Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Twenty-Seventh Session 

Bhagavata Chaturth Skanda (Book Four)

Chapter 13 to 20

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Sub Story

Power of the Sages

Ramdasji was shivaji’s Guru and the story goes;

- One version: He wanted to give up his kingdom and handed it over to his guru. Ramdasji accepted it and said now you have to manage all this for me. 

- Other version: Ramdasji came to him and asked him to give him alms, Shivaji took a piece of paper and wrote everything, the kingdom, and all that is mine and put it into his begging bowl.

In both cases, the Kingdom now was Ramdasji’s and Shivaji was just working for his Guru, hence, with this in mind, never wanting to let his guru down, he never saw the face of defeat.

Now, this also tells us why the color of Shivaji’s flag is the orche color of the sannyasis robe.

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Story:

Swambhu Manu’s son Uttanpad, and his child Dhruv, was followed by Vatsara who was given the thrown. When we trace down the family tree of Vatsara, there was a King called Anga. He was a very pious king and was married to Sunitha, the Daughter of Mrtyu. 

Ones when King Anga sat for a Yagna, it so happened that non of the deities came down to take the offering. The reason was that in one of his previous births he had sinned. Hence, on the suggestion of the sages, he decide to pray to Sri Hari for a Son.

He was blessed with a son, they name him Vena. However, Vena was a brutal being from the very beginning and he would kill children and animals alike and as he grew up, the devil in him only grew. Anga tried his best to correct his son, but due to his close affiliation with his grandfather ‘Mrtyu’, it was not possible for them to change him.

Anga first regretted, but later thanked God for giving him an evil son. He felt that this kept him away from getting attached to the material world and one night silently left the kingdom. No one was able to find him and the entire globe sank into darkness. 

Looking at the rampant increase in crime all around, the Sages saw of no other means to save this orphaned world, but to crown Vena the King. As soon as Vena was made the ruler, all dacoits and thieves when into hiding, as they feared his brutality. But, this did not solve the problem as Vena himself began to torture and torment the people.

The sages again came to advice Vena, and requested him to correct his ways. But, he refused and declared him the only God that could be worshiped. The Sages destroy Vena. It took them only the sound of ‘Hum’ to put an end to this demon. However, plunders went rampant again.

The sages knew that a righteous ruler was needed. Hence, they requested Sunitha for the body of Vena, which she had preserved and began churning the thighs. From the thigh came a dwarfish strange looking being. Who took onto himself all the evil which was there and asked for instruction. The sages first asked him to wait and later sent him to the woods.

Then they took to churning the right arm of Vena, from which emerged a divine couple ‘Prthu and Archi’, they were the divine ray of Shri Hari and Lakshmi and were crowned the King and Queen. Their praises were sung, and when Prthu objected to the praises, as he was yet to act, they sang the glories of how divine his rule will be.

In the initial days of his rule, the earth refused to provide to the people and there was agony and starvation. He summoned the earth and chased her. She later confessed that she refused to nurture sinners and now that the right ruler had come, who would lead people to divinity she was willing to give every pious soul what they needed. But, they had to request her like a calf does to the cow for milk. Prthu took earth as his daughter and hence, she was called Prithvi.

His rule filled everyone with joy and prosperity. He also took to completing 100 yagna, but when he had completed 99 Yagna and was about to being the 100th Indra got scared, that prthu will take over his position and stole the sacrificial horse and disguised himself as a Sadhu.

Instructed by Arti, Vijitaswa chased Indra to kill him. However, was unable to, and Prthu got enraged and was about to strike, when the sages, stopped him from doing so. He was willing and capable of destroying Indra and completing the 100th yagna, but when instructed not to he stopped. 

Just when he got up, giving up the desire to complete yagna, and embraced peace instead, Shri Hari himself appeared with Indra by his side. Indra apologied and Prthu embraced him. This marked the completion of the 100 th Yagna. When asked by Lord for a boon, Prthu asked for 10000 ears, to hear the glory of the Lord, and never ending devotion. 

Points to Ponder:

1. Kaliyug mai ‘Hari Naam Aadhar’

Over here when the when the Gods did not accept the oblations or descend to be a part of the Yagna, the Sages analysis the matter mentioned the following;

- The material of your oblations is pure and has been purchased with reverence.

- The vedic text recited in th cause of the sacrifice too are in no way lacking inform, since they are uttered by men who are steadfast in their vow.

- There has been no disrespect to the Gods, who know it all.

- King Anga not the least sin has been committed by you in this birth.

However, you have committed a sin in your previous birth, hence you are issueless.

Note: 

Even one sin stopped the Yagna from being completed. As Swami Avdeshanandaji said, if there is smoke in the ‘Havan’, it is not successful. The true havan is when the eye waters not cause of smoke but cause of love for God.

That is why it is said, Kaliyug mai ‘Hari Naam Aadhar’, keep chanting the name of Hari. 

(Remember the Valmiki story were did, just like he chanted the name of Hari)

2. Worship that one Divine

There is one Lord beyond the diversity. When he is worshiped with reverence, all others Deities/God are appeased. The worshipper is rewarded precisely accordingly as the Lord is rewarded by them.

