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Published on:

8th Sep 2020

Bhagwat 8th September 2020

Scriptures enable us to attain our true potential

Story

  • Sukhdevji and how Raja Janak became his guru
  • Eknathji and his son In law

The objective of Shrimad Bhagavat Mahapuran:

Parsiksit to Sukhdevji 

King Pariksit asks here the following two questions;

  1. What should be done under all circumstances by a man who is under the verge of death? 
  2. What should be done by man in general - What should a mortal do at all times and under all circumstances? 
  • What should they hear?
  • What should they repeat?
  • What should they keep in their mind?
  • What should they resort to?
  • What should they avoid?

It is these two questions that have been answered in length in the course of the eleven books of ‘Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapuran’.

———————————————

Chaturshloki Bhagwatam (These 4 shlokas, for our understanding have been expanded into 18000) 


Brahman

I alone am, I alone was and I alone will be. 

Because, we insist that the creation is real, hence, we are using ’was and is will be’, in the actual sense the Lord is beyond the realm of time and devoid of attribute.

In the beginning Lord alone was, and he is devoid of all difference. Then creation came into place and it seemed at that Lord became many, but in reality there is nothing but him even then. Then again after the dissolution only he the unchangeable will remain. He is beyond the manifest and the unmaifesjt, beyond sat and asat, beyond all tangibility and intangibility

‘Ataman alone and nothing else.’


Maya

Maya is cause of which, what is real seems unreal, was unreal seems real. What is, is hidden and what is not is revealed. Just like the world is not real, but we see it and the Atman is the only reality, which is never seen.

Eg: A mere rope can be seen as a snake, when there is not enough light. But, when the light is turned on, the truth of the rope comes forth and the fear is eliminated.

Maya itself is not real, it is just a projection, yet it dominates. Does it not?


World

The world is nothing but him, him alone and only him. we have just given him another name - The World

Can we have

  • Clay pot without clay
  • Gold bangle with Gold
  • Waves without the Ocean


The clay pot is nothing but clay, the bangle is nothing but gold and the wave is nothing but he ocean. 

The world is nothing but the Lord - Everything is in him, yet nothing is in him - It is all just an appearance.

‘The world is just a dream, let the vision cease. But, if you can not, just give love to all and service free.’


How to reach Brahman/Self

Delve deeper keeping the concept of ‘Presence and absence in mind’

Can there be

  • The clay pot with out the clay
  • The Gold bangle without the gold
  • The waves without the ocean


There can be

  • Clay without the clay pot
  • Gold without the gold bangle 
  • Ocean without the waves


‘Analysing like this we finally reach the atman, or self. This is where analysing is not possible because it is infinite, one without a second.’

——————————————

Shrimad Bhagavata Maha Puran, is not a ramdom compilation of stories. It has been thoughtful written keeping the flowing 10 points in mind. It is said that each book, hence forth will explain each topic and slowly bring us close to ‘Ashraye’. 

Book 1 - Adhikari Skanda

Book 2 - Sadhana Skanda

Book 3 - Sarga and so on;

1. Sarga - How was this world created?

2. Visarga -How were the different species made, when all the creatures are formed out of the same tattva and the same panchbhootas?

3. Stithi - How is the world upheld and where?

4. Poshana - Who provides the life sustaining water when the earth dries up?

5. Utis - Which are the different desires that arise in peoples mind?

6. Manvantars - How is time divided?

7. Isanukatha - What is the nature of Bhaktas?

8. Nirodha - How does one control the mind, to love the Lord?

9. Mukti - What is mukti?

10. Asraya - What is the nature of that, which upholds all else?


Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏

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About the Podcast

Shruti Says
As I learn I share my humble learning.

- Ramcharitmanas (Ramayan)- 3 Episodes (Currently conducting session)
- Bhaj Govindam - 23 Episodes
- Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran - 65 Episodes
- Geeta - 29 Episodes
- Sunderkand - 7 Episodes
- Vibhishan Gita (Completed) - 15 Episodes
- Navratri - Inner Awakening (Completed) - 1 Episode

Why this Endeavour?

All machines come with manuals, we read the manuals before we operate them. However, this complex machine called ‘human’ is used without any guidance. The scriptures are the ‘Manuals for Humans’. The sooner we ‘Understand’ them, the better the type of life we will lead and better directed our pursuits will be.

We are sitting on a store house of rich scriptures. The wisdoms that abides in them is immense. However, most of the time this precious knowledge is kept covered in an orange cloth, in a sacred corner and removed occasionally for chants and obeisance.

The effort here is to make these a daily read for us. We should be able to pick up any scripture, Just like one effortlessly picks up a novel, magazine, newspaper, etc. any time, anywhere, read, interpret and experience it.

As one of the saints once said,

How long are you going to read other people’s experience?

When will you experience it yourself?

There can be multiple interpretations. Delve deeper into your very being and after that constant musing, what is it that you feel this reveals?

Details on the Books;

Bhaj Govindam

This is a hard hitting composition to awaken us by the great Guru Shankaracharya.
My learnings from Bhaj Govindam is a written expression, kindly refer to the notes below the audio.

Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran

This is a Mahapuran, written by Vedvyasaji and narrated by his son Sukhdevji to Raja Pariksit.
Note: Pls refer to the notes to see which Skanda and chapter the session talks about. Currently we are in the 9th Skandh or Book.

Geeta

This is widely known, and is a part of Mahabharat. It is a divine dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjun.
The sessions are verse 24 onwards. Verse from 1 to 23 were not recorded, as at that time we had face to face sessions.

Sundarkand

This is a part of the Ramayan. Here, the great devotee Hanumanji, shows us essence of devotion. We are referring to the Tulsi Ramayan - RamcharitraManas

Vibhisan Gita (Complete)

This was done while understanding Shri Ram in Bhagwat, however the material was taken from Ramayan
- Vibhishan Gita (Part of Tulsi Ramayan - Lanka Kand - Completed)

May God's Grace Flow

About your host

Profile picture for Barkha Khandelwal / Barkha Sharda

Barkha Khandelwal / Barkha Sharda

I am Barkha by name, there are various ways one can introduce ones self, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend etc in simple words, a house-holder.

The other way would be to put forth my qualifications and career. Well, from that point of view, I am an MBA from IIM-Lucknow. Have had a short stint in 'Gillette', later worked in ‘Coca-Cola’ and post which I started my own venture by the name of ‘Good Life Endeavors’.

However, the corporate world is the thing of the past as of now. It has been years since the profession was left for a Vocation and a career for a calling. I have found immense solace in learning and narrating from the scriptures.

The journey of a Story-Teller and a Sadhika (an aspiring devotee), has been an experience, which is difficult to put in words. I will just let,

"What comes from the heart go to the heart"