Sri Poornima ji started the session by mentioning different types of Dhyanas, Singing/Chanting Maha Mantra, Rupadhyana- meditating upon the form, Leela dhyana -thinking of Bhagavan’s leelas. Leela dhyana is what our Gopis did and always immersed in the thoughts of Bhagavan and His leelas. Suta Pauranika does the dhyana of his guru (Sri Shuka), and recollects his birth leelas like how we think of our Guruji.
Poornimaji narrates the divine birth of Sri Shuka in this episode. Sri Vedavyasa is considered as one of the avataras of God, and his son Sri Shuka was an Avirbhava. This means that he was not born of a mother but appeared; in this case Sri Shuka came out of the sacrificial fire of a yagna being performed by Sri Vedavyasa. Sri Shuka was a 16 year old boy when he came out of the fire and just started walking towards the woods. Sri Vedavyasa started running after Sri Shuka and calling him “Putra.. (son)”. Sri Shuka didn’t stop but kept walking. The trees responded to Sri Vedavyasa instead of Sri Shuka, because he was in the exalted state of oneness with all existence. This episode portrays Sri Shuka’s wisdom and showcases the embodiment of a Jnani and a Jeevan Mukta. Sri Shuka is called Garbhasrimaan, i.e. one who is divinely blessed while yet unborn. Our Prahlada swamy and Parikshit are also called Garbhasrimaan, as Prahlada got a satsang when he was in his mother’s womb and received upadesha of Bhagavan nama, whereas Parikshit was fortunate enough to get Sri Krishna’s darshan when he still was in his mother’s womb.
Another incident was highlighted by Poornimaji to showcase the greatness of Sri Shuka. Sage Shuka was passing by a lake, where devatastris (celestial women) were bathing. They did not react in any way and continued bathing, although Shuka was young and an avadhuta (not clothed). A short while later, his father Vedavyasa passed by the same lake, as he was following Shuka. Vyasa noticed that when they saw him, the ladies felt very shy and ran to cover themselves up. Sage Vedavyasa was elderly while Sri Shuka was a young youth. Vyasa was astonished at the reaction of these women. He could not contain his curiosity and asked them the reason for their varying behavior towards himself and his son. Those women mentioned that since Sri Shuka sees everything as Brahman, he did not even know the difference between a man and woman.
Suta Pauranika mentions these incidents at the beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam as he is doing the dhyana of his Guru Sri Shuka through the dhyana slokas like ‘yam pravrajantam….’
Sri Poornima ji highlighted the qualities of the speaker and the listener from one of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji’s madhurageethams, “Kadhai Kelu Kadhai Kelu.” In this kirtan Sri Swamiji says bhakti and virakti are the qualities of speaker whereas for the listener, they are shraddha and bhakti. Sri Shuka was one such speaker and Suta Pauranika being one of the upashrothas (secondary listener, who listens alongside the main listener), he feels very fortunate and grateful to learn Bhagavatam from a great Guru like Sri Suka who was narrating Bhagavatam to Parikshit.
Suta Pauranika also emphasises the greatness of Bhagavatam through the next dhyana sloka ‘yassvAnubhAvam….’ as it is the essence of all Vedas and Shastras, and prays to Lord Narayana, Goddess Saraswathi and Vyasa Maharshi before retelling the same.
After doing the dhyana slokas, Suta Pauranika starts answering the questions of Shaunakadi Maharishis. He explains about dharma and Paradharma (highest duty) for all human beings. The supreme dharma is to develop devotion that is causeless and which has no obstruction. Sri Poornimaji mentioned the examples of Meera Bai and Prahlada for their unwavering bhakti towards Lord.
By Mathangi Rayapeddi, 12 years, Raleigh NC
Based on Sri Poornimaji’s Kishora Bhagavatam sessions.
Listen to the original video by Sri Poornimaji here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vy2tRzpoCE
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