Bhakti is a very high state of the mind,
where love exudes from the bosom of the bhakta
as the understanding of the Jiva’s
relationship and its sole reliance on the Parmatma
deepens. This is not the commonly found barter relationship or the so called prayer
for everything equation (Read more in Bhakti
- Now and Then). At higher
states, Bhakti gets fused with Jnana and becomes almost indistinguishable.
This is evident from the Alvars, Nayanmars, Dasas like Tulsidas,
Kanakadasa where despite their towering Bhakti,
one can connect to their deep jnana.
Bhakti issues forth in different flavors
based on the nature of devotion. To understand its purest form, let us dive
into the two wonderful bhaktas – Srutadeva and Bahulāśva narrated in the Eighty-Sixth adhyaya(chapter) of the Dasamaskandha
(Tenth Canto) of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Storytime:
There was a Krishnabhakta
by the name, Srutadeva in Mithila. He was the highest Brahmana (द्विजश्रेष्ठ: dvija-śreṣṭhaḥ) endowed with the best of qualities –
commited to the highest Purushartha (पूर्णार्थ:
pūrṇārthaḥ), immersed in peace (शान्त: śāntaḥ), very learned (कवि: kavi) and virtuous/free from desires of sense
gratification (अलम्पत: alampataḥ). He followed grihastashrama
and lived on what came his way, but committed to his obligations. He led a
contented life as his basic needs were taken care by divine order. Bahulāśva the King of Mithila was akin to Srutadeva, devoid of ahamkara.
Eager to bless these two, Krishna went there on a chariot driven by Daruka and surrounded by excellent rishis – Narada, Vamadeva,
Atri, Vyasa, Parasurama, Asita, Aruni, Brihaspati, Kanva, Maitreya, Cyavana,
Suka and others. The entourage moved
through the kingdoms of Anarta, Dhanva,
Kuru-jangala, Kanka, Matsya, Panchala, Kekaya, Kosala, Arna enroute to Mithila, blessing all the eager who
received them with arghya and deep
affection.
Upon arrival in Videha,
amongst the numerous citizens who came to worship and seek the blessings were Srutadeva and Bahulāśva, who insisted that Krishna
and the rishis visit their abode at
the same time. Honoring their request, Krishna
assumed two forms and appeared at their houses simultaneously and both were
unaware of the other’s blessing.
Krishna at the King’s palace: Sighting the athithis
at a distance, the King welcomed them to his abode, prostrated at their feet,
washed them with water and used that charnamrta,
the holy wash water to sprinkle on all the family members. He worshipped them
with the choicest ingredients – sandal paste, flowers, garlands, clothes,
ornaments, lamps and offered them arghya,
cows and bulls. Feeding them to satiety, pleasing them with sweet
conversations, he placed Krishna’s
feet in his lap, stroking and prayed:
- Bahulāśva understood Krishna as the Atman of all beings, the very essence (सर्वभूतानामात्मा sarva-bhūtānām ātmā), witness in and of all (साक्षी sākṣī), Self-illumined (contrast that with our jnana that comes as a reflection of the light of atman) (स्वदृग् sva-dṛg) and the all powerful (विभो vibho).(SB 10-86-31)
- Bahulāśva felt
that Krishna came there to bless him
to make HIS own statement true - Neither
Ananata (Balarama), Sri (Lakshmi) or Brahma is as dear to me as the bhakta
devoted solely to Krishna (यदात्थैकान्तभक्तान् मे नानन्त: श्रीरज: प्रिय:
yad
ātthaikānta-bhaktān me nānantaḥ śrīr ajaḥ priyaḥ SB 10-86-32).
- Bahulāśva wondered who will abandon HIS lotus-feet when Krishna was ready to offer his very SELF to the munis, who own nothing (by giving up their ahamkara)
- Bahulāśva was
able to see through the Paramatman
despite his lila as Krishna. To see the Infinite that comes
down as a finite avatara needs real jnana and deep bhakti. He realized Krishna
can liberate us from samsara by
cleansing all our papas (त्रैलोक्यवृजिनापहम् trai-lokya-vṛjināpaham SB 10-86-34).
With such earnest descriptions of Krishna, Bahulāśva
pleaded HIM to stay and bless with HIS presence for few days, which Krishna gladly obliged.
Krishna with Srutadeva: Just as King Bahulāśva, Srutadeva
oozed with enthusiasm when Krishna
showed up with the sages. He prostrated before them and broke into a
spontaneous dance due to his joy. Offering them straw seats, he washed their
feet along with his wife (Most feminists of today cannot understand that no
action of a grihasta is deemed
fruitful without one’s wife) and sprinkled it upon all the members of his
family as the holiest teertha. Srutadeva was ecstatic as if all his
desires have already been achieved. (Interesting to note that it was only due
to him overcoming all his desires, he was in a position to meet Krishna). He offered them simple and
easy to access fruits, incense, pure water, tulasi,
kusa and lotus flowers besides simple
satvic food.
Srutadeva
wondered how as someone discarded in the well of grihasta could get the association of Krishna and the wondrous sages, each sage’s feet dust was more
sanctifying than the shelter of all the holy places. After offering hospitality
to each athithi, he began to stroke
the feet of Krishna, offering his
Salutations and said:
- It is not true that Thy divine presence got revealed only now. Since the very first creation, HE entered into HIS creation and powers them through his Shakti. Just as a sleeping man projects a dream world, Bhagawan projects this prapancha through his Maya and just like the sleeping man’s Consciousness pervades his dream, Bhagawan’s presence pervades through Maya into every object and experience in the prapancha. (SB 10-86-45)
- Paramatma reveals in the spotless hearts of anyone who cleanse their mind by constantly listening, speaking, and worshipping about Bhagawan. (SB 10-86-46)
- Despite being in everyone’s hearts, You are very far and beyond the reach of the minds disturbed by Karmic disturbances and impressions; can be grasped only by those who transcend them by a mind devoted to HIM.
Srutadeva
offered his Obeisance by exalting each trait of Krishna – Reveals Himself as the Supreme Being to the person who
has realized the essence of Atman; To
those forgetful, HE appears as Death as their real selves as bodies.
Salutations to Thee who is both the causeless Purusha and the caused (Prakriti
and its evolutes). Salutations to Thee who covers the vision by Maya and also enables to rise above. Srutadeva made an earnest plea to know
how to serve Bhagawan and rise above samsara.
Krishna’s instructions: Krishna held Srutadeva’s hands and smilingly spoke to him as follows:
These rishis
roam the three worlds only to sanctify with the dust of their feet and had accompanied
Krishna with the sole intention to
bless Srutadeva.
- One gets purified gradually over a long time by seeing; touching and worshipping temples, kshetras and teerthas, but the mere sight of self realized exalted sages.
- Being born as a Brahmana is privileged birth because it is due to his auspicious and virtuous vasanas that one brings forth, but these tendencies get actualized only by tapasya (austerity), vidya (learning), tushti (contentment) and more so by mat-kalaya (unswerving devotion on HIM).
- This well rounded Brahmana (not just birth, but one who is elevated by character, tapas, vidya, tushti and immersed in complete devotion of Brahman) is dearer than his four armed form (for Krishna/Vishnu). Just as Vishnu embodies all the Devas, such a Brahmana embodies Vedas.
- Due to ignorance and lack of understanding, behave enviously and erroneously to such a viprah. A Self-realized person coupled with the knowledge of Vedas is veritably a representative of Paramatma in a human form. Worshipping such an individual is the same as worshipping the Atman in all.
- A person who has both the knowledge of the Vedas and a realization of the True nature of Atman and who is established in that understanding is HIS (Paramatma) manifestation. Krishna advised Srutadeva to have the same Bhakti and Shraddha in a Brahma-rishi as one would worship him directly.
Following the personal instructions of Krishna in seeing HIM embodied in atmajnanis, Srutadeva and Bahulāśva attained the highest Sadgati, Krishna’s lotus feet.
What is in it for me?
