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Published on:

22nd May 2018

Bhagwat Session 16

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Sixteenth Session

Bhagavata Tritiya Skanda (Book Three)

Chapter 1 to 20 (Tying the loose ends)

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In life we are always faced with two elements, ‘Controllable’ and ‘Uncontrollable’. Instead of freighting over what we have no control on, work on what we have control over and see the magic unfold.

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Point 1

Don’t Lose focus - Chapter 3 is to understand Sarga. 

Every book in ’Srimad Bhagavat Mahapuran’ has been written to explain a point and bring us to Asreya. 

Sarga - How was this world created?

Visarga - How were the different species made, when all the creatures are formed out of the same tatva?

Till -

Asreya - What is the nature of that, which upholds all else.

Now,

It contains 33 chapters and points at the Lord through creation. ‘The changing balance of the three gunas, within the light of the Brahman, cause all the variety seen in this world.

The first nineteenth chapters describe the Asura Visarga and the remaining fourteen chapters describe the Daiva sarga.

Point 2

All is one - No question of Inequality - Drop the mundane struggle of addressing disparity where there is none. Use these scriptures to understand the true culture and the Higher Self.

There is NO:

- Child marriage concept 

- Women inequality 

- Wife as an inferior element

- One is higher than the other 

  - Be it Sage or God

  - Servant or master

- Difference between Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh 

- Taboos: What we shy off in talking about today are covered in the scriptures as normal. But, with an insight into the decorum

- Demons: Even the so called evil, followed rules.

Point 3

Human the Supreme Being and the first tangible creation.

Brahma after repeated round of Intense Tapa and Effort. After removing one layer after an other of various tendencies. Created the Human Being from his purest self and equipped him with the purest of tendencies, for the benefit of the entire creation.

Point 4

What is that which is in all? What is that which is changeless? What Is that which is all? What is that beyond the name and form?

What is that?

When we look at the creation happening, we realise that there is something that permeates all. 

Story 1: 

Sati’s doubts Ramji as the supreme self and goes to test him. He not only recognises her, who is in the guise of Sita. But also, gives her a divine vision. 

She saw multitudes of universes, and each separate vision of Ram was attended by a host of gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, various species and animated and in animate creation. 

But, while all that adored the Lord appeared in various garbs, the garbs of Ram, Sita and Laxman did not vary.

Story 2: 

Kaagbhasundi had a doubt on Sri Ram, when he saw him crying like a ordinary baby. This was at the time when he would go and spend time with Ram when it was time for Ram Leela.

When this doubt entered he began to fly away but was chased by this crying baby, with his hand stretched out to catch him across universes. Not only this, when Kagabhasundi gave up and feel down. He was taken in by this Small Rama and resided in him for 100 of years going from one universe to the other in his body. 

He says, ‘ Everything is saw had a distinctive stamp of it own. But, in my round of the innumerable universes, I saw no other Ram.’

Point 5

What is this Ram they are talking about?

Tat Tvam Asi means You Are That

Ahaṁ Brahmāsmī means I am Brahman

Story 1: Princess of Kashi (Link Shared)

Story 2: Raja Janak (Link Shared)

‘Na yeh Saach, Na woh Saach, bus tu hi saach.’


Point 5 

Varaha Avatar is the form that is made up of scarifies which can not be perceived by sinful. He is all the sacrificial act, the sacrificial material and the result of the sacrifices also. 

He is the outcome of that Yagna which is smokeless. Where the eyes water because of the love for God. Where there is not smoke as there is no pain because of sacrifice, but only a joyful bliss. 

Where there is the realisation that by forgoing the pot, I have lost nothing as I have secured the Clay. 

‘Who else but you O Lord could venture to lift up the earth, that had sunk into the lowest depth of water.’

Just like by fixing our mind on you can we remove the Avidhya that our true self has been surrounded by.


Point 7 

In Ramayan Uttarkand, we saw how Garuda got deluded and he flew to Shivji, who is all pervading to seek help in getting rid of ignorance. To which Shivji replied and this guidance applies to all of us.

‘Garuda you have met me on the way, how then shall I instruct you? Doubts are wholly resolved only when one enjoys the fellowship of saints for a long time and listens to the delightful stories of Shri Hari, that have been sung by sages in diverse ways and the sole theme of which in the being, in the middle and in the end is the Divine Lord

I shall accordingly send you to a place where the story of Shri Hari is recited everyday; you go there and listen. 

As you hear it all your doubts will vanish and you will develop intense love for the Lord. 

Except in the company of saints there is not talk of Shri Hari, and one can not be rid of error except through such talk. And till ones error is dispersed, one can not have deep rooted affection for the Lord.

Jai Shri Ram 🙏

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"