TvatPãduke aviratam pari ye charanti
   dhyãyantiabhadranashane shuchayo grunanti |
vindanti te kamalanãbha bhavãpavargamãshãsate
   yadi ta ãshisha isha nãnye ||

(Srimad Bhãgavatam 10:72:4)

says Dharmaputra (the eldest of the Pandava brothers) to Lord Krishna.

One day Dharmaputra was seated on the throne surrounded by his brothers. Also seated in the court were Maharishis, Brahmins, Shatriyãs, Vysyãs, Ãchãryãs, elders of the family, known persons and relatives. At this instance, Dharmaputra addresses Sri Krishna, “Oh! Govinda! Oh! Prabho! I desire to worshipYour ‘vibhootiis’ (the different manifestations of the Lord, viz. devatãs [gods] ) through the performance of Rajasuja yajna. You should help me accomplish it.”

Dharmaputra goes on to praise the Lord,

‘Oh! Lord!
those who worship Your Pãdukãs
those who meditate on those (Lotus) Feet which eradicate all sins
the intelligent who eulogize Your Pãdukãs
Oh! One who holds the Lotus in the navel!
they are liberated from ‘samsãra’
(while) others do not.’ (10:72:4)

‘Oh! Lord of all Lords!
let people perceive the glory of service to Your Lotus Feet!
show the ‘phala’ (fruit) attained by the two --
those who worship You, realizing the glory of Bhakti
and
those who do not worship You, valuing only Karmas.’ (10:72:5)

‘Oh! Lord!
as You
are verily the ‘Atma’ of all creatures,('sarvãtmanah')
exercise equality, ( 'samadrushah')
IS verily in Bliss (that is verily You),( 'swasukhãnubhooteh')
Is Parabrahma,
(You) hold no differences as
Yours and alien
like the ‘Tree Bounty’ (‘Kalpakavruksha’)
You bestow boons
on Your devotees
as per their needs without any bias.’ (10:72:6)

Bhagavãn, on hearing this, blesses Dharmaputra with His support saying that the Maharishis, Pitrus, Devas and friends welcomed this Rajasuya yajna. The Lord tells Dharmaputra, ‘Oh! Rãjan (King)! Win over all the kings and take control of the ‘Bhoomi’ (Earth); earn all that is needed and perform this Mahayajna; these brothers of yours are ‘amsãs’ of ‘lokapãlas’. I who cannot be won over by those under the control of senses (‘indriyãs’) have been won over by you who have destroyed the senses. Those who are devoted to ME and have taken refuge in ME cannot be defeated by ‘tejas’ (lustre earned from tapas), ‘keerti’ (fame), ‘ishwarya’ (wealth), ‘sainya’ (army) and by Devas. When it is so how then can kings earn victory over you?’

A few favourites of Sri Swamiji from Srimad Bhãgavatam - the eye of our Sri Swamiji:

- 10:25:18 (Lifting of Mount Govardhana)

‘Tasmãnmaccharanam ghoshttam mannãtham matparigraham |
gopãye svãtmayogena soyam me vrata ãhitah’ ||

Indra, furious with the people of Gokula [at the advice of Krishna the annual offerings to Indra had been stopped and offered to Mount Govardhana] sends down rains to destroy the whole of Gokula. The people of Gokula rush to Krishna, their only refuge, for protection. It rains continuously for seven days. Saying, ‘I will, through my ‘mahima’ (greatness), save Gokula that has surrendered unto ME, that looks upon ME as their Lord (‘Nãtha’) and is verily accepted by ME! This is verily my vow (‘vrata’)!’ Krishna lifts Mount Govardhana on His little finger, as would a child a mushroom, holding it as the protective umbrella for the whole Gokula for all the seven days!

(Ambareesh charitra) 9:4

Ambareesha was the ruler of ‘saptadweepa’ (the earth consisting of seven islands). He was a great devotee of Lord Vãsudeva and His Bhaktãs. His wife shared his feelings. A Bhakta that he was, Ambareesha looked at his wealth as a piece of broken coconut shell! Amabreesha followed ‘ekãdasi vrata’ sincerely as prescribed by the Shastras.

Once Sage Durvasa (renowned for his short temper and curse) visited Ambareesha on ‘dwãdasi’ morning when ‘ekãdasi’ fast is broken. Happy to have such a Jnani at his home on ‘dwãdasi’, Ambareesha invited him for food. Durvasa went to the river to have his bath. Time was running out and if the ‘ekãdasi’ fast was not broken within the specified time on ‘dwãdasi’ it (‘ekãdasi’ fast) would go in vain. But, he had a guest whom he had to offer food before having it himself. He was in a fix as to what to do. Consulting the elders he took a sip of water that would break the fast within the specified time but at the same time would not be a dishonor to the guest. But, on return Sage Durvasa flew into a rage learning the happening. Abusing the king, the Sage picked a hair from his head out of which came a ghost. At the order of the Sage the ghost came up to Ambareesha to kill him. But, Ambareesha stood facing the ghost without an iota of fear!

The Lord had blessed Ambareesha with His divine wheel (‘Chakra’). Ambareesha ruled the earth with the Lord’s ‘Chakra’ on the throne. The ‘Chakra’ could not bear any harm to the Lord’s Bhakta and rose on its own from the throne and killed the ghost. It then began to chase the Sage who ran for his life. The Sage knocked at the door of every loka - the heavens, Kailash, Brahma loka - but was turned down due to fear for the Chakra. Finally, the Sage ran to Lord Vishnu for protection. The Lord who had given the Chakra to Ambareesha said, ‘I am bound by my devotee. I am not independent. Therefore, fall at the feet of the one whom you tried to harm. Only he can save you.’

