CHAPTER – 23

Suvrat said:-

Then, on Yama-dvitiya, (the second day of the bright half of the Kartika month), the King arranged a dinner for the sages, which consisted of profuse sweets, ghee, condensed milk and wheat cakes. 1

On that night, the King bowed down to Shri Hari, who was thinking of sending the sages, present in the assembly, to different regions, for the propagation of the religion on the earth. 2

King Uttama said:-

O You, who are graceful to the devotees, have fulfilled all the desires of Lalita, by celebrating this occasion of Annakoota. 3

In the same manner, may I request you to fulfil the desire of Jaya, by celebrating the festival of Prabodhini, which is not far off from now. 4

O Lord, I wish that, all the sages should stay here happily, up to the end of the full moon day. 5

All the other Brahmins and those sages, may take food and other material, from my house, as they were taking it previously. I am only instrumental here. Your majesty is the actual go-getter and getting it done by me. 6

Suvrat said:-

Thus, having heard the request of the King Uttama, Shri Hari with a smile on His lotus-like face, looked at Jaya, who was standing not far away; and said, ‘Let it be so’. 7

Then, King Uttama went to Jaya and informed her about the consent given by Shri Hari. She was also very much pleased; and started collecting the necessary material. 8

Then, Shri Hari told all the devotees and sages gathered there, to stay there, up to the full-moon day, as they used to do earlier, that those Brahmins and others, who preferred raw food and other material, may take it from the Modi grocery merchants, who were under the control of the King. 9-10

Those who preferred cooked food, may have their meals at the King’s palace for next thirteen days. 11

When, thus, instructed by Shri Hari, those Brahmins and others did accordingly. Having received a warm welcome by the King, those devotees enjoyed their stay there over. 12

Then, the king pleased those sages and others by offering them food with profuse ghee and sugar. 13

Then, Shri Hari too, so as to gratify the king Uttama also, arranged to serve delicious food prepared by Jaya, at the palace of King Uttama. 14

There, Rama and many other women, including Lalita as their leader, unassumingly prepared food and other tasty dishes, with great enthusiasm as before. 15

Like Lalita, Jaya also developed deep devotion for Shri Hari; and she got herself engrossed in the festival activities, from the third day itself, of that month. 16

Brahmins, along with Prabhashankar as their personnel-in-charge, and Brahmin ladies like Ganga and others also, caringly engaged themselves in the preparation of food. 17

Shri Hari, indulging Himself completely, by fastening his waist, in ordering the food preparations for the festival, pleased Jaya, as He pleased Lalita. 18

Then, that generous king, with the permission of Shri Hari, brought many gifts and made his sister also to bring many precious gifts, for the festival. 19

Every day, in the assembly, Shri Hari, removed all doubts in the minds of people, by elaborate discussions (questions and answers); and thus gave delight to all the people. 20

Then, on the third day (of the month), at the advent of night, after finishing the worship and the waving of lights before Lord Krishna, Shri Hari recited His names. Shri Hari, then, asked His devotees, gathered in the assembly, if anybody wanted to ask any questions; he may ask Me freely. If one follows the rules and regulations of devotion towards God, it is definitely beneficial. 21-22

At that time, the king, named Hemantasimha, who was present in the assembly, who earnestly longed for the up liftment and the betterment of himself and his family, bowed down humbly and asked as follows: 23

Thus ends the twenty-third chapter entitled, ‘Narration of description of the residential arrangements of the sages etc. in Durgapur,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 23