Page 8 - Bhakthinivedana 2012 July English Magazine.pmd
P. 8
When a person acts independent of God,
of utilizing their bodies for worshiping me,
because his karma, meaning his action, binds
they have been using it for satisfying their bodily
him, he is called badha jivatma - a conditioned
pleasures. O Lakshmi ! Just like a knife that is to be
soul. He is conditioned by the fruits of his actions.
used to cut twigs for the sacrificial fire, is used for
Lakshmi De:vi says... Swamy, You are impartial cutting the tail of an auspicious cow, and just like
towards all and are adorned with divine a boat to be used for crossing a river, is used for
auspicious qualities. The scriptures praise you as drowning in a great whirlpool ! similarly, the souls
one who has an unconditional loving relationship have fallen in the stream called karma (cycle of
with the souls as a father, mother and a relative. birth and death) by succumbing to the pleasures of
materialistic happiness and have drowned in the
Why then have you now become biased and ocean of material world.
merciless ? You created some souls to experience
pleasures and some to suffer. What do you gain For such souls who have fallen into the ocean
by doing so ? Tell me right away - Is the nature not of materialistic enjoyment, I extended a helping
under Your control ? Or have you fallen under its hand by bestowing them with scriptures for their
control ? upliftment. And, they, merely by brushing through
the scriptures without understanding its essence,
Oh the most merciful one, if these conditioned have begun proclaiming themselves as GOD,
souls become objects of your compassion and the enjoyer and the powerful. That there is none
mercy then they, like the eternally free souls (Nithya equal to them and none born in such an eminent
Jivatams), would yearn to join You in Your abode, family as their own selves. Filled with pride and
and would desire for incomparable enjoyment of arrogance, They have failed to recognize ME ! Oh
the wealth of Your love. Oh Swamy by granting so, My ! There is no sin not committed by one who
what harm can befall upon you ? thinks that the soul is independent and is sub-
servient to others than God. Such a man is a thief
Listening to the words of Lakshmi De:vi that was
for he assumes that soul belongs to his own self.
filled with anguish, Srimanna:ra:yana with a gentle
This is known as A:thma apaharam- stealing the
smile on his face, replied:
soul from the Lord who owns it.
Prior to this creation, all these souls were lying
Oh Lakshmi with beautiful divine auspicious eyes
lifeless bereft of a form or body just like a bird
! just like a king who approaches and oversees
whose wings have been slayed. Oh De:vi ! I, with
the violators of his laws, similarly, I, with an
undisputed mercy granted form and senses to all
intention to bring forth righteousness amongst
the souls.
people so they obey ME with steadfast intelligence,
Long before, I bestowed all the souls with bodies incarnated as Ra:ma and Krushna in this world.
of various forms, to be used for the purpose of
Some fools take births that are contrary to what
serving me. Oh my beloved ! this is what is being
pleases me and further they live with perverted
acclaimed by the scriptures too. Isnt it ? Instead
8 Bhakthinivedana • July 2012
