Shri Hari’s Visit to Shrinagar (Ahmedabad)
Shri Hari’s Visit to Shrinagar (Ahmedabad)
Giving happiness to the people of both the towns, Shri Hari took leave of them and moved from there on the fifth day of Shravan. 1.
Sending back the loving devotees following Him on the road to see Him off and giving delight to the villagers and urbanites on the way, He proceeded to Shrinagar (Ahmedabad). 2.
Hearing the news of their beloved Lord’s arrival, the devout citizens of Shrinagar rushed ahead to greet and welcome Him, singing, beating drums, making high-pitch sounds and riding various vehicles. 3.
When they saw Him approach, riding on a horse from a mile’s distance, they started to prostrate before Him, overjoyed with tears in the eyes. 4.
He greeted and honoured them deservedly. Then they respectfully sat in a sedan (Palki or Shibika) carried by men. The accompanying ascetics boarded chariots and other vehicles. 5.
Ecstatic with joy, singing His glories loudly and playing various instruments, they entered the city in procession with Him. 6.
They arranged for his stay along with the sages in a large, spacious new mansion. 7.
The city wherein Shri Hari lived during those days in a new house, that place and that street is known as ‘Navavas’ to this date. 8.
Every day the devotees of the city used to offer food with rich delicacies to the celibates and sages and His attendants to their satisfaction. 9.
Inviting Him to their houses they used to offer worship with Arghya (water for washing hands), Padya (water for washing feet), sandal paste, flowers, clothes, ornaments, gold, silver etc. 10.
The Lord empowering the path of devotion celebrated the Janmasthami festival with grandeur and abundance at the hands of His devotees. 11.
He satiated Brahmins with their desired food items and distributed gifts in thousands (to them) as would a king! 12.
Devotees experiencing Samadhi by Shri Hari’s superb yogic power.
O king, on Ekadashi day, there was a large meeting there, and men and women were sitting on their own seats, separately. 13.
Celibates, commoners, sages and soldiers and all other devotees and attendants were seated according to their ranks. 14.
Men from the city Nattubhatta and others, and women Ganga and others and thousands of devotees were seated comfortably. 15.
People other than devotees in thousands had come there, with curiosity. They were standing all over the place laughing, without paying respects (to Shri Hari). 16.
There were hundreds of Brahmins among whom were learned scholars in Vedant, Nyay, Vyakaran, Mimams and others who were well versed in Yog and poeticsm scholars skilled in Vedic rituals and Tantras and also versatile scholars in Puranas. 17 - 18.
Thus all those men and women sitting and standing were looking upwards to see Him, craning their necks. 19.
O king, there in the middle of the assembly, on a grand, raised seat Shri Hari Himself was sitting. All in the audience were looking at Him concentrated. 20 - 21.
Among those that looked up to Him with love and admiration were ascetics, commoners and also women.
They all (who sate looking intently at Him), by the grace of Narayan Muni, reached the state of Samadhi, and in that state they visualized His divine abodes (like Golok)
Being immersed in Samadhi, those men and women, unmoved, became still like wooden images, with unflinching eyes. All those devotees were looking lustrous like golden Champak flowers.
Those who were sitting thus remained in the same posture, and those standing were looking like a post in the same way. 22-24.
Those of good behavior were engaged in Samadhi, some with their eyes fixed outward (on the tip of the nose) and others with their sight turned inward, their sensory and breathing modes absorbed within themselves. 25.
People looking at them were astonished and those who knew Shri Hari thought it was due to His prowess. 26.
Those few of impure intellect, though learned in the shastras, who were present there and were witness to most of the audience entering the state of Samadhi, thought it was mere act of jugglery. 27.
‘To establish importance of his sect, this hypocrite has hypnotized these people in order to propagate his magic.’ Thus saying, some of them tried to test it. 28.
Some Nadi-expert Vaidyas (doctors) examined their pulse. Others tried bringing fire in contact with the feet and limbs of those in Samadhi. 29.
