CHAPTER VIII:
The Ninth Skandha:
(Trnslation by Shri: P.N. Balakrishnan Nair)
:723. Those who make good use of the God-given gifts like time, wealth, strength etc. are Devas (god-like men).Those who misuse them are Rakshasas (demon-like men)
724. When there is lust in your mind, you can see only lust everywhere.
725. You should always maintain the limits of morality as exemplified by Lord Sri Rama.
726. When we emulate the example set by Mahatmas (great souls) our natural tendencies will subside. But the minutest tendencies deep-rooted in mind and intellect will still remain. Mind will become pure only by ultimate knowledge. Never entertain the feeling that your mind is pure.
727. Worship properly the Moon which is governing deity of the mind and SuryaNarayana (the sun-god) which is the governing deity of the intellect. The intellect gets easily purified for those who perform the worship at the three Sandhyas ( Sun-rise, mid-day and sunset)
728. Where there is Bhakti (devotion),there you get the protection of Jnana (knowledge) in the form of Sudarsana (the divine wheel of Vishnu)
729. A real Vaishnava(devotee of Lord Vishnu) will not see the faults of others. He will see his own faults again and again.
730. Those who pursue the course to attain God should totally avoid the company of lustful men and women. They should avoid the company of not only women, but also those men who always keep company with women.
731. It is difficult to develop Bhakti when you live among lustful and luxurious people. There is no reason for disappointment even if you don’t get the company of good men. But make it sure that you don’t get into the company of lustful men.
732. The woman who insults her husband by cruel words will be born as a female crow in her next birth.
733. When you build a house for you imagine that it is Ayodhya.If you live on the banks of the river of Bhakti your body also will become Ayodhya.
734. Human life is momentary. Remember this truth always and put on the garment of Bhakti. Humility is the ornament that adorns Bhakti.
735. Depend upon God only. Never depend upon your mind. If you depend upon your mind, your downfall is certain.
736. God always resides in those who try to make others happy and comfortable.
737. In grief, God’s sacred Names will give you great relief.
738. Both men and women should live within the moral limits prescribed for them.
739. Bhakti which disregards the Dharmic limits has no value and is useless.
740. If any person has all good qualities present in him, that person is none other than God.
741. Make all efforts to emulate all the good qualities of Lord Sri Rama in your life.
742. While man performs meritorious acts on one side, he commits sins also through the other side. So the ultimate result gets nullified.
743. Parents are visible forms of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana. So they should be worshipped with purity of thought, word and deed.
744. Man should strictly adhere to one wife in his life. A house-holder, who enjoys worldly pleasures in accordance with the moral code prescribed by the scriptures, is in effect a celibate person.
745. Being faultless is the quality of God. If you happen to see any fault in your Guru preceptor) that alone should not be emulated by you.
746. Women should not touch the feet of any man other than their husband, even if it happens to be a great man. They should prostrate before such people without touching their feet. This is the injunction of scriptures.
747. Never hurt the feelings of Mahatmas.
748. Every word in the Ramayana has the power to redeem our sins.
749. You must invariably give up enmity and hatred.
750. If you happen to speak or hear about drinking poison, recite the names of Rama with love. Then nectar will ooze from your throat and that will neutralize the poison.
751. You must regard elder brother as Rama and younger brothers as Bharata and Lakshmana.
752. Bharath is the land of action. Whatever action you perform here will definitely bear fruit
.753. What you think about others; that others will think about you too.
754. Love is not accepting something from others. Always giving is the sign of love. Love is broken when emotions, tendencies and selfishness crop up.
755. Those who wish to see others happy will never be unhappy.
756. Prarabdha (result of past actions) has necessarily to be suffered. But take care not to acquire new Prarabdha.
757. Detachment is to be kept within one’s own self. It is not to be displayed for convincing others.
758. If you want to be happy, you should first cultivate in yourself, contentment, forbearance, egalitarianism and the habit of doing good to others.
759. If you will respect everybody, your life will be as sweet as sugar-candy.
760. If the very sight of a person can change your character, that person is none other than God. If you can always think of Sri Rama, you can see the whole world as your mother.
761. Try to install God in your eyes, ears and face.
762. By worshipping and meditating on whom all your worldly desires subside, that person is God.
763. That intellect, which is deeply immersed in the thoughts of carnal pleasures, is blunt and life-less.
764. Those who are unable to live without thinking of God and worshipping Him are Vaishnavas(true devotees)
765. Diseases keep away from those who worship Tulasi plant daily.
766. One who makes others cry without cause is Ravana. He who boasts himself and compels others to praise his glories is also Ravana.
767. If there is no similarity between the habits of husband and wife their marriage cannot be successful. Marriage is the unification two minds dwelling in two different bodies.
768. When you praise the parents of your wife, she becomes happy. Similarly, if you love the world, you will be loved by the world.
769. When the hairs near your ears become grey, remember that you are approaching old age.7
70. There is no end for desires.
771. God forgives even the greatest mistakes committed by man.
772. Ultimate Truth is simple. But the worldly activities are complicated. So even while in the midst of activities, keep thinking of God.
773. Life is not beautiful without penance.
774. Cause of man’s happiness and unhappiness is his own actions.
775. The species in which a soul takes birth is dependent on its past actions.
776. The results of past actions must be endured inevitably.
777. Man’s life has to be bound by certain moral principles. A man whose life is unprincipled is worse than animal.
778. Too much of reading and understanding leads to pride. This is hindrance to Bhakti.
779. Those who are struggling in worldly matters are wasting their time and money. He who is reluctant to serve Lord Hari, wastes the whole of his life, doing only harm to others.
780. A man’s mind has to be tested with reference to his food and other habits. That is to say, your character can be guessed from your food and other habits.
781. If the worldly pleasures appear to you as sweet, you cannot have Bhakti.
782. Worldly pleasures by themselves are not harmful. Excessive desire for them is harmful.
783. Bhakti without detachment cannot thrive.
784. Vasana(tendencies), like Soorpanakha would appear beautiful in the beginning. Later it will reveal its true colour.
785. Worship of God is not for convincing others; but for pleasing only God.
786. Man cannot live without love. But, instead of loving God, man loves everything other than God and consequently he is subjected to terrible sorrow. Love of God can be developed by curtailing the love of worldly things little by little.
787. Without realizing one’s own faults, one cannot see God. Finding fault with others is an obstruction to the vision of God.
788. He who dies with a tendency to hate others cannot reach God’s abode. So take the vow that “I will not hate anyone”.
789. It is difficult to remain detached amongst the people attached to worldliness. Your eyes and body might commit sins unknowingly, however hard you may try to control them.
790. Recite the holy names of God and think of noble things before retiring to sleep at night and rising from bed in the morning.
791. It is a sin to insult food.
792. Showing insult or disrespect towards holy men will lead to total annihilation.
793. Avoid cooking food on Ekadasi day(eleventh day after a Full moon or New moon).
794. Try to be innocent and impervious like children.
795. Faults enter into our mind through the eyes. So keep a control over the eyes. Then life will become faultless.
796. It is good for house-holders to read Ayodhya Kanda in Ramayanam daily. That will be helpful to avoid quarrels in the house.
797. It is difficult to lead a peaceful life without spending a term in the forest. Therefore, go to some forest area on the bank of a river and spend one month every year worshipping God.
798. Neck does not become adorned by ornaments. The real ornaments that will adorn the neck are recital of God’s names and observance of celibacy.
799. Your old age will be glorious if you have controlled carnal desires in the youth. Efforts for uplifting the soul should start from younger days.
800. In spite of getting a human body, running after worldly pleasures is equivalent to exchanging nectar for poison.
801. Man’s desires and greed do not become old even in his old age. Tendency for enjoying pleasures does not diminish by enjoyment. It only increases just as fire in a pyre burns with more intensity when ghee is poured into it. In fact you are not enjoying pleasures; the pleasures are enjoying you. Greed does not reduce. You are getting reduced.
802. Listening to the stories of God can be a test for your defects. If you can shed tears of joy while hearing the stories of God, know that you are listening properly.
(To be continued)
Showing posts with label Bhgavata Dharmam Continued. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bhgavata Dharmam Continued. Show all posts
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
BHAGAVATA DHARMA - 5
CHAPTER-V :
(Translation by Shri: P N B Nair)
The Fourth Skandha :
357. Jnana (Knowledge) does not sustain in an unworthy man. A worthy man cannot shine without knowledge. Wealth and knowledge will be fruitful only in worthy persons.
358. Constructive knowledge gives peace.
359. Whose life is luxurious, he cannot enjoy the happiness of knowledge.
360. All are not entitled to handle Vedanta. Even the Vedas are intended only for the dispassionate.
361. Knowledge will not shine forth without dispassion and self control.
362. Entry for lust into the mind is through the eyes. So do not permit Ravana disguised in the form of lust to come before your eyes.
363. You give up your wealth at the time of death. But Dharama follows you. It is therefore evident that Dharama is superior to wealth. So make your wealth to be in conformity with Dharama.
364. Man’s enemy is not outside, but is in his mind. If you can destroy the internal enemy, you will have no fear for enemies in your life.
365. If you have ill-will towards any body, they will also have ill-will towards you. This is an irrevocable law of the nature. So avoid ill-will, not only to living beings but also to nonliving things.
366. Selfishness will make you mad. When it increases, you begin to hate others. Whose action is detrimental to others; he cannot progress in life.
367. If speaking on a subject is shameful, avoid even the thought of it.
368. Man hides his sins; so his life becomes highly impure.
369. Purity of attitude is a great Thapas(penance). So do not entertain any hatred towards worldly people.
370. If you can treat every one as equals, your good actions will be successful.
371. If you can see divinity in others, others will see divinity in you also.
372. Jealousy and rivalry are two major defects of the intellect. Do not have displeasure towards any one.
373. Your faith has to be firm.
374. If you cannot be friendly with all, don’t worry. Ensure that you have no enmity towards any one. Absence of enmity is as good as friendship.
375. Maintain intense love towards your ‘Ishtamoorthy’ (most favorite form of God) and surrender everything there.
376. Lord Shiva is Acharya (preceptor) for all Mantras. So while practicing Mantras, conceive Lord Shiva in your mind as Acharya. That will give you quick results.
377. It is a sin even to hear some one insulting others.
378. He who has no desires lives a contented life in this world.
379. In spite of having strength to strike back, he who endures all cruelties against him without complaint is a Dhanyatma (one who is rich in soul).He who endures insult without protest will reach God quickly.
380. Discussion of the faults of someone behind his back is sin.
381. Devil will ride on the back of those who worry about their past.
382. God will not enter into a mind which is filled with thoughts on earthly objects and ungodly beings.
383. The mind and intellect wandering along too many subjects cannot be peaceful.
384. If quarrel or disquiet happens in your house on a day, you should not go out that day. You cannot find peace outside also.
385. Pictures which might entice your mind should not be kept at home. The impact of such pictures on your mind can cause hindrance to the service of God.
386. The world may not respect those who lead a very simple life.
387. Spiritual practices cannot bear fruit without the grace of God.
388. Worship your Ishta devatha( form of God which appeals to you most) with total surrender. Keep it in mind that all godly forms are of the same God.
389. Lord Ganesha represents Prithwi Thathwa (principle of the earth element. If you worship your Ishtadevatha in the form of Ganesha, obstacles are removed. Lord Shiva represents Jalathathwa.(principle of the water element).Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Shiva brings wealth. Thejastathwa (principle of the fire element) is represented by Parashakti(the Goddess of supreme power. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Parashakti will also bring wealth. Lord Vishnu represents, Akash thathwa. (Principle of ether element. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Vishnuwill increase your Prema (love of God)
390. Do not pamper the body too much. Also avoid too much decoration of the body.
391. Man can enjoy pleasures moderately, using discrimination and also observe penance.
392. Try to observe Godliness in every one. That by itself is a great penance. Speaking the truth and speaking pleasingly are penance of words. Purity, simplicity, celibacy, non-violence etc. constitute penance of the body.
393. Never speak cruel words.
394. Self control, righteous behavior, nobility of culture etc. will give you peace of mind. But wealth does not give peace. Excessive wealth causes enhancement of sensuality and vicious tendencies.
395. Vicious tendencies attract the man towards luxurious life. God-consciousness will not sustain in those who lead a luxurious life. They cannot realize God even after a series of births.
396. Enjoyment of worldly pleasures tends only to increase the desire for gratification of the senses. So, worldly pleasures which are considered to be a source of happiness, in fact turn out to be sources of extreme unhappiness.
397. Small boys are the images of Lord Sri Balakrishna. They should never be insulted.
398. Children are innocent. They should be given opportunity to acquire good culture from the very early age.
399. If your mind does not deviate towards worldly subjects at the time of worshipping God, it means you have acquired a good taste for God-worship.
400. If the Punya (merits of good actions) of all the worlds concentrate in your body, your children will have noble qualities in them.
401. If the mother is well educated, her child will get the benefit of more than a thousand teachers.
402. God alone is the real friend of man.
403. If you call Him with Prema(love) and Bhava(intense feeling), the merciful Lord will definitely come to you with all His speed.
