Chapter 3 - Devotion to Hari—the only path of Liberation

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. In this way, I have described to you this course (of study etc. about Hari, as prescribed in the Śāstras)—the course about which your honour asked me for the sake of wise and thoughtful persons among men, especially for those who are about to die.

2. One desirous of the glory of Vedic studies should worship the god Brahmā. He who desires to have power and skill of his sense-organs should worship Indra. He who wishes to have progeny should worship Prajāpatis (like Dakṣa).

3. He who longs to have prosperity should propitiate the goddess Māyā (Durgā). One who desires to have personal brilliance should worship the fire-god. One wishing for wealth should worship the eight Vasus. A vigorous person desiring for more strength should propitiate the Rudras.

4. He who wishes to have ample food and eatables should worship Aditi, while he who desires to attain heaven (svarga), should propitiate the sons of Aditi, viz. the twelve Ādityas. One desiring to possess a kingdom, should worship the Viśvedevas. One aspiring to control his subjects, should worship the Sādhyas.

5. One desiring a long life, should propitiate the Aśvin gods (both the Aśvinikumāras). He who desires to have increase in physical strength should worship the earth. A man desiring permanent firmness in his acquired position, should worship the Sky and the Earth, the parents of this world.

6. One who desires to have beautiful form, should worship the Gandharvas. One desiring to have beautiful women should worship the heavenly damsel Ūrvaśī. One who desires overlordship on all people, should worship god Brahmā (Parameṣṭhin).

7. One who seeks reputation or success, should worship Yajña, i.e. Viṣṇu. One aspiring after treasures should worship god Varuṇa. One wishing to have learning, should worship god Śiva, and for conjugal love, one should propitiate goddess Pārvatī (chastity incarnate).

8. For the sake of righteousness, one should worship Viṣṇu (the god whose glory is excellent). For the continuity of one’s race, one should propitiate the manes (pitṛs). One desiring protection from danger, should worship the Yakṣaṣ. One desiring to have strength, should worship the gods called Maruts.

9. One who aspires after kingship or sovereignty, should propitiate Manus, the presiding deities of the eras (manvantaras). He who longs for the destruction of the enemies, should worship Nirṛti (rākṣasas). One desiring all kinds of enjoyments, should worship god Soma. (But) he who desires freedom from attachment or desires, should devote himself unto the Perfect or the Supreme Man.

10. He who wishes to have no desire at all, or aspiring after all kinds of enjoyments or longing to have Liberation due to the exaltedness of his intelligence, should intensely propitiate, by the path of devotion, the Perfect Man beyond limitations.

11. The attainment of the highest good is this much, in the case of the worshippers (of Indra etc.) in this world, but it is in the association of the devotees of the Supreme Lord that unswerving devotion unto the Lord is generated (that leads to Final Beatitude).

12. Is there anybody who, having got the blissful satisfaction (of listening to the stories of Hari which is unavailable elsewhere), would not love those episodes, from which arises the knowledge, which completely subsides all whirling waves of passions (like love, hatred etc.), and creates tranquillity of mind and non-attachment to the objects of senses, leading ultimately to the path of devotion which is regarded as the state of liberation itself here and hereafter.

Śaunaka said:

13. After carefully listening to what has been explained to him thus, what other query was again made by the king, the prominent among the Bharata race, to the son of Vyāsa (Śuka) who was a seer of parabrahman and well versed in the Vedic lore?

14. Oh learned Sūta! You should narrate that to us who are desirous of hearing, for, discourses in the assembly of the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa, must definitely lead to the episodes of Hari.

15. Verily, that great warrior king of the Pāṇḍava family, was a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa, as he used to worship Kṛṣṇa as a play, while playing with his toys in the childhood (Or he used to imitate the sports of Kṛṣṇa as a child, in his own childhood).

16. The venerable son of Vyāsa was an ardent devotee of Vāsudeva. When there is a meeting of the pious devotees of Kṛṣṇa, there must be (the discussion about) the great episodes or excellent virtues of Hari (lit. the god who is greatly praised in the Vedas).

17. This rising and the setting sun verily takes away the life of men, except that period used in discussion etc. about Kṛṣṇa, (the god whose reputation lifts the devotee from darkness or tamas).

18. Do not the trees live? Or do not the bellows breathe? Do not the domestic or other beasts eat and have sexual enjoyment?

19. The man, to whose ears the name of Kṛṣṇa (the elder brother of Gada) has not reached, is described as similar to (despicable animals like) dogs, swine, camels and donkeys.

20. The ears of the man, which do not hear the exploits of Kṛṣṇa, are verily like empty holes. Oh Sūta! the tongue which does not sing of Lord Kṛṣṇa, is evil like that of a frog’s.

21. The head (though the best part of the body), even if adorned with turban or a crown, is a great burden, if it does not bow to Mukunda. Or hands, which are adorned with bright gold bangles, are like the hands of a dead body, if they do not worship Hari.

22. The eyes of men, which do not carefully see the images of Viṣṇu, are like the eyes (i.e. the big bright spots on the feathers) of peacocks. The feet of men which do not go on pilgrimage to the sacred places of Viṣṇu, are mere vegetations like trees.

23. A mortal, who does not get the dust of the feet of the devotees of the Lord, is as good as a carcass even though alive. The man who has not smelt the fragrance of the Tulasī leaves placed at the feet of Lord Viṣṇu, is only a breathing corpse.

24. The heart, which at the time of taking different names of Hari, is not moved, and the change in it is not indicated by tears in the eyes, and bristling of the hair on the body through excessive joy, is verily the hardest granite.

25. Oh beloved Sūta! whatever you speak is dear to our hearts. Please narrate to us what did the great Bhāgavata, the son of Vyāsa, who was well-versed in the knowledge of the Soul and who was well questioned, say to the king?