GREAT CHAPTER FROM "SHREE NARASIMHA-PURANA" - IT NOT ONLY STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF VARNASHRAMA, BUT DWELLS ON THE ANGAS OF ANY DECENT VISHNU-SADHANA (SEE THE VERSES 11-14):
14.1. Vyasa said - O the most learned son Sukadeva, listen to this evil-destroying story along with all my pupils present here.
14.2-5. In the ancient time, a
brahmin great and well-versed in the Vedas and scriptures went to a holy place on the death of his wife.
He took a bath there in the prescribed manner and seated himself for tough penance in a deserted place. He then abandoned the desire for remarriage and started living on alms and doing great deeds along with a daily bath, japa etc.
He took a dip in the Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Vitasta (Jhelama) and Gomati etc. rivers and reached Gaya.
He did tarpana rite for his father and grandfather and reached Mahendra hillock.
He took a bath in hilly reservoirs and ponds and then met the crown hermit Parashurama, the son of the Bhrgu.
He again did tarpana for his forefathers there and entered a forest capable to sweep off the evils.
14.6-7. A stream of water used to fall down from a mountain there. It was so capable as to efface the evils if any residue still remained in the minds of the people.
The brahmin took the water from it and sprinkled it on the head of Bhagavan Shree Nrsimha. His body became free from home and any of the attachment of evils.
He then stayed on at the mountain Vindhyacala and he started regular worship of Lord Shree Vishnu, the Achyuta, adored by the devotees and the great hermits by offering the pretty flowers grown on the land of that mountain.
14.8-9. He thus worshipped for many years. Lord Shree Narasimha was pleased and appeared while the brahmin was in snoring sleep.
Shree Narasimha said:
"Brahmin, it is a violation of the rules made for the couple; if someone does not follow the rules for any of the ashrama. If you are really no more interested to observe the married life, accept any other asrama.
I am not pleased with the person in spite of his being well learned in the Vedas if he does not follow the prescribed rules for any of the asramas. However, your loyalty has pleased Me and this is the reason why I am suggesting you the same".
14.10. The brahmin pondered upon the suggestions delivered by Lord Shree Narasimha and found it mandatory to observe. Hence, he immediately abandoned the worldly attachments and became a recluse (yati, sannyasi).
14.11-14. The Brahmin started taking a daily bath in that evil-and-sin-destroying water of the fountain. Since that day, he used to stand in water with a trident and Tulasi garland in his hands, in deep concentration on Lord Shree Visnu and japa in his lips.
To put the Vigraha (Murti) of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu in the form of Narasimha with sacred and devoted imagination within heart and mind, to worship Him, to live in solitude, to be satisfied with vegetarian diet and that too through alms was the routine observed by him.
In that wide and deserted place (Province) he would sit on the seat made of kusha grass, merge his all affairs pertaining to sensory organs, the senses, the discriminative mind all in everlasting God Vishnu, and meditate on Omniscient, Unborn, Gigantic, in the Form of Truth, the Best, Benevolent, Full of Pleasure and the Supreme Ishwara.
Thus, at death, this brahmin attained emancipation (Mukti) and became form of the Supreme Soul (ParamAtmaRupi).
14.15-16. The people who read/listen to this Shree NaraSimha-Katha competent to provide with emancipation (Mukti) and related to the salvation with their exclusive concentration on Bhagavan Shree NaraSimha, attain to the fruit as would avail on having a dip in Prayaga, the pilgrim-place and lastly - obtain the great position of God Vishnu.***
***Note by Vishnudut1926: A connotation mistake by the translator, as the Sanskrit text says: "hareh padam mahat", which according to the genuine Vaishnava-Siddhanta means not obtaining "the great position of God Vishnu", but "obtaining the service at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Shree Hari".
Anyway, Sanskrit text speaks for itself and the English "great position of Vishnu"-translation is totally wrong!
Dear son, I have told you this holy and ancient episode on your enquiry and curiosity both. Now, tell me what you want more to listen to? Express your desire.
~~~The end of the 14th Chapter of "Shree NaraSimha-Puranam"~~~
Cited from
"NARASIMHA PURANAM"
Sanskrit text-English translation and Index of Verses
by Joshi K. L. Shastri and Bindiya Trivedi ~2003~
OCR, edit, note by Vishnudut1926, Moscow, April 2018
