MAHATMYAM OF CHAPTER 4 - LIBERATION OF TREES

The Himalayas. The sacred river Bhageerathi hastens to the ns carrying the blessings of the king of mountains, the Himalayas. On the banks of the river, the temple of Lord Viswanath (Siva) hums with the throng of devotees. In a comparatively quiet corner of the temple, Bharata, a Swami of majestic countenance, is chanting the fourth chapter of the Geeta. His melodious chanting of the Geeta is famous throughout the land.
One day, the Swami came out of the temple after prayers, and .d to a nearby grove to take rest. Two 'Badari' trees were standing there in close proximity, with their roots showing up over ground. It was an ideal spot to rest and the Swami laid down with his head resting on the root of one tree and his legs on the root of the other tree. He was at ease with himself and in that sublime mood of self-contentment he started chanting the fourth chapter of the Geeta which he was very fond of, and so had committed it to memory. He chanted it over and over till he was soaked in its beauty and depth. After sometime he got up and went away to perform his routine work.
Within a week, the two Badari trees started shedding leaves. Within a few days thereafter the twigs and branches dried up and both the trees died. The sudden drying up of the two lush green trees became a topic of discussion amongst the local people, but no one could comprehend the reason for it.

Ten years rolled by.

The Swami, on his journey round the country, reached Kasi.
He stood in front of a house and called out "Narayana Hari" requesting for Bhiksha. Two girls came out of the house. As soon they saw the Swami, they prostrated to him and sought his blessings.

"May all auspiciousness attend on you!" blessed the Swami.

"Revered sir", said the girl, "It was due to your blessings that we could end our existence as trees and our sufferings from exposure to cold and snow, wind and sun and rain. We are now born in the best of human race here in Kasi, only on account of your grace."

"I don't know what story you are narrating. Anyway, I am now hungry and if you have any Bhiksha for me, please give it without delay", said the Swami.
"Please do come in and grace us by your presence" said the girls.

The Swami smiled and entered the house.

As he finished his food, he said: "Now tell me the story of the trees."

"Swamiji, perhaps you have forgotten the incident that happened years ago. Once it so happened that you recited the fourth chapter of the Geeta while resting in a grove of trees on the bank of river Bhageerathi, with your head resting on the root of one tree and legs on the root of another. We were those two trees. The hearing of the Geeta chanting by you marked the end of our existence as trees. Within a fortnight the two trees dried up. And thereafter we took birth here without losing the memories of our past births.

"How did you become trees?" asked the Swami.

"We shall tell that story also." said the girls.


"Long ago, on the banks of river Godavari, in a place called Chhinna-paapa (Chhinna-papa = Sins rent asunder), an ascetic named SatyaTapas used to practise austerities. When his austerities gradually grew to be severe, Indra, the king of gods, became perturbed, and he decided to shake him down from his exalted state of Tapas. So he summoned all the Apsaras (female angels) of his court and asked them to enchant the ascetic and pull him down from his state of tapas. But the Apsaras who knew the spiritual powers of the ascetic were reluctant to do the job. Indra's anger started blazing. Suddenly, we two came forward, and…"

"What? You both were..."

"Yes, we both were Apsaras. We agreed, and came down on the earth. We did our best to enchant the ascetic. We created a springtime around his Ashram and sang and danced voluptuously in front of him.

'Will you please stopcreating disturbance around my Ashram?,' said the ascetic very coolly. 'It is better that you leave this place immediately.'

'No we are not leaving. We shall stay here only', we said stubbornly.

'All right then stay on as trees, but not here. Go to the banks of Bhageerathi and stand there as trees, near the Viswanath temple,' said the ascetic.

We suddenly realised our plight. We fell at his feet and implored for mercy and sought liberation from his curse.

The kind-hearted ascetic said: 'After you stand there as trees for a long time, a pious Swami named Bharata will come and chant the Bhagawad Geeta, touching both of you. On hearing his chanting you will end your existence as trees and will be born as humans. During your existence as humans, you will happen to study the fourth chapter of Geeta and meet Bharata again, and tell him about your story. With that, you will be able to give up your life as human beings and attain your state of angelhood. Revered Sir, this is our story."

Bharata was pleasantly surprised at the story of the angels. He said: "O sweet children, may you study well the Bhagawad Geeta, which gurgled out from Lord Narayana Himself. May you attain your original state of angelhood."

I have thus narrated the glory of the fourth chapter too. Now listen, O Indira (Lakshmi), to the glories of other chapters