3. Bond of Attachment/pleasure

Just like Kunti, asked for never ending sorrow, so that she may not forget the Lord. Anga here thanks the divine for the agony and displeasure caused by Vena, who was a brutal son. A good son causes bondage, where as an evil one frees one from he bondage of attachment and pleasure, and pushes one towards God.

‘Dukh mai sumiran saab kare, Sukh mai kare na koi,

Jo sukh mai sumira kare, to dukh kake ko hoi.’

‘Everyone prays to God in the time of sorrow, where no other hope is visible. But, no one prays to him during the period of abundance and joy. 

If he/she prays during the time of joy, will sorrow every be able to make it’s way towards him.’

4. Moko kaha dhunde re bande, mai to tere paas mai

When Anga could not be found anywhere it seemed as, ‘Even as the yogis not knowing the secret of Yoga look outside for the supreme person concealed with the heart.’

If we think on these lines;

- Anga can be said to be that divine bliss which shines in all of us alike. 

- Vena the ‘Ego’ that conceals the true ‘I’, and the I-ness and Mine-ness to everything and related to the Body.

- On churning, Just like the devas and the demons churned the milky ocean, first the Halal (poison) comes out and then latter the positive things and finally Amirt.

  - First Nishada comes out and dissolves all the negativity, and lower tendencies.

  - Then Prthu and Archi, emerge who are a ray of Shri Hari and Lakshmi herself.

When the churning happens, we will be able to see alot of negativity in us. Till before the churning we could see negativity only outside in the world around us.

‘Bura dekhan mai chala,

Bura na dikhya koi,

Jub maan jhaka aanpa,

Mujse bura na koi.’

We should keep churning and dissolving one negative tendency after another. Then all that remains in Sattva, and Rajas and Tamas disappear.

5. Duty/Power of the Wise (Brahmanas - The knowers of Brahm - The divine bliss)

‘If the Brahmanas who look upon all with the same eye and is tranquil by nature, ignores the afflicted, the spiritual energy stored even by him by penance, will run out like water from a broken jar.’

- The people who are pure have immense power, we should not take their calm to be their weakness. 

- Having the guidance of wise in our life helps us uplift ourselves. We are the company we keep and the people we listen to.

- When we look at Shivaji’s story and the story of how the sages took into their hands well-being of the kingdom. We are being told that spirituality is not distinct form the material world. Make a spiritual base and build your material world on it. 

- When one surrenders to a true Guru, it is the Guru who takes all the burdens on his own shoulders. In both the story and the sub story - We see how defeat and calamities cannot touch the one who is shielded and guided by the pure pious Guru.

Don’t be a witness to wrong, stand up and act, even if it means you are standing alone.

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” (Albert Einstein)

6. Prthu declines all Prasie

‘ Who would have himself extolled for the qualities which are non-existent in him, even though he maybe able to manifest remarkable virtues in himself. Why would one get oneself praised on mere possibilities. 

A noble-minded person shrinks from their own praise even when they are appraised for the qualities confirmed by conduct and known to all, just as those who are truly modest and supremely generous do not appreciate sincere praise for any show of velour.’

Note: Praises just feed the ego and the one who is wise never allow them to be a cause of his downfall.

7. Prthu and Prithvi - The calf and the cow 

Mother Earth - ‘I noticed that that my resources were being used and enjoyed by those who were unrighteous. 

I therefore absorbed all into my own blossom, finding myself unprotected and uncared for by your predecessors and that a generation of the thievish people flourished on earth. 

I meant to preserve them for the righteous.’

The nature is alive, knows and reacts. 

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”

—John Paul II

Note: 

There is a great difference between a person who does ‘Upyoga’ and how is merely into ‘Upbhog’.

“The earth provides enough to satisfy everyman’s need, and not every man’s greed.”

“One of the first condition of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” Leo Tolstoy

8. Prthu - When Hari himself Manifests 

We started book 4 to understand four aspects;

- Dharma

- Artha

- Kaam

- Moksha

The story of Dakhsa showed us what true Dharma is, with the story of Dhurv we understood what Artha is. In this story of Prthu, we see what kaam means. 

Prthu was a result of search of Satva, his desires were satvik and desired to make this world a better place and gain complete control over his Indriyas.

However, but even a satvik desire can threaten the ultimate purpose of the entire exercise, that is discovering the divine. On being stopped at the right time, by the right gurus. He gave up even the satvik desire that he nurtured.

 When all desires are dropped be it good or bad and one accepts what is, the way it is, he has freed himself from the bongdage of Kaam. It is than that Shri Hari manifests himself, when Shri Hari manifests, everything (Indra) surrenders to the one who has surrendered.

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Sages to Prthu and a deep message to us all 

‘A ray of Lord Vishu, you have now appeared on this earth from the body of Vena in order to preserve the religious faith of the people, in the form of various scriptures that had been undermined by his misdeeds. 

Therefore, considering true welfare of the people, fulfil the desire so the pious souls of this world, who have fondly cherished the hope that Lord himself will manifest in your person and bring salvation to the world and foil the conjuring tricks employed by Indra in the shape of the terrible path of pseudo-religion which gives rise to a number of false creeds.’

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