|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 18 – The methods of devotion and supremacy of Bhagavath Mahapuran

In order to achieve the highest state of spirituality one should undergo various austerities, it requires renunciation, sense of abandonment, wisdom, devotion, perseverance, discipline, enthusiasm, courage, etc..  The scriptures describe the path of righteousness and guidelines to follow the practice of devotion.  The Vedas holds supremacy that was not written by Rishis, hence it is known as ‘Apaurusheya’, the rules and regulations prescribed in it called ‘Sanatana Dharma’. The Vedas are the authority of all the scriptures, Vedanga has six auxiliary disciplines connected to the studies of Veda.  These are the limbs of Veda; there are Six Vedangas which are Shiksha, Chandha, Vyakarana, Niruktha, Jyothisha, and Kalpa.  The Veda and Vedanga are not easy to understand for ordinary people, even though the deities’ were fallen in love with it.  Once Lord Krishna tells Uddhav “ Uddhav, No one knows thoroughly about the Veda other than me.”  Therefore, Maharishi Vedavyasa composed eighteen Puranas and Upa Puranas, two epics/ Ithihas known as Srimad Ramayan and Mahabharath that includes Bhagavad Gita as well.  Maharishi Vedavyasa elaborately describes the knowledge of Veda all through these Puranas.  The Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran holds supremacy in all the Puranas, it is called ‘Precious Jewel of all Puranas’, rest of the Puranas talks about the path of righteousness and the meritorious reward.  The Bhagavath Mahapuran is an exquisite scripture that talks about the love and devotion to the supreme Lord and his pastimes and virtues. The deities came to know about the lecture of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran, all the deities were arrived with the pot of nectar of immortality and requested Shukadev Maharaj for those immortal stories of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran in exchange for the nectar of immortality.  But, Shukadev Maharaj refused to give the scripture which is superior to the nectar of immortality.  King Pareekshith listened to these immortal stories from Shukadev Maharaj for seven days.   As it was predestined, on the seventh day, the King got bitten by serpent Thakshaka and left his mortal coil, ultimately his soul was taken to the abode of deities.

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 17 – The creation of the Universe

Shukadev Maharaj describes “ Oh! King, There are three ways to contemplate upon the supreme Lord, sing in praise of Lord, remember his pastimes and virtues and meditate upon his glorious forms, cultivate an abundance of love and devotion to the supreme Lord, worship at his lotus feet, perform service to supreme Lord, surrender at his lotus feet, these are the significant path of devotion to the supreme Lord who is all-pervading, whose the physique has Viratswaroopa/massive form which comprises the fourteen worlds, all the living and non-living things.  The contemplation upon the Viratswaroopa of supreme Lord cultivates the sense of ‘Oneness-in-All’.  The Supreme Lord resides as a soul in living beings.  It would remove the impurities of the intellect, it would remove worldly bondage, frustration, anger, fear and lamentation etc..  The ears which do not listen to the glories of supreme Lord is merely a snake pit, the mouth which do not utter the splendor of Lord is nothing but croaks of a frog, the heart which do not melt in the glories of the Lord and causes tears on eyes is nothing but stone. ”

The Sutha Pauranika continued to describe the glories of supreme Lord, Shuka Shaunakas and the Sages and Rishis assembled were cheered “Hail to supreme Lord”.  Sutha Pauranika resumed “ Pareekshith Maharaj requested Shukadev to detail the creation of the Universe.”  Shukadev Maharaj said “ Oh! King, it was the same question asked by Maharishi Narada to his father Lord Bhrama.”

