THE GARUDA PURANA 69 страница

5. Thus asked by Garuda, lord Krsna, son of Devaki, spoke in a voice resembling the thunder of clouds.

Lord Kr$na said:

6. Jambavati, the daughter of Soma in her former birth, purified her life as well as her father’s by the worship cf Visnu.

7. She heard the sacred Puranas, bowed to and circumambulated Visnu who takes men across the ocean of life and death. She kept him ever in her memory.

8-9. O lord of birds, by hearing the Puranas ceaselessly she and her father became detached from worldly affairs.

Wealth, friendship and her previous possessions — elephants, gems, house, etc., she regarded as evanescent.

10-11. She thought, “all this wealth, friendship, etc., are given and taken back by Hari. ” She was not distressed thereby. “The most compassionate lord has taken pity on me to-day”, she said.

Both she and her father set their heart on Vasudeva with sincere devotion. She became averse to seeking means for her sustenance. She accepted whatever came to her without being sought.

12. She placed her wealth at the lotus-feet of the lord who takes men across the ocean of suffering. She set her tongue to the praise of Hari.

13. She applied her hands to the act of sweeping the temple of Visnu with devotion that removes impurity. She directed her ears to hearing the sacred tale of Hari — the tale that takes one to heaven or effects release.

14. She set her eyes to seeing the idols of Visnu — a fact that effaces impurities of body accrued from eternal times.

She set her body to the pious embraces of the Vaisnavas, kept herself in their company or busied A herself with her body anointing with the fragrant substances that were left after the worship of Hari.

15. She set her organ of smell to the feet of Hari — the feet which give release from the circle of birth and death. She set her organ of taste to partake the remanents of what had been offered to Hari and were mixed with Tulasi leaves.

16. She set her feet to traversing the path sacred to Hari, her head to bowing at the feet of lord, her heart and mouth to his praise and service as is the practice among the illustrious devotees of Visnu.

1 7. She directed her intellect to thinking upon the supreme spirit, and her organ of speech to the praise of the lord.

18. Thus, she placed her life at the feet of the lord, started on pilgrimage with her father, to propitiate lord Visnu.

Before she started on pilgrimage she worshipped at first the Brahmanas and the devotees of Visnu with clothes and ornaments.

19. Thereafter she made a vow in the presence of the lord.

20. O lord, so long I remain on pilgrimage, I shall be in Yaugic practice. May you, O lord, favour me with the company of the faithful, not with the company of non-believers.

21. Let me hear the narrative of Hari. May I not go on pilgrimage with friends, sons, relatives and also with those who start on journey with a set motive or purpose.

22. Fruitless is the pilgrimage of those who do not carry Salagrarna stone with them.

23. If one goes on pilgrimage on foot let him take the Salagrarna stone with himself. Such a person obtains full fruits of his pilgrimage.

If he wears shoes or protects his feet, he derives the fruit of his pilgrimage less by one fourth.

24. If he goes on pilgrimage on a vehicle or a horse he derives the fruit of his pilgrimage less by one half. If he goes riding on a bull, he derives the fruit of his pilgrimage less by one-fourth.

If he subsists on the food provided by another, his pilgrimage is wasted. He derives no fruit of his pilgrimage.

25. But there is no sin if he accepts food from an ascetic, Vedic Scholar or a high-souled person.

Having made this vow she set out on pilgrimage.

26. She took bath, washed off the ointment and listened to the Puranas. She shared food with her father and together with him set out on journey the next day. She walked the distance of one Kosa, the very next day27. She worshipped and fed the Brahmanas and listenedi to the story of the lord. Those who perform journey in this way,, their journey becomes fruitful.

28. The noble have declared that pilgrimage without compassion is barren. Similar fate awaits those who do not hear the divine story of lord Hari on their way to a shrine.

29-30. The same fate awaits those who go on pilgrimage on horse or in other vehicles.

Slaying a horse ( in asvamedha) invites sin that can be washed off at the sight of the idol of Visnu at a sacred shrine.

31. The sin accruing from the worship of lord without devotion can be wiped off by the repeated uttering of the Vedic mantra for the purpose or by meditating upon Visnu. Whatever is performed by way of worship without devotion is a sheer waste. Thus say the learned devotees of Visnu.

32. Hence, O lord of birds, one should devote oneself toVisnu, hear his narrative which destroys sins, remember oneself falling at the feet of the lord, thus he should devote himself to the service of the lord.

33. She proceeded, O lord of birds, together with her father to visit lord Visnu, the consort of LaksmI, at the Sesa mountain. She thought of Hari all the way to the shrine.

34. “When shall I see lord Visnu of wide chest, adorned with Srivatsa. 1 When shall I see the lord with lovely belly marked with three folds.

I. Srivatsa — a mark on Lord Visnu’s chest. According to ancient tradition.

Sage Bhrgu once struck Mahavisnu, with his feet on the chest. Visnu bore this mark with pleasure. The mark is designated as Srivatsa.

35. When shall I see the lord with the neck resembling a conch and the resting-place for Maharloka. When shall I see the navel of the lord, the resort of the firmament.

36. When shall I see the face of the lord, the resort of the people of Janas.

37. When shall I see the head of the lord, the resort of Satya people. When shall I see the hips of the lord, the resort of Bhu people.

38. When shall I see the thigh of the lord, the resort of Talatala people.

39. When shall I see the tender knees of the lord, the resort of Sutala people. When shall I see the soles of the lord the resort ofPatala people.

40. Thus pondering, on her way to the shrine, she reached the mountain Sesa where she saw lord Sesa possessed of one thousand hoods. The mountain abounded in various trees and was inhabited by monkeys.

41. She said: “I have seen this mountain by my merits accumulated since various births. ”

At the sight of the lord her eyes overflowed with tears.

She stood up immediately and bowed to the lord.

42. One should salute the lord in front of the image and not at the back. She bowed to the lord with the eight organs of her body, placing Salagrama in front.

43. The devotees of Visnu should act accordingly. The consort of Laksmi abides at the peak of the mountain, worshipped or honoured by Laksmi, Brahma and others.

44. I shall see the mighty, supreme lord of Laksmi. I shall attend the mountain and put up my residence at the holy hermitage of Kapila.

45. Lord Visnu is here in his visible form and not elsewhere.

She took bath, dressed her hair and offered rice-balls to the manes at a sacred place.

46. She gave cows, land, gold, etc., in charity and ascended the mountain.

47-48. She put Salagrama in front and bowed to the lord with devotion. She had traversed one hundred steps before she found herself in front of the lord where sitting comfortably she heard the recital of the Bhagavata and the portion of the Purana which contains the praise of the mountain V enkata. 1

With full devotion she heard the glory of lord Venkatadri from the honourable preceptor Jaigisavya.

CHAPTER TWENTYFOUR.

The glory of Venkafacala and lord Srinivasa.

Jaigifavya said:

1. O girl, Attend to the merit one obtains in ascending the mountain Venkata.

2. In each and every step of the mountain the people recite Bhagavadgita remembering lord Srinivasa. They are transported to the highest region of delight. When the lord is pleased, they attain liberation. O girl, there is nothing inaccessible to a person with whom lord Hari is so pleased.

3. He who hears this Purana while ascending the mountain attains the merit of visiting holy places of pilgrimage.

Therefore while ascending the steps the devotees should praise Hari Srinivasa and their preceptor.

4. She heard the glory of ascending the steps, set up and worshipped the holy Salagrama thereon and started ascending.

5. O lord of birds, while ascending the steps the nonVaisnava devotees feel no pleasure. O lord of birds, this very fact is enough to put them into deep dark regions.

6. At every step of journey, one should remember Hari. The maiden said to Jaigisavya again.

The maiden said:

7. O Jaigisavya, please, tell me how Srinivasa, the lord of Laksmi appears to Brahma and others.

1. Venkafa — a sacred mountain in the south.

Thus addressed by the maiden, the daughter of Soma, Jaiglsavya said in reply.

Jaigifavya said:

8-11. Brahma and others can see Srinivasa as of eternal form of lustrous body. This is how Vehkatesa is seen by Rudra and his associates. He appears to them as lustrous as one hundred thousand suns, which to the mortals is as lustrous as one thousand suns, as also possessed of the lustre of lightning.

To the sages he appears like the sun and the moon, to holy men like constellations, to the worldly people like the mass of milk, to the liars as a blue stone, to the lay people as an ordinary stone only.

12. People do not realize the true form of lord Hari.

They are swayed by tamas and rajas.

1 3. Those characterized by Sattva are seldom found in the Kali age. Those who appear to be devotees of Visnu are in fact not devotees at all. Rather, they are busy in filling up their belly and meeting their sexual desire; for they undertake journey with that end in view.

14. Rare is the diffusion of devotion in the iron age.

Those who are devotees of the lord but still not detached from worldly pleasures cannot easily get the sight of lord Visnu.

15. O lord of birds, I shall tell you the nature of a true devotee. A true devotee is one who is devoid of hatred, is full of affection and possesses keen insight and devotion. I shall now tell you the forms of hate.

16. The supreme lord is distinct from Atman. He is independent as well as free. He is full of knowledge and bliss. To think otherwise is to abhor the lord.

1 7. To pay more attention to Brahma, Rudra and others or among men to Brahmins, etc. and to regard Brahma, Rudra, and others as more honourable than Visnu is nothing less than dishonouring him.

18. O noble one, to regard Visnu as a human being possessed of hands, feet, etc., is equal to hating the lord. To distinguish each incarnation of the lord from the other or to think of their death is also tantamount to a hate.

19. To hate the devotees of Visnu is a sin; to find fault with the instructions of the lord is showing hate. O maid, those who are full of hate can never be true devotees.

T he maid said:

20. O sage Jaigisavya, please tell me who are the true devotees. How did they show their devotion. Lord Visnu, Srinivasa who is compassionate to devotees is indeed their protector.

21. Thus addressed by the lord, Sage Jaigisavya revived his memory and spoke to the maid.

Jaigisavya said:

Prahlada, the devotee of Srinivasa Nrsimha attained sovereignty of the world and the precious knowledge of atman from Nrsimha.

22. Parasara, the devotee of Srinivasa had a great devotion for Vyasa, the incarnation of Visnu. He praised Vyasa and obtained the quintessence of knowledge from him. With his soul elevated by devotion he achieved liberation.

23. The sage Narada, the devotee of Srinivasa had a devotion for Hari while he was in his mother’s womb. By that devotion he was adopted as a son by Brahma. By the attainment of knowledge he achieved liberation.

24. Ambarisa was a devotee of Srinivasa as well as Hari. He attained knowledge from Durvasas. With his soul elevated by devotion he attained liberation.

25. Mucakunda was the devotee of Srinivasa. Detached from worldly affairs and firm in devotion he received supreme knowledge of lord Visnu. With his soul elevated by devotion he attained liberation.

26. Pundarika, the devotee of Srinivasa was devoted to Visnu at the behest of his father. He obtained supreme knowledge by the grace of God and received liberation after his soul was elevated by devotion.

27. Brahma, Vayu, Sarasvati are great Yogins. They are the constant devotees of lord Visnu. They are of pure form, not attached to worldly objects.

28-29. Lord of mountains, lord of Nagas, lord of birds, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, moon, sun, lord of waters (Varuna), Agni (fire-god), Manu, Dharma, Kubera, lord of obstacles, Asvins, groups of Maruts, Parjanya, Mitra — all these are the devotees ofVisnu.

30. Visvamitra, Bhrgu, Aurva, Kutsa, Marici, Atri, Pulaha, Kratu, Sakti, Vasistha, Gautamiva, Pulastya, and Bharadvaja — these are the devotees of Srinivasa.

31. Mandhata, Nahusa, Ambarisa, Sagara, Prthu, Haihaya, Iksvaku, Bharata, Yuyutsu, Sutala, Dharma, Vikuksi, Utthana, Bibhisana, Dasaratha — these wise and intelligent persons are the devotees of lord of Venkata.

32-33. Bhagirathi, 1 Samudra, Yamuna, Sarasvatl, 2

Godavari, 3 Narmada, 4 Krsna, 5 6 Bhimarathi, ® Sarayu, 7 Phalgu, 8

Kaveri, Gantjaki 9 Kapila 10 — these are the devotees of lord Hari.

34-35. O maid, hear, I shall tell you a significant fact.

At a congregation, where they narrate the tale of Visnu, where the devotees who understand the essence flock together — all those who are present are the devotees of the lord.

1. Bhagirathi — Ganga, so called because she was brought from the Himalayan mountain to the plain, by Bhagiratha, the descendent of Sagara.

2. Sarasmti — The modern river of the same name flows between the Jumna and Sutlej. Formerly, it was a much larger river but in later times it perished, as it does now, in the sands of the desert. Vinasana was the name of the place where it disappeared.

3. Godavari — A famous river of Janasthana, the scene of Rama’s first conflict with the Raksasas was the country on both its banks.

4. Narmada — This river rises in the Vindhya mountain and falls into the gulf of Cambay. It flows in a wide flood-plain and is fairly deep. It forms a suitable boundary between the political units north and south of it.

