyadha, Kubja, Vrajagopis, Gopas, Yagnapathis, etc. Oh! Udhdhava, I have lived in Vraja engaged in various amusing sports with the female of cowherds of Vraja, later I have to leave them and left with Rama to Mathura.  The female cowherds who were completely surrendered to me, discarded their families and children, wealth, cows, possessions, etc..And devoted their mind and intellect upon me and served me sincerely, were finding it impossible to live in my absence.  I have performed Maharas with them for several hours to please them have seemed seconds to them, they were completely soaked in a state of ecstasy, did not notice the passing of time.  Eventually, they understood that I have not separated from them, he realized my eternal presence in their hearts as soul, they did not feel the pain of separation, with the constant remembrance and contemplation, they have united their souls with mine, like the greatest Yogis, who takes pleasure in the union of supreme Bhramam, like a river continues its journey until it merges with the ocean.  Oh! Udhdhava, You are aware of all that, those women of cowherds of Vraja fallen in love with me, they were attracted by my appearance, they were not know my real nature, gradually they realized that I am not only their beloved one, but also the inseparable soul resides in them and attained the supreme Bhramam.  There are countless souls attained me with the association with the saintly men and ascetics, realized my nature of Bhramam, so it won’t be difficult for you.  Oh! Udhdhava, therefore discard those things have and haven’t heard, I am not the one to terrify the souls, whoever surrendered to me, with the knowledge of my all-pervasive nature, and resides as a soul in living beings, will remain fearless always.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 319 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  170

Kripalu Akrithadhroha Thithikshu: Sarvadehinam | Sathyasaro Anavadhyathma Sama: Sarvopakaraka: || Kamairahithadheerdhantho Mridhu: Shuchirakinchana: | Aneeho Mithabhuk Shantha: Sthiro Maccharano Muni: ||

Udhdhava speaks “  Oh! Prabho,  Oh! Uththamasloka Oh! Lokadhyaksha, Oh! Jagathprabhu, you are absolute Bhramam, you are Purusha and you are beyond Prakrithi, you have incarnated on the Earth at your own will.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly narrate which sort of people should be associated with to augment my devotion? Which kind of devotion would provide the union with you?”

 Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, you should be in the association of kindhearted people who do not take pleasure in hurting others, people who are self-contented, receives all the happenings in the life as the grace of Lord, curious to learn scriptures, truthful, knowledge of oneness in all, helping minded and selfless people.  Oh! Udhdhava, be in the association of people who have no interest in worldly matters, or desires, pure-minded, no greed for wealth or possessions or fame, people who are void of jealousy, ego, and  pride, be in the association of  saintly men and ascetics who take limited meals, serene, and pleasant.  Oh! Udhdhava, be in the association of saintly people who may or may not be profound in Shastras and scriptures, but recites my glories with intense devotion and faith/Ananyabhakthi, with the realization of the presence of me in their hearts as well as in living beings.  In this way, you can elevate your soul to the supreme Lord, listen to my myths with intense devotion and faith, singing in praise of me, and dance in a state of ecstasy, and like a servant completely surrender to me, perform all those deeds with the constant remembrance of me and surrender the fruits of the deeds to me.”

Suryo Agnir Bhramano Gavo  Vaishnava: Gam Maruth Jalam | Bhoorathma Sarvabhoothani Bhadhrapoojapadhani mey ||

Bhagavan continues “ Oh ! Udhdhava, I shall describe whom should be worshiped, listen to me carefully, Lord Surya, Agni, Bhramana who has the knowledge of absolute Bhramam, Gava/cows, Vaishnava/devotees of Lord Vishnu, Gam,  Maruth, Jalam, sky, Earth, individual soul and all the living beings on the Earth.  Oh! Udhdhava, practice contemplation upon a specific form of me, and conduct meditation and elevate your soul, with the knowledge that the supreme Lord is Kshethrajja who resides as a soul in living beings and protects the shrine/body and achieve the knowledge of oneness in all.  Oh! Udhdhava, it is impossible to achieve elevation of the soul without Bhakti yoga and the association with the ascetics and saintly men.  There is no available method to raise the soul from miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.”

