Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 707

Episode 707: BG Chap 7

Similarly, rāsa-līla is filled with divine illusion. The word ‘rāsa līla’ throws people into doubt, ‘Why did Krishna sing & dance with Gopikas?’

Understand this is a divine illusion created by Him. Only then we can understand Paramatma who manifested as Krishna & understand that He pervades through the universe. Only then do we understand that He is Yogeshwara and eternal celibate.

During Krishna’s time, there was a great Yogi devoted to Him. But when people often questioned about the rāsa lila, he too began to doubt Srikrishna’s transcendence. He thought, ‘How can he, who dances & sings with the Gopikas, be an eternal celibate & Yogeshwara?’

He came near Yamuna where Srikrishna was playing a flute with the intent of taking the Gopikas to higher Yogic levels. On seeing him, Krishna intensified his sports.

Dejectedly the yogi scolded himself, ‘That day Krishna taught me Vedanta. Today he is sporting with women. His actions & words do not match. How can we believe that he is an eternal celibate and Yogeshwara?’

Using his supernatural powers he crossed Yamuna & stood there not knowing what to do. His mind was agitated. Seeing him trapped in illusion Krishna laughed. He pitied the yogi who was his devotee & decided to dispel that illusion.

The Gopikas who were dancing said, ‘O Lord, did you observe how he effortlessly crossed the river?’

Krishna said, ‘Even you all are great’.

The astonished Gopikas said, ‘He is a Yogi. Adhering to strict discipline, he attained those powers. We have not performed any austerities’.

Krishna said, ‘You all have done that deed which is impossible for others. Not everyone can surrender their mind to God. But effortlessly you have done this impossible deed. That is why I am in your sway. Now, quickly cross the river chanting, ‘Our Lord is an eternal celibate’. When returning repeat the same sentence’.

Gopikas asked, ‘How can you be an eternal celibate?’

Krishna said, ‘You & me are not different. We are the same Self’.

With this, their doubts were shattered. They fixed their minds on Krishna & attained oneness with Him. They crossed the river. The Yogi was numb on seeing this. He was thrown into turmoil. With extensive sadhana, he had attained mystical powers. But the ladies effortlessly crossed the river saying, ‘Our Lord is an eternal celibate’.

At that moment Krishna shred his illusion. With it, all the Gopikas appeared like Krishna! He abandoned his ego & doubts. He grasped the truth & regretted his mistake.

Hastily he fell at His feet and said, ‘O Yogeshwara! O eternal celibate. Forgive me. Falling into delusion I could not understand you, who exist everywhere. You are the inner Self in all. Hence you are untouched by your plays or dance. As You exist in all forms, you have no sorrow nor differences’.

In this way, Krishna uses the illusion & destroys it. To uplift beings who have put total faith in him, He spins many illusions & keeps destroying them. This is His way of testing.

Why does everyone not seek shelter in Him & cross the illusion spun by Him? This is answered.

namāṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥmāyayā pahṛtajñānāḥ āsuraṁ bhāvamāśritāḥǁ15ǁ

The sinners, the dim-witted who are sunk in samsara, those whose intellect is deluded due to illusion and those who have adopted the demonic way of life – these lowest of men do not seek refuge in Me.

As their Jnana has been stolen by illusion, the degraded humans are deluded and commit sins. They seek shelter in harming others, violence, telling lies and other demonic tendencies. They cannot seek shelter in Me, Paramatma, says Bhagavan. By associating with illusion, moha envelops. Dim-wittedness emerges. Jnana vanishes. Sins increase. With it, he becomes debased and engages in violence, & resorts to telling lies. This is demonic behaviour.

Realizing this, one must intensify his little devotion and take it to greater heights, reduce his infatuation, engage in meritorious deeds, increase his Jnana and make attempts to cross over illusion.

Then, abandoning violence he will adopt ahimsa. Abandoning untruth he will adhere to truth. From the demonic path, he will get uplifted to humanness & from there graduate to divinity.

All this can happen only if one puts complete faith in Him.

Who are the best of men who engage in meritorious deeds and serve Him?

caturvidhā bhajantemāṁ janā ssukṛtinorjunaārto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānīca bharatarṣabhaǁ16ǁ

He who is in difficulties, who seeks to know Bhagavan, who aspires for money/ comforts & he who has Shastra knowledge are 4 types of meritorious beings who worship Me.

Ārta means he who is trapped in difficulties & is distressed. Jignyāsu is he who longs for Jnana. Arthārthi is he who desires wealth. Jnani is he who knows Vishnu-tattva. These 4 virtuous beings worship Him.

Among them, each has his own level. Among them, not all are meritorious.