Now Kali-yuga, adharma bandhu , the friend of irreligion, sinful activity, is rampant. The people everywhere are envious, only quarrelling and fighting amongst each other.
In Kali-yuga there is no truthfulness, there is no tapasya , no austerity or penance, no sadacara , good behaviour. People everywhere are addicted to asadacara , illicit sex, pornography, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, eating, sleeping, defending and mating. They are all murkha , foolish, and manda-buddhi , their intelligence is impure, therefore they have no manda-bhagya , good fortune. They are suffering, afflicted with many types of disease. There is no krsna-katha. Even so-called sadhus , pseudo sadhus are engaged in sinful activity, running after women and wealth.
In almost every grha , household women are dominating over the men. Every human being is greedy, endeavouring only to accumulate more and more money, to acquire the objects of sense enjoyment. For this reason they are even selling their own daughters. Fighting and quarrelling is common between husband and wife, between father and son, between friends, because in Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, dambha , pride is the mapa-kari, the measuring rod.
No, I am greater. In Bharata-varsa , India, all the asramas, brahmacari-asrama, grhastha-asrama, vanaprastha, sannyasa are polluted. All the holy places, holy rivers are managed by mlecchas and yavanas. Many temples have been desecrated by the yavanas. It is very difficult to find one siddha-sadhaka in this yuga , because everything is being ravaged by the forest fire of Kali-yuga. In Kali-yuga all human beings are greedy. They are continuously meditating on how to earn more and more money, brighter than sunshine, sweeter than honey.
In Kali-yuga they are selling anna, rice. So many hotels, restaurants are selling anna. In other yugas it was not like that. Anna should not be sold, it should be distributed. This is Kali-yuga. The brahmanas are utilising the Veda, the Bhagavata like a commodity to be sold, as a way to earn their livelihood. Women sell their hair to be made into wigs. Women sell their body in prostitution to earn money. This is a horrible age, the age of Kali-yuga. O, great sages, I saw something very wonderful.
I went to the bank of the Yamuna and there I saw a young girl, yuvati , sitting and weeping. She looked very unhappy.
On her left side two very old people were lying on the ground with laboured breathing. That young girl was taking care of them, sometimes giving them consolation, and sometimes weeping. I saw some sadhus there, and I also saw innumerable young women. Good fortune will come to you.
Lord Krsna will definitely shower mercy on you. Out of curiosity I went to that young girl. The sight of you gives my heart solace, and soon my distress will vanish. But I think that even those who have achieved human life rarely gain the association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuntha. Who are these two old men lying next to you? Who are these young women?
Please tell me your tale of woe. These two old men are my sons, Jnana and Vairagya. They have grown old, so now it is completely opposite, their mother is young, and her sons are old.
All these ladies you see, they are all the tirthas , headed by Ganga, Yamuna, etc. I have no good fortune. I am very distressed and unhappy. O Narada Muni, please listen as I tell you my woeful tale. If I express it to you I may get some solace in my heart. I grew up in Karnataka. Kali reigns in Gujarata. Many pasandis reside there. They injured my body and I became old. My sons became old, morose and were lacking vitality.
This is most unusual. Have you seen such a wonder anywhere, O Naradji? You are the famous Bhakti devi. Definitely Lord Hari will shower His mercy on you and you will find happiness.
Suta Gosvami continued narrating everything to the rs is , headed by Saunaka. It is now the dreadful age of Kali-yuga. All s at-karma is completely destroyed, and yoga-marga, the paths of yoga and tapasya are completely lost. All human beings are papis , cheaters and hypocrites, and their numbers are increasing as more and more people engage in sinful activity.
Those who are patient, dhira , are never deluded, dhiras tatra na muhyati. Anantadeva, who is carrying this earth, is feeling its increasing weight. There is no auspiciousness in such a dreadful age.
Now there is no one to take care of your two sons Jnana and Vairagya. They are completely ignored in Kali-yuga because everyone is attached to gratifying their senses. Who wants jnana-vairagya? You accepted this order which pleased Him very much. To assist you, the Lord sent Mukti as your maidservant and Jnana and Vairagya as your sons.
The Lord is pleased with His obedient servants. He grants liberation, knowledge and detachment to the surrendered souls even without their asking. Residence of Bhakti Devi. You directly reside in Vaikuntha dhama where you nourish the devotees 2.
