Bhagavada Vahini - Chapter 32

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Bhagavada Vahini by Sathya Sai Baba

 

Chapter 32

Puranas and Incarnations

 

 

 

The sage Suka adjusted himself in his seat and began: " The Supreme

Sovereign Lord manifesting Himself as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara,

through the prompting of Primal Desire (Moha) is engaged in creating,

fostering and destroying the worlds. In what is thus created, there is

always the principle of Dualism. There is difference and disparity

between one and another. If these differences and disparities are

harmonized wisely, the world will have happiness and peace. If, on the

other hand, living beings behave wrongly, the world will be sunk in

anxiety, misery, and confusion. When these arise, the Lord assumes

appropriate Forms and affords necessary protection and correction. He

sets right the damaged world, removes the evil forces that caused the

damage, and instructs mankind in the science of fostering the right

and the good.

 

It is not possible to limit the freedom of God in assuming Forms. He

adopts endless Forms, to manifest Himself in the World and saves it.

His incarnation is in conformity with the need of the crisis at the

time. When the Earth moaned under the injustice of Hiranyaksha, He

had to appear as a Boar, taking Form and equipped with attributes,

though, in essence, He is without Form and Attribute. The will of

God is mysterious; it cannot be explained by categories or as

consequences. It is above and beyond human reasoning and imagination.

It can be comprehended only by those who have known Him, and not by

those who have acquired scholarship or sharp intellect. The cause and

the consequence are integrally related.

 

One day, when Brahma was resting for a while on His seat, there fell

from His nose a boar as small as one's thumb-tip! Brahma who had

assumed in sportive exuberance the Human form, knew the why and

wherefore of everything; but, He pretended not to, and looked upon

the tiny boar with astonishment. Meanwhile, it developed faster and

faster into greater and greater size, like a frog, rat, and a cat,

and into the proportions of a monstrous elephant in rut. Brahma was

smiling within Himself at its antics. Very soon, the Boar grew so

huge that it seemed to cover both earth and sky; it slid into the sea

and emerged from it with Goddess Earth (who had hidden herself under

the waters through humiliation) borne aloft safe and secure, on its

tusks.

 

Meanwhile, a cry was heard from behind, " You wretched swine! Where are

you fleeing to? Stop where you are. " The Boar paid no heed to that

cry; He moved on, as if He had not heard it. Then, Hiranyaksha, the

Evil-minded Ogre-chief confronted It like a terrible monster, and

challenged It to overcome his might. A mortal combat ensued between

the two. Witnessing the frightful thrusts and counter thrusts,

Goddess Earth shivered in fear but, the Boar consoled Her saying, " 0

Goddess, do not be frightened. I shall end this orge's life

immediately. I shall ensure safety and peace for you, in a moment. "

Soon, the Boar became terrible to behold, the Goddess was greatly

agitated about the encounter; the Boar fell upon Hiranyâksha with

overwhelming might and the Goddess closed Her eyes in sheer terror,

unable to bear the sight of the devastating Form of the Boar. The

duel was fought with indescribable fury, but, in the end, Hiranyâksha

was torn to pieces and cast upon the ground.

 

Thus, the Lord assumed various Forms according to the needs of the

situation, the Forms best suited for the destruction of the wicked

Danavas (the Race of Evil-minded Ogres), and for the protection of the

good and godly, and the preservation of the Scriptures that reveal the

Truth, the Vedas. In this manner, the Lord incarnated as the Fish, the

Tortoise, the Man-lion, and the Short-statured (Matsya, Kurma,

Narasimha, and Vamana). Of all the Incarnations, the supremest and

the most blissful is the Krishna-form. Still, you must realize that

the chief purpose of all incarnations is the preservation of Dharma

(Justice, Righteousness, Morality, Virtue).

 

He who instructs must gauge the qualifications of the learner to

receive the lesson. It will be vain effort, to try to communicate the

highest knowledge to a person belonging to the lowest level. For, he

cannot comprehend it. So too, if the instructions that have to be

given to the lower levels are given to those of the higher levels,

they will derive no satisfaction from that teaching. To make this

clear, I shall tell you about a discussion that ensued once between

Brahma and Nârada. Listen, carefully. " Suka began to narrate the

story of Nârada.

