३३ त्रयस्त्रिंशदशकः - गौतमकथा 33 trayastrimshadashakah' - gautamakathaa Dasakam 33 Gauthama Katha- Story of sage Gauthama.

 ३३ त्रयस्त्रिंशदशकः - गौतमकथा

33 trayastrimshadashakah' - gautamakathaa

Dasakam 33 Gauthama Katha- Story of sage Gauthama.

(once there was a great famine on earth. All the people went to the hermitage

of sage Gauthama. He prayed to the Goddess and got them a wish fulfilling

vessel. The problems were solved. Sage Narada came there chanting the

Gayathri manthra and living in his company and learning Manthras from him,

the world became again fertile and their problems were solved. This story

occurs in Chapter 9 of book 12 of Devi Bhagawatham )

शक्रः पुरा जीवगणस्य कर्म -

दोषात् सर्ाः पञ्चदश क्षर्ायार्् ।

वृष्टिं न चक्रे धरणी च शुष्क-

वापीतडागाष्दजलाशयाऽऽसीत् ॥ ३३-१॥

shakrah' puraa jeevaganasya karma-

doshaatsamaah' panchadasha kshamaayaam .

vri'sht'im na chakre dharanee cha shushka-

vaapeetad'aagaadijalaashayaa''seet .. 33-1..

1.Once upon a time due to the evil fate of living beings, for fifteen

years Indra did not send rain to the earth. On earth, all the ponds,

lakes and other water bodies dried up.

An incident that took place long ago is going to be explained here.

Due to the bad fate of the living things on earth, Indra did not send

rain for 15 years. Because of which all water bodies like, wells, ponds,

rivers lakes etc all dried up.

Once on a time, on account of an evil turn of Fate (Karma) of the

human beings, Indra did not rain on this earth for fifteen years. Owing

to want of rain, the famine appeared horribly; and almost all the

beings lost their lives. No one could count in every house the number

of the dead persons. Out of hunger the people began to eat horses;

some began to eat bears and pigs; some began to eat the dead bodies

while some others carried on any how their lives. The people were so

much distressed with hunger that the mother did not refrain from

eating her baby child and the husband did not refrain from eating his

wife.

सस्याष्न शुष्काष्ण खगान् र्ृगािं श्च

भुक्त्वाऽप्यतृप्ाः क्षुधया तृषा च ।

ष्नपीष्डता र्र्त्मशवाष्न चाहो

र्र्त्ाम अष्नटान्यष्प भुञ्जते स्म ॥ ३३-२॥

sasyaani shushkaani khagaan mri'gaamshcha

bhuktvaa'pyatri'ptaah' kshudhayaa tri'shaa cha .

nipeed'itaa martyashavaani chaaho

martyaa anisht'aanyapi bhunjate sma .. 33-2..

2.Alas! The people who were greatly affected by hunger and thirst,

were not satisfied after eating dried plants, birds and animals, much

to their dislike started eating dead bodies of humans.

When no rains rained over earth, all the waterbodies dried up. All the

herbs and vegetables dried up. Unable to bear the hunger and thirst,

humans became weak: they started eating the dried-up fruits and

roots; they also ate animals and birds. People started dying due to

hunger and thirst. People who were alive started to eat the bodies of

the dead people. A time when humans were eating humans.

क्षुधाऽष्दम ताः सवमजना र्हाऽऽपद् -

ष्वर्ुक्तिकार्ा ष्र्ष्लताः कदाष्चत् ।

तपोधनिं गौतर्र्ेर्त् भक्त्या

पृटा र्ुष्निं स्वागर्हे तुर्ूचुः ॥ ३३-३॥

kshudhaa'rditaah' sarvajanaa mahaa''pad-

vimuktikaamaa militaah' kadaachit .

tapodhanam gautamametya bhaktyaa

pri'sht'aa munim svaagamahetumoochuh' .. 33-3..

3. Once all the people, caught in the grip of hunger, joined together

and desiring to get freed From this great calamity, approached with

devotion, the great sage Gauthama. By being questioned by the

muni, told him why they came to his ashrama.