Lord Bhrama to Narada “ Oh! son, The supreme Lord created me and imparted the knowledge of Chathusloki Bhagavath as a tool for the creation, I am not the creator, I was assigned with the work of creation as Lord Mahadeva does annihilation at the end of an era.  Vathsa, the supreme Lord who represents innumerable Universes and its living beings, he is all-pervading, omniscient and omnipotent.  We are celestials who have not much knowledge about the Supreme Lord. I was created by the Supreme Lord, sprung up on a lotus flower from his navel.  All that I could sense was full of waves of energy, I was not aware of the purpose of my creation, therefore I have withdrawn myself through the lotus stem and conducted my search, it continued for one thousand one hundred years, I was unable to find the end of it, therefore I have returned.  The mass-energy surrounded was instructed me to undergo penance to receive the grace of the supreme Lord.  In this way, I have received the Chathushloki Bhagavath as a tool of creation from the supreme Lord who is imperishable, he continues to reside as a soul in all the living beings, he represents non-living things too, he continues to remain until the deluge takes place, and remains to exists after the delusion as well.  He is unharmed by the ‘Maya’/illusion and  it is the energy of the Supreme Lord.”

Shukadev Maharaj said “Pareekshith, I am describing the knowledge from Veda, which was re-created by Lord Bhrama after meticulously churning the scriptures thrice and brought out the essence of it known as ‘Devotion’/Bhakthi, I am teaching you the quintessence of it.”

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 16 – The  Legend of King Katvanga

The nectar-like legends of Sri Bhagavath Mahapurana begins from the parrot faced Shukadev Maharaj, he imparted the knowledge of Bhramam, love, and devotion to the Supreme Lord in seven days and at the end, King Pareekshith attained the abode of Lord.  Shukadev Maharaj answered all the queries of Pareekshith with great enthusiasm, they have completed till the seventeenth chapter, Pareekshith said “ Oh! Sages, my humble salutations to you, I have seven days to live on this Earth,  I want to purify my soul by listening to the endless glories of supreme Lord and attain highest of the spiritual state.  Kindly advise me what should I do? How to meditate upon supreme Lord? What are the austerities I should follow? What are the sacred chants I should recite? Which is the spiritual place I should visit? What are the Yogi practices I should follow? What are the fire sacrifices I should perform? Kindly narrate which is the highest Dharmic rite should I perform?”

Shukadev Maharaj began to explain “ Pareekshith, your qualms are significant for spiritual welfare, all the living beings have to die in this Prithvi Lok, it is important to know how to become fearless of death.  The extreme fear causes due to the attachment to worldly affairs, fear of poverty is caused by wealth, fear of illnesses caused by sensual pleasures, attachment of fame causes the fear of humiliation.  Therefore the practice of renunciation/abandonment only can remove all these fears, sense of detachment provides fearlessness.”  Pareekshith revealed his concern that he has only seven days to live on Earth, how to practice all those.  Shukadev Maharaj describes the legend of King Katvanga to Pareekshith.

There was a King Katvanga in the Raghu dynasty.  He immensely provided help to deities in a battle with the demons.  Finally, the deities won the battle, deities were highly pleased with King Katvanga and Lord Indra offered a boon to King Katvanga who wanted to know about his life span on the Earth.  Lord Indra advised King Katvanga to ask for some other boon, it is not permitted for the living beings on Earth to know their life span which could create chaos in the Prithvi Loka, therefore it always remained highly confidential between the deities.   King Katvanga was firm to know about his life span.  Lord Indra said “ Oh! King, you have 48 minutes left to live on the Earth.”  King Katvanga was not anxious at all; he rushed to Prithvi Loka, arranged an assembly of members and offered his throne to his son, the wealth was equally distributed among his sons and a huge amount of charities were performed.  He seated upon contemplating on supreme Lord and attained the abode of the Lord.

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 15 – Shukadev Maharaj the chief recipient of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran from Maharishi Vedavyasa

King Pareekshith sat on the river banks contemplating upon supreme Lord.  Soon, all the illustrious sages Vedavyasa, Sage Parashara,  Sage Shakthi,  Sage Vashishta, Sage Athri,  Sage Pulaha, Sage Pulasya etc… all the Rishis were assembled.  Pareekshith was refused to have a meal or water, the Rishis and Sages assembled were reverentially greeted by Pareekshith, he was extremely pleased to be in the association of them, he considered the curse as his highest fortune to meet all the illustrious Sages in one place.  He addressed the Sages “ Oh! Mahatma/Noble souls, kindly clarify my doubts and enlighten me.”  The illustrious Rishis and Sages assembled had a dilemma about who will be seated on the raised dais to answer the questions of King Pareekshith.  All the sages are highly proficient in all the Shastras, soon there arrived young Shukadev Maharaj who was sixteen years, son of Maharishi Vedavyasa took the raised seat under the auspicious tree.  

