The Divine Life of Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa
Identity of Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa:
Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa was the grandson of sage Vasishtha, one of the seven ancient great sages. He was the son of sage Parashara, the author of Harivamsa Purana, and the father of Sri Sukadeva Goswami, the orator of Srimad Bhagavatam. He was born on a secluded island (dvipa) of Yamuna and given the name “Dvaipayana”. Due to his dark complexion, his full name was Krishna Dvaipayana. He had brown matted hair on his head, and a yellowish-brown long beard surrounding his face. His eyes were bright. He became a “Maharshi” (a great sage) after performing long austerities. Vadarikashrama was the place where he performed his sadhana. Therefore he had another name – “Vadarayana”.
Maharshi Vyasa is an incarnation of Bhagavan:
Srila Rupa Goswamipad depicts Sri Vyasadeva as the 21st lilavatara in his book in
Laghu Bhagavatmritam. He wrote: “Regarding Vyasa, Srimad Bhagavatam says:
“tataḥ saptadaśe jātaḥ
satyavatyāṁ parāśarāt
cakre veda-taroḥ śākhā
dṛṣṭvā puṁso ’lpa-medhasaḥ”
Translation: Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Śrī Vyāsadeva appeared in the womb of Satyavatī through Parāśara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in general were less intelligent.
Lord Sri Krishna says to Uddhava about Vyasa-
“yugānāṁ ca kṛtaṁ
dhīrāṇāṁ devalo ’sitaḥ
dvaipāyano ’smi vyāsānāṁ
kavīnāṁ kāvya ātmavān”
Translation: Among ages I am the Satya-yuga, the age of truth, and among steady sages, I am Devala and Asita. Among those who have divided the Vedas, I am Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa, and among learned scholars, I am Śukrācārya, the knower of spiritual science.
“Krishnadvaipayanam vyasam vidhi narayanam swayam.
Kohyanyah Pundarikakshan mahbharatakrd bhavet.
Sruyateh apantaratama dvaipayanyam agaditi.
King sayujyam gatah so’atra Vishnvamsa: so’api va bhavet.
Tasmadavesha evayamiti kechidvadanti ca.”
(Vishnu Purana 3/4/5)
(Mahabharata Shalya Episode 346/11)
Translation: Therefore, in the Vishnu Puranas, Dvaipayana has been represented as an exclusive incarnation of God. O Maitreya! Know Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa as Narayana Himself. Because there is no other than Pundarikaksha Narayana, who can compile Mahabharata!
He is also glorified in Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata —
“Srinaradarupa veena dhari kara gana
Vyasa rupe kara nija tattvera vyakhyana”
Translation: You hold Veena and sing Your glory in the form of Narada. You explain Your ontological position in the form of Vyasa.
Appearance of Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa:
The Mahabharata gives an account of Vyasa’s birth. Satyavati was the daughter of King Uparicara Vasu and Adrika. Her body emitted the odor of fish. Therefore she was given the name “Matsyagandha”. Satyavati was reared up at the house of Dasaraj who lived at the bank of the Ganges. Satyavati was engaged in ferry service as per the instructions of her foster father. She used to provide the service alone. She was very beautiful. Once, sage Parashara set out on a pilgrimage and came across her. Being attracted to her beauty, he wished to mate with her. Satyavati informed him about her distress. Parashara assured and said, the fishy smell of your body will be the lotus smell as a result my boon. And so it was. For this reason, her other name was Padmagandha (the lady with the aroma of lotus). After that, unmarried Satyavati mated with Rishi Parashara. Immediately after their mating, Vedvyasa was born on an island of the river Yamuna. That is why his name is Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyas.
Sri Krishna Dvaipayaan Vedavyas authored scriptures:
He divided the Vedas into four parts and assigned the responsibility of preserving and propagating each Veda to his four disciples. He is known as Vedavyas for this reason. Later, he composed Vedanta Darshan, a summary of the Vedas, which is a composition of 555 Sutras (aphorisms). He is also the author of the world’s largest and greatest epic Mahabharata, eighteen Mahapuranas and eighteen Upapuranas, etc. Vyasadev built much of the structure of Sanatan Hinduism in the Kali Yuga. Shaiva-Shakta-Vaishnava-dualists – non-dualists, all sects of Sanatan Hinduism are related – in one way or another- to Vyasa’s knowledge, devotion, and penance. That is why he is the universal guru of Sanatan Hindu society. Maharshi Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavya, the author of Srimad Bhagavatam.
The Displeasure of Srivyasadeva’s heart:
Srila Vyasadeva divided the Vedas into four parts. Then he composed the Brahma-sutras, (which contain the essence of all the Vedas and Upanishads) so that everyone could easily understand them. He also composed the Eighteen Puranas, but even by doing so much he could not find happiness in his heart. So he was sitting alone in Badrikashram with this kind of unhappy mind thinking about all of these things. In the meantime, his Gurudeva (spiritual master) Srila Devarshi Narada appeared. He offered Puja to Sri Narada and made him sit. After that, he asked for the reason behind his displeasure.
Reasons for Sri Vyasa Deva’s unhappiness:
Srinarada said to him – “You have especially described the greatness of karmakanda (portion of Vedas narrating fruitive actions) and jnanakanda (a portion of Vedas narrating knowledge) in all the scriptures. You have not chanted the glory of Lord Vasudeva such extensively. That is why your mind is not happy.”
Srila Vyasadeva replied, “What you have said about me is correct. Even after all of this I am not calm. Because I have not satisfied the paramahamsa Vaishnavas by singing the glories of Bhagavata Dharma or Hari Katha Kirtan.
