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Chapter 19: King Påthu’s One Hundred Horse Sacrifices 2

The opulence of Påthu Mahäräja and his kingdom ( ) King Påthu began to perform one hundred horse sacrifices. Lord Viñëu appeared at King Påthu’s sacrifices, along with His chief associates, headed by Sunanda and Nanda, the principle demigods, the Siddhas, the Vidyädharas, the demons and the Yakñas, as well as Kapila, Närada and Dattätreya, Sanaka Kumära and other unalloyed devotees.(Contd) 3

The opulence of Påthu Mahäräja and his kingdom ( ; Contd) The land began supplying all necessities for daily life. Trees supplied abundant fruit and honey. The cows supplied profuse quantities of milk. The seas were full of valuable jewels and pearls, and the hills were full of chemicals and fertilizers. 4

What’s a devotee’s attitude towards the advancement of others? (19.2; PeA) When one is in material consciousness, he is envious of another one, who is making an advancement. Even demigods are not exempt from envy. “In Krsna consciousness, however, if someone excels another person, the devotee, who is excelled, thinks how fortunate the other persons is to be advancing in devotional service. Such nonenvy is typical of Vaikuntha.” 5

Indra’s attempts to stop Påthu Mahäräja’s sacrifice ( ) When Påthu Mahäräja was performing the last or 100th horse sacrifice, Indra, dressed as a sannyäsé, stole the sacrificial horse. When Indra saw Påthu’s son pursuing him, he gave up his false dress, left the horse and disappeared. Indra repeated this twice. King Påthu prepared to kill Indra himself for introducing irregular sannyäsa orders. 6

Påthu Mahäräja stops the performance of his 100 th sacrifice ( ) The priests objected since no one can be killed during a sacrifice. The priests proposed to call Indra by Vedic mantras, and cast him into the fire for his enmity to the King. Just before they put the oblation in the fire, Lord Brahmä appeared and forbade them. He said they could not kill Indra because he was as good as the Supreme Lord, being His powerful assistant. Brahma advised them that if they opposed Indra any further, he would further misuse his power and introduce many other pseudoreligious principles that common people would imitate. (Contd) 7

Påthu Mahäräja stops the performance of his 100 th sacrifice ( ; Contd) Thus it is best that King Påthu perform only ninety-nine sacrifices. Lord Brahmä told Påthu that since he knew the path of liberation, he did not need to perform more sacrifices. Brahmä explained that as Lord Viñëu’s incarnation, he was meant to protect religious principles and thus he should stop his sacrifice to keep Indra from creating more unwanted religions. Thus advised, King Påthu gave up his eagerness to perform yajïas and with great affection concluded a peace with King Indra. 8

What’s the role of providence in the life of a devotee? (19.34; PeA/PrA) How to deal with impediments in one’s preaching mission? How should a devotee balance between  versus  his determination to preach Krsna consciousness (KC), while remaining fixed in his endeavors especially during setbacks versus   he must realize that it is time to pause and evaluate, especially during reversals in his KC endeavors, what Krsna really desires or the Lord’s inconceivable plan, and then adopt tolerance in accepting the outcome or even defeat.   Examples of Påthu Mahäräja & Dhruva Mahäräja

Chapter 20: Lord Viñëu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Mahäräja Påthu 10

The Lord’s instructions ( ) Lord Viñëu, very satisfied by Påthu’s ninety- nine horse sacrifices, appeared along with Indra. Lord Viñëu advised King Påthu to excuse Indra, who came to be forgiven for disturbing Påthu’s last sacrifice. The Lord instructed King Påthu that the soul is different from the body. With mind and senses controlled in the transcendental position, he should try to do his duty as king in whatever condition of life he may be posted by the Lord’s arrangement. (Contd) 11

The Lord’s instructions (Contd) Lord Viñëu advised King Påthu that everyone should follow the principles of varëäçrama-dharma. By protecting his citizens, the king’s only duty, he shares in his next life, one-sixth of their pious results. But a head of state who simply collects taxes from citizens without protecting them has his own pious results taken by them and suffers for their impious activities. The Lord predicted that soon he would see the liberated Kumäras. 12

Indra begs forgiveness, and Påthu Mahäräja requests the Lord for a benediction ( ) Lord Viñëu was pleased by the King’s elevated qualities and behavior. King Indra, ashamed of his own activities, fell before King Påthu but Påthu embraced him. King Påthu offered prayers to the Lord. He desired at least one million ears to hear the Lord’s glories recited by His pure devotees,. He wishes to serve the lotus feet of the Lord and he worries that the goddess of fortune may be displeased with his intrusion on her service. King Påthu refuses material benefits, which are for those who are ignorant, but asks the Lord to bestow upon him whatever He thinks is best. 13

The Lord responds to Påthu Mahäräja’s prayers ( ) The Lord blessed the King to always engage in His devotional service and decided to depart. King Påthu worshiped the demigods, the great sages, the inhabitants of Pitåloka, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and those of Siddhaloka, Cäraëaloka, Pannagaloka, Kinnaraloka, Apsaroloka, the earthly planets and the planets of the birds, as well as many other living entities present in the sacrificial arena. With folded hands he worshiped all these, as well as the Lord and His personal associates, by offering sweet words and great wealth. After this function, they all went back to their respective abodes, as did King Påthu, after offering his respectful obeisances unto the Lord. The Lord blessed the King to always engage in His devotional service and decided to depart. King Påthu worshiped the demigods, the great sages, the inhabitants of Pitåloka, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and those of Siddhaloka, Cäraëaloka, Pannagaloka, Kinnaraloka, Apsaroloka, the earthly planets and the planets of the birds, as well as many other living entities present in the sacrificial arena. With folded hands he worshiped all these, as well as the Lord and His personal associates, by offering sweet words and great wealth. After this function, they all went back to their respective abodes, as did King Påthu, after offering his respectful obeisances unto the Lord. 14

15 Discussion Points Personal Application (PeA) The The significance of association and cooperation between Vaiñëavas. (20.18, 26, and 28) Preaching Application (PrA) atural prosperity results from saìkértana yajïa (19.7-9) Natural prosperity results from saìkértana yajïa (19.7-9) Varëäçrama-dharma in general ( )