404. Without earnest desire, you cannot get God. Therefore, worship Him with utmost earnestness.
405. Where there is Suneethi, Kali will not enter that house. (Where there is good sense of justice, there evil thoughts have no place)
406. Swabhava (inherent nature of a person) cannot be easily changed. Swabhava Sudhi (purity of nature) occurs only when Punya (the merits) from sathkarma(good actions) accumulate considerably.
407. Watching of cinema causes impairment to your eye-sight, brings diseases to the body, pollutes your mind and makes the life miserable. Is it not foolish to fall in darkness by spending money for that?
408. A mother who permits her children to watch cinema is their enemy.
409. Children get bad habits due to the fault of their mother, ignorance due to the fault of their father, cowardice due to the fault of their ancestry and penury due to their own fault.
410. Respect all. One who starts form his house with the blessings of all willreceive the blessings of a Mahatma (a godly person) on the way.
411. If you get the touch of Mahatmas on your head, all your mental disturbances will subside.
412. Japa (Repetition of God’s names) and meditation should go side by side with each other. Which Names of God are repeated in Japa, the form of God appropriate to that Name should be meditated on.
413. Sadhana (spiritual practice) performed with Sradha (steadfastness), will yield quick results.
414. Eating of rice as food will increase Rajo Guna. Fruits in food will increase Sattwa Guna.
415. Practice self control step by step. Self control is essential for developing Bhakti.
416. Once you have given up something, take care that your senses do not get attracted towards it again.
417. Those having firm determination will receive God’s help without doubt.
418. Just as a real Vaishnava(devotee) is craving to have the vision of God,God is craving to make Himself visible to those elevated devotees.
419. Continue your spiritual practices. But never be proud of it. A devotee who appeals to God in all humility, with tears in his eyes, will soon receive the mercy of God.
420. God always accompanies those who have taken refuge in Him. You run after God, and then worldly pleasures will run after you, like the shadow behind a person who walks towards the sun.
421. Verbal advices may not yield quick results. But demonstrative advices give instant result.
(to be continued)
(Translation by Shri: P N B Nair)
The Fourth Skandha :
357. Jnana (Knowledge) does not sustain in an unworthy man. A worthy man cannot shine without knowledge. Wealth and knowledge will be fruitful only in worthy persons.
358. Constructive knowledge gives peace.
359. Whose life is luxurious, he cannot enjoy the happiness of knowledge.
360. All are not entitled to handle Vedanta. Even the Vedas are intended only for the dispassionate.
361. Knowledge will not shine forth without dispassion and self control.
362. Entry for lust into the mind is through the eyes. So do not permit Ravana disguised in the form of lust to come before your eyes.
363. You give up your wealth at the time of death. But Dharama follows you. It is therefore evident that Dharama is superior to wealth. So make your wealth to be in conformity with Dharama.
364. Man’s enemy is not outside, but is in his mind. If you can destroy the internal enemy, you will have no fear for enemies in your life.
365. If you have ill-will towards any body, they will also have ill-will towards you. This is an irrevocable law of the nature. So avoid ill-will, not only to living beings but also to nonliving things.
366. Selfishness will make you mad. When it increases, you begin to hate others. Whose action is detrimental to others; he cannot progress in life.
367. If speaking on a subject is shameful, avoid even the thought of it.
368. Man hides his sins; so his life becomes highly impure.
369. Purity of attitude is a great Thapas(penance). So do not entertain any hatred towards worldly people.
370. If you can treat every one as equals, your good actions will be successful.
371. If you can see divinity in others, others will see divinity in you also.
372. Jealousy and rivalry are two major defects of the intellect. Do not have displeasure towards any one.
373. Your faith has to be firm.
374. If you cannot be friendly with all, don’t worry. Ensure that you have no enmity towards any one. Absence of enmity is as good as friendship.
375. Maintain intense love towards your ‘Ishtamoorthy’ (most favorite form of God) and surrender everything there.
376. Lord Shiva is Acharya (preceptor) for all Mantras. So while practicing Mantras, conceive Lord Shiva in your mind as Acharya. That will give you quick results.
377. It is a sin even to hear some one insulting others.
378. He who has no desires lives a contented life in this world.
379. In spite of having strength to strike back, he who endures all cruelties against him without complaint is a Dhanyatma (one who is rich in soul).He who endures insult without protest will reach God quickly.
380. Discussion of the faults of someone behind his back is sin.
381. Devil will ride on the back of those who worry about their past.
382. God will not enter into a mind which is filled with thoughts on earthly objects and ungodly beings.
383. The mind and intellect wandering along too many subjects cannot be peaceful.
384. If quarrel or disquiet happens in your house on a day, you should not go out that day. You cannot find peace outside also.
385. Pictures which might entice your mind should not be kept at home. The impact of such pictures on your mind can cause hindrance to the service of God.
386. The world may not respect those who lead a very simple life.
387. Spiritual practices cannot bear fruit without the grace of God.
388. Worship your Ishta devatha( form of God which appeals to you most) with total surrender. Keep it in mind that all godly forms are of the same God.
389. Lord Ganesha represents Prithwi Thathwa (principle of the earth element. If you worship your Ishtadevatha in the form of Ganesha, obstacles are removed. Lord Shiva represents Jalathathwa.(principle of the water element).Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Shiva brings wealth. Thejastathwa (principle of the fire element) is represented by Parashakti(the Goddess of supreme power. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Parashakti will also bring wealth. Lord Vishnu represents, Akash thathwa. (Principle of ether element. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Vishnuwill increase your Prema (love of God)
390. Do not pamper the body too much. Also avoid too much decoration of the body.
391. Man can enjoy pleasures moderately, using discrimination and also observe penance.
392. Try to observe Godliness in every one. That by itself is a great penance. Speaking the truth and speaking pleasingly are penance of words. Purity, simplicity, celibacy, non-violence etc. constitute penance of the body.
393. Never speak cruel words.
394. Self control, righteous behavior, nobility of culture etc. will give you peace of mind. But wealth does not give peace. Excessive wealth causes enhancement of sensuality and vicious tendencies.
395. Vicious tendencies attract the man towards luxurious life. God-consciousness will not sustain in those who lead a luxurious life. They cannot realize God even after a series of births.
396. Enjoyment of worldly pleasures tends only to increase the desire for gratification of the senses. So, worldly pleasures which are considered to be a source of happiness, in fact turn out to be sources of extreme unhappiness.
397. Small boys are the images of Lord Sri Balakrishna. They should never be insulted.
398. Children are innocent. They should be given opportunity to acquire good culture from the very early age.
399. If your mind does not deviate towards worldly subjects at the time of worshipping God, it means you have acquired a good taste for God-worship.
400. If the Punya (merits of good actions) of all the worlds concentrate in your body, your children will have noble qualities in them.
401. If the mother is well educated, her child will get the benefit of more than a thousand teachers.
402. God alone is the real friend of man.
403. If you call Him with Prema(love) and Bhava(intense feeling), the merciful Lord will definitely come to you with all His speed.
404. Without earnest desire, you cannot get God. Therefore, worship Him with utmost earnestness.
405. Where there is Suneethi, Kali will not enter that house. (Where there is good sense of justice, there evil thoughts have no place)
406. Swabhava (inherent nature of a person) cannot be easily changed. Swabhava Sudhi (purity of nature) occurs only when Punya (the merits) from sathkarma(good actions) accumulate considerably.
407. Watching of cinema causes impairment to your eye-sight, brings diseases to the body, pollutes your mind and makes the life miserable. Is it not foolish to fall in darkness by spending money for that?
408. A mother who permits her children to watch cinema is their enemy.
409. Children get bad habits due to the fault of their mother, ignorance due to the fault of their father, cowardice due to the fault of their ancestry and penury due to their own fault.
410. Respect all. One who starts form his house with the blessings of all willreceive the blessings of a Mahatma (a godly person) on the way.
411. If you get the touch of Mahatmas on your head, all your mental disturbances will subside.
412. Japa (Repetition of God’s names) and meditation should go side by side with each other. Which Names of God are repeated in Japa, the form of God appropriate to that Name should be meditated on.
413. Sadhana (spiritual practice) performed with Sradha (steadfastness), will yield quick results.
414. Eating of rice as food will increase Rajo Guna. Fruits in food will increase Sattwa Guna.
415. Practice self control step by step. Self control is essential for developing Bhakti.
416. Once you have given up something, take care that your senses do not get attracted towards it again.
417. Those having firm determination will receive God’s help without doubt.
418. Just as a real Vaishnava(devotee) is craving to have the vision of God,God is craving to make Himself visible to those elevated devotees.
419. Continue your spiritual practices. But never be proud of it. A devotee who appeals to God in all humility, with tears in his eyes, will soon receive the mercy of God.
420. God always accompanies those who have taken refuge in Him. You run after God, and then worldly pleasures will run after you, like the shadow behind a person who walks towards the sun.
421. Verbal advices may not yield quick results. But demonstrative advices give instant result.
(to be continued)
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