Narada then said, “You have written the Vedas and divided them. You wrote the Brahmasutras, and the Puranas also. You have composed even the Mahabharata and the Gita. But, you have described only dharma (religion), artha (economic development), kama (sense gratification) and moksha (liberation).
Advice given by Devarshi Narada for composing Srimad Bhagavatam:
Devarshi Narada told him how Lord Krishna showered His mercy on him in his previous birth. Even though he was the son of a maidservant, he attained the companionship of Krishna. This resulted from ultimate surrender to God as per the instruction of great sages and chanting His glories with great devotion. He concluded his narration and requested Maharishi Vedavyas to compose Srimad Bhagavatam, a scripture that proclaims the auspicious majesty and glories of Lord Sri Hari. This would make his (Vyasadeva’s) heart happy.
Sri Vyasa Deva’s Bhakti Samahita Chitte Bhagavata Darshan and Srimad Bhagavatam Compilation:
After advising Vyasa, Narada left the place. Then Vyasa fixed his mind on Sri Bhagavan with complete surrender and devotion at his ashrama in Shamyaprasa. In a trance, he witnessed Bhagavan along with His integral energy. He realized that Maya controls jivas and suffers due to anarthas. The suffering can be ended through the practice of Bhakti yoga. Then he took pity on the ignorant people and authored Srimad Bhagavatam for their upliftment. By listening to Srimad Bhagavatam, one can attain unalloyed Bhakti, the destroyer of grief, illusion, and fear.
Finding a suitable learner of Srimad Bhagavatam:
Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa was searching for a suitable disciple to teach this spotless Purana Srimad Bhagavatam. Then out of mercy to him, Bhagavan sent Sri Shukadeva Goswami as his son.
Kirtan of Srimad Bhagavatam by Devadideva Mahadeva Shivashankar:
Once, Mahadev was chanting Srimad Bhagavatam to Goddess Parvati. They were sitting in a secluded place which was enclosed with hymns. In the beginning, Mahadev gave Parvati a condition that during the Bhagavata discourse, Parvati Devi would have to nod with a sound “huh”.
Shuka (parrot) overhears the Bhagavata:
Bhagavata discourse started as usual. After a while, Parvati Devi fell asleep. A parrot was sitting on the tree under which Mahadeva was speaking Bhagavatam. The parrot saw that Parvati Devi had slept. He became worried thinking that the Bhagavatam discourse would stop. Then instead of Parvati Devi, the bird kept saying “huh”.
Goddess Parvati fell asleep and Mahadeva became Angry:
Whilst Parvati slept, Mahadeva was absorbed in telling Bhagavatam. After He had finished, he opened his eyes and saw Goddess Parvati sleeping. Then a question arose in Mahadev’s mind – who nodded ‘Huh’? Looking around he saw the bird on the tree branch. He realized that the bird was nodding ‘Huh’ instead of Parvati Devi. Mahadeva became very angry because he thought a simple bird had overheard the confidential Bhagavatam. He took his Trishula and chased the bird. In fear of death, the bird found no way to escape. He simply fled away. Mahadev also ran after him.
Entry of the bird into the mouth of Vyasa’s wife:
The bird, finding no way to save her life, entered into the mouth of Vyasa’s wife. Immediately Mahadeva also appeared there. He saw the bird entering into the mouth of Vyasadev’s wife. He cursed the bird that he should stay there for twelve years where he had entered. When Vyasadeva saw Mahadeva angry, Srila Vyasadeva offered his obeisances to him. Then he asked Mahadeva the reason for his anger. Mahadeva told him everything. Vyasadeva said for Mahadeva’s satisfaction – “O Devadideva, the bird, who has heard Bhagavatam from your mouth, is certainly very fortunate and worthy of your blessings”.
Appearance of Sri Shukadeva Goswami:
Mahadeva, one of whose name is Ashutosha, was pleased and blessed the bird – “May the Bhagavatam that the bird heard from me remain intact in his heart”. After that, he left. Due to the curse of Mahadeva, the bird stayed in the womb of Vyasadeva’s wife for sixteen years. As a result of hearing the powerful discourse of Bhagavata, that bird transformed into Mahabhagavata Shukadeva Goswami. Even while he was in his mother’s womb, he used to listen to Bhagavatam from his father Vyasadeva. When sixteen years had already passed, Shukadeva Goswami expressed his reluctance to enter this illusory material world. In this situation, Vyasadeva said to him, “Son, you must be born or you will commit the sin of killing your mother”. Shukadeva Goswami did not reply. Then Vyasadeva went to Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna assured Sukadeva Goswami, “My energy Maya will never be able to touch you.” When Sukadeva Goswami received the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna, he said – “Though I would take birth in this world, I will go to the forest without being stuck in material bondage.”
Study of Bhagavatam by Sri Shukadeva Goswami:
Sukadeva Goswami was born in this world as a 16-year-old young boy. e did not put on any clothes and went straight to the forest without looking at the mundane world. Vyasadeva ran after him and cried, “Oh my son! Oh, my son!”
yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ
dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva
putreti tan-mayatayā taravo ’bhinedus
taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato ’smi
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 1.2.2)
Translation: Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, “O my son!” Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father. Being unable to catch his son, Father Vyasadeva taught two verses of Bhagavatam to the woodcutters of the forest. When Shukdeva Goswami heard it, he returned. Then he studied Bhagavatam again under the guidance of his father Vyasadeva.