 

Brahma once addressed Nârada, " 0 My Mind-projected Son! Creation is

My task, the way, in which I fulfil My Mission, My Thapas. I will, and

Creation happens. But, I lay down certain rules and modes for each

species and, if they are properly adhered to, the Wheel will turn

aright in Dharma. Instead, if the modes and rules are neglected and

they toil for the satisfaction of their own wishes, along crooked and

misleading paths, they will have to suffer various miseries.

 

Day and Night are willed by Me; The Rulers of Living Beings are parts

of Me. The urge that people have to increase and multiply is the

reflection of My Will. Sometimes, when the created world has to be

sustained, I myself assume Name and Form and initiate Manvantharas

(The Eras of Manu), and provide the Earth with appropriate Divine

Personalities and Sages, who set examples to be followed and indicate

the paths for progress.

 

I end also the unlimited increase of beings, when it happens. For

this, I take on the Form of Rudra too. I create the bad, in order to

high-light and promote the good; and in order to protect the good, I

set certain limits, both to the good and the bad, for, they would

otherwise, stray into wrong ways and inflict great harm.

 

I am immanent in every being. People forget Me, who is within and

without them; I am the inner core of every being, but, they are not

aware of this. So, they are tempted to believe the objective world to

be real and true, and they pursue objective pleasures, and fall into

grief and pain. On the other hand, if they concentrate all attention

on Me alone, believing that the Lord has willed everything and

everyone, I bless them and reveal to them the Truth that they are I

and I am they. Thousands have been blessed thus. They are the

seekers, the aspirants, the Mahatmas, the Sages, the Divinely

Inspired, the Manifestations of the Divine, the Guides who show the

Path. They have acquired the experience that Truth is Dharma.

 

I shall tell you about some of them, listen. Sagara, Ikshvaku,

Prachinabarhi, Rubhu, Dhruva, Raghumaharaj, Yayathi, Mandhatha,

Alarka, Sathadhanva, Dileepa, Khali, Bheeshma, Sibi, Pippalada,

Saraswatha, Vibhishana, Hanuman, Muchukunda, Janaka, Satharupa,

Prahlada, and many Rajarshis, Brahmarshis. Princes, Nobles - who can

be grouped under one category, the Godly (Bhagavathas). They all

yearn for the chance to listen to the glories of God. They have all

been blessed, irrespective of cast, age, status, or sex; they have

among them women, Brahmins, Sudras and Chandalas.

 

I am the Cause of all Causes. I am Eternal. I am Sath-Chith- Ananda (I

am Existence, Knowledge, Bliss). I am Hari and Hara, too; for, I

transform Myself into these Manifestations as occasion arises.

Creation, the Universe, is but the projection of My Will; it has no

basic reality. My son, I declared this truth to you, as a result of

My deep love towards you. Others will not be able to grasp the

mystery of this Creation. What I have just revealed to you is known

as concise Bhagavatha.

 

Bhagavatha connotes three sections of knowledge: (1) The Glory and

Majesty of the Incarnations of God, (2) The Names of those who are

fully devoted to God and (3) The intimate relationship between God

and the Godly. Where these three are found together, there we have the

Bhagavatha. All that is visible is not beyond or outside God.

Therefore,to put it succinctly, everything is Bhagavatha! Everything

is worthy of being honoured so.

 

While Brahma was thus teaching Nârada, with great joy, Nârada

interrogated Him, in amazement and anxious yearning, thus: " Lord! As

directed by you, I am engaged without intermission in singing the

glory of God and enabling the world to derive bliss therefrom. But,

this insidious and powerful Maya (Delusion) may over-power me any

moment, plunge me into wrong, and create obstacles in the path of my

mission. Is there any measure by which I can escape this calamity?

Kindly instruct me in that and show me this additional sign of your

parental affection. "

 

Brahma laughed at this question. He replied, " Son! Your words seem

childish. The clouds of Delusion (Maya) cannot darken the inner

consciousness of those who revel in the glory and majesty of God,

those who know and make known that God is the Master of Maya, the

Wielder of the Operative Forces that both delude and destroy

delusion, those who are engaged in good deeds executed with faith and

devotion, and those who endeavour ever to maintain Truth and

Righteousness. Therefore, move fearlessly all over the three worlds

with the Veena [indian string instrument] in your hands, singing in

adoration of God. Listening to the recital and elaboration of the

mystery of God and the Godly, the inhabitants of the Worlds will save

themselves from the cycle of birth and death.

 

Karma (activity and deeds resulting therefrom) are binding, because

they have consequences that must be suffered or enjoyed. But, deeds of

service, are free from this handicap. Be ever fixed in the thought of

God; there is no other means than this to turn the mind away from

sensory pursuits and objective activities. "

 

Suka told the King, " 0 Parikshith! Since this supreme wisdom cannot be

communicated to all except those who have reached a high level of

purity and understanding, Brahma taught only Nârada. And Nârada too,

continued as advised, to sing and adore God through his songs the Lord

who is immanent as well as transcendent. He did not ignore or discard

the teaching that Brahma favoured him with. You too are qualified to

receive this sacred lesson; that is the reason why, I, who am

inaccessible, have spontaneously come direct to you, to describe to

you the Bhagavatha. I am no ordinary minstrel. I never approach a

person who has not earned the right to listen to me. Imagine the

height that Nârada must have reached, to acquire the qualification

needed for instruction in the attributes of the Attributeless God! "

 

The Bhagavatha Path

 

When Suka was thus gravely assessing him, Parikshith interceded,

" Master! The Ancient Four-faced Sovereign Brahma directed Nârada to

sing the Bhagavatha, you said. To whom did Nârada narrate the same?

Who are those highly favoured personages? Tell me about them in

detail. " Suka replied, " 0 King, why do you yield to hurry? Be

courageous and controlled. I shall relate to you everything in its

own time. Be calm and collected. "

 

The King explained, " Master! Pardon me. I am not excited at all. I am

only yearning to fix my mind at the last moment of my life on the

charming smile that dances on the lips of Lord Krishna, to drink deep,

at that moment, the nectar of the Lotus Feet of the Lord. I have no

other desire. If I am unable to establish in my mind the captivating

picture of the Lord at the moment of death, I will have to be born

again as one of the 84,000 [8.400.000 according to the Srîmad

Bhâgavatam, edit.] species of living beings, isn't it? Since that

calamity should not happen and since I must remember with my last

breath, the Dispenser of Life-breath, make my life worthwhile by

relating to me the Divine characteristics and the Divine activities of

the Lord. "

 

Suka laughed at this. He said, " King! How can the mind be established

at the Lotus Feet of the Lord, if the ears listen to the

characteristics and activities of the Lord? What is your opinion on

this point? Tell me. " Parikshith said, " Master! I believe that there

is no distinction between God, His name and His Attributes; is that

correct? When the story of the Lord is narrated and listened to, the

Name of the Lord and the attributes enter the heart, through the ears

and disperse the darkness of ignorance, isn't it? When the lion

enters the forest, the timid jackals flee with their tails between

their legs, don't they? The sincere listener will certainly fix his

mind on what he heard through the ear. While listening rapturously to

the ravishing attributes of the Lord with the captivating smile, the

mind will be so attached to the sweetness derived thereby that it can

no more be attracted by low and vulgar objects, isn't it? The ear and

the mind will both act in unison, then. That alone will yield Ananda. "

 

The King was thus enthusiastically extolling the benefits of listening

intently to the activities and majesty of the Lord. Suka interrupted

his exultation and said, " 0 King! The mind has inconstancy as its very

nature. How can it give up its nature and attach itself to the feet of

the Lord? Is it not an impossible feat? " Suka was attempting to gauge

the feelings that filled the mind of Parikshith. Parikshith smiled and

replied, " Master! I shall answer, if you kindly permit me, and direct

me to do so. The bee will hover around the flower, humming and

droning,until it settles down to drink the nectar from it. Once it

has entered the flower and tasted the nectar, it will hover, hum and

drone no more. It will have no extraneous thought, to disturb its

bliss. It will become so intoxicated with the bliss that it will not

heed its own safety; for, when the petals close and the flower folds,

it allows itself to be imprisoned inside it. Similarly, when once the

mind settles on the Lotus Feet of that embodiment of Beauty and

Goodness it can never more crave for anything except the Nectar of

the Lotus Feet. "