Procedure to be Followed during the Saptaha

1-7. Now we shall tell you the manner of listening to the (Bhagavata recitation during a) week, by which Bhagavata would accomplish success for those men who have dedicated their minds to Krishna. A devout man, after having called an astrologer, and after having honoured him with wealth and garments, should first ask him about the auspicious time. The commence3002 Padma Purana

ment (of narrating the Bhagavata) should be made at the auspicious time which he would tell. The months of Sravana, Bhadrapada, Asvina, Kartika, Margasirsa, Jyestha (and Asadha) are best for the commencement of the narration; so also the Purna tithi (i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th lunar days) is auspicious. Tuesdays and Saturdays shall be excluded and the constellations Dhruva and weak ones. The commencement is always recommended on an auspicious conjunction (of planets) and an auspicious lagna (i.e. the moment of the Sun's entrance into a Zodiacal sign). O best sage, when stories from the Puranas are (to be read) daily, a wise man should avoid DvadasJ (the twelfth day) due to the impurity caused to Suta. For the (reading of) S"rimad Bhagavata for a week there is no prohibition. Thus said those who know the past, O divine sage. The wise ones have said that (the reading of) Bhagavata for a week is a great sacrifice.

8-16. Therefore, invitation should be extended to devotees of Vishnu all round: 'There will be a gathering during the week, O best devotees of Vishnu. Devotees of Vishnu desiring to listen (to the Bhagavata) should come for it.' For those who come he should carefully make arrangement for their lodging at a holy place, in a grove, or in the village. He should erect a pavilion on the land that is purified. The pavilion should have four pillars with plantain trees, and should have banners in the four directions. A raised seat at its front is recommended for the speaker (i.e. the reader), O sage. The seats of the listeners are to be arranged on both the sides of him. The speaker, the most learned one, should face the north in the gathering. A speaker who knows the meaning and essential nature of the Vedas and holy texts, who is an excellent brahmana and a devotee of Visiju, who is proficient in (telling) illustrative stories, who is patient, eloquent, free from desire, should be appointed. One removing all doubts should not be appointed. By the side of the speaker there should be another learned wise man. He should remove the doubts of the listeners and should enlighten the ignorant. To avoid any obstacle in (the narration of) the story, he should first worship Ganesha. Then having, in the proper manner, worshipped Durga, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, the Sun and the brahmanas, he should devoutly gratify the deities and the dead ancestors.

17-29. Then the chief listener should worship Vishnu represented in the book. Then having gone round, and having held in the hollow of his hands money, garments and fruits he should, O sage, request Vishnu (represented) in the book: "O divine one, you, Krishna, have established yourself in this world. O lord, I have resorted to you for freedom from the ocean of the mundane existence. You should by all means make my desire fulfilled without any obstacle. O Kesava, I am your servant." Speaking like this and putting the money before the book, he should also, with his palms folded, salute and request the speaker (i.e. the reader): "O you best brahmana, of the form of Suka, O you proficient in all holy texts, remove my ignorance by means of explaining the Bhagavata." Having thus requested the speaker, he should select five brahmanas for the recitation of the twelvesyllabled formula, O best sage. Having honoured those knowing the rules about singing and instrumental music with money, garments etc., he should at the end of the narration of the story appoint them for the recital (i.e. singing) of the glory of the lord. He who, having given up the anxiety about his wife, wealth, house, sons, listens with a concentrated mind, would obtain the entire fruit. For three watches and a half, beginning from sunrise, it — a sentence or a chapter, should be read and its meaning explained. O Narada, he should take rest even for a ghatika at mid-day. At the end of the (narration) of the story, the glory of Vishnu should be sung. A fast should be observed by the listeners desiring its fruit. A man incapable of doing it, should eat the food fit to be eaten during fast or should a little once (only). The body should be sustained without difficulty with water, or fruit, or milk or ghee only. O Narada, listen to the rules to be observed by those who take the vow for seven days.

30-44. Those who are not initiated into (worship of) Vishnu, are said to have no right for this vow. O best sage, during the week one should observe celibacy, should sleep on the bare ground, and eat from a plate made of leaves everyday. He who is observing the vow, should avoid pulses, honey, oil, others' food, sugarcane juice, food polluted by thought, polluted by act, and stale food, so also onion, garlic, asafoetida, radish and grnjana (a kind of garlic). So also a man observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhagavata) story should not eat lotus stalks and pumpkin gourd. He should not indulge in sexual pleasure, anger, pride, greed, hypocrisy, andjeolousy, so also infatuation, hatred and harm. He who is observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhagavata) story, should avoid censuring Vedas, Visiju's devotees, brahmanas, preceptors, those observing the vow of (serving) a cow, so also women, kings and great men. The wise one who is observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhagavata) should practise truthfulness, purity, kindness, silence, straightforwardness, politeness, and graciousness of mind. A man desiring wealth, desiring a son, desiring victory, or thinking of salvation, should listen to the Bhagavata. He, having no desire, would obtain Shri Hari. For its completion, he should fast on the seventh day. He should honour the reader with a cow, land, gold, garments etc. He should cause to give remnants of the food offered to the deity, garlands of Tulasi (leaves) to the listeners. So also with the (help of) those skilled in singing and playing upon musical instruments a festival should be celebrated. The wise one should also listen to the meaning of the GIta on the next day. Or after every verse with the Gayatrl hymn, he should make offerings (to Vishnu) according to the rules. He should also offer sweetened milk, honey, ghee, Sheshamum-seeds, rice, barley grains, sugar, priyala, grapes, dates, lotuses, camphor, sandal, agaru (a kind of sandal), cloves, a thousand leaves of bilva separately. He should recite the (hymn called) Vishnu-sahasra-nama for removing obstacles, removing deficiencies and excesses, and for purifying himself. He should devoutly offer sweetened milk to twelve, eighteen or more brahmarias, and (should give them) gold or a cow as a present.

45-52. On this day or the day of Purva Bhadrapada or Uttara Bhadrapada (constellations) he should fashion (the) golden (image of a) lion, should place the Bhagavata (text) on its back, and writing on it (his name etc.) should give it to the reader. When this is done according to the rule, the Bhagavata that is listened to would remove all the sins of the listener and would give him good fruit, be the means of religious merit, of the fulfilment of the desire for sensual enjoyments, acquisition of worldly objects and salvation, and would give (i.e. produces) devotion. There is no object in the world that is not secured by this. Therefore, in the world, the Bhagavata is regarded as superior to (other) Puranas. The reader is said to be free from eighteen blemishes, and the listener is supposed to be free from thirty-two faults by the wise. The Purana named isrl Bhagavata gives men their desired objects. Yet listening to it produces devotion only in a person free from desires. The divine tree called shrimad Bhagavata has starlike shoots; has a good origin; it shines with twelve large boughs (i.e. sections); it grows in the basin of devotion;it has three hundred and thirtytwo bright branches (i.e. chapters); it has eighteen thousand leaves (i.e. verses); it gives desired objects; it is easily accessible; and it stands above all. Thus I have told you everything and have done what was desired by you. The youth ofJnana, Vairagya and Bhakti gives salvation to people. Suta said:

53-54. Having spoken like this, the Kumaras, inundated with the nectar (flowing) from Krishna's feet, devotees of the lord, and intent on emancipating the helpless, ceased (speaking). Hearing their words, Narada, dear to the lord, and with his palms joined, said to them in a voice faltering due to love: Narada said:

55-62. I am blessed; I am favoured by you highly devoted to compassion, since at the end of the Bhagavata-saptaha (i.e. reciting or listening to the Bhagavata for a week), you have presented Vishnu near me. While Narada, the best devotee of Vishnu, was speaking like this, Suka, the chief among the meditating saints, (while) roaming, came there. His form was that of a youth of sixteen years; he was lotus-eyed; he was Vyasa's son; he was the moon to the ocean of knowledge; he was content at heart with whatever (given) at the end of (the narration of) the story, and constantly recited Bhagavata. The members of the assembly, seeing him of a great lustre, got up and gave him an excellent seat. When he comfortably sat on the seat, lotus-eyed Vishnu appeared (there). Shiva with Parvati and Brahma with his sons came there to glorify and see him. Gods among whom Indra was the chief, came there in aeroplanes. The sky was covered by them. Prahlada did the beating of time with a quick speed; Uddhava took the cymbals; the divine sage (Narada) took the lute; Arjuna, through his skill in tunes, formed the musical modes. Indra played upon the tabor; the Kumaras uttered the loud shouts of victory. Vyasa's son, of unsurpassed virtues, was a (versatile) speaker and of good sentiments. The triad of Jiiana etc. having new forms, just danced in the middle. Seeing the extraordinary glorification Vishnu, with his mind pleased, spoke as follows: "O devotees of Vishnu, ask for a boon from me who am very much pleased with the narration of the story." Hearing those words, they who were pleased, and with their heart flowing with love, said: Kumaras said:

