In the previous episode, we had witnessed an important extension on the point of discussion on the purpose of birth, as narrated by Sage Kapilaachaarya. We’ve been talking continuously about “Atman-Development” and how would this enable us to reach “Moksha”. As part of this important discussion, we had witnessed how we get pulled back every now and then by loads of worldly things that we keep doing every passing day. One main confrontation that happens every now and then is “conformity to societal pressures”, which we had a detailed discussion in the last episode. We witnessed how we’re bound to societal norms and when we tend to deviate from it, we face “rejection” altogether from the society, which is one of the biggest fears that we are gripped in, as part of our daily life. The primary point here is that, if we’ve to succeed in life, we’ve to at some point in time, try and break the shackles of the society and move ahead to follow our goals and passions. Of course I understand that it is easier said than done, but this should not result in our complacency. We should make a conscious effort to follow our heart and passion and success would reign in only when we do it. Once we’re going as per our passion, we would become free of fear and unwanted stress. This can directly be converted into spiritual progress, as we would be able to spend more time in Atma-development.
Thus continuing with the discussion on the significance of our Aatman, Sage Kapilaachaarya’s important piece of advice to all of us is that, we should focus more on the development of our Aatman, than our physical body and the materialistic aspects that surround it.
“Yehsa aatma pataha avvyaktaha nashtah kaalena bhooya saa!
Tam pravarta yukthum deham imam viddhi mayaabhrutam!!
Gaccha kaamam mayaa prushtaha mayi sanyastha karmanaa!
Jithvaa sudhijayam mruthyum amritatvaaya maam bhaja!!”
Continuing thus with Sage Kapilaachaarya’s important life instances, from the moment he was born on this earth, Kapilaachaarya knew nothing other than “Aatma-Development”! Right from inception, he was very clear with his agenda. Looking at this, his mother Devahoothi initially couldn’t understand the “uniqueness” and “peculiarity” of her son! However, gradually she started realizing that Kapilaachaarya is not an ordinary person at all! She finally asks her son thus, “Oh son! I’ve been through various aspects of life – Happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, etc. but till date, I do not have the knowledge on how to lead a life that is beyond all this! In fact, not only me, but none in this world have an iota of this important knowledge! Therefore, oh son, can you please educate me on this?”
Hearing this from his mother, Sage Kapilaachaarya replies back thus, “Oh mother! Please do not worry! I’m here to give you all the requisite knowledge on how to lead a life beyond worldly attachments. In fact, you are the medium through which I’ve to communicate my very purpose of birth, along with these important messages that I’ve to convey to the world! It is a true fact that the world is slowly moving away from the quest towards spiritual growth, and I’ve incarnated in this world to stop this from happening! Hence, I’m going to give few important points that you’ve to ponder upn!”
Saying thus, Sage Kapilaachaarya requests his mother Devahooti to sit beside him and starts giving her lot of advice. This is an extremely unique situation wherein a son is advicing his mother, instead of the normal vice-versa that usually happens. This “Upadesha” (Advice) given by Sage Kapilaachaarya to his mother Devahooti occupies a prime place in the third “Skandha” of Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana text. We shall try to digress into what exactly Sage Kapilaachaarya said to his mother. As we dicuss this, some readers might feel offended, or some statements which Sage Kapilaachaarya is going to make, might not be acceptable to some of us, due to various reasons, that might be best known only to us! However, truth is truth! It can never be twisted nor morphed! Whether we like it or not is in our personal discretion. Of course, we might know and be aware of many of what Sage Kapilaachaarya is going to tell us here. But the real question is that, whether we know all these in the way we should know them!
So for today, let us try and prepare ourselves for a deep grind of sweeping statements that Sage Kapilaachaarya is going to make. We shall commence this important discussion in the next episode! Stay tuned! J
The Indian Dharma 