Saturday, July 15, 2023

Srimad Bhagavatam XI.11 - 15 July 2023


॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥

15 July 2023, Saturday - Srimad Bhagavatam XI.11- How to distinguish the liberated ones from the bound souls? Bhagavan makes many profound statements. I shall try to put it in simple words.

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श्रीभगवानुवाच
बद्धो मुक्त इति व्याख्या गुणतो मे न वस्तुतः ।गुणस्य मायामूलत्वान्न मे मोक्षो न बन्धनम् ॥ 
शोकमोहौ सुखं दुःखं देहापत्तिश्च मायया ।स्वप्नो यथाऽऽत्मनः ख्यातिः संसृतिर्न तु वास्तवी ॥ 
विद्याविद्ये मम तनू विद्ध्युद्धव शरीरिणाम् ।मोक्षबन्धकरी आद्ये मायया मे विनिर्मिते ॥ 
एकस्यैव ममांशस्य जीवस्यैव महामते ।बन्धोऽस्याविद्ययानादिर्विद्यया च तथेतरः ॥ 


T: Bhagavan explained:
The categorisation of who is bound and who is free depends on the effect of Gunas on the person, caused by my Maya. I as the Supreme Being, I am neither bound nor free (as Maya doesn't influence me). 

My Maya makes one feel grief, infatuation, joy and sorrow experienced in the body. A dreamer experiences in his own person feelings and effects in dreams but they are unreal. Both knowledge of the self and its ignorance in the embodied souls are within me, and it is my way of enabling through Maya opportunities for bondage and liberation. The Jiva is an inseparable part of me, whether feeling bound or free, my dear Uddhava!

अथ बद्धस्य मुक्तस्य वैलक्षण्यं वदामि ते ।विरुद्धधर्मिणोस्तात स्थितयोरेकधर्मिणि ॥ 
सुपर्णावेतौ सदृशौ सखायौ
यदृच्छयैतौ कृतनीडौ च वृक्षे ।एकस्तयोः खादति पिप्पलान्नमन्यो निरन्नोऽपि बलेन भूयान् ॥ 
आत्मानमन्यं च स वेद विद्वानपिप्पलादो न तु पिप्पलादः ।योऽविद्यया युक् स तु नित्यबद्धो
विद्यामयो यः स तु नित्यमुक्तः ॥ 
देहस्थोऽपि न देहस्थो विद्वान् स्वप्नाद्यथोत्थितः ।अदेहस्थोऽपि देहस्थः कुमतिः स्वप्नदृग्यथा ॥ 
इन्द्रियैरिन्द्रियार्थेषु गुणैरपि गुणेषु च ।गृह्यमाणेष्वहं कुर्यान्न विद्वान् यस्त्वविक्रियः ॥ 
दैवाधीने शरीरेऽस्मिन् गुणभाव्येन कर्मणा ।वर्तमानोऽबुधस्तत्र कर्तास्मीति निबध्यते ॥ 
एवं विरक्तः शयन आसनाटनमज्जने ।दर्शनस्पर्शनघ्राणभोजनश्रवणादिषु ॥ 
न तथा बध्यते विद्वान् तत्र तत्रादयन् गुणान् ।प्रकृतिस्थोऽप्यसंसक्तो यथा खं सवितानिलः ॥ 
वैशारद्येक्षयासङ्गशितया छिन्नसंशयः ।प्रतिबुद्ध इव स्वप्नान्नानात्वाद्विनिवर्तते ॥ 
यस्य स्युर्वीतसङ्कल्पाः प्राणेन्द्रियमनोधियाम् ।वृत्तयः स विनिर्मुक्तो देहस्थोऽपि हि तद्गुणैः ॥ 
यस्यात्मा हिंस्यते हिंस्रैर्येन किञ्चिद्यदृच्छया ।अर्च्यते वा क्वचित्तत्र न व्यतिक्रियते बुधः ॥ 
न स्तुवीत न निन्देत कुर्वतः साध्वसाधु वा ।वदतो गुणदोषाभ्यां वर्जितः समदृङ्मुनिः ॥ 
न कुर्यान्न वदेत्किञ्चिन्न ध्यायेत्साध्वसाधु वा ।आत्मारामोऽनया वृत्त्या विचरेज्जडवन्मुनिः ॥ 
शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातो न निष्णायात्परे यदि ।श्रमस्तस्य श्रमफलो ह्यधेनुमिव रक्षतः ॥ 
गां दुग्धदोहामसतीं च भार्यां
देहं पराधीनमसत्प्रजां च ।वित्तं त्वतीर्थीकृतमङ्ग वाचं हीनां मया रक्षति दुःखदुःखी ॥ 
यस्यां न मे पावनमङ्ग कर्म स्थित्युद्भवप्राणनिरोधमस्य ।लीलावतारेप्सितजन्म वा स्या-
द्वन्ध्यां गिरं तां बिभृयान्न धीरः ॥ 
एवं जिज्ञासयापोह्य नानात्वभ्रममात्मनि ।उपारमेत विरजं मनो मय्यर्प्य सर्वगे ॥ 


T: First of all. the Jiva and Ishwara are co-residents in the body, eternal friends, like two birds on a tree. The Jiva eats the fruits good and bad, but Ishwara is blissful, never eating the fruits. Ishwara is of the nature of Sat-Chit-Ananda = Perfect knowledge and bliss established in truth. The Jiva on the other hand is ignorant, intent on eating the fruits in the hope of some fulfilment. This is ignorance or Avidya, eternal, whereas Ishwara is in Vidya, also eternal. These two paradigms are thus eternal and distinguish the two. When a dreamer wakes up, he is no longer thinking of his condition as a dreamer. The liberated one is permanently woken up from his association with his body, and this earthly persona. 

The illumined man can see his bodily senses interacting with sense-objects maintaining a true sense of detachment and non-identification with these factors of Maya/Prakriti. On the other hand, by the force of his past Karmas, the bound man considers himself as the body or the experiencer of the sense inputs like pleasure and pain. 

Thus, answering your question, dear Uddhava, the liberated man walks, sleeps, sits, bathes, sees, touches, smells, eats and hears as a mere witness of his senses and his body! He is in the body but unaffected, just as the sky and wind and sun are unaffected by the bodies. The sun is reflected in the water but remains unaffected.  This witnessing is a powerful sword to cut down ignorance and doubt, creating the same effect like the act of waking up does for a dreamer. 

Remember, Prakriti, Prana and so on are working on the liberated man's body also and causing effects. It is just that his consciousness is unaffected and free. Thus he is no slave to his body or mind. He has no reaction when some people praise his body as beautiful or decry it as ugly. He doesn't yield to praise nor react to abuse. He goes about in Atma bliss, not thinking or speaking about the world's goings on.  He does appear as mad or a walking comatose person to ordinary eyes!

A man learned in Vedas but unconnected with the Absolute Truth experientially is like one tending a barren cow.  If one maintains a cow with no milk, or an unfaithful and useless family, or hoards idle wealth, how happy will he be!? Imagine a gifted artiste and a performer who does not worship Bhagavan through his art; what a waste indeed! Just know that talents, gifts, wealth, possessions, status, everything is insipid and utterly useless unless steeped in devotion to Bhagavan. All creation is a full manifestation of my glory and is worshippable as my Leelas! The alternative to activity is total withdrawal of the self from the body and mind and their world of manifoldness and development of absolute immersion in unitary Brahman bliss. 

यद्यनीशो धारयितुं मनो ब्रह्मणि निश्चलम् ।मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि निरपेक्षः समाचर ॥ 
श्रद्धालुर्मे कथाः श‍ृण्वन् सुभद्रा लोकपावनीः ।गायन्ननुस्मरन् कर्म जन्म चाभिनयन् मुहुः ॥ 
मदर्थे धर्मकामार्थानाचरन् मदपाश्रयः ।लभते निश्चलां भक्तिं मय्युद्धव सनातने ॥ 
सत्सङ्गलब्धया भक्त्या मयि मां य उपासिता ।स वै मे दर्शितं सद्भिरञ्जसा विन्दते पदम् ॥ 

T: So, dear Uddhava, if you cannot withdraw yourself from the world and be immersed in me as Brahman, you have the equally effective alternative of worshipping me through all actions as a detached doer expecting no personal gains. Listen to stories of my glories and Leelas that sanctify the world. Sing, chant, meditate on me with love, spending your days in work as worship. You will develop eternal and blissful Bhakti thus in me! Such Bhakti quickly brings you to me and liberates you. 

उद्धव उवाच
साधुस्तवोत्तमश्लोक मतः कीदृग्विधः प्रभो ।भक्तिस्त्वय्युपयुज्येत कीदृशी सद्भिरादृता ॥ 
एतन्मे पुरुषाध्यक्ष लोकाध्यक्ष जगत्प्रभो ।प्रणतायानुरक्ताय प्रपन्नाय च कथ्यताम् ॥ 
त्वं ब्रह्म परमं व्योम पुरुषः प्रकृतेः परः ।अवतीर्णोऽसि भगवन् स्वेच्छोपात्तपृथग्वपुः ॥ 

T: Uddhava asked: Dear Master! Kindly guide me. What kind of a saint do you approve of? What type of devotion is recommended by (such) saints?  You are the Master of the Universe, Lord, so kindly enlighten me!

श्रीभगवानुवाच
कृपालुरकृतद्रोहस्तितिक्षुः सर्वदेहिनाम् ।सत्यसारोऽनवद्यात्मा समः सर्वोपकारकः ॥ 
कामैरहतधीर्दान्तो मृदुः शुचिरकिञ्चनः ।अनीहो मितभुक्शान्तः स्थिरो मच्छरणो मुनिः ॥ 
अप्रमत्तो गभीरात्मा धृतिमाञ्जितषड्गुणः ।अमानी मानदः कल्पो मैत्रः कारुणिकः कविः ॥ 
आज्ञायैवं गुणान् दोषान् मयाऽऽदिष्टानपि स्वकान् ।धर्मान् सन्त्यज्य यः सर्वान् मां भजेत स सत्तमः ॥ 
ज्ञात्वाज्ञात्वाथ ये वै मां यावान् यश्चास्मि यादृशः ।भजन्त्यनन्यभावेन ते मे भक्ततमा मताः ॥ 

T: The Bhagavan replied: I accept that saint who is compassionate, who never betrays his people, who is accepting of all beings. He is essentially truthful, and defect-free within, and helps/serves all equally. He is invulnerable to temptations, self-controlled, tender-natured, clean, calm, non-covetous, eats little, peaceful, unflappable, and ever surrendered to me, the Lord. He is unagitated, deep and quiet, self-possessed and thus free from lust, greed, anger, ego, jealousy and infatuation. Not arrogant, he gives respect invariably and exudes compassion. He is truly learned. He knows the duties of man as prescribed in the Vedas, but has transcended them and has immersed himself in Bhagavan. Those who worship me with true devotion, wholeheartedly, whether learned  or not, are dearest to me!

मल्लिङ्गमद्भक्तजनदर्शनस्पर्शनार्चनम् ।परिचर्या स्तुतिः प्रह्वगुणकर्मानुकीर्तनम् ॥ 
मत्कथाश्रवणे श्रद्धा मदनुध्यानमुद्धव ।सर्वलाभोपहरणं दास्येनात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ 
मज्जन्मकर्मकथनं मम पर्वानुमोदनम् ।गीतताण्डववादित्रगोष्ठीभिर्मद्गृहोत्सवः ॥ 
यात्रा बलिविधानं च सर्ववार्षिकपर्वसु ।वैदिकी तान्त्रिकी दीक्षा मदीयव्रतधारणम् ॥ 
ममार्चास्थापने श्रद्धा स्वतः संहत्य चोद्यमः ।उद्यानोपवनाक्रीडपुरमन्दिरकर्मणि ॥ 
सम्मार्जनोपलेपाभ्यां सेकमण्डलवर्तनैः ।गृहशुश्रूषणं मह्यं दासवद्यदमायया ॥ 
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वं कृतस्यापरिकीर्तनम् ।अपि दीपावलोकं मे नोपयुञ्ज्यान्निवेदितम् ॥ 
यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चातिप्रियमात्मनः ।तत्तन्निवेदयेन्मह्यं तदानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥ 
सूर्योऽग्निर्ब्राह्मणो गावो वैष्णवः खं मरुज्जलम् ।भूरात्मा सर्वभूतानि भद्रपूजापदानि मे ॥ 
सूर्ये तु विद्यया त्रय्या हविषाग्नौ यजेत माम् ।आतिथ्येन तु विप्राग्र्ये गोष्वङ्ग यवसादिना ॥ 
वैष्णवे बन्धुसत्कृत्या हृदि खे ध्याननिष्ठया ।वायौ मुख्यधिया तोये द्रव्यैस्तोयपुरस्कृतैः ॥ 
स्थण्डिले मन्त्रहृदयैर्भोगैरात्मानमात्मनि ।क्षेत्रज्ञं सर्वभूतेषु समत्वेन यजेत माम् ॥ 
धिष्ण्येष्वेष्विति मद्रूपं शङ्खचक्रगदाम्बुजैः ।युक्तं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं ध्यायन्नर्चेत्समाहितः ॥ 
इष्टापूर्तेन मामेवं यो यजेत समाहितः ।लभते मयि सद्भक्तिं मत्स्मृतिः साधुसेवया ॥ 
प्रायेण भक्तियोगेन सत्सङ्गेन विनोद्धव ।नोपायो विद्यते सध्र्यङ् प्रायणं हि सतामहम् ॥ 
अथैतत्परमं गुह्यं श‍ृण्वतो यदुनन्दन ।सुगोप्यमपि वक्ष्यामि त्वं मे भृत्यः सुहृत्सखा ॥ 

T: Seeing, touching and worshipping my images/idols, and similarly my devotees, serving while extolling my Leelas, dedicatedly listening to my stories, constant meditation on me, dedicating all that one possesses and gets in any form entirely to me, acting as my devoted servant; singing of my Avataras, observing the holy days of worship, holding and attending temple celebrations for all, and participating in singing, chanting, and dancing in celebration; Taking out processions; Following injunctions of the Vedas and Tantras during worship, fasting and praying during Ekadashi, consecrating, decorating and maintaining temples and their environs, and sweeping and cleaning those premises with the attitude of service. 

All these deepen true Bhakti. It is also important not to advertise one's efforts but to develop egolessness. Things offered to the Lord should be pure and fresh and not leftover or used. The test is to offer what is most precious to oneself to the Lord. 

Bhagavan can be visualised and worshipped in the sun, fire, a holy man, cow, a Bhakta, sky, air, water, earth, as ones own's Atma, and the totality of living beings. The Sun is worshipped through Vedic mantras (Gayatri for example), the fire through Yajnas. a holy man as a guest receiving hospitality, feeding a cow, making a Bhakta one's friend, the sky by seeing it in one's heart (Dahara), air as Prana, water through libations (Tarpana). One can worship the Lord residing in one's body by doing all its actions in worship. Worshipping the Lord can be through seeing him as the spirit in all beings. 

The image of Bhagavan in these meditations is also given. मद्रूपं शङ्खचक्रगदाम्बुजैः ।युक्तं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं ध्यायन्नर्चेत्समाहितः "My form holding Shankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma exuding infinite peace, should be worshipped with total focus."

"There is no easier path to eternal bliss than the cultivation of holy company and true worship."

Next, Bhagavan speaks about holy company.

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