||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 70 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Vidura, I have received that supreme knowledge from Bhagavan, his all-pervasive nature resides as soul in us. I have completely relieved out of my grief of separation from him. In this way, he elevated my soul from the grief of separation, I have no dearest companion other than him, and it is difficult to achieve a companion like him. I had the fortune to live with the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in us. I have sincerely served his lotus feet in my all life; therefore I could elevate my soul from miseries and sorrows.” Vidura could not control his grief, he shed tears of extreme agony, could not bear the loss of Krishna and his entire clan, was yearning to meet Bhagavan.  Vidura could not utter a word, tears overflowing through the cheeks cried before Udhdhava finally managed to speak out a few words  “Oh! Udhdhava, you have met that supreme Lord Krishna before leaving the Earth, so that you could elevate your soul from the grief of separation from him. Oh! Udhdhava, I am helpless, kindly enlighten me with that knowledge to remove my grief as well, and kindly impart that superior knowledge to me.”  Udhdhava took hold of the hands of Vidura and speaks “ Oh! Vidura, the compassionate Lord Krishna advised Maharishi Maitreya, and instructed him to advise that greatest knowledge to you as well.  I am keeping that sacred knowledge firm in my heart and traveling to Badarikashrama at the instruction of supreme Lord Krishna.” Vidura bade-farewell to Udhdhava and on that night stayed in the riverbank of Yamuna, he recollected all those conversations with Udhdhava, shed tears in grief remembering the extreme compassion of supreme Lord Krishna. Vidura remembered the kindness of supreme Lord Krishna who has left his mortal coil and before leaving this world instructed Maitreya to impart that supreme knowledge to him to elevate the soul from the grief of separation.  On the next day, he proceeded to meet Maharishi Maitreya who resides on the riverbank of Ganga.

The conversation between Vidura and Maharishi Maitreya begin with an interesting question, Vidura expresses his qualm why the Jeeva relentlessly searching for happiness and performing various Karma, and eventually getting disappointed in search of it.  Maharishi Maitreya explains the greater influence of 'Time' on the deeds and its results, Prakrithi is the collection of diversified objects, and therefore it is difficult to achieve expected results from the constantly changing Prakrithi, this often puts the Jeeva in extreme distress due to the failure in achieving the expected results from the deeds. The Risis and Sages conducted rigorous research on the destructible ‘Prakrithi’ and the ‘Time’.  The fetus on the womb grows in ‘time’ and once it is fully matured it comes out of the mother’s womb.  The age of the infant is determined from the day of birth, in fact, the fetus originated from the Beeja of the father is beyond ‘Time’.  The ‘Time’ is calculated according to the movements of objects, like the movement of Sun revolves around the Earth causes to determine ‘Time’, hence the ‘Timeless’ space fills with the radiance  and darkens by this process. Finally, the Rishis have arrived in a conclusion that all those moving objects/living things and non-living things are subject to ‘Time’ and the eternal soul is not influenced by the ‘Time’.  Thus, the Rishis and Sages addressed the objects that are subject to ‘Time’ as Prakrithi, and the object that is beyond ‘Time’ as Purusha, further, all the destructible nature of Prakrithi was already merged in the supreme Purusha, has appeared with the influence of ‘Maya’. It continues to exist for a particular period of time and ultimately it has to merge with the supreme Purusha.   The Rishis and sages understood all that moving objects undergoes constant transformation and ruin, hence the happiness derived out of those material objects which is subjects to ‘Time’ cannot provide permanent bliss, they strongly recommended the practice of concentration upon the ‘changeless’ Purusha, from the frequently changing material world subject to ‘Time’, they also emphasized the mind and intellect has the immense potentials to get attracted to Prakrithi as well as Purusha. This practice was referred to the life of a ‘tortoise’ that has the capabilities to withdraw its body under the shell and expose it whenever it requires.  The Supreme Lord who resides as the soul is eternal and changeless, protects the Jeeva during the three states of awakening, sleep and dream.  The human body, mind and intellect, and sense organs, functions in the presence of the supreme soul, the body undergoes constant transformation and ruin, mind and intellect keep flowing with the ‘time’, in the changeless presence of supreme soul. All the moving objects are under the influence of ‘time’, on this basis past, present, and future of the objects were analyzed, they also found that the presence of the supreme soul in living beings is the source of realization of the past, present, and future, hence the supreme Lord is beyond ‘time’/Kalatheetha and zone and all those creatures in the Prakrithi are impermanent.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 69 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Shyamavadhatham Virajam Prashantharuna Lochanam | Dhrobhir Chathurbhirvidhitham Peethakaushambarena Cha || Vama  Uravadhishrithya Dhakshinaghri Saroruham | Apashritharbakashvaththamakrisham Thyaktha Pippalam ||