5. Krsna — This river received very little attention in ancient times, and was almost unknown compared with the Godavari and Kaveri. The reason seems to be that the country through which it flows was nearly all forest in ancient times.

6. Bhimarathi — Modern Bhima, the tributary of Krsna rising near Pune.

7. Sarayu— It is a sacred river of Northern Kosal, with Ayodhya, the sacred city of great antiquity lying along its bank.

8. Phalgu — a river on which Gaya stands.

9. Gandaki — a river which rises in the Himalayas and falls into the Ganges at Sonepur in Bihar.

10. Kapila — a river mentioned in the Markandeya purana.

36. Those who go on pilgrimage intent on realizing the lord are the devotees of the lord, not others, for the life’s purport of the devotees of Visnu stabilizes in the supreme lord and not in other matters.

37. If reaching the mountain Sesa one does not gift food, cloth and ornaments to the deserving he is not entitled to be called a devotee of Visnu. Who can be a greater animal than him.

38. The devotees of Hari such as Gaiiga, etc. live on the mountain Srinivasa in the service of the wide-strider Visnu.

O maid, they should not be worshipped by the faithful.

39. I shall narrate to you the purport thereof. I shall also tell you where one should worship and offer homage to the devotees, to each individually.

40. He should worship the worthy Brahmanas at their feet, with hands joined in reverence.

He should worship lord Visnu with eight organs of the body. He should worship his preceptor in the same way taking him for Visnu.

41. He should bow to Ganga, Tulasi and the rest with the eight organs of the body. He should physically bow to the holy fig tree but to the cows and others mentally.

42. The devotees of Visnu alone should worship the supreme god. Those who are rightly the devotees of Visnu but possess nominal knowledge are also entitled to worship him.

43. But those who are nominally the devotees of Visnu, though possessed of knowledge are not entitled to his worship.

44. Those who do not worship the supreme god Visnu go to the dark regions (i. e. hell) due to the great sin.

45. Brahma, etc. are the names of Visnu which he himself had given to the gods. The wise lord did not transfer some of his names such as Kesava, just as a king, when he leaves the capital does not relinquish his title or pass it on to another.

46. O maiden, all this I have told you precisely. Y ou should investigate the matter further by yourself. Worship should be made to me by my titles — Govinda, Narayana and Madhava.

47. Together they ascended the mountain Venkata, chanting chants of praise, uttering the name of lord Srinivasa, feeling joy and pleasure and clapping their hands in expectation of seeing the lord.

On hearing the words of lord Krsna, Garuda asked the lord how the travellers felt pleasure by uttering his name.

Lord Kr^jia said:

48. “O lord Srinivasa, this very name of yours is indeed omnipotent. Brahma and others take resort to you. Rama (Laksmi) has derived her name Sri from this very title.

49. Lord Visnu has derived his name Srinivasa from the fact that he is the resort of Sri. ”

Thus addressing Srinivasa by name, dancing and clapping hands, with the thrill of hair on their person, they gave expression to their feeling.

50. O lord, may we see your face this very day. When shall we get our desire fulfilled. O lord Kesava, you favour us this very day by showing your lotus-feet to us.

51. In the epithet Kesava, the letter K devotes the primeval being Brahma which again signifies the lord of all beings. The word Isa denotes the worthy lord Rudra whoinstigates dissolution of the universe.

52. Hence, Hari is called Kesava. Addressing the lord by this epithet, dancing as well as trickling the spring of joy in the form of joyful tears and uttering the name lord Narayana, they continued their upward journey.

53. As he is the resort of merits and demerits and as he abides in the waters of ocean, he is called Narayana. People who take resort to him obtain eternal release, O lord of birds.

54. Waters are called Nara; as he resorts to waters (in the ocean) he is called Narayana. Those who resort to Narayana get an eternal release.

55. Naras (waters) are so called because as cosmic waters they emerge from his side-glances. As he is the resort of these waters he is called Narayana and also because he is the source of this eternal universe.

56. They danced, praising the lord thus: “O Govinda, there is no such Being as your supreme self, no such personage whose sight is so thrilling and delightful.

57. In the word Govinda go means the universal speech.

As you are expressed by the medium of universal speech you are called Govinda. O lord, you are known to or by the Vedas”.

58-59. Thus they danced while their eyes flowed with joyful tears. “O Hari, the slayer of Asura Mura, please grant us an interview. We are slaves of your slaves.

As you pervade the fourteen worlds 1 you are called Vasu.

As you play sports constantly or as the great declare you a god, you are called Vasudeva. ”

Thus uttering the names of the lord — Vasudeva, Madhava, etc., they danced joyously.

60. ‘‘People call you Laksmipati the lord of LaksmI.

The syllable dhava is the synonym of treasure. Hence, the learned call you Madhava (the treasure of LaksmI). O lord of LaksmI, protect us, your devotees. ”

61. Thus speaking they danced and persued their upward journey, uttering “O lord, grant us your eternal protection. As you are omnipresent you are called Vitala. ” Reciting names of the lord they reached their goal. Here, full of devotion, they sought the audience of the lord.

The Maid said:

62. O best of sages, what is the name of this shrine?

What rites shall we perform here? whom did lord Siinivasa favour at this holy place, please tell us in detail.

Jaigifavya said:

63. O maid, listen to the narrative of Prahlada, the best of the devotees of Visnu. Once, when he had no desire to fulfil, Prahlada went to see-lord Srinivasa on the Sesa mountain.

64. This was the place where Prahlada had spoken to the Daitya youths on the glory of Visnu. Hence, O maid, you should worship lord Visnu (the abode ofLaksml), in the form of Nrsimha.

1. Fourteen Worlds — See p. 1043 fn. 2.

Prahlada said:

65. “O Daitya youths, you have attained human life which is very rare. Rarer is the knowledge of the glory of Nrsimha.

That journey is fruitful whereon throughout they utter the narrative of Hari, O Daitya youths, Hari abides at the place where they sing his narrative, though he pervades the universe. ”

66-68. On hearing the same, the daitya princes said to Prahlada, the devotee of Hari. “O friend, if Hari is allpervading why does he withhold his presence here in the midst of water. ”

Thus spoken toby the Daitya youths, Srinivasa appeared in the midst of water.

69. Those who bathe in this holy pool stabilize their intellect which remains untarnished with impurity, even in this iron age (Kali).

70. Thus bestowing favour on the Daitya youths, lord Visnu disappeared in the midst of waters.

Even today, Nrsimha abides in the midst of waters.

Prahlada too abides therein together with Daitya youths.

71. Here in the afternoon, there is heard all around the word ‘Victory’. The place is called Narsimha in recollection of the Victory of the lord over Hiranyakasipu. Pilgrims who visit this holy place take plunge here.

72. They took bath, offered an earthen lamp to a pious Brahmin Srinivasa, uttering ‘Govinda, Govinda. ’

73. The maid sat in front of the principal deity and said.

‘‘O noble Jaiglsavya, please tell me how shall I have the audience of the lord. ”

On hearing this, Jaiglsavya was extremely delighted at heart and said.

74. O, maid, I tell you how you shall proceed. At the main gate of Srinivasa you should recite the following.

75. “I commit thousands of faults day and night. O lord, pardon all these faults of mine, O best of primeval beings.

76. O lord, efface those causes of mine which create hatred for the devotees of Visnu, whether they are mental, oral or physical. ”

77. O maid, at the main gate of the temple of Srinivasa you should remember, in the appropriate form Jaya and Vijaya.

At the right gate of Srinivasa you should remember Canda and Pracanda.

78. At the left gate, you should remember Nanda and Sunanda; at the extreme left gate you should remember the lilyeyed Kumudanetra.

79-81. You should enter the temple with full devotion and reverence, circumambulating the lord twelve times.

You should sip waters in the holy pool and bathe. You should enter right in the interior of the temple and other chambers. While there, you should meditate on the deities sitting in their respective postures on their seats.

82-83. In the middle of the seat you should bow to Srinivasa with all the organs of your body. To the left of the lord, outside the pedestal, you should pay homage to the preceptor, in front of the pedestal, just below at the south-east comer. In the south-western corner, you should pay homage to the honourable Vyasa. The devotee of Visnu should be honoured all times everywhere.

84. In the north-western corner you should honour goddess Durga with your soul elevated by devotion.

Above the pedestal, in the south-east region you should bow to Yama, the presiding deity of Dharma.

85. Above the pedestal, in the upper south-western region to Vayu.

86. Above the pedestal, in the north-eastern region to Indra, the supreme lord. To the east of the pedestal, to Nairrti, lord of the Aryamans.

87. To the south of the pedestal, the goddess Durga also called Ugra. To the west of the pedestal, to Kamadeva, the lord of health.

88. To the north of the pedestal, to Rudra the supreme lord. To the middle of the pedestal, to Varaha the primeval man.

89. Above the pedestal, to Laksmi called Sakti, the support of the universe. Above the pedestal, to Vayu and Kurma.

Above that to Sesa and Kurma.

90-91. Above that, cosmic Earth, the presiding deity of the universe. Above that, to Varuna, the lord of milky ocean.

Above that, to Laksml called Svetadvipa. Above that, to divine Laksmi called Mantfapi.

92. In the middle of Pifha, to Laksmi called Yami. By the side of Yam! to Devi. To the south of Yama, to Surya in the form of an earthen lamp.

93. To the left of God Yama, to Sri in the form of an earthen lamp. In front of Yama, to Agni also in the form of an earthem lamp.

94. In front of the lord, he should bow to Bhumi the presiding deity of the elements, and to Durga, the presiding deity of tamas and the reclining couch of the lord.

95. To the east, to the Atman in the form of steps of the pedestal. To the east, to knowledge (Jnana) in the form of steps of the pedestal.

96. To the east, in the leaf of a lotus, to Vimala in the form of a female and to the deities, Brahma, etc.

97. In the lotus-leaf in the south-east corner you should bow to the excellent gods and goddesses Utkarsa, Laksmi, Brahma, Vayu and Sesa.

98. In the eight-petalled lotus to the right you should worship Narayana, Sesa; etc, in the form of a female.

99. In the lotus leaf in the north-east, to Isana, Narayana, Viranca, Vayu, ether, Sesa and Devas in the form of a female.

100-101. In the middle of the lotus, to Visnu, Laksmi Anugraha and to Vayu, ether, Sesa and Rudra in the form of a female. To lord Ananta in the form of pedestal and to Srinivasa.

102. To the left of Srinivasa to Laksmi; in the middle of Srinivasa to Dhara.

103-104. Outside the pedestal, in the east, to Krpolka; in the south, to Maholka; in the west, to Virolka; in the north, to Ulka; in the four corners, to Sahasrolka.

105-112. In the east to Vasudeva, in the south to Samkarsana, in the west to Pradyumna; in the north to Aniruddha; in the south-east to Maya, in the south-west to Jaya, in the northeast to Krtya, in the north-east to Santi; in the east to Kesava, in the south-west and north-west to Narayana and Madhava, in the south-east to Govinda, in the south to Visnu, in the southwest to Madhusudana, in the west to Trivikrama, Vamana, Visnu and Sridhara, in the north to Hrslkesa and Padmanabha, in the north-east to Damodara.

1 13-119. In the fourth enclosure, in the east to Mahakurma; in the south-east to Varaha; in the south to Nrsimha and Vamana; in the south-west to Bhargava ( Parasurama ); in the west to Madhava Krsna; in the north-west to Buddha, in the north to Ananta in the form of Ulka and in the north-east to Visvarupa; in the south-east to Varuni; in the south-west to Gayatri; in the north-west to Bharati, in the north-east to Girija. To the left of Girija to SauparnI; in the east to Indra with weapons, in the south-east to Visnu with his attendants and assemblage with the formula, To you 0 Agni with weapons, as stated previously.

120-122. In the south to Yama, in the south-west to Nirrti, in the west to Varuna, in the north-west, to Vayu, in the north to Kubera, in the north-east to Siva, in the midst of north-east and east to Brahma with weapons, in the middle of north-west to Sesa. Thus you should pay homage again and again.

123. Thus, I have narrated to you the prescribed way how one should have the vision of the lord when one goes to a shrine to pay visit.

Thus addressed, she went to the shrine together with her companions.

124. This prescribed way of paying visit to Srinivasa which I have told you just now should not be divulged to anyone, O bird, since it is very, very secret.

125. O lord of birds, it is very rare to keep company with the good and noble people who can throw light on the nature of tattvas. It is possible to have a preceptor only if one has in store the aggregate of merits accumulated in previous existences.

126. In the company of holy pious people even unauspicious things turn into auspicious ones. In the company of lord Visnu the unsteady mind leaves its steadiness, as water changes its nature in association with the sea-shell or in contact with the lotus leaf.

CHAPTER TWENTYFIVE.

Glory of Venkafefa and the method of worship.

1. At the gate of the temple of Srinivasa she and her companions saw SvamipuskarinI saying, “O lord Hari, Srinivasa”, she meditated on the lord who takes Brahma and others across the ocean of existence.

⇐ Предыдущая 65 66 67 68 697071 72 73 74 Следующая ⇒