The sage ran to Ambareesha and fell at his feet. Holding his feet the Sage begged his pardon. But, the embarrassed Ambareesha begged pardon from the Sage and beseeched the ‘Chakra’ not to harm the Sage.

9:4:17

‘Vãsudeve Bhagavati tadbhakteshu cha Sãdushu |
Prãpto bhãvam param vishwam yenedam loshtavat smrutam’ ||

Ambareesha was devoted to Vãsudeva and His Bhaktãs. He (the ruler of the earth!) looked upon his huge wealth as a piece of broken coconut shell!

9:4:63

‘Aham bhaktaparãdheeno hyasvatantra iva dwija |
sãdhubhirgrastahrudayo bhaktairbhaktajanapriyah’ ||

Bhagavãn addresses Sage Durvãsa
--- ‘Oh! Brahmin!
I AM bound by Bhaktãs! I AM not a ‘swatantra’ (one who enjoys freedom)!
Sadhus hold me in the cave of their hearts. Therefore, I AM helpless!’

The Lord then goes on to say, ‘Since Bhaktãs deem ME as their refuge nothing (Atma, Lakshmidevi, wealth) is more valuable to ME than my Bhaktãs. I do not forsake those who have surrendered unto ME giving up relatives, friends, well-wishers, ‘prãna’ and wealth. Further,

‘Mayi nirbhaddha hrudayãh Sãdhavah samadarshanah |
vashiikurvanti mãm bhaktyã satsriyah satpatim yatha || (9:4:66)

The Sadhus who exercise equality and have fixed their minds in ME have bound ME just as the ‘pativratãs’ (devoted loyal wives) have bound their spouse with their ‘guna’ (character/quality)!

Moreover, they (Bhaktãs) do not desire anything other than ME. Therefore, surrender to him whom you tried to harm. One who tries to harm Sadhus will meet with destruction.’

( Sri Swamiji repeatedly says, ‘Bhakti does not come from Bhagavãn but only from Sadhus. You cannot earn bhakti by visiting temples. Bhakti is born only in a Satsangh [association of Sadhus])

- 5:2

‘Tasya sodhyamanam viikshya pãdasparshavilajjitah |
astãviit tadadharerastram krupaya piidito brusham’ ||

The Sage, as per Bhagavãn’s advice, rushed back to Ambareesha and fell at his feet. The Sage took hold of the King’s feet and begged pardon.

Sri Swamiji explains the conduct of Ambareesha who was truly a Bhãgavata!
-- Ambareesha shrunk in embarrassment as the great Sage took hold of his feet. Even though the Sage had tried to kill him, Ambareesha shrunk in embarrassment when the great Brahmin touched his feet. This is the difference between a Bhakta and an ordinary mortal. The latter would have been proud and ecstatic that the Sage who had tried to harm him had been brought to book. However, Ambareesha was a Bhãgavata. Therefore, he felt truly embarrassed that a great Brahmin should fall at his feet.

Sri Swamiji points out, “A bhakta does not fear anything. Thus, when Sage Durvãsa produced a ghost from his hair to kill Ambareesha, the king who was a great Bhãgavata (devotee of the Lord) stood fixed to the ground without moving. Nor did he call out to the Chakra to come to his help. The great Bhakta thought, ‘if I have offended the great Sage in someway then let me face the punishment!’ But, it was Bhagavãn who was unable to bear any harm come to His Bhakta. Hence, the Lord came to His Bhakta’s help by instigating the Chakra to kill the ghost and attack Durvasa. The Sage who was in the highest state of Jnana where one is in the experience that he is verily the Self and not the body began to run away from the Chakra for fear of life!”

5:12:12

‘Rahooganaitatapasã na yãti
   na chejjyayã nirpannãd gruhãdvã |
nacchandasã naiva jãlagnirsooryair
   vina mahatpãdarajobhishekam’ ||

Jadabharata, a Jnãni, tells king Rahoogana, ‘Oh! Rahoogana! This Brahman cannot be attained through tapas! Nor can It be known through the offering of food or the like to Devas; through ‘grahatãsrama’ (householder’s life); through the study of the Vedas nor through the worship of ‘jala’ (water), ‘agni’ (fire), ‘soorya’ (Sun)! IT (the Brahman) can be attained only through the worship of the dust of the Feet of Mahans.

10:80:43

‘Guror anugrahenaiva pumãn purnah prasshãntaye!’

Lord Krishna, the ruler of Dwaraka, is visited by his Gurukula (School) friend Sridama (Kuchela) who epitomized poverty. Krishna tells his friend, ‘Sridama! You who are a symbol of poverty and I who am the Lord of Dwaraka and Lakshmipati (the Lord of the Goddess of wealth) are both happy. Do you know the reason for this? At the end of our studies in Sandeepani Gurukula, our Guru Sandeepani blessed us with peace and happiness. Man attains fullness only through the blessings of the Master!’

Srimad Bhãgavata pãrayana (reading) and chanting of Bhagavan Nãma are the only true offering to our Guru Maharaj. Let us offer this at the Holy Feet of our Guru Maharaj on ‘Swati’ - 4th November, 2002 - the Jayanti of our Guru Maharaj AND EVERYDAY!

JAI GURUNAATH! JAI GURUNAATH! JAI GURUNAATH! JAI GURUNAATH!
GLORY UNTO OUR GURU MAHARAJ’S PAADUKA!

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