Shri Eknathi Bhagawat

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This book is English translation of the Marathi commentary of the 11th Skandha (Volume) of the great Bhagawata Purana. This commentary is in Ovi Meter i.e. in the most popular meter in which generally the saints have written poetry which is treatises on difficult Sanskrit works of ancient sages. Bhagawata Purana (Mythological book) contains philosophy as well as stories of various devotees of Lord Vishnu and incarnations of the Lord which took place during the span of many centuries. It also contains the stories of various kings. The 10th volume contains mainly the story of the life and exploits of Lord Shri Krishna and this 1 Ph volume contains mainly the dialogue between the Lord Shri Krishna and his loving disciple liddhava, accompanied by some stories enhancing the morals of the ascetic life which dialogue took place before the end of the Lord Shri Krishna’s incarnation.

As the purpose in the mind of Saint Eknath was to explain in Marathi the teachings given by the Lord Shri Krishna to Uddhava and various manners in which other earlier teachers had taught religious philosophy, he had chosen this 1 volume. This contains 1367 Sanskrit verses in the original text and about 18,000 Ovis in Marathi. Effort is made to bring out in English Prose the contents of Marathi text, Ovi by Ovi in simple language to suit all English knowing Readers. As is natural in the case of such translations certain terms in S anskrit are required to be kept as they are, spelling, being adhered to in such cases, phonetically.

Now a short life sketch of Saint Eknath is given here to acquaint the readers with the characteristic way in which the author led his life. Eknath is believed to have lived about 100 years before the advent of king Shivaji. Some records say that he was born at Paithan, (a city famous even in those days for highly educated and learned citizens) in the year 1533 A.D., but some other scholars do not agree with that, they say that the year of his birth was 1528 A.D. Bhanudas who brought back the idol of Shri Vitthal from Vijaynagar to Pandharpur was the ancestor of Saint Eknath. Chakrapani was the son of Bhanudas, Suryanarayan was the son of Charkrapani and Eknath was the son of Suryanarayan. Thus Eknath was the great grandson of Bhanudas. The name of the mother of Eknath was Rukmini. Thus Eknath was the son of Suryanarayana and Rukmini. He became later on a well- known saint. His family belonged to Deshastha Brahmins of Rigveda Tradition and the name of hIs Gotra was Vishwamitra. Ekaveera is the family Deity of Eknath. As the birth of Eknath took place in the period of Moola Star system the destiny proved to be bad, in that, his parents died soon after his birth. As a result, the burden of bringing up the child Eknath fell on the shoulders of his grandfather Chakrapani. The “Thread Ceremony” of Eknath was performed when he was six years of age. He read (3eeta, Upanishads, and the six Darshanas, books of philosophy and mythological books like Bhagawata etc. Writing, reading and arithmetic were learned by him at a very early age. He had early contact with philosophy of devotion. His mind took interest in spiritual path but he was not lucky enough to have any spiritual preceptor. He was eager to have the blessing of some Guru. He asked his grandfather about it. The latter gave him guidance to go to Devgiri Town and meet the holy Janardana Swami who was a well-known scholar and saint. Eknath went there; the young boy was very smart and had an easy flow of well-cultured speech. When he met Janardana swami he very humbly bowed before him and requested to accept him as a disciple and give regular initiation in the spiritual path. Janardana Swami had an idea how brilliant this boy was. He asked him some questions about his personal life and knowing that he had taken permission of his grandfather and was already well-versed in some literature of the path; he gave him initiation and accepted him as a disciple. From that time Eknath began to live with his Gum.

It is with great pleasure that this English translation of the Marathi poetic commentary by Saint Eknath on the Eleventh volume (called Skaudha) of the famous mythological book of ancient India named Bhagawata Mahapurana is being presented to the readers in India as well as abroad, who are not acquainted with medieval Marathi language but are conversant with English. I have translated each verse in prose English avoiding difficult terms and using only those terms which are easily understood even by students in the higher standards in middle schools and even in schools of English medium of education.

Each verse is printed in Sanskrit in Devnagari script as is the tradition and the succinct meaning of that verse is immediately following it. Then the Ovis of saint Eknath comprising his commentary are translated, keeping the sequence of Ovi, without any change in the number. After I completed the English version of Dynaneshwari and Dasboadh this is the third venture of mine which is being published by messers Keshav Bhikaj i Dhavle, renowned publishers of religious literature in India, and I am specially indebted to them.

The typesetters of this book Smt. Smita Bhave and Shri Vijay Bhave of Dombivli have done the lengthy job very carefully and I thank them.

Miss Kalyani Bhave has helped me write the manuscript and Miss Sampada Bhave was also very helpful in preparing the manuscript of this book. I thank them and also others who encouraged me to continue the work inspite of my ailments. Again, I express my thanks to all, including the printers, binders and present this humble effort of mine to the readers of religious books of devotional philosophy, which describe the glory of Lord Shri Krishna.

This English book is a translation of Shri Eknathi Bhagawat, which is a voluminous work by Saint Eknath, in Marathi Verses, being a commentary by him on the Eleventh Volume of the famous Bhagawat Mahapurana. Earlier we have published English translations of Shri Dnyaneshwan and Shri Dasboadh, which have been received by English knowing readers with welcome, we hope that this book will also be appreciated at large by devotional readers who want to learn the teachings of the Lord Shri Krishna given by Him to his dear devotee Uddhava.