The previous episode witnessed the grand finale of Bhagawan Krishna ascending back to Vaikunta, after a 125-year-stint in this world. As Bhagawan Himself proclaimed in His Bhagawad Gita, He had come down from Vaikunta to this world to protect “Saadhus” (Ardent devotees) and to destroy “Dushtas” (Raakshasas and the people who follow the path of Adharma). Within this stint, Bhagawan successfully established this single-pointed agenda and had returned back to His divine abode. Thus, we should recollect here that the Devas and Goddess Bhoomadevi had once requested Bhagawan Vishnu to incarnate in this world to reduce the “load” that this earth is taking up. When we say “load”, it refers mostly to those people who follow “Adharma” and how their population was ever-increasing, which resulted in Adharma becoming the order of the day! It is at this time Bhagawan Vishnu incarnated as Bhagawan Krishna and re-eatablished the Dharma in this world.
We’ve witnessed in the yesterday’s episode that as Bhagawan Krishna was making His way to Vaikunta, He was welcomed by all the Devas, Bhagawan Shiva and Devi Paarvati in unison and congratulated Him for His great feat! With this, Bhagawan Vishnu had accomplished what has to be accomplished as per the Dharma of the Dwaapara Yuga. After Bhagawan Krishna leaves this world, the Kali Yuga commences and till date, we’re all in this Kali Yuga, awaiting for Bhagawan’s return to this world eagerly! Having said thus, we now come to the all-important “Phalastuthi” of the Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana, which explains the innumerable benefits that the devotee would gain by reading through or chanting the slokas of this sacred text. Sage Sukhaachaarya explains to King Pariskhit thus,
“Ya yetaam praatharutthaaya krishnasya padavim paraam!
Tathah keerthayeth bhaktyaa taameva aapnotyanuthhamaam!!”
Sage Sukhaachaarya explains clearly thus, “Oh Parikshit! All those devotees who listen or read or recite this sacred text and especially this context wherein Bhagawan Krishna is ascending back to Vaikunta, would be granted “Moksha” immediately by Bhagawan, without any prejudice! The devotees’ level of Bhakti would increase manifold after this recital. With this high level of Bhakti, the devotee is being pulled by Bhagawan to His divine Vaikunta, and is never left stranded anywhere in any other Lokha!”
“Dhaaruko dvaarakaametya vasudeva upasenayoho!
Patithvaa charanaavastrair nyancheth krishnavicchutaha!!”
Sage Sukhaachaarya continues thus, “Those who listen to Bhagawan Krishna’s entire Charithra – Right from His incarnation as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva, to killing of Kamsa, to establishing of Dwaarakapuri, to playing an important role in helping out the Paandava brothers at Indraprastha, to preaching the Bhagawad Gita to this world, to protecting the Paandavas in the Kurukshetra war, to marrying Rukmini Devi and other important people, to blessing infinite number of devotees and finally the ascent of Bhagawan to Vaikunta – Would get a happy and peaceful life, both in this world as well as at Vaikunta! Those who worship this sacred text and read / write / listen to it everyday with ardent devotion, would be the most dearest people to Bhagawan Krishna, as He Himself had proclaimed that He resides in this Kali Yuga amidst this particular text! Thus, one can be rest-assured that he / she would be under constant protection of Bhagawan Krishna at all times, just like how Arjuna was. The devotee can be rest-assured that Bhagawan Krishna is executing all his / her Karma in this world without any blemish. The devotee can be rest-assured that all of his / her sins would be totally washed away by Bhagawan Krishna’s infinite grace, thus paving the way for attaining the highest Moksha!”
As Sage Sukhaachaarya explains thus, we come to the end of the eleventh “Skandha” of the Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana. In this “Skandha”, we’ve mainly witnessed Bhagawan Krishna’s important pieces of advice to Uddhava as He is preparing to ascend back to Vaikunta. These pieces of advice form the “Keshava-Uddhava-Samvaadham”, which is quite similar to what Bhagawan explained to Arjuna in the Bhagawad Gita. In fact, we shall infer that this “Keshava-Uddhava-Samvaadham” is a condensed version of the Shrimad Bhagawad Gita put together. Bhagawan Krishna has explained almost all the important points that He had covered in elaborate detail in the Bhagawad Gita. Thus, if we’re able to understand this eleventh Skanda here, it is almost equivalent of understanding the crux of the Bhagawad Gita. This is why, this eleventh Skandha is extremely significant.
With this, we now move on to witness the twelfth Skandha, wherein Sage Sukhaachaarya is going to explain the important characteristics of the Kali Yuga. We were waiting to witness this interesting segment for a few episodes now, and this topic forms the crux of the twelfth Skandha. Sage Sukhaachaarya gives a detailed accord of how the Kali Yuga would span out, post Bhagawan Krishna’s tenure in this world. We shall wait till the next episode to commence the twelfth Skandha and to also witness the all-interesting features of this Kali-Yuga! An absorbing episode awaits us tomorrow! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 