॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday, 23 November 2022 IV.29 Part 2 - Sage Narada answers Prachinabarhi's questions about Karma and its effect beyond this bodily existence.
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The definition of a materialist is one who accepts as truth only what can be experienced in this material world through the five senses and comprehended by the mind. What you see is what you get, he says. A person like Prachinabarhi, who is engaged in so many Yajnas, is indeed only one step ahead, as he thinks the gods are there to be propitiated only to reward us in this material existence. So, naturally, he has a doubt about the Jiva suffering the fruits of Karma in the hereafter. Sage Narada explains to him what is the actual secret of Karma.
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Like someone surprised by questions in a competitive exam exclaims, "This was never covered in our syllabus!", Prachinabarhi now said,
"Dear Sage, I have heard you with great attention. How come all my previous acharyas who guided me in my Yajna Karmas never said anything about this? Were they unaware of it? Perhaps even great sages may be bewildered by the profound truths you have explained about Bhakti, knowledge and renunciation. For one who knows the real purpose of life, of course, there is no question of sense-gratification."
"Now, sir, I have a doubt."
इति वेदविदां वाद: श्रूयते तत्र तत्र ह । कर्म यत्क्रियते प्रोक्तं परोक्षं न प्रकाशते ॥
T: "I have heard sometimes from the Vedic scholars that Karma performed in this material world, here, is not seen to be effective beyond this existence. Is that not true?"
Sage Narada replied.
"Oh, King, there is a subtle body in man, called Linga Sharira. It is the composite of mind, intelligence, memory and ego. That is what makes the physical body of the Jiva function the way it does! After the gross body is lost, the subtle body is still there to enjoy or suffer. Thus there is no lack of scope for experiencing the fruits of Karma!"
"Just as one acquires, while dreaming, a subtle body to experience the activities and events of the dream, after death, whether one is born as an animal or human or whatever, one continues to possess that same subtle body carrying over all the propensities and effects of Karma of this birth."
"It is only the grace of the Lord that all the accumulated tendencies and desires are carried over to be experienced again in another body after death, through the medium of transmigration being the subtle body. In other words, the evolution of the soul does not end with this birth!"
"Just as we can know a person by his sensory activities, both of perception and action, we can infer his pass-through subtle body by his behaviour at the present time, too."
मन एव मनुष्यस्य पूर्वरूपाणि शंसति । भविष्यतश्च भद्रं ते तथैव न भविष्यत: ॥
T: "I wish you well, oh, King. Let me emphasise that the composite mind alone indicates what has been a man's history from past births. That will also indicate what will be his future kind of birth and body and life context!"
"If one dreams about some fantastic events or situations, know that it is all coming from the impressions stored from the past in the subtle body!"
सत्त्वैकनिष्ठे मनसि भगवत्पार्श्ववर्तिनि । तमश्चन्द्रमसीवेदमुपरज्यावभासते ॥
T: "In the case of a devotee who has established his close relationship with Bhagavan, the devotee can perceive the truth of existence in all its manifestations beyond time. This is the same as our ability to sense, through subtle perception, the presence of Rahu lurking around even during the full moon." (Lunar eclipse is caused by Rahu covering the moon during full moon.)
This is Sage Narada's way of hinting that higher knowledge can come only through Bhakti.
"As long as there exists the subtle body composed of intelligence, mind, senses, sense objects, with all materialist propensities, both the gross body and the ignorance of higher reality will continue."
सुप्तिमूर्च्छोपतापेषु प्राणायनविघातत: । नेहतेऽहमिति ज्ञानं मृत्युप्रज्वारयोरपि ॥
T: "For the subtle body, a disconnect can occur at best only momentarily, through the non-awareness of this material/physical body and the world around. It can occur during deep, dreamless, sleep, or coma, or when the breath stops, in the moment of death, or owing to a condition of severe delirium caused by disease."
"There is no awareness even for the foetus in the womb of the gross body just as the moon is invisible during the new moon."
"Just as in dreams, sensory experiences are based on stored impressions, the subtle body carries through its memories even when contact with outside sense objects ceases. So bodily awareness is not necessary for the carryover of impressions."
एवं पञ्चविधं लिङ्गं त्रिवृत् षोडश विस्तृतम् । एष चेतनया युक्तो जीव इत्यभिधीयते ॥
T: "Thus we arrive at the final definition of who the Jiva is. He is made up of the acquired tendencies in the mind, as well as connected with the five senses of perception, five organs of action, and this material world of five elements- in total, sixteen constituents. These are then driven by the forces of the three Gunas!"
"Through the phenomenon of the subtle body, the Jiva develops and gives up gross bodies. This is known as the transmigration of the soul. Thus the soul becomes subject to different types of so-called enjoyment, lamentation, fear, happiness and unhappiness, birth after birth. It is a bit like a caterpillar that moves from one leaf to another!"
अतस्तदपवादार्थं भज सर्वात्मना हरिम् । पश्यंस्तदात्मकं विश्वं स्थित्युत्पत्त्यप्यया यत: ॥
T: "In conclusion, dear King Prachinabarhi, let me say that the only means of escape for you, the Jiva, is to pray to Bhagavan Sri Hari with your entire being. This creation emanates, is then sustained, and finally dissolved by Bhagavan, and you can realise this truth."
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Sage Maitreya says that Devarshi Narada thus concluded his life-transforming instruction to Prachinabarhi and departed.
Prachinabarhi handed over the kingdom to his son, moved into the forest, and observing severe austerities and worshipping Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, attained liberation.
Sage Maitreya concludes this with a Phalashruti, the benediction for those who have listened to this story sure to grant self-ennoblement.
एतन्मुकुन्दयशसा भुवनं पुनानं देवर्षिवर्यमुखनि:सृतमात्मशौचम् ।
य: कीर्त्यमानमधिगच्छति पारमेष्ठ्यं नास्मिन् भवे भ्रमति मुक्तसमस्तबन्ध: ॥
T: " This legend narrated by the great sage Devarshi Narada is replete with the divine glories of Bhagavan. Hence, when recited, it sanctifies our lives. It purifies the Jiva and helps him attain his spiritual identity. The one who recounts the legend will be liberated from worldly bondage."
"The story of Puranjana, heard by me from my Guru, is such that if one understands its import, one will understand that there is life after death, although the entire subject is beyond easy understanding."
"The instinct for self-preservation and an attachment to wife and children is seen in animals too. But what distinguishes man is his ability to rise above that state. Human birth is acquired after several birth-death cycles as a betterment of the Jiva. Making use of this opportunity, the man of realisation goes beyond both the gross and subtle bodies, and attains to Bhagavan."
"Bhakti to Bhagavan, going hand in hand with compassion for fellow beings, is the path to liberation. After all, all existence is only as real as a dream."
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
