Bhaagavatha Saaradaa — 3

SriSaaradaa Dayaa Deeptih :-
14-10-2017, Saturday.

Bhaagavatam-3.

Now we go into the axiomatic traditional Sanskrit verse which teaches us to get to the bottom of the procedure of discoursing the Bhaagavata Mahaapuraana, which is sanctified​ by the meditative and absolute devotion of great sages like Sukadeva Goswami. It’s the verse:-

“Bhaktyaa Bhaagavatam Saastram
Na Vyutpatyaa na teekayaa |
Grihinyaiva griham proktam
Na pumschalyaa na vesyayaa“||

“The Bhaagavata has to be expounded or discoursed only through abiding and abounding love/devotion. (The basic qualification of the listener is inalienable and unalloyed love and endless enthusiasm for the Lord and for the Devotees of the Lord). It can never be done through grammatical methodology or commentatorial exposition. By the residence or living  of a “grihini” (house-wife) a house or building can be termed as a “griham”(a home), but not by the presence of a whore or a courtesan”.

Here we are supposed to understand how forbiddingly we are, either as listeners or as expounding speakers, warned not to indulge in any temptation of pursuing the text of Bhaagavata with any sort of intellectual examination or enquiry as we have been doing while learning any other things so far in our lives. Here, absolute devotion is the way and the goal too as it is said in Taittireeya Upanoshad

“Tapasaa Brahma vijijnaasaswa,
tapo Brahmeti”

“By tapas you realise Brahman, tapas itself is Brahman”! (Tapas means “absolute austerities”).

I’ve to expound Bhaagavata with unqualified(avyaaja) love and as listeners(readers) you’ve to follow it with absolute love. With this common understanding we jointly undertake to participate in this “Devotional Sacrifice”.

Following the ancient holy tradition, we start our devotional sacrifice with an informal prayer.

1.”Umaapatim Sivam vande
Ramaapatim Harim sadaa |
Seetaapatim bhaje Raamam
Sri Krishnam Rukmineepatim“||

“I salute Lord Siva, the consort of Umadevi, Lord Hari, the consort of Ramaadevi, Lord Raama, the consort of Seetaadevi and Lord Sri Krishna, the consort of Rukminidevi”.

2.”Raamaayanam aham seve
Bhaaratam tat anantaram |
Bhaagavatm atah staumi
Srutih ekaa tridhaa smritaa“||

“I worship Raamaayana, then Bhaarata, and then I eulogise Bhaagavata, the triology or the trinity of the only Veda”.

3.”Anya kathaah parityajya
Raama-Krishna kathaah srunu |
Etaah kathaa sudhaah peetvaa
Praapnoshi SreeHareh padm“||

“Forsake all other stories. You listen to the stories of Raama and Krishna and RaamaKrishna Paramahamsa Gurudeva only. Having revelled in drinking the nectar of these stories you obtain the abode of Lord Sri Hari”.

4. “Tyajaanya dharma maargaan cha
Bhaja Bhaagavatee gatim |
Vraja dhyaanaat vrajam dhaama
Vrajeseem cha Vrajeswaram“||

“Forsake all other ways of dharma. You follow the way of worship of total love of Bhaagavata. Through devotional meditation withdraw to Vraja dhaama, thereby, you remain and rest in the grace of Radhaadevi and Sri Krishna”.

5.”Bahavah vyaayaama saalaah
Santi deha suroopadaah |
Atma sobhaa pradaschaikah
Srimadbhaagavataalayah“||

“There are many gyms which can help to keep the body in good shape and fitness. There is one gym of ethical and spiritual living which can help to keep your soul and mind in perfect shape and fitness”.

6.”Nahyalabdha prasaadena
Praaptaa Bhaagavatee ratih |
Powrushena prayatnena
Vardhaneeyaa dinay dinay“||

“Without obtaining the grace of the Lord none can taste the love for Bhaagavata. Having got that, one has to intensify that love more and more, day by day, through constant effort”.

7.”Imam Bhaagavatam Vedam
Imaam Bhaagavateem Smritim|
Idam Bhaagavatam Kaavyam
Naumi Saatwata Samhitaam“||

“Bhaagavata is Veda(masculine gender). Bhaagavata is Smriti(feminine gender). Bhaagavata is Kaavya(neuter gender). I bow to the Bhaagavata Mahaa Puraana which is called ‘Saatwata Samhita‘ “.

With this the informal prayer is finished. In next part a part of formal prayer will be made.

Swasti||