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English to Marathi: HAPPINESS IN FOOL'S PARADISE General field: Other Detailed field: Religion
Source text - English HAPPINESS IN A
FOOL’S PARADISE
SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA
NARAYANA MAHARAJA
1
CHAPTER ONE
PURE LOVE AND AFFECTION
THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE
I’m very happy to be travelling and preaching in the Western
countries, but I have not come to give anything new. I am
simply following Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja, and
giving the same thing that he came to the West to give. Svami
Maharaja is my bosom friend and instructing guru. He also
did not come to this world to give anything new; rather, he
has simply given what he received from his Gurudeva and
from all the teachers in our disciplic succession, which goes
back to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is actually the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Himself. However, He
came in the form of His own devotee to teach us the process
of transcendental devotional service, by which we can
develop pure love and affection for Him.
WE CANNOT FIND HAPPINESS IN THIS WORLD
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all the teachers in His line want
us to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy, but generally
we can only find a very little happiness and affection in this
world, and even then it is mixed with sorrows and suffering.
Why is it that we are unhappy, even though we have so
many possessions? We should consider this. Napoleon was
not a street beggar, and neither was President Kennedy.
Princess Diana was also not a street beggar; she was not at all
ugly, foolish, or ignorant. On the contrary, she had name,
fame, beauty and everything one could desire, and she was
married to Charles, but she was still not happy.
Why is it that even people who seem to have everything
are unhappy, in spite of their wealth and opulence? We
should think about this very seriously. If we don’t, we are no
2
better than animals. You have heard of Mussolini. His
political power made him quite a giant, and Hitler was more
than a giant, but they were not happy.
We should reflect on the way that we are living at present,
and look into the future, asking ourselves, “Will I be happy in
the future, if I continue doing what I am doing now, and
following the process that I am following now?” When we
ask ourselves this question, we will see that we are going in
the same direction as those people have gone. They were all
unhappy, and if we go in that direction, we will also be
unhappy.
There are many very rich people — for example
presidents and prime ministers — who are unhappy, even
though they have plenty of opulence, and facility for
enjoyment. One day, they, too, will become old and die, and
they will lose everything that they have in this world.
Nowadays we have become very advanced in material
life, from the kitchen department to medical science. We have
produced many wonderful inventions, especially in the areas
of communication, transportation and medicine. If a limb or
an organ is damaged, we can change it for another. A dead
man’s eyes can be removed and given to a blind person, so
that he can see. Surgeons can even replace a defective heart
with a new one. Nonetheless, we still have to become old,
and we still have to die.
As far as the advancement of material science is
concerned, America is at the forefront, but are Americans
happy? If they are, why are they all quarrelling with each
other? Why do so many of them commit suicide? We should
see that material advancement cannot make us happy.
OLD AGE WILL MARRY US BY FORCE
We don’t want to be old, and we don’t want our hair to
become white. We don’t want our eyesight to become
worse; and we certainly don’t want to become blind. We
3
want to remain young and very beautiful forever, but after
some time we will be forced to become old.
Generally, men do not want to marry women who are
old and no longer beautiful. Old age is ugly, and who wants
to marry someone who is ugly?
No one wants to marry Old Age, but she will force us to
marry her, whether we want to or not. Old Age will take
away your teeth, and you’ll have to use false teeth instead. We
can make some artificial arrangement to make our white hair
black, and our teeth beautiful. In the end, though, we’ll have
so many wrinkles, like all other old people.
You’ll have to marry Old Age and become old. Perhaps
you won’t be able to walk. Finally, many people will come
and help you go to the last resting place of the body: to the
cemetery or the crematorium. In India, thousands of people
take the dead body to the crematorium, and there they burn
it to ashes. Other people bury dead bodies; in that case,
worms and insects eat some of the body, and the rest rots. If
your body is not burned or buried, many wild dogs, jackals
and hogs may come and quarrel over it: “Oh, that’s my piece.
Why did you take it?” Then the body will become stool.
Ultimately, the body is bound to rot, or to become ashes
or stool. This is the truth about the body, to which we are so
attached. The body will die and disappear forever, but we
don’t want to think that we will die and disappear forever.
WE ARE REFUGEES HERE
We should consider whether in fact we are this body, or the
soul within the body. It is a fundamental truth that there is all
the difference in the world between our real self, which is the
soul, and this body. Knowing this, we have to be detached
from this body, and from worldly, lusty desires. We should
also inquire where the soul has come from.
We are parts and parcel of God, of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. This material world is not our
homeland; it is a place for refugees. We have come to this
4
world as refugees, and one day we’ll have to give it up at a
moment’s notice. Then where will we go?
WE NEED PURE LOVE AND AFFECTION
Modern scientists have discovered nuclear weapons, and they
are continuing with their research. They want to discover
weapons of destruction that are so powerful that the whole
world can be finished in a moment. But this is not progress
and advancement. Where is the love and affection between
husband and wife? Where is the love and affection between
father and children? Where is the love between one country
and another? Why do we have to have such complicated and
difficult systems with passports and visas? Why? I often come
and go between India and different countries in the world.
My only business is to teach people about Krishna
consciousness, but the officials make it so difficult. Why?
Inventions and the advancement of material science are
bringing the different parts of the world much closer to each
other. Unfortunately, they are also creating many problems.
The main problem is that love and affection is disappearing
from everyone’s heart. That is why everyone is unhappy. That
is why they quarrel amongst themselves, and want to control
each other.
People are obviously not happy in their married life, or in
their life outside the home. If their standard of happiness has
advanced so much, why do they change wives three, four,
twelve, or even twenty times, like dogs changing their mates?
Why?
Everyone wants peace and happiness in their lives, but I
don’t think that the advancement of material science has
actually made any one happy. Happiness really depends on
love. We cannot find happiness without prema, or love and
affection. This is our real necessity: happiness and love. We
want pure happiness, and pure love and affection, but we
can’t find them here.
Nevertheless, they do exist.
5
We are trying to find happiness by developing impure
love and affection for imperfect personalities. The Vedic
literatures tell us that we can only be happy by developing
pure love and affection for the supremely pure personality,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Throughout the Vedas and Upanisads we read that we are
parts and parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Krishna. Our constitutional nature is to serve the Supreme
Personality of Godhead with love and affection.
Unfortunately we have forgotten this, and that is why we are
bound by maya in this material world. Maya has imprisoned
us, and she is giving us the sorrows and sufferings of life:
birth, death, old age, disease, and so on. This is just so that
we will understand that we cannot be happy in this world.
We cannot become happy by making material arrangements,
or by trying to fulfill material desires, or by collecting material
possessions. We can only be happy in this world and the next
by serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. We
should chant and remember His holy names and glories.
GENERATOR, OPERATOR AND DESTROYER
We have to develop affection for the Supreme Personality of
Godhead who has created this world. He has created it and
brought it into being; He is supporting it; and when this
world becomes old, it goes back to Him.
What is the significance of the word God?
G stands for Generator, the one who creates this world.
O stands for Operator, the one who is maintaining and
supporting this whole world. Without this support, the whole
world would have no basis, and would cease to exist.
D stands for Destroyer.
ETERNAL, AUSPICIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL
God is satyam sivam sundaram. Satyam means that He does not
die or take birth. He is eternal. God is one, not many. All the
6
scriptures in our ancient Vedic tradition say that Krishna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He also has many
other names.
God is sundaram, very beautiful. There is no one as
beautiful as Krishna. His form is eternally
youthful, like that of a very beautiful young boy.
His body curves elegantly in three places — His ankles,
His waist and His neck. He smiles and
plays on His flute, and His transcendental body has
a most alluring fragrance. He attracts everyone in the
spiritual world — including His beloved cows —and He
attracts everyone in this world as well.
Everyone likes beautiful things, but we cannot love a
beautiful man if he has some poison in him. God must
therefore be sivam, auspicious.
Krishna has all auspicious qualities in full. That means that
He has infinite power, and besides being almighty, he is also
supremely merciful.
LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH KRISHNA
Krishna is satyam, eternal; sivam, very merciful; and sundaram,
very beautiful. Everything is in Krishna, and that is why He
can fulfill all kinds of desires. You may know of
Nrsimhadeva. Nrsimha Bhagavan is another form of
Krishna, and He is also God; He has a head like a lion, and
He is very powerful and dangerous, but He is not as beautiful
as Krishna. Rama, Lord Ramacandra, is very beautiful, but
He cannot fulfill all desires.