Prayena Bhakthiyogena Sath Sangena Vinodhdhava | Nopayo Vidhyathe  Sadhryang Prayanam Hi Sathamaham ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 318 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  169

Gam Dhugdhadhohamasathi Cha Baryam  Dheham Paradheenamasathprajam Cha | Viththam Thva Theerthikrithamanga Vacham Heenam Maya Rakshathi Dhukha Dhukhi || Sath Sanga Labhdhaya  Bhakthya Mayi Mam Ya Upasitha | Sa Vai Mey Dharshitham Sadhbir  Anjjasa Vindhathe Padham ||

Krishna speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, I shall narrate an interesting legend to you, there was a huge peepal tree and there were two birds sitting on the two different branches, one was sitting on the lower branch was keeps twittering, taking pleasures in the fruits, and restless/Jeevathma.   The other bird sitting on the top of the branch/Paramathma was silently watching all the deeds with the knowledge that the bird sitting in the lower branch is not different from him.  Suddenly the bird sitting on the lower branch looked up and saw the other bird serene and contented even though it was not taking pleasure in the fruits.  It inspired the bird sitting on the lower branch and started practicing calmness and eventually, it reached on the top of the same branch where the other one was already seated, looked at it in awe and realized that they both are the same.  An ignorant is a Nithyabadhdha, he is not free from worldly matters and bondage, constantly engages in seeking sensual pleasure, he is over-dependent and attached to people, wealth, possession, fame, and richness, in this way he isolates himself from the supreme Lord.   An intellectual who constantly engages in the practice of meditation and contemplation upon supreme Lord who resides as soul gets liberated from worldly matters and bondage remains Nithyamuktha/liberated soul and with the constant practice attains nearness to supreme Lord.  Oh! Udhdhava, my nature as the supreme soul is Universal and it is independent, like the air that has the nature of the free flow, like dreams that are not real.  The thought creates bondage and attachment, intellectual frees him from the cluster of thoughts like waking up from the dream.  Oh! Udhdhava, listen to me carefully, do not praise anyone or do not disgrace anyone, even if a person follows all those religious and spiritual rites, recite Veda, visit shrines, reading scriptures, without elevating the soul with the supreme knowledge, lacks serenity of the mind, it would be same as taking care of a cow that will not give milk or birth to a calf .”

Krishna continues “ Oh! Udhdhava, The person who is taking care of a cow that has stopped giving milk, having a  wicked wife, body full of ailments,  having evil children, and the wealth that never been used for charitable purposes, speak unpleasant words, and never practiced devotion, would remain unhappy always and no one can protect him. The person who is practiced devotion keeps away from the sorrows and eventually, the sorrows remain unhappy in failing its attempts to make the person dejected. Oh! Udhdhava, the more you are devoted to me, you will be freed from the miseries and sorrows of the worldly existence, therefore practice singing in praise of me, contemplating upon my glorious pastimes and myths, and perform all the deeds selflessly, follow Dharma, Artha, and Kama without taking pride in it, in this way you will attain intense devotion and faith on me, and  always remain in the association of saintly men and ascetics, and contemplate upon me, perform all the deeds with the constant remembrance of me and surrender the results to me.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 317 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  168

Guna: Srijanthi Karmani Gunoanusrijathe  Gunan | Jeevasthu Gunasamyuktho Bhungthe Karmaphalanyasau ||

Bhagavan speaks “ An ignorant take pride in wealth, matter, possessions, people, fame, etc. and undergoes endless sufferings.  The Karma/deeds are under the  influence of the Gunas, known as Rajasik, Swathik and Tamasik, nature, and the fruits of the Karma based on the nature of the Karma, in this way cycles of Karma keeps repeating.  As long as the mind and intellect are wedged in the material matters and bondages, the individual never realizes the all-pervasive nature of the supreme soul and oneness-in all; it creates over dependency and attachment to people, possessions and wealth, which will cause extreme anxieties and fear.  The ‘Time’ has to play its role and no one has control over it.  The interest in worldly matters and bondage causes more fear of the supreme Lord.   The people who have the knowledge of the supreme soul resides as soul and its all-pervasive nature would be fearless, will have the ability to receive all the happenings in life as the grace of supreme Lord.”

