ViBha Class Notes: December 19, 2021

Raja Parikshita has been told that he is going to die in seven days in a specific way. How did he respond to this? He engaged in sanga of sat, associated with nobility. It is this sanga with sat that leads one to sanga with Sat, Infinity. We have all been told that we are going to die too. We don’t know the specific time or the specific way, but in principle, we have been told just as Raja Parikshita was told. Are we engaged in the sanga of Sat? Are we associating with nobility? We can see that right now, 2021 is going to die and 2022 is going to be born. This is the only way to engage in the sanga of Sat as in association with Infinity. 

Vivekji feels, knows we are. Satsanga begins by associating with noble people and Vivekji endorses that we are all noble people, simply by being sincerely part of the ViBha course. Now we need to ask ourselves whether this association with noble people is becoming authentic and deep enough to associate with noble people’s ideas. Yes, it is. That’s what we are engaged in. These are Rishi Vyasa’s direct ideas that are being spoken out by an equally great Rishi, Rishi Shuka. And the evolution of this is to associate with noble ideas. The final gauge of whether we are completing this satsanga has to be analyzed by us. Are we associating with noble ideas? 

Do we know ourselves well enough? Here is an interesting connection with fasting. Why do we fast?  Apart from reasons like religion, culture, discipline, etc, fasting helps us to get to know who we are. If we are comfortable, that is not a good gauge of who we are. When we are uncomfortable, how the mind reacts or responds, that is who we are. Sociologists would describe this – it is the moment of high tension that really reveals what kind of person you are. 

Review from our last class – Nigraha means the Controller. Anugraha means the Conserver. Ishwara is with us to control and conserve, which means to correct and protect. The personalities we studied in the last class who were corrected and protected were Shishupala and Dantavaktra. Now Jaya and Vijay have rejoined Bhagavan Narayana in a more calm and quiet way – Jaya – calmness of body, Vijaya – quietude of mind. 

Then we also explored what Shri Balarama was doing. He was on a yatra and he came to Naimisharanya. There he reacted and as a consequence, killed a Rishi. All the students who were gathered there asked him why and he came to understand and appreciate that what he had engaged in was a paapa and a sin requires correction. So the first thing Shri Balarama did was that he offered his grace to the Rishi that he had killed, sharing that his child would continue to study and share the way he had because the katha must never stop. That’s the greatness of Sanatana Dharma. We have a parampara. Then he asked the Rishis what else he should do to correct the wrongness so that he never indulged in it again. The Rishis then shared that they needed help to correct an Asura who was hurting them and their practices, and that Shri Balarama should continue to go on a yatra. And that’s where the Chapter ends. 

Chapter 79: The Asura who was harming these Rishis was named Balvala. A lot of gory details are shared in Bhagavata, like Shri Balarama took his plow and dragged this Asura from the sky to Earth and then hit him with a pestle. Balavala was thus destroyed. The first part of Shri Balarama’s atonement was thus completed. And now he had to engage in a yatra for a full year, traveling across Bharata Varsha. This Yatra gives us a perfect map for travel through Bharata Varsha. The places that Shri Balarama visited and explored are given in verses 9-21. If we want to visit Bharata Varsha, we must go to these places. 

Chapter 79 – Verses 9-21 – Some highlights: 

• Shri Balarama met Bhagavan Parashurama on this yatra. This shows what a leela Bgahavan was facilitating. Who is Shri Balarama? Narayana! Who is Bhagavan Parashurama? Narayana! Who are we? We are also Bhagavan Narayana!
• He continued and went to the River Pampa. Bhaktas who engage in the Shabarimala Yatra, bathe in River Pampa before going on their yatra. 
• Then Shri Balarama went to Vekatadhri, now popularly known as Tirupathi. 

