Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 2 Chapter 3 " Keerthanam Narayana Namameva "

P.Natarajan.

(Source: Velukkudi Sri. Sri. Krishnan Swamy's writings in recent Tamil weekly Tuglak  - This would serve the limited purpose to read this chapter of Sacred Srimad Bhagavatham by those who don't know to read Tamil or don't get access to the related recent issues of the  Tamil weekly magazine 'Tuglak')

Arogyam Bhaskarat Icheth Sriyam Ichet Hudasanat

Sankarat Jnanam Ichet Moksham Ichet Janardanat

Sastras proclaim in the above sloka which demigod favors which wish. For instance, Sun God favors good health, Agni renders wealth, Rudra gives wisdom and Janardana bestows Mukti. In the case of Parikshit, as he was cursed to die, he wished to know what a wise and thoughtful person should do when the time to die was approaching.

Sukacharya answers:- " Parikshit Maharaja, one who seeks the sacred knowledge of Vedas should worship Brahma or Brahaspathi who is the preceptor of gods. One who desires to have keenness of senses should worship Indra. One who longs for prosperity should worship Maya. One who seeks progeny should worship Prajapathi. One who wants to be brilliant should propitiate Agni. One who seeks wealth should worship the eight gods known as Vasus. One who desires for ample food should pray Aditi, the mother of Gods. One who wishes to possess Kingdom should worship Vishvadevas.One who wishes to live long should pray Aswini Devas, the physician of Gods. One who wishes to acquire Kingdom should worship Manu, presiding deity of eras'. One who desires to dominate over all others should propitiate Vishnu. Lastly one who desires to possess a strong will or 'vairagya' should worship Lord Narayana". " Of course the benefit of worship will depend upon the intensity and faith one has. No doubt it would be great if a person finds his place in the company of Sadhus as there is always a climate of bhakti which would in turn remove the indices of 'love-hate' and transform a person to become

impassioned. Once the mind gets pure, Bhagavan finds that place as his abode.  

When a person involves himself to be in the presence of sadhus, there is an alchemy effect or a magical power of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great

value.”

Sukacharya continues:- 'Parikshit, you are now in the midst of Rishis and Sadhus. As desired by you we are now narrating Bhagavatha Puranas.' At this moment, Sounaka Rishi praises Suka for his poetic recitation of the talks between Suka and Parikshit. Sounaka points out that what we consider as great is not really so.

Parikshit was devoted to Krishna from his childhood. He used to imitate Krishna and kept the dolls of the deity to play. Parikshit's devotion to Krishna was similar to Lakshmana's for Rama, Nammalwars for Govinda and that of Andal's for Krishna. Unfortunately, as he was bound by the theory of karma, he was cursed by a Rishi Kumara. However he realized his mistake and sought forgiveness. This attitude of Parikshit exhibits the devotion in him for Krishna.

Sounaka Rishi speaks further:- " Those who don't hear Krishna-Katha' simply waste their life. They are alive only as a tree lives. They breathe as do the bellows. They eat as beasts. These people glorify people who are not worthy of praise. They have ear holes as do snakes and tongues as frogs. A head that is adorned with a silk turban or a crown but never bows to Lord Mukunda is nothing but a heavy burden. In a similar way , the hands that are adorned with gold bangles are like those of dead body if they never worship Sri Hari. A mortal who has not touched the dust from the feet of devotees is like a corpse, although still alive. One who has not inhaled the fragrance of Tulasi leaves offered at the feet of Lord Vishnu, is like a breathing corpse. A heart that is not moved by the utterances of many names of Sri Hari is as hard as a granite. When heart melts in Bhakti, tears fill the eyes and the hair in the body bristles with excessive joy.

Thirumangaialwar sings in 'Periya Thirumozhi' that those ears are gifted if they hear Thiru Vikrama's illustrious stories and exploitations. Kulasekara Perumal sings in his 'Mukunda Mala' -

jihve kirtaya kesavam mura-ripum ceto bhaja sridharam
pani-dvandva samarcayacyuta-kathah srotra-dvaya tvam srinu

krishnam lokaya locana-dvaya harer gacchanghri-yugmalayam
jighra ghrana mukunda-pada-tulasim murdhan namadhokshajam

The sloka above directs the different parts of the body to perform devotional service. We should sing in praise of Kesava; use the hands to perform archana to Achutha; hear the stories of Madhava; Look at\ Sri Krishna with your eyes vividly; Walk up to the sanctum sanctorum to have dharsan of Narayana; smell the fragrance of Tulasi leaves adorning the feet of the Lord; Bow your head down in reverence to Bhagavan Athokshajam. Thus one need to realize that the sensory organs of our physical body should serve devotional services. Parikshit becomes fully aware of the fundamentals of devotional service and with an objective to abide by this philosophy requests Sukacharya to repeat all Krishna-Katha as he had herd from his forefathers. Sukacharya was delighted to hear this request from the King. He took Parikshit as his disciple.

Sukacharya's mind explores a flood of  ' bhagavathapuranas ' at the fervent request of King Parikshit.

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