Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 31 - The Grace of God

[Guest guest]

 

    

Chapter 31The Grace of God

 

Satharupa and Manu together approached the Lord of Creation and inquired what

they had to fulfill. Brahma replied with a smile, "Be mates of each other;

beget and people the Earth." Equipped with the authority derived from this

command, they filled the earth with people, said the sage Suka, to the King.

(See also Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2, Chapter 8: Questions by King Parikchit)

At this the King interceded: "Master! I have learnt from my own experience that

the origin of all grief in this world is Infatuation or Moha. I have no desire

to hear about these matters; please relate to me how to overcome infatuation,

delusion and attachment. In these last days, what exactly has man to do? Which

Name has he to keep constantly in mind so that he can avoid for ever this round

of birth and death? Tell me these things," he asked.

Suka was very much delighted, at this query. He replied, "0 King! you are a

spiritual soul. You serve sages with devotion. This large gathering of monks,

ascetics and sages is proof of your meritorious acts. For, these do not usually

congregate in any place." The King interrupted him, with his protests. "No, no,

my Lord! I am a great sinner; I have no trace of spiritual progress in me. If I

had the least merit, if I had served sages devotedly, I would not have become

the target for the curse of the Brahmin. The fortune that I now enjoy, namely,

the company of these great sages and the chance of adoring your feet, is the

consequence of the meritorious acts of my forefathers. I know fully well that

my activities have not contributed anything to it. The grace that Syamasundara

(Krishna) showered on my grandparents is the cause. Had it been otherwise, can

persons like me who are sunk in the well of Samsar, immersed in the vain

pursuit of sensory pleasure, who do not

contemplate for a moment the True, the Eternal and the Pure - can we ever hope

to see before us, in concrete form your presence, ever roaming in the silences

of the forests, unknown to man? Really, this is an unattainable piece of good

fortune. All this is due to the blessings of my grand-parents, and the Grace of

Syamsundara (Krishna), not to anything else. You are full of affection for me

and so, you attribute this to my own merit. I am only too aware of my failings.

Kindly continue to shower on me the same affection, and help me to decide what

has to be given up by a person whose death is imminent, what has to be adopted

and practiced by him. Advise me this and make my days worth while. You alone

can solve this for me. Relate to me the Bhagavatha, as you said you would. You

told me that it is the basis for progress and for liberation; it will destroy

sins; it will result in prosperity. Let me quaff the sacred nectar of the Name

of Krishna and refresh myself, in this feverish heat, he pleaded.

Suka smiled at the King and said, "The Bhagavatha is as worthy of reverence as

the Vedas, as worthy of study and observance. At the end of the Dwapara age, on

the Gandhamadana mountain, in the hermitage of my father Vyasa, I had listened

to that sacred text. I shall repeat the same to you. Listen." At this, the King

inquired, with his palms held together in prayer, "0 Incomparable Sage! I have

heard that you were an ascetic deep in detachment from the very moment of

birth. Even without the traditional ceremonial rites which purify and clarify

the intellect, (such as Jathakarma, Namakarana, and Upanayana) you had won the

fullest awareness of the Reality, and hence, I have heard you were moving about

in the consciousness of that Truth, away from men, in the forests. Hence, I am

surprised that your heart was drawn towards this text, which, you say, is

saturated with devotion. What caused your interest in this path? I pray that

you describe the circumstances to

me."

Suka started explaining with a calm unruffled countenance. "Yes. I am beyond

prescriptions and prohibitions. I am in unbroken mergence in the attributeless

Nirguna Brahma. That is the truth about me. Nevertheless, I must declare, that

there is an inexpressible sweetness in God that attracts you and captivates you

by His Sportive Activities and Attributes. I must confess also that I have

listened to the description of the beauty and the sweetness of God. My mind

delighted in hearing and reading the Glories of God, manifesting His Divine

attributes, through each of these. I could not remain at peace; I exulted like

a mad man, thrilled by the bliss I derived from listening and reading. His

sweet pranks and sports intoxicated me with infinite joy. This day I came

hither, since I became aware that a chance has arisen to relate them to a group

of eager listeners, persons who, in all respects, deserve to hear them, and

understand their significance. Therefore, I shall

relate that sacred Bhagavatha to you and through you, to the personages gathered

here. You have the avidity and the attainment necessary to listen to it. You

have resolved to achieve the Highest Goal of Man.

Those who listen to this narrative with earnest devotion, (not merely listen)

and reflect upon its value and significance and act according to the Light it

sheds on their minds, such will merge in the Bliss of which Vasudeva, the Lord,

is the embodiment. Their hearts will be filled with the sweet nectar of the

Personification of Captivating Charm (Madanamohana) and they will experience

the Adwaithananda, the Bliss of being One and Only. The highest Sadhana is the

recitation of the Name of God with full vigilance of thought, feeling and

utterance (Manovaak-kaaya) and the loud singing of His Glory. No better Sadhana

exists.

The Grace of God

O King, do not lose yourselves in anxiety that time is short. Not much time is

needed to win the Grace of God. The rays of Grace from that Embodiment of

Compassion can fall on you as quick as the wink of the eye. I shall enable you

to listen during these seven days, the stories of many who experienced

spiritual bliss, how Vasudeva blessed them with spiritual progress, how persons

crossed the Ocean of Birth and Death through the hearing of such stories and the

singing of the Glory of God that is manifest in them. We shall not waste a

single moment. You are conscious that you have only seven more days of life.

Therefore, give up all sense of 'mine' and 'thine', of the body in which you

live and the home in which the body lives. Be aware only of the story of

Madhava, The Lord of the Universe; drink the nectarine narratives of the

Incarnations of the Lord. It is quite a common occurrence that stories are told

and heard by gatherings of thousands. But, Jnana can be

achieved only by placing complete faith in what is heard. That faith must result

in a cleansed mind, a pure heart.

One further point, O King! There are countless exponents who go about

discoursing on morals and spiritual matters on the basis of mere study; they do

not have an iota of experience of what they preach. They have no faith in the

authenticity of the various Manifestations of Divine Glory which they dilate

upon. Such exhortation is as ineffective as offerings of ghee, made, not in

flames but on a cold heap of ashes. It will not cure the mind of faults and

failures.

In your case, there is no fear of such ineffectiveness, Your heart is immersed

in the uninterrupted flood of Love for Shyamasundara (Krishna). Whoever listens

to this narrative and imbibes the nectar of this story with a heart, bubbling

over with Divine yearning, unshakeable faith in God, and constant joy can

attain the realization of the Self. This is beyond the realm of doubt. 0 King!

This occasion, this text and this listener are all quite appropriate and

excellent.

Saying, "0, how fortunate you are!", the sage Suka placed his hand on the head

of the King in benediction; he caressed the thick curls of his hair. The King

pleaded most humbly, "Master, You know too well that I have very little time

before me." Therefore, he continued with folded palms, "give me highest

guidance, and I shall get myself established in it, all these seven days. Give

me the holy formula so that I can repeat it in the short time I have, and keep

it fresh in memory and save myself".

The sage laughed. "Parikshit! Those who are intent on sensory pleasures spend

their days in worry, in anxiety, in pain, grief and tears throughout a long

period of life, they breed like birds and beasts; they eat good food and cast

it away as urine and feaces. This is the purposeless life that most people

lead. Can you call this, the process of living? Enormous numbers of living

beings exist on the earth. Living is not enough; it has no value by itself, for

itself. It is the motives, the feelings, the thoughts, the attitudes that prompt

the day to day life that matters. If a person has divine qualities manifesting

themselves as thoughts, feelings, etc., then he is alive. Instead, if a person

defiles the holy encasement of his, (body) by utilizing it for unholy purposes

that cater to momentary happiness, thereby ignoring the All-knowing,

All-powerful Providence, it is to be condemned as a calculated denial of one's

humanity. Take the case of a person who has

fixed his mind on the Lotus Feet of the Lord (Hari); it does not matter if he is

short-lived. During that short period, he can make his life fruitful and

auspicious. 0 King, to remove your doubt, I shall tell you the beautiful story

of a Rajarshi. Listen.

In the Solar Dynasty, there was once a ruler who was mighty in prowess, heroic

on the field, prolific in charity, upright in character, and just in his

dealings. He was named Khatvanga. He had no equal, no one who could challenge

him. Meanwhile, the wicked Daityas and Danavas mustered their forces and went

to war against the Devas (gods); the gods were afraid of being overwhelmed;

they realized their weakness and came down to earth and sought help from King

Khatvanga. The king was also longing for the adventure of battle; so, he

collected his bow and arrows and riding his chariot, he proceeded to the scene

of war. There, he shook the hearts of the Daityas and Danavas by sheer terror

of his valour. The enemy fled in panic, unable to withstand the terrific

onslaught. Since it is immoral to subject a fleeing foe to hot pursuit,

Khatvanga desisted from further clashes.

The gods (Devas) were happy that they could achieve victory through the timely

help of Khatvanga. They praised his might and his sense of righteousness. "0

King, there is no one who can compare with you, in contemporary history. You

granted us triumph in this deadly struggle against the forces of evil. We

desire that you should accept from us in return any help that you need that we

can render." The King told them, "Ye gods! Yajnas and Yagas are performed by

men to please you, isn't it? This battle in which I had the privilege to

participate is therefore a Yajna, so far as I am concerned. What else do I need

from you than this Grace that you have showered on me? This is adequate boon."

Declaring thus, he fell at the feet of the gods.

Not satisfied with this reply, the gods compelled him to ask for something, some

boon from them. Though he had no mind to ask anything, he was forced to frame

some wish, since he felt he would not be left alone. At last, he said, "Ye

gods! Reveal to me how many years more I shall live. Only then can I decide

which boon I can ask from you." Purandara (Indra), the monarch of the gods is

all-knowing and so, without a moment's delay, he replied, "0 King, your span of

life is very nearly over. You can live only for one more Muhurtha (a period of a

few minutes [about an hour, edit.])." [Muhurta: see also Srimad Bhagavatam,

Canto 3, chapter 11, verse 8] On hearing this, Khatvanga said, I have nothing

to ask. I do not need anything. I feel that all the pleasures of this world and

the next are trifles to be discarded. I shall not enter again the slush of

sensory pleasure. Give me the boon of attaining the Sublime Presence of the

Lord, from which there is no return, for which all life is dedicated." Then, he

sat with closed eyes repeating the Name of God and, at the end of the Muhurtha

he achieved the Lotus Feet of Hari (God)!

(See also Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 11: Division of time expanding from the atom)

"Note how in a few moments, he cast off from the mind all attachment to

objective pleasure! Khatvanga was thus able to reach the Feet of the Lord,

where fear dare not approach. You have seven days, while he had a few minutes

only. Therefore, you have no reason to be anxious. During these days, purify

your inner consciousness by attentively listening to the best and holiest

narrative of the manifestation of God."

At this, Parikshith shed tears of joy, remembering the supreme benediction, won

by the great devotee, Khatvanga. He exclaimed, Master! Instruct, me what I must

do now; I do not get words to express my yearning. My heart is overflowing with

bliss." He sat in petrified silence.

Suka advised, "0 King, equip yourself with the sword of detachment. Cut into

pieces the deluded affection for the body. Give up the 'myness' that makes you

cling to your kith and kin. Be seated firmly on the bank of this sacred river."

Then, when Suka was about to begin his narrative, Parikshith appeared anxious to

ask some question. Seeing this, Suka said, "You seem to be perplexed with

something. Ask me what you wish to know and have that doubt removed from your

mind." Immediately, the King said, "Master! You are indeed an Ocean of

Compassion. As a tasty meal to a starving person, your words bring cool comfort

to my burning heart. Revered Preceptor, you had spoken to me a short while ago

about the beginnings of Creation. I did not understand it clearly. Why did the

Attributeless Parabrahmam (Formless-Immanence-Transcendence) assume Form and

Attributes? Tell me about that." The King sat with expectant face, all

attention, and praying sincerely, eager to hear

and learn.

Bhajan: Vibhavari Sesa

Contents of this Vahini

Source: http://www.vahini.org/bhagavata/chapter31.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!