|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 334 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  185

Shradhdha Amritha Kathayam Mey Shashvanmadhanu Keerthanam | Parinishta  Cha Poojayam Sthuthibhi: Sthavanam Mama || Adhara:  Paricharyayam Sarvangair Abivandhanam | Math Baktha Poojabhyadhika Sarvabhootheshu Manmathi: || Madharththeshvanga Cheshta Cha Vachasa Mathguneranam | Mayyarppanam Cha Manasa: Sarvakama Vivarjanam ||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, Bhakti yoga is the practice of listening or reciting my nectar-like glorious myths that lead to Moksha/state of Moha Kshaya/absence of thoughts, leads to a state of neither birth nor death.  The practice of singing in praise of me, worship of me and my passionate devotees, living in the association of my devotees, saintly men, and ascetics,  will give you the knowledge of my presence in living and non-living things, Oh! Udhdhava, completely surrender your mind and intellect to me, leaving all your desires and worldly matters.  Oh! Udhdhava, you can attain me leaving all your wealth, comforts, and pleasures, and take shelter in me, in this way you can elevate your soul.”

Uddhava speaks “ Oh! Krishna, Oh! Prabho, kindly narrate Yama, Niyama, Shama, Ththiksha, Dhrithi, Dhandanyasa, Thapas, Shauryam, etc.”

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, ‘Yama is the practice of controlling the cluster of unwanted thoughts and habits, the practice of non-violence, truthfulness, aversion towards one’s own demeanor, the vow of silence, the practice of celibacy and detachment, endurance, self-control, etc. and Niyama is the practice of elevation of soul,  remove impurities of  the mind, contemplate upon Supreme Lord, undertake penance and austerities, fire sacrifices, performance of deeds with dedication and intense faith, worship, and conduct pilgrimage that would keep you away from the material world and bondage.  Oh! Udhdhava, Shama is surrendering your mind and intellect upon me, Thithiksha is the acceptance of all the life events as the grace of supreme Lord, good control over tongue and lust for physical the relationship, would increase the mental strength/Dhrithi.  Oh! Udhdhava, the highest of the charity is not hurting others with your words, deeds, or mind, the superior Thapas, is the abandonment of desires, Shauryam is the willingness to get rid of unwanted habits and construct a new way of life, understand the eternal truth of ‘Oneness-in-All’ and consider all the life events as the grace of supreme Lord without overreacting to happiness or sorrow, the practice of no hatred or love to anyone.  Oh! Udhdhava, perform all your deeds without expecting its fruitful results, do not let your mind anxious about the future, Sanyasa is the sacrifice of worldly matters and bondages completely.  Oh! Udhdhava, contributing wealth for the righteous deeds is the superior form of Dhakshina/contribution to me. The superior form of Yajja is surrendering your soul to me.  The highest form of a contribution to a preceptor is sharing the knowledge you have learned, last but not the least, the highest form of mental strength is the practice of Pranayama. ”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 333 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  184

Nava Ekadasha Pancha Threen Bhavan Bhootheshu Yena Vai | Eskshaithadhyaikamapyeshu Thajjanam Mama Nishchitham ||

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, I shall describe an incident took place after the great battle of Kurukshetra.  I have heard Beeshmapithamaha narrating the same to Dharmaputhra, it was after the great battle of Mahabharath, I was taken Pandavas to Bhishmapithamaha who was lying in the bed of arrows surprisingly did not let his soul in despair, waiting for the arrival of Uththarayana.  I have heard from Devavratha/Bheeshma, described the highest philosophy about ‘Gnana’, as Navadhwaras/nine gates, eleven Indhriyas/Ganana and Karma and mind and intellect, Panchabhootha, three virtues/Sathvik, Rajasik, and Tamasik, are under the influence of Prakrithi, are functioning in the presence of the supreme soul.  Oh! Udhdhava, Gnana is the knowledge of the Prakrithi that undergoes constant transformation and the ruin, and the supreme soul is eternal and changeless.  The supreme soul is the source of the functioning of all those Gnana, and Karma Indhriyas, mind and intellect, Panchabhootha, and nine gates, etc. even though the Prakrithi undergoes constant changes/aging, illness and ruin/death, the supreme soul/Sath remains unaffected by any of the changes in the body is called Vignana.  The supreme soul is indestructible; it was existed before the creation and will remain always.  Oh! Udhdhava, The nature of the supreme soul is clearly mentioned in Shastras and Shruthi, it can be experienced through the Indhriyas must have heard from the experiences of our forefathers, and it can be understood with your own observation, therefore elevate your soul to that Supreme Lord which is indestructible nature. Oh! Udhdhava, The devotion/Bhakthiyoga is the easiest method to elevate your soul.  The Bakthiyoga is relieving the mind and intellect from the interests of worldly matters, people, wealth, fame, richness and possession, and concentrating on the supreme soul with intense devotion and faith.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 332 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  183

Most of the practices in spirituality, religious and spiritual rites are performed based on the old beliefs or customs.   The Rishis and Sages advise us to get knowledge from learning the scriptures, ponder over those ideas, and follow.  Any religious or spiritual rites followed blindly will lead doubtfulness, performing any deed without the knowledge of its purpose will not  bring fruitfulness, it will not help to elevate the soul.  There are four kinds of people worship the Supreme Lord, one is Arthi, Arththarthi, Jijyasu, and Gnani who has a thorough knowledge of the spiritual and religious rites and the purpose of it.

