Story of Rantideva

 Srimad Bhagavatam – Story of Rantideva

Rantideva, a descendant of Bharadwaja and the adopted son of Emperor Bharata, was born a king but lived a simple and detached life. Though wealthy, he never desired to save or increase his riches and happily gave away everything, even during times of great hunger.

Once, he and his family remained without food and water for 48 days. On the 49th day, they finally received a little payasam and water. As they were about to eat, a Brahmana guest arrived. Seeing him as a form of Srihari, Rantideva gladly offered him food.

Soon another stranger came, and Rantideva shared more food without discrimination. Then a Sudra arrived with dogs asking for food. Believing that hunger is the same for humans and animals, Rantideva gave away the remaining payasam.

Only a little water was left. At that moment, a thirsty Chandala appeared asking for water. Filled with compassion, Rantideva said he did not desire wealth or even moksha, but wished to remove the suffering of others. He then gave away the last portion of water.

Immediately, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara revealed themselves, for they had come to test him. Rantideva sought no boon. Freed from maya, he attained union with Srihari, and his family too followed the path of devotion.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

A Brief Note of Lunar Dynasty

Srimad Bhagavatham - A Brief Note of Lunar Dynasty 

What was the tussle between Sage Brihaspati and Soma, the Moon God? Who is Budha and Pururava?

Sage Atri, the mind-born son of Lord Brahma, was a replica of his father in excellence. Soma, the Moon God, is the son of Sage Arti. It is said Soma was born out of Atri's tears of joy. Soma is an embodiment of nectar.

Brahma appointed Soma as Lord of the Brahmanas, herbs, annual plants, and stars.  

Soma completely subdued all the worlds and performed Rajasuya Yagna.  

During the sacrifice, Soma abducted Tara, wife of Devguru Brihaspathi. Though Brihaspati approached Soma on this issue, it was not successful. This led to a war between devatas and asuras. 

Sage Shukracharya, being jealous towards Brihaspati, took sides with Soma. Lord Shiva, along with his ganas, supported the just cause of Brihaspati. Lord Indra also supported devaguru Brihaspati. 

Sage Angira, father of Brihaspati, approached Lord Brahma and appraised the situation. Lord Brahma abused Soma of his behaviour and instructed Soma to return Tara to Brihaspati. By then, Tara was impregnated. Brihaspati instructed Tara to cast away the foetus immediately. Tara gave birth to a male child.

Both Devguru and Soma were longing for a child and were claiming rights over the child. When questioned, Tara remained silent. 

Surprisingly, the child got angry, and he too asked his mother to speak out. Finally, Brahma soothed her and gently interrogated, and Tara revealed that this child belonged to Soma. 

Brahma named Soma’s son Budha. Budha married Ila (King Sudyumna in a feminine form), and through their union, a son Pururava was born.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Twists and Turns in Sudyumna’s Life

Srimad Bhagavatham - Twists and Turns in Sudyumna’s Life 

Sudyumna is the son of Vaivaswata Manu (Shradhadeva) and Shradha and the grandson of Vivasvan (Sun God). He was born as Ila, a female, but later became Sudyumna, a male by Srihari's grace. 

Once King Sudyumna, along with a few others, went on a hunt to a forest in the northern direction. On entering the foot of Mount Meru, they found a change in their gender. They weren't aware that this place bears the curse of Lord Shiva. 

Feeling embarrassed, the King and his troop opted to remain in the forest. The king, now a woman, roamed around the forest and met God Budha, son of Moon God. Seeing her beauty, Budha proposed to marry her, and they both agreed. Through this marriage, they had a son, Pururuva. 

King Sudyumna, who desired to return to his kingdom, sought Sage Vasishta's help. The Sage took pity on him and prayed to Lord Shiva to restore manhood to Sudyumna.  

Lord Shiva offered partial relief wherein Sudhama will be a male for a month and female in the subsequent month.

King Sudyumna, during his manhood, ruled his kingdom and would go incognito as he never desired to show himself as a woman. 

During his stay in the kingdom, he had three sons. Vexed with his life, he desired to retire to the forest. He handed over the central part of the kingdom to Pururava and the rest to his other three sons.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana    

Progeny of Vaivaswatha Manu

Srimad Bhagavatam - Progeny of Vaivaswatha Manu

Why was Vaivaswata Manu disappointed with the outcome of the sacrifice? Why did Manu take up asceticism for a hundred years?

