Beginning of listening to the Bhagavata Puran.
Beginning of listening to the Bhagavata Puran.
Suvrat said:-
Hearing the explanation given by respectable Narayanmuni, the great king was pleased and he saluted the Muni. 1
When the time was auspicious and surroundings favorable, he wished to perform Purascharya himself along with some pre- eminent Brahmins. 2
Then the king erected a Mandapa and decorated it with colorful clothes and banana tree’s columns. 3
The next day, after his daily morning duties, he set up a beautiful seat for the preacher in the Mandapa. 4
Then inviting the preacher according to the procedure detailed previously, he made him sit on the seat prepared for him. He then worshipped the Holy Bhagavata (book) first and the preacher then after. 5
He then offered the preacher new, pricey clothes of fine silk at the beginning of Purascharya. 6
He offered him golden ornaments like bracelets, etc., and then he requested him to begin the Purascharya. 7
‘O King! The king’s two brothers Ramapratap and Iccharam, who had acquired the qualities of a listener, sat on the seats next to Shri Hari. 8
All the kings among whom Uttam was the chief, Mukunda, the Brahmins and all other members sat on the seats appropriate for them in that assembly. 9
The sages Muktanand and others also sat in that assembly. All the ladies Jaya, Rama etc. sat together in one section of the assembly. 10
All the listeners in the assembly possessed Sattvik guna. They all were already advised by Shri Hari himself. 11
The omniscient Shri Hari, imitating the behaviour of other members in the assembly listened earnestly like others, though He himself was the promoter of Dharma. 12
The portion related to the knowledge of soul (Adhyatma) is difficult to understand. Hence, at times he added explanations as he had self experience. Thus, he pleased all the listeners and the preachers as well. 13
At the end of the Pravachana, he praised Shri Hari and uttered the names of God along with all the listeners. Then he said to the honorable preacher. 14
O honorable Brahmin, please take from our tradesman, ghee, sugar etc. whatever is desired by you. 15
You should eat Laddu etc to your heart’s content because you had to work hard every day in narrating the Bhagavata-katha. 16
Please accept this pair of cows for providing you with milk every morning. Saying this, He handed over to the preacher two milk-yielding cows. 17
After that the preacher said, ‘O host! I will follow your order everyday without fail in the same manner. 18
O honorable king! Your orders will be properly carried out if there will be a favorable supply of vegetables. 19
Upon this, the host who was sitting close by, smiled and told the old gardener to supply vegetables desired by him, everyday. 20
Hearing this the Brahmin was pleased and said, ‘O King! All my wishes are fulfilled. Uttering these words and saluting the king, he went home. 21
Listening to the story of Bhagavata everyday and pleasing all the devotees, Shri Hari performed at the end, all the procedures as explained before. 22
In offering pricey clothes and a thousand gold coins to the preacher of Bhagavata-katha, His diligence in following the procedure was comparable to none. 23
Hearing the honors rendered by Shri Hari to the preacher, all the people of this earth and all the kings were astonished. 24
Shri Hari pleased the other Brahmins who has come there by giving them monetary gifts (Dakshina) comparable to a rain showering wish-gratification. 25
While listening to the reading of the holy book Bhagavata, Shri Hari particularly listened to the tenth section (Dashama skanda) and the fifth section (Panchama skanda) with great concentration. 26
After listening to those two skandhas for two months, Shri Hari celebrated the dolotsav with great pomp and grandeur. 27
O King! He then listened to the Bhagavad Gita along with its commentary until the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra dawned. 28
Many people from other places came there to participate in the celebration of the dolotsav. Men along with women, devotees, sages etc. arrived in huge numbers. 29
The king with innocent heart celebrated that function with great enthusiasm for the satisfaction of God. 30
When the function was over, the king sent the devotees to their respective places and started listening to the story once again. 31
He then listened to the Vishnusahasranama-stotra along with its commentary and completed it on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra. 32
On the first Pratipada of Vaishakha, celebrating the function of Kurma-jayanti, he again started the Bhagavata-story on the second day. 33
He then listened happily for a month, the greatness of Shri Vasudev, described in Vishnu-khanda of Skanda-Puran. 34
From the second day of Adya-jyeshtha, for a month and a quarter, Shri Hari listened to the parayana of Samaveda. 35
On the tenth day of bright fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha, he started the ceremony of Ganga-worship by noon and completed it in the evening. 36
After that, he started listening to the commentary named Mitakshara (on the Yajnavalkya Smriti) on Nirjala Ekadasi and completed the same on the third day of bright fortnight of the month of Shravana. 37
‘O King! After that on the fifth day of bright fortnight of Shravana (i.e. Shravana Shuddha Panchami i.e. Nagapanchami), Shri Hari started listening to Viduraniti (i.e. advice of Vidura) and pleased all the devotees. 38
On the full-moon day of Shravana, Shri Hari performed the ceremony of Rakshabandhan and completed listening to Viduraniti. He honored the preacher by offering him clothes and ornaments. 40
Thus, Shri Vasudev, having a beautiful face like the full moon, played the role of a human being, gave pleasure to the eyes of his devotees, established good religion on the whole earth, uprooted ill-thoughts from the hearts of people, uprooted Adharma and became famous as great Muni Swaminarayan. 41
Thus ends the ninth chapter entitled ‘Explanation of honoring the preacher and the listener 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). 9
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