Bhagavan describes the importance of knowledge (Jnan), devotion (Bhakti) and non-attachment to worldly pleasures (Vairagya).
Bhagavan describes the importance of knowledge (Jnan), devotion (Bhakti) and non-attachment to worldly pleasures (Vairagya).
Quality of Gyan.
Sri Narayan muni said:-
A human being’s body is full of passion and diseases, but the spirit (Atma) is different and is passionless, static and has no worries, tensions and all such physical or mental troubles. 1.
This Atma is indivisible, ever-lasting, eternal, indestructible and enlightens the bodily organs. 2.
This Atma is free from fire, wind. It can’t be burnt by fire, it can’t be swallowed by wind; it is aloof, pure and stable. 3.
All the characteristics that the Atma (spirit) possesses do not belong to body and what the body possesses is not possessed by the Atma. 4.
A man thus knowing all these potentialities of the Atma should be understood as the everlasting, having the form of ‘Satchitanand’, and possessing oneness with Brahman. 5.
This integrity of the soul and its strength is described as knowledge divine. I’ll narrate its special features which are accepted by Sadhus. 6.
Quality of Vairagya.
We must understand the real nature of this beautiful body which we think is ‘beautiful’. Our body and the bodies of others is made up of various cells, dirt and feces. 7.
It is composed of skin, flesh, blood, nerves, bones and muscles. What is auspicious or good in this body which consists of urine and feces and is prone to disease and old age ? 8.
Even if one has the name of a king, he gets decomposed to urine and feces to be devoured by insects and worms after his death. 9.
According to the deeds - either good or bad, a man travels either upwards or downwards in the spiritual path that determines his rebirth. 10.
He has to bear severe torturous pain in hell if he commit sins; he goes to the birth of birds or beasts or insects after death. 11.
If he commits good deeds, he gets place in the world as a king, in the underworld (Patala) or heaven in the upper world. 12.
All these pleasures are not permanent, but perishable. Lust, greed, fear and emulousness are all perishable. 13.
During one day of Brahma, fourteen Indras meet their end. Even the Brahma, who pervades the entire universe, has to die one day. 14.
Whosoever are born from Prakrti and Purusa, either stable or unstable, either movable or immovable, will fall prey to the time. 15.
Knowing all this unhappiness, sadness and short-lived pleasures stemming from perishable things, one should keep away from bodily pleasures, forgo his wishes and wills and developed lack of affinity to one’s own body. Such person is known as a Vairagi, the detached. 16.
Quality of Bhakti.
Now I’ll narrate the nature of Bhakti (devotion). In the incarnation of Lord Krishna, Narayan or Vishnu preached to his people the importance of the knowledge that one who serves the others with love, affection and mercy is known to be a true devotee. 17.
Svetadweep (white island), Brahmapur, Golok and Vaikuntha are to be understood as places where the God’s divine power is manifested and they are to be considered divine Parshadas. 18.
He who came down to the earth out of His own volition and preached the importance of knowledge is to be known as Hari. Understanding the Supreme in this form is as the very essence of knowledge. 19.
Knowing this and serving the Lord in the path of nine-fold devotion is the gist of Bhakti. 20.
Devotion along with knowledge (Jnana) and non-attachment to worldly pleasures (Vairagya) should be performed and those who perform this will be known as great, excellent devotees (Ekantikas). 21.
Saints like these are known as great, pious teachers (Sadgurus) in this world and a mere vision of them destroys all the sins. 22.
Only by seeking shelter under them can one be influenced by their deeds and become true devotees following the path of religion. 23.
So such great souls, saints, teachers should be worshipped and served by the Mumukshus. 24.
Now the characteristics of integrated religion are being narrated. (Ekantika dharma)
Religion is twofold - one that follows the path of worldly life and the other that takes the path of contemplative spiritual life (the first is Pravruti and the other is Nivruti). Both these become one, united due connecting with Vishnu. 25.
The second one was attained by Sanakadiks and others while the first one was attained by Mareech and others. 26.
Mukti (emancipation) attained by integrated religion is considered as extreme not only by following Nivratta dharma by others. 27.
Quality of Ekantik Dharma.
Nature of this religion as told by saints is now evident to you. It is difficult to understand these instructions without being near to Hari. 28.
Full of noble qualities in the inside and on the outside, those who follow these instructions become one with Lord Vishnu and attain Him. 29.
So men should follow either the first or the second path; they should perform non-violent deeds related to knowledge and non- attachment to worldly pleasures. 30.
So those who are the followers of integrated religion attain the Nishreyas - uncredited goal. They are called followers of integrated religion (Ekantika). 31.
This integrated religion is related to deep attachment to the Lord in devotion. It becomes easily attainable. 32.
Those who follow this integrated religion especially on this earth attain God and those who do not, slowly lose it. 33.
This integrated religion can be attained due to contacts with real saintly devotees of Bhagavan, and not by any other thing. 34.
This integrated religion is not related to different eras-Yugas; Wherever the Yuga one lives in, it will be considered as Treta yuga and not Dwapara or Kali. 35.
By following this religion, the householders (follower of the path of worldly life) can perform sacrifice (yajna) without violence according to rituals. 36.
The followers (renouncers) of this integrated religion can perform Brahmayajna (studying and teaching scriptures related to Bhagavan, remembering and visualizing Bhagavan), Tapoyajna (punishing the body, Indriyas and Antahkarans) and Yogayajna (practicing eight fold yoga ( Ashtangyog) according to rituals. 37.
They can perform these Yajnas with deep faith and devotion in Lord Krishna, they should not worship differently. 38.
Thus, these Ekantika Vaisnavas who give up worldly pleasures get divine bodies after death and go to Goloka in the end. 39.
This is the gift of Ekantika (integrated) religion, which I told you in general. In the past, the great sages had performed deep penance to attain this knowledge. 40.
So the Mumuksus who wish to attain blessing, weal (Sreya) and Mukti, should follow the path of this integrated religion and get emancipated from worldly life. 41.
In the past, those who attained emancipation got it only by following this path and not any other. 42.
‘O sage, you should follow this religion that I told you; my disciples should also follow this, you are capable. 43.
This nectar of religion, if taken by the devotees, will free them from the fear of Kala-sarap and worldly attachments. 44.
This, extra ordinary, rare, remarkable, sacred meaning should be understood as it will destroy all the worldly worries and tensions. Those who drink this nectar will be free from fears and reach the celestial abode of Vishnu. 45.
Suvrat said:-
‘O king, thus Sri Hari addressed all the pious, saintly people and everyone was pleased and decided to act accordingly. 46.
Thus ends the sixty-seventh chapter entitled ‘Narration of the importance of Knowledge, Devotion, Dispassion and chapracteristics’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 67
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -