|| Shri Hari ||
Taking Refuge in Gita
(Gita ki Sharanagati)
continued .......
For a Jnanayogi, God has said that renounce everything, and in a disciplined manner, constantly remaining in a meditative state, until egoism, attachment (sense of mine-ness), desires, anger etc. are renounced, and become eligible to attain Brahma. However, in the aforesaid verse, pertaining to a devotee, it has been said, that doing all his prescribed duties
according to his “varna” (class) and stage in life, he can attain that eternal post by My grace; because he has taken refuge in Me alone - “madvyapaashrayah” . It means, that by taking refuge in the Lotus Feet of the Lord, one can very easily attain salvation. A devotee does not need to be responsible for his own salvation, rather the Lord’s grace makes him attain his salvation - “matprasaadaadvaapnoti shaashvatam padmavyayam.”
It is the devotee’s duty to take refuge in God, but perfection in his surrendering takes place due to God’s grace. It is the
devotee who has the intense longing to change his ego, but it is the Lord, who actually performs the work of changing the ego. Just as a child’s wishes are fulfilled by the mother, in the same way, a devotee’s wishes (intense longing) are fulfilled by God. It has come in Gita -
yo yo yaam yaam tanum bhaktah shradhayaarchitumicchati |
tasya tasyaachalaam shradhaam taameva vidhaamyaham || (Gita 7/21)
“Whichever gods the devotees want to
worship with faith and devotion, I strengthen their faith in those gods.” (Gita 7/21)
When God strengthens man’s faith in other gods, then why will he not strengthen the faith of His own devotees. Most certainly He will. Therefore it has been said -
Ram sadaa sewal ruchi raakhi |
Ved Puraan sadhu sur saakhi || (Manas., Ayodhyaa. 219/4)
All beings desire the shelter of something or the other, hoping that - May I meet someone who will accept me, who will come to my aid, who will protect me, who will take care and provide for me, who will take away my sorrow, who will drive away my fears, who will remove my troubles, who will give me enlightenment, who will see to my salvation, etc. etc. Some take the support of family, some take the support of wealth, some take the support of knowledge and intellect, some take the support of their own abilities, and some take the support of their efforts, that I can do everything. In this way there are many different types of supports, but all of these are the kind to perish. However, the support of God is imperishable.
Those who are lowly among men, who are lower by birth, by duty, by abilities, and those movable animals - birds, and the immovable - trees-creepers etc they too if they take refuge in the Lotus feet of the Lord, then out of Lord’s grace, they too will attain deliverance ! God says -
Maam hi paarth vyapaashritya yepisyuh paapyonayah |
Striyo vaishyaasthaa shoodrastepi yaanti paraam gatim ||
Oh Paartha, women folk, Vaisya, Sudras and even those that are born of sinful wombs taking refuge in Me, attain Me (the Supreme God) forever, without any doubt. (Gita 9:32)
Kim punarbraahmanaah punyaa bhaktaa raajarsayastath
Anityamasukham lokamimam praapya bhajasva maam (Gita 9:33)
Those Brahmanas and devout Kshatriyas, that are pure in their deeds and devoted of God, what to speak of them attaining God (Eternal Peace or Salvation). Therefore, having obtained this transient and sorrow-filled body, worship Me devoutly.
In this manner, the sentiments of taking refuge have come in a very extra-ordinary way. God has taken the essence of the entire world’s good points and brought them all together in the Gita, as if he has filled the ocean in a water bottle! In that too, taking refuge is the essence of the entire Gita. If someone accepts refuge in God, then he will be greatly benefited. Many distinguished qualities will come in him. Without studying, on its own, the meaning of the Vedas will get revealed to him. He will have nothing remaining to do, to know and to acquire. Therefore there is infinite and limitless glories of “Sharanagati” (taking refuge in the Lord).
Narayana ! Narayana !! Narayana !!!
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -