CHAPTER – 5

Suvrat said:-

‘The two sisters who were concentrating on whatever Shri Hari said, exactly understood what Shri Hari was thinking in His inner mind, before King Uttam approached them. They were extremely happy since dedicating their services to Shri Hari was considered by them as the only fulfillment of their very birth’. 1-2.

King Uttam also told all the details communicated by Shri Hari to his sisters who were (standing) amongst the women folk. 3.

Having heard the words “celebrate” those two noble -minded (Jaya and Lalita) could not hide their joy in their hearts. It gave its way (in the form) of their tears. 4.

Hence they after bowing down to the Prabhu; immediately returned home and began preparing four kinds of sacred food (Bhakshya, lehya etc.) 5.

To begin with, respectfully taking help of women devotees they immediately started the work of pounding of husk and grinding of wheat into fine flour. 6.

All those innocent women who were committed to the service of Shri Hari found this occasion as an auspicious event. 7. 

Throughout the day and night sacred tunes of the songs of Shri Hari were heard in each and every house of the city while women were doing the work of pounding and grinding. 8.

As instructed by Lalitadevi, devout Brahmin ladies expert in cooking, started preparing sugar candies, fine white Shev and large size Papad etc. 9.

Some dedicated ladies made (sweet) cakes and sweet balls which equaled the number of their prayer beads (i.e. One hundred and eight) and arranged them in layers one above the other. While keeping (counting) another layer of same number of cakes in a line (just above the first layer), they thought, that their daily ritual of making prayers by counting of prayer beads was fulfilled. 10.

Other pious ladies who were making Papads on a clean bronze flat roller; visualized Shri Hari’s image all of a sudden in their mind’s eye which kept them stock-still with the rolling pin in their hands and a smile on their face. 11.

Some women imagined Shri Hari’s presence everywhere, and hence, could suddenly perceive Shri Hari‘s idol in the Shev making machine and thought as if (they were) absent-mindedly engaged in anointing Him. 12.

Some women devotees while straining wheat flour, through the strainer, constantly kept smiling as they recalled the (sight of) Shri Hari who had aroused beams of smiles in them some time ago. 13.

Perceiving as it were, Shri Hari‘s sacred images one after the other in the dough, Some ladies who were engaged in pounding the flour suddenly stopped and held the pestle at rest. 14.

Thus, all the women engaged in their own activities revealed Shri Hari in their hearts according to their own mind set and thus surpassed even the ascetics practicing profound meditation. 15.

Thus having noticed that the devout women who considered service to the Lord Krishna is the only way to please Shri Hari, all of them gladly assisted Jaya and Lalita. King Uttam brought jars of ghee and boxes of sugar. 16.

As inspired by King Uttam attendants brought deep pans, perforated ladles, cauldrons, big plates, long ladles, different kind of water pitchers, big plates, trays, shallow earthen ware, jars etc. 17.

King Uttam‘s two wives gladly started collecting turmeric, chili powder, cumin-seeds, cinnamon, coriander seeds, ginger, tamarind, salt, curds, butter-milk, mustard seeds etc. 18.

Brahmaji was ashamed to witness the ardent services of the female devotees.

Brahmin widows and wives wearing holy clothes who were slim and with slender stature due to observing fasts, brought water from the vast Ganges river with pots and pitchers on their waists. 19.

Lord Brahma felt guilty to call these devout ladies ‘Abala’ who though very slim because of the practice of deep penance, were seen laboring Day and night. 20.

Inspired by Jaya and Lalita, King Uttam after consulting cooks and confectioners, constructed an ideal kitchen and brought various kinds of vegetables from other cities. 21.

There were two different holy kitchens, one for men and other for women. Gents working under Prabhasankarvipra cooked in one kitchen and women working under Ganga cooked in other kitchen. 22.

Manaji, Krishnaji, Ambaram and others served in the kitchen meant for men by bringing vegetable, grocery, fuel/firewood etc. 23.

Women devotees Hari, Ratnavati, Rama, Ganga, Rajani, Nathi, Vijaya and Kallu promptly brought vegetables, firewood etc. 24.

Having been pleased with the men and women who were found to work with pleasure, Shri Hari immediately gave directions to the messengers with fast pace and asked them to invite the religious preachers staying in remote cities. 25.

Messengers having reached their told the Sages that our Lord has instructed us to invite you for His Darshana on Dhanatrayodashi. 26.

Invitation to the saints for Darshan of Annakut festival.

Thus told by the messengers, The Sages were eager to take the opportunity of Darsana of Shri Hari. They have saluted Mahaprabhu in their hearts and keeping their books etc. at proper places; they hastily left for Durgapur without even informing the natives and villagers. 27-28.

On their way they ate fruits etc. Or whatever alms they got during their journey. Sometimes they walked even without eating anything. 29.

Taking this opportunity of taking Darshana of Shri Hari, many men and women devotees immediately started their journey with great joy. 30.

People of west Panchal were surprised to see the group of Sages and people of other countries walking very fast. They started wondering ‘Where from these ships (as it were) filled with a group of Sages are coming. Or rather is this the ocean in the form of people crossing its boundary ?. Thus giving pleasant surprise to the people who were ignorant of the real state of affairs, the Sages came to Durgapur. 31-34.

As soon as the Sages came nearer to the abode of Shri Hari, they amplified their speed than before and yet did not feel exhausted at all. 35.

When they saw Shri Hari mounted on a horse running with great speed, they did not even feel either the pleasure or the pain aroused during their journey. 36.

The Samkhya yogis, sages, ascetics and Brahmins from different corners of the world arrived in the vicinity of Durgapur. 37.

Those householders, Sages who were staying in distant regions and who unfailingly came to take the Darshana of Shri Hari on Prabodhini celebrations arrived at Durgapur. The ascetics and householders stayed in their own groups and were detained in the suburbs of Durgapur on the Dvadasi day. O King! All the devotees who were eager to reach Durgapur and were longing to take Darshan of Shri Hari were held up there as instructed by Shri Hari. 38 - 40.

On the eve of Dvadashi, the suburbs of Durgapur which were crowded by the devotees, Sages and general public resembled the ocean crossing its boundary. That night all the devotees and Sages praised the virtues of Bhaktinandan. Since they had a solemn desire to witness the Darsana of divine Shri Hari in person; they were dissatisfied in their minds. 41 - 42.

Thus ends the fifth chapter entitled, ‘ Grouping of Sages for Annakuta festival.’ in the third Prakaran of Satsangi jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 5