“Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Shiva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Grandfather Bhishma, Bali Maharaja, Shukadeva Gosvami and I myself know the real religious principle. My dear servants, this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhagavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature. It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 6.3.20-21)

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स्वयम्भूर् नारदः शम्भुः
कुमारः कपिलो मनुः
प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो
बलिर् वैयासकिर् वयम्
द्वादशैते विजानीमो
धर्मं भागवतं भटाः
गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं
यं ज्ञात्वामृतम् अश्नुते

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ
kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ
prahlādo janako bhīṣmo
balir vaiyāsakir vayam
dvādaśaite vijānīmo
dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ bhaṭāḥ
guhyaṁ viśuddhaṁ durbodhaṁ
yaṁ jñātvāmṛtam aśnute

“Listen, I like shastra.  If you want to accuse me of being less intelligent for enjoying the stories from the Puranas and Mahabharata, then I am guilty, as charged.  Let me forever remain a fool such that I will have attachment to hearing about the plight of the five Pandava brothers and their mother, Queen Kunti.  Let me draw inspiration from the triumph of Bhima over the poison attempt.  Let me marvel at the miraculous escape from the house of lac.  Let me always remember the prayers of Queen Kunti, who asked for calamities to return, as they tend to facilitate the presence of Shri Krishna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

“Let’s stay on Kunti Devi, for a moment.  His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has a published work entitled ‘Teachings of Queen Kunti.’  If I were to describe the book, it is basically an edited transcript of the acharya riffing off the verses found in Bhagavata Purana, which is also known as Shrimad Bhagavatam.  Not that they are making up meanings or interpretations, but they are simply expounding on the wonderful content already preserved for man to consult.  The source of that content is Kunti, who is a beleaguered mother and widow, trying to survive the many assassination attempts against her family.  She is a target simply because of the potency of her sons, who are warriors by occupation.  It is like one of the most egregious oversteps in history involving an inheritance dispute.

विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत्
तत्र तत्र जगद्-गुरो
भवतो दर्शनं यत् स्याद्
अपुनर् भव-दर्शनम्

vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat
tatra tatra jagad-guro
bhavato darśanaṁ yat syād
apunar bhava-darśanam

“I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we could see You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths.” (Queen Kunti speaking to Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.25)

“Imagine that someone is not content with writing one book about Kunti.  They decide to draft countless pages, to fill many volumes of published literature.  You might accuse them of repeating the same message, but to them every glorification feels fresh and new.  Within this endeavor there is no fatigue.  The writer always feels up to the challenge.  They are invigorated after every writing session.

“Someone else might do the same for Sita Devi, who is the beloved wife of Shri Rama.  Another person feels the need to constantly praise Shri Hanuman, who is known to the common person as the ‘monkey god’, although he is so much more.  That is just the thing…there are many layers to these people.  There is the list of twelve mahajanas provided by Yamaraja, who is the god of justice.  I could pick any person from the list and I am off to the races.  No one can stop me.

“Someone on the outside might inquire as to the purpose.  Just what am I trying to gain with such praise?  What am I looking to accomplish?  Is it emulation?  Am I repeatedly insisting that others rise to a similar standard?  Am I encouraging others to reach for the stars, so to speak, to try to break the boundaries that are mostly self-imposed?  If bhakti-yoga is meant for self-improvement, just what kind of advancement takes place in repeatedly praising some figure from the past?”

Do people not keep pictures of their parents?  Are not children known for praising those parents, on occasion?  It is like the father automatically becomes a celebrity within the household.  Through the gifts of nature, the mother becomes the most important person to her husband and her children.  This is a stature impossible to emulate by even the greatest leader of men in the world.  This is because in other places there is always reciprocal benefit to consider.  The CEO remains beloved for as long as their company turns a profit.  The leader must continue to satisfy the demands of the dependents.  The friend must continue to remain favorable.  They should be there whenever I need them.

But with the parents, it could be that the children continue to honor and praise for an entire lifetime.  The bond almost strengthens after those parents move on to the next life.  The children keep pictures in order to remember.  It is like the memory keeps the link alive.  It keeps the parents exactly where they used to be, in the protective posture.

We can learn from the mahajanas.  Of this, there is no doubt.  At the same time, there is no need to emulate.  Who could ever imagine withstanding the torture that Prahlada endured at the hands of his inimical father?  There is no requirement to pass similar tests, to become famous for replicating the extraordinary.  We remember Prahlada because it is blissful to do so.  It is nice to keep someone so wonderful close by.  We worship Hanuman.  We might ask him to put in a good word for us, to recommend our service to the Supreme Lord, such that the gates to the spiritual world open.  Then again, we are happy just to have his association.  We hope that he is doing well, that he is pleased with us, and that he will always take joy in our praising of Sita and Rama.  After all, that is a contributing factor for his remaining in the material world.  It is his choice.

जेहि सरीर रति राम सों सोइ आदरहिं सुजान
रुद्रदेह तजि नेहबस बानर भे हनुमान

jēhi sarīra rati rāma sōṁ sō’i ādarahiṁ sujāna
rudradēha taji nēhabasa bānara bhē hanumāna

“An intelligent person has respect for the body which brings them attachment to Shri Rama. That is why Hanuman gave up his form of Rudra in order to be a Vanara.” (Dohavali, 142)

In Closing:

Stated as his choice,
For as long as to give voice.

For Rama’s glories told,
Like in Ramayana to unfold.

Then Hanuman here to stay,
For his favor to pray.

And his happiness to see,
Of infinite kindness is he.

Categories: questions

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, mahajanas, poem, poems, poetry