People could not bear their hunger, so they met at a place, and

thought of a solution to come out of this predicament. They held a

discussion over that topic. They all decided to go and meet a

maharishi and tell him about their troubles. All of them went to the

hermitage of Gauthama. He saluted them and greeted them with

reverence. He asked the reason as to why all of them came to him

together. Unable to bear the hunger and thirst caused due to drying

up of everything, due to lack of rains-thus starting like this they put

all their immediate woes in front of the maharshi. Gauthama heard

everything patiently.

The Brāhmaṇas then united and after due discussion, came to the

conclusion that they would go to the Rishi Gautama who would be

able to remove their distress. So, all of them wanted to go quickly to

the hermitage of the Muni Gautama.

They began to say :-- “We hear that there is no famine in the

hermitage of Gautama. Various persons are running there from

various quarters.” Thus, coming to a conclusion, the Brāhmaṇas went

to the Gautama’s Āśrama with their cows, servants and relations.

Some went from the east; some from the south; some from the west,

and some from the north. Thus, from various quarters the people

flocked there. Seeing the Brāhmaṇas coming there, the Rishi

Gautama bowed down to them and gave them a friendly welcome

and served them with seats, etc. When all took their seats and

became calm and quiet, Gautama enquired about their welfare and

the cause of their arrival. They described everything about the

extreme famine and their own states and expressed their deep

regret.

ष्वज्ञाय सवं र्ुष्नराट् कृपालुः

सम्पूज्य गायत्र्यष्भधािं ष्शवे त्वार्् ।

प्रसाद्य दृष्ट्वा च तवैव हस्ताल्-

लेभे नविं कार्दपात्रर्ेकर्् ॥ ३३-४॥

vijnyaaya sarvam muniraat' kri'paaluh'

sampoojya gaayatryabhidhaam shive tvaam .

prasaadya dri'sht'vaa cha tavaiva hastaal-

lebhe navam kaamadapaatramekam .. 33-4..

4.That merciful great sage after understanding everything, Oh

Goddess who does auspicious things, understanding you as

Gayathri, Worshipped you with devotion and pleased you, and got a

vessel directly from your hands, which gives anything that is desired.

Gauthama muni’s heart melted with compassion on hearing the

problems face by the visitors. He prayed to Gayatri devi with

devotion. He was a worshipper of Gayatri devi. the pleased devi,

appeared in front of him and gave him a vessel-a vessel that fulfilled

all desires.

Seeing them very much distressed, the Muni gave them word not to

have any fear; he said :-- “I am today become blessed by the arrival

of the great ascetics and honourable persons like you. I am your

servant. You consider all my houses as yours. Be quite comfortable.

Bear no uneasiness. When your servant is alive, what fear do you

entertain and whom do you fear? When the faults are transformed

into good merits by your mere sight, and when you have blessed my

house with the dust of your holy feet, then who is more blessed than

me? O Vipras! Kindly perform your Sandhyās, and Japams and rest

here at ease.”

Thus consoling the Brāhmaṇas, the Ṛishi Gautama began to worship

the Gāyatrī Devī with rapt devotional trance. “O Devī Gāyatrī!

Obeisance to Thee! Thou art the Great Vidyā, the Mother of the

Vedas, Higher than the Highest; Thou art Vyārhiti represented by the

Mantra ‘Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Svah,’ O Mother! Thou art the state of

equilibrium, i.e., the Turīya; Thou art of of the Form of Hrīm; Thou art

Svāhā and Svadhā; Thou grantest the desires of the Bhaktas. Thou art

the Witness of the three states, Jāgrat (waking), Svapna (dreaming)

and Suṣupti (deep sleep). Thou art the Turīya and Saccidānanda

Brahmā. O Devī! Thou resident in the Solar Orb and appearest as a

ruddy girl in the morning, an youthful maiden at noon and a black

old woman in the evening. O Devī! Obeisance to Thee! Now shew

favour on us at this severe famine time when all the beings are well

nigh on the way to destruction.”

Thus praised and worshipped, the World-Mother appeared and gave

to the Ṛishi one vessel (cup) full to the brim by which every one can

he fed and nourished.