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Vidura, I could not forget those glorious moments the supreme Lord Krishna overthrown the wicked demon Kamsa from the throne and killed. Later, Krishna and Balaram went to learn Astra and Shastra under the guidance of Maharishi Sandheepani.  The supreme Lord married to Devi Rukmini and graciously accepted those sixteen thousand and eight women as wives.  The Supreme Lord Krishna has ten children from each wife, in this way he performed various amusements. The supreme Lord caused the greatest battle to reduce the burden of Earth, destroyed the wicked Kauravas, and reinstated Dharma. He returned to his own city Dwaraka, found his own children were unwilling to follow Dharma, humiliated the twice-born, and got cursed from the Vipra. Soon, the entire clan of Yadhava got destroyed at the curse of Vipra.  The Supreme Lord Krishna left the city of Dwaraka with a warning that the city would soon submerge in the water, all of them were followed and some of them have remained in the city of Dwaraka. The people who left the Dwaraka at the instruction of supreme Lord took great pleasure in the intoxicating Varuni, lost their senses, ultimately resulted in the harsh debate, fought each other, like the bamboo forest causes colossal wood fire with its constant friction.  Finally, the entire clan of Krishna was destroyed in that battle. The Supreme Lord Krishna entered in the woods of Prabhasa, took a seat under a peepal tree, Oh! Vidura, I could not bear that separation of Lord Krishna, I sat at his feet and wept bitterly, I begged him to take me to his abode, I expressed my pain of separation and helplessness to live in his absence, I have been with him while sleep, consuming the meal, and performing various amusements, I have devoted my entire life for him, walked with him like a shadow, I have cried out and fallen at his feet.  The Supreme Lord who is attired in majestic yellow silk garment adorned in various precious ornaments, Vanamala, Srivathsa, Kausthubham, Hara, Kireeta, Kankana, Keyoora, Noopura, Katisuthra, sat with a serene smile as always, at that moment there was an illustrious devotee of Lord, a close companion of Dhwaipayana arrived on the woods, it was Maharishi Maitreya who approached the supreme Lord.”

Bhagavan speaks “Oh! Udhdhava, I shall narrate the highest of the knowledge to you, that is extremely difficult to understand for the ordinary people. If you understand the all-pervasive nature of mine, resides as a soul in living beings, none of the incidents will make your distressed or wretched, I shall narrate that supreme knowledge/Chathusloki Bhagavatham to you, previously it was described to the lotus born Bhrama, Oh! Udhdhava, I have enlightened that supreme knowledge to Lord Bhrama who is seated on the lotus flower that was initiated from my navel.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 68 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Udhdhava speaks “Oh! Vidura, Yadhavas did not realize the divinity of the supreme Lord Krishna, while they were completely depending on material well-being.   Whoever understands the highest of the philosophy and the presence of the Supreme Lord as a soul will not get hallucinated.  The supreme Lord assumed the form of a human, with marvelous physique, attractive features adorned in various gem decorated ornaments, and performed various amusements.  He performed various pastimes for the welfare of the Universe and its people, and the purpose of his incarnation was to elevate the soul from the miseries and sorrows of the worldly existence, and reduce the burden of the Earth and reinstate peace. Oh! Vidura, Lord Krishna who is the epitome of beauty, seated on the magnificent throne while the grand ceremonial rites of Rajasuya Yagna, after witnessing that brilliant form of Krishna, I feel that Lord Bhrama did not create a human excels the beauty of that supreme Lord. Oh! Vidura, Vrajeshwaris forgot to perform their household chores after witnessing that magnificent form of Krishna, the beauty of his lustrous eyes and the pleasing smile on lips, they forgot themselves and stood before him like a pillar.  Oh! Vidura, I cannot control my tears, the supreme Lord who has no birth or death, why did he take birth and undergo various hardships in his life? Why did he take birth in that dark prison in Vasudeva’s residence? Oh! Vidura, I still remember his life in Vrindavana, later came to Mathura and killed Kamsa opened that dark prison room where Devi Devaki and Vasudeva was imprisoned so long and called out affectionately for mother, it hurts my heart deeply.  Further, requesting his mother to forgive them in tears, all was a pastime of the Supreme Lord, remembering all those I am not able to understand why did Krishna born on Earth and undergone all those pain and grief? Oh! Vidura, mother Earth got purified herself with the dust from the  lotus feet of that supreme Lord, hasty movements of his eyeballs are enough to make the world gets terrified and kill those demons,  he could put an end to all those wicked demons with his fleeting look. Oh! Vidura, I feel the supreme Lord who is eulogized in the three worlds must have incarnated on the Earth, and performed various amusements to reveal his splendor to Jeeva.  Oh! Vidura, I have no words to describe his compassion, while living in the Gokulam, he liberated the female demon, who fed him with toxic poison on her bosom, he gave the fortune to that demon equivalent to his foster mother Devi Yasodha. I shall surrender to that supreme Lord who is the ocean of mercy, incarnated on the Earth and performed various pastimes for the welfare of its living beings. Oh! Vidura, the supreme Lord Krishna took great care of cows and cowherds of Vraja, he has performed various amorous sports with the young women of cowherds in the Vraja, and I cannot stop remembering all those.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 67 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, Udhdhava who sacrificed all his life to serve Krishna, did not marry or settled in his life, was the disciple of Sage Bhrihaspathi.  Vidura met Udhdhava, and they embraced each other, Vidura enquired the welfare of Krishna, Balarama, and their families, he enquired the welfare of Vasudeva and Devi Devaki, he enquired about Pradhyumna and Anirudhdha, Samba, etc. he enquired about the welfare of Emperor Ugrasena, and Akroora, thus Vidura enquired all about Krishna’s clan without giving time to utter a word for Udhdhava. Further, detailed his harsh experiences in the palace of Hastinapura, the conversation between Dhritarashtra ended up in arguments that forced him to abandon the palace forever, conducted spiritual tour to various sacred lands on the Earth, and revealed his yearning to meet Krishna.  Vidura concludes “Oh! Uddhava, kindly describe the welfare of the supreme Lord who is the ultimate asylum of the Jeeva removes all the fears and anxieties of the worldly existence, incarnated as the chief of Yadhava clan and performed various pastimes.”

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, Udhdhava after listening to series of questions of Vidura enquiring about the welfare of the supreme Lord Krishna and his clan, kept silent, tears overflowing down the cheeks, find it difficult to utter a word.  Udhdhava could not control his grief due to those rushing memories of Lord Krishna.  He immersed in meditation upon supreme Lord Krishna for a few minutes, his eyes were overflowing with tears, and soon regained the original state, remembered the advice of Krishna, felt his eternal presence as a soul in him, immediately got rid of the grief, looked at Vidura and began to speak “Oh! Vidura, the sun like Krishna has already set, the ‘Time’ like serpent swallowed the beautiful city of Dwaraka. What shall I describe that supreme Lord Krishna? I would say the glory of the Earth has lost, Dwaraka submerged in the ocean, this world has become inauspicious, and the most unfortunate ones are Yadhava, even though they have attained the fortune to be with the Supreme Lord Hari, they could not understand him fully, like the fish misunderstand the mirror image of the moon on the water as one among them, a fish never understands the splendor of the moon.  The Yadhavas who were knowledgeable lived with the supreme Lord, did not understand the eternal truth of the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 66 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Shuka Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, Suyodhana, Karna and Dusshasana who have heard the advice of Vidura to King Dhritarashtra was extremely raged, slammed the doors and entered the chamber of King Dhritarashtra, he approached Vidura in extreme fury, disgraced him calling his cause of birth as the son of Dasi, and dependent on them for the meal and shameless etc. Suyodhana mercilessly poured harsh words on Vidura who served them all his life.  Ultimately Vidura was thrown out of the palace; he was all humiliated and hurt.  Dhritarashtra who was listening to the shower of abuses on Vidura, remained silent, watching the boneless act of his own brother, Vidura who is an eminent archer, surprisingly remained unhurt by any of the above, silently retired from the chamber of Dhritarashtra.  Vidura instantly remembered the constructive side of the incident that caused him to stay away from the great battle of Kurukshetra, he felt it was the grace of supreme Lord Krishna upon him.  Oh! Rajan, Vidura who symbolizes the piousness and fortune of Kaurava left them forever. Thus, Vidura who is self-less, highly knowledgeable, amiable, a noble-soul left the Hastinapura. He conducted journeys to various sacred lands on the Earth, always remembering the sacred names of Lord, contemplating upon him, engaged in fruitful conversation with the ascetics who met on his way, walked all over the Earth like an Avadhootha. Vidura arrived on the shores of Prabhasa, met several saintly men and ascetics engaged in pious activities on the Syamanthapanchaka, he heard about the aftermath of the great battle of Kurukshetra and the destruction of entire Kauravas, as the tornado which causes the trees in the woods to ignite forest fire.  He also heard that only the Pandavas remains after the great battle, he left Prabhasa and proceeded journey to the riverbank of Saraswathi. Vidura decided to meet Krishna, walked through the banks of river Yamuna,  while moving along the banks suddenly his eyes fell on Udhdhava who was the closest companion of Lord Krishna.”

Shuka Bhramam continues "Oh! Rajan, Udhdhava is one of the dearest companions of Krishna, supremely intelligent, had a great knowledge in Shastra and Purana, and exceptionally good f0resight as Krishna.  He was completely devoted and sincerely follows Krishna like a shadow.  He used the clothes used by Lord Krishna, he consumed the leftover meal of Krishna, he used the bedspread used by Krishna, was a highly fortunate soul who spends most of his life with Krishna. Vidura witnessed Udhdhava on the shores of Yamuna, shocked to see him in unusual clothing; he was worn on saffron robes instead of yellow silk garments of Krishna. He was holding the sandalwood ‘Padhuka’ of Krishna above his head, Vidura understood Udhdhava must be conducting a spiritual journey."

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 66 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran speaks elaborately on the ten virtues that the illustrious Rishis and Sages experienced after conducting several kinds of research.   Initially, it speaks about the destructible nature of Prakrithi and indestructible nature of the supreme soul, and how to approach them so that it won’t cause grief or agony in the life of Jeeva, and the attitude towards people, wealth, possessions, richness and attitude towards past experiences help to avoid a mental breakdown in the absence of any of the above said things.  It teaches about the ‘supreme strength’, how to modify the thoughts according to the years of growth, how to utilize the life experiences of others for the betterment of life, what are the available sources to raise the mind and intellect from the unexpected crisis or tragedies, so that it does not cause mental and physical strain, how to face death without fear or trepidations.

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, Vidura the closest companion of Bhagavan Krishna left to wood leaving all the comforts of the palace. He met Sage Maitreya and they both had an interesting conversion I shall describe them.”

King Pareekshith speaks “Oh! Bhramin, I am confident that the Kshatriya Vidura must have raised brilliant questions to Sage Maitreya that could provide commendable benefits to the Jeeva to elevate their souls from miseries of worldly existence, therefore kindly narrate that to me.”

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, you might have heard of the troubles of Pandavas who lost their father King Pandu, at a young age.  Dhritarashtra who is the father of Duryodhana, was blind by birth, encouraged Adharmi Duryodhana, who tried to kill your grandparents in the house made of wax. Later, they were saved by Vidura, but Dhritharashtra promoted all the atrocities of his sons. Once, Devi Dhraupadhi who is a fervent devotee of Lord Krishna was publicly humiliated in the assembly of Kaurava, they dragged her in hair and brought her in the assembly was unclothed, Dhritarashtra could not do anything to protect the daughter-in-law like Devi Draupadi.  The Kauravas cheated the Pandavas in the board game, and won over them, they have exiled from the Kingdom for twelve years, and one year living in disguise, after completing the verdict of Kauravas, they have returned to the Kingdom and begged for their share of the Kingdom was treated impolitely. At that moment, the Jagath Guru the supreme Lord Krishna appeared as an emissary of Pandavas before the Kauravas, was humiliated, but Lord Krishna remained serene as ever, Kauravas did not understand the splendor of that supreme Lord. Once, the Pandava and Kauravas decided to meet their destiny in the great battlefield of Kurukshetra, Dhritarashtra lost his sleep and peace, called for Vidura to help him to put an end to the epic battle. At that moment, Vidura advised Dhritharashtra in marvelous verses, which is one of the most significant verses that came to known as ‘Viduraneethi’. He advised Dhritharashtra “Oh! Bhratha, listen to me carefully, you are liable to offer the fair share of Kingdom to Pandava and they are deserved their portion of Kingdom if you do not listen to them and follow your unruly son Duryodhana, the supreme Lord Krishna with the Pandavas and Vrikodhara is enough to put a tragic end to your clan.  The supreme Lord Mukunda who is Devadeva and Yadhudeva as well is with the Pandavas, therefore no other force could harm them. Your sons may accumulate warriors and introduce numerous treacherous plans, could do nothing against Pandava. You have humiliated the supreme Lord Krishna, and got cursed, therefore Oh! Bhratha, kindly change your mind and protect your clan from the mass destruction.”  All that was advised to King Dhritarashtra was secretly heard by Duryodhana, Dusshshana, and Karna.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 65 – The legend of Lord Krishna – The legend of King Pareekshith

Adhi Dhaivamath Adhyathmam Adhibhoothamithi Prabhu:| Yadhaikam Paurusham Veeryam Thridhabidhyatha Thashchrunu||

Shukha Bhramam speaks “Oh! Rajan, I have described the ten virtues compiled in the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran, are Sargam, Visargam, Sthanam, Poshanam, Oothaya, Manvanthara, Eshanukatha, Nirodham, Mukthi, and  Ashrayam.   Oh! Rajan, the supreme Lord who resides as soul protects the three states of Adhidhaivikam/dream, Adhibhauthikam/the functioning of senses  in the state of awaken, and Adhyathmikam/state of deep sleep in which the mind and intellect attain Laya in the supreme soul.  Therefore, the human body, mind and intellect, and sense organs can’t perform tasks in the absence of the supreme soul, and hence the ultimate object of the mind and intellect that originated from the supreme soul has to merge in it with the practice of ‘Ananyabhakthi’.  The nine virtues mentioned in this Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran leads the Jeeva to its ultimate resting place/Ashrayam, which is the origin of it.”

The conversation between Sage Maitreya and Vidura describes the ten virtues of the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran in detail. It was before the greatest battle of Kurukshetra, Vidura describes the righteousness to Dhritarashtra/Viduraneethi, it resulted in Vidura leaving the Kingdom of Hastinapura before the battle.  Vidura conducts pilgrimage for several years and decided to meet Krishna in Dwaraka.  It took almost thirty-six years to complete his spiritual journeys to various places on the Earth, reached on the sacred land of Vrindavan, arrived on the riverbank of Yamuna; he met Udhdhava who is the closest companion of Krishna.  The Thritheeya Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatha Mapuran starts with the conversation between Udhdhava and Vidura.  Further, Udhdhava conveys the instruction of supreme Lord Krishna to Vidura to meet Sage Maitreya to receive the highest of the supreme knowledge.  The three and fourth chapters of the Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran describes the conversation between Vidura and Maitreya.  In that, the three glorious incarnations of Lord Vishnu was described, in that the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu as ‘Varaha’/wild boar, Kapilavasudeva, and Rishis Nara and Narayana.  The Ekadasha Skanadha details the impediments caused to Rishi Nara and Narayana in detail.  In this way, three and fourth canto of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran describes the first two virtues 1) Sarga and 2)Visarga.