Sankalpa suryodaya.
Queen: How did the soul, who is ever eternal, blissful, spotless and radiant, get thrown into the ocean of misery and sorrow by elements like delusion, conceit, pride and hatred? How is it that the Supreme compassionate Bhagavan has overlooked the sufferings of his dear soul?
King: The soul got into the unholy mess due to the adverse effects of ignorance avidya and selfish actions karma which are beginningless. But when the occasion comes, he will be saved by the Lord.
Queen: But why has the Lord not taken action for so long?
king: Look, Bhagavan takes delight in the diverse and opposite activities of His two consorts, Liladevi and Daya devi, who are always quarrelling with each other. But He is ever looking for an opportunity to save the soul and grabs it whenever the soul begins an act which is even just apparently virtuous, just like the worm eating into a palm leaf creates a hole in the leaf which turns out to appear like a sacred alphabet, thus getting credit for doing a sacred job.
Queen: Maharaja I am still nervous. How can this embattled soul, weakened by countless assults on his nature from beginningless time, even get the strength to stand up and pray for release? For is it not said that one should openly seek salvation and then only it will be granted?
King: Beloved why do you entertain such doubts? Though great sages have been arguing whether it is time, action or chance or any other cause which is responsible for liberation. It is certain that in the revolution of samsara, the Lord chooses a time to bless the soul and redeem him. Did he not, in his Incarnation of Sri Rama rush Hanuman the acharya to Sitadevi, who was pining for him in far away Lanka, and offer His solace and later, bring about Her release? Likewise, the Lord will make available an acharya to the soul to help him out of his present distressing circumstances.
Queen: I still have two doubts, my Lord! First - why the soul does not try to save himself when he is surrounded by evil forces and is living in a house set on fire: second - why the souls intimate spouse, Intellect buddhi does not make him realise the perils he is facing and make him get out?
King: two very plausible doubts indeed. I have the answers to them. First, the soul is surrounded by three kinds of desire -- for wealth, for land and for children .. which gnaw at him all the time. He does not have even a moments respite from them, with his will weakened by succumbing to them long, long ages. As for the second doubt, the answer is simple. Like the Lotus which goes to sleep when her Lord the sun disappears into yonder horizon. Intellect also dozes off whenever her husband, the soul, acquiesces in its lot.
Queen: Is there no way out for the soul to get over his stupor?
King: Why not? As I have already said, the acarya designated by Bhagavan to redeem the soul will shower him with his benign glances and the soul will wake up, as if from a dream. He will loose all interest exercising his own whims and fancies. There will spring in his heart a great urge to reunite with his Master the Bhagavan. But for that he will have to perform a sacrifice.
Queen: what sacrifice is that please?
King: He must offer to Bhagavan, his most valuable possessioni.e. his own self in a solemn sacrifice. It is called atma samarpana or prapatti. this sacrifice lasts for a few seconds only. The acharya who is already blessed the soul, will see him through. When that is done Bhagavan will divert His attention from having lila with the soul, will take the soul's hand in His, and guide him through a series of steps upwards leading to Srivaikuntha from where there is no return.
Queen: Lord! this seems too good to be true! It looks like cajoling little children!
King: No my dear! It is all in the shastras. Have they been controverted by anything so far? Have you not heard the story of Gajendra being rescued from the jaws of the crocodile byu the Lord's instant apperance, on hearing the elephants cry for help? Have you not heard the episode of Visvamitra, Raghu of Ikshvaku dynasty, Bhagvan Sri Rama Himself, a mere pigeon and the crane Nalijanga? Believe me, the redemption of the soul is shortly at hand for one who has done prapatti.
{ The King and Queen then hear a incorporeal voice saying, "Like UGRASENA IMPRISONED BY kAMSA WHO WAS FREED BY MERCIFUL kRISHNA WITH THE AID OF bALRAMA, THE SOUL TOO WILL SOON OBTAIN RELEASE AT THE HANDS OF bHAGAVAN WITH THE HELP OF kING vIVEKA; THE SOUL TOO WILL EARN ITS WELL DESERVED REST AND ENJOY TOTAL BLISS.}
Queen: How did the soul, who is ever eternal, blissful, spotless and radiant, get thrown into the ocean of misery and sorrow by elements like delusion, conceit, pride and hatred? How is it that the Supreme compassionate Bhagavan has overlooked the sufferings of his dear soul?
King: The soul got into the unholy mess due to the adverse effects of ignorance avidya and selfish actions karma which are beginningless. But when the occasion comes, he will be saved by the Lord.
Queen: But why has the Lord not taken action for so long?
king: Look, Bhagavan takes delight in the diverse and opposite activities of His two consorts, Liladevi and Daya devi, who are always quarrelling with each other. But He is ever looking for an opportunity to save the soul and grabs it whenever the soul begins an act which is even just apparently virtuous, just like the worm eating into a palm leaf creates a hole in the leaf which turns out to appear like a sacred alphabet, thus getting credit for doing a sacred job.
Queen: Maharaja I am still nervous. How can this embattled soul, weakened by countless assults on his nature from beginningless time, even get the strength to stand up and pray for release? For is it not said that one should openly seek salvation and then only it will be granted?
King: Beloved why do you entertain such doubts? Though great sages have been arguing whether it is time, action or chance or any other cause which is responsible for liberation. It is certain that in the revolution of samsara, the Lord chooses a time to bless the soul and redeem him. Did he not, in his Incarnation of Sri Rama rush Hanuman the acharya to Sitadevi, who was pining for him in far away Lanka, and offer His solace and later, bring about Her release? Likewise, the Lord will make available an acharya to the soul to help him out of his present distressing circumstances.
Queen: I still have two doubts, my Lord! First - why the soul does not try to save himself when he is surrounded by evil forces and is living in a house set on fire: second - why the souls intimate spouse, Intellect buddhi does not make him realise the perils he is facing and make him get out?
King: two very plausible doubts indeed. I have the answers to them. First, the soul is surrounded by three kinds of desire -- for wealth, for land and for children .. which gnaw at him all the time. He does not have even a moments respite from them, with his will weakened by succumbing to them long, long ages. As for the second doubt, the answer is simple. Like the Lotus which goes to sleep when her Lord the sun disappears into yonder horizon. Intellect also dozes off whenever her husband, the soul, acquiesces in its lot.
Queen: Is there no way out for the soul to get over his stupor?
King: Why not? As I have already said, the acarya designated by Bhagavan to redeem the soul will shower him with his benign glances and the soul will wake up, as if from a dream. He will loose all interest exercising his own whims and fancies. There will spring in his heart a great urge to reunite with his Master the Bhagavan. But for that he will have to perform a sacrifice.
Queen: what sacrifice is that please?
King: He must offer to Bhagavan, his most valuable possessioni.e. his own self in a solemn sacrifice. It is called atma samarpana or prapatti. this sacrifice lasts for a few seconds only. The acharya who is already blessed the soul, will see him through. When that is done Bhagavan will divert His attention from having lila with the soul, will take the soul's hand in His, and guide him through a series of steps upwards leading to Srivaikuntha from where there is no return.
Queen: Lord! this seems too good to be true! It looks like cajoling little children!
King: No my dear! It is all in the shastras. Have they been controverted by anything so far? Have you not heard the story of Gajendra being rescued from the jaws of the crocodile byu the Lord's instant apperance, on hearing the elephants cry for help? Have you not heard the episode of Visvamitra, Raghu of Ikshvaku dynasty, Bhagvan Sri Rama Himself, a mere pigeon and the crane Nalijanga? Believe me, the redemption of the soul is shortly at hand for one who has done prapatti.
{ The King and Queen then hear a incorporeal voice saying, "Like UGRASENA IMPRISONED BY kAMSA WHO WAS FREED BY MERCIFUL kRISHNA WITH THE AID OF bALRAMA, THE SOUL TOO WILL SOON OBTAIN RELEASE AT THE HANDS OF bHAGAVAN WITH THE HELP OF kING vIVEKA; THE SOUL TOO WILL EARN ITS WELL DESERVED REST AND ENJOY TOTAL BLISS.}
No comments:
Post a Comment