Vaivasvatha Manu (alias Shradhadeva) is the son of Vivasvan (Sun God) and the grandson of Sage Kasyapa and Aditi.

Manu was issueless and desired to perform a sacrifice propitiating Mitra and Varuna gods with Sage Vasistha as advaryu (chief priest).

Sraddha, wife of Manu, requested the Hota (who recites required mantras) to conduct the sacrifice in such a way she beget a female child. The Hota accordingly made deviations duly oblations. 

Invariably, a girl child, Ila, was born to them. Manu was displeased as he had desired male progeny. He enquired the Sage the cause of this deviation.

The Sage, through his divine vision, could find the cause and took the responsibility to provide a remedy. He prayed to Lord Srihari for his intervention and facilitated Manu with male progeny. With Srihari’s blessings, Ila became Sudyumna. 

At a later date, Manu handed over the kingdom to Sudyumna. King Sudyumna’s life had many twists and turns. He had a son, Pururuva, through Budha (Son of Moon God).

Vaivaswata Manu was saddened with his son's life. For progeny, he practiced asceticism for a hundred years and had 10 sons, the eldest being Ikswaku. 

Except two, the other 8 sons were progenitors. All the rulers of Surya vamsha (dynasty) were pious, firm believers of dharma.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Story of Bhakthi

Srimad Bhagavatam –  Story of Bhakti

Once, the sage Narada visited Prithvi and its sacred pilgrimage sites. To his dismay, he found that true devotion had faded—even in holy places such as Prayag, Ganga, Godavari, Srirangam, and Rameshwaram.

He perceived the strong influence of Kali Yuga, the age that fosters unrighteousness. Truth, austerity, purity of body and mind, and compassion had all but disappeared.

People seemed driven only by material needs, concerned merely with sustaining themselves. Spiritual discipline had been consumed by the raging fire of this age. Temples, too, were increasingly treated like places of commerce—there was grandeur, but little genuine devotion.

At last, Narada arrived at Mathura, the sacred birthplace of Krishna.

The Meeting of Bhakti and Her Sons

In Mathura, Narada beheld a sorrowful woman—Bhakti—weeping beside her two aged sons, Jnana and Vairagya, who lay in deep slumber.

Bhakti implored Narada to awaken them. Understanding her plight through his divine insight, Narada made every effort—reciting the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita—but his attempts failed. The sons remained unmoved.

Deeply distressed, Narada then heard a celestial voice:

“Holy sages will guide you toward the righteous path.”

Following this guidance, he journeyed to Badarikashrama, where he met the four sages—Sanaka and his brothers.

Narada sought their help in restoring Bhakti and her sons. 

The sages replied:

“You have always guided devotees of Krishna and tirelessly upheld devotion. It is fitting that you now re-establish Bhakti on a firm foundation. 

Though many spiritual practices grant heavenly rewards, the path leading to liberation (Vaikuntha) remains hidden and is discovered only by great fortune.”

They further explained that Jnana Yajna—the devoted study and recitation of the Srimad Bhagavatam—is the supreme path to liberation. Through its sacred narration, the suffering of Jnana and Vairagya would end, and Bhakti would regain her joy.

Sanaka added:

“The Srimad Bhagavatam is the very essence of the Vedas and Upanishads. Just as ghee must be extracted from milk, and a fruit plucked from a tree to be enjoyed fully, so too must this divine wisdom be drawn out and experienced.”

The sages advised conducting this sacred recitation at Ananda. Hearing this holy discourse, Bhakti and her sons gradually regained their strength and vitality.

Soon, great sages such as Bhrigu, Vasistha, Gautama, Parashurama, Viswamitra, and Markandeya assembled to partake in this nectar-like narration.

The Glory of the Bhagavatam

When Krishna prepared to depart from the earthly realm, his devoted follower Uddhava prayed:

“O Lord, as You leave, my heart is filled with anxiety. The dark age of Kali approaches, bringing unrighteousness. Please protect the virtuous.”

Moved by this plea at Prabhasa, Vishnu (Srihari) infused all His divine presence and glory into the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Thus, the Bhagavatam became the living, verbal manifestation of the Lord Himself.

Through its power, Bhakti and her sons, Jnana and Vairagya, were restored to their true, radiant forms. 

Filled with gratitude, Bhakti thanked the sages for nourishing them with this divine, nectar-like wisdom.

