02 Bhagavatha: how the narration progressed.


Even after the mammoth task of editing and compiling the vedas, composing the Mahabharatha etc., Vyasa felt dejected. Narada reasons that it was because Vyasa did not sing the glory of God. He briefly narrates the theme of the Srimad Bhagavatha to Bhagwan Vyasa.
How the narration progressed: Earlier Vishnu gives an outline of the Srimad Bhagavatha in a nutshell (4 verses) to Brahma (note the handshake here). Brahma narrates it to the sages Sanaka and his brothers, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara. They in turn, narrate it to Narada. Narada gives a brief description of the epic to Vyasa who composes the epic. The epic was then taught to Vyasa's son, Sage Shukha.

01. Srimad Bhagavatham:

01. Bhakti approaches Narada to help redeem her sons, Gnana and Vairagya, who are on the verge of death. Narada, on the advise of Surya, suggests the listening to the Srimad Bhagavatha in seven days, the saptAham. This is in the BhAgavatha MAhAtmyam.

Srimad Bhagavatham : oil on canvas 6.5' x 10' 2007-2011

Bhishma says,
Krishna gets out of his chariot, his shield torn, blood dripping, sweat on his face stuck with disheveled hair, covered with dust, while driving the chariot, with the Sudarshana discus in his hand, gets down to kill me. What a sight it was... Krishna doesn't even realise that his uttariyam(uppper garment) has flown away.
Let such Mukunda (giver of supreme bliss) be always in my heart.

Bheeshma further says,
Krishna broke his vow, which is more precious than the vedas,
to render true Bhishma's vow, that he(bhishma) would force Krishna take up his arms.

The Kurukshetra war
pen and ink, 2009

Kunti

Karna

Vyasa and Ganesha,
pen and ink 2009

Bhishma, pen and ink 2009

Arjuna, pen and ink, 2009

Krishna, pen and ink. 2009