Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Eleventh Session

Bhagavata Tritiya Skanda (Book Three)

Chapter 1 to 5

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Shaunakji and Pariksit said;

Vidhur who was the foremost of the Lord’s devotees left his kith and kin, so difficult to part with and travelled on foot to all the sacred places on the earth’s surface.

Pariksit said;

Where did Vidhurji’s meeting with the worshipful Maitreya take place and when did he have a talk with him? Kindly, tell me all this, my Lord. Surely the question which the pure hearted Vidhur asked of the noblest sage Maitreya could not have been of small consequence.

Vidhurji asked Maitreya

People perform actions with the sake of happiness; but they neither attain happiness nor succeed in ending sorrow thereby. On the other hand, they undergo suffering again and again as a result of those acts. What is advisable under those circumstances?

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Story

Sutadev Goswami is answering question of Shaunka at Naimisharanya. He is telling them how Pariksit had asked the same set of questions, and what Sukhdevji Muni had said. Both Sukhdevji and Sutadevji go on to tell about Vidhurji who had asked the same questions to Maitreya muni, and what was the knowledge imparted in return.

Vidhurji the half brother of Pandu and Drithrashthra. He was Dharm personified. Not only this, he was one of the finest warriors, won’t be wrong to say that, had he fought for the Kaurava’s it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible for the Pandavas to win.

It just so happened that, on seeing all the wrong being done by Duryodhan and Drithrasthra. He spoke up and even today the counsel given by Vidhur, is known as ‘Vidhurniti’. But, instead of being appreciated, he got rebuked, such pungent words were showered on him by Duryodhan in the presence of his brother and all the other members, that he decided to just leave all this. 

He got up, left his bow and arrow at the doorsteps of Drithrasthra’s palace, assuring him the he will not fight in favour of anyone, he went aways on a pilgrimage. 

After travelling, he came across Uddhavji at the bank of the ‘Yamuna’ river. When two devotees meet, they talk about God, and tears of love fall from the eyes. Virdhurji asked about the Krishna, his family and Yadavas. He was shocked to hear that the Lord had departed and Yadava clan wiped out. The Yadavas, never realised the divine nature of Krishna and hardly took any of his quality, they fought amongst themselves and perished. 

Vidhurji, could think of the time when, Krishna had rejected the hospitality and luxury offered by Duryodhana and had knocked on Vidhurji’s house telling him that he was hungry, had the simple food offered and lived in his simple house. 

Uddhavji went into a trance, all he could remember was Krishna. Then he started narrating the stories of Krishna, various Leelas, from the time he was a baby till the time he left. Uddhavji told him, how Krishna departed, at the bank of River Saraswati.

Krishna remembered Vidhurji, before leaving his mortal body. He also gave them (Maitreya muni and Uddhavji) the knowledge of Bhagavat, the same bhagavat which he had imparted to Brahma. He further instructed Uddhavji to go to Bhadrikashram where Nara and Narayana were doing a kalp long tapasya. He requested Maitreya Muni, to impart the Bhagavata to Vidhurji

Conveying this message, Uddhavji, left for Bhadrikashram, and Vidhurji on his search for Sage Maitreya. Vidhurji met the Sage in Haridwar at the bank of river Ganga. He did his naman and put forth many questions, the first being;

“People perform actions for the sake of happiness; but they neither attain happiness nor succeed in ending sorrow there by. On the other hand, they undergo suffering again and again as a result of those acts. What is advisable under those circumstances?”

Points to Ponder

Saral Vyakti ki Pehchan

A person who is down to earth, never knows his own humble nature. This one things ‘I am.. so good, so humble, so nice.’ The essence of being ‘Saral’ has not yet been accomplished, till ‘I am’ exits. The one who is, never realises that he is.

Depth of the questions

Pariksit is keen to know what Vidhurji asked. The depth of the person determines the depth of the questions. Here, we are talking about a devotee, who Krishna specifically remembered before leaving his mortal body. He knocked on his door, saying I am hungry, and I want to live in your house. 

For us to remember God, should be normal activity

But, for God to remember us, is it not beautiful

For us to miss God, should be normal emotion

But, just imagine the glory of the person whom God, himself keeps in his memory and heart. 

So, if Vidhurji, who is one of the greatest devotees, has to ask, he would certainly ask question for the greater good of the masses and deeper understanding of even the lowest common denomination. What he will ask, will have the capacity to enlighten not only the capable, but also the ones with dim witted.

Krishna - The Wave which realised he was the Ocean

When we here that Krishna saying he imparted the knowledge to Brahma, we can feel that he is the Supreme One. But, the one who has realised the Self, is not different from that. As we say;

- Tat Tvam Ashi

- Aham Brahmasmi

To understand the essence of Bhagavatam, we have to try and keep the concept of ‘One’ in mind. 

Krishna’s divinity unknown to the Yadava

To understand this, let us consider a Diamond, ‘Parakhi’ a person who knows how to assess the quality of the diamond will be able to identify the value. For the masses, to distinguish, a real diamond from an artificial one is difficult. 

In the same way, you have to know, to identify. It is only one Saint who is able to identify another. It is only the divine who can understand and appreciate divinity. 

The first Question - Happiness

There is a beautiful saying ‘Pani mai rain payasi’, where they are talking about the fish which is thirsty even when in water. Another example that comes here is the ‘Kasturi Mrig’, the Kasturi deer, which spends all his life running around looking for the Kasturi (the beautiful smell) which is in him. The Mrig is so much like us, seeking happiness outside, in the material world.

We need to ask ourselves;

- Does the world not exit in two halves, one which gives us happiness and we like and the other which does not and we dislike? 

- The one who pamper our ego give us happiness, and the other who hurt our ego give us sorrow. But, if it is the ego, which is hurt, why am I so worried? It is between them and the ego, and not me.

- Where is our Locus of control - External or Internal? Have we given others/things the key to our happiness?

- Where are we seeking happiness?

- What are we seeking happiness in?

- Is that which we seek happiness in permanent or temporary?

- Won’t temporary things give use only temporary happiness?

- Won’t things which are perishable only give us perishable happiness?

- Can one actually seek happiness outside?

- Is happiness not an inside thing?

Are we not all SatChitAnand Swaroop- If we are bliss, Anand, then why are we not looking for the self in our quest for happiness? 

If I am ‘That’, how do I know? 

How should one live, to be able to discover this real happiness.

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There was ones an architect, and a fine one indeed. He worked for an amazing person. One day after years of service, the architect desired to retire and shared this with the Boss. The boss requested the architect to build one last house, and asked him to build it as the architect wished, he gave him no budgets or limits.

The architect unwilling took up the offer and half heartedly built the house. On completion he went to hand over the keys to the boss. The boss gave back the keys saying this house was for him.

The architect was surprised by this kind gesture, but felt terribly sorry at the same time. Had he known this house was for him, he would have done so much differently and whole heartedly .

Knowing that you are building a house today that you would have to live in later. 

What kind of a house would you build? 

What kind of a life would you live?

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman🙏