॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 27 January 2023 VII.14 - Yudhishthira learns about the ideal life of a householder from Sage Narada.
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Vyasa Muni realises that he has given an extra dose of Vairagya as the sine-qua-non for spiritual life so far. So he makes King Yudhishthira ask,
यायाद्देवऋषे ब्रूहि मादृशो गृहमूढधी:
T: Dear Sage, what about dull-witted householders like me? How do we live the ideal life?
Sage Narada assures Yudhishthira that a householder can modify his lifestyle to become spiritual. It is based on three factors:
- A Grihastha should externally be very active in earning his livelihood, must be very conscientious and must not be obsessed with accumulating money and material comforts.
- His dealings with family or friends should be performed simply to fulfil his Dharma. He should be highly vigilant to avoid Adharma on account of weakness for his wife or family.
- A Grihastha is the prime-mover of all life around. Pursuing economic prosperity for everyone's good, he should also take care of all animals and creatures out of natural concern.
- A Grihastha should worship the Lord through all his actions. Serving holy men and discharging his Dharmic responsibilities is essential.
एषु स्नानं जपो होमो व्रतं देवद्विजार्चनम् । पितृदेवनृभूतेभ्यो यद्दत्तं तद्ध्यनश्वरम् ॥
T: All round the year, there are rituals and ceremonies to be done. Performing them, bathing in holy rivers, performing religious worship and chants, conducting Yajnas, observing ritualistic austerities and fasts, worshipping Bhagavan, propitiating Brahmins, one's forefathers, and gods and all living entities all around will confer lasting merit and felicity in a householder's life.
दृष्ट्वा तेषां मिथो नृणामवज्ञानात्मतां नृप । त्रेतादिषु हरेरर्चा क्रियायै कविभि: कृता ॥
ततोऽर्चायां हरिं केचित् संश्रद्धाय सपर्यया । उपासत उपास्तापि नार्थदा पुरुषद्विषाम् ॥
T: When the sages saw that people were beginning to show disrespect towards one another, upsetting the social harmony, they decided and erected great temples in holy places for worship. Hence, worshipping Bhagavan Sri Hari in these temples with true devotion is the duty of all householders from all walks of life and it fosters social bonding.
If anyone does not respect or show regard to other human beings, such a person is a misanthrope. His worship in temples will be a total waste.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
