MAHATMYAM OF CHAPTER 3

Jada was born in a brahmin family but his actions arid attitudes were all contrary to the family traits. He engaged himself in unfair business and trading, cheated people and the government and amassed huge wealth. Soon he was surrounded by wine and women. When he was thus living in the vicious world of wine, women and wealth, one night he was robbed completely. Jada thus became a pauper overnight.
Unable to continue his life of abundance and luxury, Jada started a life of petty thefts. Ere long he was nabbed red-handed and was beaten up by the public. When he was thus insulted, he could not stay any longer in the town, and so he started off to another far-off place with the little cash that was left with him. By sunset he came upon a forest and decided to rest under a tree that night. As he lay down to rest his tired limbs, a gang of robbers pounced on him. When he resisted, he was killed by them and whatever little possession he had was taken away by them.

The soul of Jada wandered about like a ghost in that forest. Next day, a group of traders travelling that way saw the dead body of Jada. They hastened to the town and informed the relatives of Jada's death. Jada had a son named Chaitanya who was away all those years for study in a Gurukula. He had retumed just that very day after his formal education, when his father had left.
A small meeting of relatives and pundits was convened to discuss about the rites to be performed for Jada. For the salvation of the departed soul, they decided that Chaitanya should perform the following: a dip in the sacred Ganga, worship of the Lord of Kasi, Kasi Viswanath, and final rites at Gaya.
After a few days, Chaitanya set off on the pilgrimage to Kasi and Gaya with four other persons. On their way, they reached the forest where Jada was killed. Through sheer coincidence they chose the very same tree where Jada was killed, to spend their night. After their dinner, when the companions lay down to sleep, Chaitanya, as was his routine before going to sleep, took out his Geeta book and started chanting the third chapter. As he finished reading the chapter, there was thunderous bang which broke the silence of the forest.
Startled by the loud noise, all five of them rose on their feet, and saw a dazzling brilliance in front of them. There was a celestial vehicle standing in front of them, and getting into it was Jada, clad in yellow silks and adorning a flower garland. Chaitanya could not believe his eyes.

Jada said: "Dear son, you need not go to Kasi and Gaya now. The purpose of your pilgrimage has already been fulfilled."

Chaitanya was bewildered.

"How?" blurted the exasperated boy. "I don't understand anything!"

"I will tell you everything", said the father, now seated in the vehicle.

After my tragic death at the hands of the robbers, I was roaming about in this forest as a ghost. But today, by merely listening to your chanting of the Geeta, I have been released from the state of ghost-hood. The loud bang that you heard was the cracking up of the hard shell of my bondage. The very next moment, I found myself in this divine form. I believe that it is all due to the glory of the third chapter of the Geeta."
Chaitanya was overwhelmed with joy "I am happy beyond measure to see you in this condition."
"Yes, my son", said the enlightened father. "A few of our ancestors and one of my brothers are still undergoing punishment in Hell. You should relieve them also from their suffering. It is not possible for you to go to Hell and recite the Geeta there. So, you must go to the Krishna Temple in our town and do the Geeta chanting there for seven days. Everyday after the chanting is over, you have to mentally dedicate the fruits of your labour to the Lord, praying that these may be passed on to the ancestors. With the merits of your chanting accumulated over a period of seven days, our ancestors will be able to come out of their bondage. Will you please do it for me?"

"Certainly", said Chaitanya.

"By this your meritorious deed, not only our ancestors, but our entire clan will also be benefited immensely. May all auspiciousness attend on you!". So saying, Jada blessed his son. The celestial vehicle rose up in air and soared into the higher worlds.
Chaitanya and his companions returned to the village. He performed the chanting of the third chapter of Geeta for seven days and dedicated the fruits of his chanting to the Lord and through Him, the ancestors were released from their sufferings.

"I shall tell the glory of the fourth chapter also, to which you may please listen. Even by merely listening to it, you shall attain great happiness."