Chapter – 1 Muktanand Swami’s veneration of Lord Shri Hari.

Muktanand Swami’s veneration of Lord Shri Hari.

I contemplate respectfully on the divine form of Shri Hari, the God of Gods, who, stays in His own eternal abode (Akshardham); who enjoys the company of (Nitya) Muktas - the librated ones; who manifested Himself, born to Dharmadev and Bhaktidevi on the earth for the good of the people; to uproot unrighteousness and to protect the saints and the good deeds; may He always bestow good inclinations to all. 1.

Reason for writing this scripture

The Congregation
Some months after Shri Hari’s passing away, people in large numbers were assembled in the huge, magnificent temple of Gopinathji in the palace of King Uttam, at Durgapura. 4-5.

In the assembly, the wise Acharyas named Raghuvirji and Ayodhyaprasad, all the sages including myself, celibates headed by Mukundanand and also householders like Mayaram and others, all who have taken shelter in Shri Hari, were present. 6-7.

Shatanand Swami’s arrival
Having heard about the meeting, the great sage Shatanand arrived, whose mind was deeply absorbed in Shri Hari was greatly delighted. 8.
As members sitting there in the assembly hall saw him, the one well versed in Veds and Shastras - scriptures, entered, they stood up, respectfully welcomed and offered a comfortable seat to him. 9.

Humble request of both Acharyas
The preceptors requested him –‘O sage, you have composed the book Satsangijivan for the emancipation of the people, on Shri Hari’s instructions; and we wish to hear this from you, of great intellect. Only on hearing the stories of Shri Hari, will the purpose of our life on earth be fulfilled. 10-11

Having heard their request, Sage Shatanand was very delighted, he kindly narrated the sacred text of Satsangijivan to those earnest listeners. 12.

Sitting in the richly decorated magnificent hall in the courtyard of King Uttam, they all listened to that auspicious narrative (of Shri Hari’s divine deeds), from Shatanand. 13.

Hemantsinha asks about the importance of this scripture Once, after the narration ended, King Hemantsinha, the intent devotee of Shri Hari asked him (Sage Shatanand) who was sitting in the assembly hall. 14.

‘Sir, I am desirous of listening to the greatness of this excellent work named Satsangijivan, composed by you. O great Sage please tell me the same. 15.

O Sage! Who is qualified to listen to it? And what is the reward gained by one who listens to it; and what is the right time and place to listen to it ? 16.

What should be the merits of its speaker as well as what type of listeners should be there and what should be offered to the speaker at the concluding session, please tell me this.’ 17.

When thus asked respectfully by the king, who was anxious to know; the great Shatanand Muni was pleased and said to him - 18.

Shatanand Muni said:-
‘O King! You have asked a good question; it is beneficial to all beings. I will answer your queries one by one, accordingly. 19.

Greatness of Satsangijivan
O King, it is the gist of Vedas, Vedant (Upanishads) and Shastras like Samkhya and Yoga, all Smrutis as well as Itihas (Mahabharat) and Ramayan and other meritorious scriptures which protect from transmigration. 20.

Among those texts which remove the fear of worldly circuit, it is the foremost one. 21.

Here in this book, the righteous path (Dharma) called ‘Ekantika’ – of single minded devotion, is explained. It destroys all sins and leads to the highest spiritual good. 22.

Satsangijivan as a vessel
Truly, for men, this one is the only boat to cross the worldly ocean, after Shri Hari’s passing away. 23.

Satsangijivan dispels the darkness of ignorance
This poem is like the sun that removes the darkness of ignorance of a person and helps him to understand the true nature of God the controlling Brahm, the Supreme Brahm, Maya i.e. the mystic illusory power of God, and Jivatma, i.e. the Soul. 24-25.

O King! By the grace of Shri Hari, as instructed by Him, staying around Him all the time, I have been able to write this auspicious scripture. 26.

Shri Hari Himself praises this scripture

After hearing this sacred composition from me, Shri Hari, from His auspicious mouth, said thus – ‘This scripture is the crest – jewel and is very
delightful.’ 27.

So, understanding the importance of this scripture will surely add to the wisdom of people and remove their worldly sorrows. 28.

Thus, this scripture should always be resorted to, should be worshiped, it is rich in merit, it is a pious, flawless scripture, showing righteous path. It enlightens people about the virtuous ways of life, devotion, knowledge and renunciation. It removes a multitude of sins, washes away the impurities of Kali-age, and wipes out the darkness of ignorance – hence only meritorious persons should listen to it and not others. 29.

This scripture gives decisive directives in all religious matters; it dispels misconceptions in all (other) Shastras, it is superb in fulfilling all wishes; (it is) pleasurable to the ears and the heart. 30. 

It removes the thorns of various doubts, drives away wickedness of mind and fear of inner foes like lust, wrath, etc. It is like auspicious ornament for poets! Victory unto this scripture. 31.

In various wealth items – it is like valuable treasure (Shevadhi); wish fulfilling tree among all vegetation (class); the wish yielding heavenly cow among cows and is supreme in all scriptures, as it is regarded. 32. 

If one listens or narrates and eulogises it, it removes the afflictions of worldly life as it is full of nectar of the life story of Shri Hari. It bestows love and devotion for the lotus feet of Lord Shri Hari; so to say this composition is very much loved by the devotees of Lord Shri Hari (Vishnu). 33.

This sacred scripture is desired even by superior Gods like Brahma and Shiva (Bhava), it is the remover of blemishes caused by Kali-age; bestower of merits on human beings and a good panacea for removing the ills of worldly miseries. 34.

