[श्रीमद्भागवत माहात्म्य]
{First Chapter}
Maharishi Vyas says - Whose form is Sachchidanandaghan, who attracts everyone's mind towards himself with his beauty and sweetness etc. qualities and always keeps showering infinite happiness, by whose power the creation, state and annihilation of this world takes place - we salute that Lord Shri Krishna daily to taste the devotion.
Shrisut ji was sitting on his seat in Naimisharanya area with a healthy mind. At that time, the Shaunakadi sages, who were fond of God's nectar-filled Leela story and were highly skilled in relishing it, bowed to Suta ji and asked him this question. The sages asked- 'Sut ji! When Dharmaraja Yudhishthir went to the Himalayas after coronating Aniruddhanandan Vajra in Srimathuramandal and his grandson Parikshit in Hastinapur, then what tasks did King Vajra and Parikshit do.
Sut ji said;- After saluting Lord Narayana, Narottam Nar, Goddess Saraswati and Maharishi Vyas, one should have a pure mind and pronounce 'Jai', the ancient form of history that illuminates the essence of God.
Shaunkadi Brahmarshio! When Dharmaraja Yudhishthir and the Pandavas went to the Himalayas for ascension to heaven, Emperor Parikshit went to Mathura one day. The purpose of his journey was only to go there and meet Vajranabha. When Vajranabh heard the news that his father figure Parikshit was coming to meet him, his heart was filled with love. He proceeded from the city and welcomed him, bowed at his feet and brought him to his palace with great love. Veer Parikshit was a loving devotee of Lord Krishna. His mind was always engrossed in the blissful bliss of Shri Krishnachandra. He lovingly embraced Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Krishna. After this, he went to the inner chamber and greeted the wives of Lord Krishna like Rohini etc. Shri Krishna's wives like Rohini also respected Emperor Parikshit very much. When he rested and sat comfortably, he said this to Vajranabh.
King Parikshit said:-- 'Oh father! Your father and grandfathers have saved my ancestors from great troubles. He has also protected me. Dear Vajranabh! If I want to repay their kindness, I cannot repay it in any way. Therefore, I pray to you that you continue your administration happily. You should not worry at all about your treasury, army or suppressing your enemies etc. There is only one duty for you; That is, you should continue to serve your mothers very lovingly. If ever any problem or calamity befalls you or for some reason you experience great distress in your heart, then feel free to tell me; I will take all your worries away. Vajranabha was very happy to hear these words of Emperor Parikshit. He said to King Parikshit-
Vajranabh said:- 'Maharaj! What you are saying to me is completely in line with you. Your father has also done me a great favor by teaching me Dhanurveda. That's why I don't worry at all about anything; Because by his grace I am well endowed with the bravery of a Kshatriya. I am very concerned about only one thing, please think about it. Although I am anointed over the kingdom of Mathuramandal, yet I live here in the deserted forest. I don't know anything about where the people here have gone; Because the state is happy only when the people are there.
When Vajranabha told this to Parikshit, he called Maharishi Shandilya to clear Vajranabha's doubts. This same Maharishi Shandilya was the first priest of Nand and other Gopas. As soon as he received Parikshit's message, Maharishi Shandilya left his hut and reached there. Vajranabha welcomed him formally and he sat on a high seat. King Parikshit told him about Vajranabh. After this, Maharishi Shandilya consoled him with great joy and said –
Shandilya ji said;- Dear Parikshit and Vajranabh! Let me tell you the secret of Vrajbhoomi. You listen with a dedicated mind.
‘Vraj’ The word means coverage. According to this old statement, this land got its name because of its vast area. ‘Vraj'It is lying. The Supreme Being which is beyond the three qualities of Sattva, Raja and Tam, is all-pervasive. That is why it is called ‘Vraj’. He is eternally blissful, supremely luminous and indestructible. Jivanmukt men remain situated in it. In this Parabrahma form Vrajdham, Nandanandan Lord Shri Krishna resides. Each and every part of him is an embodiment of Sachchidananda. They are Atmaram and Aaptakam. Only lovers immersed in love experience them. Radhika is the soul of Lord Krishna; It is because of being delighted with him that the knowledgeable persons having deep knowledge of mystery call him 'Atmaram'. The word ‘kaam’ means desire-desire; The desired things of Lord Shri Krishna in Vraj are cows, cowherds, gopis and entertainment with them etc. All of them are available here daily. This is why Shri Krishna has been called 'Aaptakam'.
This mysterious play of Lord Shri Krishna is beyond nature. The moment they start playing with nature, other people also experience their play. It is in the playa with nature that creation, existence and destruction are realized through Rajogun, Satvagun and Tamogun. In this way it is confirmed that God's activities are of two types - one is real and the other is practical. The real Leela is Swayamvedya – it is known only to God himself and His passionate devotees. The play that takes place in front of the living beings is a practical play. There can be no practical play without real play; But practical Leela can never enter the kingdom of real Leela. The play of God which both of you are watching is a practical play. This earth and heaven etc. worlds are under this Leela. This is Mathuramandal on this earth.
This is the Vrajbhoomi in which The real mystery of God happens secretly. Sometimes she starts appearing everywhere to rasik devotees with loving hearts. Sometime at the end of the twenty-eighth Dwapara, when the devotees who are in charge of the mystery of the Lord gather here, as had happened some time ago too, at that time the Lord incarnates with His intimate lovers. The purpose of his incarnation is that even the devotees who are experts in the mystery of the pastime can enjoy the joy of the pastime by joining with their close relatives. Thus When God incarnates, At that time, God's beloved gods and sages etc. also incarnate everywhere.
In the incarnation that had taken place just now, God has now disappeared after fulfilling the desires of all His lovers. From this it was determined that earlier three types of devotees were present here; There is no doubt about it. Among those three, the first category is those who are God's daily 'intimate' advisors - who are never separated from God. Others are those who desire to attain the one and only God - to enter into His inner play. The third category includes gods etc. Of these, the gods who had incarnated from the parts of Aadi, had already been removed from Vrajbhoomi by the Lord and sent to Dwarka. Then, using the pestle born from the curse of the Brahmin as an instrument, God sent the deities incarnated in the Yadu clan to heaven and established them once again on their respective rights and those who had the desire to attain the only God, by making them an embodiment of love and joy, Shri Krishna included them among his constant close advisors forever. Those who are the daily councilors, although they are always present here in the daily leela which takes place secretly, but those who are not entitled to their darshan; For such men they too have become invisible. Those who are situated in practical Leela are not entitled to get the darshan of Nitya Leela; That is why the people coming here see deserted forests everywhere; Because they cannot see the devotees present in the actual Leela. That's why Vajranabh! You shouldn't worry at all. With my permission, you establish many villages here; This will definitely fulfill your wishes.
You should establish many villages by naming the place according to the pastimes performed by Lord Shri Krishna and thus continue to enjoy the divine Vrajbhoomi well. You should build cantonments for yourself in Govardhan, Durgpur (Deeg), Mathura, Mahavan (Gokul), Nandigram (Nandgaon) and Brihatsanu (Barsana) etc. One should stay in those places and keep consuming the places of God's pastimes like rivers, mountains, valleys, lakes and ponds and groves and forests etc. By doing this, the people in your kingdom will be very prosperous and you will also be very happy. This Vrajbhoomi is Sachchidanandamayi, hence you should consume this land with effort. I bless; By my grace, you will be able to identify all the places of God's pastimes exactly.
Thunderstorm! By continuing to enjoy this Vrajbhoomi, you will meet Uddhav ji someday. Then you, along with your mothers, will learn the secrets of this land and God's play from them.
Munivar Shandilya ji, after convincing both of them in this way, went to his ashram remembering Lord Shri Krishna. Hearing his words, both King Parikshit and Vajranabh were very happy.
Respectively :-