In the previous episode, we had witnessed how the soul of evil Dundhukaari was able to attain peace and salvation with the help of Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana. Gokarna, who was Dundhukaari’s half-brother had tried innumerable ways of making his soul attain Moksha, and finally with the guidance of Surya Bhagawan, chants the Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana and with this, Dundhukaari’s roaming and disturbed soul was able to attain peace and rest. Such is the significance of Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana.
Now that Dundhukaari has finally attained Moksha, the story doesn’t end here. Of course, Dundhukaari has vanished completely at the end of the seventh day, but what about all the others who were sitting around Gokarna and listening to his chanting of the Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana? They are still alive and they’re yet to reach that highest place where Dundhukaari has gone! Upon seeing this, Gokarna once again calls for Surya Bhagawan and asks a question thus: “Oh Surya Bhagawan! How is that only Dundhukaari who had listened to it, was able to attain Moksha and these other people are still alive in this world as normal human beings? Don’t these people have the power to attain Moksha after listening to this Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana?”
Surya Bhagawan replies thus:
“Shravanasya vibhedhena phala bedottara samsthithaha!
Shravanam tu kritham sarvaihi na tha thaam mananam kritham!!”
As Surya Bhagawan gives an answer to Gokarna, he says thus, “Oh Gokarna! You’ve asked a very important question here. It is important not only to hear the slokas of Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana. It is also important to ‘listen’ extremely carefully in between the lines! These people have not done this properly and thus haven’t attained Moksha by now!”
This is an extremely important answer. We can view this answer in two ways – The first way is in terms of involvement with which we’re listening or reading through the text. The second way is in terms of how much are we able to follow and implement whatever we’ve listened or read to! Of course, listening with 100% involvement is very important. As we often keep saying, there is always a difference between “hearing” something and “listening” something. If we “hear” something, there is no guarantee that all what we hear, goes and registers into our mind. We hear so many sounds every passing day, and do we remember all of it? We do not! Whereas, if we’ve to “listen” to something or someone, we’ve to “hear” the content with a bit more keenness. In other words, we need to pay more attention and focus our concentration to “listen” more! Only then we would be able to retain into our mind, whatever is being said. Thus here too this differentiation is very important – Here, Surya Bhagawan says that these other people seated by the side of Gokarna, have just “heard” and not “listened” to Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana! Had they “listened” to it, they would have also attained Moksha by now! This means that we should “listen” to the text with our 100% involvement and concentration. This is extremely important as the first step.
The second way of course is to look at how much we have put into practice. It is not enough if we just listen to the text and get away! The second step is to think and ponder over the various messages that had been spoken / written about, from the text. The third step is “implementation”, wherein we’ve to meticulously try and follow the advice and messages that the text conveys. This is even more important! It is only for this reason that at the end of each and every episode, I keep reminding our readers that it is not enough if we read through the content and close the tab. We need to ponder over what is written, take notes and try to follow these messages in our everyday life. Only if this implementation is done properly, will we get Moksha.
Of course having said thus, it is not possible to follow in our lives, 100% verbatim as it is in the text, given the day-to-day life situations and challenges that we face. We might not be successful enough in putting into practice all of what Sage Sukhaachaarya and Sage Veda Vyaasa might have told! But this should not be a “loophole” that can be exploited by all of us. We shouldn’t become complacent by showing this loophole! Rather, what is important is that, we should give a sincere “try” to follow Sage Sukhaachaarya’s words. We should meticulously try to implement these messages into practice. Bhagawan only looks at how much effort we put in, so as to create a wave of positive change. He doesn’t care if we are successful or not. It is His problem! 😊 If we’ve to be successful in our implementation part, we require His grace! If we’re trying sincerely, Bhagawan will definitely give His divine hand forward for us to catch and enter into Moksha!
Thus having said, both “Shravanam” and “Mananam” are of paramount importance for us here. As we might know, “Shravanam” means listening and “Mananam” means, “repeated thinking and pondering over what we listened”. It is evident here that it is not enough if we just “listen” (Shravanam) to Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana. It is also important for us to think, ponder over (Mananam) and implement the principles in our daily life. Just like how Dundhukaari was able to do both of these to attain Moksha finally, we should also make a sincere attempt to follow Dundhukaari’s method! Hence for today, let us ponder over this point and do the needful! We shall wait till the next episode, to witness the next series of events! Stay tuned! 😊
The Indian Dharma 