The Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, opens with a story of a mother called, Bhakti and her two sons Gyaan and Vairagya.
Narad Muni came down on Earth thinking it was the first and foremost place in the cosmos. But, after visiting such pilgrim places like Pushkar, Prayag, Kashi, Godavari (Nashik), Haridwar, Kurkshetra, Shrirang, Setubandh and several other pilgrim places he still did not feel peace and contentment anywhere. He realised it was the bane of Kaliyug, the rein of that period in Time, when Truth, Auserity, Purity ( both inward & outward). compassion, giving, etc are nothing and even those who claim to be pious, religious are engaged in the worst of crimes so what to talk of ordinary beings.
Thus wondering around desolate and disheartened he reached the banks of river Yamuna where Lord Krishna had lived out his early life full of pranks .... There he saw a strange sight. A young, pretty woman was sitting besides two old, sickly, men who lay in an unconscious state. The lady was crying in deep sorrow.
Narad Muni asked her who she was, who the two men were, and why she was crying?
The lady said, I am Bhakti and these two men are Gyan and Vairagya, my sons. Then she related her story and how she being a mother was still so young while her two sons were so weak and old.
She said, she was born in Dravid state, grew up in Karnataka, and then spent time in Maharashtra. But it was Gujarat that I and sons became weak and were subject to the worst of all the effects of Kaliyug in that state. So, I took my sons and came to Vrindavan where I again became young and beautiful but my sons remained like this. Now, I am stricken with grief that I am still young and healthy while my two sons have become old and infirm. Actually, the opposite should have happened. Saddened and affected by this strange fate I have been praying to God to resolve this reversal of life.
She pleaded with Naradji to explain the reason for such a fate and also to get her two sons back to their normal healthy state.
Naradji explaining to her said, Devi this all because of bad influence of Kaliyug. In this Yug, all the bad, evil, dishonest, elements are prominent. But, since you came to Vrindavan you have got back your pure state because you are Bhakti and in Virdavan Bhakti ( Devotion) is valued and is prime. But, there are no takers for your sons so they are still in their present state.
Then Bhakti asked Naradji, " Please tell me why did King Parikshit not destroy this Kaliyug when he had the chance. Why did he let it be knowing how bad it is. And how does Lord Shri Krishna too bear to see all that is happening in Kaliyug?
To this Shri Narad said, " When King Prakshit had it in his power to finish off Kaliyug, even then he did not because he knew that there was one thing about Kaliyug which was invaluable and unique. He knew that what could not be had even through severe austerities ( Tapa), or Yoga, or even Samadhi, could be achieved very easily in Kaliyug merely through Bhakti ( Devotion to God). Knowing this unique great gift of Kaliyug to human beings, Prakshit did not destroy it and let it be.
Then Bhakti said to Naradji, " You are a great soul, and son of Lord Brahma himself. Please find some way of waking up my two sleeping sons and give them back their health and vigour.
At this Naradji went close to the ears of the sons and said loudly in their ears, " Oh Gyan, Oh Vairagya, please get up." Then he recited the Veda, and the Gita several times. But the two sons just barely sat up but were still overpowered by sleep, weakness, drowsiness. Soon they again fell back to sleep.
At his Naradji was foxed. He started thinking what to do? Thus worried and concerned, he started to meditate on The Lord to find an answer to the beguiling situation. After some days he heard a voice from the heavens. It said, you will have to do something which Sant Shiromani Mahanubhav will tell you. After you have done this satkarma ( righteous action), the boys will young and healthy again.
Naradji was in deeper problem. What was the portend was this message from the Heavens. He went to many pilgrimages, meeting Sadhus, Sants and asking them if they could help unravel the message from the Heavens. But, on one could solve his problem. Then he went to Badrivan and sat down to do Tapas ( Austere spiritual practice).
After sometime, there appeared before him Sankadi Munishwars whose presence was like the brightness of a thousand suns.
Bowing before them, Naradji said to them. It is my immense good fortune to be blessed by your presence. Please have pity on me tell me that secret way by which I can help Bhakti to get back her sons in happy, healthy and young state.
Sankkadi Munishwars said, do not worry. There is a solution. They said the Rishis, Munis have shown the world several paths for spiritual realisation. But they are all very painful and difficult. Also, they take you only till Heaven. They do not unite you with the Lord.
The only way is to invoke the word of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran. As soon as they hear the words of Bhagwat Puran, both Gyan and Vairagya will become strong and healthy. Just as wolves and jackals slink away on hearing the Lion roar, so also, with the recitation of Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, all ills, suffering, evil of Kaliyug go away. And then Bhakti with full of love, dances and resides with Gyan and Vairagya.
Naradji thanked the Munishwars profusely and decided to organise a yagya for holding the recital of Shrimad Bhagwat Purana with all the respect, fanfare and in the presence of spiritual people. Even as the week of the recitals was closing in, Gyan and Vairagya regained full consciousness, vigour and health.
ओम नमो भागवते वासुदेवाय: Om Namoh Bhagwate Vaudeva!! हरी शरणं !! Hari Sharanam!!
( Condensed by Kamini Bobde from Shrimad Bhawat Mahapuran, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in Sanskrit with translation in Hindi, pages 4 to 20)
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