Satyam Param Dhimahi

The Nourishment of Soul

If I do not get food I am least worried but it makes me mad if I miss my prayer. Prayer is million times more beneficial that food. One may forego his food but not his prayer. Prayer is the very nourishment of soul. It would be too good if we could contemplate on God whole day long, but since it is not possible for us all, it is desirable that we should sit at least for a few hours every day in contemplation of God.

Bhagavat was Panditji's favorite scripture. He used to discuss the subtleties of the subject at all times - be it during the Katha pravachan or otherwise. There was always a group of scholars at his residence holding discussions. Even in small gathering he would quote shlokas from Bhagavat and offer solutions to a variety of problems. Even when he was out on tour, people used to visit his home for seeking his sagely counsel. It goes without saying that whenever he was at home, people would flock around him.

Whenever his father initiated discussions on 'significance of Bhagavet' as given in Padma Puran or about the 11th Canto of Bhagavat, Shriramm would sit there quietly and stare at his father's face. Shriram heard about the dialogue between Bhakti and Narad, he would become very sad. In this episode, Bhakti is seated forlorn on the banks of river Yamuna. Two aged persons are lying unconscious near her. The lady who is trying to bring them back into conscious state is looking out for someone to help her. Some women are coming to console her. As a happy coincidence, Devershi Narad reaches there and asks the lady to introduce herself.

The lady says, "My name is Bhakti. Gyan and Vairagya are my two sons. They have grown very old with the passage of time. The women present near me are the Holy Rivers Ganga, Yamuna etc. Who are serving me? In spite of their efforts, they are not able to alleviate my grief." Bhakti further told that she has been ill-treated by people and hence been rendered weak and fragile. Deceit, fraud and misbehavior have made her diseased and feeble. After coming to Vrindavan, her situation has improved but her sons have not been freed from old age. Saying thus, Bhakti begins to weep. The story moves on and Narad conveys the message of Bhagavat to Bhakti.

Hearing about Bhakti's grief, the young child (Shriram) would get soaked in tears. His father continued the talk. hakti's condition become better after listening to Bhagvat and her sons also were restored to their original youthful form. In this talk, his father would emphasize that Bhagavat is the essence of all scriptures and spiritual texts. The sanatana dharma that we practice today has come from Bhagavat. Knowledge, education, tradition, avatar, devotion, action, mantra, yog, sadhana, history, puran etc are all assimilated in Bhagavat. Looking at the countenance of his father, Shriram would then feel safe and secure and hence resume his playful activities.