दु कूलसौवणमष्वभूषणान्न-

वस्त्राष्द गावो र्ष्हषादयश्च ।

यद्यज्जनैरीक्तितर्ाशु तत्तत्त

तत्पात्रतो दे ष्व सर्ु द्बभूव ॥ ३३-५॥

Dukoolasauvarnavibhooshanaanna

vastraadi gaavo mahishaadayashcha .

yadyajjanaireepsitamaashu tattat

tatpaatrato devi samudbabhoova .. 33-5..

5.Oh Goddess from that vessel they got, Silk, gold ornaments, food,

clothes and other things, cows, buffaloes and other such things and

whatever the people desired, all that was created speedily from that

vessel.

The vessel that devi gave gauthama was in every sense an

akshayapatram. It is there in the Mahabharata about how lord surya

gave an akshayapatram to the Pandavas. That had only 1 condition-

that is after panchali eats from that then for that day the vessel will

not make food. The Akshayapatram that gauthama got did not have

any conditions attached to it. Grains, clothes, jewellery, cows,

buffalos etc., -all came out from that vessel. The vessel could satisfy

every wish. The moment one desires, it would be satisfied-no need

to wait for long to get desires satisfied.

The Mother told the Muni :-- “This full vessel, given by me to you will

yield whatever you wish.” Thus saying, the Devī Gāyatrī, Higher than

the Highest, vanished. Then, according to the wish of the Muni, came

out from that cup, mountains of cooked rice, various curries and

sweetmeats, lots of grass and fodder, silken clothings, various

ornaments and various articles and vessels for sacrificial purposes. In

fact whatever the Muni Gautama wished, that came out of the

brimful cup, given by the Devī Gāyatrī. Then the Muni Gautama

called the other Munis that came there and gave them wealth,

grains, clothing, ornament, and the sacrificial ladles and spoons and

cows and buffaloes for the sacrificial purposes

रोगो न दै न्यिं न भयिं न चैव

जना ष्र्थो र्ोदकरा बभूवुः ।

ते गौतर्स्योग्रतपः प्रभाव-

र्ुच्चैजमगुस्तािं करुणार्द्मतािं च ॥ ३३-६॥

rogo na dainyam na bhayam na chaiva

janaa mitho modakaraa babhoovuh' .

te gautamasyogratapah'prabhaava-

muchchairjagustaam karunaardrataam cha .. 33-6..

6.There were no diseases and no poverty; There was not even a little

fear. All the people were spreading happiness amongst themselves.

They started to talk about the strength of gauthama’s penance and

mercy.

The people stayed at gauthamas hermitage. Everybody was getting

whatever they wanted and whenever they wanted. They became

without spiteness (did not have anger, impatience or any grudge).

Everybody co-operated in everything that was being done;

everybody made all happy. The reason for all this was the power of

gauthama’s penance. It was his presence that gave mental strength

to all. Everybody was aware of this fact. They all showed extreme

respect to gauthama. People started talking and praising about the

effects of his penance and his mercy.

Munis then assembled and performed various yajñās. The place all

round, then flourished and became so much prosperous that it

looked like a second heaven. In fact whatever fair and beautiful that

existed in the Trilokas, all came from the brimful cup given by the

Devī Gāyatrī. At this time the Munis, with sandalpaste all over on

their bodies, and decorated with very bright ornaments looked like

the gods and their wives looked like goddesses. Daily utsavs began

to be held in in the Āśrama of Gautama. Nowhere were seen any

diseases or dacoities and there was no fear from any such things.

Gradually the Āśrama’s boundary extended to one hundred Yojanas

(4 hundred miles). Hearing this greatness of Gautama, many persons

came there from various quarters. And the Muni Gautama, too, gave

them words, “cast away fear” and fed them. The Devas, on the other

hand, became very much satisfied by the various Yajñās and extolled

the Muni’s greatness.