The most important take away from this episode is the
character traits of Srutadeva and Bahulāśva. If we can realign ourselves
to how these two handled grihastashrama
responsibilities and emulate, we will begin to attract the same outcomes.
Importance of Satsangha: Krishna’s
laborious explanation logically affirms that a Brahmajnani is veritably the embodied form of Brahman. The very sight of such an individual sanctifies and
elevates anyone who has such a blessing. To follow such an exalted sage and
live by their guidance will be a fast track evolution to understanding the Vedic wisdom and its Ultimate goal. We
also can appreciate why Gurus are
highly regarded in Sanatana Dharma.
But the only caveat here is such a
person has to be a Viprah (Knowledgeable
in Vedas) and also have Brahma Jnana. This will put many New
Age Babas out of spotlight, who will misinterpret even Krishna’s own words for peddling their business model.
Such a Satsangha
is highly encouraged for anyone who wishes to evolve on a fast track.
Insight into Jnani: The recognition of fortuitous birth
as Brahmana is in line with Karma theory, where one is aligned to leapfrog
spiritually. But the actions of majority of today’s namesake Brahmana may make us wonder. But if we
understood Krishna’s painstaking
explanations of other qualifications like tapasya,
vidya, tushti and most importantly single minded devotion to Brahman, it becomes evident that birth
is not the primary factor as the rest. Secondly there are no birth based
restrictions on the other qualifications.
So what really happens behind the scenes? The
realization, irrespective of the guru
parampara or marga one follows,
the Ultimate causeless cause, Brahman
to be all pervading and behind everything in the Prapancha. Realizing this Supreme Truth makes that Jivatma to radiate wisdom and light
directly of Paramatma, which it came
in direct contact. Due to this, a Brahmajnani
becomes an embodied version of Paramatma.
Their association in any form will be akin to directly contacting Paramatma. Such individuals are rare,
but are amongst our midst for the sole benefit of assisting other Jivatmas out of this samsara.
Rising Tide: Srutadeva and Bahulāśva were highly evolved bhaktas who were able to attract Krishna from another place to travel to
their abode and bless them. This shows how extremely kind Bhagawan is to shower HIS grace upon each one of us. For every step of ours towards HIM, HE
matches more than a million. But interestingly, when such an event happens,
countless others get benefited. Srimad
Bhagavatam records that the mere sight of Krishna dispelled the tamasic
darkness that keeps us in perpetual samsara.
As Krishna moved with his caravan of Rishis, the constant singing of his
glories by Devas and men everywhere
helped countless Jivatmas break their
shackles who were listening. (तेभ्य: स्ववीक्षणविनष्टतमिस्रदृग्भ्य:क्षेमं त्रिलोकगुरुरर्थदृशं च यच्छन् । शृण्वन् दिगन्तधवलं स्वयशोऽशुभघ्नं गीतं सुरैर्नृभिरगाच्छनकैर्विदेहान् ॥ tebhyaḥ sva-vīkṣaṇa-vinaṣṭa-tamisra-dṛgbhyaḥ kṣemaṁ
tri-loka-gurur artha-dṛśaṁ ca yacchan śṛṇvan dig-anta-dhavalaṁ
sva-yaśo ’śubha-ghnaṁ gītaṁ surair nṛbhir agāc chanakair videhān SB 10-86-21)
This Srimad
Bhagavatam episode highlights the importance of Satsangha, which implies that the discussion, singing, theme and
focus is only on Paramatma. Krishna’s explanation on such Brahmajnani who acts as HIS
representative is very insightful. Yet the biggest takeaway is the list of
qualifications of these two Bhaktas
like having inner peace and not disturbed by vrittis, committed to studying shastras
(kavi) and one who has risen above sense
indulgence. We must aim for achieving these qualities. As we mature in these
traits, Paramatma HIMSELF will send
us the resources for our evolution. Just as a Mother keen to help a child,
while at the same time wants to teach the child a lesson, Bhagawan is standing besides us to make small adjustments within,
but more than eager to help us realize our real nature. May we translate the
wisdom of this wondrous episode in Krishna’s
life and strive to stay focused on HIS feet.
ॐ तत् सत
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