Glory of Third Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita

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GLORY OF THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA

 

THE STORY OF JADA AND CHAITANYA

 

Jada was born in a family of priests. But he was interested in

amassing wealth. He earned wealth through all sorts of wicked

manners. He became cruel and arrogant because of his huge wealth.

Soon he started spending his money on wine and women. He soon became

the most hated man in the town. One night, his entire riches were

stolen.

 

After some time, he landed in the streets after being deprived of

even a single penny. Even his day to day survival became difficult.

To earn money for his livelihood, he started stealing. He could not

hide himself from the society for too long, one day he was caught red

handed while stealing. The people of the town tied him to a tree and

beat him black and blue. Insulted and humiliated he tried to escape

to the neighboring village with his remaining money.

 

He had to pass through a forest and it became night. Since he was

afraid to walk further in the midst of wild animals, he decided to

spend the night under a big tree. Just about when he was to sleep, he

was surrounded by a band of robbers, who threatened him to part with

his money. He started quarelling with them. In the course of the

arguments he was stabbed by a robber and he died under the tree. The

robbers took possession of all his money and left the corpse there.

 

Jada wandered in the forest as a ghost unable to reach the realms of

the other world because of his misdeeds and karma.

 

A few merchants who happened to pass through the forest next day saw

his corpse and recognized him. They soon informed Jada's son,

Chaitanya who was away in his gurukula and was just back home . On

hearing about his father's death Chaitanya was overwhelmed with

grief. He performed the last rites of his father. He discussed with

other elderly persons in the village and decided that he should go to

Kasi ,take a dip in Holy Ganges, have darsan of lord Viswanatha, and

perform Gaya Shraddha for the moksha of the soul of his father who

had died a miserable death.

 

Soon Chaitanya embarked on the journey towards Kasi with his friends.

He had to pass through the forest where his father died and by the

choice of destiny came to the tree where his father died. Since it

was night, he and his friends decided to rest there. After performing

the Sandhya Vandana and having food, everybody rested their heads in

the shade of the big tree. Chaitanya decided to do the parayana of

the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita , which he used to do

regularly. He started reading the third chapter and as soon as he

completed it, he heard a thundering noise.

 

Everybody jumped and were at their feet, when they saw a divya vimana

before them. Chaitanya was startled to see his father seated in the

divya vimana wearing yellow silk and a vanamala with a radiant smile

in his face.

 

Chaitanya could not believe his eyes for a moment.

 

" Son, you need not go to Kasi or perform Gaya Shraddha "

 

Chaitanya uttered – " I am unable to understand anything , my dear

father "

 

Jada told Chaitanya sitting in the Vimana – " I was a Ghost wandering

in this forest after being killed by the robbers. I could not get

liberated because of my misdeeds. After hearing you reciting the

third chapter of Gita, I was liberated at once and messengers of

Lord Vishnu have come here to take me to Vaikunta. It is all because

of the greatness of the Bhagavad Gita "

 

Chaitanya spake – " Father , I am overjoyed seeing you going to

Vaikunta, is there anything left out which I should do "

 

" Yes my son, some of my ancestors and brothers are in hell. You have

to liberate them. Since it is not possible for you to go and read

Gita in the hell and liberate them , you should go to the Lord

Srikrishna temple in our village and read the third chapter of the

Gita. Everyday after reading the third Chapter , pray that I am

offering the benefits of this reading to my ancestors and surrender

everything at the lotus feet of lord Krishna. Do this for seven days

and everybody will be liberated and reach Vishnupada. "

 

" My beloved father, I'll certainly do it "

 

" Son, I am leaving, our lineage will become soon pure because of you.

Continue reading the Gita and it'll bring all glory to your sons and

our heritage "

 

Chaitanya returned to his village. He read the Gita for seven days in

the temple of Lord Srikrishna. All his ancestors reached the lotus

feet of the Lord one by one. Such is the greatness of the third

chapter of the Gita.

 

Hare Krishna