Gnana Vijjyana Samsidhdha: Padham  Shreshtam Vidhurmama | Jyani Priyathamoatho Mey  Jyanenasau Bibarthi Mam||

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, an intelligent one with the supreme knowledge attains highest of the spiritual state, therefore a Jyani/intellectual is beloved of mine. Oh! Udhdhava, the performance of Thapas, Theertham, Dhanam, and Thapam would purify the souls if it was performed with the knowledge of it.  Therefore the performance of any deed with the thorough knowledge of ‘self’ and contemplate upon me and elevate your soul.  Oh! Udhdhava, I am the Yajjapathi/Lord of sacrifices, who was sought after by illustrious Rishis and sages with the performance of Yajja, can attain with the constant contemplation and devotion in me.”

Gnana Vignana Yajjena Mam Ishta Athmanamathmani | Sarvayajjapathim Mam Vai  Samsidhdhim Munayoagaman ||

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Vishweshwara, Oh! Vishwamoorthi, kindly describe about Gnana and Bhakti yoga, although it was discussed earlier. Oh! Esha, I am helpless to recollect all of them.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 331 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  182

Yekashcharen Mahimetham Nissanga: Samgathendhriya: | Athmakreeda Athmaratha Athmavan Samadharshana: ||

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, a Vanaprastha takes shelter in the woods, living on fiber roots and fruits, attired in minimum clothes of leaves  and roam around with no 'I' or body consciousness, will have perfect control over senses, will not bother about extreme cold or heat, conduct extreme meditation and penances,  lives in the union of Bhramam/supreme bliss, did not find any difference in him and living and non-living things will have no bondage at all, even his own sense will not create an obstacle for Moksha,  they roam around with no restrictions, never bother about Shuchi or bath, always remains in a state of bliss, finally leaves the lion clothes, in this way Vanashrami lives in the woods.  Oh! Udhdhava, you attained the body of a human to immerse in Bhramavichara, therefore accept me as your preceptor, always remember the ultimate truth, while taking pleasure in the material living, you have to elevate your soul through Dhyana, Japa, Thapa, Bhajan on a regular basis, and worship me with Ananya bhakti/realization of the knowledge of ‘self’ and contemplate upon me.  Oh! Udhdhava, The knowledge of ‘oneness-in-all’ and my all-pervasive nature would enhance your devotion.  Oh! Udhdhava, Whoever practices firm devotion and contemplate upon me would attain Gnana and Vignana, ultimately they will attain my nearness, like the rivers constantly flow to attains the union with the ocean.  Oh! Udhdhava, Gnana/wisdom and Vignana/practicality of the knowledge is the supreme method to attain intense devotion and faith upon me.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 330 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  181

Bhagavan speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, get yourself freed from attachment to people and families, and understand the fact that they cannot be with you always, and remember the eternal truth of the destructible nature of people, wealth, money, richness, fame etc.. While living in the association of Puthra/son, Dhara/wife, Apthabandhu/close relatives, remember that you all have assembled in a shelter home and all have to depart their own ways, considered it as a dream.  All the relationships are formed with the influence of ‘Time’ and gradually it will get removed by the passage of ‘Time’.  The weak-minded are drenched in material welfare, possessions, body, people, money, richness, fame, etc., an ignorant constantly worries about the aged parents, wife, children, and grandchildren, get fastened in the material world and bondage and hurl themselves to the cycles of birth and death.  The strong-minded realizes the impermanent nature of Prakrithi and contemplates upon the supreme Purusha who resides as a soul in living beings and elevates their soul and attain liberation from the cycles of repeated births.  Whoever chases the material well-being, people, wealth, money and richness, are fools, he/she will never find happiness or satisfaction in their life, people who constantly seek for sensual pleasure, is equivalent to dead, they are living in the darkness of ignorance and hurling them into cycles of repeated births.”

