share

॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥

॥ THE VACHANAMRUT ॥

Spiritual Discourses

by Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Gadhada III-3

Compassion and Affection

On Āshādh vadi 1, Samvat 1883 [20 July 1826], Swāmi Shri Sahajānandji Mahārāj was at His residence in Dādā Khāchar’s darbār in Gadhadā. On that day, Harji Thakkar invited Shriji Mahārāj to sanctify his house. There, he had Shriji Mahārāj sit on a cushion with a cylindrical pillow on a decorated cot on the veranda outside the east-facing rooms. He then performed puja of Shriji Mahārāj with sandalwood paste mixed with saffron and other auspicious offerings. In this way Shriji Mahārāj sat facing east and was dressed entirely in white clothes. Garlands of mogrā flowers adorned His neck, strings of flowers adorned both arms, and tassels of flowers beautifully decorated His pāgh. At that time, an assembly of munis as well as devotees from various places had gathered before Him.

Thereupon Shriji Mahārāj asked the entire sādhu-mandal, “Compassion and affection reside instinctively in the heart of a devotee of God. Of the two, the nature of affection is like honey; i.e., it sticks everywhere. The nature of compassion is that one feels compassion towards everything. When Bharatji felt compassion for a deer, he had to take birth from the womb of a deer in his next life. Moreover, one who is compassionate undoubtedly develops affection towards those for whom one has compassion.

“There are two methods for eradicating compassion and affection: ātmā-realization and vairāgya. Of these, ātmā-realization is such that nothing else can penetrate it. The nature of vairāgya is that it shows all objects to be perishable. Therefore, through ātmā-realization and vairāgya, compassion and affection are destroyed. In addition, the influences of the sthul, sukshma and kāran bodies, as well as all other influences are destroyed, and then, only brahmasattā remains. But thereafter, does a devotee harbor compassion and affection for God and His devotees? Or does he not? That is the question.”

Muktānand Swāmi, Shuk Muni, Nityānand Swāmi and other paramhansas answered according to the extent of their understanding, however, none could give a satisfactory reply to Shriji Mahārāj’s question.

So Shriji Mahārāj said, “Here, allow Me to answer. The answer is that by gnān and vairāgya, the chaitanya is freed from the māyik influences of the three bodies, the three states and the three gunas. It is then characterized by pure existence, and not even the slightest trace of māyik influence remains. Consider, for example, the analogy of an oil lamp’s flame. Only when a wick-holder, some oil and a wick unite can the flame of an oil lamp be seen and recognized. But, when the combination of these three components is broken, the flame can no longer be seen by anyone, nor can it be recognized by anyone. Only when those components are combined is it seen and recognized. Similarly, when all māyik influences are overcome by gnān and vairāgya, the jivātmā remains as pure brahmasattā.

“Now, the jivātmā is imperceptible to the mind and speech, and it is not perceivable by any of the indriyas either. However, if, with time, it attains the knowledge of God by associating with a pure sampradāy, and it fully understands the greatness of God and His devotees, then it is freed from all māyik influences. Thereby, that jivātmā also becomes brahmarup. Nevertheless, compassion and affection for God and His devotees do still remain forever. To carry the analogy of the oil lamp further, when the combination of its components is broken, its flame remains within the air, where it cannot be perceived by any of the indriyas. However, the fragrance or foul smell that had pervaded that flame is not destroyed. In actuality, the air is even more aloof than the flame, yet it becomes pervaded by fragrant or foul smells. Likewise, by gnān and vairāgya, the jivātmā is freed from māyik influences, but the impression of satsang is not lost. Even though it becomes brahmarup - like Nārad, the Sanakādik and Shukji - it behaves with intense compassion and affection for God and His devotees. The following verses illustrates this:

Parinishthito’pi nairgunya uttama-shloka-leelayā |
Gruheeta-chetā rajarshe ākhyānam yad-adheetavān ||
1
Harer-gunākshipta-matir-bhagavān bādarāyanihi |
Adhyagān-mahad-ākhyānam nityam vishnu-jana-priyaha ||
2

and ‘Ātmāramāsh-cha munayo... ||’3 and ‘Prāyena munayo rājan... ||’.4 The Gitā also states:

Brahma-bhootaha prasannātmā na shochati na kānkshati |
Samaha sarveshu bhooteshu mad-bhaktim labhate parām ||
5

“In this manner, many verses promote the view that devotees of God who, by gnān and vairāgya, have shed māyik influences and have become brahmarup still have compassion and affection for God and His devotees. On the other hand, one who is not a devotee of God, and who, by ātmā-realization and vairāgya alone, has overcome māyik influences and behaves as the ātmā has been influenced during the process of God-realization by the evil influence of those who have only ātmā-realization and are devoid of upāsanā of God. Consequently, he does not develop compassion and affection for devotees of God. Just as a foul smell lingers in the air and in fire, similarly, the impressions of evil company, which cannot be overcome by any means, linger within him.

“For example, Ashwatthāmā was brahmarup, but he was influenced by evil company. Therefore, he did not develop compassion or affection for Shri Krishna Bhagwān or his devotees, the Pāndavs. Similarly, the impressions of evil company do not disappear in a person who has only knowledge of the ātmā, even though he becomes brahmarup; nor does he develop compassion and affection for God and His devotees. Conversely, for a devotee of God, even though māyik influences are overcome, intense compassion and affection for God and His devotees increase. But in no way are compassion and affection ever lost; they always remain.”

After delivering this discourse, Shriji Mahārāj bid ‘Jai Sachchidānand’ to everyone and then returned to His residence.

Vachanamrut ॥ 3 ॥ 226 ॥

* * *

This Vachanamrut took place ago.


FOOTNOTES

1. परिनिष्ठितोऽपि नैर्गुण्य उत्तमश्लोकलीलया ।
गृहीतचेता राजर्षे आख्यानं यदधीतवान् ॥

O King [Parikshit]! Despite being perfectly poised in the nirgun state, I [Shukdevji] - having been attracted by the divine actions and incidents of God - studied the [Shrimad Bhāgwat] epic. - Shrimad Bhāgwat: 2.1.9

2. हरेर्गुणाक्षिप्तमतिर्भगवान् बादरायणिः ।
अध्यगान्महदाख्यानं नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियः॥

Honourable [Shukdevji] - son of Vyās, and to whom devotees of Vishnu are very dear - was attracted by the virtues of God, and thus constantly studied the great [Shrimad Bhāgwat] epic. - Shrimad Bhāgwat: 1.7.11

3. आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो... ॥

Despite being engaged [only] in the ātmā [i.e. having attained ātmā-realization] and despite having overcome all base natures - the munis [still] offer selfless bhakti to God [because] God possesses such [divine] qualities. - Shrimad Bhāgwat: 1.7.10

4. प्रायेण मुनयो राजन्... ॥

O King [Parikshit]! [Although] the munis had no need for the rules of moral conduct and had attained the nirgun state, they [still] engaged themselves in extolling the glory of God. - Shrimad Bhāgwat: 2.1.7

5. ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचती न कांक्षति ।
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्‌भक्तिं लभते पराम् ॥

One who has become brahmarup remains joyful, grieves nothing, desires nothing, behaves equally with all beings, and attains my supreme bhakti. - Bhagwad Gitā: 18.54

SELECTION
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

Type: Keywords Exact phrase