By Sugunan (Recap given by Shoba on 13 Feb ‘03)
The concluding slokas of Chapter 7 showed to us, how great devotees behave in difficult situations? Though Asvattama killed five yuva pandavas, Panchali wanted to pardon him. Even though Arjuna and Bhima wanted to take revenge on Asvattama, she asked Arjuna to release him since she did not want to see his mother’s sufferings. Bhagavatam shows that even Krishna’s mother Devaki could not forgive Kamsa till the end, but in the case of Panchali, there was a complete change of heart. This was a realy transformation.
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By Sugunan (Recap given by Shoba on 6 Feb ‘03)
An introduction to ‘Bhagavat Mahatyamyam’ was given i.e. how Naradji made Gyan and Vairagya, the sons of Bhakti, revive their interest in life. Symbolically meaning in the Kaliyuga, Bhakti was growing, but Gyan and Vairagya were left behind. To revive the sons of Bhakti, Naradji advocated reading Bhagavatam or listening to the glories of Lord Krishna from Bhagavatam.Then how Asvattama, the son of Drona killed all the Yuva Pandavas, while they were sleeping was described. Arjuna promised to take revenge followed Asvattama in a chariot, piloted by Krishna. Seeing them, Asvattama released the Brahmastra against Arjuna. Arjuna, on the instruction of the Lord, sent another Brahmastra and quenched the flames of both the missiles and withdrew them. Arjuna then bound up Asvattama with ropes. Krishna, pretending to be angry and to test how Arjuna would behave in this situation, scolded Arjuna for not killing the villain Asvattama. But Arjuna did not kill him, and left the situation to Panchali to decide, what action to be taken.
By Sugunan (Recap given by Mahita on 30 Jan ‘03)
According to Sridhara Swamy, this is the most important chapter of Bhagavatam because two important characters are described in this chapter.The first great character is Asvatthama. Though born in a Brahmin family, he cannot be called a true Brahmin due to his deeds and has never done anything good. He is the biggest culprit and killed all the five sons of Panchali when they were sleeping. He has done such a cruel action that no Brahmin would even think of such a thing. After killing the five children, Asvatthama takes all the five heads to his master Duryodana thinking that he will be pleased. But even the cruelest person like Duryodana did not like this action of Asvatthama. Duryodana could not even talk and dies immediately. Asvatthama is called “Chiranjeevi” because he is an epitome of revenge and hatredness.
By Gopinath (Recap given by Chitra on 23 Jan ‘03)
Sage Vyasa took the advise of Narada to overcome his feeling of dissatisfaction and entered into Samadhi. In his mind, which was pure and full of love for the God, Vyasa had the vision of the God and the power of Maya dependent on the God.
By Gopinath (Recap given by Chitra on 16 Jan ‘03)
After the exhaustion of the prarabhdha karma, Naradji gave up his body. To attain the goal of life, Naradji had the continuous perseverance with the body, mind and senses all the time associated with the Lord with total sharanagathi.
By Gopinath (Recap given by Usha on 9 Jan ‘03)
The importance of Bhagavatam has been well explained. Bhagavatam glorifies Lord and His Bhaktas and was written by Veda Vyasa 5000 years ago. Since then it is being read and it will be read in future also. That is the importance of Bhagavatam. This scripture is very important as we are in the clutches of Kaliyuga. The swabhava of Kaliyuga is that everything will go wrong or in negative direction and hence our ancestors thought that there should be some remedy for this. So Naradji visits Veda Vyasa and asks him to glorify the Lord and as per His will, this Bhagavatam came into the mind of Veda Vyasa. By the grace of the Lord and our Guruji, we are quite fortunate to listen to this scripture Bhagavatam week after week.The ultimate goal in our life is moksha or mukti. The Lord as well as all the Gurus say that by listening to this Bhagavatam, we will get moksha or mukti from ‘samsara bhandanam’. So one should read Bhagavatam as a daily routine. We are lucky to have human birth as we have mind and intellect to meditate on the Lord and reach Him. Naradji had vision of the Lord because he had conviction and definite goal. The Lord says that there is no short cut in this path and hence one has to strive hard with total faith i.e. ‘Sarvasya saranagathi’ to reach Him. There is no need for any one to go to Himalayas. Always meditate on Him and think of Him with undivided faith by which one can reach his ultimate goal!
By Gopinath (Recap given by Sujatha on 26 Dec ‘02)
We all know that this Bhagavatam is ‘Muktidayaka Shastra’. It is in our hands, so it is now our turn to take its teachings and absorb it. This is the only Shastra where there is so many glorifications about the Lord. When the Lord is glorified simultaneously devotees are also glorified. In the names of the devotees, the first and foremost name is our Naradji.
By Sugunan (Recap given by Shobha on 19 Dec ‘02)
This chapter continues the story of Narada. In the previous life of Narada, his mother was an ignorant servant in the house of a Brahmin. Some Sages had come to stay there in Chaturmasa and Narada was employed in serving them. He ate what remained after their eating and listened to the discourse they held, stressing on the importance of Love for Lord Krishna. They imparted to him, the knowledge that leads to self-realisation, the secret wisdom revealed by the Lord Himself. They told him how Karma blended with Bhakti generates Jnana and how one can dedicate oneself to the Lord and go towards Samadhi.
By Anil Hattangadi (Recap given by Sreelatha on 12 Dec ‘02)
The main theme in these Slokas was the glory of Karma blended with Bhakti.
By Anil Hattangadi (Recap given by Sreelatha on 5 Dec ‘02)
The main theme of this chapter is Vyasa’s unrest after writing Mahabharata. We heard how Naradji instructs Sage Vyasa to compose Bhagavatam expounding only the greatness of Vasudeva.In Slokas 15 to 23, Nadada continues to explain the purpose of Bhagavatam and about Supremacy of Bhakti. The glories of Lord or Bhagavatam should reach every person who is the slave of the three Gunas. Living in this material world thinking ourselves as the creator, destroyer and sustainer, we have forgotten our real nature. Keeping the Lord in center, even if one befalls from his Swadharma, will attain the ultimate. So a wiseman or a true knowledgeable person will see the Lord in every being without any ego. A true devotee will never be entangled in this Samsara. Our deity should see us instead of we see the deity. Even if we forget Him, He is always there within us, watching, guiding and protecting us like a mother. Like a magnet attracting and holding an iron piece, those who are attracted by the Lord will constantly attach to Him by his memory. This Universe is none than the Lord who is responsible for creation, sustenance and destruction who acts as a Sakshi.
