Offer All Your Karmas to God only

In Bhagwat Gita many times some verses come that we should have Love & have Devotion to God & that we should devote our mind to God. But there also comes many verses that we should devote all our Actions to God. Now how can we devote all of our actions to God?

This whole world is the creation of God only & knowingly, unknowingly, we all are working for the maintenance of this world only. Just introspect & see that, whatever, work or job (good one), you are doing in this world, it is helping in some way or the other in maintaining & sustaining this world. Just take it in that sense, that if all the people of the earth stop doing their daily work, duties, this whole world shall come to a standstill. In that case nobody shall grow food, vegetables, fruits & other things which sustain our life & hence we shall all die. Same is the case with other professions & each person is adding value to this world by doing his/her duty.

Now, though we do duty to sustain this world only but we don't realize that. As this world is a creation of God, so we should work for Him only. If we develop this sense that we are working selflessly to sustain this world created by God only, then also we shall develop an affinity towards God.

Below are few verses from Bhagwat Gita in which God is asking his disciple Arjuna to do all his actions / activities for Him only.

"mayi sarvani karmani
sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa
nirasir nirmamo bhutva
yudhyasva vigata-jvarah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 30)

"Sri Krishna said: Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight."

'Ye tu srvani krmani
myi sanyasya mat-para
anany-naiv yogen
maam dhyayant upasate '

'Tesham-aham samud-dharta
mrityu-sansar-saagrat
bhavami na-chirat parth
mayy-avesita-chetsam ' (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XII verse 6-7 )

"Sri Krishna said: Those people, who worship Me by surrendering all their activities unto Me, are always devoted to Me, always meditate upon Me, Having always fixing their minds upon Me, O Parth - to them, I swiftly rescue from the ocean of birth and death."

Through above verse 6 & 7, God is telling 'Parth' (another name of Arjuna, his disciple), that those people who work for God only & offer all their activities & work to Him only, to such a Soul He shows great mercy, always protects him & finally rescues him during & after death.

"yajnarthat karmano ’nyatra
loko ’yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samachara" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 9)

"Sri Krishna said: Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O Arjuna, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage."

In the above verses, God is making very clear that if a person offers all his work & activities to God, thinking this world to be a creation of God only, then also He shall be happy with that person & shall protect & shall deliver that person from the cycles of birth & death. By working for God, we shall attain peace & shall attain His love & devotion. So Let's all Work for God only.

Jai Sri Krishna

When Lord Krishna Cursed Ashwathama

All religions of the world teach us to do good karmas, good acts & that we should not harm anybody by our acts. God is also with those people who live a life who do good karmas / acts in their life. God bestows on those people all the health, wealth, happiness & bliss of life. On the contrary, God gets very disturbed, very angry with those people who always do bad karmas / acts in their life. Once God gets angry with some person, then that person loses all the health, wealth & happiness in life. Below is the story of Ashwathama who was given a curse by Lord Krishna at the end of Mahabharata war. Story goes like that:

“Mahabharata war happened between the Pandavas and the Kauravas in 3139 BC or 5152 years before, from this year 2013 AD. The Pandavas, after winning the Mahabharata war, ruled Hastinapur for 36 years and 8 months until the beginning of Kaliyug in 3102 BC. In the end of the Mahabharata war when Duryodhana was killed by Bheema, then remaining Kauravas warriors (including Ashwathama) made a deadly attempt to kill the Pandavas brothers in the night when they would be sleeping. Ashwathama was the son of Dronacharya, Guru of Pandavas and the Kauravas.

On that night Lord Krishna somehow took all the 5 Pandavas, somewhere else & Ashwathama entered into the tent of the Pandavas and mistakenly killed all the 5 sleeping sons of Pandavas and set the camp on fire. Later on Ashwathama through deadly weapon called Brahmastra also killed the child in the womb of the pregnant ‘Uttara’ (wife of martyr Abhimanyu - the great archer and son of Arjuna), however Lord Krishna later revived the child through His Grace. So Ashwathama tried to kill everyone in the Pandava’s family. On this Lord Krishna became very angry with Ashwathama & Cursed him badly. Lord Krishna Cursed him like this:

O! Ashwathama “You will carry the burden of all the people’s sins on your shoulders and will roam alone like a ghost without getting any love and courtesy till the end of Kaliyuga, You will have neither any hospitality nor any accommodation; You will be in total isolation from the mankind and society; Your body will suffer from a host of incurable diseases forming sores and ulcers that would never heal. May you, Ashwathama, lead the most wretched life anyone can ever lead. May you never receive love or affection ever in your life unto the end of Time ”.

Ashwathama had a Mani (gem) since his birth in his forehead which used to protect him from the fear of any snakes, ghosts, demigods and demons. Lord Sri Krishna asked Ashwatthama to surrender this Mani (gem) & took it from him. Lord Sri Krishna further said that “the wound caused by the removal of this Mani (gem) on his forehead will never heal and he will suffer from leprosy and wound in his forehead will always seep blood and Puss, thus arousing a foul smell till the end of Kaliyuga”. So in this way, Ashwathama will be in search of death every moment, and yet he will never die. At the end of Kali Yuga, Ashwathama shall meet God Sri Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu.”

It is said that from the last 5152 years, Ashwathama is still roaming on earth in and around the Narmada river in India. As Mahakaal (Lord Shiva) can only free him from the curse so it is said that he still visits the shivling at a temple near the Narmada river every morning and places a rose flower there in temple which he creates from his tap / spiritual power every day.

So from the above story it is quite evident that we should never do any harm to anyone, as otherwise, God shall punish us badly. In Bhagwat Gita Lord Krishna says that:

"aneka-citta-vibhranta
moha-jala-samavrtah
prasaktah kama-bhogesu
patanti narake ’suchau" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Sixteen verse 16)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions, these evil people become too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and fall down into hell."

"tan aham dvisatah kruran
samsaresu naradhaman
ksipamy ajasram asubhan
asurisv eva yonisu" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Sixteen verse 19)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, "These haters, evil, cruel, & vilest among men, I ( God) repeatedly throw them into demoniacal wombs in this world."

"asurim yonim apanna
mudha janmani janmani
mam aprapyaiva kaunteya
tato yanty adhamam gatim" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Sixteen verse 20)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink down to the most abominable, lowest type of existence."

So let’s do good karmas only & not harm anybody by our acts. God shall be with us if we live a life doing good karmas / acts in our life. God shall bestow on us all the health, wealth, happiness & bliss of life, if our Karmas / acts are good.

Jai Shri Krishna

God Loves You & He Is There In Your Heart Only

Many a times we look for a thing in the outer world while it is very near to us. Once a man lost his spectacles. He looked for it all over his house but could not find it. Then he asked his son whether he has seen his spectacles. The son coolly said, “Father, it is tucked on your head only”. Most of us are also many times, searching for the things in places, where we know they are not. Similarly people are searching for the God in the outer world. People search for the God in temples, in churches, in synagogues etc. All these temples, churches etc. are man-made. Nobody is looking into their own body, their own self, which is the only place which is not man-made, it is the only place which is made by God & the place where God actually resides.

A deer who is having the Kasturi (Musk) in his body only, searches for the cause of fragrance all over there in the wild, while that sweet fragrance is coming from the inside of his body only. Same is the case with us that we are searching for the God outside ourselves while He is sitting in our heart only.

"In the olden days, one Indian village hired a night-watchman to keep a vigil during night time to check for robbers that were frequent in those times. Night-watchman would go around the streets and lanes in the village with a square metal lantern, open only at the front. The watchman could see, wherever the lantern cast its light. No rays of light used to fell on him, who carried the lantern. If you wanted to see who the watchman was, you had to ask him to turn the lamp back on his own face. We too are like that watchman!!! Our eyes (ears, tongue, nostril etc.) are all facing outward, looking at and feeling the things of the world. God says, "If you want to see me, turn the lamp around; look within your heart and you shall find the Source of all the light over there."

Same is said in the Bhagwat Gita by Lord Krishna:

"sarvasya chaham hridi sannivisto"
God is seated in everyone’s heart Bhagwat Gita Chapter Fifteen verse 15

"ishvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tishthati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 61)

The Supreme God dwells/resides in the hearts of all beings.

"jyotisam api taj jyotis
tamasah param ucyate
jnanam jneyam jnana-gamyam
hridi sarvasya visthitam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Thirteen verse 18)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, He is the source of light in all luminous objects. He is beyond the darkness of matter and is un-manifested. He is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, and He is the goal of knowledge. He is situated in everyone’s heart."

Below are verses from Mundaka Upanishad explaining that our body is the Temple in which the Divinity of your Soul & Supersoul (God) both live together only:

"dva suparna sayuja sakhaya
samanam vriksham praishasvajate
tayor anyah pippalam svadv
atty anasnann anyo 'bhicakasiti"

In the tree of this body, Soul & Supersoul (God), are like two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic Soul) is eating the fruit of the tree (the sense gratification afforded by the material body), and the other bird (the Supersoul) is not trying to eat these fruits, but is simply watching His friend.

"samane vrikshe purusho nimagno
'nisaya socati muhyamanah jushtam
yada pasyati anyam isam asya
mahimanam iti vita-sokah"

Although the two birds are on the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord, and knows His glories, at once the suffering bird becomes free of all anxieties.

So let's look inwards & find the God in our hearts who is the source of all Joy, Peace & Bliss. Be sure that "God Loves You", only thing is that you need to turn toward HIM. So when God is there in your heart in "Antaryami" aspect then you can always find daily some time from your daily routine & can pray to Him in your home only, while closing your eyes, sitting in a lonely peaceful place. Daily praying to Him like this shall make you more peaceful & shall make you feel more closer to God.

Jai Shri Krishna

We Should Not Discriminate With Anybody & Should See God In Everyone's Heart

Here below is a beautiful story how a devotee of God could not drink the nectar & attain to immortality as he could not see the God present in all beings.

"Once there was a Brahmin who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He had no home & always used to wander in secluded areas. He was free of desire, lust, hatred, greed & used to live in a world of his own.

Lord Krishna became very happy with his devotion & asked him for a boon. Brahmin told Lord Krishna that he was desire less and he did not want anything, but Lord Krishna insisted for some boon to be granted to him as a reward of his devotion. At this Brahmin asked for a boon that ,whenever, he was in need of water & he felt thirsty, water may be provided to him. Lord Krishna granted him that boon & disappeared.

One day, Brahmin after walking for a long distance felt thirsty, but there was no trace of water. Then he remembered that the Lord Krishna had granted him a boon that he would find water at his desire. Suddenly, he saw a hunter dressed in torn rags accompanied by furious dogs, carrying water in a leather pouch and asked him, "Sir, would you like to have some water." Looking at the apparent impure condition of the hunter & being a staunch Brahmin (High caste), he felt repelled. He politely refused "No, Thank you". The hunter again approached him for the water, but in utter disgust & in anger the Brahmin told the hunter to go way and that he was not interested in the water. The hunter and the dogs disappeared. Witnessing this, he realized that it must be God, who disguised Himself and came to quench his thirst. He felt hurt how Lord Krishna could send water to him through an impure, Scheduled Caste person. How could Lord expect a Brahmin to accept and drink water from the impure leather bag?

Now Lord Krishna again appeared before the Brahmin, smiled and asked him 'Who was the hunter? Lord Krishna told the Brahmin that He had asked the Indra Devta (King of heaven) to fetch the water, who instead of water, had actually brought nectar to make you immortal, but on one condition to test whether you could see the Divinity in all. 'Hence I allowed him to do so'.

Brahmin understood how he had failed in the test. It was his Ego, which made him refuse the nectar, which came in the form of water and through Indra Devta.

So the moral of the story is that we should see the God/Divinity present in all beings & we should not discriminate with any body & love everyone equally."

Now all the religious texts & Bhagwat Gita also teaches us that we should love all beings equally as the God resides in everyone's heart & seeing the presence of that divinity present in all beings, we should not discriminate with any body & love everyone equally. Below verses of Bhagwat Gita explain that only:

"sarvasya chaham hridi sannivisto
mattah smritir jnanam apohanam cha
vedais cha sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva chaham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fifteen verse 15)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me comes remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas."

Jai Sri Krishna 

God Loves & Protects His Devotees

Here below is a story from Mahabharata war:

“During the Mahabharata war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Lord Krishna, took the decision not to fight from any side or lift any type of arms. But Lord Krishna broke His promise for His devotees. Duryodhana once incited Bhishma that he was not fighting to his best of the ability as the Pandavas were his lovely grandchildren. Bhishma got very disturbed on this charge and made a declaration that the next day he would kill all the Pandavas.

Bhishma, also made another commitment that he would kill Arjuna that day or he would end up giving his life. Bhishma fought very fiercely and in the fight, Arjuna’s chariot got broken. At that time Arjuna became completely unarmed and helpless. At that time Lord Krishna took up the chariot wheel and went straight to Bhishma so that he could save Arjuna. At seeing, Lord Krishna coming toward him, Bhishma happily threw his weapons away. Lord Krishna by this act of running with the chariot wheel, broke His promise, not to carry any type of arms & hence He saved two of his great devotees (Arjuna & Bhishma) from perishing.

So in this way Lord Krishna could break His promise but he would never break his devotee’s promise. So any person who has resorted to Lord Krishna will never be destroyed & Lord will protect him always."

In Bhagwat Gita Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to always have faith in Him only as, whosoever, keeps faith in Lord Krishna, He always protects that devotee.

'Ye tu srvani krmani
myi sanyasya mat-para
anany-naiv yogen
maam dhyayant upasate '
'Tesham-aham samud-dharta
mrityu-sansar-saagrat
bhavami na-chirat parth
mayy-avesita-chetsam ' (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter XII verse 6-7 )

'Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: Those people, who worship Me by surrendering all their activities unto Me, are always devoted to Me, always meditate upon Me, Having always fixing their minds upon Me, O Parth - to them, I swiftly rescue from the ocean of birth and death.'

"ananyas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesham nityabhiyuktanam
yoga-ksemam vahamy aham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 22)

"Lord Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have."

"ananya-cetah satatam
yo mam smarati nityasah
tasyaham sulabhah partha
nitya-yuktasya yoginah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eight verse 14)

"Lord Sri Krishna says: Whosoever, always & constantly remembers Me with undivided mind; by that person, I am easy to obtain, O Arjuna, because of his constant engagement in the devotional service to Me."

So If a person has the above said assurance of the God, then one should make a resolve that one shall not let God slip out of his/her mind till he/she lives on this earth. Do not let anything else take control of your mind & let God be always on your mind. By doing so God shall always be with you in all of your circumstances & shall protect you always from all troubles of life. Then God shall be your Savior always.

Jai Sri Krishna

How to Serve the Lord?

“Once there was a very poor devotee of the Lord. He wanted to serve the Lord but he was not having any money with him to buy something which he could offer to the Lord. In his dismay he said to the Lord, “I am so poor Lord that I do not have even simple food to serve you”.

On this Lord told him to offer Him some water only. Somehow there was no water also available with Him at that time so he showed his inability to serve water also to the Lord. On this, Lord asked him to serve Him with simple leaves of a tree but he could not even bring the leaves to the Lord as had got hurt in his leg & could not walk. On this, Lord told him to “Serve Him in his mind only by thinking & loving the Lord in his mind”. So the devotee thought of Lord & prayed Him in his mind with great Love & Lord became very happy with him.”

In Bhagwat Gita also Lord says that:

"patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 26)

"Sri Krishna said: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or even water, I will accept it."

"yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Nine verse 27)

"Sri Krishna said: Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O Arjuna, as an offering to Me."

In Bhagwat Gita also Lord say that:

"tasmat sarveshu kaleshu
mam anusmara yudhya ca
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mam evaishyasy asamsayah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eight verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt."

So lets always think of Lord Krishna and do our prescribed duty. By doing so we shall always dwell our mind in the God. Living in this way we shall always be happy & in the end go to the Lord’s place where we shall get a blissful life forever.

Jai Sri Krishna

Immortality of Life & Soul

Basis of Hindu philosophy in 'Bhagwat Gita' is that one who is born, shall die one day & whosoever, dies shall be reborn again certainly. The embodied soul in this body is immortal. As per 'Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Two Verse - 23', It cannot be cut with any weapon, fire cannot burn it, it is impervious to water & it cannot drench it & neither air can dry this soul. As soul is beyond this visible nature elements of fire, water, air, earth etc. so these nature elements cannot cause any damage to the immortal soul.

"nainam chindanti shastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na chainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 23)

"Sri Krishna said: The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

If a person becomes firm in that belief only that soul inside his body is immortal, then too he attains immortality as then that person goes beyond the visible nature which has formed this visible body of ours.

Now what is immortality? This soul of ours wears this body made of nature elements. After karmic cycle, depending on the Karmas of our previous life, soul drops this body at death & takes on another body based on the Karmas of our present life. Again we do Karmas in our next birth & that becomes the basis of our further next birth for this soul. So this cycle of wearing different bodies goes on for this soul. As we all feel pleasure & pain in one's life, so can't it be possible that we can avoid this pain that we feel in our body.

As per 'Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Eighteen Verse - 55', when we go to a perpetual divine life, which is beyond this nature, which forms this body then that life is beyond all this pain & is a blissful life. To attain that we have to establish our self in our soul. As God is the Supreme Soul from whom all these souls have emanated, so worshipping him constantly, one shall be established in the soul & shall attain a blissful life.

"bhaktya mam abhijanati
yavan yas chasmi tattvatah
tato mam tattvato jnatva
visate tad-anantaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 55)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God."

Jai Sri Krishna

Do Not Get Perturbed In Success Or Failure

Once there was a rich family who used to live in a big house with all the amenities of life. It was a beautiful family with lovely children. They were living a happy life when suddenly an earthquake came & due to bad luck they lost their home & business both. All the members of the family, especially the wife started weeping at the loss of home & business but the husband was not perplexed & was as calm as usual.

Seeing her husband so unconcerned about everything, wife said to him: "There is so big a problem that has come upon all of us but you are not worried at all; your heart seems to be that of a stone!! You don’t care that we have lost even our beautiful home also." At this the man said, "O.K. now I shall tell you why I am not worried? Last night, I dreamt that I had become an exalted king, I was having a palace of gold & was having everything of life & was enjoying life to the fullest, when you woke me up. Now I am really wondering whether I should weep for that Kingly status & a palace of gold or to the loss in life that has occurred to us.”

Husband was really an intelligent man & knew philosophical truth that the waking state is as unreal as the dream state. Loss & gain in wakeful state are as real & as unreal as it is in dream state. Both does not remain forever. Only real thing is the one eternal substance, and that is the Self or Atman which never changes. In fact what we call life is nothing but a prolonged state of dream only which dissolves at the end of life.

This dream body of ours is not true as it dissolves when we wake up & dream state is over. Similarly this gross physical body of ours is also not permanent & true as it dissolves at the time of death. But our Self, our Soul which is beyond any type of body, is real & true as it remains even when dream or gross physical body is dissolved. Below verses of Bhagwat Gita says about this truth only.

"na-asato vidyate bhavo
nabhavo vidyate satah
ubhayor api drsto ’ntas
tv anayos tattva-darshibhih" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 16)

"Sri Krishna said: The unreal has no existence, and the real (Soul) never ceases to be; the reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of the truth."

As per Bhagwat Gita we should not get disturbed in life due to success or failure in it. We should remain calm at mind in all circumstances. Below are few verse which explain that.

"yoga-sthah kuru karmani
sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva
samatvam yoga ucyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 48)

"Sri Krishna said: Perform your duty equi-poised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such an equanimity is called yoga."

"samah satrau cha mitre cha
tatha manapamanayoh
sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu
samah sanga-vivarjitah"

"tulya-ninda-stutir mauni
santusto yena kenacit
aniketah sthira-matir
bhaktiman me priyo narah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Twelve verse 18-19)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me."

So we should have such an attitude in life that we do not get perturbed in all the conditions, whether it is success or failure, loss or gain. We should be equipoised in life. As per Bhagwat Gita such an equipoise person in life can only know the real truth of life.

Jai Sri Krishna

‘Darkness of Night’ & ‘Darkness of Mind’

Have you ever wondered why there is ‘Darkness at Night’? The reason is that the side of the Earth on which we live, rotates at night away from the Sun & sunlight is not reaching the part of earth on which we live. At mid night, no direct light of Sun reaches the part of earth on which we live, so we do not see light at night & always remain in darkness.

Darkness is nothing but absence of light. You just lit a candle & darkness is gone. Darkness is just the absence of light & it has no real existence. Once a person saw in the dark that there is a snake in the room but on switching on the light, it turned out to be a rope only. So believing something to be something else is called ignorance. The person believing the rope to be a snake, was an ignorant person.

Same is with the philosophical truth of God & this world. As per the scriptures, God is the truth & has created this universe. He sit's in an invisible way in every nook & corner of the universe. This outer visible world is His creation, while He is there within this world in an invisible way. This whole world is changing all the time, while God is constant, & changeless. So to know God, we need to go beyond the thinking of this changing world.

Here below is a mantra / prayer from Upanishad which asks the God to take us from darkness of untruth which is enveloping our minds to reality of truth (God).

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Om Asato Ma Sad-Gamya |
Tamaso Ma Jyotir-Gamya |
Mrtyor-Ma Amritam Gamya |
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti ||

Om Asato Ma Sad-Gamya - O Lord, Take me from untruth to Truth! Take me from Transitory Existence to the Reality (of Self, of God), The Truth is eternal and immortal.

Tamaso Ma Jyotir-Gamya - O Lord, Lead me from the Darkness (of Ignorance) to the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge), There lies the light of wisdom. Tamas is the darkness. Jyoti is the light. With light, darkness is dispelled. Darkness is death. The light is Truth, Bliss, Peace. The light is eternal.

Mrtyor-Ma Amritam Gamya - O Lord, Lead me from Death to the Immortality through purity of purpose.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti - O Lord, Let there be Peace, Peace, Peace.

But why it is so, that we cling to this visible world only & just forget the invisible God, who is the creator of this world. It is due to our ignorance only. In philosophy, it is said that we are clinging to Maya (visible world) & ignoring the God who is the real thing. So that's why, it is said that we should not cling to the unreal, untruth (Maya) & should turn our mind towards the God, who is the only reality & truth. Just like alighting a small lamp eats away all the darkness in the room, so just by illumining your intellect with the knowledge, shall lead you to the truth of God.

Now, why do we fall in to ignorance? It is all due to the Nature born "TamoGun" (mode of ignorance) which we put into practice in our lives. "Tamas" or "Tamo Gunn" is the mode of Nature which is responsible for ignorance, delusion, indolence, laziness and sleep in a person. We should not fall a pray to this "TamoGun".
Now here below is a verse from Bhagwat Gita which also tells us that in this whole creation, unreal has no existence, and the real (God) never ceases to be, So we should always turn our mind towards the God who is the only reality & truth.

"na-asato vidyate bhavo
nabhavo vidyate satah
ubhayor api drsto ’ntas
tv anayos tattva-darshibhih" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 16)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna : The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be; the reality of both has thus been perceived by the seekers of the truth.

So let’s seek truth by praying regularly to God. By such praying, God shall enlighten our mind & thinking by which real truth about this world & God shall reveal to us.



Jai Sri Krishna

God Explained

“In ancient times in India, a very wise “Spiritual Guru” used to live in a hut in the forest. He had inherited the spiritual wisdom from his father & forefathers. Once a young man from the village came to him. This was a man well-known as the owner of land, wise in the ways of the world. He said to “Spiritual Guru”, "Please tell me that knowledge which will explain everything to me."

“Spiritual Guru” looked at him & said. "There are really two kinds of knowledge," he replied. One of them is higher knowledge and the other one is lower one. The lower knowledge is of hymns and scriptures, rituals, grammar, poetry, astrology and other such sciences.....but the higher knowledge leads a man to that being which never dies. That is called the knowledge of the Indestructible."

"Yes, sir," said the young man. "That is what I want to know about."

“Spiritual Guru” said, "Then, listen well. The Indestructible cannot be picked up like this stick or that stone. It belongs to no family, nor to any caste. It neither has eyes nor ears (yet sees & hears everything), It has no hands or feet, It is forever. Wherever you go It is there; you cannot leave It; It is all around you.

"Indestructible is very fine, very subtle, and that is why you do not see It. everything else has come out of this Indestructible, you see. You know how a spider spins out her thread from her own body, and draws it back with her arms, or how plants grow from the soil, or how hair grows on a person's body. In that same way, the whole universe emerges from that Indestructible Being called God.”

Here below is a "Hymn to that Universal, Omnipresent Infinite God". It is from "Svetasvatara Upanishad":

"O God,

You are the Ancient One & the Lord of Shining Light,
You dwell beyond all the darkness and the night;
knowing You alone can a man cross over death,
There is no other path for him to take."

All heads are Your heads, all faces Your faces,
You dwell inside the heart & also in all hidden places.
Through the whole universe, You have extended Yourself.
You are Shiva, the auspicious, the ever-present Lord."

With hands and feet everywhere, eyes and ears
Everywhere, heads and mouths everywhere,
You have filled up every corner of the space.
Smaller than smallest and larger than largest."

The God who is present everywhere in space & creation is called Omnipresent God. There is no place in creation which can be without the presence of God & He is present there at every point of time and space. God fills all the space & places in heaven and on earth.



Here below are few verses from Bhagwat Gita which describe about the infinite nature of God:

"sarvatah pani-padam tat
sarvato ’ksi-siro-mukham
sarvatah shrutimal loke
sarvam avrtya tishthati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Thirteen verse 14)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Everywhere are His (God's) hands and feet, His eyes, heads and faces, and He has ears everywhere. In this way the Super Soul exists, pervading everything in this world."

"mattah parataram nanyat
kincid asti dhananjaya
mayi sarvam idam protam
sutre mani-gana iva" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Seven verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, there is nothing else besides Me in this world. Like clusters of yarn-beads formed by knots on a thread, all this world is threaded on me.

So let's pay our obeisance's to such an Indestructible & Infinite God. Let's also think that God is always near us & is always in our heart. Then He too shall never give you up or never depart. God is always with you & shall always be with you if you think Him to be supreme Indestructible. So always have trust that God is near you though He is present in all the creation.

Jai Sri Krishna

Your Mind in Anger is like a ‘Raging Bull’

Once a bull escaped from a nearby cattle herd & entered the city. On seeing the mob inside the city it became violent & rushed helter-skelter in between the mob. In this process bull ran down many people & injured them badly. It was tried by many people to capture the bull but all in vain & it ran here & there damaging the property. Then one strong bullfighter was called & the bull was captured. A strong thick rope was put around it's neck & it was tied to a post. Hereafter all the pell-mell ended.

The above story is depicted here to understand the state of our mind in philosophy. Human mind is very fickle & it runs from one object to the other. In this process, mind too sometimes gets violent & anger is expressed in our nature. In the state of anger we too hurt many by speaking angry words. When anger gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems for oneself, as well as, for others. In the state of anger we are at the mercy of an unpredictable and powerful emotion which if not controlled does harm only. If anger is not controlled it can lead to physiological, as well as, psychological problems for you.

Now how can we control this anger? Basically, to control anger is to first control & calm your mind. If your mind remains in a state of calm then no negative emotions can arouse in it. To be peaceful at mind, the easiest way is that we let our mind delve inside our own inner nature rather than hankering after outside worldly objects. If mind continuously runs after worldly things then it gets disturbed when the thing of desire is not attained. When the mind gets disturbed in this way then anger arouses in the mind & it leads to negative consequences only. When you close your eyes in meditation, you start delving inside your inner nature. What is your inner nature? It's nothing but your soul inside where you delve in times of meditation & attain peace. In soul there is peace only. Now your soul is nothing but part & parcel of Universal Soul only. Universal Soul is nothing but God only who is ultimate peace.

In Bhagwat Gita philosophy it is said that the easiest way to control your mind is to tie it to the feet of God. When mind always remains in remembrance of God then it stops hankering after external worldly objects. When external hankering of mind stops then peace itself comes to mind immediately. So our mind is also like a raging bull which if not controlled does damage to oneself, as well as, to others by expressing emotions like anger, jealousy, fear etc. Just like the raging bull was tied to a post with rope & everything became calm, so let your mind be tied to the feet of God so that all your negative emotions arousing in mind come to a peaceful & calm state.

Here below is what Bhagwat Gita teaches about "Mind Control". Mind is that makes the personality of a person. Angry, jealous, fearful, de-motivated mind makes a person depressed one while a peaceful, calm, motivated mind makes a person cheerful. Mind is very powerful one & to control it is just like keeping in control a raging bull. It just wanders like wind here & there & it takes enough of self discipline & practice of meditation to control it. As per "Arjuna" to "Lord Sri Krishna" in Bhagwat Gita Chapter Six verse 34:

"chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 34)

"Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, to control it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

"sri-bhagavan uvacha
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham chalam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena cha grhyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 35)

"Lord Sri Krishna said: O mighty-armed Arjuna, it is undoubtedly that mind is very difficult to curb & is restless, but it is possible by suitable practices of meditation and by detachment to control it."

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Jai Sri Krishna

Don’t Teach or Change ‘Egoistic Persons’

Once "Lord Vishnu" with his wife "Goddess Lakshmi" while traveling through the universe, came to our planet earth from the heaven. On coming to earth, "Goddess Lakshmi" saw a dirty pig sitting in "Mud (Keechad)" which was smelling badly & was full of filth. Seeing such a condition of the Pig, "Goddess Lakshmi" showed her concern about the living condition of the Pig to "Lord Vishnu". She asked the Lord to uplift the condition of the Pig.

Lord Vishnu knew that it was in the habit of the Pig to live in such a filthy condition & said to "Goddess Lakshmi" to stop thinking about this Pig. But she insisted Lord Vishnu to uplift the Pig's condition & even suggested to Lord Vishnu that they should take this Pig to heaven with them. At this "Lord Vishnu" asked the "Goddess Lakshmi" that she should talk to the Pig only & take his viewpoint in this case. So "Goddess Lakshmi" went to the Pig & told him that she was very much perturbed with his such condition & told him that she has decided to take him to the heaven.

On hearing this, Pig asked the "Goddess Lakshmi"; Shall there be "Mud (filth) in the heaven as he feels happy in that condition only???
"Goddess Lakshmi" was very much perplexed at listening this & stopped thinking of uplifting the condition of that Pig.

Similarly, once there was a man who always used to live in an area full of filth & dirty smell. He was so used to living in that area that he never felt any unease living in such surroundings. One day that man went through an area where there were many shops of Perfume (Scent, Itr, sweet smelling liquid, fragrance giving liquid). On smelling such sweet fragrances coming from that area, that man actually fainted.
Same is the case with many of the people, who have a similar condition within their mind. Such people too have filth filled inside their mind. They lack the internal purity & are possessed of hypocrisy, conceit, arrogance, jealousy & are very egoistic. Their mind is given to insatiable passion, lust & anger. They are given to the enjoyment of sensuous pleasures only. Such people strive to obtain by unlawful means hoards of money for the enjoyment of sensuous pleasures. Such people are self-important, unbending, filled with the intoxication of wealth & honor. These people are given over to egoism, violence, insolence, passion & anger.

"kamam asritya duspuram
dambha-mana-madanvitah
mohad grhitvasad-grahan
pravartante ’suci-vratah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Sixteen verse 10)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Taking shelter of insatiable lust and absorbed in the conceit of pride and false prestige, the demoniac, thus disillusioned , are always sworn to unclean work, attracted by the impermanent."

Such malicious persons hate the God that dwells in the bodies of others, as well, as in their own body. Above mentioned qualities of hypocrisy, conceit, arrogance, jealousy, passion, lust, anger etc. are the qualities of a "Mental Filthy" person only. If you ask or teach them to change their mental position then they are as reluctant as a "Filthy Pig" to change their condition.

"ahankaram balam darpam
kamam krodham cha samsritah
mam atma-para-dehesu
pradvisanto ’bhyasuyakah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Sixteen verse 18)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, Bewildered by false ego, strength, pride, lust and anger, the bad natured people become envious of the Supreme Lord, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against the real religion."

We need to know that such bad qualities in mind take the shape of habit & are very difficult to remove. We should make a resolve to remove all such bad qualities like hypocrisy, conceit, arrogance, jealousy, anger etc. from our mind as we cannot go to heaven (mental peace) with all such bad qualities.

Jai Sri Krishna

Don't be like a Parrot but be Practical

"Once there was a Holy teacher who was having a big hermitage. He was having a pet Parrot to whom he taught how not to get caught in the forest by the hunter’s trap. His parrot, who could speak well learnt all those ways & recited daily to his friends in the forest those ways, how not to get caught in the hunter’s trap. All of his friends learnt all the ways well.

One day a hunter came in the forest. The parrot started reciting loudly all the ways how to run away & not to get caught in the hunter’s trap. All of the friends of the parrot ran away & escaped the hunter’s trap but that parrot did nothing but went on chanting those lines, how not to get caught in the trap of the hunter. So he himself was trapped & killed while all his friends acting on his advice ran away & saved their lives.

So the Holy teacher told his disciples that, "Don’t be like that parrot who only believed in chanting but be practical in implementing his advice in their lives as then only they can be great people. God is happy with those who do the action & not mere recite the holy words."

Below are verses of Bhagwat Gita which tell that doing action is better than not working at all :

"niyatam kuru karma tvam
karma jyayo hy akarmanah
satire-satrapy cha tee
an prasiddhyed akarmanah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 8)

"Sri Krishna said: Do You perform your prescribed duty; for doing action is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work."

"brahmany adhaya karmani
sangam tyaktva karoti yah
lipyate an sa papena
padma-patram ivambhasa" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Five verse 10)

"Sri Krishna said: One who performs his duty offering all actions & surrendering the results unto the God, remains unaffected by sin; same as the lotus leaf is untouched by water."

"ye tu sarvani karmani
mayi sannyasya mat-parah
ananyenaiva yogena
mam dhyayanta upasate"

"tesam aham samuddharta
mrityu-samsara-sagarat
bhavami an cirat partha
mayy avesita-cetasam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Twelve verse 6-7)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, But those depending exclusively on me & those who worship Me, giving up all their activities unto Me and engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, having fixed their minds upon Me, O son of Pritha (Arjuna) — for them I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death."

"sreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj
jnanad dhyanam visisyate
dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas
tyagac chantir anantaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Twelve verse 12)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind."

So let's do all our work always remembering the God & offer all our work to God. In this way you shall be sustaining your family life & shall be doing good to the society also. God shall be happy with you as you shall devote all of your work & life to God only.



Jai Sri Krishna

How to get rid of Sins as per Bhagwat Gita

In Hinduism, Pāpa is the word generally used for Sin. Sin is nothing but doing acts which go against the will of God, or going against the laws of nature or rules of scriptures given by God. Now how we can get rid of our sins?

In Bhagwat Gita, we find many quotes which explain about how we can eliminate our sins. As per Bhagwat Gita there are two main ways to get rid of your sins. One way is to to learn the truth about soul knowledge & God by approaching a spiritual master, inquiring from him submissively and rendering service unto him. The self-realized souls (Gurus, masters having the true knowledge) can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. So by having the transcendental knowledge you shall burn & get rid of all your sins.

"tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darshinah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 34)

"Sri Krishna said: Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

"api ced asi papebhyah
sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah
sarvam jnana-plavenaiva
vrjinam santarisyasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 36)

"Sri Krishna said: Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries."

"yathaidhamsi samiddho ’gnir
bhasma-sat kurute ’rjuna
jnanagnih sarva-karmani
bhasma-sat kurute tatha" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 37)

"Sri Krishna said: As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all sins & reactions to material activities."

One other way to get rid of all your sins is to take refuge in God through "Devotion". In Bhagwat Gita, God assures his disciple Arjuna in many ways & asks him to take refuge in Him & says that He shall emancipate him of sin in all ways, shall rescue him in his life always. Many times we think that we have done many sins in life & how God shall accept us, but God makes very clear in Bhagwat Gita that once a person become devoted to Him, He does not considers that person a sinner, rather God considers that person to be a Saint as he has taken the right decision in his life to become devoted to God.

Api chet su-duracharo
bhajate maam ananya-bhak
sadhurev sa mantavya
samyag vyvasito hi sah' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 30 )

'Even if the vilest sinner worships Me with full devotion, he should be considered a noble soul or saint; as he has taken the right step by worshipping me.'
'
kshipram bhavti dharmatma
shasvac-chantim nigachati
kauntey pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranashyati' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 31)

'He speedily becomes virtuous and secures lasting peace. O son of Kunti, know it for certain that My devotee never falls.'

Through above verse 31, God is telling Arjuna that such a sinful person after becoming His devotee becomes a person of good virtues and always remain in peace & such a peace is not temporary but is ever lasting. God is assuring the son of Kunti ( another name of Arjuna, his disciple) that his devotee never falls again in life as He always protect him. So let's all worship the God always so that He can protect us always.

'man-mna bhav mad-bhakto
madhyaji maam namaskuru
maam-evaishyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah' (Gita: Chapter IX verse 34)

'Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to me, worship Me & offer obeisance's to Me. In this way, linking to Me, you shall surely come to Me.'

Through above verse 34, God is asking Arjuna to fix his mind on God as after worshipping Him & paying obeisance's to God, he shall automatically come to Him. We should also follow the same path & let's become devoted to him by praying Him daily. God is very clear that once a person comes in God's refuge, then all his problems are solved & God becomes his protector in this life & life beyond.

Jai Shri Krishna

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Basis of Life & Rebirth as per 'Bhagwat Gita'

Basis of Hindu philosophy in 'Bhagwat Gita' is that one who is born, shall die one day & whosoever, dies shall be reborn again certainly. The embodied soul in this body is immortal. As per 'Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Two Verse – 23' : 

"nainam chindanti shastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na chainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 23)

Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

It cannot be cut with any weapon, fire cannot burn it, it is impervious to water & it cannot drench it & neither air can dry this soul. As soul is beyond this visible nature elements of fire, water, air, earth etc. so these nature elements cannot cause any damage to the immortal soul.

If a person becomes firm in that belief only that soul inside his body is immortal, then too he attains immortality as then that person goes beyond the visible nature which has formed this visible body of ours.

Now what is immortality? This soul of ours wears this body made of nature elements. After karmic cycle, depending on the Karmas of our previous life, soul drops this body at death & takes on another body based on the Karmas of our present life. Again we do Karmas in our next birth & that becomes the basis of our further next birth for this soul. So this cycle of wearing different bodies goes on for this soul. As we all feel pleasure & pain in one's life, so can't it be possible that we can avoid this pain that we feel in our body.

As per 'Bhagwat Gita-Chapter Eighteen Verse – 55' :

"bhaktya mam abhijanati
yavan yas chasmi tattvatah
tato mam tattvato jnatva
visate tad-anantaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 55)

 "Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God."

When we go to a perpetual divine life, which is beyond this nature, which forms this body then that life is beyond all this pain & is a blissful life. To attain that we have to establish our self in our soul. As God is the Supreme Soul from whom all these souls have emanated, so worshipping Him constantly, one shall be established in the soul & shall attain a blissful life.

Jai Sri Krishna

You Should Appreciate What You Have In Life

Once a wealthy man took his son on a trip to the countryside, so that he could have his son see how poor life the country people live.

They stayed one day and one night in the home of a very humble farmer. At the end of the trip, when they were back home, the father asked his son, "What did you think of the trip?"

The son replied, "Very nice dad."

Then the father asked his son, "Did you notice how poor they were?"

The son replied, "Yes."

The father continued asking, "What did you learn?"

The son responded, "I learned that we have one dog in our house, and they have four.

And we have imported lamps in our garden . . . where they have the stars!

Also, we have a fountain in our garden, but they have a stream that has no end.

And our garden goes to the edge of our property. But they have the entire horizon as their back yard!"

At the end of the son's reply the father was speechless.

His son then said, "Thank you dad for showing me how poor we really are."

Isn't it true that all depends on the lens you use to see life?

One can ask himself what would happen if we give thanks to God for what we have in life instead of always asking for more.

So now do you remain sad sometimes? Do you feel frustrated that you do not have what you wanted in life? Do you feel jealous of others for the things they possess & you don't have? Do you feel disillusioned with your life sometimes? Have you lost something in life which you already had?

In your life you always want to achieve more & more but feel frustrated if you do not get it. If you have some money, you want more of it. If you have a house, you want a bigger one with more facilities in it. If you do not have a car, you want to have one. If you do have a car then you want a bigger & more luxurious one. We want to fulfill all of our dreams in life but feel depressed & frustrated if we are not able to achieve these. We do also feel frustrated if we lose something which we were already having. In fact, our mind is very fickle. It constantly hankers after the "Things of Desire" & feel sad, depressed when it's wishes are not fulfilled. Below verse of Bhagwat Gita tells about the fickle nature of our mind. As per that our mind is very restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong & controlling it is more difficult than controlling the wind. Due to this fickle nature of our mind, it always demand & want more. Due to restless nature of mind we are not at peace with ourselves.



"chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Six verse 34)

"Arjuna said: For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

Now just see your present life as it is. Our basic problem is that we do not appreciate the positive aspects in our lives. Our nature is to ponder on the negatives & what we don't have in life. To us others grass always seem greener. In fact we should appreciate what we already have. That shall give you a strength that at least you have been able to achieve that much. Do not compare yourself with someone very rich & with much more facilities & resources than you. Just see how good you are from those who lay a life along roadside without even having a roof over there head. If you have a small house then be happy that at least you are having a roof over your head despite the fact that you're not yet living in the home of your dreams. Just appreciate, whatever, you have achieved in life till today. Just see that there are many who have not achieved even that in life & you are much better of than many many on this earth. All around you, there are many people who are less fortunate than yourself. So we should always appreciate & give thanks to God for what we have in life.

It is all right that we all want to be better in life than what we are today. It is all right that if we work hard in life, we can fulfill our dreams. But there is no reason to get depressed in life just comparing yourself with rich, resourceful persons & moaning that you do not have all that in life. We should not forget about our own limit and capacity.

So let's be grateful to God for whatever we have in life. If you are able to thank God for, whatever, He has given you in life, then also you shall appreciate what you have in life. We should always focus on the positives in life. So let us start appreciating what we have. Appreciate what you have achieved in life till now. Appreciate your own looks & body. Appreciate the house you live in. Appreciate that you & your family are having good food while there are many who are not just having that also. Appreciate your loved ones, your children. Appreciation of yourself shall bring confidence in you, it shall also bring peace & happiness in your family life.

Let us learn to appreciate what you have in life. Wealth is all in one's point of view.



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Why Bhishma Pitamah had to Suffer on a Bed of Arrows?

When Bhishma Pitamah was struck down by Arjuna,in the Mahabharata War, he fell down from his chariot. But since the arrows had pierced his chest (gone aar-paar), he did not touch the ground, but remained lying on the bed of arrows. His head was hanging, he needed to rest it, and told Arjuna to make some provision. Arjuna immediately stuck 3 arrows beneath his head to support it. Bhishma remarked joyfully - "What a fitting pillow for a warrior like me - a pillow to match the bed !". Next he asked for water, since he was thirsty. Arjuna once, more, struck a mighty arrow right through the earth, and Ganga maiya surged up to pour cool water in the parched mouth of her beloved son. So Bhishma Pitamah had to suffer the pangs on the bed of arrows in battlefield before attaining final beatitude and redemption to Vaikuntha Loka.

Now what was the Karmic reason that Bhishma Pitamah had to Suffer on a Bed of Arrows? To the question as to why Bhishma Pitamah was suffering this punishment even when he had not committed any sin during past 72 birth lives (Great Bhishma could peep into his past lives through Samadhi), Lord Krishna replied him that he committed a folly in past 73rd life birth when he inflicted injuries to insects by piercing thorns / needles into their bodies. Those thorns have now appeared as bed of arrows for you. Your sinful Karma remained dormant as you were a pious person throughout theses lives but since you have now become a party to Adharma of Duryodhana, the sanchit evil Karma’s of 73rd life has ripened now.

So if a person has done good Karmas in past lives, he/she gets a good life in future births & if he/she has done bad karmas in past lives then that person has to suffer bad fruit of those bad Karmas. So it is generally said that we should do good Karmas only.

Below are few verses of Bhagwat Gita which explain about how a soul travels from one body to the other & where it goes as per the Karmic law:

"yada sattve pravrddhe tu
pralayam yati deha-bhrt
tadottama-vidam lokan
amalan pratipadyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 14)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of goodness (after doing good Karmas) , he attains to the pure higher planets of the great sages."

"rajasi pralayam gatva
karma-sangisu jayate
tatha pralinas tamasi
mudha-yonisu jayate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Fourteen verse 15)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, When one dies in the mode of passion, he takes birth among those engaged in fruit producing activities (i.e. as a man or woman on earth); and when one dies in the mode of ignorance (after doing bad Karmas) , he takes birth in the bird & animal kingdom."

So it is said that we should do all our Karmas for the God only as by doing such Karmas no evil result shall come out of those Karmas in future lives.

"yajnarthat karmano ’nyatra
loko ’yam karma-bandhanah
tad-artham karma kaunteya
mukta-sangah samachara" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 9)

"Sri Krishna said: Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O Arjuna, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage."

So let’s do Good Karmas only so that we shall get Goof Fruits of those Karmas in future births. Let’s do all the Karmas for God only as by that way God shall protect us always.

Jai Shri Krishna

FAMOUS SAYINGS / PREACHINGS OF LORD KRISHNA IN BHAGWAT GITA

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE SAYINGS / PREACHINGS OF LORD KRISHNA FROM BHAGWAT GITA:

"yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: Whenever and wherever there is a decline in virtue/religious practice, O Arjuna, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself, i.e. I manifest Myself as an embodied being."

"paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya cha duskritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 8)

"Sri Krishna said: To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium."

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

"na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato ’yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 20)

"Sri Krishna said: The soul is never born nor dies at any time. Soul has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. Soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. Soul is not slain when the body is slain."

"vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya
navani grhnati naro ’parani
tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany
anyani samyati navani dehi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 22)

"Sri Krishna said: As a human being puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."

"nainam chindanti shastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na chainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 23)

"Sri Krishna said: The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

"man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaishyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo ’si me" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 65)

Be aware of me always, adore me, make every act an offering to me, and you shall come to me; this I (Krishna) promise, for you are dear to me.

So Let’s Surrender to the will of God & be devoted to Lord Krishna. By doing so God shall always protect us in life.

"karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)

"Sri Krishna said: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."

So it is doing our job / duty in a proper manner that gives true happiness in life. So let’s do our job / duty properly without much caring for, how much money it shall generate.

"yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: Whenever and wherever there is a decline in virtue/religious practice, O Arjuna, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself the Lord of the universe, i.e. I manifest Myself as an embodied being."

"paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya cha duskritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Four verse 8)

"Sri Krishna said: To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium."

"ye tu dharmamritam idam
yathoktam paryupasate
sraddadhana mat-parama
bhaktas te ’tiva me priyah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Twelve verse 20)

"Sri Krishna says to Arjuna: Those who follow this imperishable path of Devotional Service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me." (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Twelve verse 20)

So let's always engage in Devotional service of the Lord. Let's sing His glories so that He can always be merciful on us. If we shall do such Devotional service to the Lord then we shall get special mercy of Him

"mattah parataram nanyat
kincid asti dhananjaya
mayi sarvam idam protam
sutre mani-gana iva" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Seven verse 7)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, there is no truth superior to Me. All this Universe, Every living being & Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread." (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Seven verse 7)

So Let's surrender our ego in the Divine feet of the God & adore Him only so that He can give us a blissful life.

"tam eva saranam gaccha
sarva-bhavena bharata
tat-prasadat param shantim
sthanam prapsyasi sasvatam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eighteen verse 62)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, surrender your ego fully unto the God. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode." 

Just like a Pitcher (earthen pot for storing water) needs to submerge in Water to get it Filled so we need to surrender our ego in the Divine feet of God so that He can fill our life with bliss.

"dehi nityam avadhyo ’yam
dehe sarvasya bharata
tasmat sarvani bhutani
na tvam socitum arhasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 30)

Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, he (Soul) who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being." 

Let's understand that Soul living in everyone's body is immortal & never dies, it changes one body to other. So we should not grieve for anyone. We meet & get separated in this life as per the Karmas done together in earlier births.

"na tv-evaham jatu nasam
na tvam neme janadhipah
na chaiva na bhavisyamah
sarve vayam atah param" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 12)

"Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: In fact, there was never a time when I was not or You did not exist or all these kings were not; nor it is a fact that in the future We all shall cease to exist." 

As a Soul... we all exist birth after birth, our body dies but we as a Soul are Immortal & go on living birth after birth, We all are Immortal

Below are Quotes in Bhagwat Gita, which describe the Soul, or Atman, in detail:

"dehino-asmin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvnam jara
tatha dehantar-praptir-
adhiras tatra na muhyati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 13)

"Sri Krishna said: Just as boyhood, youth & old age are attributed to the soul & the embodied soul continuously passes through these cycles, similarly the embodied soul passes into another body at death. The wise man does not get deluded & bewildered with such a change."

"avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
vinasam avyayasyasya
na kascit kartum arhati" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 17)

"Sri Krishna said: Know that to be imperishable & indestructible, by which all this is pervaded; for none can bring about the destruction of this indestructible substance, the imperishable soul."

"antavanta ime deha
nityasyoktah saririnah
anasino ’prameyasya
tasmad yudhyasva bharata" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 18)

"Sri Krishna said: All these bodies pertaining to the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity / soul are spoken of as perishable; therefore, fight, Arjuna."

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman, neither slays not can it be slain (Chapter 2.19).

"ya enam vetti hantaram
yas chainam manyate hatam
ubhau tau na vijanito
nayam hanti na hanyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 19)

"Sri Krishna said: They are both ignorant, he who knows the soul to be capable of killing and he who takes it as killed; for verily the soul neither kills, nor is killed."

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman, is never born, never dies and after coming into existence never ceases to be. It is nitya (always), shasvatah (permanent) and purana (very ancient) (Chapter 2.20).

"na jayate mriyate va kadacin
nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah sasvato ’yam purano
na hanyate hanyamane sarire" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 20)

"Sri Krishna said: The soul is never born nor dies at any time. Soul has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. Soul is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. Soul is not slain when the body is slain."

"vedavinasinam nityam
ya enam ajam avyayam
katham sa purushah Arjuna
kam ghatayati hanti kam" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 21)

"Sri Krishna said: O Arjuna, how can a human being who knows that the soul is indestructible, eternal, unborn and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to kill?"

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman, does not suffer & cannot be tainted. At the time of death it does not die, but leaves the body and enters into a new one (Chapter 2.22).

"vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya
navani grhnati naro ’parani
tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany
anyani samyati navani dehi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 22)

"Sri Krishna said: As a human being puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman has the properties that Weapons cannot pierce it, fire cannot burn it, water cannot moisten it and wind cannot dry it (Chapter 2.23).

"nainam chindanti shastrani
nainam dahati pavakah
na chainam kledayanty apo
na sosayati marutah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 23)

"Sri Krishna said: The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman, is impenetrable, incombustible, all pervading, stable and immobile (Chapter 2.24).

"acchedyo ’yam adahyo ’yam
akledyo ’sosya eva cha
nityah sarva-gatah sthanur
achalo ’yam sanatanah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 24)

"Sri Krishna said: This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same."

According to Bhagwat Gita, the Soul, or Atman, is invisible, imperceptible and immutable (Chapter 2.25).

"avyakto ’yam acintyo ’yam
avikaryo ’yam ucyate
tasmad evam viditvainam
nanusocitum arhasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 25)

"Sri Krishna said: It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body."

"atha chainam nitya-jatam
nityam va manyase mrtam
tathapi tvam maha-baho
nainam socitum arhasi" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 26)

"Sri Krishna said: If, however, you think that the soul [or the symptoms of life] is always born and dies forever, you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed."

"prakriteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 27)

"Sri Krishna said: The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature."

Lord Krishna knew the limitations of human consciousness to gauge the true nature of the inner soul. So in the Bhagwat Gita it concurs that no one can exactly know what a soul is. Someone looks at It with great surprise, another speaks about It with great surprise, some another hears about It with incredulity and yet another after hearing about It knows it not (Chapter 2.29).

"ascharya-vat pasyati kascid enam
ascharya-vad vadati tathaiva chanyah
ascharya-vac chainam anyah srnoti
srutvapy enam veda na chaiva kascit" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 29)

"Sri Krishna said: Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all."

Below verse tells how Soul is superior to matter; mind, senses & intelligence:

"indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah
manasas tu para buddhir
yo buddheh paratas tu sah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Three verse 42)

"Sri Krishna said: The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence."

So in this way Soul is a Mysterious thing & can be understood if you have faith in God & in religious scriptures.

Jai Shri Krishna