He thus completed an entire year during which he went to Rameshwaram, to Kanyakumari, and other places. And then Shri Balarama came back to the Dwaraka area and found out that a significant number of Kauravas and Pandavas had died. He realized that the war was almost coming to an end. So he rushed to Kurukshetra and there he saw an intense mace fight going on between Bhimasena and Duryodhana. He stopped them and said to them – Bhimasena, you are my student and you are stronger than Duryodhana, and Duryodhana, you are also my student and are more skilled than Bhimasena. Therefore there is not going to be a victor in this fight, so stop fighting. And both of them ignored his advice and continued fighting. Shri Balaramna then thought to himself that this was their own karma. Bhimasena kept thinking of what Duryodhana had done to them and Duryodhana kept thinking of what Bhimasena had done to them, and neither was able to let go. So, naturally the violence continued. Then Shri Balarama returned to Naimisharanya and continued to listen to the katha being shared. He is sitting beside us right now as we are also in Naimisharanya listening to the Bhagavata. 

Chapter 80-81 – These are two of the loveliest chapters from one of the loveliest sections of all of Bhagavata. This Chapter begins with Raja Parikshita almost encouraging Rishi Shuka to shift back from Shri Balarama to Bhagavan Krshna. Raja Parikshita is never tired of hearing about Bhagavan Krshna and Rishi Shuka is very pleased by this as his mind is absorbed in Vasudeva, absorbed in Bhagavan Krshna. So anything that is coming from Rishi Shuka is factual and not an elaboration as he is experiencing everything directly. And this portion relates to a personality named Sudama. This is a famous portion of Bhagavata and Sanatana Dharma, a portion that is greatly commented on. 

Sudama was a personality who did not put in great effort to procure and preserve – whatever came into his life, came, whatever left his life, left. A reason for this was often he would chant Bhagavan Krshna’s name and just get lost. So he was not able to be productive in his life pursuits. His original name was Shridama and a synonym was Sudama. Quite often, he was also called Kuchela – ku means dirty, chela means kapada or clothes. He always wore dirty clothes, including having dirty skin, a clothing that we all wear. His wife was known as Kshutshama and was also called Susheela. She was particularly struggling with the tough times that they were going through. They lived a very poor life in terms of prosperity and Susheela was not handling it as well as Sudama was. 

One day, when Susheela was particularly going through a tough time, she told Sudama that Bhagavan Krshna whom Sudama studied with, and who was traveling His whole life, was now staying nearby in Dwaraka, and she asked him to go and meet Him. Sudama was hesitant to do so as he knew that his wife was asking him to go and ask Bhagavan Krshna for prosperity. Knowing that Sudama was thinking this way, Susheela asked him not to ask Bhagavan Krshna for anything, but to just go and let Bhagavan Krshna see him. As Sudama was always thinking about Bhagavan Krshna, he now felt motivated to go and meet Him just to see Him. However, he did not want to go empty handed and wasn’t sure what he could take for Bhagavan Krshna. There was nothing in their home to offer to Bhagavan Krshna. So Susheela went and asked for some extra food from the homes around her and she was able to collect four handfuls of poha or pounded rice, one handful each from four different homes. Then she took several pieces of cloth and stitched them together to carry the poha in, and Sudama left. 

On his journey, Sudama was naturally thinking about Bhagavan Krshna, but he was so weak that he couldn’t continue on and being very tired, he fell asleep. And when he woke up, he was in Dwaraka. Bhagavan Krshna had transported him to Dwaraka. 

Finding himself in front of a palace, Sudama asked someone if this was Bhagavan Krshna’s palace. They were all Bhagavan Krshna’s palaces and Bhagavan Krshna was in all of them, so that person replied yes, that Bhagavan Krshna was inside. And Bhagavan Krshna, who was inside, lying down on a bed with Devi Rukmini with Him, was able to hear the dialog between Sudama and this person. As soon as He heard the word Sudama, He pushed Devi Rukmini aside and ran to meet him. And He hugged Sudama tight! (Guruji would describe Sudama being in a lot of pain when Bhagavan Krshna hugged him so tight as Sudama was all bones with barely any flesh on him and Bhagavan Krshna was so strong!) 

Bhagavan Krshna then brought Sudama inside to His chamber, made him sit on His and Devi Rukmini’s bed, and He started offering puja to Sudama, just like one would facilitate a puja in a typical mandir. Imagine a similar puja being offered to Kuchela whose clothes were dirty, whose skin was dirty! All the puja materials were brought and water was brought too, but Bhagavan Krshna was so happy to see Sudama that His own tears were being used wherever water was needed, like to bathe a murti, etc. Bhagavan Krshna’s tears were flowing so much that the tears were being collected and Bhagavan was sprinkling that water on His head and everyone else’s heads too. One part of the puja is called Raja Upachara where one treats the idol or icon as royalty or a king, and there are different fans to fan the king. So, at this point, Devi Rukmini, made Sudama lie down on their bed, and started fanning him. It was then that She noticed the veins protruding from his head and neck as Sudama was so thin, and all bones. And everyone who was watching this came to realize that this person was Bhagavan Krshna’s best friend, that Bhagavan Krshna was treating Sudama as His elder brother. 

This continued and after the puja, Sudama was clothed, he was fed and then Bhagavan Krshna just sat with him holding his hand. They then started reminiscing about their days in the Gurukula with Rishi Sandeepany. What is very important to note here is that at this ashram, the rich and the poor studied together. Bhagavan Krshna was naturally rich and Kuchela was naturally poor, but such differences didn’t matter in such a noble institution 

And specifically they started reminiscing about one particular day/night at the ashram when the Gurupatni, Rishi Sandeepany’s wife, had asked them to go to the jungle to collect wood for the ashram. Bhagavan Krshna and Sudama had cheerfully left for the jungle and had started collecting wood, when all of a sudden, a storm had come upon them. It had become dark, loud and rainy, and the two had not been able to find their way back to the ashram. They had been soaked, cold and wet, and were huddling with each other when Bhagavan Krshna started hearing a noise. What was this noise? It was Sudama munching on a small amount of channa or roasted chickpeas that he had with him. When Bhagavan Krshna had asked him what that noise was about, Sudama had responded saying it was his teeth chattering in the cold. Sudama had not shared that channa with Bhagavan Krshan and anything we say to Bhagavan, Bhagavan’s message back to us is “Tathastu”. So Sudama’s whole life then had continued to subsist on this small packet of channa. The next morning, Rishi Sandeepany had come into the jungle looking for them, and in a loving dialog, Rishi Sandeepany had said to the two – We are supposed to protect you, yet you both are sacrificing yourself to protect us. 

Sudama finally shared with Bhagavan Krshna that his best memory from the ashram was being with Bhagavan Krshna at the Gurukula.  

Some insights for our reflection in regards to the Gurukula – He through whom one is born in this world is one’s first Guru. For the twice borns, he who invests them with the sacred thread and gives them eligibility for all vedic rites, is the second Guru who should be venerated like Ishwara, even more than his first Guru. And He who gives spiritual illumination to members of all Ashramas, is the greatest of all Gurus, and that is Myself  (Bhagavan was naturally speaking to Sudama). Those who, through the instruction of Myself, the Guru, are able to cross the ocean of samsara easily, they among the followers of the four varnas of life, are the knowers of the true meaning of life. Though I am residing in all beings, I am not as pleased by various forms of service like yajna, dharma, austerity or renunciation, as I am by the service of Me through the Guru. 

This is difficult for some of us to absorb, so Vivekji connects this with the Bhagavad Gita. This is the portion where Prince Arjuna observes that Shri Krshna shares that He shared this knowledge with the Sun, yet he and Shri Krshan were born at the same time. So naturally Bhagavan corrects his understanding – Every genuine Sadguru-shishya parampara commences with Bhagavan. And so there is a lot of  importance given to this Sadguru-shishya parampara in our culture, in our religion because it is easy to feel Bhagavan when we are around such people like one’s Sadguru. It is much harder to feel Bhagavan for example when we go shopping, or when we get into an argument with someone. But in such a kula that we are in, it is much easier to feel Bhagavan. So let us reflect on – Why a Sadguru is most important in our lives is because they are an expression of Bhagavan. Bhagavan is the actual Guide. 

