Srikrishna's Mahaprastana

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Srikrishna's Mahaprasthan and Arjuna's Grief

Yudhistir becomes restless when he observes bad omens and tells Bhima that he is predicting something disastrous. Arjuna is yet to return from Dwarka, though he left seven months back.

Arjuna comes back from Dwarka with a broken heart. Knowing Arjuna's mind, Yudhistir asks whether each of their relatives are safe, including Devaki, Nanda, Srikrishna, and Balrama. 

Arjuna said “ Krishna whom I considered as a friend, a guide, relative, a guru has left us. He has betrayed us by leaving us. He was the one who helped us at every stage of life, in every success that we enjoy today. 

Probably, I never understood Him in the way I ought to. During the Kurukshetra war, I was just a puppet. The astras that were directed towards me by great warriors never reached me, but my astras were fully effective.  

Srikrishna protected me from all sides even when I made a dangerous vow to kill Jayadratha by the next sunset. Krishna had to struggle to put him in front of me. Our horses were tired and had to rest and drink water. Nowhere to get water, and I had to get down from the chariot and release astra to dig the earth. All my enemies were watching me, but none could attack me because Krishna made them dumbfold. I quickly got back on my chariot and continued the war. 

Now I feel empty without Him. Arjuna narrated several such incidents and finally removed his emotional burden. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Jada Bharata's Teachings

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Jada Bharata’s Teachings 

How did Jada Bharata respond to King Rahuguna's abuse? Is the relationship between master and servant permanent?

Enraged Rahugana mocked Jada Bharata unsparingly. He said, "You are tired, worked for long hours, walked a long way. You are as good as dead, and that you ignored my commands. I shall punish you."

Jada Bharata said, "I am in no way fatigued and that I have not borne the palanquine. This burden was borne on by the body, not me (the soul). "

Jada Bharata explains the meaning of Self:

"Stoutness and leanness, bodily ailments and mental worries, hunger and thirst, fear and strife, desire and old age, sleep and attachment to the pleasures of sense, anger and vanity arise from egotism and grief.

They appear only in one who is born with a feeling of identification with the body and not in me (the pure self). "

Death synchronous with life is a rule perceived in everything that undergoes transformation; for whatever undergoes transformation has a beginning and an end.

Orders should be given by one and carried out by another without fail only where the relation of servant and master is fixed (unchangable).

In our case, it is not so because you can become a servant and I your master if there is a revolution. He reveals details of his past births. 

On hearing the reply of Brahmana, Rahugana realizes his mistake and asks for forgiveness.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Story of Jada Bharata

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of  Jada Bharata

What action did Bharata take to overcome his flaw? Why was he called Jada Bharata? What was the dialogue between Jada Bharata and King Rahugana?

Remembering deer during the time of death, Bharata had to be born as a deer. But due to his spiritual merits, he was able to recollect his past life. He realizes his mistake, and thereupon he never associated with fellow mates and was just waiting to get rid of deer body.

He was reborn in a brahmin's family as the 10th son (Bharata had 9 step-brothers).

 

Jada Bharata, in this birth, never spoke to anyone nor showed any interest in worldly activities. He was a cause of concern to his father. His step-brothers were well versed in vedas and were carrying on prescribed duties.

Jada bharata's father did his best to educate him till the end but not of much use. Jada bharata never bothered to maintain physical cleanliness, nor follow prescribed rituals. Indeed, his self-knowledge was ripe in him, but others were unaware of it.

Jada bharata cautiously avoided people as he was aware of the mistake of his previous birth.

After his father's demise, he was left aloft by his brothers as a last choice. Since he was hale and healthy, he was utilized by outsiders to do manual work for no compensation.

Jada bharata was least perturbed as he was waiting to complete his prarabda karma.  

Once Jada bharata was taken forcefully as offer to kali matha. When he was about to get killed, to the surprise of all, kali matha herself appeared and killed all those who were responsible for this act. Again, Jada bharata was unperturbed.

King Rahugana was traveling to Sage Kapila's ashram in palanquine. There was a shortage of one palanquine bearer, and Jada bharata was picked for the job.

Jada bharata couldn't synchronize with the other 3 bearers, and this caused turbulence. The king was annoyed and ridiculed Jada Bharata.

Jada bharata said i never carried your palanquine. My shoulders carried your palanquine, my legs carried my waist, and the waist carried my shoulders. All these body parts jointly carried your palanquine. I, the soul, is in no way connected to this act.

King Rahugana was shocked, and with little knowledge of self-realization, he could recognize that this person is no ordinary. He pleaded sorry for his act and requested Jada bharata to enlighten him.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Bharata

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Story of Bharata 

Who is Bharata? How deep was his devotion? How did destiny change his life?

Bharata is the eldest son of Lord Rsabhadeva. He possessed extensive knowledge and was extremely fond of his subjects. 

Bharata performed at the appointed hours yagnas and kratu (sacrifice with sacrificial post) big and small in every detail. Importantly, Bharata offered the entire merit of these deeds to Lord Vasudeva.  

He would contemplate (on deities enjoying a share in the sacrificial offering) as limbs of the Supreme Person (Viratswarup).

He proportionately divided among his sons the hereditary fortune and retired as a recluse and lived near the sacred Gandaki river. Bharata got rid of all cravings and developed tranquility of mind.

Once, Bharata stayed back for sometime at Gandaki river. Just then, a fully pregnant deer came to the river to satisfy its thirst and a lion came chasing the deer.  

When the deer noticed it, it leaped to the other side of the river. Unfortunately, the foetus dropped out and was left uncared for. The deer met its end in a ravine.

Bharata took the fawn to his ashram and took care of it. He felt it was the duty of a kshatriya and as a king to take care of the needy. 

Gradually, he developed infatuation towards it and neglected his daily routines and meditation. He was constantly worried about its protection and wellbeing until he left his body. 

Consequently, he had to take birth as a deer in his subsequent birth. Suka muni said to King Parikshit, "Fawn in the form of destiny destroyed Bharata’s journey of self-realization in this birth."

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Story of Ajamilana (2)

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Ajamilana (2)

Messengers of Yama answer queries on Dharma to Messengers of MahaVishnu.

1. What is Dharma?

Dharma (righteousness) is that which is enjoined by the Veda. That which is forbidden by the Veda is Adharma.

Veda is emanated from Bhagavan Narayana Himself (it flows from nostrils by the way of respiration).

2. What are means of ascertaining Dharma?

The sun, the fire, the sky, the air, Indriyas (sense of perception and sense of action), the moon, the morning and evening twilights, day and night, the four quarters, water, the earth, Time and Dharma are witnesses (evidences)of good and evil actions of a Jiva (embodied soul).

3. How is the punishment meted out? Is there any distinction while meting out the punishment?

Unrighteousness, ascertained by the above evidence, determines appropriate punishment. There is no distinction while considering punishment for sinful action.

4. How good and bad deeds are associated with action?

Good or evil deeds are associated with action either with one's mind, body, or speech. Action is associated with 3 gunas (modes of prakriti) - sattva, rajas, and tamas.

Virtuous or sinful action done in this world is rewarded or punished in the same manner and to the same extent in the other world.

5. Is there heterogeneity in one's life, and what is it?

Yes, there is heterogeneity in one's life. For example:

1. Those living a life of ease, those leading a miserable life and those who are partly happy and partly miserable.

2. Those who are tanquil by nature, those who are ferocious and those who are dull.

3. Those who are pious by temperament, those who are vicious by nature and those who are of mixed temperament.

These three types of people severally performed meritorious, sinful, or mixed deeds in the past. It is inferred that they will reap the three corresponding types of fruit in another life.

6. What is meant by subtle elements and how it is associated with Jiva, the soul?

When a soul leaves the body, it carries with 16 subtle elements viz., the 10 indriyas, the mind, and 5 objects of senses. These subtle elements are a product of 3 gunas. These are exceedingly attached. This leads Jiva again and again to transmigration (rebirth cycle).

Messengers of Yama question their Lord Yama on who is supreme, you or anyone else. Lord Yama explains the power of Lord Narayana 's name. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Story of Ajamilana (1)

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Ajamilana Upakanya ( 1)

In the city of Kanyakubja (kannauj) lived a brahmana by name Ajamilana. Though married, he associated with Sudra woman and had cast to the winds the pious conduct enjoined on a Brahmana householder.

He made his living on robbery, gambling, cheating, and theft. As years rolled out, he maintained his existence for almost 88 years. He had 10 children, and was fond of his youngest son, Narayana, an infant. 

When the end was nearing, Yama's three messengers came to take his life. Ajamilana was not prepared but understood that his end had come and was struggling with associated trouble. He couldn't bear the separation of his infant son and loudly called ‘Narayana ‘in full length. However he had no intention to remember Bhagavan Narayana but uttered his name only to call his son.

This loud call of Narayana alerted messengers of Maha Vishnu, and they immediately appeared before Ajamilana. Messengers of Yama were in the process of pulling the life (prana vayu) but were stopped by messengers of Maha vishnu. These messengers question Yama's messengers on various topics related to dharma.

The messengers of Mahavishnu say, 'Ajamilana uttered, though unintentionally, ‘Narayana’ when he was about to die. This single act has wiped out all his not only of this life but even sins committed by him through millions of lives.

When a person articulates the Lord's name when he is about to die, all his sins will be wiped, and the chances of doing evil deeds do not arise.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Gajendra Moksha (2)

 Srimad Bhagavatam - Gajendra Moksha (2)     

A thousand years passed, Gajendra, the elephant leader, caught by the alligator, struggled to free itself. Gajendra recollected his spiritual progress acquired in the previous birth as King Indradyumna. 

King Indradyumna of the Pandya dynasty was well versed in scriptures. He ruled the kingdom for a long time and later relinquished it to his sons. Once, Sage Agastya visited him to facilitate his spiritual enhancement. However, Indradyumna failed to recognise it and all the more ignored him. Sage Agastya cursed him to become an elephant.

The prayers offered by Indradyumna in Gajendra's body are as follows:

Since I cannot speak, I offer mental salutations to you, represented by the syllable ‘OM’. 

The entire creation that we see is created by You. You existed before the creation and will exist after it ceases (Chaitanya Swaroopa).

This creation is various forms of You. Yet, You are unattached to it. Your actions are hard to understand for ordinary mortals.

This world will last for a few more period and our time is very much less. Everything and everyone will perish, and what remains is mere darkness. You live alone away from darkness.

Even great Sages are unable to fully know about You. How will I, an elephant, be able to understand You? 

Though You see us, we are unable to recognise You. 

We do not know when You were born, Your characteristics or actions.

You take innumerable forms and have unlimited strength.

 We can attain You with our minds. However, the mind should not be involved in any action, be it mental or physical.

You are the source of everything and act as a shade. You are like a fire hidden in the wood.

I surrender to You, the Nithya Mukta. I do not know anything about devotion and its form. A single minded devotee enjoys the bliss and asks for no boons. I am not mature enough to attain that stage.

I do not seek freedom from this alligator. I have given up the desire to live. What will I achieve in this elephant life?

I seek freedom from ignorance and pray to know the ultimate truth of the unborn Supreme Spirit.

Hearing the heartfelt prayers of Gajendra, Lord Srihari instantly left Vaikunta on Garuda. Other Gods too accompanied Him. Seeing Srihari from a distance, Gajendra takes a lotus from the pond and offers it to Him. 

Seeing Gajendra afflicted with pain, Srihari gets down from Garuda swiftly and, out of compassion, pulls Gajendra from the pond. Srihari kills the alligator using His discus and releases Gajendra.   

 

This alligator was in its previous birth a gandharva by name, ‘Huhu’. The gandharva, along with many others, were sporting in a lake. Just then, Sage Devala entered the lake for a bath. The haughty gandharva pulled Sage’s leg under the water. The sage cursed him that he would be thrown into the womb of an alligator. This curse was released by Srihari.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana