||  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 raajarsayastathaa

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 !!!

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

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||  Shri Hari  ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

In karmayog, the sentiments are one of the mind being free of desires.  In Jnanayog, the self is retained and in Bhaktiyog,   there is sweet memories of mine-ness (my very own)  with the Lord,   and this relationship has been so from time immemorial.  

A karmayogi has an eternal relationship with God,  a jnanayogi has an intrinsic relationship  and a devotees that has taken refuge in God, there is intimacy with Him,  (a feeling of my very own).  In eternal relationship, the worldly temporary relationship is renounced.  In elemental relationship there is oneness with the elemental Essence   (self realization) and in an intimate relationship,  there is inseparability with God (Love).   In eternal relationship there is relish of peace, in elemental relationship there is unbroken relish,  in intimate relationship  there is everlasting,  eternal relish.   Without attaining that eternal relish,  a being’s hunger is not entirely satisfied.  Attainment of eternal relish is possible due to taking refuge in God.  Therefore surrendering to the Lord is the best of all spiritual practices.   

In Gita, there is a description of various different types of “yogis” -  Karmayogi, Jnanayogi, Dhyaanyogi etc.     But the Lord has only called Bhaktiyogi,  in other words,  one who takes refuge in God as rare, great soul -  

"Bahunaam janmanaamante jnaanavaanmaam prapadyate,

Vasudevah sarvamiti sa Mahaatmaa sudurlabhah."  (Gita 7:19)

"In the very last of all births (i.e. in the human birth) the man of realization, worships Me, realizing that all is God.  Such a great soul is very rare."  (Gita 7:19).

God has called a “Mahatma”  as a rarity, but has called Himself as easily attainable -    

Ananyachetaah satatam yo maam smriti nityasha

Tasyaahum sulabh paarth, nitya yuktasya yoginah.

                                                                         (Gita 8:14)

"O You Delighter of Prthaa!  (the Son of Prthaa!).  He who always, exclusively and constantly thinks of Me (remembers Me) with undivided mind, to that Yogi always absorbed in Me, I am easily attainable."  (Gita 8:14)  i.e. I can be easily attainable by such a Yogi.

Hari durlabh nahin jagat mein,  Harijan durlabh hoi |

hari heryaan sab jag milai, Harijan kahin ek hoi  ||

Hari se tu jani het kar, kar Harijan se het |

Hari reejhai jag det hai, harijan hari hi det ||

In this world,  God is not a rarity,  rather his loving devotee who has take refuge in Him, is a rarity.    The reason being,  that if you search for God,  he will be found everywhere,  but God’s dear and loving devotee,  can be found only in a few places.   On becoming pleased,  God gives this human birth.  Then with that body,  a being can go to hell as well;   but a devotee of God, makes one attain only God.   One who has an association with devotees,  cannot go to hell.   

In the beginning of the eighteenth chapter, Arjuna had asked the Lord about the essence of Jnanayog and Karmayog,  but the Lord tells about the essence of both these in the fifty-fifth verse, and then out of His grace, on His own,  begins the description of devotion and says -  

Sarvakarmaanyapi sadaa kurvaano madvyapaashrayah |

matprasaadaadvaapnoti shaashvatam padmavyayam || (Gita 18/56).  

Continually performing all actions, taking refuge in Me, by My grace, My devotee attains the Eternal Imperishable state, i.e. he attain Paramatma (God). (Gita 18/56).  

    

(to be continued)  

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

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||  Shri Hari  ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

Hanumanji became ready to cross the ocean, due to deep faith that the Lord’s work will get done by His grace,   then why must we see towards our abilities-inabilities ?   Wherever there is no pride of one’s strength, there God’s power comes to use.   It is due to pride that one faces obstacles.  

