9.1 In the Samvat year 1877, on Mãgshar sud 6 [11th December, 1820], Shreeji Mahãrãj was sitting in Surã Khãchar’s darbãr in Loyã. He was wearing a white dagli made of chhint, and a white survãl. He had also tied a white feto around His head. A sabhã of paramhans, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
9.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj requested, “May all the paramhans please engage in a question-answer discussion amongst themselves.”
9.3 Ãtmãnand Swãmi then asked Akhandãnand Swãmi, “What are the factors that lead to the development of vairãgya, gnãn, bhakti, and dharma?”
9.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj answered, “Vairãgya is developed when a person comes to understand the nature of Kãl. What is this nature of Kãl? Well, it is to know the process of nitya-pralay, nimit-pralay, prãkrut-pralay, and ãtyantik-pralay, as well as the lifespan of all beings from Brahmã to the smallest blade of grass. After knowing this, if a person understands the body, the brahmãnd, and all other objects to be subject to the force of Kãl, then vairãgya would arise.
9.5 “Gnãn arises if a person listens to the Upanishads, such as the Bruhadãranya Upanishad, Chhãndogya Upanishad, and Kathvalli Upanishad, the Bhagvad Geetã, the Vãsudev Mahãtmya, the Vyãs Sutras, and other shãstras from a sat-purush.
9.6 “Dharma arises if a person listens to the Yãgnavalkya Smruti, Manu Smruti, Parãshar Smruti, Shankh-Likhit Smruti, and other Smrutis. By doing so, dharma will arise, and a person will develop belief in those shãstras.
9.7 “Bhakti arises if a person understands the avatãrs of Bhagvãn. How should he understand them? Well, when he hears about the murti of Bhagvãn that are in each khand; and when he hears about the dhãms of Bhagvãn – Golok, Vaikunth, Brahmpur, Shvet-Dvip; and when he listens with a sense of admiration to the talks of the leelãs of Bhagvãn describing the creation, sustenance, and destruction of the universe; and when he listens with keen interest to the narration of the leelãs of Rãm, Krishna, and the other avatãrs of Bhagvãn, then bhakti towards Bhagvãn would develop.
9.8 “Now, even though a person in his initial stages has an immature mind, if he listens to the ceremonial Smrutis, dharma would develop. Later, after becoming firm in his observance of dharma, if he listens to shãstras that explain upãsanã, then all three (gnãn, bhakti, and vairãgya) would develop. These are the factors which lead to the development of the four qualities.”
End of Vachanãmrut Loyã || 9 || 117 ||