BHAGVAT A VAISHNAVA SHOULD POSSESS THE BRAHMINICAL QUALITIES SUCH AS SATYA (TRUTH), SHAMA (FORGIVENESS), DAMA (HUMBLE), TITIKSHA (TOLERANCE) AND ARJAVA (STRAIGHTNESS, SINCERITY AND HARMONY IN ONE'S THOUGHT, WORDS AND ACTIONS),19th July

BHAGVAT  A VAISHNAVA SHOULD POSSESS THE BRAHMINICAL QUALITIES SUCH AS SATYA (TRUTH), SHAMA (FORGIVENESS), DAMA (HUMBLE), TITIKSHA (TOLERANCE) AND ARJAVA (STRAIGHTNESS, SINCERITY AND HARMONY IN ONE'S THOUGHT, WORDS AND ACTIONS).

Extract from Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION

Although you have no knowledge, you have become a so-called learned person, and therefore you dare be so impudent as to disobey my order. Because of disobeying me, you shall very soon be bereft of all your opulence.

PURPORT

Shrila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that Bali Maharaja was not pandita-mani, or one who falsely assumes himself learned; rather, he was pandita-manya-jnam, one who is so learned that all other learned persons worship him. And because he was so learned, he could disobey the order of his so-called spiritual master. 

He had no fear of any condition of material existence. Anyone cared for by Lord Vishnu does not need to care about anyone else. Thus Bali Maharaja could never be bereft of all opulences. The opulences offered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not to be compared to the opulences obtained by karma-kanda. In other words, if a devotee becomes very opulent, it is to be understood that his opulence is a gift of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such opulence will never be vanquished, whereas the opulence achieved by one's fruitive activity may be vanquished at any moment.

Extract from Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION

Bali Maharaja's wife, known as Vindhyavali, who was decorated with a necklace of pearls, immediately came and had a large golden waterpot brought there, full of water with which to worship the Lord by washing His feet.

TRANSLATION

Bali Maharaja, the worshiper of Lord Vamanadeva, jubilantly washed the Lord's lotus feet and then took the water on his head, for that water delivers the entire universe.

TRANSLATION

At that time, the residents of the higher planetary system, namely the demigods, the Gandharvas, the Vidyadharas, the Siddhas and the Charanas, all being very pleased by Bali Maharaja's simple, nonduplicitous act, praised his qualities and showered upon him millions of flowers.

PURPORT

Arjavam—simplicity or freedom from duplicity—is a qualification of a brahmana and a Vaishnava. A Vaishnava automatically acquires all the qualities of a brahmana.

A Vaishnava should possess the brahminical qualities such as satya, shama, dama, titiksha and arjava. There cannot be any duplicity in the character of a Vaishnava. When Bali Maharaja acted with unflinching faith and devotion unto the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, this was very much appreciated by all the residents of the higher planetary system.

TRANSLATION

The Gandharvas, the Kimpurushas and the Kinnaras sounded thousands and thousands of kettledrums and trumpets again and again, and they sang in great jubilation, declaring, "How exalted a person is Bali Maharaja, and what a difficult task he has performed! Even though he knew that Lord Vishnu was on the side of his enemies, he nonetheless gave the Lord the entire three worlds in charity."

Why Guru is given more importance than even Lord #Blog0065

Why Guru is given more importance than even Lord

राम तजूँ पै गुरु न विसारूं गुरु के सम हरि कूँ न निहारूँ

I would prefer to leave Lord rather than my Guru

हरि ने जन्म दियो जग माहीं गुरु ने आवागमन छुटाहीं

Lord of course gave me birth but my Guru made me overcome cycle of birth and death

हरि ने पाँच चोर दिये साथा गुरु ने लई छुडाय अनाथा

Lord equipped me with 5 enemies (Lust, anger, greed, attachment, envy) but my Guru made me get rid of all these vices

हरि ने कुटुम्ब जाल में घेरी गुरु ने काटी ममता बेरी

Lord encircled & attached me in my family circles but my Guru cut the threads of attachment

हरि ने रोग भोग उरझायो गुरु जोगी करि सबै छुटायौ

Lord trapped me in disease and luxury whereas my Guru made me free of all these

हरि ने कर्म मर्म भरमायो गुरु ने आतम रूप लखायौ

Lord bound me in my karma cycle but my Guru gave me self-realisation

हरि ने मो सूँ आप छिपायो गुरु दीपक दै ताहि दिखायो

Lord hid himself from me whereas my guru revealed Him to me by his light

फिर हरि बंध मुक्ति गति लाए गुरु ने सबही भरम मिटाये

God provisioned my binding to the world as well as liberation but my guru actually removed my illusion

'चरनदास' पर तन मन वारूँ गुरु न तजूं हरि कूँ तजि डारूँ

So, Sahjo Bai sacrifices everything for her guru Charan Das

(This is Sahjo Bai, a pure devotee’s, vani) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94t2U6Uh0w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXDzrOVrRKI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ-wsU6oZ0o

GOD SAYS “TO THOSE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY DEVOTED AND WORSHIP ME WITH LOVE, I GIVE THE UNDERSTANDING BY WHICH THEY CAN COME TO ME”,18th July

Bhagvat  best charity is where everything is sacrificed for the sake of God. God says “To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me”. Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by God

TRANSLATION

O best of the brahmanas, certainly the great demoniac kings who were never reluctant to fight enjoyed this world, but in due course of time everything they had was taken away, except their reputation, by which they continue to exist. In other words, one should try to achieve a good reputation instead of anything else.

PURPORT

In this regard, Chanakya Pandita (Chanakya-shloka 34) also says, ayusham kshana eko 'pi na labhya svarna-kothibhim. 

THE DURATION OF ONE'S LIFE IS EXTREMELY SHORT, BUT IF IN THAT SHORT LIFETIME ONE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT ENHANCES HIS GOOD REPUTATION, THAT MAY CONTINUE TO EXIST FOR MANY MILLIONS OF YEARS. 

BALI MAHARAJA THEREFORE DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER'S INSTRUCTION THAT HE DENY HIS PROMISE TO VAMANADEVA; INSTEAD, HE DECIDED TO GIVE THE LAND ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE AND BE EVERLASTINGLY CELEBRATED AS ONE OF THE TWELVE MAHAJANAS (balir vaiyasakir vayam).

TRANSLATION

O BEST OF THE BRAHMANAS, MANY MEN HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES ON THE BATTLEFIELD, BEING UNAFRAID OF FIGHTING, BUT RARELY HAS ONE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO GIVE HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH FAITHFULLY TO A SAINTLY PERSON WHO CREATES HOLY PLACES.

PURPORT

Many kshatriyas have laid down their lives on the battlefield for their nations, but hardly a person can be found who has given up all his property and his accumulated wealth in charity to a person worthy of the gift. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (17.20):

"THAT GIFT WHICH IS GIVEN OUT OF DUTY, AT THE PROPER TIME AND PLACE, TO A WORTHY PERSON, AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF RETURN IS CONSIDERED TO BE CHARITY IN THE MODE OF GOODNESS." 

Thus charity given in the proper place is called sattvika. 

And above this charity in goodness is transcendental charity, in which everything is sacrificed for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Vamanadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had come to Bali Maharaja for alms. How could one get such an opportunity to give charity? Therefore, Bali Maharaja decided without hesitation to give the Lord whatever He wanted. One may get various opportunities to lay down his life on the battlefield, but such an opportunity as this is hardly ever obtained.

TRANSLATION

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami continued: Thereafter, the spiritual master, Shukracharya, being inspired by the Supreme Lord, cursed his exalted disciple Bali Maharaja, who was so magnanimous and fixed in truthfulness that instead of respecting his spiritual master's instructions, he wanted to disobey his order.

PURPORT

The difference between the behavior of Bali Maharaja and that of his spiritual master, Shukracharya, was that Bali Maharaja had already developed love of Godhead, whereas Shukracharya, being merely a priest of routine rituals, had not. Thus Shukracharya was never inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to develop in devotional service. As stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (10.10):

"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."

Devotees who actually engage in devotional service with faith and love are inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaishnavas are never concerned with ritualistic smarta-brahmanas. Shrila Sanatana Gosvami has therefore compiled Hari-bhakti-vilasa to guide the Vaishnavas, who never follow the smarta-vidhi. 

Although the Supreme Lord is situated in the core of everyone's heart, unless one is a Vaishnava, unless one is engaged in devotional service, one does not get sound advice by which to return home, back to Godhead. Such instructions are meant only for devotees. Therefore in this verse the word daiva-prahitam, "being inspired by the Supreme Lord," is important. 

Shukracharya should have encouraged Bali Maharaja to give everything to Lord Vishnu. This would have been a sign of love for the Supreme Lord. But he did not do so. On the contrary, he wanted to punish his devoted disciple by cursing him.

DO NOT RELINQUISH THE WORLD NOR HOLD IT - SIMPLY BECOME AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORLD #Blog0064

Do not relinquish the world nor hold it - simply become aware of the nature of the world

किसी के लिए जीवन रंगमंच जैसा है

For some, life is a theatre.

किसी के लिए जीवन बड़ा सुखद है

For some, life is a bed of roses.

किसी के लिए जीवन बड़ा दुखद है

For some, life is troublesome.

वास्तव में जीवन युद्ध जैसा है आपको पल-पल लड़ना पड़ता है

Actually life is a war & you have to fight each moment.

And people who find a comfort zone in this material world, they are living in an illusion & illusion is the first of all pleasures.

सुख भ्रम से शुरू होता है, भूल से आगे बढ़ता है और भय में जाकर समाप्त होता है

Illusion (भ्रम) appears like a pleasure (सुख) to start with, and because the foundation was illusion, whatever we build up on that is in actuality a mistake (भूल) which therefore ends up in fear.

संसार का सुख भ्रम है, संसार के सुख को जितना पकड़ना चाहेंगे उतना आपसे वह दूर होता जाएगा

All worldly pleasures are an illusion; the more you try to grab them, farther they move away, very much like a mirage in desert.

संसार के किसी व्यक्ति के पीछे दोड़िए, वह आपकी भावना का दुरुपयोग करने लगेगा

If you try to follow a person too closely, he’d try to wring an advantage out of it.

और यदि छोड़ दीजिए, तो आपका बैरी हो जाएगा

And if you try to leave him, he would become inimical

दोनों ही युक्तियां नहीं है

Therefore neither following up a person too closely nor leaving him is the solution.

इसलिए जीवन जीने के लिए आप अति के छोर पर जीवन नहीं जी सकते हैं

In life you cannot live at extremes. 

संतुलन की आवश्यकता है, जागने की आवश्यकता है, सावधान होने की आवश्यकता है

In life you need a balance, you need to be awakened / aware, you need to be cautious

बार-बार श्री कृष्ण अर्जुन को जगाने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं कि अर्जुन जाग जाए

In Gita, Krishna is trying to awaken up Arjuna repeatedly

तराजू के दो पलड़े, कोई इधर रहे कोई उधर, यह तो बालक भी खेल सकता है

Child can play with a balance without worrying to keep both parts in balance

पर तराजू को संतुलन में लाने के लिए दोनों पलड़ो पर एक भार रखने की आवश्यकता होती है, वह किसी योग्य व्यक्ति का कार्य है, यह बच्चे का खेल नहीं है

But to make both the parts equal in balance needs a skillful person and it is not a child's play.

उसी तरह से संसार को पकड़ लिया जाए यह भी विचार हीनता है,  और संसार को छोड़ दिया जाए यह भी विचार हीनता है

Likewise, you cannot be at the extreme ends: neither relinquish the world nor hold the world tightly

हां केवल जाग लिया जाए, यही पर्याप्त है

To become aware of the nature of the world would suffice -  that everything here is temporary like a dream (you can neither hold a dream nor avoid dreams), that both the pleasures & sorrows would follow each other one after the other like two sides of the same coin -  not to get too much excited in pleasure and not to get sorrowful in sorrow & devote all thoughts & actions to the Creator of the Creation. 

DO NOT RELINQUISH THE WORLD, JUST BE AWARE THAT THIS WORLD IS A DREAM

रहिए इसी संसार में, 

केवल जान लीजिए 

जैसे स्वप्न को पकड़ा भी नहीं जा सकता 

स्वपन को छोड़ा भी नहीं जा सकता 

स्वप्न से जागा जा सकता है संसार भी बिल्कुल वैसा ही है 

धन छोड़ने की आवश्यकता नहीं है 

धन असत्य है 

यह जान लेना पर्याप्त है 

इसका उपयोग किया जा सकता है 

यह जान लेना पर्याप्त है 

उसे छोड़कर भाग जाने की कोई आवश्यकता नहीं है 

You can just be aware 

You need to awaken yourself 

गीता में कृष्णा भी अर्जुन को यही उपदेश दे रहे हैं कि 

"जाग जा, भाग मत" 

तू युद्ध से भाग रहा है 

यह ठीक नहीं है 

कोई राजा अगर त्यागी बन जाए तो उसमें राजा की वृत्ति (tendency) नहीं जाती वह त्यागीओं में भी राजा बन के रहना चाहता है 

कुछ व्यक्ति अपने आपको दूसरे नंबर पर नहीं देख सकते 

उनको स्वर्ग में नौकर बन के रहने की बजाय 

नर्क का राजा बन के रहना उचित लगता है 

अधिकतम समय हम सत्य कर्म भी केवल अपनी अहम की प्रतिष्ठा के लिए करते हैं, 

Mostly, we do pious deeds also just wanting to message our ego

BHAGVAT SINCE OUR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS DO NOT LAST BUT WILL SOMEHOW OR OTHER BE TAKEN AWAY, AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN OUR POSSESSION IT IS BETTER TO USE THEM FOR CHARITY TO A NOBLE CAUSE,17th July

Bhagvat Since our money and possessions do not last but will somehow or other be taken away, as long as they are in our possession it is better to use them for charity to a noble cause.

TRANSLATION

There is nothing more sinful than untruthfulness. Because of this, mother earth once said, "I can bear any heavy thing except a person who is a liar."

PURPORT

On the surface of the earth there are many great mountains and oceans that are very heavy, and mother earth has no difficulty carrying them.

But she feels very much overburdened when she carries even one person who is a liar.

It is said that in Kali-yuga lying is a common affair: mayaiva vyavaharike (Bhag. 12.2.3).

Even in the most common dealings, people are accustomed to speaking so many lies.

No one is free from the sinful reactions of speaking lies.

Under the circumstances, one can just imagine how this has overburdened the earth, and indeed the entire universe.

TRANSLATION

Dadhichi, Shibi and many other great personalities were willing to sacrifice even their lives for the benefit of the people in general. This is the evidence of history. So why not give up this insignificant land? What is the serious consideration against it?

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja was prepared to give everything to Lord Vishnu, and Shukracharya, being a professional priest, might have been anxiously waiting, doubting whether there had been any such instance in history in which one had given everything in charity. 

Bali Maharaja, however, cited the tangible examples of Maharaja Shibi and Maharaja Dadhichi, who had given up their lives for the benefit of the general public. Certainly one has attachment for everything material, especially one's land, but land and other possessions are forcibly taken away at the time of death, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (mrtyum sarva-harash caham). 

The Lord personally appeared to Bali Maharaja to take away everything he had, and thus he was so fortunate that he could see the Lord face to face. Nondevotees, however, cannot see the Lord face to face; to such persons the Lord appears as death and takes away all their possessions by force. 

Under the circumstances, why should we not part with our possessions and deliver them to Lord Vishnu for His satisfaction? Shri Chanakya Pandita says in this regard, san-nimitte varam tyago vinashe niyate sati (Canakya-shloka 36). Since our money and possessions do not last but will somehow or other be taken away, as long as they are in our possession it is better to use them for charity to a noble cause. Therefore Bali Maharaja defied the order of his so-called spiritual master.