SrimadBhagavatam Episode 258: Maharishi Nārada visits Pracetās

Trivikramāya namah

Pracetās now came out of the ocean waters. They saw that the entire earth filled with trees so tall that they appeared to be touching the skies. They were infuriated to see that trees had covered the entire earth. Seeking to free the earth from trees, they emitted fire and wind from their mouths. When the trees were being reduced to ashes, Lord Brahma arrived. Through pleasing words He pacified them and put an end to their attempts. He protected trees. He reassured the remaining trees that were trembling in fear. Thereafter abiding by his order, the trees gave their daughter to Pracetās in marriage.

Abiding by Lord Brahma’s order, Pracetās married this girl whose name was Māriṣa. Previously Daksha Prajāpati was born from the mind of Lord Brahma, who had emerged from the navel lotus of Mahavishnu. Daksha, the mind-born son of Brahma, had insulted Lord Shiva as a result of which he was destined to undergo the sufferings of living in a womb. He therefore entered into the womb of Māriṣa.

Before the start of the Chākṣuṣa Manvantara (period of creation), when the previous creation had been destroyed completely, on the orders of the Supreme Lord, Daksha who was reborn from the womb of Mariṣa created progeny.

He was born with unparalled radiance that surpassed the radiance of everyone around him. Due to his expertise in fruitive activities, he was addressed as Daksha. Lord Brahma applauded his activities and entrusted him with the task of maintaining the creation of the world. Daksha, being a leader for all other Prajāpatis instructed them to increase and sustain the creation.

With this the thirtieth chapter of the fourth canto comes to an end.

Fourth Canto Thirty-first chapter

In this chapter, the conversation between Maharishi Narada and Pracetās is explained.

Maharishi Maitreya continued, “As soon as the time stipulated by the Lord had elapsed, Pracetās recollected the words of the Lord. They entrusted their wife to the care of their son and renounced the world. They then went to the oceans in the western direction with the intention of contemplating upon the Supreme Truth.

They recollected the Lord’s statement that He exists within every living being in the form of the Self. Previously in this place Maharishi Jājali had obtained liberation. Giving up action in entirety and accepting the vow of silence they sat in a perfect posture with eyes closed. They performed Pranayama and brought their mind completely under control. They then fixed it entirely upon the Supreme Lord.

Narada Maharishi, who is worshipped not only by Devatas but also by Demons, observed them. When he approached them, Pracetās stood up reverentially and offered obeisance to him. They praised him, offered him a worthy seat and worshipped him reverentially. After he was seated comfortably, they extolled him as follows,

“Svāgataṁ te surarṣe ’dya diṣṭyā no darśanaṁ gataḥ tava caṅkramaṇaṁ brahmann abhayāya yathā raveḥ

O Deva-rishi! We reverentially welcome you. Due to the Lord’s grace you have made yourself visible to us. Due to the movement of the Sun, people are freed from the fear of darkness. Likewise due to your travels, people obtain enlightenment and thereby their fear of worldly bondages is destroyed.

O great saint, both Lords Shiva and Srihari have initiated us into Self-knowledge. Even then, as we have led a house-holder’s life for a very long period of time and have associated with objects therein we have almost forgotten that initiation. Please bless that the Self-knowledge, which bestows the person with the ability of seeing the non-dual Self, arises within us. With this we will easily cross this ocean of repeated re-births, which otherwise is impossible to cross”.

Nārada Maharishi, whose mind is eternally fixed upon Lord Srihari, replied,

“Taj janma tāni karmāṇi tad āyus tan mano vacaḥ Nṛṇāṁ yena hi viśvātmā sevyate harir īśvaraḥ

Srihari manifests in the form of this universe. He is the Self (atma) for this entire creation. A perfect human birth is that which is utilized exclusively for offering services to Lord Srihari. A perfect action is that which is performed exclusively for Srihari. A perfect life-span is that which has been dedicated exclusively for service of Lord Srihari. A perfect mind is that which thinks exclusively about Srihari. Perfect speech is that speech which extols Srihari.

Srihari offers himself completely to his devotees. He showers Self-knowledge upon his devotees. What is the use of a life in which love and friendship towards Srihari is missing? Human birth is the first birth. Upanayanam (obtaining the sacred thread) is the second birth. Yagna is the third birth.

The spiritual tools undertaken to bring about auspiciousness such as Vedic rituals, a long life-span like the Devatas, listening to Scriptures, studying Vedas, undertaking penance, having good intentions, good speech, good intellect, bodily strength, sense control, practice of Yogic austerities, ability to discriminate between Self and non-Self objects in the creation and taking up sanyasa, are all useless.

In reality Self (atma) is the culminating point for all these actions that cause auspiciousness. Among all spiritual tools, obtaining Self-knowledge is the most supreme! It causes ultimate auspiciousness! There is no tool superior to this. Srihari, who bestows this Self-knowledge to living beings, resides within them as the Self.

When the roots of a plant are watered, water reaches every nook and corner of the plant. When food is offered to the life-force (prana shakti), all the senses get energized. In the same manner, worshipping Lord Srihari amounts to worshipping the entire creation!”