|| Shri Hari ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

continued....

It has come in the Mahabharat -  

ekoapi krishnasya krutah pranaamo dashaashvamedhaavabhruthen tulyah |

dashaashvamedhaa punareti janma krushnapranaami na punarbhavaaya ||

(Mahabharat,  Shaanti.  47/92)   

“If you just bow to Lord Krishna once, it (fruit) is like bathing after performing ten “Ashvamedha”  sacrificial fires. Besides that the exceptional thing about prostrating in front of the Lord,  is that he who performs the ten ashvamedha yagya is born again in this world, but he who prostrates to Shri Krishna (one who takes refuge in Him) is never again bound by this world.”  

  Goswami Tulasidasji Maharaj says -  

koor kuti khal kumati kalanki |

neech neseel nirees nisanki ||

Teu suni saran saamuhen aaye |

sakrut pranaamu kihen apanaaye ||  

(Manas,  Ayodhya.  299/1-2)   

Sab swaarathi asur sur nar muni, koyu na det binu paaye |

kosalpaalu krupaalu kalapataru, dravat sakrut sir naaye ||

(Vinaya Patrika 163/2)  

Singing the glories of the Lord,  Brahmaji said -   

Hrdavaagvapurbhirvidadhaannmaste
jeevet yo mukti pade sa daayabhaak |  

(Srimad Bhagwat 10/14/8)  

‘He who continues to salute and bow in reverence to You with his heart, speech and body, he becomes entitled to your eternal post, just as the father’s wealth goes to his son!

Namaskaar se Ramdas,  karam sabhi kat jaay |

Jaay mile parabrahm mein aavaagaman mitaaya ||  

To prostrate in front of the Lord is taking refuge in Him.  Bowing means -  “I am Yours;   therefore whatever you dispense,   I willingly accept.”  

In several places in the Gita, salutations to the Lord has been mentioned; such as  -  

“Maam namaskuru” (Gita 9/34, 18/65),  

“namasyantsch maa bhaktyaa”  (Gita 9/14),  

“Sarve namasyanti cha sidhasangaah”   (Gita 11/36) etc.   

  

“Sharanagati” (taking refuge in Lord) is predominant in our culture.  A disciple,  salutes the Master (Guru),  son pays obeisance to the mother and father,  wife does the same to her husband etc.  It has come in the Manusmruti -  

Abhivaadansheelasya nityam vruddhopasevinah |

chatvaari tasya vardhante aayur idayaa yasho balam ||

‘He whose nature is one of bowing in reverence, and who constantly serves the old people,  their lifespan,  knowledge, glory and power (strength) -  all four increase.’  

    (continued....)

 

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