So much so, that the famous Indra, the Lord of the Devas, came in

the midst of the assembly and extolled his greatness, thus :-- “This

Gautama has fulfilled all our wishes and has verily become a Kalpa

Vrikṣa (celestial tree yielding all desires). If this man had not done

such things, in this hard famine time, we would not have got the

Havis offered in sacrifices and the prospect of our lives would have

been at stake.” Thus the Muni Gautama fed and nourished for twelve

years all the Munis, like his sons and that place came to be

recognised as the chief centre (the Head Quarters) of the Gāyatrī

Devī. Even today, all the Munis perform with devotion the

Puraṣacaranams and worship thrice the Bhagavatī Gāyatrī Devī. Even

today the Devī is there seen as a girl in the morning, as a youthful

maiden at noon, as an old woman in the evening.

एविं सर्ा द्वादश तत्र सवे

ष्नन्युः कदाष्चक्तिष्लतेषु तेषु ।

श्रीनारदो दे ष्व शशीव गाय-

त्र्याश्चयमशक्तििं प्रगृ णन्नवाप ॥ ३३-७॥

evam samaa dvaadasha tatra sarve

ninyuh' kadaachinmiliteshu teshu .

shreenaarado devi shasheeva gaaya-

tryaashcharyashaktim pragri'nannavaapa .. 33-7..

7.Like this for twelve years, all people lived there with comfort. Once

Oh devi! when all of them had gathered, Sage Narada, singing the

wonderful power of Gayatri mantra, came there like a moon.

Everybody lived in gauthama rishi’s ashrama for 12 years. One day

when all of them had gathered at a particular place, sri narada

maharshi came down from the sky right in front of them. He came

singing the glories of gayatri devi. everybody was happy to see the

maharshi who was shining like the moon.

once upon a time, Nārada, of best conduct, came there playing on

his great lute and singing in tune the highest glories of Gāyatrī and

took his seat in the assembly of the Munis. Seeing the tranquil

hearted Nārada coming there, Gautama and the other Munis

received him duly and worshipped him with the Pādya and Arghya.

स पूष्जतस्तत्र ष्नषण्ण उच्चै र्

ष्नवेद्य तािं गौतर्कीष्तमलक्ष्मीर्् ।

सभासु शक्राष्दसुरैः प्रगीतािं

जगार् सन्तो जहृषुः कृतज्ञाः ॥ ३३-८॥

sa poojitastatra nishanna uchchair

nivedya taam gautamakeertilakshmeem .

sabhaasu shakraadisuraih' prageetaam

jagaama santo jahri'shuh' kri'tajnyaah' .. 33-8..

8. He who was seated and worshipped, told them about the honor of

sage Gautama, who was being loudly praised in the assembly of

Indra and other devas and went back. The people were very grateful

and became very happy.

When sri narada came to gauthama’s ashrama, he was received with

respect, and worshipped. Sitting comfortably, he started talking

about the fame of gauthama muni. The fame of that gauthama muni

who provided instantly, everything for the people, had spread all

over the earth. Not just that, it has spread even in heaven.

Gauthama’s glories are being sung in the assemblies of the devas.

Indra and the devas had extreme respect for gauthama. Narada

explained in detail to the inmates of the ashrama all that he saw

when he went to heaven. On hearing all this, the virtuous people felt

very happy.

In course of conversation he began to describe the glories of

Gautama and said :-- “O Best of Munis! I have heard from the mouth

of Indra, in the assembly of the Devas, your glories as to your

supporting and feeding the pure-hearted Munis and I have come to

see you. By the Grace of Śrī Bhagavatī Gāyatrī Devī, you have now

become blessed. There is no doubt in this.” Thus saying, the Devarṣi

Nārada entered into the temple of the Devī Gāyatrī and with eyes

gladdened by love, saw the Devī there and offered due hymns in

praise of Her and then ascended to the Heavens.

काले धरािं वृष्टसर्ृ द्धसस्यािं

दृष्ट्वा जना गौतर्र्ानर्न्तः ।

आपृच्छ्य ते सज्जनसङ्गपूता

र्ुदा जवात्स्वस्वगृहाष्ण जग्ुः ॥ ३३-९॥

kaale dharaam vri'sht'isamri'ddhasasyaam

dri'sht'vaa janaa gautamamaanamantah' .

aapri'chchhya te sajjanasangapootaa

mudaa javaatsvasvagri'haani jagmuh' .. 33-9..

9.Those people who had became virtuous due to being in good

company, saw that it rained in proper time on earth and saw that

plants and trees grew well, and took leave of sage Gautama after

saluting him and taking his permission and went back happily to

their homes.

When the time came it rained on earth. Vegetables started to grow.

Those people who had become virtuous due to the ashrama

environment of gauthama and due to the company they kept,

started to prepare to go back to their respective houses. They went

and saw gauthama, saluted, thanked him, asked permission to leave.

While returning everybody-all those who had become virtuous-

experience extreme happiness.

दु ः खाष्न र्े सन्तु यतो र्नो र्े

प्रतप्सङ्घष्ितहे र्शोष्भ ।

ष्वशुद्धर्स्तु त्वयी बद्धरागो

भवाष्न ते दे ष्व नर्ोऽस्तु भूयः ॥ ३३-१०॥

duh'khaani me santu yato mano me

prataptasanghat't'itahemashobhi .

vishuddhamastu tvayee baddharaago

bhavaani te devi namo'stu bhooyah' .. 33-10..

10.Let all sorrows come to me, and like this let my mind get purified

like a well beaten shining molten gold. Oh Bhavani let me develop

devotion towards you, I am offering salutations to you again and

again.

People went to gauthama’s ashrama because they could not bear

the adverse reactions caused due to lack of rains. The stayed in the

ashrama and purified the people. The depression caused due to lack

of rains turned out to be boon. Any problems faced by people in

their life, will become a boon later on-this is enlightenment. How

does one purify gold? It needs to burnt on fire, then dipped in water,

then put it into a iron pot and then beat it with an iron rod. This

process has to be done many times before the gold becomes pure.

The poet requests devi to make his mind pure like that. Mind should

be like pure gold. For that mental dirt like anger, failure etc should

be removed, the poet says he is even ready to experience sorrow.

The mind should become clear. Only then devotion to devi will

become clear. the poet requests devi to remove all mental dirt and

to replace it with pure devotion; for that he repeatedly prays to devi.

Thus ends the 33rd chapter

Gauthama’s prayer to devi gayatri (skanda 12 chapter 9 shlokas 16-21)

नर्ो दे ष्व र्हाष्वद्ये वेदर्ातः परात्परे ।

व्याहृर्त्ाष्दर्हार्न्त्ररूपे प्रणवरूष्पष्ण ॥

साम्यावस्थाक्तिके र्ातनमर्ो ह्ीिंकाररूष्पष्ण ।

स्वाहास्वधास्वरूपे त्वािं नर्ाष्र् सकलाथमदार्् ॥

भक्त्त्तकल्पलतािं दे वीर्वस्थात्रयसाष्क्षणीर्् ।

तुयाम तीतस्वरूपािं च सक्तच्चदानन्दरूष्पणीर्् ॥

सवमवेदान्तसिंवेद्यािं सूयमर्ण्डलवाष्सनीर्् ।

प्रातबाम लािं रक्त्त्तवणां र्ध्याह्ने युवतीिं परार्् ॥

सायाह्ने कृष्णवणां तािं वृद्धािं ष्नर्त्िं नर्ाम्यहर्् ।

सवमभूतारणे दे ष्व क्षर्स्व परर्ेश्वरर ॥

namo devi mahaavidye vedamaatah' paraatpare .

vyaahri'tyaadimahaamantraroope pranavaroopini ..

saamyaavasthaatmike maatarnamo hreemkaararoopini .

svaahaasvadhaasvaroope tvaam namaami sakalaarthadaam ..

bhakttakalpalataam deveemavasthaatrayasaakshineem .

turyaateetasvaroopaam cha sachchidaanandaroopineem ..

sarvavedaantasamvedyaam sooryamand'alavaasineem .

praatarbaalaam rakttavarnaam madhyaahne yuvateem paraam ..

saayaahne kri'shnavarnaam taam vri'ddhaam nityam namaamyaham

sarvabhootaarane devi kshamasva parameshvari ..