Jesus Christ is powerful, and he will protect us like a
father or mother, but we cannot play with him like a sakha,
an intimate friend, and we cannot relate to him as we would
to a husband. Nrsimha Bhagavan protects everyone, but He
cannot be like a friend, because He is so dangerous.
Krishna is the only Personality in whom we can find
everything. His beauty and His mercy are unparalleled; He is
omnipotent and omniscient; and He has all the good qualities.
7
He will relate to us according to our own inner heart’s desire.
We can be like His servant or His intimate friend. We can
care for Him in a parental mood, and we can even have the
mood of His beloved.
If you have a little affection for Krishna, He can fulfil
whatever wishes or desires you may have.
He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of
all other forms of Godhead, and He can give what even
Rama cannot. If we have just a little love and affection for
Krishna, we can be so happy, for all time. We can be happy
in this world, and we can be happy in our next birth as well,
and birth after birth. Even if we have liberation, affection for
Krishna will make us happy.
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S MISSION
We should develop an affectionate relationship with Krishna,
who is the embodiment of love and affection. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu came to this world to teach us this [and to tell
us that the best way to love Krishna is to follow the gopis of
Vraja]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself, and He
came because He is causelessly merciful. He loves everyone in
this world, because we are all parts and parcels of Krishna.
He came to give love and affection for Krishna.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world to bring us
closer to Krishna, and to wean us away from worldly affairs,
worldly enjoyment, worldly false ego and from the false
happiness of this world. He gives us eternal bliss, and eternal
love and affection, so that we can be happy and peaceful.
And it is not possible unless we have what He has come to
give.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world and gave a new
message by which everyone could be happy. We can know
all this by reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. He gave the
advanced philosophy of prema to very elevated devotees. He
preached in a simple way for people who were not so
advanced, and while He was traveling through the forest
8
towards Vrindavana, He even gave divine love to tigers,
bears, elephants and other animals.
HAPPINESS BY CHANTING THE HOLY NAME
If you want to be happy, and to have love and affection for
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you should chant Hare
Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare
Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Then you will be
eternally happy. There is no other means. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu taught us this verse from the ancient scriptures:
harer nama harer nama, harer nama eva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this Kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, one
should simply chant the holy name, chant the holy name,
chant the holy name. There is no other, no other way, no
other way.”
We have come to the Western countries only to give the
same message that Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give. We
are giving it in brief, and in a very simple way, because the
message of love and affection is so deep.
To understand this profound philosophy and to put it
into practice, people must first chant Hare Krishna, Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare. At first they can understand this
message in a simple way. Then they will gradually understand
it more deeply and broadly as they develop through the
steady practice of Krishna consciousness, and especially by
chanting the holy names. There is a systematic process of
development from faith, to firm devotion, taste for
devotional practice, transcendental attachment to Sri Krishna
and His associates, ecstatic moods and then full
transcendental love and affection for Krishna (prema). This is
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s method of developing love of
9
Godhead through the process of congregational chanting of
the holy names.
10
CHAPTER TWO
MY MISSION
INTRODUCTION
In this section, Srila Narayana Maharaja explains to his disciples what
his mission is. To understand what he is saying here, we have to know
something about the disciplic succession.
The particular group of Vaisnavas to which Srila Narayana
Maharaja belongs are called Gaudiya Vaisnavas. The Gaudiya
Vaisnavas are in The disciplic succession from an extraordinary devotee
called Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu — or Lord Caitanya — who
appeared a little more than 500 gears ago. Lord Caitanya inspired and
renewed the practice and teaching of Krishna consciousness, and there is
irrefutable evidence that He is actually none other than the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Himself. Sri Krishna appeared as
His own devotee to teach us the ultimate conclusions of Krishna
consciousness by His own example. Vaisnavas who follow Lord
Caitanya’s teachings and practice, and who worship Him as Krishna
Himself, are called Gaudiya Vaisiavas.
All Vaisnavas aspire for pure devotional service to Krishna or
Visnu. The speciality of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas is their emphasis on the
service moods of Vraja (or Vrindavana). The residents of Vraja are so
deeply in love with Krishna, that they have no desire to worship Him in
awe and reverence. Instead, they worship His most attractive feature
informally, with pure transcendental love and affection.
