Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Story 28 - Story of Dhruva – 2
Srimad Bhagavatham - A Spiritual Insight - Story 28 - Story of Dhruva – 2
Having been instructed by Narada, Dhruva went to the forest and contemplated on the ultimate reality of Lord with the help of the divine mantra of AUM NAMO VAASUDEVAYA (aum namo bhagavathe vaasudevaya). After having contemplated on the ultimate reality of Lord, Dhruva was blessed with the benign presence of the Lord. Thus Vishnu came in front of Dhruva and gave him the boon that Dhruva will be always there with the Lord after his death from earth (after leaving the mortal coil). Vishnu also conferred the boon to Dhruva that he will be welcomed by his foster-mother, father and all.
After having got the boons from the Lord, Dhruva returned back to the palace where he was greeted by his father and others as Narada had informed them earlier that Dhruva was going to do meditation and would surely get a vision of the Lord.
But Dhruva was not really happy with whatever happened as he hadn’t asked the Lord for mukthi which is equivalent of asking everything in the world.
Explanation
Srimad Bhagavatham is here explaining one of the most important things in the spiritual path of a seeker – as to what should be really asked to the Lord.
WE all seek the ultimate reality of Lord through devotion but we seek for one or the other reason. Some seek for power, some for money, others for fame etc. Thus each one of us is seeking the ultimate reality of Lord for petty things in the world. The person with whom we are seeking is perfect and complete – he is the ultimate reality of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss absolute. He is the substratum of the illusory world. He is the only entity in the entire world which is not changing and permanent. But since we are unaware that the ultimate reality of Lord alone is permanent, instead of asking the permanent thing of eternal bliss which is moksha which is constant contemplation of the Lord, we ask for petty things in the world. The world itself is changing and is prone to decay, death etc. Thus one day surely the world will cease to exist. For that which will cease to exist, we are putting efforts to attain it. We really are forgetting that the world is always temporary and any temporary entity cannot give eternal bliss – if we get money, we will be happy temporarily. But once the money gets over, we will have desire to have more – if we get, then we are happy but if we don’t get then we become sad. Thus the money which we thought will confer bliss gives us sorrow only in the long room. Let’s say we go on getting money, but still there will be a time when money will not come – at least when the body becomes old and money which is already present cannot be enjoyed. In such cases, money cannot confer eternal bliss to the individual. Thus we find aged people crying that they are unable to see TV because “eyes” are not functioning properly!!! Isn’t it foolish enough? The TV which is thought to be giving happiness can give only sorrow. We very well know that the various suicides, rapes, smoking, drinking etc. happen only because of the influence of TV. Yes, TV does have good imports to give the seeker but most of the time, the bad things alone are taken and implemented in life.
This analysis of TV can be extended to any object in the world whether it be husband or wife or money or power or office. The world itself is changing each and every moment (even science agrees on this – but Vedanta has said this years and years ago). The changing world can thus never give permanent bliss because any changing object will vanish one day – that which has vanished or is non-existent can never give happiness. Thus the world and its objects cannot give eternal bliss.
But since we are unaware of this and are addicted to the sensual pleasures of the world, we constantly seek it. Even those who claim themselves to be devotees claim various worldly benefits from the Lord as Dhruva expected from the Lord. This is not real devotion. The Lord is one who can confer eternal bliss to the seeker. Thus that which has to be sought from the ultimate reality of Lord is only moksha or eternal bliss which is nothing but constant contemplation of the Lord.
If we go to the king and ask for a small piece of cake, then it is not worth asking – because the king is he who can give bigger things. Similar is the case when we go to the all-pervading and blissful Lord and ask for petty things of the world that are temporary and causes of sorrow only. Thus we have to ask only moksha to the ultimate reality of Lord.
One of the main reasons for seekers not asking moksha to the Lord is ignorance of what they really need. A seeker thinks that he wants money but all desires are arising out of the basic desire for eternal bliss. Thus bliss is what each and person is seeking out. This bliss can be realized only through realization of the Lord who alone is blissful and permanent in nature. Therefore what each and every person is seeking out is MOKSHA alone but unknowingly trying to get it from the external world objects. Thus search is wrongly directed – when the search is directed towards the ultimate reality of Lord and towards bliss, then the seeker gets eternal bliss from the ultimate reality of Lord who is ever-waiting to give moksha to the aspiring seeker (with a desire for liberation). Thus we all have to remember that what we are seeking is eternal bliss which cannot be achieved in the worldly objects. We want eternal bliss which is realization of one’s own very nature of Lord by contemplation of the Lord. Thus we have to ask the Lord only eternal bliss and not the petty things of the world. It need not be thought that if we seek eternal bliss, then no sensual pleasures & not even basic needs of life will be there -- because the Lord is so compassionate and realization is a fruit such that it will confer everything in the world. Thus we can really find that spiritual people are never in shortage of anything in the world – they have all the things (worldly things) besides eternal bliss inherent in their very nature.
Swami Vivekananda when he was with Sri Ramakrishna was suffering from poverty – his family were really struggling for money and other things. So Sri Ramakrishna sent Swami Vivekananda to Kali (in the temple – the idol) and ask for money. Swamiji went and came back. When Sri Ramakrishna asked did you ask, swamiji replied saying that I couldn’t ask the petty things of the world but I asked for vairagya, viveka and bhakthi. It is said that Swamiji saw Kali in form there. Then Ramakrishna send him a couple of times more and the same happened. Then out of compassion, Ramakrishna said to Swamiji that “you cannot ask – therefore I will ask Kali and will ensure that you have the basic needs met in life”.
We all should be like Swamiji never seeking petty things in the world – with petty things come more problems, sorrow and sufferings. But if we seek the ultimate reality of Lord, then we also will have all the worldly things in the world.
A swamiji of the Ramakrishna Mission gives this beautiful story to show that all the people in the world want worldly things only (even those who seem to be devoted to the Lord). Once there was a discourse of Ramayana and people were flocking in the hall where it was happening. Hanuman was very happy to see the devotion of the people. Thereby he told Rama to give them his vision and bless them. Sri Rama said that to Hanuman that “you are mistaken, these people have no real devotion – they only want worldly things”. But Hanuman would not agree. Therefore Sri Rama then gave his vision to them in the front of the hall. People were just surprised at who this is – they started asking him “where did you get these clothes from – which drama are you acting in etc.”. Rama then smiled at Hanuman who was still not convinced. Rama said to the people that “I am Lord Rama”. They just laughed at him and said “if you are Rama, then show your power to us – convert this small stone to gold”. Rama now looked at Hanuman and said “See! You have put me into trouble now”. Hanuman said “no, Lord! You are not in trouble – convert the stone to gold – they are really devoted to you only”. Rama again smiled and touched the stone – the stone turned to gold. Suddenly, there was nobody in the room. Everyone had run out of the room. Hanuman was surprised and asked Rama “what is this? Everybody become afraid and thereby ran away or is it that they realized your real nature & couldn’t withstand what petty thing they had asked & therefore ran away”. Rama told Hanuman to just wait and see. The next moment all the people were in the room with huge rocks to convert them to gold!!!! Rama smiled and vanished – Hanuman was now convinced.
The devotion of normal seekers is like this only – we should not be like such seekers seeking petty things from the ultimate reality of Lord who can confer eternal bliss which will put an end to all desires. We should all strive to ask only moksha or contemplation of the reality of Lord from the Lord.
Dhruva after getting sight of the Lord returned back to the palace, a little-bit sad as he had asked for perishing things to the Lord. Thus he started living in the palace and then one day, his brother Uttana was killed by Yakshas. Dhruva became angry and attacked the yakshas and fierce battle ensued. The battle went on and on. Then Swayambhuva Manu came to Dhruva and told him to stop the war. That very moment itself Dhruva stopped war. Seeing this, Kubera was very much pleased as Dhruva didn’t have any hatred towards the Yakshas even though they had killed his brother and thus stopped the war when instructed by Swayambhuva Manu. Thus Kubera conferred boons on Dhruva and because of that, Dhruva departed to the loka where the Lord was situated and became eternal.
Explanation
We have come to the end of the story of Dhruva. First thing we have to remember is that there is one and only path to realization which is constant remembrance of the ultimate reality of God who is nothing but one’s own very nature & all-pervasive Brahman or Consciousness. Unless this contemplation is followed, a person will not get realization or eternal bliss even though he may sing many chants of the Lord, do many ritualistic and other actions and even propitiate various Sadgurus. There is one and only way to realization which is knowing one’s own very nature of Lord and constant contemplation on the Lord in order to overcome (remove) the illusory ignorance which seems to be present.
Thus Sankara says in Vivekachoodaamani
Vadanthu saashtraani yajanthu devaan
Kurvanthu karmaani bhajanthu devataah
Atmaikya bodhena vina mukthir na
Siddhyathi Brahma shataanthare api
“Vedas are being chanted or discourses are being made, Gods are being propitiated, actions are being performed, devotion is being followed – but still without the knowledge that “I am the Lord who is all-pervading and present everywhere”, there is no realization or liberation even in the life time of 100 Brahmas”.
Thus we have to constantly remember this reality even while following the various spiritual disciplines of nishkaama karma, bhakthi, yoga or Vedanta sravana. All the various disciplines are meant only to make a seeker contemplate on the ultimate reality of Lord. If the Lord is forgotten and the seeker forgets to keep in mind the reality that “I am the Lord, there is nothing different from the Lord here” then the disciplines or paths become useless. It cannot be argued here that the paths will purify the mind and thereby the seeker will be lead to realization – because only when the reality is kept in mind and actions are performed, will the actions purify the mind. Otherwise, the very same actions will become cause for bigger bondages.
There are people who are so-addicted to various rituals that they cannot come out of it. If Sandhya is not done, then it is as if “death is happening”. This is not really what is the use of doing such ritualistic actions or vaidika karmas. All actions are meant to remove the knot of bondage of action through offering to the Lord which is possible only when the Lord is remembered. Thus it is but a proven fact or reality that actions have to renounced (internal renunciation is meant here and external sanyaas is a means to this internal renunciation) in order to realize the ultimate reality of Lord or Brahman. Thus the various ritualistic actions are meant only to remember the Lord through them. For eg: chanting of Gayatri is mentioned so that Brahman or Lord is worshipped and remembered in the form of the Soorya Devata which is being propitiated in the mantra. Unless this is remembered, it is mere mechanical action. And when it becomes mechanical action, the seeker is attached and addicted to it. The seeker becomes so addicted to it that whenever he meets somebody, the first question he will ask is “Do you do Sandhya vandanam? If you don’t do it, then you are not spiritual and are unfit for moksha”JJJ Is there anything more foolish than this??? We may think that “I am not thinking in such a way and hence why does Hariram mention it again and again”; this is mentioned because there are plenty of people who consider these various actions as “spirituality”. These are not spirituality – but these are as good as any worldly action. That action where the ultimate reality of Lord is remembered alone is spirituality – that alone leads one to realization. The only criterion for an action to be part of spiritual discipline is “remembrance of the Lord”.
It is also essential to keep in mind that the reality being sought out is all-pervading and hence formless. As it is formless and eternal, therefore it is beyond all gunas or Nirguna. This reality is not something which is present in Vaikunta or Kailaas but it is the inner Self of all beings. There is no duality of Self in the world but there is only one Self which is the ultimate reality. It is the same Self that is there in “Hariram” and it is the same Self which is there in “Sri Sri Ravishankar”, “AMMA” and others. The same Self is present in all beings even as the same space is present everywhere. Thus the ultimate reality of Lord is nothing but one’s own very nature of Self only. If this reality that “the Lord is not different from me” is forgotten, then duality comes into picture. When duality comes, there is like-dislike which causes attraction-aversion to worldly objects. Thus the attention of the seeker is diverted to the external sensual pleasures. Thus Dhruva was unable to ask for moksha or realization instead he asked for petty things of the illusory world. This is mainly because of attachment to the worldly objects – this is because the worldly objects are considered as real and different from the Lord. When we consider the Lord as one’s own Self and the entire world as illusory with Brahman or Lord as its substratum, there is no duality perceived. As there is no duality perceived, there is no like-dislike which removes attachment-aversion. Thus the seeker is not affected by the worldly objects and seeks out the ultimate reality of Brahman or Lord alone – nothing can satisfy the seeker except realization.
Even though Dhruva had asked for worldly things, but due to spiritual practice and contemplation on the ultimate reality of Lord, he knew that what he asked was wrong. This is what is required from a seeker when he deviates into the illusory world – he should regret and again come back to the Lord. It is not good to keep on regretting for whatever happened, but the seeker should contemplate on the Lord and try to avoid deviations.
When thus we follow the path and do all actions remembering the ultimate reality of Lord, one without a second, there will be no likes and dislikes – thus very soon the seeker will realize the Lord in the heart of all beings as his own very nature. Thus Dhruva was unaffected even though the Yakshas killed his brother. Thus he was conferred a position with the Lord. What here Vaikunta means is that eternal abode wherein there is never forgetfulness of the reality of Brahman or Lord – it is not the Vaikunta loka which is mentioned here because that loka is also temporary as indicated in various puranas and since it is something perceived.
Thus let us all try to remember the ultimate reality of Lord and offer all actions unto the Lord thereby realizing our own very nature of Lord – and become eternal.
Having been instructed by Narada, Dhruva went to the forest and contemplated on the ultimate reality of Lord with the help of the divine mantra of AUM NAMO VAASUDEVAYA (aum namo bhagavathe vaasudevaya). After having contemplated on the ultimate reality of Lord, Dhruva was blessed with the benign presence of the Lord. Thus Vishnu came in front of Dhruva and gave him the boon that Dhruva will be always there with the Lord after his death from earth (after leaving the mortal coil). Vishnu also conferred the boon to Dhruva that he will be welcomed by his foster-mother, father and all.
After having got the boons from the Lord, Dhruva returned back to the palace where he was greeted by his father and others as Narada had informed them earlier that Dhruva was going to do meditation and would surely get a vision of the Lord.
But Dhruva was not really happy with whatever happened as he hadn’t asked the Lord for mukthi which is equivalent of asking everything in the world.
Explanation
Srimad Bhagavatham is here explaining one of the most important things in the spiritual path of a seeker – as to what should be really asked to the Lord.
WE all seek the ultimate reality of Lord through devotion but we seek for one or the other reason. Some seek for power, some for money, others for fame etc. Thus each one of us is seeking the ultimate reality of Lord for petty things in the world. The person with whom we are seeking is perfect and complete – he is the ultimate reality of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss absolute. He is the substratum of the illusory world. He is the only entity in the entire world which is not changing and permanent. But since we are unaware that the ultimate reality of Lord alone is permanent, instead of asking the permanent thing of eternal bliss which is moksha which is constant contemplation of the Lord, we ask for petty things in the world. The world itself is changing and is prone to decay, death etc. Thus one day surely the world will cease to exist. For that which will cease to exist, we are putting efforts to attain it. We really are forgetting that the world is always temporary and any temporary entity cannot give eternal bliss – if we get money, we will be happy temporarily. But once the money gets over, we will have desire to have more – if we get, then we are happy but if we don’t get then we become sad. Thus the money which we thought will confer bliss gives us sorrow only in the long room. Let’s say we go on getting money, but still there will be a time when money will not come – at least when the body becomes old and money which is already present cannot be enjoyed. In such cases, money cannot confer eternal bliss to the individual. Thus we find aged people crying that they are unable to see TV because “eyes” are not functioning properly!!! Isn’t it foolish enough? The TV which is thought to be giving happiness can give only sorrow. We very well know that the various suicides, rapes, smoking, drinking etc. happen only because of the influence of TV. Yes, TV does have good imports to give the seeker but most of the time, the bad things alone are taken and implemented in life.
This analysis of TV can be extended to any object in the world whether it be husband or wife or money or power or office. The world itself is changing each and every moment (even science agrees on this – but Vedanta has said this years and years ago). The changing world can thus never give permanent bliss because any changing object will vanish one day – that which has vanished or is non-existent can never give happiness. Thus the world and its objects cannot give eternal bliss.
But since we are unaware of this and are addicted to the sensual pleasures of the world, we constantly seek it. Even those who claim themselves to be devotees claim various worldly benefits from the Lord as Dhruva expected from the Lord. This is not real devotion. The Lord is one who can confer eternal bliss to the seeker. Thus that which has to be sought from the ultimate reality of Lord is only moksha or eternal bliss which is nothing but constant contemplation of the Lord.
If we go to the king and ask for a small piece of cake, then it is not worth asking – because the king is he who can give bigger things. Similar is the case when we go to the all-pervading and blissful Lord and ask for petty things of the world that are temporary and causes of sorrow only. Thus we have to ask only moksha to the ultimate reality of Lord.
One of the main reasons for seekers not asking moksha to the Lord is ignorance of what they really need. A seeker thinks that he wants money but all desires are arising out of the basic desire for eternal bliss. Thus bliss is what each and person is seeking out. This bliss can be realized only through realization of the Lord who alone is blissful and permanent in nature. Therefore what each and every person is seeking out is MOKSHA alone but unknowingly trying to get it from the external world objects. Thus search is wrongly directed – when the search is directed towards the ultimate reality of Lord and towards bliss, then the seeker gets eternal bliss from the ultimate reality of Lord who is ever-waiting to give moksha to the aspiring seeker (with a desire for liberation). Thus we all have to remember that what we are seeking is eternal bliss which cannot be achieved in the worldly objects. We want eternal bliss which is realization of one’s own very nature of Lord by contemplation of the Lord. Thus we have to ask the Lord only eternal bliss and not the petty things of the world. It need not be thought that if we seek eternal bliss, then no sensual pleasures & not even basic needs of life will be there -- because the Lord is so compassionate and realization is a fruit such that it will confer everything in the world. Thus we can really find that spiritual people are never in shortage of anything in the world – they have all the things (worldly things) besides eternal bliss inherent in their very nature.
Swami Vivekananda when he was with Sri Ramakrishna was suffering from poverty – his family were really struggling for money and other things. So Sri Ramakrishna sent Swami Vivekananda to Kali (in the temple – the idol) and ask for money. Swamiji went and came back. When Sri Ramakrishna asked did you ask, swamiji replied saying that I couldn’t ask the petty things of the world but I asked for vairagya, viveka and bhakthi. It is said that Swamiji saw Kali in form there. Then Ramakrishna send him a couple of times more and the same happened. Then out of compassion, Ramakrishna said to Swamiji that “you cannot ask – therefore I will ask Kali and will ensure that you have the basic needs met in life”.
We all should be like Swamiji never seeking petty things in the world – with petty things come more problems, sorrow and sufferings. But if we seek the ultimate reality of Lord, then we also will have all the worldly things in the world.
A swamiji of the Ramakrishna Mission gives this beautiful story to show that all the people in the world want worldly things only (even those who seem to be devoted to the Lord). Once there was a discourse of Ramayana and people were flocking in the hall where it was happening. Hanuman was very happy to see the devotion of the people. Thereby he told Rama to give them his vision and bless them. Sri Rama said that to Hanuman that “you are mistaken, these people have no real devotion – they only want worldly things”. But Hanuman would not agree. Therefore Sri Rama then gave his vision to them in the front of the hall. People were just surprised at who this is – they started asking him “where did you get these clothes from – which drama are you acting in etc.”. Rama then smiled at Hanuman who was still not convinced. Rama said to the people that “I am Lord Rama”. They just laughed at him and said “if you are Rama, then show your power to us – convert this small stone to gold”. Rama now looked at Hanuman and said “See! You have put me into trouble now”. Hanuman said “no, Lord! You are not in trouble – convert the stone to gold – they are really devoted to you only”. Rama again smiled and touched the stone – the stone turned to gold. Suddenly, there was nobody in the room. Everyone had run out of the room. Hanuman was surprised and asked Rama “what is this? Everybody become afraid and thereby ran away or is it that they realized your real nature & couldn’t withstand what petty thing they had asked & therefore ran away”. Rama told Hanuman to just wait and see. The next moment all the people were in the room with huge rocks to convert them to gold!!!! Rama smiled and vanished – Hanuman was now convinced.
The devotion of normal seekers is like this only – we should not be like such seekers seeking petty things from the ultimate reality of Lord who can confer eternal bliss which will put an end to all desires. We should all strive to ask only moksha or contemplation of the reality of Lord from the Lord.
Dhruva after getting sight of the Lord returned back to the palace, a little-bit sad as he had asked for perishing things to the Lord. Thus he started living in the palace and then one day, his brother Uttana was killed by Yakshas. Dhruva became angry and attacked the yakshas and fierce battle ensued. The battle went on and on. Then Swayambhuva Manu came to Dhruva and told him to stop the war. That very moment itself Dhruva stopped war. Seeing this, Kubera was very much pleased as Dhruva didn’t have any hatred towards the Yakshas even though they had killed his brother and thus stopped the war when instructed by Swayambhuva Manu. Thus Kubera conferred boons on Dhruva and because of that, Dhruva departed to the loka where the Lord was situated and became eternal.
Explanation
We have come to the end of the story of Dhruva. First thing we have to remember is that there is one and only path to realization which is constant remembrance of the ultimate reality of God who is nothing but one’s own very nature & all-pervasive Brahman or Consciousness. Unless this contemplation is followed, a person will not get realization or eternal bliss even though he may sing many chants of the Lord, do many ritualistic and other actions and even propitiate various Sadgurus. There is one and only way to realization which is knowing one’s own very nature of Lord and constant contemplation on the Lord in order to overcome (remove) the illusory ignorance which seems to be present.
Thus Sankara says in Vivekachoodaamani
Vadanthu saashtraani yajanthu devaan
Kurvanthu karmaani bhajanthu devataah
Atmaikya bodhena vina mukthir na
Siddhyathi Brahma shataanthare api
“Vedas are being chanted or discourses are being made, Gods are being propitiated, actions are being performed, devotion is being followed – but still without the knowledge that “I am the Lord who is all-pervading and present everywhere”, there is no realization or liberation even in the life time of 100 Brahmas”.
Thus we have to constantly remember this reality even while following the various spiritual disciplines of nishkaama karma, bhakthi, yoga or Vedanta sravana. All the various disciplines are meant only to make a seeker contemplate on the ultimate reality of Lord. If the Lord is forgotten and the seeker forgets to keep in mind the reality that “I am the Lord, there is nothing different from the Lord here” then the disciplines or paths become useless. It cannot be argued here that the paths will purify the mind and thereby the seeker will be lead to realization – because only when the reality is kept in mind and actions are performed, will the actions purify the mind. Otherwise, the very same actions will become cause for bigger bondages.
There are people who are so-addicted to various rituals that they cannot come out of it. If Sandhya is not done, then it is as if “death is happening”. This is not really what is the use of doing such ritualistic actions or vaidika karmas. All actions are meant to remove the knot of bondage of action through offering to the Lord which is possible only when the Lord is remembered. Thus it is but a proven fact or reality that actions have to renounced (internal renunciation is meant here and external sanyaas is a means to this internal renunciation) in order to realize the ultimate reality of Lord or Brahman. Thus the various ritualistic actions are meant only to remember the Lord through them. For eg: chanting of Gayatri is mentioned so that Brahman or Lord is worshipped and remembered in the form of the Soorya Devata which is being propitiated in the mantra. Unless this is remembered, it is mere mechanical action. And when it becomes mechanical action, the seeker is attached and addicted to it. The seeker becomes so addicted to it that whenever he meets somebody, the first question he will ask is “Do you do Sandhya vandanam? If you don’t do it, then you are not spiritual and are unfit for moksha”JJJ Is there anything more foolish than this??? We may think that “I am not thinking in such a way and hence why does Hariram mention it again and again”; this is mentioned because there are plenty of people who consider these various actions as “spirituality”. These are not spirituality – but these are as good as any worldly action. That action where the ultimate reality of Lord is remembered alone is spirituality – that alone leads one to realization. The only criterion for an action to be part of spiritual discipline is “remembrance of the Lord”.
It is also essential to keep in mind that the reality being sought out is all-pervading and hence formless. As it is formless and eternal, therefore it is beyond all gunas or Nirguna. This reality is not something which is present in Vaikunta or Kailaas but it is the inner Self of all beings. There is no duality of Self in the world but there is only one Self which is the ultimate reality. It is the same Self that is there in “Hariram” and it is the same Self which is there in “Sri Sri Ravishankar”, “AMMA” and others. The same Self is present in all beings even as the same space is present everywhere. Thus the ultimate reality of Lord is nothing but one’s own very nature of Self only. If this reality that “the Lord is not different from me” is forgotten, then duality comes into picture. When duality comes, there is like-dislike which causes attraction-aversion to worldly objects. Thus the attention of the seeker is diverted to the external sensual pleasures. Thus Dhruva was unable to ask for moksha or realization instead he asked for petty things of the illusory world. This is mainly because of attachment to the worldly objects – this is because the worldly objects are considered as real and different from the Lord. When we consider the Lord as one’s own Self and the entire world as illusory with Brahman or Lord as its substratum, there is no duality perceived. As there is no duality perceived, there is no like-dislike which removes attachment-aversion. Thus the seeker is not affected by the worldly objects and seeks out the ultimate reality of Brahman or Lord alone – nothing can satisfy the seeker except realization.
Even though Dhruva had asked for worldly things, but due to spiritual practice and contemplation on the ultimate reality of Lord, he knew that what he asked was wrong. This is what is required from a seeker when he deviates into the illusory world – he should regret and again come back to the Lord. It is not good to keep on regretting for whatever happened, but the seeker should contemplate on the Lord and try to avoid deviations.
When thus we follow the path and do all actions remembering the ultimate reality of Lord, one without a second, there will be no likes and dislikes – thus very soon the seeker will realize the Lord in the heart of all beings as his own very nature. Thus Dhruva was unaffected even though the Yakshas killed his brother. Thus he was conferred a position with the Lord. What here Vaikunta means is that eternal abode wherein there is never forgetfulness of the reality of Brahman or Lord – it is not the Vaikunta loka which is mentioned here because that loka is also temporary as indicated in various puranas and since it is something perceived.
Thus let us all try to remember the ultimate reality of Lord and offer all actions unto the Lord thereby realizing our own very nature of Lord – and become eternal.
# posted by vedanta : 9:30 AM
