The Greatness of the Bhagavata

Parvati said:

1-3. O Mahadeva, O god of gods, O omniscient one, O you giving all (kinds of) wealth, showing great compassion for me, tell me what I ask you. I heard the greatness of the GIta, containing many wonderful tales. Therefore, an eagerness to listen to the great account of Krishna has arisen in me. Among all the Puranas, Bhagavata is the best, in what by every word Krishna is sung in various ways by the sages. Now tell me its greatness properly and along with the historical accounts. The lord said:

Shaunaka, adept in tasting the sweetness of the nectar of a story, said to the highly intelligent Suta seated in the Naimisa (forest), after having saluted him: Shaunaka said:

5-10: Narrate (to us) the account of Shrimad Bhagavata which is an elixir, which destroys the darkness of ignorance and the sins of a crore of (past) existences, O Suta. How does discrimination rich with devotion, knowledge and detachment grow? How do Vishnu's devotees remove illusion and delusion? Here in this Kali-age a being has almost attained demonhood. What is the elixir to purify him who is overcome with affliction? Now tell (us) that which is the (highest) felicity of (all) felicities, which is the most purifying of (all) purifying objects, and which is the means to please Krishna. A preceptor who is pleased gives (to his disciple) the desire-yielding gem, happiness in the world, the Wealth of the position of the lord of gods, and also Vaikuntha, which is extremely difficult to obtain. Suta said:

11-21. O best brahmanas, I am pleased with you. (Therefore) I shall tell you that as I have heard it which is better than the best, which destroys the fear of the mundane existence, which increases devotion, which is the cause of pleasing Krishna. Listen attentively when I am telling it. In the Kali-age Krishna has told the holy text of Shrimad Bhagavata, which brings about the protection of the world which is held in the mouth of the tiger of Death. There is nothing superior to this that would purify the mind. It is obtained by good men by means of religious merit earned in many (previous) existences. Knowing the salvation of king Pariksit, the lotus-born one compared the holy texts and the great Puranas. Among them Shrimad Bhagavata came to be greater on the earth. The talk of Bhagavata is difficult to be had even by gods. Thinking like this many good, pure sages looked upon Shrimad Bhagavata as a form of lord (Vishnu). By reciting and listening to it a man goes to Vishnu's position. Listening to it for a year gives great happiness. O best brahmana, devotion to it for a month earns splendour. Listening to it for a week gives salvation at all times. O good one, what is the use of talking too much? The good men should everyday drink the nectar of Shrimad Bhagavata which records the sports of Krishna. Sanaka and others, full of compassion, formerly told it to Narada who had (already) heard it from Brahma. The manner of listening to it for a week (was also told). Shaunaka said:

22-23. Having obtained excellent knowledge called Shrimad Bhagavata from his father, Narada who knows the facts about the worlds, always roams over the earth. Where did Narada meet those noble ones from whom the divine sage heard the manner of listening to it for a week? Suta said:

24-26. About this I shall tell you an account full of devotion, which formerly kind Shukra told me. Once the sages Sanaka and others saw at (the bank of) Visala, Narada with his mind dejected. The sages, given to thinking about the Supreme Spirit and full of amazement, seeing their brother, the divine sage, thinking (like that) asked him. Kumar as said:

27. O brahmana, what are you, very much helpless and afflicted thinking about? This is not proper for you who are associated with bliss. Tell (us) its cause. Narada said:

28-42. Knowing the earth to be the best of all the best, having various kinds of holy places, of an auspicious nature due to these auspicious places, I wandered here and there, at these holy places like Puskara, Prayaga, Kasi, the bank of Godavari, Hariksetra, Kuruksetra, jShriranga, Setubandhana, (but) nowhere did I find happiness, giving delight to my mind. Now the earth is afflicted by Kali, the friend of unrighteousness. On the earth truth, purity, pity, charity exist nowhere. People are selfish, miserable and are false witnesses. They are lethargic, dull-witted, and resort to highly heretical men. Householders attach importance to women; religious students are without (i.e. do not observe) vows. Anchorites are living in cities; those who have renounced the worldly ties are given to enjoyment. Through greed they sell their daughters; they are engaged in agriculture; they have fallen from (good) behaviour; they are hypocrites; they show wanton (behaviour). The hermitages, holy places, rivers, pools are besieged by Yavanas. The temples at other places are destroyed by the wicked. A meditating saint, a siddha or a wise man doing good deeds is not seen. Today fulfilment (of vows) is reduced to ash due to the wild fire in the form of Kali. Communities are everywhere seen to sell food; brahmanas to use an auspicious object as a commodity; and beautiful ladies to use their hair as commodities. Once I reached the auspicious bank of Yamuna. There I saw Vrindavana where Vishnu had sported. O best sages, listen to the wonder that I saw there. A young lady, with her mind dejected, was seated there. Two old men, breathing and senseless, lay by her side. Weeping before the two, she was nursing and waking them up. I saw her looking into the directions, as it were, looking for her protector. Repeatedly she was fanned and advised by many women. Seeing her from a distance, I approached her through curiosity. Seeing me, the young lady got up and spoke these words: The young lady said:

43-44a. O good man, stay here for a moment; remove my anxiety. O good one, the sight of (good) men completely destroys streams of sins. I have had your sight due to my deeds in former existences. Therefore, O you who respect others, please remove my mental agony. Narada said:

44b-46. Thus addressed by her, I with my heart affectionate through pity, and full of curiosity, asked the beautiful lady: " O good one, who are you? Who are these two? Who are these lotuseyed ones? Tell me the entire cause of your grief." Thus asked by me, that young lady, with her mind afflicted, told me her entire agony (and) the cause of the agony. The young lady said:

47-52. I am known as 'Bhakti' (Devotion). These two are my excellent sons named 'Jfiana' (Knowledge) and 'Vairagya' (Detachment). They are hurt due to contact with destiny. These rivers like Ganga have come (here) to serve me. O Narada, by these I am everyday served with respect. I am not getting any felicity; I am emaciated all round, O sage. O best brahmana, listen to my former account, due to which I became unhappy and am getting happiness nowhere. I was born in the Dravida country and brought up in Karnata. For a little (time) I lived in Maharastra, and became old in Gurjara. There due to contact with heretics, I got my limbs cut. For a long time I have become weak, and become dull along with my sons.

53-66a. O Narada, through luck I have reached this Vrindavana: I have, as it were, again become a beautiful young girl. Here these two sons have their minds greatly afflicted. Now I am unable to go leaving them who are very old. How have I become a young girl? Why have my sons become old? Due to what is this difference among us who were of the same condition? The old mother exerts herself when the sons are young. So I, with my mind full of wonder, am worried. O you who know religious practices, O kind one, O protector of the helpless, tell me truly the cause that might be there. Thus asked by her, I, having thought for a moment, again spoke to Bhakti who was emaciated for a long time: " O sinless one, through my wisdom I see all your account. Do not be sad, O wise one; Vishnu will make you happy. O child, this is Kali age, fearful and destroying all goodness. Due to it good conduct, the path of Yoga and penance are violated. Sinful men, doing dishonest and bad acts, become deities in this (age), and the good are much afflicted with grief, and the bad are delighted at heart. No strong-minded, or wise man is seen. This earth having the burden of the groups of the wicked is not fit to be touched or seen. This is the order every year; everyday auspiciousness is given up. O beautiful lady, no one will either see you or these your sons. Men, full of great attachment, have abandoned you; (therefore) you have become infirm. Due to your contact with Vrindavana you have again become young. This Vmdavana where Bhakti has become young, is blessed. These two, for want of receivers, have not become young. It appears that they are asleep here due to a little joy to them." Bhakti said:

66b-81. How did king Pariksit install this impure Kali? Why did Vishnu, given to kindness, ignore impiety? Remove this doubt of me. I am happy with your words. O brahamana, having heard her words, I spoke again. " O girl, if you have asked affectionately, then listen. Since the day Vishnu, leaving the earth, went to his own place, Kali, obstructor of the truth, has proceeded. A king saw him in his conquest of the world, and he yielded like a helpless person. The seer of His virtues is not killed. This is common to all. In the Kali age an intelligent man gets that fruit by narrating the account of Vishnu, which he does not by means of penance, abstract meditation or concentration. Seeing Kali like this, giving substantial fruit from the unsubstantial, Vishnu established this for the good of those born in the Kali age. Due to bad actions, now all excellence has gone away from every place. Objects lie on the ground like husk without seeds. The brahmanas have told the Bhagavata story in every house out of greed for wealth. Therefore, the excellence has gone. Men doing very cruel deeds, atheists, and hypocrites stay at all holy places. So the excellence has gone. With their minds overtaken by passion, anger, great greed, desire they commence (religious) acts. Therefore, the excellence of the acts has gone. The fruit of abstract meditation has gone because of non-restraint of mind, greed, hypocrisy, resorting to heretics, want of the study of holy texts. The wise dally with their wives like he-buffaloes. They are expert in producing sons and not in accomplishing salvation. Devotion to Vishnu is (found) nowhere. All are led by tradition. All are given to censuring gods; all are fond of condemning the good. This is the practice of the age. Who should be blamed? Therefore, remembering the lotus-eyed (Vishnu) you will get happiness." Hearing these words uttered by me, she was amazed. O best brahmanas, having praised me, she spoke again: Bhakti said:

82-84. O divine sage, you are blessed. Due to my (good) luck you have come (here). The sight of the good gives all prosperity in the world. Now advise me in such a way that I will have a means for my happiness. O brahmana, in this world there is nothing to be accomplished by you. I salute Brahma's son, having heard whose one sentence (Prahlada) the son of Kayadhu (wife of Hiranyakasipu) subdued the Maya of (Vishnu) the unborn one, and due to whose grace Dhruva attained to an undecaying eternal position.

 

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