Chapter 17

1. Those glorious rishis of Naimisharanya after listening to the crest jewel devotee Sri Narada all about Sri Prahlada felt extremely delighted. And with more inquisitiveness they asked, 1

2. Saunaka and other rishis said, ‘Ah, Prabhu, we being born as human beings feel ourselves most blessed having chanced to drink the Nectrine Blissful Exploits of Sri Narayana from your holy lips that so graciously you bestow upon us.

3. Our such comparion of Divine talks with nectar may be offensive if it is taken literally because the gods of the heaven drink the ambrosia and thereby they became amara (long-lived) but not immortal as they also will have to die at the end of the Manvantara, whereas the nectar that flows from the Transcendental Lila of Godhead makes the fortunate ones immortal.

4. O the son of Brahma, you are far above the gods. You do not aspire for ambrosia but you ever drink deep the Nectar that flows from the extolling of Sri Hari’s Transcendental Pastimes. Therefore it is clearly established that amnia (ambrosia) that was drunk by the gods is most insignificant before the Nectar that flows from Harikatha.

5. We dissociate ourselves from the society where time is wasted in gossips, whereas we are intent to drink the Nectar of Harikatha which is the quintessence of all the Tapasas. Association with the exalted devotees like yourself is only the source of attaining that.

6-10. Aha, all the inhabitants of the capital of king Hiranyakashipu got the most glorious luck to meet Sri Hari which is aspired after by the yogis (men spiritually enlightened). Thereby the capital city of Hiranyakashipu became a resort for pilgrims—all about this we have heard from your holy lips. O glorious muni, it is even rare among the thousands whether one gets the luck to remember Sri Hari at the time of his death; whereas all the asura-followers of Hiranyakashipu instantly looking upon Sri Hari breathed their last. What a great good luck they had! The pious souls uttar Narayana into the ears of dying man so that he many die in remembrance of Narayana whereas what a great good luck those asuras had that they saw the God present before their eyes and instantly died. It is pertain that distinguished great devotees come as asura-chiefs because at the time of death one’s fortune or misfortune is understood. Prabhu, O the omniscient, kindly expound before us that what meritorious spiritul acts did they do in their past life, which was definitely not the reward of ordinary tapas that those sinful wicked could gain such wonderful reward.’

11. Hearing these words of the Brahmins the exalted Muni Sri Narada is an ecstatic mood with horripilation in his person and full of tears in his eyes, in a choked voice and in full contemplation upon Sri Narayana he began to narrate.

‘Listen to me all about the Divine Exploits of Sri Narayana, the God of all gods that how the asuras, who although were agnostic to the Sadhus got the glorious reward which no doubt is aspired after by the sadhus:

O revered Brahmins, their such attainment was absolutely neither from the fruits of their nigorous Tapasya, no Japa (muttering Mantra), Yaga, performance of sacrifices or Yogas but this they had mainly due to the remembrance of Sri Hari. Again remembrance of Sri Hari neither come through one’s endeavour nor by research or intellectualism. But look here, due to their malice and anger they remembered God constantly. What a wonder!

15-21. Hiranyakashipu since his birth has been cherishing antaganism [antagonism?] against God and out of extreme malice constantly remembered God Sri Hari. As it happens for an ego-centric man out of malice always thinks about his enemy but it may not be so remembered by a beloved to his beloved one. Because in nature people are prone to malice. King Hiranyakashipu out of his extreme anger showed jealousy against the devotees of Sri Hari and ordered to stop all the religious performances because he knew that Sri Hari was the God worshipped through those rites. Further he had the knowledge that Sri Hari is the God Himself. He was enimical against the gods for the reason because they are the votaries of Sri Hari. He stopped the performance of Vedic rites and also recitations of the Vedas because they are the words of Sri Hari and also they extol His Glories. All the while whether eating, drinking, chewing, mating with his spouses he out of his vehement malice constantly remembered Sri Hari. Therefore during his all types of worldly dealings and enjoyment his mind was thinking of Sri Hari. So enjoyment was no enjoyment to him. Sri Hari occupied all his thoughts. His feeling of antagonism was so deep that even during his sleep he dreamt of Sri Hari so thinking that he was fighting with Narayana, Sudarshana Discuss in hand. Who meeting a defeat at his hands runs away from the war-field. Even he cut jokes along with his subordinates by caricaturing Lord Sri Hari and thereby did the Namabhas and always uttered the Name of Sri Hari and heard it too.

