Govindaya namah

The Devatas continued to pray, “Trapped in sensory pleasures, we are suffering piteously. Fruitive actions of living entities lead them towards extreme pain and difficulty. At times, their actions are rendered fruitless”.

Every moment we seek to fulfill all that is desired by the senses. We obey every command issued by them. Assume that the tongue craves to eat a samosa (fried snack), immediately we decide to fulfil that desire. Unfortunately we are not satisfied with 1 samosa. We eat 10 samosas. We are not happy with just a dosa or two. We eat 10 dosas which invites troubles and sickness. The organs of perception (jnanendriya) instigate us while the organs of action (karmendriya) fulfil their demands.

“O Lord, while the effort required in completing Your tasks is minimal, the results are best and excellent. In fruitive activities however, the results are grossly inadequate to the efforts. Only sufferings remain.”

The joy is only as long as the person eats the samosa. Sufferings begin thereafter and only they remain.

“Contrary to this, actions that are offered to God lead to purification of the inner four-fold mind, thus becoming the cause for liberation. Even if the action offered to God is not a complete in every aspect (poorna karma), it cannot remain fruitless, isn’t it, O Lord? This is possible only because the Supreme Lord in none other than the inner Self, which is most-dear to the living entity. He is the supreme well-wisher of the living entity.

When roots of a tree are watered, nourishment reaches even the farthest branches and stems. Likewise worshipping Vishṇu is equivalent of worshipping everything in the creation. This is because Vishṇu is the Self that exists within every living entity.

O Lord, Your divine plays are beyond imagination. They are countless, indescribable and unpredictable. You punish people only in order to reform them and to purify their intellect. You, who are the Lord for this universe created out of the activities that stem out of the three attributes, are inherently devoid of attributes. You are nirguṇa. You remain unattached although You appear as if You too have attachments. You remain as unattached as the drop of water on the lotus leaf”.

Living amidst us He remains unattached to us. He appears as if He is attached when in reality He remains unattached. The world mistakenly believes that He too has plenty of attachments.

“O Lord, in the present situation You are predominantly composed of traits of goodness (sattva guna). Please accept our obeisance”.

With this the fifth chapter of the eighth canto comes to an end.

Eighth Canto Chapter Six

In this chapter, the Devatas fetching the Mountain Mandara for churning the ocean is covered.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “O Emperor! When the troops of Devatas thus prayed, the Supreme Lord suddenly manifested before them in a radiance that was comparable to a thousand dazzling Suns”.

We cannot withstand the dazzle of one Sun. Will we even remain alive if thousand Suns were to illumine at the same time?

“Unable to withstand the illumination, the Devatas and Maharishis had to close their eyes. With their vision blocked how could they see the Supreme Lord who had manifested directly before them? Only Lord Brahma, who is the most supreme among the Devatas, along with Rudra were fortunate to have the vision of the Supeme Lord who had manifested before them.

The Supreme Lord, who glowed like a blue sapphire, had a bluish-black body. His eyes were reddish like the central filament of the lotus. With His golden-yellow silken garments which glowed like purified gold He shone handsomely. With a smiling face, He appeared charming and pleasant. Seeing His delightful pleasant face fills everyone’s hearts with happiness. He was as tender as a new-born. The birthless Supreme Lord, who is eternal, who has no beginning, who is the creator of this entire universe and whose age cannot be calculated by any known measures, was shining like freshly purified gold. He was glowing like a new-born. His handsome appearance was captivating.

This Lord who had lovely eyebrows had adorned His head with an exquisite crown. His long arms were decorated with lovely golden armlets. Due to the reflection of the shining golden earrings, His cheeks were glowing radiantly. No wrinkles could be seen on His lotus like face. With beautiful lips, His lotus like face was glowing radiantly.

He was wearing a beautiful thread waist-band, shining golden anklets, kausthuba gem that adorned His chest and a beautiful Vanamala garland around His neck. In His hands was the Surdarshana chakra (discus), His Kaumodiki mace and other weapons. It appeared as if all his weapons and ornaments had taken on a form to serve Him. Lords Brahma and Shiva offered obeisance to the Lord who had manifested before them and once again glorified Him with hymns. The Devatas fell on the ground and offered obeisance.

Lord Brahma prayed, “O Lord, being devoid of attributes, You do not associate with creation, sustenance and annihilation of the universes. Although You are the creator You remain detached towards the creation. While remaining amidst us You remain unattached to us”.

When You see us You enquire, “How are you? When did you come?”- as if You are seeing us after a long time. We are holding on to You, but You remain free from attachments. “You are an ocean of supreme bliss, O Lord. It is possible only because You are the Supreme Essence. You form is subtler than even the space which is considered to be most subtle”.

Vishnave namah