srimadbhagavatham-skandha1-chapter2continued(3)

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Jai Srimannarayana!

 

Then Sootha explains the progress of devotion. Bhagavan who is the Lord of the

good should be worshiped by sravana, keerthana, dhyana and pooja. Who will not

desire for the hearing of the story of Him, by persistent meditation on whom,

the wise cut off their knot of karma,

'yadhanudhya:sina: yuktha: karmabandha nibandhanam, cchindhanthi ko:vidha:h

thasya ko na kurya:th katha: rathim?'(SB-1-2-15)

 

This katha:rathi, love of His stories is the result of desire and faith in

sravana which, in its turn, is the result of the darsan of holy men by visiting

the holy places. Lord Krishna, hearing about and singing or talking about whom

is meritorious,who is the friend of the good, enters the heart of one who hears

about Him and destroys all bad impulses.'srnvatha:m svakatha:m krishnah

punyasravanakirthanah;hrdhyanthastho:hyabhadhra:ni vidhuno:thi

suhrtsatha:m.'(SB.1-2-17)

 

Bad va:sana:s are destroyed by nithya bha:gavatha se:va which leads to devotion

of Bhagava:n. Bhakthi when arises cleanses the mind of rajas and thamas and

establishes satthva. Thus when the mind becomes prasanna, equanimous with

bhagavathbhakthi, which removes attachment, the knowledge of the real nature of

bhagava:n, bhagavththatthvajnana arises by itself.

 

The upanishad says, 'bhidhyanthe: hrdhayagranthih cchidhyanthe: sarvasamsaya:h

ksheetanthe: asya karma:ni thasmin dhrste: para:vare:,all knots of the heart are

broken, all doubts are demolished and all karma is destroyed when one has the

darsan of the supreme self. 'This is the idea elaborated here. The prakrthi is

constituted of three gunas namely, satthva, rajas and thamas, and the supreme

purusha assumes the role of the creator, protector and annihilator manifesting

the three gunas, rajas, satthva and thamas respectively. Vasudeva represents the

supreme self above the trinity and He alone is the object of worship. It is

through the sa:tthvik manifestation of Vasudeva one attains salvation.

 

The bhagavatha purana declares that He is the highest goal.'va:sudhe:va para:

ve:dha:h va:sudhe:va para: makha:h va:sudhe:va para:yo:gavasudhe:va para:

kriya:h va:sudhe:va param jna:nam va:sudhe:va param thapahva:sudhe:va paro:

dharmo: va:sudhe:va para: gathih,'(SB.1-2-28.29) the vedas are about Vasudeva,

the sacrifices pertain to Vasudeva, The yogas are to attain Vasudeva, all

actions are offering to Vasudeva. The object of knowledge is Vasudeva, the one

who is pleased by austerities is Vasudeva, the goal of dharma is Vasudeva and

all paths are towards Vasudeva. He is the para:ka:shta: para:gathih. the

ultimate goal. Bhagavan is aguna, without guna ,that is, not affected by the

three gunas.'gune:shu gunavan iva anthah pravishtah na:na: bha:thi yatha: vahnih

dha:rushu,(SB.1-2-31) says Bhagavatha purana.

 

He entering inside all beings appears variegated as though He is connected with

the gunas as the fire in firewood which creates the appearance of existence in

the wood but actually not connected with it. Thus the first question is

answered. Then Sootha starts telling them about the leelavatha:ras of the Lord

in dhevamanushyathiryangyoni, as deva, manushya and animal forms.

 

Jai Srimannarayana!