|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 11– The legend of Lord Krishna -  11 – Mahathmayi – The legend of Athmadeva

Sanathkumara describes the legend of Athmadeva to Rishis and assembled along with Devi Bhakti, Gnana and Vairagya.  There was a twice-born Athmadeva lived on the riverbank of Tungabhadra.   He was pious, honest and performs various Dharmic rites, his wife Dhundhuli was a beautiful woman but wicked natured, this couple had no offspring for a long time.  Thus, several years have passed Athmadeva besieged with extreme distress due to a lack of offspring to perform ancestral rites. He left home and arrived in the woods, decided to commit suicide.  He saw a pond, got on his knees and quenches his thirst. Soon, there arrived a saintly man, Athmadeva rushed to him and prostrated before him; the saintly person enquired the reason for his grief.  Athmadeva replied “ Oh! Sage, my life is futile without an offspring; a house lacks children cannot be addressed as home, what’s the meaning of wealth without a child? What’s the existence of the clan? I have nurtured a cow, that also not giving birth to a calf if I nurture plantain, that will not yield flowers or fruits if I nurture rooted vegetables, that will not bear flowers or vegetables.  Oh! Mahatma, my life has become monotonous without a child; therefore kindly bless me to have a child.”

Yathi spoke “Oh! Vipra, listen to me carefully, I could read your destiny and predict that for another seven births you will not have a child.” Athmadeva became inconsolable, Yathi advised him “Oh! Vipra, haven’t heard the legend of King Chithrakethu who grieved over a child? Therefore, contemplate upon the supreme Lord and elevate your soul, eventually, you will get rid of sorrows.” Athmadeva was adamant, not willing to leave the Yathi, announced his death before him, which would bring Bhramahathya sin to Yathi.  Yathi intervened and put a halt to his deed, decided to fulfill the desire of Athmadeva, underwent meditation and handed a fruit to him and instructed to give it to his wife.  Athmadeva was extremely happy, Yathi advised him to instruct his wife to follow extreme austerities during the period of pregnancy, take limited meals, not engage in unwanted talks, meditate upon supreme Lord, and  follow Sathyam/truth, Shaucham/austerities, Dhaya/kindness, Dhanam/charities, Bhakti/devotion, and serve meals to the devotee of Lord and perform all those righteous deeds to have a virtuous son.

Athmadeva returned home happily and handed the fruit to his wife Dhundhuli, and advised her to follow strict austerities to attain a virtuous son.  Dhundhuli who is extremely wicked and deceitful, mentally prepared to discard the fruit at once, she had a talk with her attendant about it, the fruit would bring the child in her womb, she could not eat meals comfortably as she wants, the limited meals and austerities would cause extreme tiredness and spoil her attractiveness.  She expressed her fear of not able to move around with the big stomach, she remembered the story of Shukha who lived twelve years in mothers’ womb that created intense trepidation. Dhundhuli had no faith in the Yathi, do not want to risk her image and appearance.  She expressed her impious opinion to her companion that the most fortunate ones in the world are the widow and childless women.  Finally, she decided to discard the fruit; luckily she had her sister who was pregnant with a child for the sixth time appeared before her.  Dhundhuli discussed her problem with her sister who was already having the trouble of five children at home and they mutually agreed to shift the child born to her to Dhundhuli.  Thus, Dhundhuli agreed to adopt her sister’s child without the knowledge of her husband Athmadeva, in return Dhundhuli would offer some money for the child to her sister.  The sisters decided to feed the fruit to the cow, thus Dhundhuli put the finest drama before her husband and fooled him.  In due course of time, the child born to her sister was transferred to Dhundhuli, thus she announced the birth of the child, Athmadeva was extremely happy.  He invited several twice-born in the village and fed them with a sumptuous meal and offered an abundance of contributions.  The child was named Dhundhukari, in the meantime, the cow that ate the fruit became pregnant and gave birth to a male child with the ear of the cow named ‘Gokarna’.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 9– The legend of Lord Krishna -  9 – Mahathmayi – Gnana Yagna

Kim Shruthair Bahubhi: Shasthrai: Puranaishcha Bhramavahai: | Yekam Bhagavatham Shasthram Mukthidhanena Garjjathi || Katha Bhagavathasyapi Nithyam  Bhavathi Yathgrihe | Thath Griham Theertharoopam Hi Vasatham Papanashanam ||

Sanathkumara continues “ Oh! Mahamune, Whoever recites this glorious scripture Bhagavatham in their homes would turn as a sacred place on Earth, it would remove all the sins of the worshiper, it would provide the piousness of performance of thousands of  Ashwamedha Yaga and hundreds of Vajapeya Yagna, even the sacred rivers Ganga, Prayagaraj, Kashi, or Pushkaram could not excel the piousness of it.  It would provide the merit of Tulsi Poshanam/nurturing Tulsi and service to cows/Gomatha, ultimately the worshiper would attain the nearness to Lord Govinda. Whoever reads or listens to the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran and understand its concept would get relieved from the sins of crores of births.  There is no Shastra equivalent to Shukashasthra.  Whoever does not willing to learn or recite this Mahapuran would remain Chandala/born in the lowest clan, will be considered as dead while alive, engaged in the Papakarma which is not letting them listen to it, even though they have attained the body of a human, they would be considered as an animal on the Earth, ultimately hurl themselves into the cycles of repeated births and undergoes hellish torture in the mother’s womb.  Oh! Mahamune, the soul has to attain union with the Paramathma within it, like the river has to continue its journey until it merges with the ocean. Therefore listen to this glorious scripture on a daily basis with intense devotion and dedication; this would elevate the soul with the merits of Tapasya, Yoga, and Samadhi. ”

Shaunaka speaks “ Oh! Mahamune, kindly narrate the supremacy of the Bhagavath Maha Puranam from other scriptures”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunakadhis, I shall narrate an incident which took place while Krishna was preparing to leave his mortal coil at the age of hundred and twenty-five years old, on the shores of Prabhasa.   Udhdhava who was serving Krishna for a hundred and fifteen long years could not bear the separation of Krishna, received the most remarkable advice from him.  Thus Udhdhava elevated his soul and got rid of the grief of separation from Krishna and Yadhavas, with folded hands speaks to Krishna “Oh! Bhagavan, you are Avyaktha - invisible/Achinthya – beyond perception/Aroopa – formless one/ eternal and ultimate asylum for the souls, incarnated on the Earth to elevate the pious souls, even though you have no specific form, you have attained a marvelous form of Yadhava for your ardent devotees, once you leave the Earth, who will elevate the souls in the Kali era? Oh! Kamalalochana, the Kali era has already begun, the people will find it difficult to undertake Nirgunopasana.”  Oh! Shaunakadhis, The compassionate Lord thought of his devotees in the Kali era, for a moment engaged in meditation and spoke “ Oh! Udhdhava, do not get anxious, I have found a brilliant idea to elevate the souls of my devotees in the Kali era.” Thus, the supreme Lord Krishna infused all his brilliance in the ocean like sacred scripture Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran.  Oh! Shaunakadhis, the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is ‘Vangmayimurthi’ of supreme Lord Krishna, therefore the worship and recitation of it would remove all the sins of the worshiper. It would remove the grief/Dhukha, Dharidhrya/sufferings of poverty,  Dhaurbhagya/ill-fortune, and Papa/sins of the worshiper, and it eradicate the  interest in worldly matters, lust, desires and anger as well.”

Swakeeyam Yadh Bhavethejasthashcha Bhagavatheadhadhath| Thirodhaya Pravishto Ayam Srimad Bhagavatharnnavam ||Theneyam Vagmayi Moorthi: Prathyaksha Varththathe Hare: | Sevana Shravanath Pada Dharshanath Papanashini ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 10– The legend of Lord Krishna -  10 – Mahathmayi – Gnana Yagna

Bhakthi: Suthau Thau Tharuni Griheethva Premaikaroopa  Shasa Aviraseeth | Sreekrishna Govinda Hare Murare Nathethi Namani Muhurvadhanthi ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Shaunakadhis, while the Sanath Kumaras explaining the splendor of the recital of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran to Maharishi Narada, an extraordinary incident took place.  They have seen, the arrival of Devi Bhakti, a young beautiful woman dancing and singing in praise of Lord Govinda, with her youthful children Gnana and Vairagya. She and her children prostrated before Sanakadhis and Maharishi Narada and enquired where should be seated. Sanathkumaras replied “ Oh! Devi, who is inseparable from Govinda, symbolizes love and affectionate as a mother, removes the afflictions of worldly existence, kindly be seated in the hearts of devotees of supreme Lord Hari.”

Bhaktheshu Govindasaroopakarthri Premaikadhathri Bhavarogahanthri | Sa Thvam Cha Thishtasva Sudhairyasamshraya  Nirantharam Vaishnava Manasani || Sakala Bhuvanamadhye  Nirdhanasteapi Dhanya:  Nivasi Hridhi Yesham Sriharer Bhakthireka | Harirapi Nijalokam Sarvadhatho Vihaya Pravishathi Hridhi Thesham Bhakthisuthropanadha: ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunakadhis, supreme Lord who is adorned in Vanamala, Srivathsa and Kausthubha has the complexion of dark clouds and most charming appearance, attired in magnificent yellow silk garment, adorned in various precious ornaments all over the body, marvelous earrings, armlets, and crown, he has beautiful three curves on the body that excel the beauty of crores of Manmatha, adorned in sandalwood paste on the forehead, that supreme Lord Muralidhara, who symbolizes supreme bliss, infused his brilliance in the glorious scripture Bhagavath Mahapuran, to remove the impurities of his devotees.  Further, Sanathkumaras replied to the qualms of Maharishi Narda, regarding the prerequisite listening to the glorious Bhagavath Mahapuran.  Sanathkumaras speaks “Oh! Maharishi, people who are committed various sins, immoral deeds, angry, jealous, selfish, and wicked get benefits out of the Sapthaha Yagna of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran.  People who do not follow righteousness, truth, troubled their parents all life and exploited them, immense lust and desire, no control over sense, people who do not follow Ashrama Dharma, dull, competitive nature, proud and arrogant.  People who committed five grave sins, consumption of intoxicating drink, illicit relationship, burglary, mistreat the wife of the preceptor, people who perform sins by words, mind, and action.  Oh! Maharishi, this sacred scripture is capable to remove all the sins and purifies the intellect of the listener.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 8 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  8 – Mahathmayi – Gnana Yagna

Aho Narada Dhanyoasi Virakthanam Shiromani: | Sadha Srikrishna Dasanam Agraniryoga Bhasakara: ||

Maharishi Narada met illustrious Rishis and Sages on his way and narrated the incidents, they expressed their qualm hearing the pathetic state of Gnana and Vairagya, even after reciting the Vedic hymns and superior chants, some of the Rishis did not listen to him, some of them ran off from his sight, everyone had the opinion that it is impossible to revive the children from latter years of age.  Maharishi Narada felt deeply disappointed, he walked through the woods of Badri and met Sanakadhis.  Maharishi Narada prostrated before them, was enquired “Oh! Maharishe, what happened to you? What did cause gloominess to you?” Maharishi Narada explained all that happened to Devi Bhakti, Gnana and Vairagya, and his efforts to revive her children were failed miserably. Sanakadhis speaks “Oh! Bhakthanam Agrani, you an ardent devotee of Lord, there is nothing unknown to you, even though there are numerous types of Yagna like Dravya Yagna, Thapo Yagna, Yoga Yagna, etc. the Gnana Yagna only could revive the children of Devi Bhakti into their youths.  Oh! illustrious one, conduct a Sapthaha Yagna of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran recital which was earlier recited by Shukha Bhramam to King Pareekshith.  Once again, you will see the Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagyam  back on their feet enthusiastically.” 

Thus, a  grand  GnanaYgana was organized on the river banks of sacred Ganga in Haridwar, soon all those illustrious Rishis and Sages assembled on the sight, Sage Bhrigu, Chyavana, Vashishta, Gauthama, Parashurama, Devaratha, Mrikandu Puthra, Dhaththathreya, Pippaladha, Yogeshwara, Parashara, Vyasa, Shuka, several Sages and disciples, and women.

Yasya Shravanamathrena  Mukthi: Karathale Sthitha || Sadha Sevya Sadha Sevya Srimadh Bhagavathi Katha | Yasya:  Shravana Mathrena  Harishchiththam Samashrayeth ||

Sanathkumara speaks” Oh Mahamune, Srimad Bhagavath Katha is the essence of Veda and Upanishad, it has 18000 verses, and twelve cantos in it, is a conversation between King Pareekshith and Shukha Bhramam.    Therefore, it is not necessary to learn all the scriptures, always be enthusiastic to learn and understand the viewpoint of all the scriptures which serve the same purpose, to inspire the listener to contemplate upon the supreme soul who resides as the soul in living beings.   Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran is an ocean of wisdom,  removes the Shoka/depression and Dhukha/grief of the worshiper, it should be recited always to attain firm devotion at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Hari and Mukthi from repeated births. This glorious scripture was composed to reinstate the glories of Bhakthi, Gnana, and Vairagya,”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 7 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  7 – Mahathmayi

Aham Bhakthirithikhyatha Imau Mey Thanayau Mathau| Gnana Vairagya Namanau Kalayogena Jarjarau||

Maharishi Narada spoke “ Oh! Devi, who are you? Who are these two children? What is the cause of your grief?”

The young woman began to speak “ Oh! Mahamune, I am Bhakti, the fortunate one, my children Gnana and Vairagya are unconscious, and they have reached the latter years of life due to the influence of ‘Time’.  I am surrounded by the sacred Ganga, female deities and others.  Oh! Mune, I have born in Dhravidadhesham, I have prospered in Karnataka and Maharashtra, I have lost charm in Gujarath, I have moved with my children to Vrindavan, I have gained my youth immediately, but my children could not retain their youths. I can’t understand, how did it happen to me?  I am fortunate to meet you and thereby elevate the soul of mine and my children, kindly remove our grief.”

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Devi, the Kali era has arrived, there will be loss of righteousness all over the Earth, and the people will not learn the Shastras properly, blindly follow their customs without the knowledge of it. Oh! Devi, do not get anxious, we will collectively make every efforts to revive your children.”

Devi Bhakti repeatedly prostrated before Maharishi Narada and speaks “Oh! Mahamune who is the son of Lord Bhrama, I am fortunate to meet the illustrious Rishi who elevated the soul of the infant/Prahladha, while in mother’s womb, and raised the soul of five year-old Druva to attain the status of the pole star, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you.”

Maharishi Narada meditated for a while to find a way to revive the children of Devi Bhakti. He recited Vedic chants, Vedantha on the ears of the children, Alas! it did not work. He recited Bhagavath Gita, the children were half opened their eyes, yawned and closed their eyes.  Maharishi Narada was disappointed, contemplated upon supreme Lord, he could hear a Vyomavani/divine voice instructing him not to get unhappy, and advised to perform a superior deed/Sathkarma.  Maharishi Narada pacified Devi Bhakti and went in search of saintly men to get further advice on the divine voice.

Jayathi Jayathi Mayam Kasya  Kayadhavasthe  Vachanarachanamekam Kevalam Chakalayya| Dhruvapadhamapi Yatho Yathkripatho Dhruvoyam Sakala Kushalapathram Bhramaputhram Nathasami||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 6 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  6 – Mahathmayi

Aham Thu Thu Prithvim Yatho Jyathva Sarvoththamam Ithi | Pushkaram Cha Prayagam Cha Kashim Godavarim Thadha || Harikshethram Kurukshethram Srirangam Sethubandhanam| Yevamadhishu Theertheshu Bhramamana Ithasthatha: ||

Shukha Bhramam prepared to impart the supreme knowledge of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran to King Pareekshith was approached by the deities with the pot of nectar of immortality.  Lord Indra prostrated before Shukha Bhramam and expressed his willingness to offer the nectar of immortality to King Pareekshith and save his life from the death of serpent bite, at one condition that Shukha Bhramam should impart the knowledge of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran to the deities.  Shukha Bhramam laughed at the foolishness of Lord Indra and asked him to return to his abode with the nectar of immortality.

King Pareekshith listened to the glorious Bhagavath Mahapuran for seven days and elevated his soul from the fear of death.  Lord Bhrama was surprised to know about it and decided to test  the effectiveness of the scripture has measured, kept the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran on the one side of the weighing scale with the other scriptures, eventually found that other scriptures could not equalize with the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran.

Sathyam Nasthi  Thapa: Shaucham Dhaya Dhanam Na Vidhyathe| Udharam Bharino Jeeva Varaka: Kootabhashina: ||Mandha: Sumandhamathayo Mandhabhagya Hyupadhrutha: | Pakhandaniratha: Santho  Viraktha: Sa Parigraha: ||

It was at the beginning of Kali era, Maharishi Narada undertook a visit to several glorious places on the Earth, he visited Pushkaram, Prayaga,  Kashi, Godavari, Harikshethram, Kurukshethram, Srirangam, and Sethubandhanam, even though he had been to all those places, did not feel mental peace.  He realized there was no truthfulness, the performance of austerities or vows, beliefs, cleanliness, kindness, performance of charities or knowledge, people were living a life of an animal, engaged in various atrocities to fill their stomachs.  People were misusing their intellects, unfortunate, Pakhanda, have no sense control, women were not performing the household duties or responsibilities, the hermitage of saints was lost its serenity, the sacred lands became a commercial place, and realized that there won’t be any saintly people or pious or righteous in the kali era.  Nature has lost her charm, richness, and beauty; the twice-born were engaged in tasks for earning money, Maharishi Narada was depressed watching the pathetic state of the people of the Kali era.  He arrived on the riverbank of the Yamuna where the supreme Lord Hari has performed various amusements.  There he witnessed a young and beautiful woman looks so dull seated on the river bank, he saw two old men lying unconscious on her both the sides, she was lamenting over the two elderly men and shedding tears of grief, was surrounded by a group of women fanning her.  Maharishi Narada was curious to know about the happening, went close to the women seated.  The woman who was shedding tears, stood and reverentially prostrated before Maharishi Narada and praised him.

Bho Bho: Sadho Kshanam Thishtamacchinthamapi Nashaya | Dharshanam Thavalokasya Sarvadhaghaharam Param ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 5 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  5 – Mahathmayi

Ajjyana Adhvantha Vidhwamsa Kotisurya Samaprabha | Soothakhyahi Kathasaram Mama Karnnarasayanam || Bhakti Gnana Viragaptho Viveko Vardhathe Mahan | Maya Moha Nirashashcha Vaishnavai: Kriyathe Katham || Iha Ghore Kalau Prayayau Jeevashchasuragatham Gatha: | Klesha Kranthasya Thasyaiva  Shodhane Kim Parayanam ||

It was the beginning of Kali era; the illustrious Rishi Shaunakadhis approached Lord Bhrama and expressed their desire to conduct a Yaga to remove the evil effects of the kali era.   They enquired for an appropriate place on Earth to conduct the Yaga.  Lord Bhrama hurled the divine chakra Nemi on the Earth in search for a sanctified place to conduct Yaga, and the tip of the divine chakra fallen on the Earth was named as Naimisharanya, thus Shaunakadhis began a Yaga in the sacred land of Naimisharanya.  Sutha Pauranika who is the disciple of Romaharshana, arrived in Naimisharanya while the Shaunakadhis were performing the Yaga, was reverentially greeted by Shaunakadhis and offered a sanctified seat.  Further, the Shaunakadhis expressed their qualms to Sutha Pauranika were answered. 

Shaunakadhis speaks “ Oh! Illustrious one, who has possessed the supreme brilliance of Surya, removes the darkness of ignorance with the supreme brilliance,  1) kindly narrate the glorious legend that remove the ignorance in us. Oh! Mahamune, 2) kindly elevate the Jeeva undergoes constant miseries and sorrows of the Kali era, kindly narrate the superior most Shreyas/fortune which could sanctify the souls,  3 ) kindly narrate how to attain the most superior state of the union with the supreme Bhramam. Oh! Mahamune, we have heard the precious Chinthamani would enhance the material well-being, and attain heavenly pleasures, but the blessings of the preceptor would provide the superior bliss is known as union with the Bhramam, therefore kindly narrate how to achieve the supreme state of bliss.”

Kala Vyala Mukha Grasathrasa Nirnnasha Hethave | Srimad Bhagavatham Shasthram Kalau Keerena Bhashitham ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Shaunakadhis, listen to me carefully,  Jeeva’s are under the constant clutch of serpent-like ‘Time’, therefore the glorious Srimad Bhagavatham Shasthram/’Shasanal Thrayathe Ithi Shasthram’ which was narrated by Shuka Bhramam to King Pareekshith is the only cure to remove the afflictions of Jeeva in the Kali era. Oh! Shaunakadhis, the fortunate one would attain the knowledge of Bhagavath Mahapuran, King Pareekshith listened to the nectar-like the legends of various amusements of Supreme Lord Krishna from Maharishi Shuka Bharamam for seven days and elevated his soul.”

The law of Karma was defined as the results of deeds performed should put up with a person who performed the deeds and the results of Karma is unavoidable likewise the Karma, we have no control over the past deeds and the future is unpredictable, hence all that we can be cautious of the present deeds.  All the scriptures recommend the performance of righteous deeds to elevate the souls, thereby attain nearness to the supreme Lord, and achieve union with the supreme Bhramam, which was experienced by the illustrious Rishis and Sages.  The sacred shrines and holy Theerthas on the Earth are created to serve this purpose of the practice of meditation and attain the nearness to the supreme Lord.  The practice of spirituality is the eagerness to attain the supreme state of bliss that was experienced by the illustrious Rishis and Sages through the constant practice of meditation and contemplation upon the supreme Lord.