Pearl 26

Vaudeva welcoming Deva-rishi naradaji

The XIth canto of the divine scripture 'Srimad Bhagavatam’ can be termed as the ‘Gita’ of the Bhagavatam since it embraces the principles enshrined in the ‘Bhagwad Gita’. Sage Narada adores the company of Lord Krishna at Dwarka, the capital city. Bharat is acclaimed as a divine land and the pearl lucidly chronicles the conversation between the Yogendras and King Videha.

X1 th cantoChapter2, verses 1-3: Even greatest of Saints like Narada love to be in the holy company of Lord Krishna at Dwarka as His holy lotus feet are the final resort for all. No mortal, in his sound senses, can ignore worship of the Holy Feet because even Lord Brahma and Shankar are devoted to them. “My dear King, in the material world the conditioned souls are confronted by death at every step of life. Therefore, who among the conditioned souls would not render service to the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda, who is worshipable even for the greatest of liberated souls?

Verse 4: --- Lord Krishna's father Vasudevji says that the arrival of Saints like Narada is a great blessing for households as they reveal the right course to folks. Sri Vasudeva says, “My lord, your visit, like that of a father to his children, is for the benefit of all living beings. You especially help the most wretched among them, as well as those who are advanced on the path toward the Supreme Lord, Uttamasloka.” Soon thereafter Naradji aptly fulfills this expectation by disclosingthe dialogue between king Janak & 9 Yogeshwars.”

Verses 11-13: Sage Narada establishes that the Bhagwat-dharma query not only purifies the world but delights God as well! Such devotional service to the Lord is so powerful that its performance can purify the entire universe. “.Pure devotional service rendered to the Supreme Lord is spiritually so potent that simply by hearing about such transcendental service, by chanting its glories in response, by meditating on it, by respectfully and faithfully accepting it, or by praising the devotional service of others, even persons who hate the demigods and all other living beings can be immediately purified.” In Ramayana, Tulsidassji translates it as such KAHANH, SUNAHIN, ANUMODAN KARAHIN, confirmed by Kripaluji Maharaj also.

Verse 17: Naradji affirms that earlier Bharat was called AJNABHVARSHA but due to the heroic exploits of king Bharat is now called ‘Bharat’. “Of the one hundred sons of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the eldest, Bharata, was completely devoted to Lord Narayana. It is because of Bharata's fame that this planet is now celebrated as the great Bharata-varṣa.”

Verse 18: This land of Bharat is divine because people here yearn for Lord Sri Hari’s devotion unlike other parts of the world. “King Bharata rejected this material world, considering all types of material pleasure temporary and useless. Leaving his beautiful young wife and family, he worshiped Lord Hari by severe austerities and attained the abode of the Lord after three lifetimes.”

As of now Naradji narrates the story between the nine Yogendras, sons of Rsabha and King Videha (Janak,father of Sitaji during the Rama incarnation.)

Verses 33-43: The gist of the dialogue with first Yogeshwar Kaviji is:

• Continuous remembering of Lord Sri Hari is affirmed as true Satsang.
• Complete surrender to Lord Sri Krishna is the best devotion (akin to Sarvadhrman paritajye mamekam sharnam brajah ....... in the ‘Bhagwad Gita’.)
• One who makes obeisance to all as a Godly entity is the greatest Mahatma (Siyaram May Sab Jag Jani, Karahoon Pranam Jori Jug Pani -Ramayana)
  

Verse 45: Relates the conversation with second Yogeshwar, Hariji:

Verse49: A true Vaishnav or the foremost devotee of the Lord is above mundane affairs and ignores all types of wealth. “Within the material world, one's material body is always subject to birth and decay. Similarly, the life air [prana] is harassed by hunger and thirst, the mind is always anxious, the intelligence hankers for that which cannot be obtained, and all of the senses are ultimately exhausted by constant struggle in the material nature. A person who is not bewildered by the inevitable miseries of material existence, and who remains aloof from them simply by remembering the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to be considered bhagavata-pradhana, the foremost devotee of the Lord.

Verse 50: The name of Lord Sri Hari is such that it destroys multitudinous sins even when uttered under constraint or unconsciously ( Bhav KubhavAnakh Aalashoon-Ramayana) “One who has taken exclusive shelter of the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva becomes free from fruitive activities, which are based on material lust. In fact, one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord is freed from even the desire to enjoy material sense gratification. Plans for enjoying sex life, social prestige and money cannot develop within his mind. Thus he is considered bhāgavatottama, a pure devotee of the Lord on the highest platform.”

Verse53: The Best devotee is one, whose heart Lord Sri Krishna does not leave even for a moment as His lotus-feet are fastened by the cord of divine love. “The lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are sought even by the greatest of demigods, such as Brahma and Shiva, who have all accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their life and soul. A pure devotee of the Lord can never forget those lotus feet in any circumstance. He will not give up his shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord for a single moment — indeed, not for half a moment — even in exchange for the benediction of ruling and enjoying the opulence of the entire universe. Such a devotee of the Lord is to be considered the best of the Vaiṣṇavas.”