Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 10 Chapter 84:1-13

Book 10: Eighty-four (Latter Half)

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 84: Verses 1-13


An account of the pilgrimage (undertaken by Lord Sri Krsna)

Sri Suka began again : (Pariksit !) hearing of this deep attachment of the consorts of Sri Krsna, the Soul of the universe, to His person, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Subhadra, the consorts of the other kings and even the Gopis, whom He held so dear, were all greatly astonished and their eyes were bedimmed with tears of joy. When ladies were thus talking with ladies and men with men, a number of sages appeared on the spot for the sight of Bhagavan Sri Krsna and Sri Balarama. The more prominent of them were Krsnadwaipayana (Vyasa), Devarsi Narada, Cyavana, Devala, Asita, Vitwamitra, Sananaada, Bharadwaja, Gautama, the glorious Parasurama with his disciples, Vasistha, Galava, Bhrgu, Pulastya, Kasyapa, Atri, Markandeya, Brhaspati, Dwita, Trita, Ekata, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara, Angira, Agastya, Yajnavalkya, Vamadeva, and (a few) others. Seeing these Rsis, revered and worshipped by the world, all the kings who had been sitting there from before including (Yudhisthira and) the (other) Pandavas, Sri Krsna and Balarama at once stood up and bowed to them. (There) Sri Krsna, Balarama and all (those who were present there) welcomed them with sweet words and duly honoured them by offering seats, water to wash their hands and feet with, garlands, incense, sandal-paste etc. When the sages were comfortably seated, the Lord, who had appeared on earth for the protection of virtue, spoke (as follows) with the great assembly silently listening to Him.
The glorious Lord said : Today our life has been highly blessed, and the object of our taking birth has been fully realized; (for) we have been honoured with a visit from the great Masters of Yoga, whose sight cannot be easily obtained even by the gods. How can people whose austerities are poor, and who see God cabined in a particular image (only), gain (the rare privilege of) your sight and touch, of inquiring about your health etc., and of offering you salutations and worship ? Sacred waters alone do not possess purificatory virtues, nor do images of clay and stone alone represent the deities. Whereas these purify a man after one has recourse to them and worshipped them for a long time, holy men purify by their very sight. The gods presiding over fire, the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, water, ether, air, speech and mind, when worshipped, cannot completely wash oft our sins; inasmuch as they promote our sense of diversity; whereas the wise wipe off our sins even if we serve them for a few minutes, (less than an hour). (0 sages and assembled friends) he who looks upon His contemptuous body (which is virtually dead), constituted of the three elements of wind, bile and phlegm as the self, those related to the body (wife etc.) as one's own and images of clay, stone or wood as his objects of worship, and who regards the sacred waters alone as purifying, and never so the men of wisdom, is indeed, a donkey among cows (in human form).

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