63-67. O Murari (i.e. O Vishnu), you will be instantly pleased with the worship (in the form of reading or listening to the Bhagavata) continued for a week in the very fierce Kali age by men having a short life and overcome by hundreds of obstacles. From you, the soul of everything and the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe, we, resorting to your lotus-like feet, ask for this boon and not any other (boon). Saying, "Let it be so", Vis/nu vanished there only. Narada with his mind pleased, saluted Kumaras. Then those Sanaka and others, Bhrigu and others and Suka and others, delighted by drinking the nectar of the story went to their own hermitages. O Shaunaka, since then, Narada propagated Bhakti along with her two sons over the entire earth. Shiva said:

68. O dear one, having heard the great story, fShaunaka whose heart was pleased, again asked Sflta who removed all doubts: Shaunaka said:

69. O you respecting (others), tell me when Suka told it to the king, when Gokarna told it, and Brahma's sons to the divine sage (Narada).

70-72. Suka commenced (the narration of) the story on the ninth of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada when the period of three hundred years of Kali after the departure of ShriKrishna had passed. Gokarna told the story on the

9th day of the bright half of Jyestha (or Asadha), after two hundred years had passed from the time Parlksit had heard it. O brahmana, now a thousand years of the Kali age have passed from the time of Parlksit. (So) conclude the sacrifice. The lord said:

73-81 a. Hearing these words of him, the best sage Shaunaka completed the sacrifice that continued for a thousand years. These Puranas: Brahma, Padma, Vaisnava, Kaurma, Matsya, Vamana, Varaha, Brahmavaivarta, Naradiya, Bhavisyaka, and halfofAgneya were formerly heard by excellent sages like Saunaka from Suta Lomaharsana up to the end of the Dvapara age. When Baladeva came on a pilgrimage to (the forest) called Naimisa Mishrika, he was called by the best sages. There seeing Suta seated on an excellent seat, revered (Bala-)Rama was agitated like the great ocean on a parvan day. O Parvati, on the DvadasI day of the bright half of Asadha, at the time of its earlier half, he, Rama, being stupefied due to what was decided by Krishna's Maya, having darbhas in his hand, struck Lomaharsana. Then all the hosts of the sages did loud wailing, and their hearts were overcome by sorrow and grief, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. Then they, full of forgiveness, said humbly to Rama, the lord of the world: The sages said:

81b-87a. O Rama, Rama, O you of great arms, you, the author of the world, have ignorantly committed harm greater than that due to the murder of a brahmana. This is actually Vyasa's disciple, an ancient sage, having a great penance (to his credit). We who had invited him, the narrator of the eighteen Puranas, gave him an excellent seat at this sacrificial rite. On (hearing) the story of the lord of the world one obtains long life, O you who honour (others). Therefore, you who promoted the bridge of piety, who are capable of curbing and favouring, who are the lord of the world, have manifested yourself for the protection of the world. Speaking like this to Baladeva, O dear one, the sages, remembering the force of destiny, suddenly became silent. Then revered Rama, killer of his enemies, following the path of the world and the Vedas, pleasing those brahmanas, said: Shri Rama said:

87b-89. O brahmanas, may well-being come to you; listen after casting far away your anger. I know what you like and what gives success to your undertaking. Due to my blessing his son will be very wise. He will narrate to you the holy text desired by you. Tell me the work for which you have invited me. The lord said:

90-100. Hearing these words of the very noble Rama, they prompted the lord to murder Balvala. Then, having killed Balvala and pleased the pre-eminent sages and saluting them, he went on a pilgrimage after being permitted by them. O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, when Rama left for the pilgrimage, the chief sages like Shaunaka called Laumaharsani, and after honouring him placed him in his position for the narration of the remaining (part). With their minds delighted, they listened to seven Puranas and a half (beginning with) the greatness of the later part of Agneya up to Bhagavata. O you beautiful lady, Satyavati's son (Vyasa) was not mentally pleased after having composed seventeen Puranas and Bharata also. Knowing that his heart was sad, revered Narada, looking like a god, came to the excellent hermitage of Vyasa. Seeing him, the son of Vasavi (i.e. Vyasa) hospitably received Narada, offered him a seat, and honoured him with a rite according to the rules. Then Narada said to him: "Tell me fully the cause of your doubt. What do you, with an afflicted mind, think of?" Thus asked by the sage, (Vyasa) the son of Parasara, said: "I really do not know the cause of the disturbance of my mind. Youare proficient in knowledge. Understand it (i.e. the cause) and tell it to me." Thus requested by him, Narada, proficient in the knowledge of the

Supreme Spirit, told him the highest truth obtained by him from Brahma. Narada said:

101-110. O son of Parasara, hear from me the cause due to which the mind of you, the master and the origin of holy texts, has become miserable. O innocent one, having descended on the earth, you have divided the Vedas into parts. You have also composed the Puranas along with the Itihasa, in which, having observed in course of time the practices of the castes and of those living in the four stages of life, you have told them from the three Vedas. All women, shudras, the twice-born fraternity, those prone to the company of the good, are entitled to listening to it. Religious practices, as are lasting, have been described in them by you. But you have not at all prominently described therein the greatness of Vishnu. O sage, in the Kali age, void of all religious practices and rites, and the reservoir of all blemishes, the sinners have no other course than the nectar of Krishna's story. This alone is the merit in this terrible Kali age that men are freed from the bondage of their acts by means of narrating the glory of Krishna only. Sacrifices, gifts, psnance, rites, knowledge, meditation gave success in (ages) like Krta. In the same way, O brahmana, the narration of (Vishnu's) name (leads to success) in Kali. Therefore, for the emancipation of men born in the Kali age, you should relate Shrimad Bhagavata, by composing which, O dear one, your mind will be pleased and people will be blessed. The lord said:

111-121. Having thus ordered Vyasa of unlimited lustre, he, O dear one, constantly singing the virtues of Vishnu, went as he desired. After Narada had gone, Vyasa who saw everything, composed this great text, viz. Shrimad Bhagavata. Having taught the four Vedas to Paila and others according to the rule, he gave all the Purana-texts to Suta. That text of the Bhagavata was heard by the son of Lomaharsana, when it was being told to the king Pariksit by Suka. O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, he properly told it to sages like Shaunaka. It is above all Puranas and best among them. Men whose heart is attached to it find interest in nothing else. In their minds, Krishna, son of Nanda, shines. O you mother of the chief of (my) attendants, I have told you the entire greatness of Shri Bhagavata, which you had asked me to narrate for crossing over the (mundane) world. A man who devoutly listens to or he too who reads with approval the greatness (of Shri Bhagavata) along with many historical accounts leading to devotion and salvation, obtains the highest position. Having studied it, a brahmana would obtain (the knowledge of) the Vedas, a ksatriya would get victory, a vaisya (would obtain) wealth, and a shudra gets the best position by just listening to it.

Конфликты в семейной жизни. Как это изменить? Редкий брак и взаимоотношения существуют без конфликтов и напряженности. Через это проходят все...

ЧТО ТАКОЕ УВЕРЕННОЕ ПОВЕДЕНИЕ В МЕЖЛИЧНОСТНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЯХ? Исторически существует три основных модели различий, существующих между...

Что делать, если нет взаимности? А теперь спустимся с небес на землю. Приземлились? Продолжаем разговор...

Что делает отдел по эксплуатации и сопровождению ИС? Отвечает за сохранность данных (расписания копирования, копирование и пр.)...

Не нашли то, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском гугл на сайте: