Stories from The Bhagavatham - The Meeting Of Minds At Naimisharanya

 

The Bhagavatha Purana begins with a conversation between Ughrashravas, the son of Rishi Romaharshana who was a disciple of the great sage Vyasa, and Rishi Shaunaka, the leader of a group of Rishis who lived in the mystical forest named Naimisharanya.

When Ughrashravas approached the Rishis at Naimisharanya, he was warmly welcomed by all of them. Their leader, Rishi Shaunaka spoke to him. “Our hermitage is honoured by your visit. It is well-known that your father, the great Rishi Romaharshana who was a disciple of Rishi Vyasa has learnt all the puraanas from his Guru. We are eagerly waiting to hear wonderful stories of devotion from you. Please recount the same to us.”

Ughrashravas said. “The third quarter of Time, Dvapara Yuga has passed away and Kali-yuga has set in. With the advent of Kali, Adharma, injustice and many other sins have made earth their home. Naimisharanya is the only place which cannot be touched by Kali, and hence I came here. Please let me know what I can do for you.”

Shaunaka said. “The advent of Kali makes us fear the future of humankind. Already humans have lost life-longevity of a hundred years and are falling prey to physical diseases that are leading to their premature deaths. While their physical well-being has been threatened by various diseases, they also suffer from mental illness brought in by the six enemies of humankind -  Kama (lust), Krodha(anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (intoxication) and Matsarya (envy). The only way for humankind to get through this difficult yuga is to study Dharmic literature like the vedas, puraanas and shastras. But look at their bad luck, they have neither time nor desire to read any of these! Please let us know about a single great work of devotion, listening to and studying which, humankind can break through the bondage of karma and retain their purity and innocence in Kali-yuga. With the departure of the great Krishna, Dharma too has departed and people are living in the darkness called ignorance. Please help humankind by revealing where Dharma can be found now.”

Ughrashravas said with a gentle smile. “I will tell you where Dharma has found safe refuge. That sun has risen which will dispel the darkness of ignorance ushered in by Kali-yuga. That sun is none other than the Bhagavatha Puraana composed by Shri Veda Vyaasa. This all-encompassing Puraana tells about the various incarnations that Lord Narayana took to establish Dharma on the earth. He is infinite and not bound by the universal laws of birth and death. But since the human mind is limited and cannot see His true and invisible form, He took several births among humans so that they could see Him and get rid of the eternal cycle of birth and death.  Every time Adharma has threatened to dominate the world, the Lord has taken birth to reinstate Dharma. In the kali-yuga, it will be even more difficult for the deluded human-mind to comprehend the divinity of Lord Narayana. However, even the worst sinner can be liberated if they listen to the stories of the Lord’s avatars. In this yuga, the path to divinity is through Bhakti (devotion). The Bhagavatha Puraana cultivates Bhakti and helps to realize the Lord and His divine nature. Veda Vyaasa has left his last contribution for the humankind in the form of puraanas. I will tell you how it originated.”

And thus begin the stories of Puraanas, each and every one of which instill Bhakti for the Divine and remind humankind about their original and pure nature. The second chapter will follow soon.