|| Shree Hari ||

Everyone is Equally Entitled to Liberation

मुक्तिमें सबका समान अधिकार

continued.....

There are many such sayings one can find in the scriptures,  by which it is proven that man of any “varna”  and “ashram”  (stage of life) can attain enlightenment;  just as ‒

तस्माज्ज्ञानं  सर्वतो  मार्गितव्यं  सर्वत्रस्थं चैतदुक्तं मया ते ।

तत्स्थो ब्रह्मा तस्थिवांश्चापरो यस्तस्मै नित्यं मोक्षमाहुर्नन्द्र ॥

                                                                (महा॰ शान्ति॰ ३१८ । ९२)

Tasmaajgyaanam sarvato maargitavyam sarvatrasantham chaitduktam mayaa te

Tastho brahmaa tasthivaanschaaparo yastasmai nityam mokshamaahurnandra

(Maha. Shaanti.  318/92)  

‘Narendra ! you must try to gain knowledge from all directions.  I have already said this to you that people of all “varna”  while being in their particular “stage of life”  can attain knowledge.  Therefore,  whether someone is a Brahmin,  or from another “varna”,  the man who is established in knowledge,  for him liberation is ever attained.’

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ॥

                                                                    (गीता १८ । ४५)

"Swe Swe karmanyabhiratah sansidhim labate narah"  (Gita 18/45).  

One can attain perfection (God Realization, Salvation), by one's own duties, when followed with great promptness and faith.

                      स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥

                                                             (गीता १६ । ४६)

Swakarmanaa tambhyarchya sidhim vindati maanavah (Gita 16/46)  

‘Worshipping God through one’s duty, man can attain perfection (God Realization).’

It means that by fulfilling his duties, the post that a Brahmin can attain,  that very same post can be attained by a Shudra, by fulfilling his duty.  Not only that,  when there is intense quest,  even the worst of worst sinners can also attain enlightenment ‒

अपि चेदसि पापेध्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।

सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव     वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥

                                                 (गीता ४ । ३६)

"Api chedasi paapebhyah sarvebhyah paapkrttamaha

Sarva jyaanaplavenaiva vrujinam santrishyasi" (Gita 4:36)

"Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners, you shall undoubtedly cross the ocean of sins by the boat of knowledge (wisdom) alone. "

All of mankind is entitled to devotion and love of God ‒

आनिन्द्योन्यधिक्रियते पारम्पर्यात् सामान्यवत् ।

                                                                     (शाण्डिल्य॰ ७८)

"Aanindhyonyadhikriyate paaramyayaart saamaanyavat." (Shaandilya 78)

‘Just as men of all religions are entitled to compassion,  forgiveness etc,  similarly,  all beings from the lowest of lowest forms of  birth to the highest forms of birth are entitled to devotion and love of God.’

नास्ति तेषु जातिविद्यारूपकुलधनक्रियादि भेदः ।

                                                (नारद॰ ७२)

‘In those devotees there is no differences in the “jaati”,  knowledge, appearance,  lineage ,  wealth,  actions etc. ’

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य     येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः ।

स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या          भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा ।

                                                                    (गीता ९ । ३२ - ३३)

Maam hi paarth vyapaashritya yepi syuh paapaynayah |

Striya vaishyaastathaa shoodraastepi yaanti paraam gatim || (Gita 9/32)

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 raajarsayastaath (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).  

to be continued.......

   From book ‘Tattva Gyaan Kaise Ho?’ by Swami Ramsukhdasji