Supreme reward of human birth

CHENNAI, JUNE 3. The purpose of our lives, wherefrom we came, where do we go, what should be our goal and what are the steps needed to reach it and what should we do if by chance we come to realise that our exit from this world is nearing, are the crucial questions which shall engage all our attention. For any creation, the moment it (or he or she) is born, the end of its stay in the world is specified. No one can escape death nor extend it even by a few minutes. But how best the opportunity and privilege provided for a human being can be utilised to secure liberation from the worldly thraldom should be the concern of one who seeks to serve the Lord in His Divine Palace, never to return to the universe. One of the steps laid down by seers is to study and digest the contents of the Bhagavatam and uphold the directives therein.

An emperor, on his hunting spree, once badly wanted water to drink and saw a sage who was in deep meditation and asked him to help quench his thirst. Not getting any response, the former while departing, indignantly threw a dead serpent on the sage's shoulder mistaking his trance as a mark of disrespect. The sage's son, who too possessed abundant spiritual glow, came to this spot later. Not aware of what had happened, he cursed the unrighteous man to die within seven days therefrom by snake bite. The sage later realised what had happened and grieving at his son's wrong decision, said: ``Even when reproached, abused or disregarded by others, devotees of the Lord would never return the mistake done, though they are capable of doing so. Generally speaking, holy men in this world neither become unhappy nor rejoice when they are subjected to contrary experiences by others.''

In his discourse, Sri V. Prabhanjanachar said King Parikshit, a scion of the Pandavas, who came to know of his own hasty conduct and the subsequent curse, accepted it with grace, threw away everything and sought the advice of sages to spend the seven days at his disposal usefully. ``What course should be pursued by all under every circumstance and in particular, by those who are about to die?'' To this was the reply by Sage Suka, who arrived to join the galaxy of holy men, through the recitation of the Bhagavatam.

A gist of Suka's ``prescription'' was that a man who desires to attain the fearless state (Moksha) should listen to, recite and dwell in the stories of the Lord. To fix the mind on Him at the last moment (of one's life) alone is the supreme reward of human birth. ``I shall recite the Bhagavatam for you. It will enable you to develop love towards the Lord, the bestower of liberation.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Miscellaneous
Previous : Solution to puzzle 6762
Next     : dated June 3, 1950: Stand united and be
           disciplined