The Glories of Lord Shiva

[Guest guest]

The following section reads from the 13th book of the Mahabharata which is very important!! Here Yudhishthira is asking Bhishma Pitamah about Lord Shiva. While Krishna stands near and listens. Bhishma tells the following and then requests Krsna to tell Yudhisthira about Lord Shiva. Later Krsna elaborately describes Yudhishthira of his devotion and penances that he performed for a thousand years to please lord Shiva. Please read the whole thing.

 

 

SECTION XIV

 

"Yudhishthira said, 'O son of the River Ganga, thou hast heard all the names of Maheshwara, the Lord of the universe. Do thou tell us, O grandsire, all the names that are applied, O puissant one, unto Him who is called Isa and Sambhu. Do thou tell us all those names that are applied unto Him who is called Vabhru or vast, Him that has the universe for his form, Him that is the illustrious preceptor of all the deities and the Asuras, that is called Swayambhu (self-creating) and that is the cause of the origin and dissolution of the universe. Do thou tell us also of the puissance of Mahadeva.'

 

"Bhishma said, 'I am quite incompetent to recite the virtues of Mahadeva of highest intelligence. He pervades all things in the universe and yet is not seen anywhere. He is the creator of universal self and the Pragna (knowing) self and he is their master. All the deities, from Brahman to the Pisachas, adore and worship him. He transcends both Prakriti and Purusha. It is of Him that Rishis, conversant with Yoga and possessing a knowledge of the tattwas, think and reflect. He is indestructible and Supreme Brahman. He is both existent and non-existent. Agitating both Prakriti and Purusha by means of His energy, He created therefrom the universal lord of creatures, viz., Brahma. Who is there that is competent to tell the virtues of that god of gods, that is endued with supreme Intelligence? Man is subject to conception (in the mother's womb), birth, decrepitude, and death. Being such, what man like me is competent to understand Bhava? Only Narayana, O son, that bearer of the discus and the mace, can comprehend Mahadeva. He is without deterioration. He is the foremost of all beings in attributes. He is Vishnu, because of his pervading the universe. He is irresistible. Endued with spiritual vision, He is possessed of supreme Energy. He sees all things with the eye of Yoga. It is in consequence of the devotion of the high-souled Krishna to the illustrious Rudra whom he gratified. O Bharata, in the retreat of Vadari, by penances, that he has succeeded in pervading the entire universe. O king of kings, it is through Maheswara of celestial vision that Vasudeva has obtained the attribute of universal agreeableness,--an agreeableness that is much greater than what is possessed by all articles included under the name of wealth. 1 For a full thousand years this Madhava underwent the austerest penances and at last succeeded in gratifying the illustrious and boon giving Siva, that Master of all the mobile and the immobile universe. In every new Yuga has Krishna (by such penances) gratified Mahadeva. In every Yuga has Mahadeva been gratified with the great devotion of the high-souled Krishna. How great is the puissance of the high-souled Mahadeva,--that original cause of the universe,--has been seen with his own eyes by Hari who himself transcends all deterioration, on the occasion of his penances in the retreat of Vadari undergone for obtaining a son. 2 I do not, O Bharata, behold any one that is superior to Mahadeva. To expound the names of that god of gods fully and without creating the desire of hearing more only Krishna is competent. This mighty-armed one of Yadu's race is alone competent to tell the attributes of the illustrious Siva. Verily, O king, only he is able to discourse on the puissance, in its entirety of the Supreme deity?'

[tackleberry 1]

technically, it's called asuramohana, meaning such passages are meant to delude the wicked. Krishna doesn't have to worship any devata, because he's Supreme.

[Avinash 0]

 

technically, it's called asuramohana, meaning such passages are meant to delude the wicked. Krishna doesn't have to worship any devata, because he's Supreme.

 

In the passage, Bhisma tells Arjuna that Krsna worshipped Lord Siva. I am sure you are not considering Yudhithira as wicked. (Let me know if I am wrong). So, obviously Bhisma was not trying to delude Yudhisthira. It seems you are saying that this talk between Bhisma and Yudhisthira never happened. But Ved Vyas wrote all these to delude a wicked person in case he happens to read the passage.

 

But this brings some questions:-

1. If Krsna is supreme, then why is it wrong to say this to wicked people?

2. If a passage is for deluding wicked people, then the content in the passage is not factually correct. But you do not consider entire Mahabharata as containing incorrect statements. This means that some passages in Mahabharata are for wicked people and some for good people. But on what basis does one determine which are for good and which are for bad? If a good person reads entire Mahabharata, then he will also read the passages for wicked people. Won't the good person get deluded? If an evil person reads the entire Mahabharata, then he will also read the passages meant for good people. But that thwarts the purpose of deluding him.

[tackleberry 1]

You've misunderstood. The passages which cause delusion to the asuras give immense joy to Devatas/Satvikas. The dialogue between Bhishma and Yudhistra was meant to give joy to devatas and delusion to asuras.

 

 

1. If Krsna is supreme, then why is it wrong to say this to wicked people?

 

Sadhana is determined by Swabhava, as per the Swabhava of asuras, they're haters of Vishnu, and their sadhana to attain liberation must proceed along those lines. Which is why, Vishnu allows sorrow, injustice and other negatives to exist in this world.

 

 

If a good person reads entire Mahabharata, then he will also read the passages for wicked people. Won't the good person get deluded?

 

As said earlier, his Swabhava will NOT let that happen, nor will Vishnu who always protects his devotees/devatas from delusion. And if at all the good person becomes deluded, that too may be important for his sadhana (in ways known only to Vishnu), which is why Vishnu permits it.

 

 

then he will also read the passages meant for good people. But that thwarts the purpose of deluding him.

 

Same reason as above. His Swabhava will not allow him to take the 'good', his nature will force him to utilize even the 'good' to hate Vishnu.