Unable to trace their pulse despite repeated efforts, and finding them undisturbed and unmoved by such distraction and even heat, the doctors were greatly surprised. 30.
Some crooked men tried to hurt them by injuring their limbs by a knife but to no effect. Having seen them undisturbed, they were confounded. 31.
Afraid of their own deeds, looking at each other, they felt themselves guilty and perceived Him to be the Master of Yoga. 32.
Brahmin’s query; devotees telling experiences establishing Shri Hari’s supremacy.
Those Brahmins encouraged one Nathubhatta who was sitting in front, to answer their queries. 33.
He too knew of their curiosity, and he welcomed this opportunity to quell their doubts. Saluting the Lord, he told Him thus. 34.
‘O Lord, these learned Brahmins who have witnessed this instant Samadhi are extremely surprised and want to ask you about it.’ They were permitted to. 35.
‘O Lord, on this land are many scholars listening to, studying and pondering over the Upanishads and other Vedantic texts. 36.
Also eight fold yoga is practiced steadfastly. Yet, not a single person out of those is found to have accomplished such (deep) Samadhi.37.
Moreover, a man or woman from the city or town is not heard of reaching such a state of Samadhi without listening, studying and practicing Vedanta and Yoga, repeatedly. 38.
Here, many people born of lower caste, are seen experiencing the highest state of Samadhi, O Lord! 39.
Only having your Darshan, these (devoted) men, though unacquainted with Vedanta-shravan-manan etc. and without practicing Yoga in its eight-fold glory have attained such a highest state. 40.
We are eager to know what these men and women are visualizing in Samadhi. Please tell us.’ 41.
Suvrat said:-
Hearing these words of the Brahmins, the Lord, the ocean of compa-ssion laughed and spoke to those confused Brahmins and others: 42.
‘O Brahmins, you please wake up all these persons and ask them yourself. They will tell you whatever they have seen in Samadhi.’ 43.
Thus permitted by Him, those scholars said to that jagadguru, ‘O Lord, we are not able to bring them to senses. They are as good as dead!’ 44.
Crookedly we have tortured them with fire and weapons. Yet we were unable to bring them out of their Samadhi. It is really a great wonder! 45.
O Lord, can you please bring them to wakeful state, so that we can ask them what they perceived in Samadhi?’ 46.
Then Narayan Muni looked at them, and they got their consciousness back. They stood up and saluted Him as they came to their senses. 47.
The learned Brahmins, with wonder, asked those who had just gained consciousness, ‘O devotees, please tell us what you saw while in Samadhi’. 48.
Then, taking permission of the Lord, they narrated what they saw in Samadhi, each one, separately. 49.
One person said: ‘I saw in the realm of Super-Consciousness (Chidakash) beyond the darkness of the earth. This Lord with Lakshmi and Radha in the Brahmapur.’ 50.
Some said: ‘In the Shvetadveep, lustrous like thousands of suns shining together, we saw this Lord Narayan Muni in the form of Vasudev, surrounded by Niranna Muktas.’ 51.
Others said that they saw Narayan Muni Himself in Golok, full of divine majesty in the form of Krishna in Rasaleela with his con- sort Radha, and served by Gopas and Gopis, the cowherds. 52-53.
Some of them said: ‘We have seen this Lord Shri Hari Himself with Mahalakshmi and Vishvaksen and other attendants in Mahavaikunt.’ 54.
Others said: ‘We have seen Shri Hari as Vishnu with Lakshmi in Vaikunth, served by celestial attendants.’ 55.
Some others said: ‘We saw the Lord who is sitting here as Yogeshvar Vishnu lying on the bed of Shesh and Lakshmi (Shree) serving his feet.’ 56.
Some others said to those Brahmins ‘We have seen him as Nar-Narayan Muni engaged in penance in Badarivan.’ 57.
Others said: ‘We have seen Him in the orb of the Sun in golden hued lustrous form of a divine person.’ 58.
Some of them said to those learned Brahmins that they saw this Lord as Yajnya Purush, sacrifice incarnate, in the middle of the blazing sacred fire. 59.
Thus, they described in detail the sublimity and grandeur of the celestial abodes they visualized. 60.
Brahmins surrender and praise Shri Hari.
All those learned scholars in Shastras and Puranas, hearing that description and finding it to be perfectly matching to the scriptural details, were verily surprised. 61.
Getting to know that these men, women and children who have neither pursued nor even listened to the Shastras and Puranas are able to narrate about celestial abodes and spiritual matters experienced by them in Samadhi, their apprehensions thawed out! 62-63.
O, if such a state of Samadhi is accomplished instantly because of His Darshan, who else but He can be the Lord! 64.
Would one that controls and attracts the pulse and breath of these men easily not be able to do so of the entire world? 65.
Hence He is the Lord incarnate, no doubt. Now there is no way other than taking refuge in Him for our good. 66.
Resolving thus, they all saluted Him, the Supreme Person, desirous of his shelter. 67.
At that time they repented their deceitful show of devotion and such other acts they had done in the past. 68.
Remembering at heart their misdeeds done under guise of religion, they wept. 69.
Recollecting their own vices committed in a fit of passion, they swooned (in repentance). 70.
At that time all their sins were burnt away in the fire of repentance, and their minds were purified by the merit of Shri Hari’s Darshan. 71.
Now they could understand His divinity but were not able to concentrate their minds on Him by themselves. So they surrendered unto Him completely. 72.
Prostrating before Him, and with folded palms, those Brahmins said: ‘O Lord, save us from this terrible circuit of worldly life.’ 73.
Uttering these words, they worshipped Him with sandal paste, auspicious rice (Akshata), flower garlands, incense sticks, lighted (ghee) lamps, new clothes, ornaments etc. Waving camphor lamps before Him and clapping their hands, they sang prayers and praises unto Him loudly. 74 -75.
‘O Lord, victory unto you! Auspiciousness incarnate, O Narayan, Purusottam! Thou hath taken human form for fulfilling desires of devotees, O one that resides beyond the darkness of primordial matter in the expanding effulgence of Brahmapur with Radha.You live in the Shvetadveep, the imperishable abode, praised by the Niranna Muktas. 76.
O Vishnu, you stay in the Immortal Vaikunth, the magnanimous abode, created by yourself for pleasing Rama. 77.
In Chaturmas you rest on the huge soft and tender bed of Shesh in Kshirasagar, the celestial ocean with Lakshmi as your consort serving at your feet. Be victorious, O Lord.
You are seen in the golden hued form, in the orb of the sun. You are the presiding deity of various sacrifices in the form of three sacred fires. O Nara-Narayan incarnate residing in the Badarivan, thou bestow happiness on all beings. You are called by name ‘destroyer of heaps of sins’. O Lord, victory unto you. 78.
You are Krishna, the Lord of Golok, sporting with Radha, playing tunes on flute. You are the destroyer of Kali (vice). You are Shri Hari staying in Mahavaikunth, you protect the entire universe along with Ram. O Lord, victory unto you. 79.
O Master of the yogic powers, the residing Self of all beings, you are the saviour, the demolisher of fear in devotees under your shelter and you are one endowing final beatitude to all beings. 80.
Truly, your lotus feet are the only refuge for us. Please release us from the bondage of illusion (Maya). Take away our ill thoughts. With this prayer, waving lamps, they all offered flowers, saluted and again prayed to Him to please protect them from the worldly chain. 81.
Then the Lord, the protector of the righteous people was pleased with them. He consoled them, made them fearless and assured protection to them. 82.
All those Brahmins became happy, pure in heart, and with his permission they took their seats in the assembly. They felt blessed. 83.
Then the Lord said to them: ‘O Brahmins, you may now be my followers. You will no more suffer from worldly bond. 84.
Do your religious duties to the gods and manes, and worship Krishna devotedly. This way you will reach the final goal - the divine abode. 85.
Suvrat said:-
Thus told by Shri Hari, those learned Brahmins, knowing Him to be Krishna Himself, spoke modestly: 86.
Brahmins said again: ‘O Narayan, Shri Hari, O Lord, you are the last resort of the spiritual aspirants. (Surrendering to you) We have gained satisfaction of being born as humans. 87.
We now firmly believe that you are the Supreme Lord proclaimed by the Vedas, Shastras and Puranas. 88.
The object of our life is fully attained. We are liberated from the bondage of action. Now we have become aware that the aim of all scriptures is to narrate your all-pervading nature. 89.
O Lord, before this, we were thinking that deities residing in Shvetadveep, Vaikunth, Golok, Brahmapur, Mahavaikunth, Badarivan, Kshirasagar, and in sacrificial fire and also in the orb of the sun were different from each other.
We also held discussions and raised disputes with learned scholars, ‘this is the real Lord, not the other’ but couldn’t ascertain the truth.
Now we surely know from the utterances of those who have just experienced Samadhi that you are the only Supreme Lord, the ultimate cause behind all cause-effect phenomena. 90 - 92.
O all-pervading Lord Swami Narayan, henceforth we will worship you as Krishna Himself, offering nine-fold devotional service to you alone. 93.
Shri Hari’s advice to follow religious duties, lifelong.
O Lord, you have just now told us to follow the ‘duties towards gods and manes. I want to ask you something about it. Please listen. 94.
‘Now we have come under your shelter, and thus the purpose of our life is fulfilled. What remains to be achieved by us by performing rites for gods and manes?’ 95.
We want to take leave from those tiresome acts, and we have no desire in our heart for those trifling heavenly enjoyments. 96.
We want to ask you whether our understanding is right or not. Please answer accordingly. 97.
Suvrat said:-
O king, when those learned Brahmins asked this way, Narayan Muni was very pleased. Admiringly He spoke to them in soft- sweet voice. 98.
Narayan Muni said:-
‘You are truly blessed ones. Whatever was heard from the scriptures, you have made it fruitful. Else, what is the use of study- ing a sea of books by men having no devotion (in their hearts)? 99
Truly you have now well understood what is to be learnt from the sacred books. Thus you have gained whatever is to be known. 100.
But what you spoke about abandoning rites and rules prescribed by the Vedic code is not acceptable to us. 101.
As along as body-consciousness is there, men should follow the religious code prescribed for them according to their caste and stage. 102.
One who has taken shelter in me, should not abandon these duties knowingly. True, those acts tend to drop out from a person who has attained perfect Samadhi. 103.
But even such liberated persons should not renounce religious duties. What then can be said of those who are striving on the path of emancipation? It will be utter foolishness. 104.
Those who abandon religious duties and give importance just to devotion and knowledge become corrupt and will be fallen from that path. 105.
You should read and try to understand this subject in detail from Vasudev Mahatmyam told by Skand (in SkandPuran) with relaxed mind. 106.
Suvrat said:- Thus told by Him, those Brahmins said, ‘Yes, we will do accordingly,’ and respectfully bowed down before Him. Thus the Lord manifested His prowess there. 107.
Every day, presiding over the meeting, He used to explain and advise the tenets of true religion. People thronged in groups to take His refuge and became His followers. 108.
O king, spreading happiness among the devotees, strengthening religion and devotion, Shri Hari stayed there up to Prabodhini Ekadashi festival (Last day of Chaturmas). 109.
O king, giving delight to the multitude of devoted citizens and establishing religious tenets, He, the Son of Dharma, left Shrinagar (Ahmedabad) the capital of Gujarat. 110.
Thus ends the Forty-fourth chapter entitled ‘Learned Brahmins taking shelter of the Lord, witnessing His excellence’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 44
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