Sharanagati

Collected words from talks of Swami Tirtha



Dec

8


(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2017 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Kripadham: Sorry for the stupid question that I will ask. The question is why the ants are more important for Jada Bharata than following of the rules of varnashrama-dharma?

Swami Tirtha: To serve the king or save the ants? It’s a very good point, very good point. You know, these are instructive stories from the holy sacred tradition, we can try to understand them by general intellectual way. But in such cases the point is a little different, because all the circumstances and all the little episodes of the story serve a higher purpose. Actually the ants were the causes for the whole event. Because therefore Jada Bharata started to walk unevenly and therefore the king became angry and therefore these instructions started, which goes on for five more chapters.

Comment: That’s why the ants are more important.

Swami Tirtha: Correct. The ants are also very important. Because without them the story cannot start, it’s not complete. So, everything serves the purpose of conveying the teachings and the message. Even the small little ant has a very important part in this whole story.

Comment: They are also spirit.

Swami Tirtha: Sure, everybody is. Therefore Jada Bharata was very kind to them, trying to escape killing them. So, I think this is an important point. And usually we don’t consider ourselves kings – neither kings, nor carriers of the palanquin. Maybe we can become little ants in Mahaprabhu’s mission, so that the story unfolds. So, please always try to reflect upon yourself from another point of view. Because usually we are very egocentric. We want to observe and understand everything starting from ourselves. But try to observe yourself from the outside. Why God has put you in this life, in these circumstances, why?

Harilila: Maybe this is the purpose of Jada Bharata’s life – to reveal himself in this situation. Because he didn’t reveal to his father who was so devoted to him. Nor he revealed when he was threatened by death. But now he reveals.

Swami Tirtha: Correct, it’s very important. And also this shows that teaching is never in vain, right. His father tried his best “To educate my son for four months on the Gayatri” – no result. Like a dead horse. Of course he was aware even while being instructed, but he didn’t reveal. Yet now the time came when he can reveal, when he can save the king. He didn’t reveal his greatness to save himself: ‘You want to kill me, all right. Go ahead!’ But here is a prospective devotee, a good king, who could be instructed nicely. And who was ready to give up his royal abhiman, this king’s behavior, to accept shishya-abhiman: “Tell me”.

(to be continued)

 



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