Śrīmad Devi Bhāgavatam | Book 1 Chapter 16
THE FIRST BOOK
Chapter XVI
On Śūka’s desiring to go to Mithilā to see Janaka
Vyāsa spoke:
Then the Devī Mahā Lakṣmī, seeing the Deva Janārdana lying on a banyan leaf and surprised, spoke to him, smiling:
O Viṣṇu! Why are you becoming so much astonished? Before this, since times immemorial (without any beginning) there had been many dissolutions (Pralayas); and many Sriṣṭis (creations); and at the beginning of every creation You came first into existence and every time I was united with You; but now You have forgotten me under the spell of that Mahā Śaktī.
That Highest Mahā Śaktī is transcendent of all the Guṇas; but you and I are with Guṇas. Know me as the Śaktī, all of Sattva Guṇa who is widely known as Mahā Lakṣmī.
After this the Prajāpati Brahmā, full of Rajo Guṇas, the creator of all the Lokas, will come into existence from your navel lotus and will create the three worlds. Then he will perform severe tapasyā and acquire the excellent power to create, and will create the three worlds by his Rajo Guṇa.
That highly intelligent Prajāpati will create first, the five Mahā bhūtas (great elements), all endowed with Guṇas and then create mind with sensory organs and the presiding deities of the senses, and thus with all the ingredients, fit for creation, will create all the worlds. Therefore He is denominated by all as the Creator of Brahmāṇḍa.
O highly fortunate one! You will be the Preserver of this Universe. When the Prajāpati Brahmā will be angry at the beginning of the creation on his four mind-born sons, Rudra Deva will appear.
He will appear then from the centre of his eye brows. On being born this Rudra Deva will practise very severe tapasyā and will get the Samhāra Śaktī, who is all of Tamo Guṇa and at the end of the Kalpa will destroy all this universe of five elements.
O highly intelligent one! So I have come to you for this work of creation, etc. So take me to you as your Vaiṣṇavī Śaktī full of Sattva Guṇa.
O Madhusūdana! I will take refuge at your breast and will remain always with you. Hearing all this, Bhagavān Viṣṇu spoke:
“O beautiful Devī! The half stanza was ere long heard by me, in clear words; by whom was that spoken? Kindly speak to me on this great auspicious secret first. For a great doubt has come and possessed my mind. What more shall I say than this that as a poor man always thinks of wealth, so I am thinking of that again and again.”
Hearing these words of Viṣṇu, the Devī Mahā Lakṣmī smilingly said, with great affection:
“O Strong and Energetic one! I am now speaking in detail on this; listen.
O Four-armed one! It is because I have come to you with form and endowed with Guṇas that you have come to know me; but you have not known that Ādya Śaktī, the Prime force, transcending all the Guṇas, though She is the substratum of all the Guṇas.
O highly fortunate one! That Devī Bhagavatī, transcendent of all the Guṇas, uttered that all auspicious, highly sanctifying semi-stanza, the essence of all the Vedas.
O destroyer of the enemies! I think that there is the highest grace of that Highest Śaktī on you, that She spoke the greatest secret to you for your benefit.
O one performing good vows! Know those words uttered by Mahā Vidyā, as the essence of all the Śāstra. So firmly retain them within your heart; never forget them. There is no other thing, save that, worth being known in earnest. Because you are most beloved by the Devī! that She has spoken this to you.”
Hearing the words of the Devī Mahā Lakṣmī, the four-armed Bhagavān took that semi stanza as a Mantra to be repeated in right earnest within his mind and cherished that forever within his heart.
After some time, Brahmā born of the lotus of the navel of Viṣṇu, became afraid of the two Daityas Madhu and Kaiṭabha, took refuge of Bhagavān Viṣṇu; Viṣṇu killed the two demons and began to do distinctly the japam of the semi-stanza.
Brahmā, born of the lotus, then asked Viṣṇu with a gladdened heart:
“O Lord of the Devas! What japam are you doing? Lotus eyed! Is there any other body more powerful than you? O Lord of the Universe! Whom do you think and thus feel yourself so happy?”
Hearing Brahmā, Bhagavān Hari said:
“O highly fortunate one! Think out yourself once of the Primordial Force, the auspicious Bhagavatī Ādya Śaktī who is reigning everywhere as the cause and effect and you will be able to understand everything.
My presiding Deity is that immeasurable eternal Mahā Śaktī Brahmamyī; on whose Śaktī, as a receptacle with form on this ocean rests the whole Universe; I am thinking of that, by which is created (often and often) this entire Universe, moving and non-moving.
When the Devī Bhagavatī, the giver of boons, become graciously pleased, the human beings become freed of this bondage of Samsāra; and again that highest Eternal Wisdom, the cause of Mukti, becomes the source of bondage to this world, of those who are deluded by Her.
She is the Īśvarī of the Īśvaras of this universe. O Brahmā! You, I and all other things of the entire Universe are born of the Chit Śaktī (the power of consciousness) of Her and Her alone; there is no manner of doubt in this.
The semi-stanza by which She has sown within me the seed of Bhāgavata will get expanded by the beginning of the Dvāpara Yuga.
While Bhagavān Brahmā was resting on the navel lotus of Viṣṇu, He got the seed of Bhāgavata. Then He gave it to His own son Nārada, the best of the Munis. Nārada gave it to me and I have expanded that into twelve Skandhas.
Therefore, O Mahābhāga! You now study this Bhāgavata Purāṇa, equal to the Vedas and endowed with five characteristics. In this the wonderful glorious deeds and life of the Devī Bhagavatī, the hidden meanings of the Vedas and the wisdom, the truth are all described; hence this is the best of all the Purāṇas and sanctifying like the Dharma Śāstra.
It is the substratum of Brahmā Vidyā; therefore if men study this, they will easily cross this sea of world; and those that are stupid and deluded get pleasure in hearing the death of Vritrāsura and many other narrations that are interspersed in this book.
Therefore, O Mahābhāga! hear this sanctifying Bhāgavata Purāṇam and retain it firmly within your heart.
O best of persons! You are the foremost of those that are intelligent; so you are worthy to read this Purāṇa. Eighteen thousand ślokas are in that Purāṇa and you better get them by heart; for if anybody reads or bears this Purāṇa, fit to be praised in every way, all-auspicious, capable to increase posterity by the addition of sons and grandsons, giving long life, happiness and peace, he sees the Sun of Wisdom, resting in his breast and dispelling all darkness of ignorance.
Thus speaking to his son Śūka Deva, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, my Guru, studied us the Purāṇa and thought it was voluminous. I got the whole of it by heart. Śūka studied the Purāṇa and stayed in Vyāsa's Āśrama. But he was naturally dispassionate like Sanat Kumāra, etc., the mind-born sons of Brahmā; therefore he could not get peace in studying the contents of the Purāṇa which deal with Karma-Kāṇda (actions) fit for the householders.
He remained in a solitary place, his heart being troubled very much. He appeared, as if, with his heart void. He did not mind much for his food and he did not fast also.
Once Vyāsa Deva seeing his son Śūkdeva so thoughtful, said:
“O Son! What do you think constantly? And why are you troubling yourself so much? Like an impoverished man, entangled in debt, you are always disturbed by your thoughts.
O child! When I your father is living, what for do you care? Leave aside your inmost sorrows and be happy. Cast off all other thoughts and think of the wisdom contained in the Śāstras and try your best to acquire Vijñāna, the essence of wisdom.
O Suvrata! If you do not get peace by my words then go, at my word to Mithilā, the city of the King Janaka.
O Mahābhāga! That king Janaka, who is liberated while living, whose soul is religious and who is the ocean of truth will cut asunder the net of your delusion.
O Son! Go to the king and question him on Varnāśram Dharma (Dharma relating to caste and stages of life) and remove your doubts.
That royal sage Janaka, the greatest Yogi, the knower of Brahmā and liberated while living, is of pure soul, truth speaking, of a calm and quiet heart and always fond of Yoga.”
Hearing these words of Vyāsa Deva, the highly spirited Śūka deva of unrivalled energy replied:
“O virtuous one! Your word can never turn out false; but when I hear that the king Janaka is gladly governing his kingdom still he is liberated while living, and disembodied while he has body — this your word appears to me quite contradictory like light and darkness at one and the same place and time, and seems that these two epithets simply indicate vanity and nothing else.
O Father! This is my greatest doubt how can the royal sage Janaka govern his kingdom, being disembodied. It appears that your word about Janaka is quite false as the son of a barren woman.
O Father! I have now got a desire to see the disembodied king Janaka; for my mind is plunged in great doubt how can he remain in Samsāra unattached like a lotus leaf in water?
O Greatest Orator! Is the liberation of Janaka according to Buddhist doctrines or like the opinions of the materialistic Chārvākas!
O highly intelligent one! How can the royal sage Janaka, in spite of his being a householder, quit the usages of his senses? I cannot comprehend this.
How can the things enjoyed by him appear to him, as if, unenjoyed and how can his doings be his non-doings? How can the ideas of mother, wife, son, sister, prostitutes and various persons having different relations, arising within him vanish again altogether? And if that be not the case, how can his Jīvanmuktahood be possible?
If his taste be present of pungent, sour, astringent, bitter, and sweet things, then it is clear that he is enjoying all the most excellent things, O Father! This is my greatest wonder and doubt, that if he has got the sense of heat and cold, pleasure and pain, how can he be a Jīvanmukta?
That king is thoroughly expert in reigning his kingdom; how then the ideas of enemy, friend, taste and distaste, remaining absent in him, he can govern his state? How can he look with the same eyes a thief and an ascetic? And if he makes any distinction, how then is his liberation effected?
I have never seen such a man, that is liberated while living and at the same time an expert king in governing his subjects. For these reasons, great doubt has arisen in me. I cannot understand how can the king Janaka be liberated, while he is remaining in his house?
Whatever it be, I desire now greatly to see him after his Jīvanmuktahood; so I desire to go to Mithilā to solve my doubts.”
Thus ends the Sixteenth Chapter of the first Skandha on Śūka's desiring to go to Mithilā to see Janaka, in the Mahāpurāṇa Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses.