Devotee:
Salutations, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Salutations. Yes, tell me.
Devotee:
Gurudev, what is the connection between Parashara Muni and the Mahabharata?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Ah, Parashara Muni. He was a very powerful man. There is even a Parashara gotra (lineage); those within it are said to belong to the Parashara lineage. He was extremely powerful. Rishi Vasistha was his grandfather, and Shakti Muni was his father. His mother's name was Adyashanti.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, his father was killed, and later, Vyasadeva was born. Vyasadeva's mother was Satyavati. There is a beautiful story here. Satyavati used to smell like fish; we call her a "fish-girl" or Matsyakanya. She used to ferry people across the river. One morning, she brought her boat to the ghat and saw a sage sitting there. The sage had his eyes closed and didn't say anything. Eventually, he opened his eyes, looked at her, and asked, "Have you come to ferry people?" She replied, "Yes, I am Satyavati, the daughter of a fisherman, and I ferry people across." He asked, "Will you take me to the other side?" She said, "It is early morning; if you pay me my due, I will take you across."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The sage—Parashara Muni—said, "I have no money to give you, but I will give you something you will never forget in your life. I will give you a gem of a gift." Satyavati, being young, was intrigued and thought, "He is a sage; who knows what he might give?" Out of curiosity, she agreed. "Fine, sit in the boat; I will take you across. But remember what you promised." He replied, "Yes, I will give you something beyond your imagination."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
They reached the middle of the river. Using his mystical powers—call it magic or a mantra—he created a thick shroud of fog all around so that no one could see them. It was a dense mist. And there, he forced himself upon Satyavati.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Afterward, he said, "I have given you what I had to. The fishy smell on your body will vanish, and from this union, you will have a son. Name him Vyasadeva." This is the legend.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Parashara Muni is also credited with writing the Vishnu Purana. He came from a great lineage—his grandfather was Vasistha. It is said that while Vyasadeva was still in the womb, he heard Vasistha Muni reciting the Vedas and learned them right then. He studied the Vedas from within the womb. Later, he became a master of the Vedas and could recite all the hymns by heart, thanks to the grace of his grandfather, Vasistha.
Devotee:
Parashara was indeed a powerful figure. He has a significant role in the Mahabharata.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes. Later, Satyavati married King Shantanu, but the lineage faced a crisis.
Devotee:
I believe Vichitravirya was born, but after his three marriages, he died without an heir.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. That is when Satyavati called upon Vyasadeva, saying, "Come and expand your lineage, otherwise, this dynasty will end." Vyasadeva agreed. When he approached the first queen, she was so terrified by his appearance that she shut her eyes. As a result, her son, Dhritarashtra, was born blind.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
When he was called for the second queen, she was also frightened. Instead of going herself, she sent her maidservant. From that union, Vidura was born—often called the "son of a maidservant." Finally, when he went to the third queen, Pandu was born, but he was born pale or jaundiced because of her fear. This is how Vyasadeva is central to the characters of the Mahabharata.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is another story involving Gandhari. When she was pregnant, she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasadeva took that lump, divided it into 100 pieces, and placed them in 100 earthen pots. From those pots, the 100 sons of Gandhari—the Kauravas—were born.
Devotee:
So, Vyasadeva is a massive figure in Indian history.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Indeed. Vyasa and Kalidasa are the two greatest poets of India; they are often compared. Before the Kurukshetra war, Vyasadeva even warned the Kauravas, telling them, "Do not engage in this war; it will lead to total destruction." But they didn't listen, and the destruction happened just as he wrote.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
What is fascinating is the significance of the names he suggested—Dhritarashtra, Shakuni, Duryodhana—each name perfectly matched the character's nature. This is why he is called "Vyasakuta." It is said that only Lord Ganesha could understand and write down the complexities of Vyasa's compositions. During the creation of his works, Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Brahma all supported him.
Devotee:
Gurudev, the weather is becoming unbearable. It would be good if it rained. Can you do something about the rain?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The rain just isn't coming. Around here, there is no sign of it. A few drops fall and then it stops. The clouds gather, the sky turns black, and then suddenly it clears up and turns blue again. Every day the news says there will be heavy rain, but it doesn't happen.
Devotee:
There is news of a cyclone called "Mocha." Will it affect us?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Mocha will likely hit Digha. Whatever happens, it will be in the Digha region. They have issued alerts there.
Devotee 2:
They say it might hit Bangladesh as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, "Mocha" for Bangladesh and "Mocha" for Digha. They've alerted West Midnapore and Kharagpur. We might have to resort to traditional rituals—pouring water on Lord Shiva's head while chanting mantras often brings rain. If water is offered at the Kalighat temple or to Nakuleshwar Baba, rain usually follows.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The weather is strange. It is raining in some places, and it has become quite cold there, but the extreme heat we had is mostly gone now.
Devotee:
Gurudev, are you seeing people/disciples now?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People are coming; I saw about 15 to 20 people today. I am not announcing anything on YouTube because that creates a massive crowd. I can manage 10, 15, or 20 people, but I cannot handle a huge gathering right now. My health is not great.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I've stopped seeing large groups because I know what is written in the Bhavishya Malika (Book of Prophecies). We are entering a period of great destruction. From 2023 to 2030, there will be massive upheaval. God will not let us work peacefully; He will keep us confined. If we try to do too much, danger is inevitable. Narayan, in the form of Kalki, will bring an end to things; we won't be able to "fix" it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I have strictly followed the words of the Bhavishya Malika. Every prediction they made is coming true. Some of those books are available here if anyone wants to read them. My health is being affected for a reason—God is preparing us for the coming "Maha-Pralaya" (Great Dissolution).
Devotee:
Understood. Stay well, everyone. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam.