Bhagavatam, day 251
Srimad Bhagavatam - day 251
Athātmano ’rtha-bhūtasya yato ’nartha-paramparā
Saṁsṛtis tad-vyavacchedo bhaktyā paramayā gurau
Only the Self has a real existence. This entire world is of illusory existence. Due to spiritual ignorance the individual, who in reality is the Self, gets trapped in these worldly bondages filled with suffering and sorrows. Only selfless devotion towards Srihari can dispel this spiritual ignorance and free the person from the cycle of repeated re-births!
Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ samāhitaḥ
Sadhrīcīnena vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ ca janayiṣyati
The tool called bhakti, which is inculcated through proper procedure and which consists of exclusive devotion towards Vāsudeva, can cause Jnana (spiritual knowledge) and Vairagya (dispassion) to sprout in the individual.
O saintly king! The spiritual aspirant who with great dedication every day listens to the stories of Lord Srihari and who contemplates about liberation will quickly attain accomplishment in the path of devotion (bhakti-yoga). The stories of Lord Srihari are foundational for stabilizing in the path of devotion.
O king! Ardent devotees of the Lord, who with a pure heart worship the Lord for the well-being of others, are eternally eager to listen to His divine glories. Wherever they reside the nectar called ‘divine glories,’ narrated by Mahatmas, flows like a flooded river. The person who has dedicated his ears exclusively for listening to divine glories and who tastes the resultant nectar is totally freed from hunger, thirst, fear, sorrows, infatuations and attachments.
Such persons are always engaged in listening to His glories. They are not content even after listening for a few hours. They still seek to listen to more of those stories.
Sorrows, attachments, fear and infatuation arise from spiritual ignorance. Those who are drowned in spiritual ignorance are generally reluctant to listen to divine stories of Lord Srihari. This is the truth.
Not only Brahma who is the Lord of Prajapatis, Shiva who resides in Kailasa, Swāyambhuva Manu, Daksha, other Prajāpatis, Maharishi Sanaka and other eternal celibates, Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vashishta and me, but also many other exalted Vedic scholars undertook severe austerities, pujas and other stringent methods in order to obtain a vision of the Supreme Lord. However they were not blessed with the darshan of that Lord, who is an eternal witness.
It is nearly impossible to completely master Vedas which is like an endless ocean. Veda is nothing but a form of the Lord. Even eminent scholars who successfully mastered this endless Veda, Lord Indra who holds the thunderbolt, Lord Varuna who holds the noose and other powerful Devatas worship the Lord through the medium of Yagna, but yet fail to understand His supreme essence.
He who devotionally worships Lord Srihari in his heart will obtain His grace. When the Lord’s grace falls upon the devotee his intense inclination towards the material world and towards frutitive actions begins to dwindle.
Due to spiritual ignorance the individual mistakenly focuses upon frutitive actions and considers them to be the ultimate goal of life. The statements which extol these frutitive actions and the benefits accrued through them are undoubtedly pleasing to the ear. Nevertheless, through abidance to such frutitive actions even the shadow of the Lord cannot be seen! This is the truth!
Hence O King, give up the misconception that frutitive actions are the ultimate goal of life. Due to limitless desires, spiritually ignorant persons have an impure mind. As such they fail to grasp the real inner significance contained in the Vedas and instead accept that performing frutitive actions is the end goal and the ultimate message taught by the Vedas.
Such persons fail to realize that the Self-illuminating Supreme Lord Janardhana is the Self within them and that this Self is the abode of limitless bliss.
O King, you have spread eastern facing straw mats all over earth and offering innumerable animal sacrifices you have been conducting innumerable Yagnas. You are intoxicated due to pride and consider yourself as a mighty person who has limitless Yagnas to his credit.
Nevertheless, you have failed to understand about supreme actions. That which brings joy to Srihari is the most supreme action! That knowledge which helps the person fix the mind upon Srihari is the real knowledge!
Harir deha-bhṛtā mātmā svayaṁ prakṛtir īśvaraḥ
Tat-pāda-mūlaṁ śaraṇaṁ yataḥ kṣemo nṛṇām iha
Srihari is the Self for all living beings in the creation! He is the cause for this entire creation. His lotus feet are the sole shelter for all living entities. The living beings who seek refuge under His holy feet will obtain liberation while living on earth (jeevan mukti).
Sa vai priyatamaś cātmā yato na bhayam aṇv api
Iti veda sa vai vidvān yo vidvān sa gurur hariḥ
Every living entity holds the Self as most dear to him. This Self is none other than Srihari. The person who realizes this profound truth becomes supremely knowledgeable (Jnani). He is not afraid of this world. Understand that such Jnani is none other than Srihari. He becomes Guru for this entire world.
O great person, I have answered your question in great detail. Now I am going to impart to you a secret that has decisively been advocated by the exponents in Shastras.
Mādhavāya namah