Merit of listening to Bhagavan Krishna's glory

February 15, 2005

Pranam to all Vaishnavas,

The potency of Krishna’s Divine names which embody the infinite auspicious qualities of God is such that it is capable of transforming an individual totally. Even if a person does not show inclination to engage in devotional activities like listening to the exposition of the scriptural texts (Sravana) which describe the glory of Sri Krishna, if through merit earned in previous births he listens to such discourses he develops a taste for spiritual life and soon evolves into a great devotee of Bhagavan Krishna.

An incident is related about King Janamejaya, who succeeded Pareekshit, to illustrate this truth. As prophesied, Pareekshit died of the snake Takshaka's bite. Janamejaya was naturally enraged that his father had met with such fate and he performed a sacrifice to wipe out all snakes, especially Takshaka, but he was preempted from doing so, as the king of snakes had drunk the nectar which had made it immortal. So Janamejaya abandoned his idea of revenge but was nevertheless very unhappy.

Sage Vaisampayana happened to visit him once as he sat brooding. The sage had mastery of the scriptures and also was blessed with eloquence about which he was rather proud. He wanted to discourse on the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa with great elan but the king did not want to listen. After great persuasion that he should at least listen to one verse, the king agreed thinking that he would be able to dismiss him quickly. But the verse he related only made him curious to know what happened further which led to the sage relating the entire story of the Mahabharata by which time Janamejaya had become totally engrossed in the narration and had developed devotion.

He wanted the sage to expound all the texts that he knew and soon Vaisampayana was exhausted and also could not match the interest the king had developed after listening to Bhagavan Krishna’s exploits and inimitable traits. In the process it was Janamejaya who stood to gain for he had become a great devotee and the sage was also humbled. Immense is the benefit of Sravana because it elevates both the person who listens to the Lord's glory and the one who expounds it.

If the benefit of Sravana is so much one can imagine the exalted mood of devotion when the expositor was a sage like Suka who was always immersed in the bliss of spiritual experience and the listener was King Pareekshit, who had sought him to attain liberation within the seven days time he had at his disposal when he was cursed to die of Takshaka's bite.

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Sloka 9 ) :

mac-citta mad-gata-prana / bodhayantah parasparamkathayantas ca mam nityam / tusyanti ca ramanti ca(Those whose minds are absorbed in Me and whose lives are wholeheartedly devoted to My service, derive great satisfaction and bliss from constantly enlightening one another about My tattva and performing kirtana of My names, forms, qualities and pastimes.)

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA!!!

Krishna’s Dasi Jayamma.

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