Whenever pride comes in us,   whenever our tendencies become bad,  when some desires come in us, then the easiest method to get rid of them, is to tell it to God.   Within our mind let us say to the Lord “O’  Lord!  See!  See!   desires have come in my mind!  see the state of my mind.  My Lord!  Such tendencies have cropped up in my mind;  resolves have creeped in!  O’  Lord,   I am doing your prayer, worship and meditation,  people consider me to be your devotee,   they regard me as being good,  but such is my state !”   Just as on having contact with fire,  even a piece of black coal begins to shine;  because in fact the relation of the coal is with fire itself,  but due to being away from the fire, it becomes black.   Similarly on having an association with God,  all the flaws are eradicated and he begins to shine.   He develops an exceptional quality in him;   because in fact man’s relationship is  with God only.   God’s grace makes the impossible,  possible.   Similarly,   “kartumkartumanyathakrtum sarmathah”   When one takes the support of the Lord, then what is there to worry about?   God does all the work of his devotees who have taken refuge in him - “sab bidhi ghatab kaaj mein toren,  aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami”  

It is man’s weakness to take even the least bit of support of their strength,  intelligence,  abilities etc.   because taking the support of many is the work of a weak person.   However taking the support of God is not a weakness, rather it is a natural thing to do.  Because being a part (ansh) of God,  “Jeev”  (embodied soul) is innately and naturally reliant on God.   When it becomes disinclined towards it’s source (anshi), i.e.  God,   and depends on body and world which is part (ansh) of Nature, then it becomes weak,  dependent,  without support,  without the Lord.  Therefore man who takes the support of his own strength is filled with pride, that I will do this and that !  but when his urine stops, then he rushes to the doctor!  He has pride of his strength, but the state is that he does not even have the strength to urinate !    In reality, the one who takes support of the world,  can do nothing.   However,   he who takes support of God, he can do everything.  He can even do the impossible;  because all the strength of God, comes in a  person who has taken refuge in God.   By taking refuge in God,  Naradji won over Kamdeva (The god of Passion) -  

Kaam kalaa kuch munihi na byaapi |

Nij bhayam dareu manobhav paapi ||

Seem ki chaapi sakayi kou taasu |

Bad rakhvaar ramaapati jaasu ||

(Manas,  Baal.   126/4)  

The power behind Naradji was that of God,  but Naradji developed pride that with my own strength, I have overcome passion -  “jitaa kaam ahamiti mana maahi”  (Manas,  Baal.   127/3).   Immediately when pride came in him,  that thing did not remain in him, and he became attracted to a girl named Vishwa Mohini -  “karoun jaayi soyi jatan bichaari |  Jehi prakaar mohi barai kamaari ||”  (Manas.  Baal.  131/4).  The moment there is pride of one’s strength,  “he bidhi milayi kawan bidhi baalaa” -  such became his state.   (to be continued)   

    

(to be continued)  

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

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||  Shri Hari  ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

Taking refuge in the Lord (Sharanagati) is a very easy spiritual discipline.  Just as a man takes a nap,  then for taking a nap he does not need to make any effort,  nor any exertion,  neither does he need to remember anything,  nor does he need to do anything,  rather all he has to do is leave everything.  When he leaves everything, then sleep comes naturally on its own.   In this manner,   have no pride of your strength,  intellect, knowledge,  abilities etc.,  let there be no reliance on anything, then “sharanagati”  will take place on its own,   for it one does not need to do anything.  The reason being, in fact all beings are under the shelter of God.     God regards everyone has his very own -  “sab mama priye sab mama upajaaye”  (Manas,  Utter.   86/2).  However “jeev”  (embodied soul)  out of its pride,  becomes distant from God,  in other words,  he feels he is distant from God.   Therefore taking the support of one’s own strength,  abilities, class,  stage in life, etc,  is the main obstacle in taking refuge.   If pride does not leave, then,  cry out to the Lord, and pray to the Lord -  He Naath!  O’  Lord!  I want to leave pride, but I cannot leave it,  what should I do!”  Then He will make you leave it.   The work that is difficult for you,  is most easy for God.    Therefore if you see any flaws in you,  then call out only to the Lord.   Do not give emphasis to your flaws,  give important only to “sharanagati”.     On giving importance to “sharanagati”, the flaws will automatically go away.  

