Description of method of repetition of Bhagavata.
Description of method of repetition of Bhagavata.
Shri Narayan muni said:-
Hereafter I will explain to you the method of repetition of Bhagavata, the holy book. ‘O Great King, all the four objects of human life are obtained by its repetition. 1
He who reads everyday half or a quarter of a verse is freed from this world. (In such a case) what could be the benefits accruing to one who reads the whole Bhagavata! 2
If Bhagavata is read daily with faith in mind and according to one’s capacity, it leads to independence from worldly life. 3
He who is not able to read it every day should read it with devotion at least once a month or once a year, following the rules governing reading Bhagavata-katha. 4
He who is able to read it in a day or two or three days, or five days or six or seven days, he should read it so. 5
He who reads it in ten days or a fortnight or a month or three months, obtains prosperity as well as ultimate freedom. 6
Of all these options, a week (Saptaha) is approved by all as ideal. Moreover, Bhagavata-katha should be listened to by others with or without any desire in mind. 7
Based on comfort levels, Jamadagni has given directions about the number of chapters to be covered per day in a Bhagavata-katha saptaha. Now, I will tell you the same. 8
Forty-eight chapters on the first day, fifty-one on the second, forty-nine on the third and fifty-three on the fourth-day are prescribed. After that, forty-nine chapters on the fifth day, fortyone on the sixth day and forty-four on the seventh day are to be read in order. 9-11
Auspicious months, day and Nakshatras for the beginning of reading Bhagavata.
All the months except the month of Pausha are good for reading Bhagavata Similarly, all the weekdays except Saturday and Tuesday are good for the beginning of ‘Bhagavata saptaha’. 12
Except the fourth, the eighth and the fourteenth day in the first fortnight, all others days are auspicious for starting Bhagavata reading. 13
Ashvini, Revati, Hasta, Pushya, Mriga, Punarvasu, Anuradha, Abhijit, Swati, Rohini, Shravana, Dhanishtha and Shatataraka are the auspicious Nakshatras for the beginning of reading Bhagavata. So they are to be accepted, ‘O King! reiteration should be started during these Nakshatras. 14-15
Procedure of the Bhagavata Saptah .
Five Brahmins possessing all the good characteristics of a preacher, as narrated before should be selected at an auspicious time for those desirous of achieving the four objectives of human life. 16
White clothes, (clothes for) daily wearing, golden rings, sitting mats, water vessels and blankets should be given to them. 17
Then other Brahmins should be appointed for their service i.e. to give them warm water, cooked food and help them with shampooing. 18
Reiteration should be started at a famous temple of Vishnu or at an ancient auspicious place. 19
Alternatively, a golden idol of Lord Krishna can be installed in a house and Brahmins can read every day, as decided. 20
‘O king! Reiteration should be done a hundred and eight times, as prescribed. 21
They (the preachers) should stop at the end of predicated number of chapters. Their reading should be quite clear and they should not talk to anybody (while reading). 22
The selected Brahmins are not allowed to accept monetary gifts from anybody else, nor should they accept food, clothes etc. as well. 23
At the end of each Saptaha, seven gold coins are to be given separately to each of the selected Brahmins as monetary gift. 24
Either at the end of each completed reading (i.e. Parayana) or at the end of hundred and eight Parayanas, monetary gifts should be given separately after each Parayana or as a lump sum at the end of all Parayanas. 25
He who is unable to give seven gold coins should give a half of that. An even poor person can give a half of that (half). 26
He who is unable to offer even the smallest monetary gift should serve the Brahmins and do something else according to his strength. 27
He should do it by himself with faith and respect in his mind; He can reiterate Vishnusahasranama Stotra by which he will obtain peace of mind. 28
Then he who wants to do reiteration should on the same day select Brahmins for the chanting the Gayatri Mantra. 29
He should select the Brahmins according to the rules as prescribed before. He should select one-tenth Brahmins of the total number selected for chanting the mantra. Then he should perform ‘Homa’, offering oblations to the Gods and give a feast to the one-tenth of Brahmins selected for ‘Homa’ (a kind of sacrifice). 30
O King! The sage Kasyapa has divided the mantras of Bhagavata, for the sake of chanting and offering oblations. 31
The doer should perform ‘Homa’ etc. with these mantras alone if he is able to do so. Otherwise he should do it with the help of classified mantras of the Tenth section of Bhagavata. (Dashamaskandha). 32
According to some sages, ‘Homa’ is to be performed with Gayatri mantra only, while according to some other sages it should be performed with the mantra of Vasudev, which contains twelve syllables. 33
O Rich man! ‘O pure, meritorious man, Payas and ghee are the entities to be sacrificed in the ‘Homa’. If ‘Homa’ performance is not possible, then muttering of prayer of an equivalent amount should be done. 34
Alternatively twelve Parayanas (complete readings) are prescribed in place of ‘Homa’. For this purpose as well, the same Brahmins have to be selected. 35
Right from the beginning of reiteration till the last day, the Brahmins along with the hosts should observe celibacy. 36
If they follow the above-cited rules, the reiteration will be fruitful, and all the wishes of the doer will be fulfilled. Otherwise, the effort will be fruitless. 37
O King! Thus I have explained to you in short, the procedure of reiteration, which is described in the Skandapuran and which brings worldly enjoyment and eternal freedom (i.e. emancipation). 38
O King! Thus I have narrated to you, the whole procedure of reiteration, Parayana and the procedure of listening to the Bhagavata; you too should follow it, whenever it is favorable for you. 39
Thus ends the Eighth chapter entitled ‘Explanation of mode of repetition of Bhagavata’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 8
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