29-24. Ah, as good preceptor inspires the disciple to contemplate upon Sri Hari so too the anger and malice prompted Hiranyakashipu too remembered Govinda (Sri Hari at all times during all his actions. O revered Brahmins, therefore even though Hiranyakashipu along with his men ever maintained antagonism against Sri Hari but that helped him to remember Sri Hari constantly and which ultimately rewarded him with the attainment of Mukti (but after his another two births) being slain by God. What more should I speak about this. Cherishing the same malice this Hiranyakashipu in his following consecutive two births was born as Ravana, king of Lanka and Shisupala, the king of Chedi. Sri Hari making His advent as Sri Ramachandra, accepting Sri Dasharatha as His father, killed Ravana and Bhagavan Sri Krishna, born as a Son of Sri Vasudeva slew Shishupala. Thus in three consecutive births the asura got rid of the life of transmigration.

25. O revered Brahmins, thus even maintaining antagonism against Sri Krishna ultimately the asura-chief attained Mukti. But this attainment of Mukti cannot be at any rate compared with the blessed and paramount position of the Gopis who serve the Blissful Lord with their all Love where the invincible Lord Himself is subjugated to their Love. Ah, what a mysterious characteristic of Sri Krishna! (Here Sri Narada, a mystic devotee when referred to Sri Krishna he could not hold his tongue without referring to the Gopis but absolutely he did not bring it for any comparison here).

Lust and anger are the worst enemies for a man to degrade to the lowest condition but somehow if they can be engaged in service of the God, life’s pursuits is obtained, We get the vivid example here in the life of the asura-chief and also in the illustrious life of the Gopis.

27-30. As from the poisonous teeth of the snake poison is abstracted but it is used as medicine to cure certain cronic disease, and as from the thieves valuable booties are recovered, likewise asuras chancely applying lust (malice) and anger against Sri Hari gain the reward of moksha. That is the marvellous prepossession of God’s Leela. To attain Mukti for an asura is not a wonder, mere remembrance of Sri Hari at the time of death makes oneself rewarded with mukti even though this remembrance is caused due to lust or anger. Such as a patient even out of anger when takes medicine it cures the disease so too a man fallen into the worldly ocean somehow if he can remember Sri Hari with faith may get the reward of Mukti. It may happen that in a dejected heart when one un-intentionally digging earth by providence gets a treasure of wealth, so too a man stepped in nescience out of lust and anger some how remembers Sri Narayana and meets his death without second thought instantly he attains Mukti.

31-33. Out of anger or madness if a part of fire is put into a heap of hay instantly the entire stock is consumed, accordingly if Sri Hari is stationed at one’s heart his all the accumulated sins are destroyed like dew-drops at sun rise. A man out of extreme remorse desiring to end his life by consuming poison but incidently drinks Amrita and thereby gets longevity of his life with robust physique likewise somehow if one can remember Sri Hari at the point of his death without any other thoughts attains Mukti. As the sun disperses the darkness and as the fire removes the cold, accordingly very remembrance of Sri Hari at the time of death instantly brings Mukti to one.

34. Bhagavan Sri Hari out of His Own prerogative having been incarnate time to time destroys the wicked who cherish the antagonistic feeling against Him or His devotees, and bestowing His Blessings into His devotees thereby bestow Moksha to both of them, (But there is a great difference in between the attainment of the devotees and the gains of asuras.)

35-36. The Moksha attained through Advaita or Abstractknowledge (Pantheism) is perilous whereas path of devotion is simple, easy and clear, particularly God Narayana Himself takes personal care for disbursing the obstacle, if any falls on the path of the progress of His devotee. None except a self-annihilator refrains himself from taking refuge at Sri Hari Who is the Ocean of kindness and the Saviour of the self-surrendered souls.

11. People fallen into this worldly ocean are ever afflicted by the triple miseries like Adhyatmika etc. and suffer untold calamities for such wretched souls there is no other go to get rid of from this cycling of transmigration save and except to take bold step in taking refuge at the immortal God Sri Hari.

38-39. Look, the sun at every moment like whirling wind moves about and thereby takes away the span of life of the mortal beings living such a life, how people can have any happiness. The sun does not care whether one is sick or mad or asleep or feeble due to starvation or mute, he acts upon all in shortening the life-span at every moment.

40-42. Look, the wheel of time constantly pooles the jivas and jivas fanned by the destiny endlessly cycle the life of transmigration and accordingly are born in different species of high and low. Therefore none can remain for all times as human beings. Secondly, whether today, or tomorrow or at a certain day death is certain. Yet jivas are not alert in taking account of it. They pave their path for hell. Alas, they do not look to their own true welfare. Therefore till death does not meet, one should culture devotion to Sri Madbusudana (Supreme God) Who destroys all the afflictions, all time whether day or night, because there is no certainty of life.

43-44. Jivas in their cycling of the life of transmigration born in different species, of them human birth got in the holy land of Bharatavarsha which is conducive in attaining the highest pursuits of life and then how a man particulary born in Bharat- varsha wastes his life without dedicating himself in the service of Sri Hari. Alas, if those who are born in the clan of the Brahmana which is so glorious and almost unattainable waste their lives and indulge in doting with the ladies are indeed undone, to take their names is a shame to me.

45-46. O the Brahmins, in the world which represents dense forest full of carnival animals, in the shape of triple affliction, as tigers and the lions as earth itself, if one does not look for his own protection how can he have enjoyment when constant fear has occupied the mind. There are nine holes where snakes in the shape of afflictions stand with their ferocity—in such a body-house people dwell, so at any moment life may go at their poisonous bite, with such constant fear every one has to pass the time; but if Sri Narayana, the Rider of the Garuda is called on one becomes fearless.

47. Therefore having obtained this most valuable human life people exercising their wisdom should ponder over what is the purpose of life and accordingly devote themselves to Sri Hari when easily can attain the blissful life of final beatitude one must not foolishly lead a life of enjoyment thereby subjecting himself to be feasted upon by the dogs and carnival animals in the shape of infatuation, disease, lust, anger, pride and ego etc.

48. O the holy Brahmins, Rahu among the asuras in disguise of a god took entire risk of his life for drinking the Amritam. Accordingly one should at all predicaments render devotional service to Hari. I pray, you all should have such spirit for devotional service.

49-30. Mind should be cotemplating upon Sri Hari, both the hands are to be engaged for the worship of Him, both the ears should be engaged in listening to the discourse on the Exploits of Him and the speech must extoll the Divine Glories of Him. Both the eyes may be fixed upon the beauty of the exalted devotees of Him: both the legs may go on pilgrimage to the Holy Resorts like Mathura, Vrindavana etc. the places hallowed by the God. In this way a man of wisdom by engaging all his senses devotes himself all the time in the service of Sri Hari.

51-52. Those who spend their time in devotion to Sri Hari are really alive whereas those who are devoid of devotion to Sri Hari are indeed dead and undone. All creatures even like mosquitoes, flies, crows and such other crores and crores of insects, they too lead their lives in eating, mating, procuring, sleeping etc. and therefore if human beings to live the life of gross enjoyment devoid of devotion to Sri Hari, then they are also not anyway better than those insects.

53-54. See, Aha, even from a long distance of hundred yojanas one takes sincerely the name of sacred Ganga instantly he becomes rid of his sins but this Ganga endowed with such sanctifying potency due to the being flown from the Divine Lotus Feet of Sri Hari. Therefore one should constantly contemplate upon that Glorious Sri Narayana. One who always sings aloud the Divine Glories of Sri Narayana although he may be alone yet his very presence washes away all the impurities, such as the rise of the sun without any burning lamps can any darkness of the night exist even inside of a room?

55. The burning lamp serves others by removing the darkness that prevents one to know that the objects exist there. Lamp does not burn for its own purpose, likewise the exalted devotees of Vishnu dispense the quagmire of maya by their giving Darshana, by the very touch of theirs and by accepting offerings from fortunate ones as it is also done by worshipping the Holy Srimurti of God Vishnu. The devotees live on earth not for their own sake but for the true spiritual welfare of the people’.