|| Shri Hari ||

The Nature of 'Bhajan'

(Devotion and Worship)

continued.....

The scriptures have said -   

न सुखं देवराजस्य      न सुखं चक्रवर्तिनः ।

यत् सुखं वितरागस्य मुनेरेकान्तशीलिनः ॥

 A Rajasthani poet said something very beautiful -  

न सुख काजी पण्डिताँ न सुख भूप भयाँ ।

सुख सहजाँ ही आवसी तृष्णा-रोग गयाँ ॥

        

The third point that is said is  ‘इमं लोकं प्राप्य’ । Here by the words ‘इमं लोकम्’ it becomes clear that with regards to this human body;  God says that after attaining this human body you must only engage in prayer and worship of Me  because -  

एहि तन कर फल बिषय न भाई । स्वर्गउ  स्वल्प अंत   दुखदाई ॥

नर तनु पाइ   बिषयँ   मन  देहीं । पलटि सुधा ते सठ   बिष   लेहीं ॥

ताहि कबहुँ  भल   कहइ  न कोई । गुंजा  ग्रहइ   परस     मनि  खोई ॥

O’ Brothers !  the reason for attaining this human body is not sense pleasures.  What to speak of all the pleasures of this world, but even the pleasures of heaven is also very little and in the end it is the kind to lead to suffering.  Therefore after acquiring this human body, the people who are engaging their minds in worldly pleasures,   those foolish men,  take poison instead of nectar.  

        Therefore after attaining this human body,  one must only engage in prayer and worship of the Lord, because other types of work can take place in various other types of bodies, but the opportunity for prayer, devotion and worship (Bhajan) of the Lord, “bhajan” is only possible in this human body.  

In the bodies of demi-gods (devtas), there is a glut of sense enjoyments, and due to there being no eligibility for “bhajan”, they cannot do “bhajan”, and in hell, one is only undergoing the fruits of their past sins.   They are not eligible to do “new”  actions "karmas”,  nor do they have knowledge of what is duty or non-duty.  In this manner,  in the various 8.4 million forms of births,  there is no knowledge whatsoever of duty and non-duty and they do not have the various tools for doing spiritual practices, nor are they eligible for them.  Eligibility,  knowledge, and tools -  all these three, are only in this human birth.   Sometimes you may
see devotion to the Lord in animals and birds,  but it is more of an exception only.    

Shri Tulasidasji says -  

साधन धाम मोच्छ कर द्वारा ।

पाइ न जेहिं परलोक सँवारा ॥

सो परत्र दुख पावइ सिर धुनी धुनी पछिताइ ।

कालहि कर्महि ईस्वरहि    मिथ्या दोस लगाइ ॥

This body is a vehicle to perform one’s spiritual practice and it is a gateway to liberation.   Even on attaining this body,  if one does not claim his future, he will be have to suffer thereafter,  he will profusely regret,  and not regarding it as his fault,  he will falsely blame the times, “karmas” actions and the Lord.  

to be continued......

From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji