Whom to invoke to achieve victory?
– Shlok of the Week 7 – Shrimad Bhagavat – 1.2.4/5
The idol already exists within the stone. Through the chisel of words and the hammer of the emotions behind those words, Kathā is sculpting both the speaker and listener to manifest the latent Nārāyaṇa within each Nara (man). Complete surrender to this
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Kathā sculptor is required.
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।
देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ १.२.४
मुनयः साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम् ।
यत्कृतः कृष्णसंप्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ १.२.५
श्रीमद्भागवत महापुराण १.२.४/५
nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya naraṃ caiva narottamam ।
devīṃ sarasvatīṃ vyāsaṃ tato jayamudīrayet ॥
munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo’haṃ bhavadbhirlokamaṅgalam ।
yatkṛtaḥ kṛṣṇasaṃpraśno yenātmā suprasīdati ॥
Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa 1.2.4/5
नारायण ऋषियोंको, सरस्वती देवीको और श्रीव्यासदेवजीको नमस्कार करके तब संसार और अन्तःकरणके समस्त विकारोंपर विजय प्राप्त करानेवाले इसश्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणका पाठ करना चाहिये ॥ १.२.४ ॥
ऋषियो आपने सम्पूर्ण विश्वके कल्याणके लिये यह बहुत सुन्दर प्रश्न किया है; क्योंकि यह प्रश्न श्रीकृष्णके सम्बन्धमें है और इससे भलीभाँति आत्मशुद्धि हो जातीहै ॥ १.२.५ ॥
श्रीमद्भागवत महापुराण १.२.४/५
☀️ Did-You-Know? Ten Interesting insights to learn more about the three special divine forces invoked to enter into the glorious Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpuraṇa.
1. The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam commences with an invocation to three divine beings – the Ṛṣi Nara-Nārayaṇa; Bhagavāna Veda Vyāsa and Goddess Sarasvatī.
2. With the grace of these three one achieves victory (jaya) over inner and outer enemies.
3. Vedic scriptures (śāstra) are also referred to as ‘Jaya’ for the success they ensure upon the path of Life!
4. This invocation is also found at the start of the historical treatise, the Mahābhārata which was also authored by Veda Vyāsa and was originally known as ‘Jaya’.
5. Bhagavāna Veda Vyāsa is a ‘kalā avatāra’ – a personification of the aspect of Knowledge of the Supreme Being. He is called ‘Bhagavāna’ because He is the seventeenth out of the primary twenty-four incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu.
6. ‘vyāsocchiṣṭaṃ jagatsarvam’ – Śrī Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa’s) body of work is so vast, profound, and far-ranging that it is said that everything that has ever been written or spoken in this world is merely a regurgitation of an aspect of knowledge already uttered by Vyāsaji (‘व्यासोच्छिष्टं जगत्सर्वम्’).
7. Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsaji is born from the union of Satyavatī (the daughter of the fisherman Vasu) with the exalted Yogī Parāśara and raised on an island within River Yamunā (also called Kṛṣṇa.) To know more about Her click here
8. Ṛṣi Nara and Nārāyaṇa are the fourth incarnation out of the primary twenty-four incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu. Even today in this age of Kali they are physically present and visible at the sacred Dhāma (place of pilgrimage) known as Badrikāśrama in the form of twin mountains.
9. Born to Dharma and his wife Mūrti, Nara-Nārāyaṇa appear to be two but in fact are a single avatāra of the Supreme Lord. They perform austerities (controlling their mind and senses) even today for the benefit of all of mankind. Arjuna and Śrī Kṛṣṇa are a manifestation of this eternal duo.
10. Goddess Sarasvatī is the power of speech, music and learning. In her physical form, she is present in the form of (an often underground) river in the sacred land of Bhārata. It is upon Her banks in the Himalayas that Veda Vyāsa enters into a deep trance state (samādhi), wherein He is able to perceive God’s glories, and thus reveal them in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.
Śloka of the Week SB 1.2.4
This verse 1.2.4/5 was uttered by Sutaji who is son of Romaharshan and pays obeisance to the Three; for the compassion, welfare and purification of one’s heart…
🔔 Share your answer or a fun-fact in the comments section below……
About this Article
This is a part of an ongoing series to learn a Shlok a week from the Purushottam Maas Shrimad Bhagavat Katha by Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza.
We hope devotees are able to savour a few fun facts on these verses with an enhanced interest for the context and divine nuances through this series.
This Article is the 7th in the ‘Shlok of the Week’ Series.
Series by Rishi Harshitbhai Shukla(India);
Nimishaben Sadhu (India);
Rajeshbhai Purohit (UK).