The Short Stories from Bhagwat Mahapurana on Bhakti

The Short Stories from Bhagwat Mahapurana on Bhakti
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapurana is one of the 18 Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti (devotion) to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna. Shrimad Bhagwat Katha nourishes Bhakti, Gyan and Vairagya. Sankadi Munis have informed Narada ji that Shrimad Bhagwat has 18000 verses. It has nine numbers which denotes completeness. Shri Ram was born on Navmi (9th day). Shri Krishna went to Gokul on Navmi (9th).
 
A few stories on Bhakti are discussed hereunder:
 

1. Shri Krishna & his Sickness:

Shri Krishna once played as he is sick. No medicine could cure him. Then he asked “dirt of foot” (charanraj) as medicine which may cure the sickness. Dirt of foot was asked from queens of Shri Krishna. Nobody wanted to give it as it would lead them to hell. Because of this, no other person gave its dirt of foot. Lastly, Gopis heard this. They immediately gave dirt of their foot. They said, for the sake of recuperating of Shri Krishna, they may go to even hell.
 
Spiritual Significance: This is an instance of unselfish love or bhakti.
 

1. Shri Krishna & Kunti:

Shri Krishna was ready to go to Dwarka. Kunti became sentimental. She desired to see Shri Krishna all the time. Kunti obstructed rath (horse-cart) of Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna asked Daruk, the charioteer to stop the cart and asked Kunti the reason for stopping the cart. He came down. Kunti saluted Shri Krishna. Every day, Shri Krishna saluted Kunti, but today Kunti saluted. Shri Krishna said, “What she is doing”. Kunti said, “Today Kunti is saluting almighty”. Shri Krishna said, “He is her nephew; She should not salute him”. Kunti said, “She was considering him nephew only till now; but now, she has understood that he is the almighty; she pleaded not to leave them; please give me a boon that I face troubles every moment”. Shri Krishna was surprised and asked her reason for asking such a boon.  He said, “Now it is time to enjoy since bad phase is over”. Kunti said, “I am asking rightly; because you shall definitely come in troubled period and she shall have your vision”.
 
Spiritual Significance: The person becomes intelligent in miseries. Only in case of trouble, we go to the almighty. We remember almighty. Hence, trouble is real wealth. Actually, when we do not remember almighty, that is real misery.
 

1. Saint Gyaneshwar & Changdev:

Changdev attained several siddhis (perfections). Due to siddhis, he could live for 1400 years by returning his death warrants. He was much attached with his reputation. When he heard glory of Saint Gyaneshwar, he became jealous of him. He felt at age of sixteen, how a child could be better than him. He thought to write a letter to Saint Gyaneshwar, but was confused, how to address. How can he write “respected” or “long live”? Hence, he sent plain paper. Saint can understand the language of even plain paper. Muktabai, sister of Saint Gyaneshwar replied, despite having age of 1400, you are still plain. Then, Changdev thought to meet Saint Gyaneshwar.
 
To display his siddhis, Changdev made vehicle of tiger & rein of snake and went to meet Saint Gyaneshwar. When saint Gyaneshwar heard about this, he thought Changdev has false pride of his siddhis. Saint Gyaneshwar decided to teach him a lesson. At that moment, saint Gyaneshwar was sitting in the kitchen. He ordered the stone of kitchen to start moving. When changdev saw this, his pride was destroyed. Changdev felt, he could control only violent animals whereas saint Gyaneshwar can control non-living things. Changdev became disciple of saint Gyaneshwar.  

​Spiritual Significance: Changdev was hath yogi (dhayan by force). Yog can make one attentive but bhakti makes manas (मन) great. Jealousy destroys both this world and next world.
 

1. Eknath Maharaj:

Once, one person came to Eknath maharaj. He asked him, “How his manas (मन) could be stabilized in almighty”. Eknath maharaj told him, “His death is approaching fast; before death, you should leave enmity and desires”. By listening about his death, he got disturbed. He handed over the wealth & properties to his children. Thereafter, he begged pardon from everybody and engrossed in bhakti of almighty. After seven days, he met Eknath maharaj. Maharaj asked about the progress of seven days. He told that out of fear of death, he left everything and absorbed in meditation of almighty. Eknath maharaj said, “This is the precise reason of stability of his manas (मन) in almighty”.
Spiritual Significance:
Path of Bhakti requires surrender of everything to almighty.