Thread by @anbezhil12

Dhyaana Slokam

Naaraayanaaya nalinaayata lochanaaya
Naamaavaseshita mahaabali vaibhavaaya
Naanaa charaachara vidhaayaka janmadesa
Nabheeputaaya prushaaya namah parasmai

This verse occurs in #BhojaChampu and describes vividly the picture of Sriman Narayana as He appeared to

the Devas. This verse forms part of the Ramayana story composed by King Bhoja and Poet Kalidasa, at a time when King Bhoja was made aware of the fact that he had only ninety more minutes life in this world. This is a beautiful verse and contains rich ideas. The milky white ocean

and the white Adisesha bed provide the necessary relief or background to the scintillating dark-blue body of Narayana. The very fact of His slumber is described as active vigil in the protection of all the worlds and their contents. It is this apparently dormant energy which

makes the entire universe function according to plan, that burst out into a dynamic force in the form of Narasimha. King Bhoja tricked poet Kalidasa into reciting his Charamasloka, on the death of King Bhoja. The story behind it is this: The king knew well the talent of Kalidasa

as a poet especially the innumerable ways of bringing simile in his poems. He developed a strange interest, knew not why, but he desired Kalidasa to sing the last song for him before he died. Normally an eulogy is sung after a person is dead. Kalidasa, therefore made it clear to

the king that as he was blessed by Kali Devi if he sang the song, the king ‘s life would come to an end immediately, so would not sing it. Bhoja raja got angry with Kalidasa for disobeying his order and banished him from the capital of Tara. Kalidasa wandered in the city of Tara

in the disguise of a hermit . But the King could not get over his strange wish. He launched a search to find Kalidasa’s whereabouts and for this purpose he disguised himself as a Sooth Sayer. The king spotted the sanyasi near a mutton shop and to make sure that he was none other

than Kalidasa he enquired him, You are a Sanyasi, how come you are seen near a mutton shop, Is it not unbecoming of a true sanyasi? Kalidasa, impulsively reacted to the remarks of the Sooth Sayer but unfortunately let the cat out of the bag by saying, ”Where else a person can go

after his banishment by the king?”. On hearing this, the king became sure that he was Kalidasa only. The King decided to play a strategy to make Kalidasa to sing the last song for him. He continued the conversation with Kalidasa.
In due course Kalidasa also enquired the Sooth

Sayer where from he hailed. The Sooth Sayer replied Tara. Kalidasa with genuine interest in the welfare of King Bhoj enquired him for the news of Tara and whether the King Bhoj was keeping sound health. The Sooth Sayer replied, Oh, what a calamity, Bhoj King is dead as he was

unable to bear the separation from his best friend and poet Kalidasa. Kalidasa was shattered to hear the sad news about his friend and with great grief sang the charama sloka in praise of the departed soul!!
‘ATHYA TARA NIRATARA NIRALAMBA SARASWATHI;
PANDITHAHA KANDITHA SARVE

BHOJRAJA DIVAM GATHE ”
(meaning :- The Kingdom of Tara is now deserted due to the demise of Bhoj Raj. The learned poets would get punished anywhere now as Goddess Saraswathi has lost the grip and interest.)
The moment Kalidasa sang the charama sloka, the King in thedisguise of

the Sooth Sayer fell down on the ground and died. Kalidasa was quick to realise that it was none other than his best friend and the King himself who acted as the Sooth Sayer to hear the charama sloka from him. Kalidasa prayed to Kali Devi to spare his friend by singing the same

sloka to give the opposite meaning. Kali Devi was moved by Kalidasa’s poetry and gave a new lease of life to the King but restricted it to a time of 3.75 Nazhi (90 minutes). Kalidasa embraced the King and told about the short life at his disposal. King Bhoj urged to compose

Kalidasa an epic and Bhoj also joined him to make it. The kavya is well-known as Bhola Champu. That is how the concise Ramayana containing the above verse came to be composed.

The moral is that we should employ even the few minutes of leisure we may be able to snatch in between

jobs in the thought of God or in reciting His naama.
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam🙏🏻

Portions of this post is taken from "Acharya's Call"- invaluable speeches given by His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji
October 25, 195