And you expand yourself on this earthly planet for their nourishment as well. You came and happily resided on this earth along with Mukti, Jnana and Vairagya from Satya-yuga to Dvapara-yuga. But in Kali-yuga, Mukti contracted the disease of irreligious pretence and languished, and with your permission, went back to Vaikuntha. Now whenever you remember her, she comes to this planet briefly and returns to Vaikuntha. Being neglected by the people of Kali-yuga, they have become old and weak, but will soon recuperate, so you need not worry.
I will find a solution to rejuvenate their bodies. O beautiful faced one, there is no other age like Kali-yuga5 because you will be established in every house as well as in the heart of every person.
Hear my vow. If I do not preach your message, subdue all other religions and make devotional festivals predominant then I shall not be considered the servant of Lord Hari. In Kali-yuga those people who follow you, even if they are sinful, will attain the abode of Lord Krsna without fear. Kali means the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, but it also indicates the age in which the Lord is readily available—kam krsnam lati dadati iti kalih.
In other yugas people were healthy, intelligent, alert, and long lived. They had a natural inclination for yoga, penance, study of the Vedas, yajnas and so on. They did not pay heed to devotion, considering it too simplistic. Without bhakti, however, liberation cannot be attained. In previous ages people had to undergo the rigours of the respective processes for many lifetimes in order to realise this fact. But in Kali-yuga there is natural propensity towards bhakti because people in general are not qualified to participate in jnana, yoga, and karma.
Therefore this age is glorious. Moreover, Lord Caitanya appeared in Kali-yuga to directly preach the message of bhakti and set the proper example. When Narada Muni says that he will establish bhakti, he means it will be done through a devotee. Therefore this verse also hints at the preaching activities of Srila Prabhupada who fulfilled the prophecies of Lord Caitanya and Sri Narada Muni.
In fact in America Srila Prabhupada once held a program which very few people attended. The great sage Narada Muni was present. The people in whose heart you reside become purified and they will not see Yamaraja, the Lord of Death, even in their dreams.
Even ghostly beings like pretas, pisacas, raksasas and daityas are not able to trouble those whose hearts are imbued with devotion. The Lord cannot be controlled by austerities, study of the Vedas. He is controlled only by bhakti and the gopis are the evidence pramana of this. In Vedic culture, the Vedas are considered to be the supreme pramana, though here Sri Narada asserts that the gopis are. This is because the gopis are the topmost knowers and lovers of Krsna.
Besides, among the gopis some are known to be the Vedas personified, hence they are also called pramana. On the strength of pious activities performed for hundreds of lives one becomes attracted to bhakti, which is the only essence in Kali-yuga.
On the strength of bhakti, Lord Krsna Himself appears to the devotee. Those people who are envious of devotion are always miserable no matter where they go within the three planetary systems. In the past, the great sage Durvasa suffered immense misery for offending a devotee.
What more can I say? All vratas, tirthas, yogas, sacrifices and talks of knowledge are not needed. Bhakti alone can grant liberation. Bhakti devi request Narada to bring her sons back to normal. Then Bhakti spoke as follows. Thus I will always reside in your heart and never leave.
O saintly person, you are most merciful. Just in a matter of moments you have removed my misery. But my sons have not yet regained their consciousness. Please quickly bring them back to normal. Mere initiation, however, cannot make one learned or renounced. He recited Bhagavad-gita again and again. With great difficulty, they were revived, but overcome by lethargy, they yawned and were unable to even open their eyes.
The lethargy and yawning of Jnana and Vairagya indicate that one can get only a meagre amount of knowledge by recitation of the scriptures mentioned. Their hair was a white as the feathers of ducks and their bodily limbs were emaciated and powerless. Owing to hunger and thirst they were weak and sleepy. Seeing this, Narada fell into anxiety and contemplated further ways to revive them from old age and sleep. O Saunaka, as the sage Narada, deliberated, meditating on the Supreme Lord, he heard a voice emanating from the sky.
The Supersoul guides the sincerely inquisitive person from within. Voice from sky spoke: you must perform one specific noble. O sage you must perform one specific noble act that will be revealed to you by some great saintly person. A sincere, inquisitive person should accept the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.
In this way the Lord helps from within and without. Jnana and Vairagya will be released. As soon as you complete that activity, Jnana and Vairagya will be released from the clutches of sleep and old age, and bhakti will reign everywhere. Personal realisations which lack the guidance of a bona fide teacher and the scriptures are unclear and insufficient. The voice did not clearly explain the path one must follow in order to achieve perfection. Nor do I know where to find those saintly persons who will explain the process to me.
What must I do to implement this order? He asked them to suggest a process by which Jnana and Vairagya could be revived. Some listened carefully but could not give a definite answer. They follow hodge-podge philosophy and lacking realisation cannot give satisfactory guidance to their disciples.
None could offer a satisfactory reply. Others stated that it could not be accomplished, while still others remarked that it was not possible to determined a correct answer.
Upon being asked the question, several simply kept quiet while others wriggled away to avoid embarrassment. They were all surprised to hear this question and none could offer a satisfactory reply.
And if Narada Muni, who is the chief yogi and saint, does not know, then who can answer? He thus became very worried and decided to go to Badari where he performed penance with the intent to find the solution to revive Jnana and Vairagya.
They were effulgent like a million suns. Please be merciful to me and explain that noble process. You are the best of yogis, most knowledgeable and scholarly. Although you appear like five year old boys, you are the senior-most saintly persons. You always reside in Vaikuntha and engage in chanting the holy names. You are always chanting the mantra harih saranam and therefore old age, which is caused by the influence of time, does not approach you.
This story is in the Third Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Please reveal that process which the voice in the sky directed. Later they were reinstated by your mercy.
I am most lowly and I feel most fortunate to have your darsana. You are very merciful so kindly bestow your mercy on me. Please reveal that process which the voice in the sky directed me to learn from saintly people.
Please explain in detail how to follow that path. How can Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya become happy? How can they be established in all classes of men? O Narada, glorious crest-jewel among the renunciates, you are the guide of those who walk the path of devotion, indeed you are the sun of bhakti-yoga.
It is not very surprising that you have undergone this great endeavour for the sake of Bhakti. It is certainly appropriate for a devotee of the Lord to properly establish Bhakti. This is the duty of every devotee of the Lord. Various sages have propagated many paths, but they are all troublesome and generally can only elevate one to the heavenly planets.
Until now, the process by which one can attain the original Personality of Godhead has remained concealed, and it is rare to find one who knows this practice.
We know the procedure the voice in the sky referred to and we will explain it to you. Please hear with an attentive mind. O Narada, sacrifice of material objects, penance, yoga, meditation, study of the Vedas and the path of knowledge, generally only lead toward fruitive activities and grant residence in the heavenly planets. Scholars have said that only jnana-yajna, or the sacrifice of knowledge, is the path of liberation. Knowledge related to the Personality of Godhead is one aspect of bhakti.
This constitutes the study of the Srimad Bhagavatam which has been sung by great personalities like Sukadeva Gosvami. This will relieve the misery of Jnana and Vairagya and will make Bhakti blissful.
As when a lion roars, wolves flee in fear, so merely by the sound of Srimad Bhagavatam, all the vicious qualities of Kali-yuga are destroyed. Bhakti is the flow of love of God and along with Jnana and Vairagya will enter every house and dance in the heart of every living being. Sri Narada said. How is it possible that they will re revived by hearing Srimad Bhagavatam? A disciple should present his doubts to his guru submissively. If he is arrogant a saintly person is not obliged to give the treasure of his knowledge to such an unqualified disciple.
After all Srimad Bhagavatam is nothing more than the essence of the Vedas. Your darsana never goes in vain and you always protect those who surrender to you, please, therefore, remove my doubt with delay. The Vedas and Itihasas mainly deal in dharma, artha, kama and moksa, but the Srimad Bhagavatam speaks only of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Krsna.
The vital fluid of the tree is spread from the root to the tip though it cannot be tasted. When that same fluid accumulates in the fruit however, it tastes very delicious. The same applies to the pastimes depicted in Srimad Bhagavatam, which is equal to the Vedas. You spoke the message of the Bhagavatam in just four verses to Vedavyasa.
Once Srila Vyasadeva, who knows the essence of all the Vedas and Upanisads, and is the compiler of the Bhagavad-gita felt dejected and was drowning in an ocean of confusion. At that time you spoke the message of the Bhagavatam in just four verses. Upon hearing these verses Vyasa was freed from his lamentation.
So why are you doubtful and astonished by this? Recite Srimad Bhagavatam to Jnana and Vairagya and their lamentation and misery will be destroyed. You are always drinking the nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam, which you heard from Lord Sesa. I have taken shelter of you for the purpose of preaching the message of bhakti, which is characterised by love of God.
Rear association of saintly persons Only one who has performed greatly pious acts27 for many millions of lifetimes may achieve the association of saintly persons like yourselves and thus get completely free from ignorance caused by material delusion and pride. He then becomes established in proper discrimination. The pious acts mentioned here are those related to devotion such as offering charity to a devotee. Please explain where this yajna should be performed. You are the knower of the Vedas, therefore please explain the glories of the Srimad Bhagavatam as spoken by Sri Sukadeva Gosvami.
Also please explain the proper procedure and duration for the recitation. We will explain everything to you, so kindly hear from us. Near Haridvara there is a bathing place or ghata on the bank of Ganges called Ananda. Haridvara means the gateway to Lord Hari, and Ananda means bliss. Bliss is in the vicinity of the Lord. Going to Haridvara means becoming favourable to the Lord and giving up the atheistic mentality.
In this mood the Bhagavatam reciter will taste bliss. Many saintly persons reside there and demigods and perfected beings visit frequently. The place abounds with various types of trees and creepers and the sand is soft and appealing.
The beautiful ghata decorates a solitary point on the river. The Ganges represents the flow of transcendental knowledge. The fragrance of lotus flowers fills the air and lions and tigers dwell with no animosity toward other animals. Go there and effortlessly start this jnana-yajna, for by the medium of this katha, a novel rasa will become manifest.
You will see Bhakti appear along with Jnana and Vairagya, who have become decrepit. Wherever there is recitation of Srimad Bhagavatam, bhakti, jnana and vairagya automatically become manifest. By the sound of Bhagavatam they will become young and energetic.
Sound, or sabda pramana, is the only means to acquire transcendental knowledge. The news spread all over the earth and throughout the three planetary systems. Besides them, the Vedas, the Upanisads, Mantra, Tantra, the seventeen Puranas and the six philosophical systems came in their personified forms. Sacred rivers like the Ganges, sacred ponds like Puskara, holy ksetras like Kuruksetra, sanctified forests like Dandaka, all the directions, majestic mountains like the Himalayas, the demigods, Gandharvas, and even Danavas came there to hear hari-katha.
Those who were not inclined to come out of excessive pride, were brought by the great sage Bhrgu who had expertly convinced them. The Kumaras then sat on a beautiful seat offered by Sri Narada and resolved themselves to recite Srimad Bhagavatam.
In the front of the audience sat Vaisnavas, renunciants, brahmacaris, and Sri Narada Muni sat in front of them. All glories! Some demigods alighted from their airplanes and from the sky others showered flowers on the audience. The Kumaras began reciting the glories of Srimad Bhagavatam before the sage Narada. Bhagavatam has 18 verses in twelve cantos and is a dialogue between Sri Sukadeva and King Pariksita. Some scholars propose that Bhagavatam refers to the Devi-bhagavatam, which also has 18 verses and twelve cantos, but this statement soundly defeats their claim because the Devi-bhagavatam was not spoke by Sri Sukadeva Gosvami.
The living entity wanders in this world owing to ignorance, until he hears the Bhagavatam Sri Sukadeva Gosvami recited. That house where Bhagavatam is recited daily becomes a holy place and those who reside there become free from all sins. Thousands of horse sacrifices and hundreds Vajapeya sacrifices cannot compare to one sixteenth of the benefit of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam.
The benefits offered by the Ganges, Gaya, Kasi, Puskara, or Prayaga cannot compare to those derived from hearing the Bhagavatam. Even if one is an erudite scholar of the Shastras, a sanyasi or has been performing devotional service for hundreds of lifetimes, one cannot achieve the goal without being favoured upon by Bhakti devi herself.
But if she so desires she can descend and make her manifestation even in the heart of a poor and destitute person. How then can one be blessed by her mercy? Bhakti is never dependent on anything. May it be war, famine, disasters or a pandemic, one must keep endeavouring to attract the mercy of Bhakti devi, without being affected by the external circumstances of the World.
Such staunch faith in and unwavering determination to achieve the mercy of Bhakti devi is the only means for one to achieve the ultimate good fortune of drowning in the ocean of transcendental bliss of service unto the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar.
Bhakti devi is supremely independent.
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