On the request of devotees, Shri Hari arrives in Sarangpur to celebrate Janmashtami Utsav.
On the request of devotees, Shri Hari arrives in Sarangpur to celebrate Janmashtami Utsav.
Suvrat said:-
‘O King! God Shri Hari led the preacher along with songs and instrumental music, up to his house and Himself sat on the altar under a neem tree. 1
At that point reached Jivavarma, the king of Sarangapur and his daughter Devika, who was a firm, chaste and faithful wife. 2
Similarly, the great warrior Ratha came there along with his daughter Malati and also came Punja, a great devotee of the Lord. 3
Saluting the Lord, honored by Him and much pleased by His vision (Darshana), they all respectfully sat in front of Him. 4
Welcomed by the Lord, they saluted Him by folding hands and when asked by Him, they said to Him, ‘O Lord! ‘O destroyer of worldly bonds! We are your devotees and have come here to take you to Sarangapur. 5-6
You don’t indeed differentiate between the rich and the poor devotees. Hence may the impartial Lord be kind to us. 7
‘O Lord ! Please celebrate the Janmashtami function in our city. Whatever wealth we possess is definitely yours. 8
‘O Master! ‘O devotee-loving Lord! Please heed to our request because we are solely devoted to you. 9
Thus beseeched by them, the Master, knowing their innocence, said, ‘O dear devotees! I will definitely come there. 10
‘O my innocent devotees, you may please proceed and start preparations for the celebration. I will certainly arrive there on the fifth day. 11
Hearing this assurance from the Master and over whelmed with joy, they said, ‘O Lord! You may please come along with all your devotees. 12
When the Lord accepted their invitation, king Jivavarma invited king Uttam and all other devotees for the celebration. 13
After that, king Uttam offered a great feast to king Jivavarma, who was eager to return to his own city, and then to Ratha and others.14
After having the meal, they returned to their own city and respectfully made preparations for the celebration. They brought food, utensils, carpets, fuel, vegetables, ghee etc. 15
The Lord, along with his best devotee king Uttam, surrounded by attendants and other devotees, went to Sarangapur on the fifth day of the dark fortnight of Shravana month. 16
He marched on, seated on a reddish, agile horse, with moderate speed, holding the reigns in his left hand tender as a lotus, and a cane in his other hand, wearing white clothes, surrounded by his devotees amongst whom Somavarma was the chief, all seated on their respective horses. 17
His elder brother Ramapratap, seated on a mare of saffron colour, followed Him. Ichharam seated on a red horse, followed Him (as well). 18
Jaya, Rama and other faithful devotees, started following the Lord without taking his permission, as they were afraid that he would stay far for a long time. 19
‘O King! On hearing that the Lord was coming, the people in Sarangapur went to welcome Him with songs and musical instruments (i.e. with pomp and music). 20
Seeing the Lord from a distance, tears of love and tears of joy flowed from their eyes. In this condition, they saluted the Lord with devotion, prostrating him as they gathered in front of him.21
Respecting them properly, the Lord entered the city with them and stayed in the house of Jivavarma. 22
Jaya, Rama and other women were accommodated in the residence of Ratha. Others were given places for residence, suitable for them. 23
Jivavarma and the eager citizens pleased the Lord and His devotees with proper hospitality. 24
Crowds of householders and ascetics came there from other countries. The citizens made arrangements for the residence of them all. 25
They all were very much pleased at the sight of the Lord. He too honored them properly. 26
At that time the city became crowded with the groups of men, women, ascetics and sages, who all were devotees of Lord Shri Hari.27
Then, starting from the bank of river Phalgu upto the bank of river Dhavala, he constructed a huge and grand meeting place on the vast surface of this earth. 28
Divine Satsang in Sarangpur.
After that, on the night of the seventh day, the Lord ascended the splendid throne established in the meeting place. All the devotees sat in front of him. 29
Venerable sages, having deep knowledge and experienced in hard penance sat in front of the Lord and the elderly ascetics sat behind them. 30
Behind them sat all the young sages. Behind them sat the minor sages. 31 King Ramapratap along with his younger brother, sat on an excellent seat near the throne, in his front. 32
On the right hand side of the Lord, sat Brahmins, well advanced in science, knowledge and penance. Behind them sat common people advanced in age. 33
On the left hand side of the Lord, sat Somavarma and other chief companions; behind them sat kings Jivavarma and others. 34
The lifelong celibates among whom Mukundanand was the chief, and those devoted to the service of the Lord, sat by the side of the throne. 35
The soldiers Bhrigujit, Nanja, Bhima etc. holding weapons like sword etc. stood behind the Lord looking at all sides (acting as the body-guards for His protection). 36
In between the companions and the sages, sat the celibates Vasudev etc. who had undertaken strict vows. 37
In that meeting hall, all those devotees sat in one fixed posture, without any movement of body or limbs. 38
At the back of all these were sitting the members of military class and behind them sat the devotees belonging to the merchant class. 39
Sitting behind the merchant devotees, were the devotees belonging to the Shudra class. Behind them sat other people, modestly, fixing their sight at the Lord seated in front of them. 40
Groups of women were sitting modestly, far away following their own limits. They all were looking at the Lord seated on the throne. 41
‘O King! In the presence of all those devotees thus seated in the meeting hall, the Lord uttered nectar-like words, pleasing all of them. 42
Thus ends the tenth chapter entitled ‘Narration of seating of the Lord in the assembly’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 10
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