King Abhay welcomes Shri Hari in Durgapur Suvrat
King Abhay welcomes Shri Hari in Durgapur Suvrat
Suvrat said:-
Once when Shri Krishna, the wish-yielding tree of the devotees, was resting comfortably, King Abhay, paying obeisance unto Him, with folded palms, said to Him. 1.
Abhay said:-
O Lord, the time has come as promised by you to come to Durgapur. So be gracious on us. 2.
Suvrat said:-
The ever veracious Lord hearing the words of the king told him ‘Get ready, let us go to your town’. 3.
In the month of Magh (Dec) on the tenth day of bright fortnight, at night Shri Hari, along with other sages and Abhay decided to leave for that town. 4.
Khatwang and other citizens accompanied them to the outskirts, and on Shri Hari’s order they returned to their place. 5.
On Ekadhashi (eleventh day) morning, Shri Hari entered Durgapur. There Galav came to receive Him to the rendering of instrumental music. 6.
Abhay accommodated Shri Hari in his own mansion specially arranged for Him, and others were placed in different houses comfortably. 7.
King Abhay and family Surrender themselves to Shree Hari
The King humbly told Shri Hari that everything of him including himself was at His disposal. 8.
Thereafter, King Abhay along with his son attended Shri Hari as a humble servants with undivided attention daily. Even other followers of Shri Hari were also properly treated deservedly. 9.
The way each follower was served made each one of them think of himself as the lord of the town, forgetting their position of being a guest. 10.
The sages were so well served by the king with food, clothes, water etc. that the services rendered to them in the past, however impeccable, receded in memory. 11.
Gopibhat, Bechar, Lalaji, Bhagavanji, Ramachandra, Krishnali and other Brahmins served Him. 12.
Men of warrior class like Nanja, Alaya, Rashrota, Nagamala and others as well as those belonging in the royal lineage worshipped Him. 13.
Malajit, Krishnajit, Amba Uka, Haraji, Ramji and other merchants served Him happily. 14.
Rama, Amari, Amula, Kshema, Devi, Svarna, Yami, Rati, Fhuli, Divya and other women folk attended on Him. 15.
Celebration of floral-swing festival.
The Lord desired to celebrate the floral-swing festival there, and sent messages to His distant devotees through king Abhay’s royal attendants. 16
The king made arrangements for artificial pools of coloured water, and heaps of vermilion were placed everywhere. 17.
On the second day of Holi festival in the witness of Uttaraphalguni star which is presided by Aryam (Sun god), the king had arranged for tying the auspicious floral-swing with the help of devotees of Shri Hari. 18.
Placing Shri Krishna’s idol there in that floral-swing and worshipping the ascetic-supreme, he swung that floral-swing Himself accompanied by the rendering of lullabies. 19.
Accompanied with instruments like Veena, Tal and Mudang, the saints, the singers, sang frolic songs of Holi festival zealously. 20.
Making mirth, Shri Hari sported along with devotees in front of Shri Krishna, while other devotees were zealous in throwing vermilion on each other. 21.
At one place, all married women (having their husbands alive) were jolly with each other, singing auspicious songs of Krishna the kid. 22.
As widows were not allowed to touch colours, they stood at a distance and watched Shri Hari. 23.
The people respectfully received the water colours sprinkled out from golden syringes and the vermilion thrown by Shri Hari. 24.
Shri Hari, the Son of Dharma, playing along with other devotees till noon, went to the flooding Ganga river and bathed in that pure water. 25.
Thereafter, Shri Hari offered pure delicacies to Shri Krishna, waved lamps before the Lord and then rested. 26.
Regaling all the devotees first with four varieties of succulent food to their satisfaction, the Lord himself took food afterwards. 27.
In the afternoon He convened a grand meeting wherein He sat on the mid-seat. The other people sat around Him. 28.
Shri Hari hails holy association.
All the devotees and recluses, commoners, married women and widows sat around there according to their respective status and fixed their sight on Him. 29
Delighting them with His sweet words, the well-wishing Lord spoke to the gathering in accordance with scriptures. 30.
The Lord said - Listen to me all attentively. I tell you what is good for you. O men, be associated with pious men always. 31.
Know this for certain that in the past those who were liberated from worldly bondage have enjoyed divine association. 32.
When the knowledge of matchless magnanimity of Shri Krishna is perceived through saintly people, there develops devotion to Him, which breaks trans-migratory bondage. 33.
Saintly people enlighten those blinded by ignorance, and only from them is learnt the discrimination of good from bad. 34.
The teachings and reflections of learned men in the Vedas, Shastras and Puranas, these sacred texts being inscrutable nevertheless, will be correctly grasped by saintly people, not by laymen. 35.
Only saintly people are able to save those men who are drowning in the worldly ocean of passion, greed etc. 36.
Saints are the doctors giving antidote to men afflicted by severe burns of the formidable poison in the form of the teachings of the anti-religious preceptor. 37.
The true knowledge of the supreme Brahman (Shri Krishna) and the Atman can be had only through the saintly men whose qualities are spelled out in the Shastras. 38.
They are the ones that have subdued their passions, anger, greed and senses. They are without envy, self-pride, are not ruled by tastes and are secluded from association. 39.
They are without sense of ‘me and mine’ as well as ego. They tread the path of non-violence. They are steadfast celibates, truth- speaking and compassionate. 40.
They are wholeheartedly devoted to Shri Krishna and disinterested in other things. They are engaged in meditating upon Shri Krishna as the Supreme Brahman. 41.
These are the characteristics of saintly people which are ought to be known by seekers of emancipation. One should strive for their association and keep their words in their hearts. 42.
These saintly people are the real benefactors of all living beings all through. They are to be trusted, whose minds are riveted on Krishna. 43.
These virtuous persons are to be adored, honoured, served and offered with food comforts etc. Saints are the heart of Krishna. There is nothing valuable, worthier than saints in this world. 44.
Suvrat said - Having heard from the Lord the benevolent speech, all the devotees who had gathered there, bowed before Him. His Excellency gave His consent for them to go to their respective places. When Shri Hari rose from His seat, king Abhay spoke to the Lord. 45.
Thus ends the thirtieth chapter entitled ‘Extolling of the noble association on the occasion of floral-swing festival in Durgapur’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 30
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