Bhagavan Krshna and Sudama were holding hands and they were continuing to reminisce. Then Bhagavan Krshna asked Sudama what he had brought for Him. Kuchela had tied the bag of poha to his waist and when Bhagavan asked him, he kind of hid it more. Bhagavan Krshan started pushing Sudama’s hands away to take that packet from him. We have to understand one thing here is that Sudama never asked for anything in his life, and part of the reason why he didn’t give is because he never asked. Those who are open to asking for help are also the ones who are open to giving help. There is an empathy there. Sudama, however, had a trace of pride that he had never asked for anything. That is a great way to live without needing to ask for anything, but there shouldn’t be pride with that. And that’s why Sudama also hesitated to give to Bhagavan Krshna, but Bhagavan Krshna knows all. So He forced Sudama to give the gift to Him. Bhagavan Krshna then opened up the quilted cloth with the poha of different colors, of different textures, took a full handful, swallowed it and had a huge smile on His face. Noone eats that much dry, uncooked poha at one time! And now Bhagavan Krshna was about to take one more handful when Devi Rukmini stopped Him by holding His hand. Then She opened His hand, took the poha and ate the second handful Herself. 

Some insights: With the first handful that Bhagavan Krshna took, His reciprocity was prosperity. If Bhagavan had eaten the second handful, the reciprocity would be to give away the source of that prosperity, which is Devi Lakshmi or Devi Rukmini Herself, which would have meant that Devi Rukmini would have to go too. That is why Devi Rukmini stopped Bhagavan Krshna from eating the second handful of poha. 

That night Sudama stayed at the palace. The next day, Bhagavan Krshna didn’t ask Sudama to stay longer with Him. He asked Sudama to return His clothes and asked him to put on his old clothes. Then He escorted Sudama from Dwaraka, walked with him for sometime and then bid him farewell. Sudma then continued on his journey home. 

Once again, on the way, Sudama started feeling weak and tired, and fell asleep. When he woke up, Sudama found himself in front of a replica of Dwaraka. He felt as if he had never left Dwaraka. He was confused and started looking around, feeling quite sure that he had started walking home from Dwaraka. Everyone around him had a smile and then this beautiful Devi came out and approached him with a smile. Sudama, seeing her come so close, asked her who she was. It was Susheela, his wife. She had become so healthy and prosperous. Bhagavan had transformed not just Susheela and the children, but their whole community had been given the same prosperity that was present in Dwaraka. Thus end Chapters 80 & 81. 

Final insights of jnana after such a Bhakti-filled narration: 

• An ideal way to live life is to not ask for help so that we are able to work harder and smarter for what we need. However, if we are going to ask for help, who should we ask for help? Ask Bhagavan for help. We always make prayer the last resort, but it should be the first resort. Vivekji’s acronym for a strategy to live and work with people is PLEAD where P stands for Prayer. Collaborating, doing japa is a form of praying, asking for help. And Bhagavan is One who helps in such a way that we will never need help again. Noone can help us like that. Only Bhagavan can!

• Kshutshama or Susheela wanted dravya and she got dravya. She became prosperous and everything and everyone around her became prosperous. What did Sudama ask for? What did he have on his mind? Nothing. All he wanted was Bhakti. He wanted to meet with Bhagavan Krshna, he wanted to be with Bhagavan Krshna. His prayer to Bhagavan Krshna before leaving Dwaraka was that he should be born as Bhagavan Krshna’s friend in every lifetime. The focus here is not on Moksha, but on Bhakti. Sudama was fine with being born again as long as he was born as Bhagvan Krshna’s friend. 

Completion of Chapter 81 – In this way, that Brahmana, Krishna’s friend discovered that the Lord who is unconquerable by others, can be conquered by devotees by virtue of their devotion. He therefore spent his time in continuous meditation on Him until the knot of his heart’s bondage was cut and he attained to Mahavishnu’s realm, the goal of all pious men. By listening to this story of Kuchela, the Brahmana, and particularly about the Lord’s devotion to holy people, aspirants will attain love of God and get liberation from shackles of Karma. 

RAW from last week – To shift from symptoms to the solution.

Vivekji’s observations – If we focus on the symptoms, it is an exercise in futility. If we focus on the solution, that is an exercise in utility. 

RAW for the upcoming weeks until Sunday, January 9 – To prepare for the Pareeksha – to study 26 Chapters from the last 13 classes, starting with Bhagavan Krshna’s vivaha all the way to Sudama charitra.