Shriji Maharaj playing Raas in Panchala.
Shriji Maharaj playing Raas in Panchala.
Suvrat said:-
The king got a cottage to be built in the forest of Palasa trees to the west of that village. These proved very auspicious to the ascetics. 1.
Once, on the night of the Papamochanya ekadashi, the Lord went there along with some of His followers. 2.
He was followed by Uttam, Som and Hemant with brothers, Mukund, Ratnaji etc. 3.
There he saw ascetics in groups, observing the vow of keeping themselves awake, singing, clapping and moving round and round. 4.
Pleased on seeing him, they bowed to him and promptly offered him an exalted seat near the banyan tree whereupon Krishna sat. 5.
The hermits entertain Lord Narayan.
At his behest, they thereafter again performed Raas dance round His throne moving in circles, gazing at his face. 6.
Making him laugh with beautiful songs and compositions, they extolled his virtues; thus the mid-night began. 7.
The tired ascetics then sat in front of Krishna, looking at his pleased face resplendent of love and sitting in a firm position. 8.
Vision of God with his retinue and splendor.
Then at his (Lord Narayan’s) will, all a sudden, they saw a great white splendor comparable to the luster of ten million suns. 9.
By virtue (of this splendor), they all attained whiteness; the earth, the sky and the eight quarters also looked white; there in the mass of great luminousness they saw their own Lord in his divine appearance. 10.
He was seated on a heavenly throne, was dark like a fresh cloud, similar to ten million moons, decked with heavenly ornaments. 11.
He was wearing a heavenly yellow garment, was anointed with celestial perfume and was decked with wreaths of sweet-smelling heavenly flowers. 12.
He had beautiful eye-brows and a beautiful nose; his eyes were large like lotus leaves; his lips were like Giloda ( eatable vegetable) fruits and his face was like a lotus. 13.
His teeth resembled a row of priceless pearls; and holding a flute in his two hands, he was playing it on exquisitely. 14.
He was wearing Kaustubha gem and a beautiful garland of wild flowers around his neck. He was wearing a splendid crown and on his large chest was the shining Srivatsa. 15.
On his both ears were shining earrings in the shape of divine crocodiles; the rows of nails were like moon without stains. 16.
He was attended to by his great courtiers like, Sridama, Visvaksena among others. He looked distinguished by regal signs and regal parasols and chamar. 17.
There they saw to his left side Laksmi with lotus-like hands, fair-skinned, decked with all ornaments and wearing a saffron- coloured garment. 18.
She was wearing a flower of Mandara on her hair, and heavenly ornaments on her head; her face was beautiful like the full moon in autumn and her breasts were high and plump. 19.
Her eyebrows, nose, teeth and eyes were charming; and on her feet were anklets of gems that made a sweet chime like that of a pair of swans. 20.
On her large forehead shone a heavenly mark of saffron (Kasmira-patrika); her cheeks were beautiful and she was wearing a Nishk (ornament) round her neck but her eyes were fixed on her Lord. 21.
With great devotion, she was moving the Chauri (fan) equipped with a short diamond handle and comforting her consort with cool air. And they also saw Radha (near her.) 22.
To the right of Krishna they saw extremely lustrous Dharma, having a white complexion, robed in white attire and decked with heavenly ornaments. 23.
To the left of Dharma, they saw Bhakti in a concrete form; she was of a fair golden complexion and she wore a heavenly attire and heavenly ornaments. 24.
They also saw his other spouses like Sraddha etc. with their divine persons, celestial attires and ornaments; also they saw their sons with their celestial bodies. 25.
Then those ascetics, with minds enraptured and bodies horripilate, offered obeisance to all those (divinities) and said to their Lord- 26.
Salutations to you, ‘O Krishna, the son of Vasudev, ‘O Lord, . Salutations to you, ‘O Narayan, the ascetic and the Lord, the son of Dharma. 27.
Lord, you have already been perceived (by us); therefore, we recognize you. You are the same as our Lord Krishna accompanied by Lakhsmi and Radha. 28.
O Lord, but we don’t know who these gods and goddesses, standing near you and affording pleasure to our eyes are. 29.
On hearing this query of them, the Lord replied (pointing to) them, ‘This is Dharma himself, and this is Bhakti, his wife. 30.
And these are the other wives of Dharma, namely, Sraddha, Maitri, Daya etc. And these sinless are their sons among whom, Subha and Prasad are the chief. 31.
These (celestials) with their celestial bodies always abide in me. Their appearance in this manner and seeing them in this way is very rare. 32.
Those devotees and ascetics who are exclusively dedicated to me, have a vision of these on some (rare) occasions at my will, not at their will. 33.
You observe the vow of Ekadashi and keep yourself awake at night and you follow the rules of the totally dedicated. 34.
Therefore, along with these (celestials), I am pleased and have afforded you this visit. Choose now from me and from these a blessing. 35.
Encouraged in this way by their Lord to choose a blessing, those ascetics, bowing to him, chose blessings beneficial to them. 36.
If you are pleased Lord, let there be no ignorance in us of your various exploits in the human form.’ 37.
O Lord, as our faith is now in you so may it remain forever in you, who has assumed a human form.’ 38.
Grant us (the blessing) that our devotion to you will remain permanent like Laksmi’s devotion to you.’ Begged in this way by the devotees, he granted them their requests. 39.
Then those ascetics, prostrating with humility, said to Dharma and other (divinities), ‘If you are pleased, stay amongst us forever.’ 40.
O great gods, protect us forever from lust, anger, greed, and other (evils) originating from unrighteousness. Grant us these (blessing)’. 41.
Suvrat said:-
Requested in this way by them, those (divinities), were also pleased and granted them their blessings, saying ‘Let that be as you wish.’ (And they disappeared). Only the Lord remained with them as before. Lord Narayan at the kings place had this dialogue with the courtiers. 42.
Then, greatly surprised they all prayed to him in his human form. ‘O king, pleasing them all, the Lord also went to his abode. 43.
Observing the vow of Ekadashi and remaining awake, there the Lord, surrounded by those leading courtiers, sat on his four- legged (throne). 44.
Hemant, Uttam, Som and others, surprised at having the vision of the divine form of the Lord, bowed to him (whose face carried a smile) and said to him- 45.
Perceiving you whose luminousness is equal to that of a million suns and moons, who are accompanied by Lakshmi and Radha and (perceiving) Bhakti, Dharma and others is extremely rare for human beings. 46.
And that we obtained (this vision); we are indeed blessed and lucky’. Saying thus with love, they were full of tears and their words, heavy with emotion. 47.
Then the pleased Lord said to those servants of his,’ O you great devotees of me, listen to my speech. 48.
This kind of vision is certainly not rare for those who have unflinching devotion to Krishna in His human form.’ 49.
By showing Arjuna the cosmic vision, Shri Krishna has explained this very truth in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. 50.
This vision of mine, which you have perceived is extremely difficult to obtain. Even the gods are ever desirous of having it. 51.
It is not possible to perceive me as you have done even by (studying) the Vedas or by (practicing) penance or by charity or sacrifice. 52.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says: ‘O vanquisher of foes, ‘O Arjuna, it is possible to see and understand me and be internal to me (in essence) as you have been, only by means of unflinching devotion.’ 53.
Again in the last chapter of the Sanatsujat, it has been stated repeatedly that only those having attachment to Bhakti get this vision. 54.
An individual is freed from the fear of time and death, from the bondage of Karma and Maya by virtue of Bhakti (devotion) and by honest service to the good. 55.
The imperishable sequel of the well-observed Dharma of the Varnas and ashramas and (of those who) renounce (the earthly life) is indeed Bhakti. 56.
Bhakti alone is recognized as the imperishable fruit of all such pious acts as pilgrimage, worship of the gods, philanthropic deeds, Sankhya, Yoga, sacrifices, charity, penance, vows, muttering (of sacred names), Vedic studies, and various observances. All other fruits of all these actions should be taken as perishable. 57-58.
This is the meaning in brief of the Puranas along with the Mahabharata; this is also the essence of Srimad Bhagavata. 59.
That (Bhakti) is there in you; therefore, you have had the divine vision of me along with Dharma and others; ‘O counselors (of the king), know this. 60.
Suvrat said:-
Addressed by the Lord in this way,, they were full of happiness. Bowing to him, they considered themselves blessed and as having firm support at his feet. 61.
On the twelfth day (Dvadashi), the king after having performed the daily rites, fed numerous Brahmins along with his courtiers and concluded the fast. 62.
After that, as often requested to by Jaya, Lalita and Uttam, the Lord desired to go (back)to the town of Durgapur.’ 63.
‘O king, on knowing the Lord’s desire to go, the king Hemantasinh went up to him, bowed, and with both his eyes filled with tears of love, and his body suffering horripilations, praised the Lord with folded hands. 64.
Thus ends the twenty second chapter entitled ‘Description of events during Narayan Muni’s visit to an Hermitage’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 22
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