Damodaraya namah

Yama continued, “Supreme accomplished saints, who have understood the essence of this devotional path, eternally seek shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Srihari, the Lord who bestows liberation. They eternally drink the nectar called the remembering His lotus feet

On the other hand, the wicked never relish the nectar called the remembering the lotus feet of the Lord. They are averse to devotion. Such persons are deeply desirous of family and the comforts that it gives. They have very strong worldly desires. Excessive desires are the gateways to hell. Henceforth please bring only such persons to me.

Jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ Cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam Kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi Tān ānayadhvam asato ’kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān

Please bring to hell that wicked person whose tongue does not glorify the divine Lord, whose mind does not remember His lotus feet, who even once does not bow down in reverence to Srikrishna, and who does not worship Srihari through puja and other rituals.

Oho, My Lord! My servants have committed a grave mistake today. Together with my servants I also fold my hands and bow before You. May the eternal Lord Nārāyaṇā, who is an embodiment of illumination, forgive us for our sins! The trait of forgiveness inherently exists in noble beings. Although He is all-pervading, this Lord resides as the Self within every living entity. To such Lord I bow in reverence.”

Maharishi Śuka continued,

“tasmāt saṅkīrtanaṁ viṣṇor jagan-maṅgalam aṁhasām

O Parikshit! Chanting divine names showers every form of auspiciousness upon living entities. It destroys in entirety even the worst sins. Please understand that this is the ultimate atonement for sins.

**Devotion becomes stable in the hearts of those people who listen to the transcendental glories of the Supreme Lord or narrate them to others. The purity of mind achieved due to this far surpasses the purity that is attained through any other disciplines, rituals or worship.

**The devotee who relishes the nectar called the lotus feet of the Lord develops dispassion towards these material comforts which emerge from spiritual ignorance. He will not wander amidst the worldly comforts which only beget sorrows. Thus he is not trapped by worldly bondages. **

On the other hand, the person who, without any devotion towards the Lord, engages in fruitive rituals to wash away his mental sins is once again tainted by the traits of passion (rajo guna) from which the original sinful action emerged”.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “O Emperor Parikshit! Hearing these auspicious words spoken by Yama, his servants were filled with wonder. From then on, fearing that devotees could cause impediments in the execution of their tasks, Yama’s attendants have stopped approaching those devotees who have totally surrendered to Lord Srihari. They have stored this preaching carefully in their mind. They now hesitate even to cast a glance upon ardent devotees.

I have heard this story, which is secretive, from Maharishi Agastya, who was engrossed in worshipping Lord Srihari while residing on the Malaya Mountain” said Maharishi Śuka.

With this the third chapter of the sixth canto comes to an end.

Sixth Canto Chapter Four

In this chapter Daksha worshipping the Supreme Lord through the hymn ‘hamsa-guhya stotra’ and the Lord manifesting before him are covered.

Emperor Parikshit enquired, “O revered sage! While narrating the story of Swayambhuva Manu you had briefly explained the creation of Devatas, demons, serpents, animals, birds and other creations of that Manvantara (period of Manu). I now seek to know the expansion of creation in that period. Using which energy did the Lord expand the creation?”

Maharishi Śuka, who was a personification of knowledge, was pleased to hear this question. He replied, “Prācetas i.e. the 10 sons of Emperor Prācina-barhi completed their penance. Emerging from the ocean they saw that the entire earth densely covered with trees in all direction.

Prācetas who had completed intense austerities for a very long period of time were infuriated with the trees and decided to eliminate them. Instantly from their mouths they created huge fire and wind. The fire, supported by huge winds, burnt down all trees and reduced them to ashes.

Moon-god, who is the presiding deity for all herbs, witnessed this terrifying scene. Deciding to pacify the Prācetas and to ensure protection to the herbs, he approached them and said, “O supreme beings! You are the Prajāpatis, who ensure the protection of all living entities. How then can you burn down innocent trees? Is your deed righteous? The supremely efficient Srihari, who is imperishable and who is the Lord of all Prajāpatis has created these plants, trees and herbs so that living entitles are nourished.

Annaṁ carāṇām acara hy apadaḥ pāda-cāriṇām Ahastā hasta-yuktānāṁ dvi-padāṁ ca catuṣ-padaḥ

Fruits and flowers are the food for birds and other moving entities. Grasses and other legless entities are considered food for the four-legged animals. Trees and plants that do not have hands supply food for human beings who have two hands. Four legged animals such as bulls help the two-legged human beings in agricultural work, isn’t it?

O meritorious ones! Lord Shiva and your father Prācina-barhi , both have ordered you to beget progeny. Instead of abiding by that order you are destroying all trees on earth. Is it right? Please walk on the righteous path on which your father, grand-father, great grandfather and other elders have walked. Please discard your uncontrollable fury”. In this way Moon-god begged the Prācetas.

Had he not pacified them today entire earth would have been bereft of trees and herbs. If trees disappear from earth all living beings will also disappear.

The Moon-god said,

“Tokānāṁ pitarau bandhū dṛśaḥ pakṣma striyāḥ patiḥ Patiḥ prajānāṁ bhikṣūṇāṁ gṛhy ajñānāṁ budhaḥ suhṛt”

Hrishikeshāya namah