Description of Bhakti along with Mahatmya as a means to obtain pleasure of Bhagwan.
Description of Bhakti along with Mahatmya as a means to obtain pleasure of Bhagwan.
Jaya and other women (devotees) said:-
O Narayan muni, You who favour Your disciples, Who are kind to Your devotees, we wish to ask you something. Please listen to us. 1
In order to gratify You, there are various ways and means like charity, sacrifice, penance, efforts, recitation, hobby and austerities, which are described in the scriptures. 2
O Shri Hari! which is the superior one, by practicing which, You will be delighted and (thus) favour Your devotees ? 3
(Tell us as to how) by practicing which one, all the qualities are - (automatically) achieved and by not practicing which whatever (good) qualities we posses are lost. 4 We, all your devotees, wish to know (this). Therefore, O Shri Hari, (we request) You assuredly enlighten us. 5
Shri Hari said:-
Indeed! I am pleased with my devotees and other people only by (their) devotion. I assure you that I shall never be satisfied by any other means at all. 6
I am (really) pleased by (the deeds such as) charity, sacrifice, penance, efforts, muttering prayers, self-study, austerities and the like, but not that extent, as I am pleased by your (true) devotion. 7
The means to attain My love is not the qualities of a Brahmin, qualities of God, nor a birth in a high class family, but devotion is the only source of my love. 8
O You chaste ladies, who follow austerities, you should know that the main quality of (absolute) devotion is to understand the glories of the Lord Krishna through sheer affection. 9
Lord Kirshna in His human incarnation, is possessed of wealth and prosperity, but you should comprehend His divine form. 10
Thus, once (you) accomplish (this) ability (quality) of (absolute) devotion, you achieve all other qualities. But if You do not achieve devotion, you will lose all the qualities. 11
If You have devotion towards Lord Krishna, without having any knowledge of His magnificence, his devotion will never flourish and you will never attain peace of mind. 12 .
Even if such a kind of devotion flourishes initially, it definitely wanes like a lady suffering by the disease of consumption, (just) before she attains her youth. 13
And if that devotion becomes consumptive, all other accomplishments will disappear, howsoever you try to protect them. There is no doubt about it. 14
If your devotion is accompanied with the knowledge of the glories of the Lord Krishna, , it is amplified every second like the jungle fire. 15
The knowledgeable people consider the rules of penance, celibacy, control of the mind, cessation of all material activities and self control as the valuable qualities. 16
If a man possesses a single quality (amongst the above) without the knowledge of the glories of the Lord Krishna, what is the use of all the (good) qualities? 17
One who knows the glories of Lord Krishna and he has faith in Lord Krishna, His devotion follows his faith. 18.
As long as one is acquainted with the glories of the with faith, so far one accomplishes the absolute devotion , which is the only cause to acquire the grace of the Lord Krishna. 19
You all are acquainted with the glories of Lord Krishna, but to boost the strength of your devotion you should always listen to the virtuous stories (of Lord Krishna). 20
There are plenty of stories narrated in the Vedas. Even the lear- ned people are not able to understand its meaning thoroughly. 21
Hence, Lord Krishna Himself through Vyasa has explained its meaning in the Itihasas and Puranas . 22
O Ladies! Shrimad Bhagawata is the essence of all the Puranas. (Further), in my opinion (according to me), the Tenth chapter is the essence of the Bhagawata (Purana). 23
In the tenth chapter Lord Krishna in the human form has established the religion of devotion, so in my opinion, it is considered as more important. 24
Hence, one should always read and listen to Bhagawata . By the deep knowledge of the glories of Lord Krishna one’s degree of devotion also increases. 25
Suvrat said:-
After listening to these sentences from Shri Hari, all those ladies became very happy and bowed him respectfully. 26
Then as instructed by Shri Hari, they all returned to their own homes and while singing His praises, performed their daily rites. 27
Shri Hari, the Lord of the pious people, who Himself is the incarnation of righteousness, bestowing happiness to all his devotees, went to His own hermitage. 28
O King, then the modest king Uttama, whose wishes were fulfilled by the favour of Shri Hari, worshipped Him with unswerving devotion. 29
Thus ends thefort ry-fourth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of description of the delightful qualities of Shri Hari,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra. (the rules of the code of conduct). 44