Bhagwat Session 10

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana Synopsis of the Tenth Session - Part 1 Bhagavata Dwitiya Skanda (Book Two) Chapter 4 to 10 ————————————— The four short stories which present the essence of ’Book Two’ in a nutshell. Story 1: There was ones a place, where there was a norm followed. The norm was, that a King would get to rule the Kingdom for only 21 years. After the time of his rule was over. He would have to depart to the jungle, empty handed and alone.  The citizens would cry for they know that now there was a difficult life in store for this King. The king would also weep, knowing that hardships he was to face, for all he knew he would be eaten up by a wild animal. Now, in the same Kingdom, came a very smart King. During his reign of 21 years, not only he ruled the kingdom, well, but he also ensured, he worked on the development of the Jungle. He made a jungle a safe, nice peaceful dwell, with all that was needed to survive, along with a nice house and well etc.  When his time to leave the Kingdom came, the people cried, as not only were they losing a just ruler, but also worried about the hardships he would face. But, the King, left happy and at peace, sure to be safe and secure. Story 2:  In Ramayan, if you remember, when Jatayu was injured trying to save Sita Ma from Ravan. He fell down, as his wings were severed by Ravana. In this state, he kept his prana, waiting for Ramji, in order to tell him, what had happened.  Now, when Ramji came, he said, “My dear Jatayu, I can help you. I will give you back your life and restore you, with my powers” To this, Jatayu said,  “No no, I don’t want even a single breath beyond this. The wise people, spend all their life, working very hard, so that when their last breath comes, they are quickly able to connect to you, your thought and your name, and throw everything else away. It takes immense ‘Tapasya’, just for that name to comes to ones lips, when the soul is ready to depart, as entangled one is by your maya, in the worldly attachement. But, look at how lucky I am, I have you right in front of my eyes, you are holding me. The purpose of my life, has been accomplished, what will I do with more breaths.” Story 3: There were two very close friends, but it just so happens that one of the friend suddenly stopped calling. The other friend got concerned. He went upto his house and knocked, but no one answered. He waited and wondered, and then saw and open window. So, he climbed into the house thought the window. When he entered, he saw that his friend was lying unconscious and the house was in a mess, there was nothing to eat. He called the doctor, cleaned the friends nursed him back to health, cleaned the house and filled the grocery. This other friend, was thankful and asked, “I never called you, yet you came, how?“ This man said, “The window was open, I got concerned about you and entered from there.” Story 4: Someone went to Brahma Loka, and he looked down and was very sad to see the suffering down below and felt he was selfish to seek his own salvation. So,  He told the Lord, “Please grant me permission to live in everybody’s heart’.  The Lord in astonishment said, “I am already there, what will you do?” He said, “You my Lord, is only the witness of the joy and sorrow. I will not disturb your witnessing. What I will do is, I will just let all the sorrows come to me, and let the people experience only happiness.” The Lord laughed with joy, when he heard such loving words of his devotee. ——————————— “These four simple stories which answer the question of ‘How to die?’, and ‘How to live?’” Story 1: This life is not the end, it is the means to the end. Don’t forget.  Story 2: Work hard, so that you are able to bring yourself up to the level, where connecting to