Shri Hari’s visit to Darbhavati.
Shri Hari’s visit to Darbhavati.
Having heard the news of Shri Hari approaching the city, people of Darbhavati began to sing happily, beating drums and playing instruments in such a high pitch that the sound reverberated in all quarters. 1.
Seeing Shri Hari riding on a horse surrounded by a number of horsemen holding blazing lances from a distance, they rushed towards Him in thousands. 2.
As they reached Him, they were ecstatic, with horripilation all over their body, and with tears flowing from their eyes, they prostrated before at His feet. 3.
The lord honoured them deservedly and went into the city with them even as they kept singing His glories. 4.
Reflecting that innumerable people in large crowds would be waiting for His Darsan, He made His stay under a big banyan tree on the outskirts of the city. 5.
He made arrangements for the residence of the accompanying sages, his attendants and devotees, men and women, coming from far and near. 6.
Propagating the sacred tenets and ideals of religion, He stayed there showering happiness on His exuberant devotees. 7.
The devotees worshipped Him with Kumkum and sandal paste mixed with saffron, aloe and musk, offered garlands of fragrant flowers, fine clothes, valuable ornaments and various food substances, waved lamps and sang compositions in His praise. 8 - 9
Men and women in the city received Him and the sages, and offered their hearty services. 10.
Among them were Mayaram, speaker on Puranas and other Brahmin scholars like Govindaram, Kuberjit, Nirbhay, Bhairam, Shri Harikrishna; 11.
Two persons called Raghunathdas and Vishnugupta, Rajaji, Prayagadas, together with others of merchant class aptly served Him. 12.
Abala, Sharkar, Datta, Shiva and other women devotees were delightedly engaged in His service. 13.
Magnificent Vishnuyag arranged by Shri Hari.
The Lord organized a big festival of sacrifice in the name of Vishnu at the hands of thousands of learned Brahmin priests who had come there. 14.
The Brahmins were made to erect a large Pandal and build pits for sacrificial fire on the altar for offering one tenth oblations of the chanting in the name of Vishnu; and at the end, offering concluding oblations. 15.
That was the ever-grand sacrifice with abundance of substances and the oblations including Payasa (milk porridge) gratified the deities. 16.
The Brahmins also were gratified by delicacies rich with ghee and sugar, various eatables and gifts, and other people by various food items. 17.
Big heaps of laddus with saturated ghee and sugar looking like hillocks, were seen there. 18.
‘Serve up’, ‘give’, ‘distribute’, ‘have’, ‘eat’ - loud was the tumult among the Brahmins on all sides at that hour. 19.
Lord the ‘knower of the standards of learning and virtuosity, distributed profuse gifts to the Brahmins, especially to the most deserving learned ones. 20.
He arranged to perform thread ceremonies of Brahmin boys and weddings of many pairs according to rituals. 21.
That all-knowing Lord arranged for distribution of money and other things in abundance to the poor, weak, sin-fearing men and to those who have lost their possessions. 22.
To the supplicants approaching Him, instantly pleased that he was, He gave ornaments like golden necklaces and various kinds of clothes. 23.
The unfailing Lord donated sumptuous gifts like cows, horses, land etc., called Mahadana, at the concluding ceremony of the sacrifice. 24.
Nobody had ever before heard or seen such a grand, unique sacrifice performed on this earth even by kings. 25.
In the year named Vikram (Samvat-1866) on full moon day of Paush month He concluded the great sacrifice by making even royal personages wonderstruck. 26.
O king, on the occasion of this great sacrifice, my Guru Shatanand Muni had a chance to see the divine figure of Shri Hari. He was initiated by Shri Hari to his inner circle (in the group of his close devotees). 27.
Thus ends the Forty-eighth chapter entitled ‘Vishnuyag festival in Darbhavati city’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 48
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