In the previous birth, Shukadeva was a divine parrot in the Goloka which eulogizes the endless glories of Radha and Krishna during their pleasing hours.  Later, it had received the immortal stories from Lord Shiva in Mount Kailash.  The little bird chased by Lord Mahadeva was entered into the womb of the wife of Maharishi Vedavyasa.  It spent nearly 12 months in the womb, it had the growth of ten months, the remaining two months it restricted its growth under control with its Yogic powers.  The infant was not willing to come out of the mother’s womb.  It made corrections of the utterance of Vedic chants by his father from the womb itself.  His father Maharishi Vedavyasa assumed that the child must be supreme Yogi, who does not want to come out of the mother’s womb, in the fear of Maya/illusion.  Finally, Maharishi Narada advised the infant to come out; the infant came out of the womb and immediately assumed the form of an adult of twelve years with his Yogic power. Soon he renounced the home and parents, left to woods for Tapasya and immersed in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, known as the highest state of spiritual advancement.  Maharishi Vedavyasa followed his son with affection, but Shuka was not answered his call at all, it was all those trees, shrubs and creatures were answered his call.  The ladies who were taking pleasure in the water sport were cautioned to cover their naked bodies at the arrival of Vedavyasa.  He enquired them whether they have seen his son Shuka, they replied that they have seen him.  He asked why they are too shy and covering their naked bodies at his arrival, the women have replied that ‘Shuka is an absolute Bramham’, therefore they did not feel to cover their bodies.    Shukadev Maharaj underwent extreme meditation in the dense wood. Maharishi Vedavyasa advised his disciples to recite the glorious form of the supreme Lord into the ears of Shuka.  The Supreme Lord Krishna who is adorned in marvelous crown decorated with feathers of the peacock, dark curly hair locks up to shoulder which attracts the pack of honey bees, he is adorned in fish-shaped marvelous ear ornaments, he has dark cloud complexion, he has beautiful long and compassionate eyes, his forehead  is adorned in the rich sandalwood paste and vermilion, he has attractive nose and lips resemble Bimba fruit that holds a bamboo flute,  his neck, and the chest is adorned in various precious ornaments of the gem and Vanamala, he is decorated with armlets, bangles, finger rings, and waist ornament,  he is attired in grand yellow silk garment and adorned in magnificent anklets,  he is holding a stick to graze cattle, he is smeared in dust raised from the hove of the cow. Shukadeva Maharaj envisaged the supreme form of Lord Krishna and attained a transcendental state.  He opened his eyes and found the disciples of Maharishi Vedavyasa, he enquired the source of the glorious form of supreme Lord.  Thus Shukadev Maharaj returned to Vedavyasa and learned the entire Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran from Naimisharanya which is going to relate to Pareekshith.

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 14 – The curse on King Pareekshith

Once, King Pareekshith adorned in the magnificent crown, attired in grand royal garments, accompanied by his men went for a hunting expedition.  Soon, he began chasing the animal, after some time, he found left alone in the middle of the forest.  He was tired of hunger and thirst, little far from the place he could see a hermitage.  He approached the hermitage where Sage Sameeka was in deep meditation.  The King went close to the Sage and said “ Oh! Revered Sage, I am worn out of hunger and thirst.  Could you offer some water to quench my thirst?”  The Sage was deeply immersed in the meditation, so he could not hear or respond to King Pareekshith who was already wearied, he felt humiliated became so angry, he shouted at the Sage and took a coil of a dead serpent which was found close to the seat of the Sage and garlanded around his neck.  The Kalipurusha who was already dwelling on the marvelous crown of King Pareekshith started polluting his intellect; the King was completely under the influence of Kalipurusha left the hermitage of Sage Sameeka in a rage.  While returning to the Palace, King Pareekshith already started feeling guilty for his immoral conduct; he was confused and thought “why did I do such an immoral act? What happened to me? I should not have behaved like that to a noble soul.  I have committed a grave sin.”

Shrungi,  son of Sage Sameeka returned from ablation and saw dead serpent around his father’s neck, was in deep meditation.  He could realize all that happened in his absence with his mental power.  He felt so disappointed at the behavior of King Pareekshith who is obliged to protect the righteousness and saintly people.  Shrungi decided the King forgot to show the basic manner to a noble soul so he is deserved to be punished.  He was so infuriated and cursed the King that he would face death by serpent Thakshaka bite in seven days.  Sage Sameeka got out of the meditation and saw his son before him.  Shrungi was in a rage, he detailed all that happened to his father while he was in deep meditation.  Sage Sameeka became unhappy and advised his son “Dear son, You have made a terrible sin.  You should not have cursed the King who is our protector.  You should not have done that.  He is a righteous King; hence you should inform the King about the curse immediately.”

Shrungi informed the King about the curse, but the King was grown far too dispassionate from the material world, he left the Palace and his family, he gracefully accepted the curse, he abandoned the thrown of Hasthinapur and left his Kingdom forever.  He arrived on the banks of river Ganga and seated contemplating upon supreme Lord.

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 13 – The Beginning of Kali Yuga

It was the beginning of Kali era, Pareekshith who is the son of Abhimanyu and Uththara, grandson of Arjun was crowned as the King of Hastinapura.  He was a righteous ruler, he ruled the Kingdom wisely, and the people were sincerely engaged in Swadharma, they were extremely happy and contented.  The Kingdom flourished with rich natural resources, righteousness prevailed all over the Earth.

Those days, Kings were used to visiting their subjects to inquire about their well-being.  King Pareekshith conducted a visited his Kingdom to find out the welfare of the people.  On his way, he found a cow and bull standing on one leg and communicating with each other and shedding tears.  King Pareekshith felt extremely disappointed to see even the animals are not happy in his Kingdom.  The cow was the representation of Earth and the bull was righteousness personified.  The cow was shedding tears of extreme grief and the bull/Dharma asked “Why are you shedding tears? Are you troubled with something? Happiness and sorrows are comparative emotions of worldly existence, therefore do not worry.”  The Earth/cow said  “I am extremely disappointed to see the wickedness and deceitfulness of the people.  They are not following any religious or spiritual rites, people started leaving Swadharma and accepting the Dharma which is not appropriate for them.  They have become haughty and selfish and committing various horrible sins.  I am overburdened by their atrocities.”   He closely watched them, suddenly an ugly man with dark appearance beating the cow and bull on their single leg mercilessly.  The King was in a rage rushed to the dark man and shouted “How dare to beat the animals that are already limping with one leg.  Who are you? I do not tolerate these kinds of injustice in my Kingdom.”  The dark man ran off, King Pareekshith began to chase him.  Finally, he was caught by the King; he surrendered to the King and said “Oh! King, I am Kalipurusha who represents hypocrisies and wickedness.  I am in your Kingdom at the will of the Supreme Lord; I have created by Him and instructed to be in your Kingdom.  Therefore, kindly provide shelter in your Kingdom.  The three Yugas of Kritha, Thretha, and Dwapara Yugas are over; I am the personification of Kali Yuga.”  King Pareekshith realized he is obliged to follow the command of the Supreme Lord, he decided to give shelter to Kali Purusha and said “ Oh! Kalipurusha, you can reside in these four places 1) The place where occupied by prostitutes who sell their flesh for few pennies 2) You can stay in slaughter homes where animals are killed mercilessly 3) The place where gambling takes place, people shower abuses each other and earn money 4) The places where intoxicating drinks are consumed and sold.”

The Kali Purusha said “Oh! Rajan, these places do not exist in your Kingdom? Where shall I go and reside?  Therefore find a place for me to stay.”  King Pareekshith began to think and said: “ I understand your concern, I can offer one more place to stay, where wealth and gold are accumulated in an improper means.”  Thus, Kalipurusha made an entry into the Kingdom of Hasthinapur

|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 12 – The piousness of Thousand and eight sacred names of Lord Vishnu/Vishnu Sahasranama

The glorious thousand and eight names of Lord Vishnu was described by Bhishma Pithamaha while the illustrious Sages and Rishis such as Vashishta, Chyavana, Veda Vyasa, Maharishi Narada, Kapila was surrounded by him.  The five Pandavas performed all the final rites of Bhishma Pithamaha, all were assembled in a place, Krishna asked “ Oh! Yudhishtira, are you satisfied with the clarifications given on your queries about the Dharmic rites?” Yudhistira answered, “ Prabho, I have thoroughly understood the importance of Dharmic rites, therefore I am going to contemplate upon the thousand and eight names of Lord Vishnu.” Krishna said “Have you noted them down while Bhishma Pithamaha was reciting the same? How are you going to retrieve those which was already spoken and has immersed as ‘sounds’ in the atmosphere?”. Yudhistira revealed his helplessness.  Nakula had undergone extreme Tapasya contemplating upon Lord Shiva, while they were living in disguise and received a crystal prayer bead as a boon from Lord Mahadeva.  Krishna instructed him to perform ablations and bring the crystal prayer bead, naturally, it has the capacity to ignite brilliance while the bead crushes each other, and the crystal beads produced all those sounds of glorious thousand and eight names of Lord Vishnu which was recited by  Bhishma Pithamaha while on the bed of arrows.  Thus once again, Pandava restored the glorious thousand and eight names of Lord Vishnu which was recited by Bhishma Pithamaha that could bring an abundance of piousness, also removes the distress, sorrow, grief, bad luck, all kinds of illnesses, extreme fear, and anxieties,  fear of death, poverty, etc…

Several years have passed, one-day Yudhishtira instructed Arjuna to go to Dwaraka to enquire welfare of Lord Krishna and the Yadhu clan.  After a couple of years, Arjuna returned to Hasthinapur,  he saw Pareekshith has become a young man. In the meanwhile Yudhishtira could observe inauspicious signs in the Hasthinapur, he started worrying about the people and their welfare.   The seasons are disturbed, there is no enough rain, cows refused to give milk, people have become deceitful and wicked, and no one is interested in performing any religious or spiritual deeds.  Yudhistira met Arjun who was returned from Dwaraka, he was completely distraught, and his luster has disappeared from the face and he was limping.  Yudhishthira worriedly enquired “ Arjuna, what happened to your luster? Have you committed any sin? What’s the reason for your gloominess? Kindly share it with me.” Arjuna with uncontrollable tears, voices were cracking with intense grief replied “Oh! Dear brother, that Krishna with whose grace we have lived a glorious life, who is the basis of our life and devotion, won over the battle of Kurukshetra, caused the annihilation of his own clan, and put an end to his amusements and returned to his celestial abode. I have seen the city of Dwaraka submerged underwater, I have been followed by a few of his subjects to Hastinapura.  I have no Gandeeva/powerful bow or strength in me to fight against the thieves who attacked in the dense woods, I am brutally wounded.”  Devi Kunthi heard the tragic news of the departure of Lord Krishna, she could not control her grief, returned to her chamber contemplated upon the Supreme Lord and left her mortal coil.

It was the beginning of Kali era, Yudhishtira announced that he is no more interested in kingly duties and decided to pursue Vanaprastha living in woods and continue spiritual and religious rites, therefore he desired to proclaim Pareekshith as the King of Hastinapura.  The five Pandavas and Draupadi moved to woods in pursuit of ‘Swargarohan’/ heading to the abode of deities.