 Yethath Acchyutha Mey Bhroohi Prashnam Prashnavidham Vara | Nithyamuktho  Nithyabadhdha: Yeka Yevethi Mey Bhrama: ||

Udhdhava speaks “ Oh! Bhagavan, you have described the nature of thoughts that has the fleeting tendency, do not affect the supreme soul.  You have also mentioned that people who are wedged in the thoughts of material well-beings and bondage undergoes sufferings.  Oh! Achyutha, kindly narrate how did an individual perform all the tasks/Nithyabadhdha and remain liberated soul/Nithyamuktha? Or how did a Nithyamuktha/liberated soul perform all the tasks of the worldly life simultaneously?”

Badhdho Muktha Ithi Vyakhya Gunatho Mey Na  Vasthutha: | Gunasya  Maya  Moolathvanna Mey Moksho Na Bandhanam ||Shokam Mohau Sukham Dhukham Dehopaththishcha Mayaya| Swapno Yadhathmana: Khyathi: Samsrithir Na Thu Vasthavi ||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, the inherited virtues in an individual leads to thoughts which have fleeting nature and the spiritual fervor in the individual leads to the supreme Lord.   The grief, desire, happiness, sorrows, and ailments are caused by Maya, like the dreams that are not real. The person who is wedged in the cluster of unwanted thoughts lacks freedom/NithyaBadhdha, like a silkworm that fastens itself with its own thread, unlike the spider that creates the web to catch its prey and absorbs it as and when it requires.  Oh! Udhdhava, there are two branches called Vidhya/wisdom and Avidhya/ignorance.  The individual who is wedged in material matters and bondage is ignorant, the intellectuals with the constant practice attain wisdom, achieve the knowledge of supreme Lord who resides as soul and realizes eternal presence in them, eventually gets relieved from the worldly matters and bondage.  The Paramathma/supreme soul witnesses all the deeds of the Jeeva residing as a soul in them.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 316 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  167

Mana Ekathra Samyujjya Jithashwaso Jithasana:  | Vairagya Abhyasayogena Dhriyamanamathandhritha: || Yevam Samjjatha  Vairagyo Vijjyanaloka Athmani | Vicharami Mahimetham Mukthasango Anahangkrithi: ||

The Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran predominantly speaks about Bhakti/devotion, Gnana/wisdom and Vairagya/abandonment as the perfect tool to achieve the serenity of mind and get rid of cluster of unwanted thoughts.  The mind and intellect are like a river, devotion is the river bank and the ferry is the individual thought that has the fleeting nature, as long as the ferry is closely tied to the pole on the river bank, it will have good control. Once the ferry is loosened from its pole, it keeps swaying here and there according to the water current.  The practice of Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya has a great influence on the human mind and intellect, therefore the constant practice of these three would release the mind from the cluster of unwanted thoughts and unite the individual soul to the supreme soul which has immense capabilities, with the constant practice of perfect control over senses and practice of Pranayama, and sense of abandonment,  it would remove the cluster of thoughts and the individual soul conducts its journey as a liberated soul on the Earth.

