The true essence of Bhakti is Jnana and Vairagya. Can sacred books or discourses on the Vedas by learned preceptors help one to gain Jnana and Vairagya? It is possible only when our hearts are stirred to melt with pure Bhakti through the stories of the devout who exemplify the qualities of Jnana and Vairagya, pointed out Sri M. V. Anantapadmanabhachariar in a discourse.
Just as ghee remains hidden in the curds and is obtained by melting the butter that is got by churning it, so also the Bhakti rasa comprising Jnana and Vairagya has to become a living experience in the Jivatma caught in the bondage of Samsara.
The story of Atmadeva related by Sanatkumaras to Narada reveals the glory of the recital of the Bhagavata Purana. Atmadeva, an honest and learned person, desires progeny but is not destined for it. He seeks a sadhu’s help and is given a divine fruit with the advice that his wife should eat it. But as fate would have it, the wife adopts her sister’s child and offers the fruit to a cow which gives birth to a boy with the ears of a cow and hence he is known as Gokarna. The sister’s son is named Dundukari.
Gokarna turns out to be virtuous while Dundukari is full of vices. In due course he even drives Atmadeva out of the house. Dundukari’s evil ways lead him to death. The tormented soul of Dundukari seeks Gokarna’s help to redeem him from this torment. Gokarna arranges for Bhagavata recital and the soul of Dundukari gains moksha. The story is also an allegory of the jivatma who has lost his moorings and is led to the right path.
