The devotion of Queen Kushala of Dharmapur.
The devotion of Queen Kushala of Dharmapur.
Suvrat said:-
In the meanwhile a widowed queen having heard from saintly people about Shri Hari’s qualities, developed firm devotion unto Him. 1.
With an eagerness to see Him, she had withdrawn her mind from all mundane matters and immersed in His contemplation (Though bound by the duty of ruling the kingdom). 2.
She emaciated herself through observance of rigorous fasts and austerities to appease the Lord. Conquering her senses, she began to worship Him with great respect. 3.
She sent her attendants of pious mind often to Shri Hari, to plead with Him to visit her place, O king. 4.
Thus pleased with her, the virtuous Lord, the knower of thoughts of all, wished to give His Darshan to her along with the sages. 5.
Eventually Shri Hari came to Dharmapur with His devotees, where the queen named Kushala lived and was endowed with virtues like Devahuti. 6.
Having heard about His arrival, the queen with her retinue of ministers and subjects, in an eagerness to see her Shri Hari, came forward walking in front of the procession, with a beautiful elephant to welcome Him. 7 - 8.
Accompanied by musical orchestra resounding the quarters, she arrived in a palanquin till the outskirts of the town. Having reached Him, she got out of her palanquin and devotedly saluted Him with great joy.
Then the ministers and citizens paid their obeisance unto Him. He too greeted them all accordingly. Thus honoured and requested by her, he too honoured her and then mounted onto the mighty elephant. 9.
There were excited shouts of victory for Him from the devotees gathered in thousands. This sound in harness with auspicious sounds of musical instruments ruptured the ears of the guardian elephants of the quarters of heaven. 10.
Surrounded by citizens as well as devotees, Lord Shri Hari resplendent with splendour entered the city that was made clean and decorated marvelously with festoons, pots filled with water sprinkled with the aroma of sandalwood. 11.
On the way the Lord was beholden by the throng of women who had abandoned their work and assembled in groups to see Him. He glanced at the multitude of people in fulfillment of their desires and proceeded to the magnificent royal palace. 12.
The queen made appropriate arrangements for Him and His attendants to stay in the mansion. The large-hearted lady showed great hospitality, herself rendering as a maid-servant devotedly. 13.
O king, on the third day of His arrival, it being a full-moon day, She worshipped Him affectionately with various invaluable articles and offerings, which made people awestruck. 14.
She worshipped Him with raiment fit for royals, various newly made ornaments of gold, pure gems, pearl-garlands, sandal paste, auspicious rice grains as well as flowers. 15.
Having propitiated Him, she submitted everything of hers including elephants, horses, cows and even her kingdom to Him. 16.
Though everything was given away to Him with utmost devotion, the Lord of the ascetics did not accept anything, but was highly pleased with her adoration. 17.
Then again she offered heaps of wealth in front of Shri Hari and also worshipped those sages and others accompanying Him with valuable clothes and money. 18.
Seeing her devotion, all the people were astonished. The Lord, the dear of the devotees, felt exceedingly satisfied at her complete self-surrender. 19.
Having taught spiritual knowledge to that exalted lady, who with devotion had developed disinterestedness to worldly affairs, Shri Hari reinstated Her in her throne. 20.
Shri Hari, completely contented in His own self, then gave away to the Brahmins and others all that was given to Him - the heaps of wealth, clothes and ornaments. 21.
Seated on a golden throne in the assembly, He glanced at the entire gathering of devotees seated in decorum. 22.
From the silently sitting assembly of devotees, the queen, having saluted and extolled the lord, with her hands folded asked Him thus. 23.
Kushala extolls Shri Hari.
The queen said:-
Narayan, indeed after a long time the tree of earnest desires in my heart bore fruit today by your gracious Darshan, which is difficult even for Brahma and other gods wishing to have your Darshan. 24.
Eyes that fail to see thy marvelous heavenly form auspicious to celestials as well as mortals are of no use and may at best be likened to the eyes in a peacock feather, though they may be beautiful like lotus petals. 25.
Ears that fail to listen to words of your gracious glory that banish the heap of sins and impart ways of devotion are just like snake pits, though well shaped. 26.
Tongues that fail to sing thy wonderful exploits that serve as a boat to cross the ocean of transmigration, however adept be such tongue in rendering music, it is like the croaking of a frog perpetually making senseless noise. 27.
Arms of men that fail to render their attentive service unto Thee the lord or to the saintly people whose mere glance take away sins, even if they are ornamented with invaluable armlets, they are to be despised as if they were the arms of a corpse. 28.
Feet of men though beautiful and tender like the lotus, if they do not tread the path leading to your temples as well as towards saintly people, are like the trees of graveyard under which no one takes shelter. They are the ones really blessed, who engage themselves in servitude unto you. 29.
O all knowing one, the Lord, the master, by rendering service unto you, my life becoming fruitful with your grace alone, O Lord. 30.
O the supreme of men, you are self-willed as you are, taking human form to protect religion and to pacify irreligion on this earth. 31.
O master of the world, you are the originator and speaker of Dharma, hence from you I wish to hear about the ancient Dharma. 32.
Be pleased to tell me O Lord, Dharma in general as well as particular for men, O the promoter of Dharma. 33.
Suvrat said:-
Thus enquired by the devoted lady with respect, the Lord being pleased at her replied her and the orb of devotees. 34.
Shri Narayan Muni said:-
O high minded lady, well-wisher of beings, what you had asked is fair. There is nothing I cannot tell you, of pure devotion. 35.
I will tell you what has been proclaimed in the past by Narad as Dharma for a man as explained to Dharmaraj and as laid down in Bhagavat. 36.
Telling thus the Lord narrated to her all the Dharmas appearing in the Seventh canto of Bhagavat and continued forth thus. 37.
The ancient Dharma set for men, which has been explained to you, is reputed to bestow salvation for men, comprising of knowledge, dispassion and devotion. 38.
This is the Dharma, which ought to be practiced by men, seeking sal-vation with perseverance, according to their status and ability, O queen. 39.
The queen’s service of the lord.
Thus explained by the Lord, she became ecstatic, O king. She served Him with great affection and by following her religion. 40.
Thus through enquiries and rejoinders regarding Dharma, the master delighting her and others, lived there happily for a while. 41.
Thus staying there for five days, he wished to leave that place, but being repeatedly requested by her to continue His stay, He remained there for a month. 42.
There the Lord made her arrange the festival of Snanayatra - ceremonial bathing of an idol (in auspicious water) on the full moon day of Jyeshth (June) month, O king. 43.
Thus making her happy, the master of the world, who is bound by men of devotion, reminiscing the good king Abhay, took leave of that place. 44.
Shri Hari departs for Durgapur.
Queen Kushala, along with her subjects, followed Him with her eyes welled up. Bidding her to go back, Shri Hari proceeded to Devakitirtham. 45.
There having completed His bath and other rituals, He dispersed the group of powerful and highly accomplished sages to different regions to teach the righteous ways to the ignorant people. 46.
He sent all the men from different placeswho had accompanied Him back to their respective lands. 47.
He went forth on a horse accompanied by personal celibateattendants, sages, horsemen and foot soldiers to river Arkaja (Tapi). 48.
Having crossed the rivers Arkaja, Narmada and Sabarmati, and having traveled across Bhaladesh, He reached Durgapattanam. 49.
Making sojourns on the way in the towns of His devotees, He delighted them all, and arrived at his destination, O king. 50.
Hearing about His arrival, the king and the subjects having left their affairs came rushing to welcome Him fondly. 51.
Having seen Him at the periphery of the town, they saluted Him happily, with tears in their eyes, having been deprived of His Darshan for so long. 52.
Honoring them in an appropriate manner He having entered the town with them, went to the king’s mansion and sat on the seat meant for Him. 53.
Having seen Him, Jayaram and other women, being joyful, paid their obeisance unto Him with adoration, having got rid of the pain of His separation. 54.
King Abhay and his people became ecstatic. Knowing the veracious Lord, coming at the promised time, he involved himself in His service. 55.
Whatever service ordained by Shri Hari to each one of them respectively, every one of them happily rendered the same with a satisfied mind. 56.
Shri Hari had arrived in the morning on the day of the carfestival. The same noon He performed the festival at the hands of the king with grandeur. 57.
Living there with His attendants, Shri Hari spied everywhere for lurking irreligious activities. 58.
From wherever the Lord heard of the upsurge of irreligious (heretical) elements, He went on correcting it. 59.
Sometimes He used to carry on His mission by sending sages there. Anyhow, He vigilantly protected Dharma alone at all the times, by all means. 60.
In this way, the foremast of protectors of Dharma, the Lord, established Dharma, living in Durgapur, granted happiness to His devotees. In between, this wish-yielding tree of the devotees would visit different towns and cities and perform many a great festival. 61.
Thus everything has been narrated of what was asked by you O king, the story of Narayan that eliminates the impurities of Kali. 62.
He who listens to or sings the story of Narayan, the chief of ascetics, shall surely win over their external as well as internal foes and receive the fruit they desired for. 63.
Thus ends the fifty second chapter entitled ‘Shri Hari delighting the devotees of Dharmapur and coming back to Durgapur’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 52
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Thus end the Prakran 2