|| Shri Hari ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

continued....

Lord says -   

Ye daaraagaarputraaptaan praanaan vittmimam param |

hitvaa maam sharanam yaataah katham taamstyaktamtashe ||   

(Srimad Bhagwat  9/4/65)  

“The devotee who leaves everything - wife,  son,  home, spiritual guide,  life breath,  wealth,  this world,  and the world beyond and exclusively takes refuge in Me,   how can I even think about leaving such a one ?”   

Koti bipra badh laagahin jaahu |

aayam saran tajaum nahin taahu ||

(Manas, sunder.  44/1)

He who with a true and sincere heart, takes refuge in God, his life changes.   I have seen so in my life.   I had met a gentleman in Calcutta.   He used to say that “I used to consider those who were doing satsang as ordinary and useless, as if they were wasting away their time.  One time I was visiting Navadeep.   I was staying at the famous “Bhajanaashram”.   One day a few ladies were doing “kirtan” (chanting the Lord’s name).  I sat down over there, where one lady got up and spoke about taking refuge in the Lord (Sharanagati) and shared the following verse from Valmiki Ramayana -   

Sakrudeva prapannaaya tavaasmeeti cha yaachate |

abhayam sarvabhootebhyo dadaamyetad vratam mama ||  

(6/18/33)  

“He who just once takes refuge in Me and says ‘I am Yours’ and  asks for my protection,  I make him fearless among all the beings,  this is my resolve.”

I heard this and a thought came to my mind that this is very simple practice !  I came into my room and closing all doors, in solitude, said to the Lord, with a sincere heart -  that if any one just once comes to Your refuge, then You see to their well-being.  You free them from all sins   -  if this is true then -  “O’  Lord!  I have taken your shelter!  saying so,  I prostrated falling down to the floor.

Thereafter I left for Calcutta and got busy in my work.  I completely forgot about the event that took place in Navadveep.  One day I heard that there was satsang going on nearby somewhere,  and I casually strolled over there.   On going there,  I found it interesting, and I started attending it regularly.   Slowly and gradually my life transformed.   Then one day I was surprised that I was the kind to argue and challenge,  then how did so much transformation take place in me automatically? I then recollected what I had said in Navadveep that “O’ Lord!  I have taken refuge in You”.  It is the result of that alone.        

The point is when a man takes refuge in God with a true and sincere heart, then the responsibility for his spiritual well-being is shouldered by God.  With a true and sincere heart call out ‘O’ Lord!  I am Yours’   Simply by this acceptance,  one attains salvation.  Because in fact  all belong to the Lord.   

    (continued....)

 

From book in hindi “Jit Dekhu Titi Tu” by Swami Ramsukhdasji