||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 23 – Dhoha – 22

The conversation between Maharishi Yajjavalkhya and Sage Bharadhwaja,

Sant Tulsidas Maharaj offering initial salutation to Lord Shambhu and Goddess Bhavani, describes the endless virtues of Lord Rama like the serene water in the river, taking immense pleasure in the nectar-like water describes them according to his intellect.  The conversation between the Sage Kakabushundi and Sage Bharadhwaja took place in the hermitage of Sage Bharadhwaja in Prayagraj.  The Rishis were discussed on the following 1) The nature of Bhramam 2) Righteousness/Dharma and the purpose of performance of various religious and spiritual rites to understand the nature of the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings and 3) Bhakti, Gnanam, and Virakthi.  Thus they have spent the whole month of the auspicious Magh took a holy dip in the sacred river and returned to their respective hermitages, several sages, and ascetics took a dip in this sacred river during the Makarasankranthi.  In this way, all the saintly men visited Prayagraj were returned to their locations after the holy and veneration of the deities.   The illustrious Maharishi Yajjvalkhya was one among the visitors,  was prepared to leave the city of Prayagraj stopped by Maharishi Bharadhwaja, fallen at the feet of Maharishi Yajjavalkhya and requested him to visit his hermitage. He received Maharishi Yajjavalkhya to his hermitage with great reverence washed his feet and offered a sanctified seat, praised his endless virtues.  

Maharishi Bharadhwaja began to speak “Oh! Mahamune, I have a question in my mind that keeps worrying me, even though I feel shame to reveal my inability, If I did not disclose it to you, I would lose a great opportunity to learn from you.  Oh! Maharishi, you are profound of Veda and its deep routed knowledge, the righteous and noble souls strongly recommend that Vedas and sacred scriptures declare if anyone keeps secret from his preceptor, he would lose the purity of the intellect. Oh! Prabho, I shall reveal my desire to you, kindly shower your compassionate grace on this sincere attendant of yours. The noble souls, scriptures, Upanishads, and various sacred texts describe the endless glories of the sacred names of supreme Lord Rama.  The mighty Lord Shiva who symbolizes wisdom and virtues constantly contemplates the sacred names of Lord Rama.  The creatures on this Universe are categorized into four; the Jeevas who leaves mortal coil on the sacred land of Kashi attains Paramapadham. Oh! Munisaththama, it reveals the greatness of recitation of the sacred names of Lord Rama because Lord Shiva whispers on the ears of the Jeeva who leaves mortal coil on this sacred land of Kashi. Oh! Kripanidhe, who is Rama? Kindly narrate it to me. Was that the Prince of Ayodhya? Rama who ruled the city of Ayodhya is well-known to the whole world, he had gone through the intense grief of separation from his dearest wife, later killed Ravana in the battle ?. Oh! Prabho, the supreme Lord Shiva who is Thripurari reciting the names of the Rama who ruled the city of Ayodhya or someone else? Oh! Mune, you are Sarvajja and have profound knowledge in scriptures, kindly clear my qualms. Oh! Thatha, kindly clear my misapprehensions and narrate the legends to me.”