Yasthvasaktha  Mathirgehe Puthra Viththaishanathura: | Sthraina: Kripanadheer Moodo Mamahamithi Badhyathe || Aho Me Pitharau Vridhdhau Barya Balathmajathmaja: | Anatha Mamrithe Dheena: Katham Jeevanthi Dhukhitha :|| Yevam Grihashaya Kshiptha Hridhayo  Moodadheerayam | Athriptha Sthanudhyayan Mrithoandham Vishathe Thama: ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 329 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  180

The Panchabhoothas/Earth, Air, Ether, Water, Fire, Panchaththava, Panchendhriya, Karmendhriya are collectively known as cosmic energy, and the supreme soul is known as ‘Conscious energy’.  The ultimate truth is that the Prapancha/Prakrithi is the field of cosmic energy that undergoes constant transformation and the ruins, and the conscious energy is eternal and changeless.   In scriptures, conscious energy and cosmic energy is named as Purusha and Prakrithi respectively.  The people who are soaked in worldly matters and bondages get disturbed easily mentally; physically get exhausted due to their isolation from the conscious energy.  Therefore meditation is an essential activity to bring balance between the cosmic and conscious energies, it helps to revitalize the mind and body with conscious energy.  The meditation and Pranayama is the act of union of cosmic energy with the conscious energy, it was the highest of the revelation made by the Rishis, the knowledge of variations in the cosmic energy level in the body would drain the individual mentally and physically, hence the requirement to rejuvenate the mind and body with the practice of meditation.  They have chosen dense forest, Riverside, and streams where the increased quantity of the flow of cosmic energy exists, as the best locations or hut or houses constructed in pyramid shapes, allows the flow of cosmic energy abundantly, as an appropriate place to conduct meditation and Pranayama.  They also found the cosmic energy/Prakrithi cannot survive without the existence of conscious energy/Purusha.  The regular practice of meditation and Pranayama brings incredible results in the human body and mind as well.  It removes the cluster of unwanted thoughts, mental and physical fatigue, revives great energy level, enthusiasm, clarity of thoughts, serenity, creativity, and increases the overall performance of an individual.

Maharishi Vedavyasa wrote several scriptures, Ithihas and Purans and categorized Vedas, at the end realized that he’s not satisfied even after composing numerous scriptures, met Maharishi Narada who advised the Chathushloki Bhagavath and contemplate upon Supreme Lord.  Maharishi Vedavyasa conducted meditation for several years; as a result of his meditation, a marvelous composition was born which speaks highly about Bakthi/devotion, Gnana/wisdom and Vairagya/abandonment.  The devotion of knowledge of the Supreme Lord who resides as soul and his all-pervasive nature, Gnan/wisdom is the realization of ‘self’ with the practice of meditation and Pranayama and Vairagya is the detachment to the material world and bondage with the knowledge that people, wealth, money, richness, fame, etc.. are impermanent nature.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 328 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  179

Udhdhava speaks “ Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Aravindhaksha, Oh! Madhava, How did a person from Varnnashrama Dharma follow the methods of Dhyana Yoga?  How did a Grihasthashrami would perform all those methods of Dhyana Yoga you have described? How did they practice Dhyana Yoga and other household duties and responsibilities simultaneously? Oh! Prabho, kindly describe Sarvadharma, Bhakthilakshana, and Thaththvam.”

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, I shall describe the Varnnashrama in detail.  There are four Yugas known as Krita, Thretha, Dwapara, and Kaliyuga.  In the Krita Yuga all were Bhramanas/twice-born, they have attained the Bhrama Thaththvam with intense penance and austerities, therefore while living in the family they did not find it difficult in attaining the supreme Bhramam and abandon the family life whenever it requires.  In the Thretha Yuga, it was difficult to perform penance and austerities, so the Yajja and Yaga practices have come into existence.  In the Dwapara Yuga, there was a lot of difference of opinions and arguments raised; therefore the practice of worship of idols came into existence.  In the Kali Yuga, the grief and miseries of the people has multiplied, people have become selfish, unkind, and wicked natured, had a short life span and less memory, none of the above methods of realization of Bhramam, penance, or performance of Yaga or worship of idol did not help them, therefore the recitation of sacred names of supreme Lord, reading and reciting the glorious myths of supreme Lord has come into existence.”

Bhagavan continues “ Oh! Udhdhava, there are four Varnnashrama, such as Bhramachari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasashrama.  A  Brahmachari is who has good control over senses with the knowledge of impermanent nature of Prakrithi, material well-being, people, and fame, followed with strict food habits, follows the spiritual practices contemplating upon the supreme Bhramam to elevate his soul. A Grihasthashrami is who has a sense of self-sacrifice, kindness, humility, simplicity, with the constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord. A Vanaprasthashrami is who has the sense of renunciation/abandonment, conducts pilgrimage, and contemplate upon the supreme Lord.  A Sanyasashrami is the one who is completely surrendered to the supreme Lord.”