Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 15:35-43

Book 3: Chapter 15

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 15: Verses 35-43
Sanaka and his three brothers pronounce a curse against Jaya and Vijaya

Hearing this utterance of the sages and knowing it to be a curse from the Brahmanas, which could not be counteracted even by multitudes of missiles, the two attendants of Sri Hari, who is afraid of the Brahmanas even more than they, immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, clasping the sages' feet with great humility. "You have meted out to us a punishment which is but meet for an offender; let it, therefore, take effect, so that it may purge us in toto of the sin of showing disrespect to the Lord (by insulting you, who are worthy of His respect). But if you feel the least compunction (in your heart) due to compassion for us, let us not fall a prey to infatuation that may efface from our mind the memory of the Lord when we descend into the lower regions." That very moment the Lord, whose navel is the seat of a lotus, and who is the delight of the righteous, learnt about the insult thus offered by His own servants to saints (like Sanaka and his three brothers), and went to the spot (where the sages had been held up) on those very feet which were sought after by recluses and great sages, accompanied by Sri (His beloved Spouse). The Sages saw that the Lord, who was the goal of their Samadhi (profound meditation), had arrived before their very eyes, accompanied by His own attendants, who carried articles suited to the visit (such as the umbrella, chowries and so on). The white umbrella (which was held over His head) looked like the moon; (while the strings of pearls hanging from its edge) and dancing in the cool breeze coming from the pair of chowries that (were being waved on both His sides and) shone like swans looked like drops of nectar falling from its rays. The Lord, who is the repository of all that is worth coveting, was graciously disposed towards all and touched the heart (of His devotees) by His affectionate glances. With Goddess Laksmi, who shone on His swarthy and broad chest (in the form of a golden streak), He enhanced the beauty as it were of His own abode (Vaikuntha) the crest-jewel of all heavenly worlds. He was adorned with a girdle that shone brightly on the yellow cloth covering His large hips and with a garland of sylvan flowers, which was distinguished by the humming of bees; His lovely wrists were graced with bracelets, and He had rested one of His hands on the shoulder of Garuda (the son of Vinata) and was revolving a lotus with another. His countenance was distinguished by cheeks-which enhanced the beauty of the alligator-shaped pendants, that outshone lightning-and a prominent nose; and His head was covered with a crown studded with gems. A charming and superb necklace was hanging between His stout arms, while His neck was adorned with the gem known by the name of Kaustubha. The sages regarded with unsated eyes,and joyously bowed their heads to, the Lord who (says Brahma to the gods) had assumed a personality for his (Brahma's) own sake as well as for the sake of Bhava (Lord Siva) and yourselves (the other gods)-a personality which was full of abundant charm and about which His devotees thought within themselves that Indira's (Laksmi s) excessive pride (of beauty) disappeared (at its very sight). The breeze laden with the honey of the Tulasi blossoms, mixed with the dust of the lotus-feet of that lotus-eyed Lord, entered the interior of those sages through the nose (the door for its passage) and not only thrilled their body but caused a flutter in their mind too, (ever) immersed as they were in the joy of oneness with the Absolute (and thus above all excitation caused by sense-contacts[1]).

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References

  1. * This shows that the form of the Lord is purely divine in substance and has no mixture of Prakrti or Matter in it. Had it been a product of Matter like our bodies, the fragrance of any part of His body or of anything connected with it could not have disturbed the serenity of sages like Sanaka and others, who are the masters of Jnanis and Yogis of all ages.

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