Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran

Shrimad Bhagwad Mahatmya

Adhyay No. 1

The Story of भक्ती (Devotion),ज्ञान (Knowledge) and वैराग्य (Asceticism)

Once upon a time, in Naimiṣa forest , the great sage Shaunaka along with more than 88000 sages expressed concern to Shri Sut ji that in this generation of Kaliyuga, most of the people have been trapped in this Maya and therefore they all are sad for 24 hours, leading sorrowful lives, behaving like daemons, committing sins and seeking temporary pleasures. So the sages wish to uplift humanity and would like to hear about devotion, knowledge and asceticism. They asked Sutji “Do tell us how to get out of this Maya? How can one be free from the Karmas and how can one reach Lord Krishna?”

    Sutji offered a very powerful solution which will wipe away the fear of birth and death and humanity will be able to reach the Lord Krishna. He said that one should listen to Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran with full attention and dedication. Before the beginning of Kaliyuga, Shri ShukDev ji had narrated Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran to King Parikshit. King Parikshit got free of all his karmas after listening to Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran.  Lord Brahma was astonished upon hearing this and he weighed all the means of devotion with Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran but none weighed higher than the Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran. Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran is a way towards Salvation(मोक्ष).

    Shaunak ji asked Sutji that Naradji is free from Maya and he doesn’t stay for a long time in one place, then how did Naradji listen to Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran? Sutji said that this knowledge of Shrimad Bhagwad Maha Puran was given to Naradji by Shri ShukDevji. Once all sages had gathered in Badri Forest for Satsang and they met Nardji there. At that time Naradji was immersed in anxiety and sorrow. The sages questioned Naradji as to why is he in such a state and where from is he coming?

    

    Naradji said that he was in the land of death i.e. the Earth. He visited various religious places on earth like Haridwar, Nashik, Kashi , Prayag etc but he could not find peace anywhere. Kaliyug has started ruling everywhere and its effects are visible in the form of vices, sinful, wrong activities everywhere. There isn’t a place where Jaap (chanting), Taap (meditation, worship), Daan (charity) , Compassion exists. There exists lies, sin, corruption, misery all around. There is no righteousness.

    On the bank of Yamuna river, Naradji saw a young lady weeping and two men lying like dead besides her. The young lady was serving them and trying to bring them back to life. They were lying unconscious. Upon seeing Naradji, she stood up and requested Naradji to listen to her story. Naradji asked the lady who she was and who were the two men? Who are the other ladies who are sitting surrounding them? The lady replied that she is Bhakti(Devotion). The other two men are her sons : Knowledge and Asceticism and the other ladies surrounding her are serving her. They are the rivers Ganga, Yamuna ,Saraswati etc. She(Bhakti) was born in the South. Then she came to Karnataka during her adolescence. She was showered with a lot of honour in Maharashtra. She became old when she was in Gujarat. Now that she is in Vrindavana, she has turned young again but both her sons Knowledge and Asceticism are still old. She fails to understand why her sons are aging and she is young?

    Naradji said he will explain her the things now and she should listen to it very carefully. Naradji said Kaliyuga had made all people on this earth sinful, corrupt and devotion less, foolish, unaware, folly and stupid. But in this Kaliyuga even a small amount of chanting, a small amount of devotion will dissolve all bad karmas.The person will be free of his bad karmas.  It used to take thousands of years to achieve this Salvation in other yugs like Satyuga, Dyaparyuga but in Kaliyuga it doesn’t take much time. Even a small amount of chanting, devotion works. This is the reason why King Parikshit did not destroy Kaliyuga.

    Bhakti was overjoyed to hear Naradji's words and expressed, "Prahlad became deeply devoted because of your influence. The same happened with Dhruv. O great sage, your presence brings me immense happiness. You are the son of Lord Brahma, and I bow to you."

To be continued in next Adhyay ….