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, listen to me carefully, follow your Swadharma, and Varnnashrama Dharma, and get rid of all the desires.  If you find difficulty in elevating your soul contemplating upon the supreme Lord, approach a preceptor and sincerely follow his guidance, and with the help of an Upasanamoorthi/idol, and with the constant practice of worship and contemplation you will get rid of interest in the material possessions, desires, wealth, and people, eventually you will be relieved from miseries and sorrows.  You can attain nearness to the Sookshmashareera/subtle soul in you, with the constant practice of meditation, in this way you can raise your mind and intellect from Sthoola/body to Sookshma/subtle form of the soul in you.  Otherwise, it would undergo constant miseries and sorrows due to the influence of ‘Time’, like a ferry loosened from its pole on the river bank.  Oh! Udhdhava, if you keep yourself away from the supreme soul in you, it won’t give freedom from miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  You will not have any control over your thoughts, unless and until you practice to realize the ‘self’ in you, you will remain weak.  Therefore, people who live without the knowledge of ‘self’, chase after the material pleasures and sensual pleasures, even though they are highly qualified or brilliant, hence how could they achieve happiness and serenity of the mind?.  Oh! Udhdhava, without the practice of meditation and the knowledge of ‘self’/Athman/Bhramam and oneness-in All, none could get relieved from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  This is the ultimate truth of life on Earth.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 315 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  166

Eko Narayano  Deva:  Poorvashrishtam Swa Mayaya | Samhrithya  Kala Kalaya Kalpanthamidham Eshwara: | Yeka Evadhvitheeyoabhoodhathmadharo Akhilashraya: ||

Bhramin speaks “ Oh! Rajan, 16) I have learned a lesson from Kurara/a kind of a bird, found a piece of meat and took pleasure in it, soon it was surrounded by a large number of birds, immediately it discarded the meat and flew away. In this way, people come after you not because of their love and affection for you, it is the wealth you own, should not tempt others with your possessions and wealth.   Therefore practice to disperse the wealth in an efficient manner, otherwise, it will invite troubles to you and adopt the nature of Kuraka/sense of abandonment. 17) I have learned a lesson from Arbaka/child, there are two types of people free from the cluster of unwanted thoughts, one is a small child and another is a liberated soul who has achieved the highest state of spirituality, freed mind and intellect from worldly matters and bondages.  18) I have learned a lesson from Kumari/teenager girl; I shall narrate a story of a girl who was proposed to marry a gentleman, whose family visited the house of the future bride, without informing them.  The girl’s parents were not at home, she received her future in-laws with great respect, found there was not enough meal to serve the guests, so prepared to pound some grains, while grinding, the number of bangles adorned in both of her hands made jingling noises inviting the attention of her guests, she does not want to embarrass the guests, so removed all the bangles to avoid the jingling noises and kept one on both the hands continued grinding the grains.  I have learned a great lesson that the gatherings of people who have no spiritual interests will do no good other than unnecessary chattering; the association of the saintly men and ascetics only would bring an abundance of piousness and gives the opportunity to learn. 19) I have learned a lesson from Sharakrith/who make arrows, once a King took a visit to his people of the Kingdom, the blacksmith who was making the arrows did not notice the arrival of King’s men or King who was accompanied by a huge number of attendants, his completely absorbed in the creation of the arrow. The King became furious and questioned the blacksmith about his act of arrogance and found that it was the sounds from the workshop of the blacksmith not allowed him to take notice of the arrival of the King.  It taught me the lesson of pure dedication while contemplating upon supreme Lord, I do not let my mind wander on worldly matters. 20) I have learned a lesson from the serpents, which has no home of its own.  The attachment to possession would lead to intense grief in their absence, therefore the ascetics and saintly men do not stay in a single place for a long time. 21) I have learned a lesson from Urnanabhi/spider, it builds a marvelous net with its saliva to catch its prey, and absorbs the net whenever it wants.  In this way, we all bound by the Karma, and the performance of the Karma liberates the soul from the repeated births, the mind originated from the supreme soul, it is preserved by the supreme soul and therefore it should return to supreme Lord with the practice of constant contemplation to avoid rebirths. 22)Subeshakrith/creature that makes a mound on the wall, it deposits the worm collected from outside and do not let it go out of the mound, keeps constantly watching the growth of it, finally, the worm assume the form of the creature that built the mound.  The mind and intellect have immense capabilities, if it’s utilized for the constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord, it would attain the nearness of him, while leaving the Prana.   Otherwise, the Jeeva keeps hurling into the cycles of rebirth.  Therefore the constant practice of meditation and contemplation would lead the soul to remember the supreme Lord while leaving the mortal coil and attain the respective abodes.”