Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 19:1-10

Book 5: Chapter 19

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 19: Verses 1-10
The description of Jambudwipa concluded

Sri Suka continued : In Kimpurusavarsa that foremost devotee of the Lord, Hanuman, who takes great pleasure in remaining by the side of his Lord's feet, adores with unremitting devotion, alongwith the Kimpurusas (the denizens of that Varsa), the most ancient Person in the form of Lord Sri Rama, elder Brother of Laksmana and the Delighter (Beloved) of Sita. (There) accompanied by Arstisena (a chief denizen of the Varsa), he listens with great interest the most auspicious story of his divine Lord, sung by the Gandharvas and himself repeats the following (prayer):- "Hail to the glorious Lord (Sri Rama), denoted by the mystical syllable OM ! Hail to Him who is possessed of noble characteristics and an ideal character and conduct ! Hail to Him who fully disciplined His self (and) followed the wishes of the people ! Hail to Him who is the (very) touch stone of reputation for goodness Hail to the Lord who is resplendent with His devotion to the Brahmana race ! Hail to the Supreme Person in the form of a great Ruler!" "I resort to Him who is of the nature of pure Consciousness, the only entity, who has by His own divine energy (that constitutes His very being) distanced His potency known by the name of Maya (consisting of the three Gunas), (nay,) who is other than this objective world and perfectly serene, who can be realized (only) by those possessed of a pure mind, and who transcends all (material) names and forms and is (absolutely) egoless.

The descent of that omnipotent Lord in a human semblance on this earth is really intended to teach mankind (the ways of the great) and not merely to exterminate the demon race (which could be done by His mere will) Otherwise how could there be any woes caused by (separation from) Sita (His divine Spouse) to the supreme Lord, the Soul of the universe, revelling in His own (blissful) nature ? He is the same as Lord Vasudeva (the abode of the whole universe)-the greatest friend, (nay,) the very Self of (all) wise men[1]- not (in the least) attached to (anything in) the three worlds. He could not (therefore) give way to infatuation occasioned by (separation from) His Consort nor could He abandon (send into exile) Laksmana[2] (except in order to teach the world the ways of the great). Indeed neither pedigree nor physical charm nor eloquence nor intellectual calibre nor (again) race (the species of life in which one is born) is conducive to the pleasure of that Supreme being; for lo ! Sri Rama (elder brother of Laksmana) admitted to His friendship even us, wild beasts (monkeys), bereft of all these (qualifications) Therefore, whether a god or a demon, a monkey or a human being-whatever one may be-one should resort (for protection) with all one's being to the noblest Sri Rama-Lord Sri Hari Himself in human semblance-who is supremely conscious of services done to Him and who (while returning to His divine Abode at the end of His pastime on earth) led to Heaven (all) the people of north Kosala."

Again, in order to shower His grace (by setting a noble example) on those who have controlled their mind, the Lord compassionately practises in Bharatavarsa (in the holy retreat of Badarikasrama)-under the name of Nara-Narayana, till the end of the Kalpa, His movements remaining unperceived-austerities, which, while enhancing one's religious merit, enlightenment, aversion to the pleasures of sense, Yogic power, self-control and freedom from egotism, (eventually) lead to Self-Realization. Intending to instruct Savarni (one of the prospective Manus, who is going to preside over the next or eighth Manvantara) in the Pancaratra Agama (describing the greatness of the Lord) as well as in (the principles of) Sankhya (the process of realizing God as identical with oneself) and Yoga (the process of union with the Lord as distinct from oneself) as taught by the Lord (Himself) in Srimad Bhagavadgita, the glorious Narada, along with the people of Bharatavarsa, who follow the rules of Vamasrama (the division of society into four Vamas or grades and four Asramas or stages in life), adores the Lord (Nara-Narayana) with a feeling of supreme devotion and repeats the following (prayer):-

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References

  1. The Lord is, in fact, the friend as well as the Self of all embodied souls without distinction; yet He is spoken of here as the friend and the Self of wise men in the sense that it is the wise alone who recognize Him as such.
  2. We are told in the Ramayana that Lord Sri Rama was once closeted with a messenger of the gods Laksmana guarded the entrance under orders of the Lord, who had strictly warned him not to enter the room himself nor allow anyone else to do so under any circumstance, adding that anyone who did so would be beheaded by Him. Meanwhile the Irascible sage Durvasa appeared on the scene and peremptorily demanded that the Lord should at once be apprised of his presence, threatening to curse Him if Laksmana declined to do so. Laksmana preferred to be killed by his divine Brother rather than invite the sage's curse on Him and informed the Lord of his arrival. The sage was then ushered into the Lord's presence and respectfully dismissed after being duly entertained The Lord now felt very miserable when He thought of the terrible fate which awaited Laksmana, and remained mute He then summoned His counsellors and invited their opinion, where upon the sage Vasislha exhorted Him to exile Laksmana, which was as good as beheading him. The Lord accepted the advice of His preceptor and did accordingly