Shukdev Maharaj is an unique personality. His divine situation is- he is a leela shuk of Radhaji (divine parrot in Golok) and he serves in the pastimes of Radha Krishna by saying appropriate things for Their pleasure. Parikshit, after being bitten by Takshak Shukdevji Maharaj had only 7 days to survive. So, he went to Shukdev Maharaj and asked him, "What is the duty and means of welfare for a dying man?" Watch the full episode for the answer.
Parikshit was deeply touched by the conversation. Meanwhile, a very ugly man came with a staff and started breaking the one remaining leg of the bull. Parikshit was furious and started chasing him. Finally, the ugly man surrendered. The man revealed his identity as Kaliyuga. Parikshit said, "What are you doing in my kingdom? Kaliyuga doesn't have any place in my kingdom." Kaliyuga replied, “By the will of God the ages come and go and even I have to come. You have to give me some place in your kingdom. Parikshit realized that he will have to give him shelter, and so he gave Kaliyuga four places to stay. Which were those places, watch the episode to know.
One day Yudhistir found Shree Krishna in meditation. He asked, "My Lord! the whole world meditates upon you, whom are you meditating upon?" Shree Krishna replied, "Son of Ganga, Bhishma is lying on the bed of arrows, he is waiting for the moment to leave his body and he is meditating upon me. So, as per my rule, I am meditating upon him." Few more days went by and Yudhistir started to feel guilty about killing all his brothers and relatives in the war of Mahabharat. He started to blame himself that it was his desire to become the king that caused all the destruction. Then, Shree Krishna took him to Bhishma to learn about Dharma - the path to righteousness. Watch the full episode to know what Bhishma told Yudhistir and other Pandavas regarding Dharma.
Lord Krishna entered in his subtle form in the womb and saved the baby
in the womb. This baby was Parikshit, who became the listener of
Srimad Bhagavatam. He received darshan (Divine vision) of Lord in the
womb itself.
In all the Vedic scriptures, the position accorded to the Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapuran or the Bhagwat Katha is exceptional. The Vedas are of course, the highest authority. However, Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapuran is like the essence of the Vedic teachings, written by Ved Vyas himself. Knowledge of Vedas and Upanishads is presented in such a blissful manner, with all the Divine pastimes of God and His devotees, that listening to the Bhagwat Katha becomes an experience in itself. Not only does it illuminate our intellect with Divine wisdom, it also moves our heart and fills it with the nectar of Divine love. That is why it is said that this Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagwat Katha has something that even the Vedas do not have.
In Kaliyuga, in-auspiciousness increases. So to usher in auspiciousness, sages gat hered in the forest of Naimish Aaranya and arranged for a Yagna. Then they requested their Guru, Sutaji Maharaj to clarify their doubts. These Shaunakadiks put 6 questions in front of Sutaji Maharaj. These questions were as follows: 1. In this age of Kali, when everybody is so disturbed, restless, agitated, miserable - what is the path to welfare (sadhan for Kalyan)? 2. We have different scriptures. What is the essence of all knowledge available in these scriptures? 3. Why did the supreme lord, Shree Krishna, descend in this world? 4. If He did take an avatar, what were His pastimes? 5. What were the other avatars of God on this planet, and what were their pastimes? 6. Where has dharma taken shelter after Lord Shree Krishna wound-up His visible pastimes? Watch full episode for the answers of these questions and learn about the 24 avatars of God.
In this lecture, Swamiji says that there are many
rules for the speakers and listeners of the Bhagavatam. Those rules in
this present age are practically impossible to follow. Now from here, we
enter the Bhagavat Mahapuran.
In "Bhagavatam in English - Part 2 by Swami Mukundananda- How to get wisdom and detachment" Swamiji says, "many of you has been to holy places in India. When you go to the holy place, the pandit ji informs you of the Mahatmaya. So, when somebody has the mahatmaya in the mind, one realizes the importance and derives more devotional, spiritual benefit out of that entity."
In this lecture Swami Mukundananda says that Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapuran is like the essence of the Vedic teachings, written by Ved Vyas himself. Knowledge of Vedas and Upanishads is presented in such a blissful manner, with all the Divine pastimes of God and his devotees, that listening to the Bhagavat Katha becomes an experience in itself. Not only does it illuminate our intellect with Divine Wisdom, it also moves our hearts and fills them with the nectar of Divine Love. That is why it is said that this Srimad Bhagavatam has something that even the Vedas do not have.
