Shukdev Goswami is the divine parrot (लीला शुक) in Golok who speaks appropriate words for the pleasure of Shree Radha Krishna. We learnt in the eternal story about the glories of Srimad Bhagwatam (अमर कथा) that when chased by Lord Shiva the divine parrot Shuk entered the mouth of the wife of Vyasdeva. He remained in his mother’s womb for nine months, after which he controlled his body for twelve years and would refuse to come out. He would also point out mistakes when his father would recite mantras. Only after being whispered through the ears of his mother by Narada Muni that the material energy maya (माया) would not touch him he came out and transformed into a twelve year old boy. However, he did not look back and straightaway walked away and wandered into the forest. Being a gyani - the meditator of the supreme Brahaman (ब्रह्म) he would sit in divine consciousness. Vyasadev’s efforts in calling him back would not work until he heard some of the sweetest verses from Bhagwat Mahapuran spoken into his ears by the disciples of Vyasadev. When he heard these verses to his delight the light he was meditating on turned into a form - the personal form of the all attractive God.
Later he heard the entire Bhagawat Mahapuran from his father Vyasadev which he was now narrating to Parikshit Maharaj. Parikishit’s question about the duties of a man who is dying is very relevant. Scriptures would indicate that in reality everybody was close to death. A 60-70 years span of life may appear a long time to us but compared to the infinity it is a short while.
Shukdev Goswami advised Parikshit Maharaj and said that his first instruction to him was to give up his fear and become fearless. He explains: “There are different types of fear of which the greatest fear is that of death. However, fear is the symptom, the cause being the attachment.”
भोगे रोगभयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं
माने दैन्यभयम्, बले रिपुभयम्, रूपे जराया भयम् ।
शास्त्रे वादिभयम्, गुणे कलभयम्, काये कृतान्ताद्भयं
सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् ॥
(Bhartrihari from the Vairagya shatakam)
“If you are attached to wealth you will fear of poverty. If you are attached to sensual enjoyment you will fear of diseases. If you are attached to prestige you will fear of humiliation. The momemt you become detached, you become fearless.”
Shukdev Goswami continued:
“Inspire yourself to take advantage of this opportunity. You have seven days before you. Your ancestor Khatwang Muni had only one and a half gharis. (Khatwang Muni had assisted the devatas during the daivasur battle. The devatas pleased with him after their victory wanted to grant him a boon. Khatwang Muni wanted to know how much life was left for him. It was found that he had only one and a half gharis to live. A ghari is only 24 minutes. A muhurt is 48 minutes and a prahar or yam is 3 hours. Khatwang Muni completed his surrender in the 24 minutes and achieved God realisation).”
स्माद्भारत सर्वात्मा भगवानीश्वरो हरि: ।
श्रोतव्य: कीर्तितव्यश्च स्मर्तव्यश्चेच्छताभयम् ॥
(Bhagwat Mahapurana 2.1.5)
“O descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about God, must sing his glories and also remember him all the time.”
Shukdev Goswami teaches Pariksit Maharaj the three fold devotion (त्रिधा भक्ति) which is:
Shravanam: Hearing about the names, forms, abodes, virtues, pastimes etc of God.
Kirtanam: Singing and chanting the glories of God.
Smaranam: Remembering i.e. meditating upon God’s names, forms, abodes, virtues, pastimes etc.
Shukdev Goswami also teaches two kinds of meditation to Parikshit Maharaj:
Meditation on God’s universal form : He advised Parikshit Maharaj to look on the whole universe as the manifestation of God. “You need to realise that God is everywhere and is in everyone. This will neutralise your hankering and lamentation. If you see the whole world as the veritable form of God there will be no attachment or hatred.”
Meditation on the personal form of God - To increase the longing for God (प्रेमा भक्ति), the devotee needs to meditate on the personal form of God.
Bhagwat Mahapuran lays such a strong emphasis about the path of devotion.
बिले बतोरुक्रमविक्रमान् ये
न शृण्वत: कर्णपुटे नरस्य ।
जिह्वासती दार्दुरिकेव सूत
न चोपगायत्युरुगायगाथा: ॥
(Bhagwat Mahapurana 2.3.20)
Which is also echoed in Ramayana when Kagbhushundi Maharaj tells the following to Garuda Jee.
“जिन्ह हरि कथा सुनी नहि काना। श्रवण रंध्र अहि भवन समाना।
नयनन्हि संत दरस नहि देखा। लोचन मोर पंख कर लेखा।
ते सिर कटु तुंबरि समतूला I जे न नमत हरि गुर पद मूला।
जिन्ह हरि भगति हृदयँ नहि आनी। जीवत सव समान सोइ प्रानी।
जो नहि करइ राम गुन गाना। जीह सो दादुर जीह समाना।
कुलिस कठोर निठुर सोइ छाती। सुनि हरिचरित न जो हरषाती।”
“Ears that do not hear the glories of God, are mere snake-holes.
Eyes that do not behold the divine sight of Godly saints are like the artificial eyes on peacock feathers.
The head that does not bow to God and Guru is like a bitter gourd.
The heart bereft of devotion belongs to one who is dead while living.
The tongue that does not glorify Ram, is like the tongue of a frog uttering nothing but ugly croaking sounds.
It is a very hard and merciless heart that does not experience extreme joy upon hearing God’s pastimes.”
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