CHINMAYA SHIVAM

This portion covers Arjuna’s reply to Raja Yudhishthira’s barrage of questions on his return from Dwarka wherein he narrates several incidents wherein he feels deceived by Sri Krsna and their relatives the rulers of Dwarka too seem to be under a curse wherein they drink, fight and except 4 or 5 of them all have perished. Lastly, as Arjuna contemplates on Sri Krsna’s feet with intense devotion, his mind becomes calm, pure and realises the Self

This portion covers Dhrtarastra and his wife Gandhari’s unnoticed move to the north, just south of the Himalayas under Vidura’s guidance. This sudden disappearance has Raja Yudhishthira very anxious and concerned so he inquired with Sanjaya who feigns ignorance. At that time, Sage Narada & Tumburu come and Raja Yudhishthira inquires with Safe Narada about his uncle, aunt and Vidura Sage Narada tells Raja Yudhishthira not to grieve, everyone’s coming together and parting is the play and will of God. Dhrtarastra will on the fifth day cast away his body and Gandhari will enter her husband’s fire and Vidura will continue visiting sacred places. This pacifies Raja Yudhishthira

This version continues covering the very warm & descriptive welcome by all of Sri Krishna when he arrives in Dwarka after a long time and His humility by greeting everyone down to the pariah, entering His parents home first paying his respects & then goes to his palace, and His Leela wherein in His own sporting way remains totally unattached with other human beings.

The birth of Raja Pariksit too is covered alongwith the Brahmanas prophecies about his life - a great ruler, his renouncement and Self Realisation - Raja Pariksit, true to the Prophecies grew up accordingly

Lastly, Dhrtarastra and his wife Gandhari’s departure for the forest on Vidura’s instance as their time had come is covered

This section comprises of the extremely royal & fond send off to Sri Krsna from Hastinapura when Raja Yudhishthir is ruling very benevolently to and His journey to Dwarka. Raja Yudhishthir out of love and affection had sent an army escort to protect Sri Krsna.

On nearing Dwarka, Sri Krsna blew his familiar conch as if to soothe the people’s grief over His long absence. The entire population of Dwarka came out to give him a right,royal reception full of emotions and “bhav” which has been beautifully described

This section once again highlights the virtues of Sri Krsna, sings His glories as described and revealed in The Vedas and several other Scriptures.

He by His own energy and sportful ways creates, preserves and reabsorbs the Universe all by Himself. He is the same Supreme Spirit whose reality in this world is perceived by those who have subdued their senses, controlled their breath, have a very strong desire & yearning and have purified their hearts through devotion. He is the one who comes down to earth in unknown forms & appearances to protect righteousness, truth when unrighteousness rules

This section speaks of Bhisma extolling the the glories of Sri Krsna in the presence of Sri Krsna, various celestial & royal sages like VedVyasaji, the Pandavas, just before he drops his mortal body

and merges himself in Sri Krsna. Subsequently, Raja Yudhishthir, now satisfied, returns to Hastinapura accompanied by Sri Krsna.

Raja Yudhishthira then rules the whole earth and under the protection of Sri Krsna all his subjects are extremely satisfied,happy and live peacefully

This version covers how Raja Pariksit was protected by Bhagavan when Uttara carrying Raja Pariksit in her womb fervently pleas to protect from Aswatthama’s Brahmasastra, Kunti’s (mother of the Pandavas) endless praise in awe, love and immense devotion of Bhagavan, and Raja Yudhishthir’s great feeling of remorse having been instrumental in bringing about his kinsmen’s destruction and then proceeds to the battle field of Kuruksetra to meet Bhisma to seek enlightenment from him

This section covers the story of Aswatthama’s killing of Draupadi’s sons, Draupadi’s agony, Arjuna’s promise to Draupadi, Sri Krsna’s sage advice to Arjuna as to how best to stop Aswatthama’s Brahmasastra, Draupadi’s wise, extremely compassionate reasoning to let Aswatthama live though chastised and exiled from the kingdom resulting in Arjuna curbing his pride

This version covers the rest of celestial sage Narada’s previous birth wherein He narrates how He first got a glimpse of The Lord’s form and then with His thoughts fixed only on Bhagavan, awaited His

end.Subsequently, at the expiry of 1000 revolutions of the 4 Yugas, when Brahma created the world, He was reborn evolving out of Brahma’s senses. Then Narada left and VedVyasaji in his hermitage Samyaprasa on the western banks of the Saraswati

composed Srimad Bhagavata

This chapter covers celestial sage Narada’s reply to VedVyasaji’s feeling of incompleteness. Narada while appreciating VedVyasaji’s great qualities suggests to VedVyasaji that he should sing and chant

the glory of The Lord’s praises even more to get over his current discontent. Narada then gives an account of his previous birth wherein by his unstinted devotion to several Brahmanas as a young boy and by listening to Sri Krsna’s praises and stories from the Brahmanas, he purified his mind and realised the Self