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॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥

॥ THE VACHANAMRUT ॥

Spiritual Discourses

by Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Loya-9

Factors which Lead to the Development of Dharma, Gnān, Vairāgya and Bhakti

On Māgshar sudi 6, Samvat 1877 [11 December 1820], Shriji Mahārāj was sitting in Surā Khāchar’s darbār in Loyā. He was wearing a white dagli made of chhint as well as a white survāl. He had also tied a white feto around His head. At that time, an assembly of paramhansas as well as devotees from various places had gathered before Him.

Then Shriji Mahārāj requested, “May all of the paramhansas please engage in a question-answer session amongst themselves.”

Thereupon Ātmānand Swāmi asked Akhandānand Swāmi, “What are the factors that lead to the development of the four virtues of vairāgya, gnān, bhakti and dharma?”

Shriji Mahārāj answered the question, “Vairāgya is cultivated when one comes to realize the nature of kāl. What is this nature of kāl? Well, it is to know the process of nitya-pralay, nimitta-pralay, prākrut-pralay and ātyantik-pralay, as well as the lifespan of all beings from Brahmā to the smallest blade of grass. After knowing this, if one realizes the body, the brahmānd and all other objects to be subject to the force of kāl, then vairāgya would arise.

Gnān arises if one listens to the Upanishads such as the Bruhadāranya Upanishad, Chhāndogya Upanishad, Kathavalli Upanishad, etc.; the Bhagwad Gitā; the Vāsudev Māhātmya; the Vyās Sutras and other scriptures from a Satpurush.

Dharma arises if one listens to the Yāgnavalkya Smruti, Manu Smruti, Parāshar Smruti, Shankh-likhit Smruti and other Smrutis. By doing so, dharma would arise, and one would develop faith in those scriptures.

Bhakti arises if one realizes the divine manifestations of God. How should one realize them? Well, when one hears about the forms of God that are in each khand; and when one hears about the abodes of God - Golok, Vaikunth, Brahmapur, Shwetdwip, etc.; and when one listens with a sense of awe to talks of the divine actions of God describing the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the cosmos; and when one listens with keen interest to the narration of the divine actions and incidents of Rām, Krishna and the other avatārs of God, then bhakti towards God would develop.

“Now, even though a person in his initial stages has an immature mind, if he listens to the ritualistic Smrutis, dharma would develop. Later, after becoming firm in his observance of dharma, if he listens to scriptures that explain upāsanā, then all three - gnān, bhakti and vairāgya - would develop. So, these are the factors which lead to the development of the four virtues.”

Vachanamrut ॥ 9 ॥ 117 ॥

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This Vachanamrut took place ago.

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Prakaran Gadhada I (78) Sarangpur (18) Kariyani (12) Loya (18) Panchala (7) Gadhada II (67) Vartal (20) Amdavad (3) Gadhada III (39) Bhugol-Khagol Additional (11) Additional Info Vachanamrut Study People in the Vachanamrut Vachanamrut Introduction Vachanamrut Principles Vachanamrut Preface Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Blessings Vachanamrut Calendar Paratharo 4: Auspicious Marks Paratharo 5: Daily Routine Appendices

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