Brahma said:
“Your elder brothers, my mind-born sons Sanaka and the others who had abandoned interest in worldly life from the start, could travel all over the universe through the sky. Once they went to Vaikuntha, the realm of Mahavishnu, which is an object of adoration for all. All the residents of that realm, resembling Mahavishnu Himself in appearance, had attained residence there as the result of the observance of Bhagavata Dharma (code of devotional discipline) without any self-centred motives.
The Supreme Being, possessed of all powers and auspicious attributes —
the embodiment of Dharma, and the subject of revelation for the Vedas —
abides there in a body of pure Sattva without any taint of Rajas, for
blessing of His devotees.
They went there, where the woodland of Nisreyasa (liberation) spreads out full of wishfulfilling trees ever in blossom, as if they were the state of Moksha manifested. There, devotees travel about in aerial vehicles with their womenfolk, fanned by breezes bearing the stimulating fragrance of flowers blooming on the surface of the lakes. Though the environment is sufficient to stimulate the passions in the heart, these devotees are oblivious of all that, in their absorption in singing devotional hymns about their Lord.
Thus, when the hovering bee makes its loud and sonorous sound, as if it were singing the glory of God, the chirping of the numerous birds — the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the Chakravaka, the Chataka, the swan, the parrot, the peacock and the partridge — stops for a while, as if they were all attending to the bee's devotional hymn.
There the numerous varieties of sweet-scented flowers subordinate themselves to the sanctity of the Tulasi leaves, though the latter be of unrefined fragrance, seeing that they found favour with the Lord who has given a wreath made of them the most important place in His decoration.
There the place was covered with a vast number of golden pavilions studded with precious gems of various kinds — residences which could be obtained through nothing but devotion to the feet of Sri Hari. The devotee-residents with their mind immersed in Krishna were insensitive to the exquisite charms of the large number of beautiful women present there.
There, reflected on its crystal walls lined with gold, could be seen the unique figure of Sri Devi, as if she were sweeping the floor with the play-lotus held in her extended arms, while she moves about producing the murmuring sound of the anklets on her feet. And this is Sri for whose grace all gods and men labour!
On the banks of the coral-bedded lakes with sparkling and cool water, Sri Devi, while worshipping the Lord's image with Tulasi leaves, finds in these waters the reflection of her own face with high nose and curly locks (Alaka), and realizes that it is the kiss of the Lord that has imparted all this beauty to her face.
Those who avoid hearing about the activities and excellences of the Lord that destroy sin and purify the mind, but instead are interested only in other matters of a vulgar and polluting nature, destructive of one's mind's higher susceptibilities — such persons get no access to that region. Alas! These evil tendencies they have acquired drive them helplessly to regions of darkness.
They, indeed, are the casualties of the blinding power of the Lord's Maya, who fail to cultivate devotion to the Lord even after having obtained this human birth, wherein Dharma and Jnana can be achieved. Even I (Brahma) and other divinities long to get this opportunity of a human birth.
To this exquisite place go the devotees of the Supreme Being, the pure and immortal ones, who have overcome the sway of Yama, the god of death, and attained to a state higher than mine. Their eyes stream with tears and their bodies are covered with horripilations owing to the overpowering emotions that well up in them, as they converse among themselves about the deeds and excellences of the Lord.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3:15)
They went there, where the woodland of Nisreyasa (liberation) spreads out full of wishfulfilling trees ever in blossom, as if they were the state of Moksha manifested. There, devotees travel about in aerial vehicles with their womenfolk, fanned by breezes bearing the stimulating fragrance of flowers blooming on the surface of the lakes. Though the environment is sufficient to stimulate the passions in the heart, these devotees are oblivious of all that, in their absorption in singing devotional hymns about their Lord.
Thus, when the hovering bee makes its loud and sonorous sound, as if it were singing the glory of God, the chirping of the numerous birds — the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the Chakravaka, the Chataka, the swan, the parrot, the peacock and the partridge — stops for a while, as if they were all attending to the bee's devotional hymn.
There the numerous varieties of sweet-scented flowers subordinate themselves to the sanctity of the Tulasi leaves, though the latter be of unrefined fragrance, seeing that they found favour with the Lord who has given a wreath made of them the most important place in His decoration.
There the place was covered with a vast number of golden pavilions studded with precious gems of various kinds — residences which could be obtained through nothing but devotion to the feet of Sri Hari. The devotee-residents with their mind immersed in Krishna were insensitive to the exquisite charms of the large number of beautiful women present there.
There, reflected on its crystal walls lined with gold, could be seen the unique figure of Sri Devi, as if she were sweeping the floor with the play-lotus held in her extended arms, while she moves about producing the murmuring sound of the anklets on her feet. And this is Sri for whose grace all gods and men labour!
On the banks of the coral-bedded lakes with sparkling and cool water, Sri Devi, while worshipping the Lord's image with Tulasi leaves, finds in these waters the reflection of her own face with high nose and curly locks (Alaka), and realizes that it is the kiss of the Lord that has imparted all this beauty to her face.
Those who avoid hearing about the activities and excellences of the Lord that destroy sin and purify the mind, but instead are interested only in other matters of a vulgar and polluting nature, destructive of one's mind's higher susceptibilities — such persons get no access to that region. Alas! These evil tendencies they have acquired drive them helplessly to regions of darkness.
They, indeed, are the casualties of the blinding power of the Lord's Maya, who fail to cultivate devotion to the Lord even after having obtained this human birth, wherein Dharma and Jnana can be achieved. Even I (Brahma) and other divinities long to get this opportunity of a human birth.
To this exquisite place go the devotees of the Supreme Being, the pure and immortal ones, who have overcome the sway of Yama, the god of death, and attained to a state higher than mine. Their eyes stream with tears and their bodies are covered with horripilations owing to the overpowering emotions that well up in them, as they converse among themselves about the deeds and excellences of the Lord.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3:15)