A devotee that has taken refuge in God,  for him the spiritual practice is also God and the end goal, is also God and the accomplishment is also God.  Therefore,   in Gita,  the Lord has given the allegiance of both Karmayog and Jnanayog,  but he has not shared the allegiance of Bhaktiyog.   The reason being that the practitioners of both Karmayog and Jnanayog,  have their own allegiances and adherences.   But a devotee does not have his own allegiance,  rather it is the allegiance of God only.   A devotee is not  intent on spiritual practices, rather he is intent on only God. 

Just as a baby monkey holds on to his mother, but a kitten does not hold on to the mother, rather it is the mother who holds onto the kitten and takes the baby wherever she likes.   A devotee who has taken refuge is God is also like a kitten.  It does not take the support of its own strength,  there is no pride of its strength.   Hanumanji being a teacher of “Bhakti”, yet had no pride of being so,  he says -   “Jaanaun nahin kuch bhajan upaayi”  (Maanas, Kishkindhaa. 3/2).    “Atulit-baldhaamaa”   Even though being very strong, had no knowledge of its own strength.   Jaambavaan said to him -     

Pavan tanay bal pavan samaanaa |

budhi bibek bigyaan nidhaanaa ||  

Kavan so kaaj kathin jag maahin |

jo naahin hoyi taat tumh paahin ||  

                                                             (Maanas,  Kishkindhaa  30/2-3)   

On hearing so much praise from Jaambavaan, then too Hanumanji kept silent.   But when Jaambavaan said that you have been born to serve the Lord Ram, then Hanumanji immediately remembered his strength and powers -  

Ram kaaj lagi tav avataaraa |

Sunatahin bhayau parbataakaaraa

                                                                      (Manas,  Kishkindha,  30/3)      

(to be continued)  

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

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Date : 27th July, 2013 -  

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

Wherever I reside, it is God’s home;   whatever work I do,  it is God’s work;  whatever I receive, it is God’s gift and the mother-father, wife-son etc that I am taking care off,   they are all God’s people.   Just as on getting married, the woman’s ‘gotra’ (descendants in an unbroken male lineage) changes,  the husband’s ‘gotra’ becomes her ‘gotra’,  in the same way,   a devotee who has taken refuge in God adopts the “achyutgotra”  (God’s lineage).  Goswamiji Maharaj says -  “Saah hi ko gotu gotu hot hai ghulam ko”(Kavitawali,  Utter.  107)   

Just like when one comes to know the weak spot in any limb of a  wrestler, then the wrestler is bound to lose, in the same way, God too has a weakness.  If one grabs hold off that weak spot,  He cannot go here and there, He loses !  That weakness is -  Not taking the shelter of anything else besides God.  In other words,  with single-pointed, exclusive sentiments,  taking refuge in only God -  

Ek Baani karunaanidhaan ki |

So priya jaake na gati aan ki || (Manas, Aranya.  10/4)   

Meerabai said - “Mere toh Giridhar Gopal,  Doosero na koyi”|   “Only God is mine,   no one else is mine”.   “Only God is mine” Everyone says so,   but they do not say,  “no one else is mine”  -  rather mother-father,  brother-friend,  family,  wealth-possessions,  knowledge,  abilities etc. are also mine.  They rely and take the support of something or the other.  Just as when the king’s son, begs in front of others,  then the king does not like it,  in the same way,   “jeev”  (embodied soul) a fraction (part) of the sat-chit-anand (existence-consciousness-bliss)  form of God,  when it takes the support of the unreal-inert-sorrow-filled world, then God does not like it;  because in this is the “jeev’s” downfall.    Only he is dear to God who does not take the support of many different things -  “so priya jaaken gati na aan ki”  God says -  “Mayyarpitamanobuddhiryo madbhaktah sa me priyah”  (Gita 12/14).   “He who gives his mind-intellect to me, that devotee of mine,  is most dear to me”.   

When one takes complete refuge in God, then he cannot leave.  However,  he who takes the support of various others besides God,  like money,  power,  abilities, class-stage in life,  knowledge etc, then how can God protect him completely?   Therefore God says -  “Maamekum sharanam vraja”  “Only take shelter in Me”  However there must be that firm conviction and determination in a “Sharanagat”  that even if God does not protect me,   even though he causes much harm,   even if the body gets destroyed, then too I will only take the support of God.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to say -  

Aashilshya va paadratam pinushth ma -

madarshaanaamrmahataam karotu va|

yathaa tathaa va vidhadhaatu lampato

matpraananaathastu sa eva naaparah ||  (Shikshaashtak 8)  

“Whether He embrace me and makes me elated, or tramples me with His feet when I am clinging to them, or He does not give me His darshan whereby my heart pains in anguish.  That eternal  sovereign Lord Krishna, whatever He wishes He may do,  He alone is the source of my life,  there is no one else.”      

(to be continued)  

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

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Date : 26th July, 2013 -  

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

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.”   Several places in the Gita,  it has been mentioned about salutations to the Lord; like  -  “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 these four increase.”  

In the beginning of the Mahabharat war,  Yudhishtir  bows in reverence to those standing in opposition -  the grandsire Bhishma,  Guru Dronachaarya etc.  and then he seeks their permission to engage in war.   Being pleased with this,  they grant Yudhishtir success in war.   There is such glories of salutation and bowing in reverence, that the best of great men (Mahatma), who have realized that all is God “Vasudeva Sarvam”,  that very same thing can be realized with ease by doing salutations. (Srimad Bhagwat 11/29/16-19)  

Refuge in God takes place once only, and it happens forever.   Simply just once “O’  Lord!  I am yours”  after saying so, what else is left to be said?  Once if you have given yourself, then what else is left to give a second time?  

 Sakrudansho nipatati sakrutkanya pradeeyate |

Sadrudaaha dadaaneeti treenyetaani sataam sakrut ||  

(Mahabharat.  van.  294/26;  Manusmruti 9/47)  

Wealth etc,  is distributed to family members, just once,   a daughter;s hand is given away in marriage, just once,  a decision to give away a thing takes place just once.   These three things happen only once for gentlemen”

Sinh gaman sajjan vachan,  kadali phalai ik baar |

tiriyaa tel hameer hath,  cadhai na dooji baar ||   

Just as on getting married,  the woman accepts that now I belong to my husband’s family,  I no longer belong to the parent’s family,  in the same way “O’  Lord!  I am Yours”  on saying so,  accept that now I am God’s,  I am no longer of this world.     

(to be continued)  

  

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

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||  Shri Hari  ||

Taking Refuge in Gita

(Gita ki Sharanagati)

continued .......

Parikshit’s mother Uttara also took shelter of the Lord.   Dronacharya’s son Ashvatthaama had made up his mind that he would entirely wipe the Pandava’s race.    While sleeping he murdered five of Draupadi’s sons.   Now the only remaining heir was a small child in the womb of Uttara.  To destroy this child,  Ashvatthama released the “Brahmaastra”   (a very lethal weapon).  When Uttara saw this weapon coming towards her, she called out to the Lord -  

Paahi paahi mahaayogindevadeva jagatpate |

naanyam tvadbhayam paschye yatra mrutyuh parasparam ||  

 Abhidravati maameesha sharastpataayaso vibho |

Kaamam dahatu maam naath maa me garbho nipaatyataam \\  (Srimad Bhagwat.   1/8/9-10)  

O Lord of Lords!  The ruler of this entire Universe !  the greatest of all Yogis !  Please protect me!  Protect me !  Besides you there is no one in this world who can make me overcome my fears;  because here everyone is becoming the cause of each others death. O’  Lord!  the Almighty one !  This fearlessly burning arrow is ferociously coming straight towards me. O’ Lord !  May it devour me, but let it not destroy my child.”  

On listening to Uttara’s cry of desperation,  The Lord took his “chakra” (special weapon),  taking on a very tiny form, entering Uttara’s womb, he  began to encircle around the child in the womb.  The Bhramaastra weapon was unable to harm the child in the womb, and slowly quietened down.   Parikshit said -  

Dronyastraviplushtmidam madang

santaanbeejam kurupaandavaanaam |

jugop kukshitam gat aattchakro

maatusch me yah sharanam gataayaah ||  (Srimad Bhagwat.  10/1/6)

“O’  King!  This body of mine which is in front of you,  and which is the only support of both the Kaurava and Pandava clan,   has been burnt by the Ashvatthama’s Brahmastra weapon.  At that time when my mother went to take refuge in the Lord,   the Lord took his “chakra” weapon in his hands,  and entered her womb and protected me.”  

The meaning of this is that it is man’s (jeev’s) duty to take refuge in the Lord, and it is Lord’s duty to protect the “jeev” in whatever way that the Lord can.   If man has even the slightest bit of sentiments and feeling of taking refuge in the Lord, then the Lord melts,  he cannot stay,  and he accepts man as his devotee right away.   If someone with a true heart,  just once says,  “O’  Lord!  I am Yours”  then God sees to his supreme good.  God can never renounces a devotee who has taken refuge in Him.    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 went to Navadeep.   I was staying at the famous “Bhajanaashram”  over there.   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 “He Naath!  O’ Lord!  I am Yours”   Simply by this acceptance,  one attains salvation.  Because in fact  all belong to the Lord.   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, then the outcome (fruit) is like that of bathing after conducting ten “Ashvamedha”  sacrificial fires. Besides that there is one exceptional thing about bowing down to the Lord,  that the one who performs the ten ashvamedha yagya is born again in this world, but one who bows and 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)  

(to be continued)  

  

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

http://www.satcharcha.blogspot.com/

Taking Refuge in Gita

(गीताकी शरणागति)

continued .......

Gita begins with “Sharanagati”  (taking refuge) and ends with “sharanagati".  Lord Krishna and Arjuna were together all the time.  In Srimad Bhagwat,  Arjuna says  -  

Shayyaasanaatanvikathnbhojanaadi - shvaikyaad vayasya rutvaaniti vipralabdhah |

sakhyuh sakheva pitruvattnayasya sarvam  

sehe mahaan mahitayaa kumater dham me ||  (Srimad Bhagwat 1/15/19)  

“While sleeping, sitting, wandering, chit-chatting,  and eating with Lord Krishna,  I developed such spontaneity with him, that I often called him “hey friend!  you are very own!”   Saying so I used to even attack him.  But that great Lord,   according to His dignity and greatness,  used to forebear all those scorns and contempt from my limited intellect,   just like a friend tolerates all the insults and scorning of a friend,  and a father does the same for his son.”   

Even though the Lord was a very close friend of Arjuna,  then too the Lord never gave the message of the Gita to Arjuna. However, at the time of war, when the weapons were getting ready to be used on both sides,  -  pravruitte shastrasampaate dhanurudyamya paandavah”  (Gita 1/20). then Lord relayed the Gita to Arjuna !  Was this a great time of peace and quiet for sharing the Gita?   The answer to this is that previously Arjuna had not become  restless in this manner,  or taken refuge in the Lord.    When he saw on the battlefield that both parties had his kith and kin,  then a dilemma creeped in as to whether to fight or not?   Will we win in battle or will the Kauravas win?   Is my supreme good in fighting the war or in not?  He took refuge in the Lord and prayed -  

Kaarpanya dosho pahataswabhaavah

prucchaami tvaam dharmasamoodhchetaah |

Yacchreyah syaannischintam broohi tanme

Shishyasteham shaadhi maam tvaam prapannam ||     (Gita 2/7)   

“My nature is overwhelmed with the vice of faint-heartedness and my mind is confused with regard to my duty.  I entreat you,  to please tell me what is decidedly for my eternal good.  I am your disciple.  Do instruct me,  who have taken refuge in you.”  (Gita 2/7)   

In this manner in the beginning of the Gita,  Arjuna takes refuge in God and asks about his supreme good, his salvation and in the end God tells Arjuna to take refuge in Him -  “Maamekum sharanam vraj”  (Gita 18/66)  

Arjuna first told God that “I have taken refuge in you,   please advice me”,   but immediately thereafter he says “I will not fight”  saying so Arjuna became quite -  “Na yotsya iti govindamuktvaa tushnim babhoova ha”  (Gita 2/9).  Lord did not think this to be proper, but He did not say anything.   Due to being extremely compassionate, the Lord began to deliver His message.  (to be continued)     Arjuna said to the Lord that my intellect is unable to decide about what my duty is -  “Dharmasamoodhchetaah”,   thus I take refuge in You.  The Lord therefore said -  you have no need to decide on what your duty (Dharma) is  -  “Sarvadharmaan parityajya”.   Those who have desires within, who take the support of duty (Dharma),  go through the cycle of birth and death -

 “evam trayeedharmamanuprpannaa gataagatam kaamakaamaa labhante”  (Gita 9/21).   Therefore do not take the support of Dharma and with exclusive feelings take refuge in Me alone,  “Maamekum sharanam vraja”  

Arjuna says that if I fight, then I will incur sins and the Lord says, that if you do not fight then you will incur sins.   However,  in the end the Lord by showering his immense grace, says that do not be afraid of sins,  you simply take refuge in Me, then I will free you from all sins.   Along with this the Lord gives reassurance that do not worry.  

All sins and sorrow take place when one turns away from God.   Turning away from God is the worst of all sins, and to turn towards God is the greatest of all virtues.   Therefore the Lord says -  

Sanmukh hoyi jeev mohi jabahi |

Janma koti agh naasahin tabahin ||  (Manas.  Sunder.  44/1)   

On turning towards God, the root of sins and sorrows is destroyed.   Saints have said, that to turn towards God, is complete virtue and to have good qualities and good conduct is half the virtues.   In this way, becoming distant from God is total sin and to have bad qualities and bad conduct is half the sins.   Jeev (embodied soul) is a part of God, and to become distant from it’s very source, it suffers and experiences sorrow.   When he takes refuge in God, then all sins-suffering comes to an end.   

An aspirant should want that with a simple-honest heart say -  “O’ Lord!  I am Yours”   Now accept that I have taken refuge in the Lord and God has accepted me.   In fact God cannot renounce anyone,   He has never renounced anyone and will never do so.    The Almighty Lord cannot renounce anyone,  rather He is incapable of doing so.    He has taken everyone in his shelter.   We only have become distant from him  and have turned towards the world and take the support of the world.   therefore the Lord says that leaving the support of all Dharmas (duties),  take refuge in Me,  then I will release you from all sins.  Do not worry.   The point is exercize your duty,  but do not rely on thinking that by doing your duty,  you will attain salvation.   Do divine name repetition,  chanting the holy name,  praying,  reading Gita-Ramayan,   study of the scriptures etc.  Do all these, but thinking that by doing so, I will attain salvation - do not have such pride.   One cannot destroy the sins of infinite lifetimes by making an effort;  because this power is not in a “jeev”  (embodied soul),  rather it is only in God.   Therefore God says -  “aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshyushyaami ma suchah”  in other words,  I will release you from all your sins,  why do you worry!

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

FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT -

http://www.satcharcha.blogspot.com/