The king requests Suvrat to give him the report of Muktanand’s success. & Beginning of Katha of ‘Shri Swaminarayano Vijaytetaram’.
The king requests Suvrat to give him the report of Muktanand’s success. & Beginning of Katha of ‘Shri Swaminarayano Vijaytetaram’.
The king Pratapasimha said:-
O ascetic, Muktanand was sent by the Lord to Vatapur (Vadodara); there he defeated the debaters and returned to Vrittalay. 1.
I have heard this much from you but ‘O preceptor, only you are fit to relate how he accomplished that.’ 2.
Suvrat’s answer begins; he gives names of the righteous who were attracted to a hypocritical teacher.
Suvrat said:-
O king, there was at Vatapura (Vadodara) a Brahmin by name Ramachandra. He had a brother called Harishchandra; both were very intelligent.’ 3.
They were well-versed in many scriptures but their specialization was in the medical science. They were honored by the king, were righteous and conscientious and believers in God.’ 4.
There was another Brahmin called Shobharam who was wellversed in interpreting the Vedas and the scriptures, was a believer and was honored by the king.’ 5.
There was also a scholarly minister of the king, Narupant by name, and a Kshatriya warrior called Chinmaya Rao who had the same qualities. ’ 6.
These five were friends of one another and were seekers of Moksha (spiritual emancipation); they had heard much about the several interpretations of the scriptures; and as a result they could not come to any conclusion as to which god they should worship.’ 7.
They put their difficulty to Hariharacharya.
‘O king, once they asked a southern scholar Hariharacharya by name who was living there and was well-versed in many scriptures. 8.
‘O great preceptor , prodigious knower of many subjects, we would like to ask you a question; you will do well to answer it. 9.
We hear that God resides in Goloka or in Vaikuntha or in Brahmaloka or in Kshirasagara. 10.
We also heard that Hari, the Lord has four arms or eight arms or just two arms. So you should explain on which deity we seekers of emancipation should concentrate. 11.
Some devotees worship Ram or Krishna or Nrisimha; so you should explain to us what is (known to be) definite to you. 12.
The misleading answer of Hariharacharya.
Suvrat said:-
Thus questioned by them, that Brahmin, clever in (practicing) several hypocrisies and sophistry but (still) entertained by the King’s officials, answered- 13.
Since you are seekers of Moksha (spiritual emancipation), please listen to what I say. I will certainly tell you what is good for you. 14.
The God is said by the scriptures to be dwelling in places like Goloka etc., but he is not realizable to anyone in the Kali age. 15.
Therefore, ‘O Brahmins, you should only continuously utter his name; by that you will obtain both happiness and emancipation. 16.
What one achieves in the Krita (Sat yuga) age by concentrating on Vishnu, what one achieves in the Treta age by offering sacrifices, what one achieves in the Dwapara age by service, that one achieves in the Kali age by means of kirtan. 17.
This is the declaration of the Bhagavata itself; therefore in the kali age there are no other means of propitiation; penance, yoga, restraint are not achievable by men in the Kali age.’ 18.
The reincarnation of Vishnu (takes place) only in three ages; therefore, actually realizing him (in Kaliyug) is a figment of imagination, not reality. 19.
The effect of Hariharacharya’s teaching.
Suvrat reported:-
Believing in his words those Brahmins decided that in the Kali age the only way to attain spiritual well-being was through repeating the holy name. 20.
Then they started debating with scholars at different places and established their thesis with a lot of arguments in meetings. 21.
O king, no man was able to defeat them in any assembly since they were learned and skilled in arguing and were well-connected with the king. 22.
They ridiculed the devotees of the Lord who held that spiritual well-being could be achieved by actually realizing the Lord. 23.
The debaters come face to face with Muktanand. In course of time they heard that the Lord’s principal follower Muktanand of whose reputation they were already aware, had arrived at the residence of Nathaji. 24.
Then they all five went to him in a group while he was in people’s assembly; their excuse was to see him there. 25.
Honored by that sage they bowed to him and sat in front of him. (Inwardly) they were jeering (but outwardly) they (were) like humble holy men. 26.
There came many other people, scholars of the Puranas, learned men, many Vaishnavites and Shaivites and also (mere) spectators. 27.
O king, then in that large assembly Muktanand himself spoke first remembering the Lord in his heart though they all were very eager to raise questions and their lips were throbbing (with impatience). 28.
Thus ends the thirty fourth chapter entitled ‘Description of Muktanand’s triumph over the debaters’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 34
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