Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Sutra (41-50) Crossing the Ocean of Maya (unreality)


41. tasmin astat jaane bhedabhavat
Between him and his people, there is no difference

Because there is no difference between God and his devotee. Here Narad tells about the oneness of God and his devotee. The devotee becomes established in God alone. When the difference between God and devotee is vanished that is Bhakti.

42. Tadeva sadhyata tadeva sadhyatama

Strive for that (company of that Grace), and strive for that alone.

Whatever practices enable us to find his grace, we should adopt them. There cannot be any limit to the extent of his kindness. We should strive to become worthy of his kindness. All the obstacles in this way, such as worldly desires and other bondages, should be removed.

43. Duhsanga Sarvathaive tyajya
By all means, shun bad company (a company that fuels negativity).

Evil company must be shunned by all means at all the times. As the company of great souls has been said to be very beneficial for one’s salvation. Similarly there can be no greater evil than the company of evil men to lead one to the path of evil and ruination. Evil company must always be shunned like poison at all the times. It is an old saying, “a man is known by the company he keeps.”


44. Kama krodha moha smriti bransha buddhinasha kaarantvat.

Bad company brings ambition, desire, frustration, anger, delusion, loss of wisdom and thus leads to utter ruin.

It (evil company) leads to lust, anger, and delusion, loss of memory and discrimination and complete ruination. It is not possible to enumerate the evil effects caused by bad companions. Bad company lead one to total ruination by all means.

45. Tarangaita apime sangata samudrayante.
These (anger, passion, etc.) may begin as a small ripple, but if you keep associating with bad company, they will become like an ocean.

These (evil effects) rise in form of small ripples in the beginning but by associating with the evil company they become virtually like an ocean. Even small faults and shortcomings in men, become many time more aggravated by associating with the evil company. These shortcomings become like deep oceans and it becomes very difficult to get out of these shortcomings. Ultimately such a man leaves the good path and sinks into the depths of worldly lusts, sinful ways and his path of salvation is closed.

46. Kastarati Kastarati Mayam Yo Sangrantyajati Yo Mahanubhavan Sevate Nirmamo Bhavati.
Who crosses this ocean of illusion, this ocean of unreality?
Onewho serves the Enlightened, one who serves the wise, one who keeps wise company, becomes free from this feeling of "I want this, I want that, I, I, I."


Who is capable of crossing over the illusion of the One, who abondons all such things which arouses the desire for sensual pleasures after they come in contact with the sense organ. One who relinquishes all his materialistic-wealth after coming in contact with the saints and engaging himself in their Servitude. Narad says that only such people can successfully cut the web of this illusionary net(world), who abondons all such things which are likely to influence his sense organs. His mind become tranquil and devoid of any passion. He gets benefitted from being in the company of virtuous people & saints. He engages himself in their service and by their blessings, he successfully gets liberated from all the bondages of their world.

47. Yo viviktasthanam sevate ye lok bandhu munmulayati nistraigunyo bhavati, yogakshemam tyajati
One who reposes in that corner deep inside oneself, where there is nothing/nobody else, one who is not worried about what people tell them or talk about them, one who is beyond all the three gunas - the satva (knowledge), rajas (restlessness) and tamas (dullness), and one who is free from (worrying about) acquiring and maintaining whatever has come in life really crosses this ocean of misery, of maya or illusion.

Narad gives the characteristics of a devotee. He says, Living in a lonely and pure place, freed from all his desires and bondages of all the three worlds going beyond the three modes of nature (gunas); going up all the desires of acquisition and preservation (the attains to Bhakti). Narad says that a seek after Bhakti keeps his dwelling in a lonely and pure place, so that he does not face unwarranted disturbances. He can become one minded and devotee himself fully in the love of God. That devotee does not have any desire for anything in all three worlds. He transcends the three gunas of nature, he becomes ‘gunatita’. He does not even think of acquiring worldly possessions or be concerned about their preservation.


48. Yah karmaphalam tyajati, karmani sanyasyathi, tato nir-dvandvo bhavati

He who does not have a concern about the results of his actions, who is centered in action, and who even rises beyond the knowledge, attains the pure love.

He gives up all the fruits of his work, renounces all selfish pursuits and transcends all the dualities like pleasure and pain etc.

49. yo vedanapi sanyasyathi, kevalam avicchinna anuragam labhate
One who has transcended both knowledge and action (after going through them), attains that pure love which is evelasting.

He gives up even the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the Vedas and the scriptures. He only hankers after the god unmindful of anything else.

50. Sa tarati sa tarati sa lokam sa taaryati
He crosses, he alone crosses and he helps other people to cross.. (the ocean of unreality)

He goes beyond this maya undoubtedly and he is able to carry the world beyond this maya (delusion). Bhakta not only goes beyond the world of illusion himself but he is capable of taking the whole world, who follow his path, with him beyond the delusions of this world. Guru Nanak, Kabir etc are such Bhakta’s who helped countless people to cross the world of illusion in their company.

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