Gajendra Moksha Katha 3 – Understanding when to wield control and when to yield control – Hindi
Sharanagati and Nirbharta, being dependent on God, giving refuge to God, what does it mean in a practical sense? We will discuss this. And based on the Leela of Gajendra Moksha, we will discuss this. In the 8th skandh of Shrimad Bhagavatam, it is described as the Leela of Gajendra Moksha.
Gajendra was a very powerful elephant, who was a king in his previous birth, named Indradevi. Due to the curse of the sage, he got the body of an elephant. And when he was bathing in the water of the elephant's body, a crocodile caught him.
And even after a lot of effort, he could not free himself. And then he became completely helpless, he could not do anything. And then he took refuge in God.
He picked a lotus flower with his hand and offered it to God. And he prayed to God. And then God appeared in front of him.
And in this way, God accepted his sharanagati. So many times, when we are doing bhakti, there are many different tasks in bhakti. For example, we have to do a lot of hard work in the material world.
For example, if a housewife has to cook food, she has to cook it carefully. If there is a housewife who is doing a job, she has to do it well. If there is a student, he has to study well so that he gets good marks.
So we all have to do our best in our responsibilities. Only then we can do those tasks well. So this is our effort or our role in doing our responsibilities.
But along with this, many times there are situations in our life when we don't have the strength to do anything. For example, we fall ill. We are so weak that we can't do anything.
Only then we can do a lot of things. But the situation is such that we can't do anything. Sometimes there is a person who has a good job.
But there is a situation when he loses his job. Then we have the strength to do something, but we don't have the strength to do anything. So on the one hand, there are some things in our life that are under our control.
And there are some things that are not under our control. And especially when we see the absence of surrender, then many times we see it in such a situation when there is nothing in the control of the person. Like Gajendra said, he tried his best, but nothing could be done.
And then he surrendered to God. If there is an example of surrendering, if there is a form, if there is a symbol, that is Draupadi. In the same way, when they tried to disrespect the Asat Sabha, then they both raised their hands and surrendered to God.
So what is happening here is that Draupadi herself tried, but when nothing could be done, then she surrendered to God. So sometimes it may seem that surrendering means leaving everything to God. Like Gajendra left everything to God, that is surrendering.
Like Draupadi raised both her hands, that is surrendering. But if we keep this concept of surrendering, then a question arises. So when Draupadi raised both her hands and surrendered to God, that is why she surrendered to God.
So before that, was she not a surrenderer? Was she not a devotee before becoming a devotee? No, she was a devotee all her life. So there is a situation of surrendering, when we become completely wrong, and that is when surrendering appears in a very violent form. But it is not necessary that surrendering happens at the same time or in the same form.
So in our life, some things are in our control, some things are not in our control. And this situation sometimes changes, and sometimes a lot of things are in our control, and sometimes a lot of things are not in our control. So there are two things in the form of surrendering.
One is what we do about what is in our control, and what we do about what is not in our control. In both forms, there is surrendering. If a student is not studying, and his mother tells him to study, then he is surrendering to God.
Whatever God wills, will happen. So this is not surrendering. This is irresponsible.
When we have the capacity to do something, and it is our responsibility to do it, if we are not doing it, then it is not surrendering. According to our capacity, we should try our best. To understand this, we see another example of surrendering.
At the end of Bhagavad Gita, God tells Arjuna to surrender. In Chapter 18, Verse 66, God says, सर्वधर्मान्परित्यजः मामेकंशर्णिद्रजः आहंतां सर्वभापिज्ञो मोक्षिष्यामिमाशुचः By renouncing all religions, you have come to my refuge. And if there is any sin in it, then I will take care of your sins.
You don't worry. You don't be afraid. So, in this way, God surrenders.
And Arjuna says, yes, I surrender. In Chapter 18, Verse 73, he says, करिषेव चिनंतव नश्टो मोहस्मदिल्लभ्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाचुतं वितोस्मिलत्यसंदेह करिषेव चिनंतव O God, by your grace, my Mohan has been destroyed. I am now in meditation.
My Sruti has come. And I will do whatever you tell me to do. करिषेव चिनंतव Right now, God has told Arjuna to surrender.
And Arjuna says, yes, I will follow your promise. That means, I will surrender. पर भगवारिदा का अन्त कैसे होता है? कि आर्जुन दोनों हाथ उपर कर देते हैं हे प्रभो मैं आपके शरन में आगया हूँ नहीं, आर्जुन की शर्नागति वैसे नहीं है आर्जुन क्या करते है? यत्र योगेश्व रख्रिष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनु अंधर रहा आर्जुन यह अपना धमिष्य उठा लिया है और धमिष्य उठा के युद्ध के लिए तजार हो गए हो तो आर्जुन की जो शर्नागति है, वह क्या है? युद्ध में तत्पर था आर्जुन यदा बाव मोप़ बाव के लिए आर्जुन ये पर्टा हे लेगा असहिय भाव से बगवान पर निर्भर हो जाना यहां शर्नागति हो सकती है and to perform one's duties with full vigour, this can also be called surrender.
So, there can be different forms of surrender. That is why understanding who is surrendering and who is not is not just based on external factors. We need to be conscious internally.
So, why are there two different forms of surrender? Because when Draupadi was in that state, there was nothing in her control. When Draupadi tried, there was nothing in her control. So, what did she do? There was only one thing in her control.
That was her consciousness. So, Draupadi surrendered her consciousness to Bhagwan. And she called out to Bhagwan.
And she raised her hand and said, I surrender to Bhagwan. So, what is the situation of Arjuna? Arjuna is a warrior, a warrior, a great archer. So, it is his responsibility to serve Bhagwan.
It is his responsibility to fight. So, to be on top of that responsibility is also surrendering. So, what does surrendering mean? It means that there are two things in our lives.
Some things are in our control. Some things are not in our control. So, the things that are in our control, with all the capacity, with all the enthusiasm, with all the strength, we need to do them well.
This is also surrendering. And the things that are not in our control, we need to give them to Bhagwan. We need to give them to Bhagwan.
That is also surrendering. Twenty-five years ago, when I started giving discourses, some of the devotees gave me guidelines. They gave me a letter, how to give discourses, how to give discourses, what were the warnings.
In that, the last point was, I am dependent on Bhagwan Krishna. But in the bracket, it was, after preparing myself. After preparing myself.
If someone doesn't prepare himself, and comes and sits, I am dependent on Bhagwan. I am not dependent on Bhagwan. What will happen is, we will become non-existent.
Yes, we can come and sit fully prepared, and sometimes we will forget something. Or sometimes it can happen that we come fully prepared, but at that time, we will have some other influence. This can happen.
But preparing ourselves, this is our duty towards Bhagwan. And this is our responsibility. That is why, in surrendering, whatever is in our control, doing it fully, and whatever is not in our control, giving it to Bhagwan.
These are both surrendering. And in different situations, in different ways, we have to show surrendering. Now in this, if we understand surrendering in this way, then what happens in this? There are many problems.
First of all, how to understand, what is in my control, and what is not in my control. If I am sick, then in a way, I have become so weak, that I can't even get up. I can't even get up.
I am not in control. So when such a situation comes in our life, when we reach a very weak, or a very sad situation, then we can clearly understand, that I don't have anything in my hand. But in a normal daily routine, how can we understand, what is in my hand, and what is not in my hand.
And in our normal daily routine, how can we show surrendering. Now, the work that we do, in that work, there are many things, that contribute, to get results. So now I said, if a student does not study, and he says, I am dependent on God, that is not dependent on God, that is irresponsible.
So now, if someone says, what is unresponsibility? Someone says, I get so many marks, I get so many marks, I am worried, I am not dependent on anything. Now, irresponsibility and irresponsibility, what is the difference? If we are uninvolved, before doing the activity, that is irresponsibility. If we are uninvolved after doing the activity, that is detachment.
If I don't care before doing the work, then that is irresponsible. But after doing the work, if I don't think about it, then it can't come. Now the student has given the test, and is still thinking.
How many marks will I get? What will happen if I get this much? What will happen if I get that much? What will happen if I get that? So what is that? That is attachment. When there is attachment, then we don't do what we can do now. For example, if there are 3-4 exams for a student.
One exam is done, he has to prepare for the second exam. But while preparing for the second exam, he thinks, I have given such and such answer, is it right or wrong? How many marks will I get? What will happen there? What will happen there? So because of that, he won't be able to do what we can do. Now he has to prepare for the next exam, he won't be able to do that.
So, Anasakti means, the things that are not under my control, I will put more emphasis on those things. So that is Anasakti. And the things that are under my control, I will definitely do my work in those things.
So that is my responsibility. So if we don't understand this difference, then what happens is, the things that are not under our control, if we keep thinking about them, then we will get attached to them. And because of attachment, we will feel helpless.
What will happen? What will happen? What will happen? What will happen? We don't know what will happen. What is going to happen, is going to happen. We don't have control over that.
The things that are not under our control, if we put our emotions into them, then that is Anasakti. And Anasakti makes us helpless. We feel helpless.
But on the contrary, the things that are under our control, if we don't pay attention to them, then we don't feel helpless, we become helpless. We are not doing what we can do. So that is why, we have to see in every situation, I was talking about this, how do we understand, what is under my control, and what is not under my control.
So this is one way of looking at it. Before doing something, we have control over it. After the work is done, I don't have control over it.
If there is a study, an interview, an exam, an interview, some important work, before that I can prepare, while doing that I can pay attention, but after that, I move ahead. After that, we keep thinking about it, and because of that attachment, we become helpless. So that is why, the feeling of surrender is from both sides.
What is under my control, to do it with full power, that is also surrender. And what is not under my control, to go to God all day long, that is also surrender. To understand this, let's take an example.
If a patient goes to a doctor, so now, if the patient has to get well by taking medicines from the doctor, I was very ill 8-10 years ago, 10-12 years ago, I had TB, so I was doing a lot of penance in the form of Brahmacharya, the doctor told me first, whatever you teach in the discourse, you have to follow it. I said, I do it, what are you saying? No, he said, whatever I say, whatever I say, you have to do it. I say, you eat this, you have to eat this.
Don't do this, don't do this. So what is it? When there is a relationship between a doctor and a patient, so what is it? Sometimes the doctor will tell the patient, that now you, don't do anything, you rest. Now, the patient has to do the same.
Then the doctor says, I have to go here, I have to go there, I have to do this, I have to do that. He says, there is no strength in the body, if you do more work at that time, the body will become weaker. But suppose, the disease has come under control, after that, the doctor says, now you have to do exercise, you have to do a little exercise, so that you will be strong.
Then if the patient says, no, I will lie on the bed, me later. So, then you won't get well again. So, sometimes the doctor can say, don't do anything, then you don't have to do anything.
Sometimes the doctor says, you have to exercise. So, if the doctor says, you go, you do this exercise, you do Surya Namaskar, you lift weight. Patient says, no, my hand is paining.
No, you do more. Why? This is how you will get well. So, in both cases, the patient is dependent on the doctor.
But that dependence is in different ways. In some cases, complete rest is dependent. In some cases, doing exercise with full force is dependent.
There is a purpose in both the cases. The purpose is to cure the patient. To cure the patient, do what is necessary, what is used.
So, sometimes the doctor says, you rest. Sometimes he says, you exercise. Why? Because at that time, that thing is important.
When our Acharyas tell us how to understand Sharanagati. So, you tell us six characteristics of Sharanagati. Anukulyasya Sankalpa, Pratikulyasya Varjunam, Rakshishtiti Vishwaso, Gauntrutve Varnam Tatha, Atmanikshepakarpanye, Shadvidha Sharanagati, Shadvidha Sharanagati.
With these six characteristics, we can understand Sharanagati. What are these six characteristics? Anukulyasya Sankalpa, which is suitable for your bhakti, accept it. Pratikulyasya Varjunam, which is suitable, stay away from it.
Rakshishtiti Vishwaso, that God will definitely protect me. I believe in this. Gauntrutve Varnam Tatha, and it is not that when there is a problem, God will protect me.
Always, in reality, God only follows me. God only is running our regime, controlling us. Atmanikshepakarpanye.
I offer everything to God. Karpanye. Without God, I am nothing.
These six are Shadvidha, Sharanagati. In these six parts of Sharanagati, the first two are actions. And the last four are feelings.
The first two are actions, the remaining four are dispositions. Now, God is saying that Anukulyasya Sankalpa, Pratikulyasya Varjunam. Accept what is suitable, stay away from what is unsuitable.
This means that God is saying that we have to work, we have to choose. As I said earlier, some things are in our control, some are not. So, we have to choose what is in our control.
If a person wants to progress in bhakti, and he has a friend around him who is also interested in bhakti, and he has a friend who is very materialistic, he keeps on saying very inappropriate things, he works in a very inappropriate way, he has inappropriate habits. Now, both the people are around him. Both of them may be working in the same office.
Now, this devotee who wants to progress in bhakti, if he sees that this person's company is suitable for bhakti, then he will choose that person. He will connect with that person. This person is actually compatible with my bhakti.
So, he can work according to his needs, but there is no need to make him very materialistic. So, in this way, choosing is also surrender. Surrender does not mean that I will accept whatever happens.
Surrender means that we are actually choosing, and we should choose in the right way. Many times, people have a Gita in their homes or shops, and it is written in the Gita that whatever happened was good. Whatever is happening is good.
Whatever is going to happen will also be good. Now, I have read this Gita more than a thousand times. I have not found a single shloka that says whatever happened was good, whatever is happening is good, whatever is going to happen is good.
Now, when Draupadi was getting dressed, the Pandavas did not tell her that whatever happened was good. No. Everyone did not criticise her, Dushyasana, Karna, Dhruva.
Everyone condemned her. No one told Draupadi that whatever happened was good. No.
Some things in the world are good and some are bad. So, the essence of Bhagavad Gita is not what is happening. Now, it does not mean that what happens is bad.
What it means is that God is so capable, Krishna is so expert, that he can bring good even out of the bad. Bad things do happen, but God can bring out good even from bad things. He can bring out good results.
But what is happening at that time is bad. It is not that if something bad happens in our life, we say, no, everything is good. That is not surrender.
Suppressing our emotions is not surrender. But one is to suppress our emotions. And the other is to be suppressed under our emotions.
Whatever our emotions say, we will do that. If I get angry, I will say something bad. If I get greedy, I will buy as much as I want, I will take as much loan as I want.
One is to become a slave to our emotions. To be suppressed under our emotions. That is not right.
Bhagavad Gita says that you should keep everything in balance. न प्रहिषे प्रियं ब्राप्य न दुजेख प्राप्य चा प्रियं सिरबुद्धे असा मूढ हो ब्रह्मवित ब्रह्मणिस्तिता If something good happens, don't be happy. If something bad happens, don't be sad.
How not to be sad? ब्रह्मवित ब्रह्मणिस्तिता In this knowledge of Brahma, you should be engaged in my service. If you are engaged in my service, आप मिच्मित नहीं होगे If a person has come to know that my grandfather has passed away and he has kept 5 crore property for me and he is going there from his house but he has been told that if you want, you have to reach there within a day. If you don't reach there, nothing will happen.
So, he will go there very carefully. If he is going, and on the way, if he sees a 5 rupee note, he will drop it on the way. Wherever he goes, that note flies away.
It goes further back. So, if he forgets that there is 5 crore property here, he will run after that 5 rupee note. And if he doesn't know about 5 crore, he can run after that 5 rupee note a lot.
Because if he doesn't have anything, then 5 rupee is a very big thing. But if he knows that he is going to get 5 crore, then even if that 5 rupee is flying away, he won't pay much attention to it. Or suppose, he is going and a person comes, and he is running after that 5 rupee note.
So, he will try to catch it. But if he doesn't get it, he won't run after that person. Why? Because he knows that he is going to get a very big thing.
And in comparison to that big thing, whatever he is getting here, whatever he is losing here, that is very small. Similarly, when we understand the feeling of bhakti, we understand that if we increase in bhakti, if we attain the love of Bhagwan, if we put our consciousness in Bhagwan, then we are going to get infinite bliss. ramante yogino anante When we walk in Bhagwan, it is an infinite walk.
We are going to get infinite bliss. The 5 crore rupee note, even more than that, there is infinite bliss in attaining Bhagwan. When we attain Bhagwan, the bliss in that is sukha-dharma-aparanda-jaad-dhujyamane hari-charana-smarana-vrutena-dhanyam Kulshikar Maharaj says that the bliss in Hari-charana-smarana, the bliss in Bhagwan's remembrance, no other bliss in this world compares to that.
And, the person who is saying this, Kulshikar Maharaj, he was a very rich, wealthy king. Whatever luxuries, ordinary people imagine, all that was with him. And despite that, he is saying that in reality, there is no bliss like the remembrance of Bhagwan Hari.
That is why, he says, this is what I am going to try. So, I was telling, that doing bhakti means, bhakti means, not suppressing our emotions. Not suppressing.
But, not suppressing our emotions either. Suppressing our emotions means, as soon as emotions come, I will work accordingly. And suppressing our emotions means, whatever I am feeling, I will not accept it.
If, I am sad about something, then if I say, no, no, I am not sad, it is good. No, it is not good, it is bad. I accept that it is bad.
But still, we will not be affected by it. Why? Because I have a bigger aim in life than that. When we do bhakti, then, the essence of bhagavad-gita is not, what is happening, is it good or bad.
The important essence of bhagavad-gita is, that whatever we are doing, is it good or bad. Whatever we are doing, we are doing the right thing. Arjun does not ask Bhagwan, that what is happening, how is it happening, is it good or bad.
Arjun asks Bhagwan, ruchamitvam dharmasamudhachetaha I ask, what is my dharma, what is my duty, please tell me. Meaning, what do I have to do? Bhagavad-gita has been emphasised on that. And sometimes, to do our duty, we have to work with full capacity, and sometimes, to do our duty, we have to sacrifice.
Right now, I do not have anything in my hand. Especially, parents are there. So, when the child is small, then what happens? So, you have to give full attention to the child, to teach him, how to wash hands, how to do this, how to do that.
And you have to give full attention, to do what you are told to do. But, when children are young, 15, 16, 18 years old, then their mind, their intellect, and then, how much can we control them? Maybe, they will go to a hostel, their life will start somewhere. Then, this control, becomes very less.
We cannot control them. So, parents always have a good intention, that they are the caretakers of their children. But, in the course of life, sometimes, they have to control their children.
Sometimes, in the course of life, the care of children is very less. So, when, the children are young, like Arjun, has raised his bow, and he is ready to fight, Similarly, parents are ready to fight, to protect their child. Whatever has to be done, save him from bad company, save him from bad habits, and they are ready to do anything.
But, when the child grows up, then, the mother's support, comes from Drupadi. Oh God, save yourself. What can we do? What is in our control? We cannot control much.
So, to know when to wield control, and, when to yield control, is the key to happy life. If we want to live a happy life, then, when to wield control, and, when to yield control. It is very important to understand this.
When we want to wield control, we do not wield control. A small child says, this toy should be played, that toy should be played, this toy should be played, that toy should be played. We give him whatever he wants.
Then, what happens? The child becomes quiet. He becomes very quiet. What happens? When he grows up, when he grows up, then, a vital part of growing up, is learning to take no gracefully.
In a way, our ability to work increases. Our ability to wield control increases, when we grow up. Along with that, we also understand that, in reality, there are many things that are not in my control.
And, if something happens against my will, then, I have to accept it. So, when a child is small, whatever his will is, he fulfils it. He fulfils his mother's wish.
Then, what happens? Then, the child does not have the habit of accepting no. And, when he grows up, and he wants something, the world does not give it to him. Then, he is not able to accept no.
And then, when this happens, then, he is not ready to face life. When we get a no in life, when we get a negative answer in life, then, we have to accept it. That is why, when a child is small, then, we do not guide him.
Then, we do not control him. Then, what happens? He is irresponsible. But, when he grows up, we will control him.
So, that is also not right. Then, what happens? Then, the child, will call his mind. He will go against it.
It does not work like this. When we have to control, then, we have to control. When we have to give up control, then, we have to give up control.
And, this is, to avoid the right decision from the wrong one. To accept what is right, and, to leave what is wrong. So, in this way, what is needed to do this? What is needed is, intellect.
So, that is why, surrender, surrender, is actually, the peak of intellect. It is not like, if you do not know anything, if you do not have any intellect, then, whatever you say, I will do. It is not like this.
A person who is intelligent, comes to the peak of his intelligence, and, surrenders. For example, in Mahabharata, it is mentioned, about Draupadi, how Pandavas were in exile. So, at that time, Duryodhana, made a conspiracy, and said to Duryodhana, you go, to Pandavas.
So, Duryodhana, went to Duryodhana, and, Duryodhana, welcomed him, and, as a guest. And, when Duryodhana was not happy, Duryodhana said, now, what blessing, do you want? Duryodhana, was very angry. Duryodhana, was intelligent, but, when he was intelligent, he, was using it for Adharma.
So, he said, outwardly, he said, I do not want anything. I, Duryodhana, whatever blessing, you have given me, that, please, give it to my brother, Pandava, too. So, the way, you were becoming my guest, you, become his guest.
Duryodhana, was very happy. He, is so selfless. People always ask him, from the sadhus, that, give this blessing, give this blessing.
He, is a very good king. is a good king. And, when he was going, he said, there is one request, that, now, Yudhishtira, who is living in the jungle, he, will not have so many facilities.
So, when, in the afternoon, he must have eaten, then only, you go to him. So, he will be able to serve you, He knew, that, he will not be able to serve you, So, what happened, he had, a bowl. And, in that bowl, until Draupadi, did not eat food, that food, was there.
And, when Pandavas ate, with them, Brahmins, Rishis, they all ate food. After that, Draupadi, used to eat food. After that, she did not eat anything.
So, Draupadi, you go. And, Draupadi, reached there. When she reached there, then, what happened? So, there was a big problem.
Yudhishtira, got scared. Now, Yudhishtira is a king, he is a very powerful king, Bheem, Arjuna, he is a warrior. So, he was not scared of the battlefield, that the battlefield is ready.
But, he was scared, that he should not harm Because, if someone hits with a weapon, he can use the weapon. But, if a Brahmin hits with a sword, what will he do? He cannot do anything. So, he got scared.
He got a little worried. And, Indravasi said, I will go and take a bath, and I will come back. So, Yudhishtira, who is the king of the world, Bheem, he is a great warrior, Arjuna, he is a great archer.
But, when there is a problem at home, he can solve all the problems of the world. But, when there is a problem at home, it is all because of Draupadi. What should we do? We should ask Draupadi.
We should ask Draupadi. What should we do? Then, Draupadi, is doing only one thing. What is that? Praying to God.
And, Draupadi is praying to Krishna, O Krishna, please save me. Now, all these Pandavas were great devotees. But, how Krishna comes to save us Draupadi was the most experienced witness of this.
Because, Draupadi's honour, was saved by God in that meeting. But, Draupadi was praying very vigorously. And, Krishna came there immediately.
So, in reality, when, in the meeting when Draupadi was calling, then Krishna, did not come there in a bad form. Only, Draupadi's entire attire became impure. And, why did she not explain this to anyone? Draupadi understood that Krishna saved her.
But, people could not understand. Here, Krishna did not come there So, Krishna came here When Krishna came himself, then what happened? So, Draupadi, immediately, Draupadi bowed to Krishna. And, she was about to tell him what her problem was.
Then, Krishna said to Draupadi, Krishna said, Hey, Draupadi, you can say whatever you want later. I am very hungry. Give me something to eat.
Draupadi held her head and said, Hey, Lord, earlier, I was not able to serve the Brahmins. That is why, I was sad. Now, I am not able to serve you.
Otherwise, it would have been a bigger problem. So, sometimes, we have problems and we go to the Lord. Then, the problem gets bigger.
So, Draupadi's problem doubled. First, she was not able Here, she was not the Lord. So, when this happened, Draupadi said, Krishna, Lord, you know that I do not have anything.
I am not able That is why, I am calling you. How can I come? I do not have anything. No, no, I am hungry.
I am hungry. You must have something. You, go to your Akshaya Patra and see if there is anything there.
So, Draupadi said, There is nothing there. I have seen it myself. I have cleaned it myself.
There is nothing there. But, when you go to the Lord, you will see Draupadi's face. When you see, what happens? There was a little food So, she gave that food to the Lord.
And, the Lord accepted it. As soon as she ate it, with that little food, not only he became poor, but, all the sages also became poor. And, not only they became so poor, but, they also became hungry.
So, when to someone's house, and they have food, they are insulting us. But, when we someone's house, we say that we have prepared food for And, when we go there, they say that they have already So, they will be insulted. So, when the Pandavas Durvasa, they were afraid.
But, when Krishna accepted the they also became afraid. They started thinking that Yudhishthira is a great demon. And, they also started thinking that Yudhishthira is a And, also started thinking that Yudhishthira is a demon.
also thought that Yudhishthira is a What is going to happen with Chitta? So Krishna said, don't worry, he is not going to come. So when they went there and saw, there was no one there. So God told them that they have seen a bad person.
So then Pandavas praised God that how did you save us from this trouble. And usually in this story we emphasise on how we make God happy and everyone becomes happy. We can learn one more thing that how we make God happy and everyone becomes happy.
But in this we can see one more thing. How? What can we see? That how was there a little food left in that bowl? How was there a little food left? Now suppose if we have 700-700 houses in our house, so if the food is over, we keep the utensils very clean. We don't leave a little food on the utensils, we keep them very clean.
And we do this for ordinary utensils also. Suppose someone has a gold utensil, and sometimes he eats food on it, so if he eats food on that gold utensil, he keeps it very clean. And for Pandavas, the Akshaya Patra was more important than the gold utensil.
Whatever food was coming from that utensil, so how was there a little food left on that utensil? So someone can say that it was Draupadi's fault, she made a mistake. So that food was left there. But even if Draupadi made a mistake, still it is God's ability to give a better result than his devotee's mistake.
So when we make a mistake, sometimes we make a mistake in our life, and when we make a mistake, we start beating ourselves. Why did I do this? Why did I do this? I am a big fool. What happens when we make a mistake? If something goes wrong in our life, then we blame someone else.
You did this because of me, you did this because of me. But if we make a mistake, then we blame ourselves. But blaming others or blaming ourselves, that both are wrong in reality.
What happens with this? With this, we are not actually going to God's refuge. Okay, the mistake has happened. So the mistake is actually the first mistake.
After that, when we start blaming ourselves, blaming others, then this is the second mistake. And the first mistake has such a bad effect, more than that, the second mistake has an effect. How? Assume that a person is walking on the road.
When he is walking on the road, a snake bites him. So now, I was in America 3-4 months ago. At that time, I was talking to American people about their thoughts about India.
So till now, American people think that India is the land of snake charmers, that those who make snakes dance, such people's kingdom is India. I have been in India for 20 years, 40-50 years. Only 2-3 times I have seen a snake charmer's logo.
It is not full of snakes, but that is their belief. And there, many times, when people come to India, they are told the tourist guidelines, that if you are walking on the road in India, be very careful, a snake will come from anywhere and bite you. So now this is not true.
If we look at statistics, if we look at the statistics, then if we look at it as a percentage, then India has a large population, then India has a large population, so people die in different ways. Sometimes people die from snakes. But if we look at it as a percentage, how many people die from snakes, then if we look at it as a percentage, then in America, more people die from accidents on the roads than from the distribution of snakes in India.
So still people have a belief that a lot of people die. Yes, there are snakes everywhere, it is a dangerous place. But suppose, someone is walking on the road, and a snake bites him.
If the snake bites him, then what happens? The person feels pain. But suppose, when the person bites the snake, he gets angry. Hey snake, how did you need to bite me? I will show you now.
And the snake is going, we run after it. And we run after the snake, and we jump from our feet and kill it. And even if we are able to kill it, then what happens to us? This poison, we are running after it, our feet are hitting the ground, the poison is spreading in our body.
What happens to it? We will die first. Even if the snake is going to die, we will die first. So what does this mean? If the snake bites me, maybe I was walking on the road, that is why the snake bit me, then it is a mistake.
But when I make a second mistake, what is the second mistake? I run after the snake. Then the problem increases. So, many times, when a person says something to me, I get angry.
Okay, I get angry, that person did something wrong, I did something wrong, whatever it is. But when we say something in anger, what happens? That person says something like, what did I say? Why did I say like this? A devotee, he gets very angry. But what happens? We get a special kind of attachment in bhakti.
When we start doing bhakti, we think, I have done so much bhakti, even I am free from all the bad things. So he used to get angry, but he never accepted that he used to get angry. He never said like this.
Then what did the other devotee do? When the other devotee got angry, and he used to say a lot in anger, nowadays everyone has a phone, as soon as the devotee got angry, he switched on the phone, the recording button. And then whatever the devotee said in anger, he recorded it all. And later when he calmed down, he showed it to the other devotee.
And the other devotee was horrified. He said like this, how did he say like this? He was horrified, but he said like this. So what happens when we get angry, it happens like this, suppose, another person comes to us and says, anger makes us unrecognisable to ourselves.
We will not be able to recognise ourselves. When we speak in anger, what we say becomes very inappropriate. So what happens here? Anger comes, the person has done something, you have done this, whatever he has done, we have to do something for that.
But what to do now? If I work in anger now, the problem will increase. So the person has done something wrong to me, how is that? A snake has bitten me. So if I think, if you did this, then I will do this to you.
So what is that? I am running after killing the snake. The problem will increase. This does not mean that you can do anything to me and I will tolerate everything.
No. There is a right reaction and a wrong reaction. If the snake is in the same path, in the same area, then you have to do something to the snake.
You have to throw the snake away or kill it. We have to kill it or someone else. But at that time, when the snake has bitten me, then what I have to do? I have to save myself.
In the same way, why should I not make a mistake? What I have to do at that time? At that time, I have to calm myself down. I have to remove the poison of anger from my mind. When I remove the poison of anger from my mind, after that, I can calmly think and think about what I have to do with that person.
In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna is told to fight. But in which consciousness should he fight? Bhagavan is not reminding Arjuna anywhere in the whole Bhagavad Gita that see, Kauravas had tortured you, they had raped you, that is why you should fight. No.
Bhagavan tells Arjuna to fight. But how should he fight? With anger. mayi sarvani karmani sannyasya dhyatma chetasam nirashir nirmamo bhutva yudhya svabhigatajvarah Without any attachment, without any desire, you should fight in spiritual consciousness.
nirvairah sarvabhuteshu Do not have enmity with anyone. Do not have enmity with anyone. Arjuna is fighting.
With what emotion is he fighting? With the emotion of dharma, to fulfil his duties. So, what is the purpose of saying all this? We are discussing that our emotions should not be suppressed nor should our emotions be suppressed. We are discussing this because when something happens in our life, we have to work according to what is appropriate and not according to what is inappropriate.
So, sometimes we need to understand what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. And when something goes wrong in our life, then our emotions get suppressed. Our emotions become very excited.
And then we cannot think peacefully. So, we need to calm ourselves. And after that, we need to work.
When anger is coming, then what is the meaning of sharanamati? Is this anger appropriate for my bhakti? Is it appropriate to do my religious duties? No, it is not appropriate. So, stay away from this. And after that, we need to work.
When we work like this, then what happens? We see that God helps us in a different way with his plan. He helped Yudhropadey. In this way, he miraculously fulfilled his need.
About 2-3 months ago, when I was returning from America, there is a country called Trinidad in the West Indies. I went there, to Trinidad and Tobago. I was there for 3 days and then I was going to Panama from there.
And from Panama, I was going to come to India from America to England. So, it was 4.45 in the morning. A bhakti was going to come to pick me up.
And then, he had to go to another room. He had some work. So, I was in one room.
I went to another room. So, I thought a bhakti will come. So, it was hot outside.
There were mosquitoes outside. So, I kept the door open. He came inside.
And I saw that something was wrong in this room. I saw that my laptop was missing. Within 2-3 minutes, a thief came and took my laptop.
And in reality, when I was going from one room to another, he had already locked the door of my room. Later, I thought that there should be some communication about other bhakts. So, I opened the door and left.
And at the same time, a thief came and took my laptop. He stole my laptop. So, I was very angry.
Why was I angry? I was angry with myself. Why did I keep the door open? So, I called that bhakti. He was a little late.
He was also shocked that his laptop was stolen. And in reality, he was staying in the guest room of the temple. He was on the first floor.
And there were small stairs. He came up the stairs and went to the other rooms of other bhakts. And there was a guest room in that room.
He thought that it was safe here. But when he opened the door, he found a small staircase. So, that bhakt came and we checked.
No one was there. Then we came to know that there was a bhakti. It was 4 o'clock in the morning.
It was almost 4 o'clock. At the same night, a bhakta woke up and went down to drink water. At that time, an unknown person was seen there.
But he was also tired. This bhakta immediately said that he was also tired. He came back and left.
Maybe he thought that he was the thief. So, I said that I had to go to Panama from there. I had a flight.
So, I asked that bhakta whether we should go to the police station and register a complaint. He said that there is no use. Because this is a third world country.
So, the government here does not even have a fingerprint of all the people. So, if anyone comes and checks, they will not know anything. So, I said that I am such a fool.
Why did I keep the door open? Because the mind catches one thing and keeps repeating the same thing over and over again. And every time it says, why did you do this? Why did you do this? It screams from inside. So, I thought that I can do something.
So, I remembered that the laptop Apple's laptop is very convenient in today's computers. If it is stolen, you can lock it online. Means if anyone comes, he will not be able to open the laptop.
So, it will be locked. But what is necessary for that? The laptop should be connected to the internet. As soon as it connects to the internet, the laptop will be locked.
So, when I was going to the airport in that car, I found out how to do it with my phone and locked the laptop. And then I went to Panama from there. And when I was going to Panama, so, at that time, I was also thinking what to do.
Because for me, I write, I do some recording, emails, laptop is very important for many services. If there is no laptop, the most important thing for me is feedback. The second most important thing is laptop.
So, without laptop, what am I doing? I could not understand anything. So, when I was thinking like this, so, I reached Panama. At that time, Guru Prasad Maharaj, he is Chinese, he is from the area of Trinidad, South America.
He was also in Trinidad at that time. I had called him. He said that the whole area here is full of thieves.
We are sorry about it. Maharaj Ji, it is not your fault, it is my fault. He said, no, it is not our fault, it is our fault.
I had called you here. So, we were enquiring there what to do. So, when we were enquiring, we came to know that someone had broken the window below the temple.
And someone had come inside last night. And then he was robbed. So, when I was coming here from the flight, I was thinking how to serve, what to do.
So, I knew that I can get a lot from my laptop. But I was thinking that it is necessary for my service. So, when I am not travelling, I am not approaching, I write, I read, I work on my laptop for 10 to 15 hours a day.
So, it is very important for me, so I am using it. The thing which we are using for the service of God, sometimes we get addicted to it. So, there are many things which help us to take refuge in God.
But sometimes the same thing which gives us refuge in God, that becomes a substitute shelter. What does it mean? Instead of taking refuge in God, we take refuge in it. So, now we get addicted to it instead of serving God.
So, sometimes what does God do? If this happens in our life, then whatever it is, He takes it away from our life. For example, Draupadi had 5 husbands and all of them were devotees. All of them were great warriors.
And if a wife is in trouble, then she will expect her husband to take care of her. But what happened at that time? None of the 5 husbands could help any of them in the Guru Sabha. So, now, what did it mean? Whoever it is, the eternal lord of all of us is God.
We have a what is vertical and horizontal? We have a higher relationship with God and here we have a relationship with different people. So, the relationship we have with God is the most important relationship. And the rest of the relationships are also important, but they are all vertical.
So, now, in such a relationship we get sadness, we don't get the expected help, then we have two options. Either we blame that person why are you not helping me? So, Draupadi, give Pandavas, why are you not helping me? So, what happens in that? The husband of that person gets sad. Or we can get depressed.
Nothing can happen here. This is my bad luck. It happens like this.
But, what does it mean? We can see in front, but at that time, if we understand that whatever thing in this world, whatever person is giving me refuge, in reality that person is not giving me refuge. God is giving me refuge through him. So, if that person is also not giving me refuge, then what should I do? I don't have to get depressed, I don't have to get depressed, I have to give refuge to God.
So, Draupadi, why didn't she just look at her husband? Why didn't she look at her husband? So, God's refuge, God's protection, God's protection was given to her by his wives. But now the situation is such that she is not getting protection from her wives. So, what did she do? She gave refuge to God.
So, whenever it happens that in this world, many times we feel that some things are very suitable for serving God, are very important, are very complete, only through them, we are able to serve God. And sometimes, we face the same problem. If our financial situation is good, then we are serving God.
And then our financial situation is not good. If our health is good, then we are serving God. Suddenly, our health is not good.
So, we feel that we are serving God through what is necessary for us. Why is this happening? So, it is not that God is rejecting us. But God is seeing that are we so perfect? To understand this, this is not my ultimate goal.
Now, it is necessary for me to serve God, but in reality, God is the most important. So, we know this prayer. तो मेव माता चे पिता तो मेव बन्दुष्चे सखा तो मेव तो मेव विद्यास्त्रविनं तो मेव तो मेव देव देव So, this is the feeling.
You are my mother, you are my father, you are my friend, you are my brother, you are my knowledge, you are my wealth, you are my everything. What does this mean? This means that mother is God, father is God. If we take the word meaning that mother is God, If there is a difference between a mother and a father, then which God will you follow? Which God's orders will you follow? Once, you probably know, once there was a court case.
The mother and father were fighting. The mother said, I want to make my son a doctor. The father said, I want to make my son an engineer.
So he went to the judge. So the judge said, why are you fighting so much? It's easy. You can ask the child, what's the big deal? He said, no, we can't ask the child.
Why can't we ask him? The child hasn't been born yet. So you're already making an excuse. What's the point here? The child gets shelter from his mother, from his father, from his brother, from his friend.
But we have to understand the point of being intelligent. Yes, the mother is giving him shelter. But in reality, only the mother is giving him shelter.
God is giving him shelter through the mother. The mother who gives milk to her children, that is a very intimate, very intimate characteristic of love and affection. But still, if we think about it, when a child is born, the mother doesn't do anything special to give birth to milk in her womb.
The mother who gave birth to the child in the womb of the mother, that same mother, that same God, has given milk to the child in the womb of the mother. So there is definitely love for the mother. We don't have to reject it.
We don't have to limit our sight to that. The mother is loving us. But in reality, God is loving us through the mother.
The father is loving us through God. In the same way, we get shelter from money. If our bank balance is good, we feel secure.
If we have knowledge, we feel, if I lose my job, I will find another job. We get shelter from all these things. But we should understand that these things are not my shelter.
In reality, God is my shelter. And if these things are giving me shelter, and if those things never remain, it doesn't mean that I am disappointed. If these things don't remain, then also God is there.
When nothing is left, Krishna is always left with us. When nothing is left with us, then also God is always with us. And sometimes when we face a problem in our life, we think, why is this happening? This is going in my life.
This is wrong. This is wrong. It is not that God is unreliable, or God doesn't care.
In reality, God wants to make us peaceful. What is important for you? This thing is important, but what is more important than that? That I am important. So, when I was going in the flight to Panama, then I remembered the Leela of Draupadi.
All these thoughts came to me. It was as if I was attracted to my companion. This is why this happened to me.
As soon as these thoughts came, I became peaceful. And then, these days computers are not that difficult. So, I went to Panama.
There, a devotee gave me another computer. He said, you work with this computer here. Then I went to New Jersey.
There, another devotee gave me another computer. And when I was in New Jersey, Guru Prasad Maharaj called me. He said, I found your computer.
I said, how did you find it? So, what happened was, sometimes I think, there are thieves in the market. Thieves? Yes, yes. Thieves steal.
Then later they sell it in the market. So, what happened was, this person stole it. In fact, Apple's laptop was very expensive.
And there was no one to buy it in the Trader's Eye. And because I had locked that laptop, even he was not able to do anything with the laptop. So, what did he do? He came to a devotee.
He said, I have a laptop. Do you want to buy it? So, as soon as the laptop opened, my name came in the login. He knew that when I came there, the laptop was stolen.
So, what did he do immediately? He told the police. So, a devotee was in the police station. He told them.
But he saw that the man who had stolen, he was a drug user, and he was an African American, and then he was a member of the ISIS organisation. He was a member of that organisation. So, then… So, then… So, when I came to know this, that devotee called me later and told me, that it was good that when he came at that time, you were not in that room.
If you were in that room, then he had to steal. So, he had injured you and stolen it. So, then I thought, why was I not there? But in a way, it was good that I was not there.
And then, the devotee told him, that look, we know that you came there. Because that devotee had seen him in the room in the morning. And then the devotee told him, that look, we know that… What did that devotee say? Someone has sold me this laptop.
And it is not so important for me, I want to sell it to you. So, the devotee told him, that look, we know that you have stolen it. But you give this laptop back to us.
We will not complain to the police. He said, no, no, I have not stolen it. I said, no.
So, then they talked. And then he said, I have not stolen it. He said, you have stolen it.
So, then he talked later. And he returned the laptop. And when he returned the laptop, then I came from New Jersey to London.
He shipped the laptop from London and returned it to me. So, basically, what happened here? The laptop was stolen. The laptop was found.
But more important than that, what I wanted to know, that this laptop is important for me, for the service of God. But in reality, God is more important than this thing. So, whether it is a thing or not, it is important for the service of God.
So, the biggest blessing of God is God Himself. Krishna is Krishna's greatest blessing. So, when there is a problem in our life, when there is something very important for us, when we feel that it is being snatched away from us, then we can get distracted.
Then we say, God, why are you doing this? So, it is not that God is distracted. But what is it? It is God's message. At that time, this thing is going away from my life.
So, it is better to take God's blessing. When we take God's blessing, then we do not know what God's plan is. But we come to know later.
It is said that God's plan is for everyone's welfare. But how it is for everyone's welfare, we do not know at that time. According to God's plan, we come to know later.
So, the meaning of Sharanagati is when there is a problem in our life, then at that time, God, I accept whatever you want. That is Sharanagati. But another important aspect of Sharanagati is that we do not get caught up in negative emotions.
We do not get caught up in negative emotions. We fight with them. Getting angry, getting frustrated, hating, getting angry, this is natural.
But at that time, what does Sharanagati mean? Sharanagati means to fight with these negative emotions. For example, what did Arjuna do? He picked up his bow. He came to fight for God.
We may have to fight someone in our life. But we have to fight internally. When there is a problem in our life, the problem is the first problem.
But the negative emotions that come to our mind because of the problem, that is the second problem. The problem is like a snake biting. But the negative emotions that come to our mind are like running after the snake.
The problem increases. So, when Sharanagati, when there is a problem in our life, then what is Sharanagati? To fight with those negative emotions. And not to get caught in those negative emotions.
Whether it is anger, anger, hatred, or getting frustrated. No. I don't know what God's plan is, but God is my saviour.
So, whatever happens, I will be in God's service. Whatever ability I have, I will put it in God's service. And if we keep doing this, we will see that God is doing even better things for us.
For our well-being, whatever His plan is, we will definitely come to know later. In this way, the process of Sharanagati can be very difficult at times. But the result of Sharanagati is very sweet.
Faith in God increases. Devotion to God increases. Our attachment to God increases.
And this is the biggest achievement of life. If we become attached to God, then everything will be lost at the end of our life. But we will be in God's service.
If we are in God's service, then we will attain Bhagavad Gita. This is the biggest achievement of life. So, in conclusion, today we discussed how Sharanagati can act in our life in a practical way.
So, Gajendra did his best. When he was caught by Magar Bacch, then what did he do according to his ability? He picked a lotus flower and offered it to God. He prayed to God and offered it.
And God came and saved him. This was Sharanagati. We saw that in Sharanagati, Draupadi was not in any control, so she raised her hand.
But how did Arjuna do Sharanagati? He raised his bow. So, in Sharanagati, how to do Sharanagati? For this, we have to understand that in our life, some things are in our control, some things are not in our control. In some situations, nothing is in our control.
When Draupadi was not in any control, then what did she do? She kept her consciousness in control and offered it to God. So, if nothing is in control, then it is wrong to go to God. Believing in God is Sharanagati.
But when there is something in our control, then it is Sharanagati to fulfil our responsibilities according to our capacity. To do our duties properly is Sharanagati. And how do we understand what is in our control and what is not in our control? To prepare for the task before it is completed, and to work carefully when the task is being completed, that is in our control.
And to work carefully is our Sharanagati. After the task is completed, to keep thinking about it, to be attached to it, what does it mean? It can come. So, we have to keep that right.
If we do not care about it then it is irresponsible. If we do not care about it after the task is completed, then it is irresponsible. So, in our life, in different situations, sometimes more things are in our control, sometimes less things are in our control.
For example, when a child is small, there is a lot of control over him. So, we can guide him well, we can discipline him. So, to control him is Sharanagati.
This is the responsibility. But when the child grows up, becomes independent, then Sharanagati means to pray to God. Sharanagati like Draupadi.
Then if we try to control him a lot, then he will stop crying. He will get angry. So, sometimes to control him, sometimes to leave him.
Understanding this is very important And this is achieved by praying to God. What is the meaning of Sharanagati? It has six parts. The first two parts are the tasks.
To do what is appropriate, to leave what is inappropriate. And to understand this, intellect is very important. And we saw that one part of intellect is to understand that even if something goes wrong in my life, I will not get negative feelings from it.
God is so great that even if something is wrong, He can bring something good from it. For this, we saw the story of Draupadi. How some food was left in the bowl, that can be called a mistake.
But then God used that to bring good things for everyone. So, when there is a problem in our life, we should understand that what has happened is good. That is not intellect, that to say bad things is good.
So, we should not suppress our feelings. And at the same time, we should not suppress our emotions. To suppress our emotions means to work only in the midst of emotions.
So, many times, what is wrong in our life, our reaction to that increases the mistake. A snake comes and bites me. But when I run to beat the snake, it becomes a bigger problem.
For example, if someone is angry with me, if someone does a very bad thing to me, then I have to deal with him. Whatever we have to do, we have to do it right. But first of all, we have to get rid of the poison.
We have to get rid of anger. And for this, when there is a problem in our life, when important things leave us, then we have to think why did this happen to me. Rather, we have to see that this is an opportunity that God has given me.
My laptop was for the service of God, but it was stolen. If this happens, then it is possible that I get angry. But Draupadi's husband, he was a devotee, and to get protection from him, he had a religious expectation.
But when that did not happen, then he did not get angry, he did not get angry, he took the blessings of God. So, many things in our life can be important. We get protection from them, we get power.
But we have to understand that these things are not giving us protection. God is giving us protection through them. And sometimes, the things that help us to get the blessings of God, sometimes we get the blessings from them and instead of becoming a supporter of God, we become a supporter of God.
And then God takes that thing from us. And then we have the opportunity to get the blessings of God. So, when a problem arises, God does not keep us away from it.
On the contrary, the thing that is coming between us and God, we will not understand that it is coming between us. But when God takes that thing away, we can go to God more deeply. And when we are in a war, like Arjuna was in a war, in the form of surrender, then we do not have to fight in the form of surrender.
But when a problem arises in our life, then we have to fight in the form of surrender like Arjuna. With our negative feelings, with hatred, with the feeling of being deprived. And by fighting these negative feelings, if we get united with God, then not only God will take us to God, but along with that, God will increase our faith in His devotion, in His protection.
And getting attached to God is the biggest achievement of life. Thank you very much.