Matsysavathara - Lord Descends as Divine Fish

Srimad Bhagavatam - Matsyavathara (Lord Descends as Divine Fish)  

Why did Lord Narayana descend as divine fish? Who is King Satyavratha? What was the divine fish’s request to Satyavratha?

Once, during the middle of kalpa, Brahma accidentally took a small nap during his creation work. Seizing this opportunity, demon Hayagreeva stole Vedas from Brahma and hid them deep inside the ocean.   

To retrieve back Vedas that are essential for the creation, Srihari took the form of a fish. He killed Hayagreeva and restored Vedas to Brahma.

Again, at the end of Kalpa and just before the deluge, Srihari took the form of a fish to protect King Satyavratha, the future Manu.

Once King Satyavratha of Pandya dynasty was performing his morning ablutions at Krathamala river. While holding the water in his palms a small fish appeared and said "Satyavratha, protect me from predators”. 

The King took pity on the fish and transferred it to his kamandal (carry pot). To his surprise, the fish grew in size and sought a bigger space. 

The king transferred the fish to a larger tub, to well, pond, and finally to the ocean. The king wondered who this fish could be and thought it must be none other than Srihari and offered his prayers.

Then Srihari, in fish form said, “Seven days from now, the world will cease to exist on account of deluge" (pralaya). Get into a large boat along with Saptarishis, Vedas, seeds of every variety, one pair of animals. I shall take the boat to Meru Parvatha and offer protection.   

As instructed, the king and others were waiting on a boat when a divine fish appeared with Vasuki as rope. The divine fish went around the boat and gave protection until the water subsided. The divine fish clarified doubts raised by Satyavratha. 

Satyavratha, in his next birth, was born to Vivasvan (Sun God) as Shraddadeva. In the present kalpa, Shraddhadeva is also known as Vivaswatha Manu.  

Vivasvan is son of Sage Kasyapa and Aditi (daughter of Daksha Prajapathi), grandson of Saptarishi Marici and great grandson of Brahma. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Extermination of Kshatriyas by Parasurama

 Srimad Bhagavatham - Extermination of Kshatriyas by Parasurama   

Why did Parasurama undertake pilgrimage? Why did Parasurama kill his own mother and brothers? Who killed Sage Jamadagni? How was the Kshatriya race vanquished?

After killing Karthaveerya and his huge army, Parasurama brought back the divine cow and calf to his ashrama and offered it to his father, Sage Jamadagni. 

When he narrated the war incident, Sage Jamadagni wasn't happy and advised him to desist from such action. He said “Killing a king is equivalent to Brahmahatya”. He asked Parasurama to go on a pilgrimage to cleanse this sin. Parasurama undertook a pilgrimage for a year. 

On a fateful day, Renuka, the Sage's wife, went to fetch water from Ganga and saw Chitraratha, the King of Gandarvas. For a while, she was gazing at the sporting Gandarva and got delayed from her usual routine. The water needed for oblations into the sacred fire got delayed.  

Terribly afraid of the curse, she placed the pitcher in front of her husband and stood with joined palms. Sage Jamadagni was enraged with the mental lapse of his wife and said to his sons “ Kill this sinful woman”. Parasurama was away, and his other sons refused to kill their mother. 

When Parasurama returned, he was asked to do away with his mother and brothers. Parasurama, who knew the powers of his father, immediately undertook the task with no second thought. Sage Jamadagni, being gratified, asked Parasurama to seek a boon. 

Parasurama requested to bring back the lives of his mother and brothers and that they shouldn't know about this incident. The Sage was pleased and granted the boon. 

Once Parasurama and his brothers had gone to the forest. To take revenge for their father’s death, Karthaveerya’s sons attacked Sage Jamadagni, who was in Samadhi state. Renuka begged them to spare her husband's life. Yet they cut off the Sage's neck and took the head away. Renuka cried out loudly “Rama, Rama”.   

Hearing from a distance the loud cry, Parasurama reached the ashrama and found the headless body of his father. He told his brothers to take care of the mortal remains of their father and headed to Mahismathi. 

He owed to vanquish entire kshatriya kings. He killed all the sons of Karthaveeryaarjuna and brought his father's head. With due reverence, he performed the last rites of his father.  

It is said that Renuka beat her breast 21 times due to deep agony caused by her husband's brutal murder. Parasurama, too, went around the earth 21 times to vanquish wicked Kshatriyas.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana