Purushottam Maas Katha: Adhyaya 15 | पुरुषोत्तम मास कथा: अध्याय 15

Sudeva Sharma Brahmin prayed to Lord Vishnu for a son. Impressed by his devotion, Lord Vishnu granted him a beautiful son through Garuda.

Shri Narayan said, 'Narad! Sudeva Sharma Brahmin, with folded hands and a choked voice, praised the devotee-loving Shri Krishna Dev, saying, 'O Lord! O Lord of Lords! O giver of fearlessness to the three worlds! O Lord! I bow to you. O Lord of all! I bow to you, I have taken refuge in you, O Supreme Lord! O lover of those who seek refuge! Protect me. O one who is saluted by all beings in the world! O destroyer of the fear of those who have come for refuge! I bow to you.

You are the embodiment of victory, the giver of victory, the master of victory, the cause of victory, the basis of the world, the sole protector of the world, divine, the abode of the worlds, the seed of fruits, the basis of fruits, situated in the world, the cause of the cause of the world. You are the root of fruits, the giver of fruits. You are the embodiment of light, the giver of light, the best among all the luminous, Krishna (destroyer of the darkness of the heart), Vishnu (pervading), Vasudeva (abode of the gods or son of Vasudeva), compassionate to the poor, I bow to you.

O Lord of the world! Even Brahma and other gods are not capable of praising you. O Janardan! I am a man of little intelligence, how can I be capable of praising you. How do you neglect (abandon) your devotee who is extremely sad, poor. O Lord! Has that friendship of yours with the world been destroyed in the world today?:

Valmiki Rishi said, 'Sudeva Sharma Brahmin, after praising Lord Vishnu in this way, stood before Hari. Hari Bhagavan, hearing his words, spoke in a voice as deep as a cloud.'

Shri Hari said, 'O son! You have done very well in performing penance. O great wise one! O ascetic! What do you want? Tell me. I am pleased with your penance and will grant you that boon because no one has ever done such a great deed before.'

Sudeva Sharma said, 'O Lord! O friend of the poor! O treasure of mercy! If you are pleased, then O Vishnu! O ancient Purushottam! Please grant me a good son. O Hari! This householder's dharma, empty without a son, is not dear to me.' Hearing the words of Sudeva Sharma Brahmin, Hari Bhagavan spoke.

Shri Hari Bhagavan said, 'O Brahmin! I will give you even those things that are not worthy of giving, except for a son. Because Brahma has not written the happiness of a son for you. I have seen all the letters on your forehead, and in them, you will not have the happiness of a son for seven births.'

Hearing the harsh words of Hari Bhagavan, like a thunderbolt, that Sudeva Sharma Brahmin fell to the ground like a tree whose roots have been cut. Seeing her husband fallen, Gautami's wife was extremely saddened and began to weep, looking at her husband deprived of the desire for a son. After some time, taking refuge in patience, Gautami's wife spoke to her fallen husband.

Gautami said, 'O Lord! Get up, get up, don't you remember my words? The happiness and sorrow written by Brahma on the forehead are received. What will Ramanath do? Man reaps the fruits of his actions. The efforts of an unfortunate man are as fruitless as giving medicine to a dying man. All efforts made by one whose fate is adverse (opposite) are in vain. Among all the Vedas, serving Hari Bhagavan is said to be superior to Yagya, charity, penance, truth, vows, etc., but even greater than that is the strength of fate. Therefore, O Bhusur! Remove your faith from everything and get up and quickly take refuge in destiny. What does Hari have to do with this?'

Hearing those words of Gautami, filled with extreme sorrow, Garuda, trembling with grief, spoke to Lord Vishnu.

Garuda said, 'O Hari! Seeing the Brahmin woman drowned in the ocean of sorrow, and the Brahmin distraught with tears falling from his eyes, O friend of the poor! O ocean of mercy! O giver of fearlessness to devotees! O Lord! Where has that compassion of yours gone today, who cannot bear the suffering of devotees?

Alas! You are the direct Vishnu, the protector of the Vedas and Brahmins. Where has your dharma gone at this time? The four types of liberation are said to be in your hands to give to your devotee. Alas! Yet those devotees of yours, leaving aside the best devotion, do not desire the fourfold liberation, and the eight siddhis stand before them like servants. The greatness of your worship has been heard everywhere. Then what effort is it for you to fulfill the desire of this Brahmin for a son today?

What effort is it to donate a goad to a man who donates an elephant? Now, from today, no one will serve your lotus feet. What is in a man's fate is certainly obtained. This custom has started in the world from today, and your devotion has gone to the netherworld, that is, it has become extinct.

O Lord! You are independent in doing and not doing, this power of yours is famous everywhere, today that power is destroyed by not giving a son to this Brahmin. Therefore, you must grant a son to this Brahmin. Sudama Brahmin, by worshiping you, attained excellent opulence. By your grace, Sandipini Guru obtained his dead son. For these reasons, these two men and women, desiring a son, have come to your refuge.'

Shri Narayan said, 'Hearing Garuda's words, like nectar, Lord Vishnu said to Garuda, 'O bird! O Vainateya! Quickly give this Brahmin a son as desired.'

Hearing the words of Hari Bhagavan, favorable to him, Garuda, with a very happy heart, quickly gave a suitable beautiful son to that sorrowful Brahmin, the deity of the earth.

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter of Shri Brihannaradiya Purana, Purushottam Maas Mahatmya ॥15॥