First of all surrender to a Guru before starting sadhana (spiritual practice). Swami Vivekananda said, "The living secrets must be passed down through the master to a disciple in every science much more so in spiritual science." Swamiji in this episode explains following lines from the kirtan "Sadhana Karu Pyare" (साधना करु प्यारे) by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj: प्रथम श्रद्धा युक्त हो जा, शरण गुरु पद प्यारे | गुरु की बुधि में जोड़ निज बुधि, है शरण यह प्यारे |
Devotion is dynamic thing. The worldly nectars are such that they are constantly decreasing and then they finish. Whatever appears to be very blissful to you right now, if you keep savoring it the bliss keeps on decreasing. This is the nature of worldly bliss. Swami Mukundananda in this episode explains following lines from the kirtan "Sadhana Karu Pyare" (साधना करु प्यारे) by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj: ना भरे ना खालि हो अस, रस की प्याली प्यारे । तुम अकारण करुण करुणा, करहु मो पर प्यारे | कृपा कि नित बाट जोहो, कृपा होगी प्यारे । कबहुँ तो लैहैं कृपा करी, सुधि 'कृपालुहुँ' प्यारे ।
Is there any difference between Radha and Durga? If yes, then what is
the difference and if no, how? Swami Mukundananda in this episode of
"Secrets of Spiritual Practice" gives a clear answer to this. Swami Mukundananda in this episode explains following lines: ग्रन्थ पढ़ु जनि बहुत सुनु जनि, संत मत बहु प्यारे । गौर रस अरु श्याम रस दोउ, एक करि पिउ प्यारे । रस की शीशी में युगल रस, भर के पि नित प्यारे ।
Swami Mukundananda in this episode explains following lines: हरि दरस दे या न दे तुम, रोते जाओ प्यारे । एक दिन अइहैं इहै, विस्वास राखहु प्यारे । जितनो तू कर प्यार तितनो, प्यार कर तोहिं प्यारे । प्यार ही प्यार सों कर पिय, प्यार चाकर प्यारे ।
"Swami Mukundananda in this episode explains following lines: जग में कतहूँ राग जनि करू, द्धेष जनि करू प्यारे । हरि में गुरु में ही रहे नित, रक्त तव मन प्यारे । सदा सोचहु जाने कब छिन, जाय तनु यह प्यारे । मन को मनु शत्रु उसकी, सुनहु जनि कछु प्यारे । The mind should be attached to the divine realm alone, nowhere else in
the world. Neither to the family nor to the worldly object nor to
prestige or material situation. Shree Krishna has repeatedly said in
Bhagavad Gita that if a person engages in single minded devotion of God,
He will take full care of that person. He further says, "I am easily
attained by those who practices single-minded devotion.
तृणादपि सुनिचेन तरोरपि सहिस्नुन अमानिन मानदेन कीर्तनीय सदा हरि 1. Consider yourself to be more insignificant than a blade of grass and become more tolerant than a tree. 2. Give respect to others but do not seek respect for yourself. 3. Always chant God's name. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in his "Shikshashtaka" stated these 3 points as basic principles for a devotee. तृण से बढ़ कर दीनता उर, राख नित ही प्यारे । वृक्ष से बढ़ कर सहिष्णु, भाव भी हो प्यारे । सब को दो सम्मान आपुन, मान जनि चहु प्यारे । Now,
five hundred years later, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj repeats the same principles in these lines of "Sadhana Karu Pyare" (साधना करु
प्यारे).
It is not that God is watching us sometimes, He is watching us all the time. Bring this thought into your conscious awareness. At present we have the awareness of "I am" but we escape the thought of "God and Guru are with me". We need to practice thinking "God is with me". As a result, our mind will be attached to God-Guru while we do our daily chores and we will automatically start offering our works to Him. This is the state of Karmyoga.
In this episode of the series of discourses on Kripaluji Maharaj's kirtan "Sadhana Karu Pyare"(साधना करु प्यारे), Swami Mukundananda says covers these lines: दरस हित लग एक पलहूँ, कलप सम तोहिं प्यारे । चर अचर में लखहु अपनो, इष्ट कहँ नित प्यारे । As you keep these principles (explained in previous episodes of the series), your longing for Sri Krishna will keep increasing. It should increase to the point where one moment seems like an age. Such longing will take you to Sri Krishna. In other words, deep longing for God will unite you with God. Swamiji further explains how deep should be the longing.
In this episode of the series of discourses on Kripaluji Maharaj's kirtan "Sadhana Karu Pyare"(साधना करु प्यारे), Swami Mukundananda talks about the most difficult aspect of devotion-selflessness.
Lines covered in this episode:
उनका सुख ही चहहु निशि दिन, सुख न निज चहु प्यारे ।
उनकी इच्छा में ही अपनी, राखु इच्छा प्यारे ।
उनकी सेवा ही चहहु नित, अष्टयामी प्यारे ।