This work is like nectar for a person who is suffering from bites of the dreadful poisonous serpent, i.e. Death; It is like a cloud full of water that pacifies a man, burning by wild forest-fire of passion (Smara). It works like an ascending path to attain a position at the feet of the Lord Shri Hari. 35 

The worthy listeners of this scripture

Now I shall explain to you, who is qualified to listen this wonderful text, as you are keen to listen and know it. So, please listen attentively. 36.

O King! Those who have taken birth on this earth – may be a man or a woman, are (equally) qualified to listen to this sacred text. Men of all the four castes, being in any stage of life (Ashramas), are qualified to hear it. So all should hear it very respectfully. 37-38. 

The fruits of Satsangijivan 

O King! Now I shall tell you about the reward one gets by listening to this pious text. It should be listened respectfully and attentively. 39.

The reward that people get by performing sacrifices, giving donations and by visiting all holy places –the same reward of these together is earned (only) by hearing this work. 40. 

Only due to their attentive listening Shri Hari is pleased, fulfils all desires of the listeners within no time. 41. 

People are not able to perform sacrifices, give donations or perform hard and long-term penance to please Shri Hari in this Kali-age; so wise people should prefer to listen to it with utmost faith and devotion. O King! Shri Hari is much pleased by hearing this. 42-43. 

Those who have drunk the nectar in the form of the poem Satsangijivan with reverence, will be freed from the unbearable pains of bites of the deadly serpent i.e. Kala (death) – only they attain the highest state of liberated souls. 44. 

Gods who drink nectar during their life time of thousand ages, at the end, being afraid of ‘Kala’ (Death), ask for this sacred text from the devotees of Shri Hari. 45. 

O King! It is not easily available even to the Gods. But it is readily available here, on this earth, because of the grace of Lord Shri Hari. So people should drink it as much as they like. 46. 

Is there anything (great), any more gain for which this sacred scripture be kept aside. So, it should be listened with reverence and with full concentration, for it bestows absolute reward. 47. 

In this world one who wants to nullify multitude of (all kinds of) his sins, he should promptly listen to this sacred text, resorted to by hosts of Sages. 48. 

Those who have not heard this text even once, know that they have thrown away (wasted) their human body - which is like a valuable gem in a narrow well; because human body is rare to get and is wished for even by great Gods. 49. 

A man who keeps himself away from hearing such auspicious scriptures conferring welfare, attentively and thoughtfully, is said to be a ‘beast’ by wise people. Hence, those who perform effort for their own good should listen to this sacred scripture without hesitation. 50. 

Mansions, progeny, large kingdom, even entire worldly possessions do not protect a man who is at the hour of his death; but this sacred text  alone saves him and gives desired happiness. 51. 

O you of great intellect! Now I shall tell you the proper place advised for hearing this sacred work, as you are a person having faith (in such matters). Listen carefully. 52. 

Acceptable place to recite this scripture

This Katha-programme of reading and listening should be arranged with full respect, on the bank of a river or in a large, beautiful temple of Shri Krishna or in one’s own house, cleansed and daubed, covered and decorated by canopy, etc. 53. 

Now I shall tell you about the proper time prescribed by Shastras, for hearing this work, as you are prominent among the devotees of Shri Hari, an ardent devotee who is interested to know. 54. 

Acceptable time to recite this scripture 

People should, at all times, regularly hear and think over this scripture sincerely. If it is not possible, then they should manage to do so in the four months of monsoon. O King! If that is not possible, then they should at least listen to it in the month of Shravan; If that also is not suitable, then the month of Chaitra or the month of Margashirsa, is also auspicious for listening to it. 55-57. 

People should particularly hear it in the intercalary month (Adhikamas) as Lord Shri Hari is the presiding deity of this month, so it is superior to all other months. 58. 

Qualities of the speaker 

O King! Now I shall tell you the qualifications of a good speaker- whose speech that comes out of his mouth removes the worldly bondage of the listeners. 

His speech should be very clear, sweet, and confident, according to the sentiments of the contents, each and every syllable should be distinct and clear, inspiring and not too lengthy. The speaker should read it calmly, with devotion, firmly, should have studied the literature of the sect traditionally and should understand the meaning of the text fully. The speaker should be of good character, of controlled senses, unbiased, eloquent, and expert in giving correct interpretation to make the listeners to understand the purport of the text. 59-62 

He should be content with the reward that he gets occasionally; he should be kind, unassuming, soft natured, calm, devoted to the Lord; Devoid of any blemishes on himself, not accepting any gifts from others, subdued all kinds of desires – One who has conquered desire, wrath and greed. He should be disinterested; firm in his resolution, good natured, friendly, honest, of obliging nature, having no possessions, Brahman by caste; such a person is qualified to read this scripture. 63-65. 

If a person, other than a Brahman initiated in Bhagawat sect and ob-serving eight-fold celibacy perfectly and also who is greedless, is also entitled to read this work. 66. 

O King! As you are so enthusiastic to know, I shall tell you all the characteristics of good listeners of this great scripture. 67. 

Qualities of the listener

O King! Those who have devotion and faith in God – having no attachment to other works, with control over speech and senses, pious, calm, modest, devoid of jealousy, strict in performing their own duties, eager to develop love towards God, composed, such listeners are certainly meritorious. 68-69.

O King! Now I shall tell you about the ceremony to be done at the completion of this scripture and the gifts to be given to the speaker. 70.

At the end of the reading of this Shastra great worship should be arranged, a good cover-cloth and gold should be given to the speaker according to one’s capacity. 71.

The listeners should also give various new clothes and ornaments and fees in the form of gold, or utensils, money, vehicle, foot-wear, according to their capacity, to the speaker, individually. 72.-73.

Here ends the first chapter of Satsangijivan Mahatmya that describes the conversation between Shatanand Muni and Hemantsinha, regarding the importance of the composition and other topics. 1