Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Thirtieth Third Session

Bhagavata Chaturth Skanda (Book Five)

Chapter 1

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At this point in time Pariksitji had a set of questions, know that the next discussion will be on Priyavrata. These questions are very essential;

1. Priyavrata was a great devotee of the Lord and revelled in the self. How did he rejoice in family life, which obscures ones true nature and subjects one to the bondage of action?

2. Certainly it is not desirable that people like him who are free from attachment should get identified with their homes in this way.

3. Indeed, exalted souls whose mind has found peace in the cool shades of the feet of Shri Hari, can not conceive a found attachment to their family.

4. I have a great doubt in my mind, as to how Priyavrata, who was attached to his wife, house, children and so on, attained perfection?

and

5. What is still more difficult is come to develop unswerving devotion to Lord Shri Hari?

Now;

It is difficult to believe that a wise man like Pariksit Maharaj, would ask such questions. He who could drop everything that he had, his kingdom wife and children, the minute he found out that he had only 7 days to live and in those 7 days attain liberation.

But, again, even Parvatiji asks from Shivji questions for the benefit of the likes of us, who are deluded by Maya.

Let’s try to question the questions one by one;

1. Is it not possible for a great devotee to be a householder? Does family life lead to bondage and deters one from liberation?

2. Is it true that a person who is free from attachment cannot lead a family life?

3. True, if Shri Hari has taken place in your heart, you cannot be contaminated by attachment for the world. But, can’t you still be in the world and love it? Can Attachment and Love be used in the same breath? Do they mean the same thing?

4. Just because a person is a house-holder, is it necessary that he is attached to the family? 

5. Is it that only Sanyasis can attain the Lord and Grihastas (Householder) can not?

Lets delve deeper 

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Sub Story:

There was ones a boy who was did feel that he found any interest in his house, school and all and decided to become a sanyasi with Buddha. Buddha agreed, but soon he lost interest and wanted to go back to Sansar. In fact, every time he had a problem in sansar, he would run to sanyas and vice versa. Soon sanyasis in the ashram did not believe that he would stay, as he had come and gone multiple time. The people in the family also tried something new every time he came to get him to stay, got him married and yet he went back.

When he went back he started missing his wife and so he came again, and soon he was expecting a child. So the wife and husband were expected to sleep separately. One night he could not control his desire and sneaked into her room. To find her sleeping, he cloths and her hair were a mess, his breath smelled and saliva was coming out of her mouth.

That moment the desire for her and the world was lost. He left for the ashram, and to the other sanyasis surprise never left again. When they all asked Buddha, he answered;

‘All this while he was leaving thing, people, place and situations and running away, now he has totally given up the ‘Desire’ for them.’

Years went by and the family also gave up the hope to ever seeing him again. The wife had to raise their child alone. One day their path crossed, he was a peaceful Sanyasi and she was a haggard woman because of all the hard work she had to do. She looked at her husband and asked;

‘What you have achieved, could it not be achieved here?’

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Priyavrat story,analyse and answers, along with the points to ponder will be sent shortly 

Jai Shri Krishna🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Thirtieth Third Session (continued)

Bhagavata Chaturth Skanda (Book Five)

Chapter 1

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Points to Ponder:

Grihasta Ashram/ Sanyasa Ashram

‘One does not have to run away from ones responsibility in the name of God, if you are determined you can be devoted to God anywhere.’

There are four Ashrams in our Shastras;

- Brahmachari Ashram

- Grihasta Ashram

- Vanaprast Ashram

- Sanias Ashram

Each ashram is important and has a decorum. Each ashram prepares us for the next Ashram again if we live a controlled life which is not give to sensual enjoyment. Upyog is never condemned, but upbhog is definitely not encouraged. 

Most of our greatest Sages have been Grihastas. It was never felt that path of salvation was unattainable by a Grihasta. 

It is on the house-holder to raise their lives to the level of the divine and save all from the impending doom. 

‘Householder’s life is also a life of Yoga. It is also a life of Brahmacharya. It is a life of Brahmacharya in the sense it is a life of self-restraint and indulgence in moderation. We have always thought that householder’s life is something against Sadhana. No.’ That is not true.

‘The life of a Sanyasin can be compared to an ocean if the life of a householder is compared to a small drop. The Sanyasin is like a blazing Sun, if the householder is like the flame of a candle. BUT, these comparisons are true only between an ideal Sanyasin and a deluded, ignorant, passionate householder. 

An ideal house-holder is equal to a Sanyasin. All glory to that householder who keeps Realisation as his ultimate aim. He is the ideal of the Gita. He practises Nivritti (renunciation) in Pravritti (life in the world). The householder’s life is based on Anasakti (non-attachment). The householder should have no cravings. His is a life dedicated to service. Such a householder is a Sanyasin. 

It is essential that the Grihastas awaken to their duty and give up the life of extreme self indulgence.

‪'Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.'‬

The 6 Foes

The 6 Foes are the 5 senses (5 Karma Indriyas and 5 Gyan Indriyas) and the mind and they can be our friends instead of our enemy. 

No matter where one goes, the 5 Indriyas and the mind can not be separated from the body. Hence, in a forest or at home, if these 6 foes are made our friends, any place can be conducive for God realisation.

Moreover, when one is alone, it is easier to be at peace, as there is no one to disturb (so we may think), but in the middle of many people it is easier to test our stability and composure.

The one who has conquered desires - can be in a blissful state in any condition and place.

‘Good desires are better than bad desires and no desire is better than good desire.’

Attachment/Love

“Detach from the World attach to the Lord.”

Attachment is selfish, love is selfless 

Attachment hurts, love heals

Attachment binds, love liberates

These two terms can not be used interchangeably or in the same breath.

Attachment - Clouds ones thinking, is filled with fear of loss and disappointments due to expectations.

Detachment - Clears ones thinking, is filled will feeling of freedom for self/others and is liberating cause there is no expectation involved.

The Burning house - When the house is mine, I get agitated and filled with remorse. On the other hand, when it is not mine, the feeling is different.

Now,

Why detach from the world and attach to the Lord?

When we carry water in a shallow tray it is bound to spill, but if we carry it in a deeper vessel, it will not spill. In the same way when we throw a stone in a shallow water body the ripples are formed, but if we throw a stone in the sea, it absorbs the stone and no ripples are formed.

So, if other people’s behaviour is hurting us, we have a shallow heart, so we need to expand it and make it deep. 

To expand the heart we need to sublimate that is get attached to the higher, and the lower tendencies drop off. 

How do we attach to the higher, there are various ways, listening to his stories, chanting his name, doing selfless action, etc.

Surya Dev (The Guru)

The depiction that he chased the Sun, portrays that when one lives in the world. He should take the sun as his role model and interact with people just like the sun interacts with the world.

The Sun teaches us so much though his action. It is the most selfless of all, he spreads its lights to all, gets attached to none and continues to work without any expectation from anybody.

He is the guru of Hanumanji and Priyavratha. He is Pratyaksha Brahman, and he is every willing to become our guru too. 

Another way to look at this is, when he was chasing the Sun, that is his Goal, he carved the lakes, the rivers, the seas, the mountains and divided the land into continents. 

When a selfless goal is chased with a pure heart, even the journey can be very enriching not only for the self but for all those who come in touch with it.

Surrender

Priyavrata refused to be bound by sansar, till Brahmaji himself descended. When Brahmaji tied him down, he without resistance accepted. 

A episode like this happened in the Sunderland in Ramayan also, where 

Sub Story 2: The King and his minister

A King and his Minister got lost in the jungle. This and everything that happened like being lost, hungry and thirsty was said to be for their best by the minister. The king fell down and broke his finger, still the minister uttered the same statement, “Everything that happens, happens for the best.” This caused him to be thrown into the well. 

Later the King was taken by the tribal people to be offered as sacrifice to God, however, when they noticed the broken finger they let the king go. The king realised that because of his broken finger he was saved as he was considered inappropriate to be offered. Hence, he realised that, whatever happens, happens for the best. 

He rescued his minister and apologised for throwing him in the well. The minister instead thanked him and said that even falling in the well was good, otherwise he would have been offered as sacrifice instead, as he had no injuries.

Over all, being lost was also good the minister said, as the King learned the lesson that, ‘Everything that happens, happens for the best.’

Hence, 

Everything that happens, happens for the best. 

All hurdles and hardships are nothing but an effort from God to make us look towards him. 

Ones a superiors wanted to call the labourer from down, but the labourer could not hear him. So he threw a 10 dollar bill, but the labourer pocked the money without looking up. Again, the supervisor thought let me just increase the amount and threw a 100 dollar bill, but again the labourer did not look down and pocketed the money. 

This went on for a while then finally, this supervisor threw a stone, which hit the labourer, and he immdieately looked upto to shout at who had dared to throw a stone to him.

We also when the times are good never turn towards the Lord, but at the times when problems and sorrows surround and and render us helpless, we turn to God in prayer.

Dukh mai sumiran saab kar, 

Sukh mai kare na koi.

Jo sukh mai sumiran kare,

To dukh kahe ko hoe.

Let us not complain. 

Whatever happens to us is the divine wish. 

When we do not complain it shows the faith in his divine wisdom.

Jai Shri Krishan 

Jai hanuman