Atmadeva Charitram Part-2
Story continues from previous episode: Read Episode 1 here
After Atmadeva left his house, Dundukari was left at home with his mother. Dundukari started begging for money to be used for bad purposes like gambling, drinking, etc. He then became very wild and started torturing his own mother for money. Unable to bear this pain and torture his mother decided to end her life. After that Gokarna went for kshetra yatra to have darshan of Bhagavan and Mahatmas.
Dundukari became excessively wild since no one was home to control him. He started looting and stealing money for the same causes. He also had the bad company of five women at his home who constantly asked him for gold ornaments, money and valuable assets. This lead him into the path of frequent looting and burglary. One day these women realized that Dundukari was stealing money from others and he had a chance to get caught. The women knew that they will be in trouble for possessing these stolen things too. They hence decided to kill Dundukari, collected all the valuables and leave the town.
One day the five women tortured Dundukari and killed and buried him in the backyard. When the neighbors asked they said that Dundukari is not in town. After few days they split up the valuables and they too left. Gokarna knew that performing last rites (shrAddha) in Gaya was good for the dead souls so they can rest in peace. Hearing that his brother and mother were dead, he performed Gaya shrardham for all the three – his father, mother and brother.
Now we will continue the story of Gokarna, the pious soul and mahatma, and how he found a way to liberate his sinful younger brother’s soul to Vaikunta. His younger brother, Dundukari, had shown in his lifetime how sinful and ill-minded he was.
Paapam – sins are the ill-doings, ill-thoughts, or incorrect way of leading one’s life. Punyam or merits are the good tasks or deeds that brings joy and goodness to anyone who does this. Dundukari had committed several sins. So when Dundukari committed these atrocious wrong doings, he didn’t find himself to be liberated, and ended up as a pretha – bearing a ghostly form. Dundukari didn’t have a real form, he was just a ghost. He was not able to attain a higher loka or remain in human form on earth, and he was suffering in this current state!
Dhundukari, thus was in a very terrible state and was suffering due to his own actions.
But Dundukari was fortunate to have his pious brother. Dundukari knew that his brother was very intelligent and compassionate, so he requested his brother to help. Gokarna was very sad to see his brother’s state and suffering. He decided to do all that he could, to liberate Dundukari.
Gokarna had performed the Gaya shraddham too, but that was still not enough to atone for the numerous sins committed by Dundukari and relieve him.
Gokarna sought the refuge of Surya Bhagavan for the sake for his brother. Gokarna performed a penance to inquire of Surya Bhagavan on what the solution was. Surya Bhagavan answered his prayers by saying that seven-days of Srimad Bhagavata Sapthaham was the way to help Dundukari. This would not only make Dundhukari come out of the miserable state but also liberate him. This meant reading Srimad Bhagavatam for seven days. But since Dundukari’ s presence was needed to purify and liberate him, Gokarna invoked his spirit onto a bamboo stick with seven nodes.
Gokarna made arrangements and some devotees also joined to listen Srimad Bhagavatam Paarayanam . The first day Gokarna recited the Bhagavatam, the first node of the bamboo stick shattered. The second day, the second node, and finally on the seventh day, the full bamboo stick broke, and a divine form came out. Gokarna and everyone listening saw this divine being in yellow robes, who had a golden crown, golden jewels, wearing a Tulasi mala looking very divine and pure-hearted. Gokarna was curios as to who this was and asked him, “Who are you?”
The divine being replied, “Brother, don’t you recognize me? I am Dundukari! The sins I committed were trembling inside me when they knew they were going to be shattered due to the hearing of Srimad Bhagavatam.”
Everyone witnessed this miracle as the attendants of Lord Sri Hari appeared and guided him into a divine chariot towards Sri Vaikuntam. The other listeners had a question which they asked Gokarna and Gokarna enquired about it to Surya Bhagavan, “How is it that all the others who also listened to Srimad Bhagavatam did not attained Sri Vaikuntam but only Dundukari did?”
Surya Bhagavan replied, “Your brother recognized his terrible state and knew he had to put all his effort into listening to attain Sri Vaikuntam. So he listened with complete focus and shraddha because this was his last and only chance to be relieved of his suffering. The other devotees did not listen to Bhagavatam in as dedicated a manner because their life was not at stake. Hence the difference in result.”
After some time, Gokarna called all the devotees and once again conducted a Bhagavtaa saptaham. This time everyone listened with complete shraddha and this time everyone including Gokarna attained Sri Vaikuntam.
What are we learning from this? We are learning to help others and do the right things in our daily lives. Never hurt others or us with our own decisions. We are also learning the power of chanting and listening to Srimad Bhagavatam. Listening or reading Srimad Bhagavatam every day or even once a week will have a very purifying result. Srimad Bhagavatam is not only a scripture, but when one reads or listens to Srimad Bhagavatam, they will be Sri Krishna’s favorite.
Listen to the original video by Sri Poornimaji here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6vpoRUySN0&list=PLf2GTja1Pr3M1OyValRiybM9Yu3E_bgJT&index=9&t=1106s
By Ramcharan Jhagen, 12 yrs, Canton, Michigan.
Based on Sri Poornimaji’s Kishora Bhagavatam sessions.
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Click here to see all articles in Jan 2025 issue:
https://godivinity.org/newsletters/nama-dwaar-newsletter-january-2025/
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