In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very important point when it comes to keeping our prayers unconditional towards Bhagawan. In the introductory phase of the “Bhakti Yoga”, Bhagawan is very particular about how “Jeevatmas” can become close to His heart with their unconditional prayers that they make. When we say “unconditional prayers”, it means that we’re praying to Bhagawan, just for His mere presence beside us at all times, rather than keeping enormous demands in front of Bhagawan, for the fulfilment of our own personal needs. Of course, Bhagawan is never going to say a “No”, when we put forth demands for fulfilment. However, if we’re leaving the entire protection of ourselves to Bhagawan’s divine hands, He’s going to take care of us much better than we ourselves taking care of our needs, isn’t it? Moreover, as Bhagawan is our divine father, does a parent ever desert his child? As a father, Bhagawan knows what we need and what we do not need and at what time, doesn’t He? Hence, moving forward, we should deeply introspect this point within ourselves and have a relook at our agenda behind our prayers that we perform every day.
Thus, as a summary of what we’ve witnessed as a gist in the seventh “Adhyaaya”, firstly, Bhagawan Krishna declares that there can never be anything else in this world which can be more superior to Him. Secondly, Bhagawan talks about the nature of an ardent “Bhakta” and how “Jeevatmas” become closer to Him with their unconditional “Bhakti” (Also referred to as “Sharanaagathi”). Of course, this is going to be explained in detail later on as well. Thirdly, Bhagawan expresses His own significance and explains how His divine presence can be felt in all the different things that we see in this world around us, including plants, animals, non-living things, five elements, Sun, Moon, etc. This is why we say that Bhagawan is omnipresent. Thus, these are the important points that we’ve seen as part of the seventh “Adhyaaya”, and with these aspects in mind, we shall now enter into the eighth “Adhyaaya”.
Now, as Bhagawan starts the eighth “Adhyaaya”, He lets out a very important message here. Bhagawan says thus, “Oh Arjuna! It is important that when you die in this birth, you should think of me during your last breath. Only if you think of me and breathe your last in this birth, will you be able to attain “Moksha” and subsequently reach “Vaikunta”. Else, there is absolutely no chance! Moreover, the next birth of yours will be decided upon what you think of during your last breath!” This is a very important message that Bhagawan Krishna is conveying here. For instance, if we think of a dog during our last breath, we will take birth in our next birth as a dog! We’ve witnessed a similar story of a sage called “Jada-Bharata” during our previous Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana project. Readers might remember that Sage Bharata was having a deer with him and he was continuously concerned as to who will take care of this deer after he passes away. Thinking deeply thus, one fine day, Sage Bharata passed away, and in the next birth, he had to take birth as a deer! He had to endure the life of a deer, before he once again got an opportunity to take birth as a human being to continue his penance. This is where, Sage Bharata becomes Sage “Jada Bharata” in his subsequent birth, and thereafter continued his spiritual progress and attained “Moksha”. Thus, the message here is that, had Sage Bharata not focused his thoughts on taking care of the deer, he could have attained “Moksha” at that time itself, towards the end of that birth as a human being. Now, because of his focus on the deer, he lost his spiritual progress and thereby, had to take birth as a deer in his subsequent birth.
Similarly in today’s context, we have enormous disturbances that we go through every passing day. For instance, we watch so many things on the television, we read a lot in newspapers, books, articles, etc., we go through so much in terms of our relationships with people – both family and friends, so on and so forth. At the end of the day, if we go to sleep with all these thoughts, it is going to be very difficult for us to get a sound sleep first of all, and secondly, if at all we’ve to breathe our last during this particular night’s sleep, we’re going to take our next birth, we’re going to be born as something that we’re keeping on thinking all through the night! Hence, we’ve to be very careful with our thoughts and this is why we always propagate that whenever we go to bed at night we should have Bhagawan in our thoughts, so that even if we’ve to breathe our last, we would be immersed in thoughts of Bhagawan and this would pave way for attaining “Moksha”! So for today, let’s inculcate this habit in ourselves and let us make ourselves eligible for attaining “Moksha” as per Bhagawan’s words! We shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well and look into the shlokas from the eight “Adhyaaya”. Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 