OUR MISSION
Someone was asking me, “What is your mission? What have
you come here to give?” My mission is the same as the
mission of Lord Caitanya and the teachers in His disciplic
succession. Our mission is to give love and affection to all
living beings, regardless of their caste, creed and qualification.
The topmost perfection of love and affection is the
service mood that the residents of Vraja have towards
11
Krishna. We are giving this most excellent love and affection
to those who want it, and who are qualified for it. But you
should recognize that if anyone has real love and affection for
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he must also
have love and affection for all living beings. He will not kill
any animal, or eat fish, meat, or eggs. He will not harm any
living creature at all; he will not even crush the grass
unnecessarily. One who has love and affection for Krishna
will try to please Him by showing love and affection to all
living entities.
LOVE, AFFECTION AND MERCY
How can we have genuine love and affection for Krishna, if
we do not show mercy to His parts and parcels? Sometimes,
when I go out for a walk in the West, I think, “I should not
come this way.” Why? Because the calves and cows grazing in
the fields run away in fear, trembling when they see me. They
are thinking, “These people have no mercy on us. They are
keeping us in jail, and after some time, they will take us to the
slaughter-house and kill us.”
How can anyone think they have the right to attack
animals and kill them? If people are not merciful to animals,
how will Krishna be merciful to them?
We see that there are prominent religious leaders and yet
they are responsible for the deaths of very small calves, so
that they can eat their flesh. Those small calves will cry out at
the time of death. Where will that crying go? Where will it
go? Does Krishna have no ears?
Such religious leaders are thinking that they are very
elevated religious persons and servants of God, but what do
the calves think about that? We realise that such people have
no love and affection for the animals. Yet the animals are also
sons and daughters of Krishna, and eternal servants of
Krishna. That is why we chant Krishna’s holy name to them
— Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.
12
NO DUPLICITY
A guru must be a pure devotee with no self interest, who is
not duplicitous, and who is full of this kind of mercy. My
mission is to give love and affection for Krishna. When
people have that, they will automatically have love and
affection for all living beings. You should all come to this
stage. This is my mission.
My disciples should listen to these instructions. Try to
develop these qualities of love & affection, and obtain prema
for Krishna. Then try to be merciful to everyone, and give
this message to all by distributing transcendental literature,
and by chanting the holy name in public places. Everyone —
including ignorant people, and even the calves and other
innocent animals — should hear Krishna’s holy name and be
benefited. Even if they have no desire for it, the holy name
will purify them in any case. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said,
“Perform the chanting of the holy name in public, and don’t
worry if people laugh at you, or insult you. Don’t worry
what they do.”
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has established the movement
for preaching Krishna consciousness to people where they
live. You should try to follow his instructions and example.
Develop love and affection for Krishna, and help others to
develop it as well. If you are really doing this, I will be
pleased, and Krishna will be pleased. Then you will really be
disciples, otherwise not.
Gaura-premanande! Haribol!
13
CHAPTER THREE
SUDAMA BRAHMANA
INTRODUCTION
Modern material civilisation has failed to produce happiness. The pastime
of Sudama Brahmana teaches us that though one may be in an
impoverished position, he can nevertheless be happy by practicing spiritual
principles which are the exact opposite of those that we learn in material
society. This pastime also illustrates that Krishna is fully capable of
supplying the needs of His surrendered devotees even beyond our wildest
imaginations.
KRISHNA IS VERY MERCIFUL
Krishna is so powerful. He is the ocean of the essence of all
bliss in transcendental relationships in pure love and affection.
He is the God of all Gods. He is even the root cause of
other forms of Godhead such as Rama, Nrsingha and all the
other incarnations.
At the same time, Krishna is very kind and merciful. If
anyone offers Him even just a leaf, fruit or water, He will
accept it. One may be so poor that he has nothing to offer
Krishna, but Krishna says, “Don’t be hopeless. You can offer
me a leaf.” This really means a leaf from the tulasi plant,
which is so dear to Krishna. But if you don’t have a tulasi leaf,
you can offer any leaf or even a bud from a tree.
If you don’t have that, then you can even just offer some
grass — no harm. Or you can offer Krishna some water,
which is available everywhere free of charge. And when you
make the offering with love, Krishna will think, “Oh! I
cannot repay this offering of love.” He is so merciful. If you
give Him such a very little thing, He will think, “He has given
Me so much.”
14
In Srimad Bhagavatam, we find a delightful pastime, which
shows that Krishna is so grateful and merciful that no one
else in the whole of the creation can be compared with Him.
THE BRAHMANA AND HIS WIFE
Once there was a brahmana named Sudama. A brahmana is
someone who is spiritually realised, and who knows
Brahman, the spiritual basis of the whole creation. Sudama
brahmana was also a Vaisnava, which means that He
worshipped Krishna as the Supreme Brahman, the source
and basis of Brahman. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, but He appeared on Earth about 5,000 years ago,
and performed pastimes to defeat the demons and to delight
His devotees. Sudama knew this, and was always engaged in
chanting and remembering Krishna’s names and glories, He
lived near Dvaraka, Krishna’s wonderful city, which was full
of inconceivable, mystical opulence.
Sudama was married and his wife was very chaste.
Brahmanas are expected to devote their lives to spiritual
development, and to live very simply, by begging if necessary.
Sudama and his wife were very poor, but he never took
much trouble to go here and there begging. He was satisfied
with what he got.
Some people think, “I am so poor, so I should do
something to make more money, but Sudama was satisfied
in himself. He had realised the soul and Supersoul, the
expansion of the Supreme Lord who resides in every atom,
and in the heart of every living entity. He was also a most
elevated devotee of Sri Krishna. That is why he was never
worried about making money, even though he was poor and
had to support himself and his wife. He was always
absorbed in chanting and remembering. Sometimes he used
to go and beg, but he would only go to two or three doors
and then come back.
Sudama did not have fine clothes himself, nor could he
give his wife ornaments and new clothes. Her clothes were
15
very old, worn and torn. She was quite young, but her breasts
were dry, like those of an old woman, and her belly was
sunken. She was quite weak, but she was still satisfied with
whatever her husband brought.
I hear that in Western countries, the husband sometimes
does nothing, and the wife goes
out to make money. It is not like that in Indian
culture, although India is also becoming like that.
Sudama’s wife was always in the house, serving her husband.
She used to cook whatever her husband brought home, and
she would give most of it to her husband, but he was
intelligent and kind, so he used to take some and leave at least
half. There was not enough for either of them to eat, but they
were satisfied.
Sudama’s wife never disturbed him, because she knew
that he was a very exalted brahmana and devotee, always
chanting and remembering. She always helped her husband,
and served him obediently. She never quarrelled with him, or
chastised him: “Why don’t you bring me any nice food,
clothing and ornaments? Why did you marry me if you can’t
support me properly?” She was not like this, but very
obedient and humble.
KRISHNA, THE WONDERFUL FRIEND
One day she went to her husband while he was absorbed in
his spiritual practices. Speaking very humbly with folded
hands, she said, “This is the third day that we are fasting. I am
not worried for myself, but I am so worried for you. There
is nothing for me to cook. I used to beg from the
neighbours, but I have been going to them every day, so now
I am too ashamed to go any more.
“I have been thinking that Krishna is your very wonderful
friend, He is very generous because He is Parabrahman, the
Supreme Absolute Truth. Because your friend is
Parabrahman, if a brahmana goes and meets Him, He will at
16
once donate more wealth than he can even imagine. Why
don’t you go and visit your friend?”
“I cannot do that,” Sudama replied. “I cannot beg
anything from my holy master Krishna. I am not the sort of
servant who will go and take something from Him. Never.”
Then his wife said, “You don’t have to beg anything from
Him. He will see that you are a poor
brahmana, and He will give you more than you can
imagine, even without your asking Him. He is
known to be very affectionate to His devotees. When He
sees you, He will give you a donation
automatically.
“In any case, You should go there just to meet Him, and
for no other reason. You won’t have to tell Him anything,
because He knows your heart anyway.”
Sudama’s wife kept speaking to him like this for some
days, and finally he thought, “I should go, but not to beg
anything. If He gives me something, I will be satisfied. Let
me just see the lotus feet of my Lord and Master
Krishnacandra and this will be of benefit for me. So I must
go.”
Then he smiled and said to his wife, “Please give me
something to present to Him. When I go there, He will ask,
’Have you brought any present for me?’ Then what will I
say?”
There was no rice in the house to give Krishna as a
present, so Sudama’s wife begged two or three handfuls of
broken rice from a neighbour. She didn’t have a clean cloth
to wrap it in, so she had to put it in a very old piece of cloth.
She gave it to her husband, and he left, absorbed in chanting
and thinking of his friend.
THE WONDERFUL CITY OF DVARAKA
While he was on the road, he thought, “When I get to
Dvaraka, how will I manage to meet Krishna? He is the King
of kings; He is Dvarakadhisa, the Lord of Dvaraka, and I am
17
just like a poor street beggar. Will He remember when we
were students together in Sandipani Muni’s school?” He was
absorbed in this way for the whole journey.
He walked all day and in the evening he finally arrived at
the great and wonderful city of Dvaraka. There was a palace
for each of Krishna’s 16,108 queens, and there were more
palaces for their beautiful maidservants. When he reached the
city, he passed through thirty or more gates, one after
another. Everyone showed him respect and honour and
offered obeisances to him, because they could see his sacred
thread (worn by Brahmana priests), and knew that he was a
brahmana. There was no restriction on him, although the
guards checked others very strictly, just as they do at
Singapore Airport.
Sudama asked which way to go to meet Krishna, and he
was advised to go to Rukmini’s palace. She was Krishna’s
chief queen in Dvaraka. When he reached her palace, they
took him to Rukmini’s room. There he saw Krishna sitting
on a very opulent and luxurious bed made of gold and
studded with jewels, and his queens serving Him and fanning
Him with beautiful whisks of white hair. As soon as Krishna
saw Sudama, he immediately ran towards him barefoot and
embraced him. “How merciful He is,” thought the brahmana,
and he began to weep.
KRISHNA RECEIVES THE BRAHMANA
Krishna gave Sudama His own seat on Rukmini’s bed, where
no one else ever sat except Krishna and Rukmini. Krishna
took a seat on the lower level and sent for golden bowls and
golden jugs of rose-water to bathe Sudama’s feet. “He is my
master,” Krishna told His queens, “and He is as worshipable
as the Supreme Lord Himself. You should fan him with the
whisks and give Me the water to wash his feet.”
Sudama’s feet were dirty and full of cracks, because he
had no money for shoes. He was wearing an old, worn and
torn dhoti and an old piece of cloth around his neck because
18
he did not have a proper top-cloth. He felt ashamed and
embarrassed to be sitting on Rukmini’s bed with Krishna
washing his feet.
Everybody was wondering, “What is Krishna doing, and
who is this brahmana to whom He is giving so much
honour?” Meanwhile, Sri Krishna took the foot-bath water,
and poured it all over His own transcendental body. Then He
distributed it amongst His queens, saying, “Sprinkle this water
everywhere. Today we have all become purified”.
We should understand the glory of devotees. This
understanding and practice is coming from the
Vedic period in ancient times, but we don’t know the
power and glory of these sublime traditions.
But Krishna did this Himself to teach us, and He gave
instructions for the water to be given to all his sons and
daughters.
When they had received Sudama very nicely, Krishna put
His hands on his shoulders, and began to talk to him just like
a close friend. Meanwhile, Sudama began looking at the
inconceivable opulence around him. The walls and pillars
were made of gold, studded with jewels, and decorated with
the finest coral and silks. Now Krishna said to Himself, “This
brahmana is thinking, ’Has Krishna recognised me? Does He
know that I am the same Sudama who was His school
friend? Perhaps He has forgotten me, and He is honouring
me just because I am a brahmana.’”
To reassure his friend, Krishna began to recall their past
friendship. “Oh My friend, do you remember when we were
just small boys in the school of our Gurudeva Sandipani
Muni? We spent many days studying together, and we
became bosom friends. One day, our guru’s wife said, ’O my
dear sons, I have no dry wood for cooking.’”
Then both Krishna and Sudama remembered what had
happened when they went out to fetch
wood.
19
LOST IN THE STORM
It was evening, and there were clouds in the sky. The two
friends went together to the nearby forest and collected dry
sticks and branches. While they were doing so, heavy clouds
gathered and torrents of rain began to fall without stopping.
Everywhere was Hooded, and there was no way of telling
where the water was deep and where it was shallow.
Meanwhile, night fell, and it was impossible to see anything.
The two boys huddled together all night in the shelter of a
tree, unable to go anywhere else because of the deep water.
Krishna is the Supreme Lord Bhagavan Himself, but by the
influence of His mystic pastime potency He had forgotten
that He is all-powerful and all-knowing, and He had become
just like an ordinary boy.
In the morning, their guru Sandipani Muni began to search
everywhere for them. When he heard where they had gone,
he immediately went to the forest and began to call out, “O
Krishna! O Sudama! Where are you?”
At last Sandipani Muni found the boys, and spoke to
them very affectionately. “Have you spent the whole night
here? You have given up everything for my happiness. You
are surrendered souls. I want disciples like you.” He placed
his hands on both their heads and blessed them: “Your lives
will be successful. Whatever you came to me for, you will
have. May all learning, all the arts, and all the knowledge of all
the Vedas and Upanisads come to you at once.” As he spoke,
it was so. In an instant, they had complete realisation of all
knowledge.
After this, Sandipani Muni took their hands and brought
them back to his asrama, where his wife was waiting for
them.
When Krishna related this story of their boyhood,
Sudama realised that He was just not respecting him because
he was a brahmana. Krishna actually remembered him, and
was honouring him because he was His old friend.
20
KRISHNA APPRECIATES A HUMBLE OFFERING
Now Krishna smiled at Sudama and said, “My dear friend, I
know that you could not have come empty-handed. My
sister-in-law must have given you something to present to
me. Where is it?”
Then Sudama remembered the broken rice that he had
brought with him, and which he was keeping in its wrapper
under his arm. “How can I present that to Krishna?” he
thought. “Krishna is so soft, but that rice is very hard
tasteless. Besides, it is wrapped up in a dirty old cloth. How
can I give it to Krishna?”
But Krishna knew exactly what He was thinking, and
playfully snatched the broken rice from him. He opened the
wrapping and quickly ate a handful of the rice.
“This is the most delicious offering I have ever tasted,”
He said in delight. He was about to take a second handful,
but Rukmini and the other queens stopped Him.
“Please don’t take any more! You have already given all
kinds of opulence and all that you have in return for that one
handful of rice. If You take a second handful, You will have
to give us to this brahmana as well. You have given enough.
Please don’t take any more, otherwise we will die.” And
Krishna stopped tasting the broken rice.
SUDAMA RETURNS
After this, Krishna massaged the brahmana’s feet with His own
hands, talked to him very
affectionately, and served him all sorts of delicious prasad.
He massaged the brahmana’s feet the whole night, even while
he slept, until the brahma muhurta, the auspicious time before
sunrise. Then Sudama awoke, took bath, chanted his gayatri
mantras, and performed all his devotional activities. When he
had done this, he said, “O Krishna, my sakha, my very dear
friend, now I want to return to my home.”
21
Krishna replied, “I am so happy that you came. You are
my friend. I request you, please come again and again, and I
may also visit you.”
When Sudama left the palace, Krishna followed him.
(When any Vaisnava or brahmana comes, we should stand up
and go to meet them, and when they leave we should follow
them to the border of the village or the town.) Krishna was
saying very sweet things to His friend, and bade him farewell,
but He did not give him any gifts, although a wealthy
householder normally offers lavish presentations in charity to
a worthy brahmana.
When they reached the border, Krishna returned, and
Sudama went on by himself just as he had come — in dirty,
old, worn and torn clothes. He thought happily to himself,
“Krishna is so merciful! If He had given me wealth, I would
have become absorbed in thinking about my opulence, and I
would have forgotten Him. He saw that I am not qualified,
and that is why He did not give me anything.” Thinking how
kind and merciful Krishna is, Sudama began to cry.
TRANSFORMATION AT HOME
It was evening when he reached his village. But as he came
close to his house, he was puzzled. “Where is my hut, which
always leaks when it rains and which has no rats because we
have no food-grains? Where is my cow, which is as thin as a
skeleton? Where is my old meditation seat of kusa grass? It
has all disappeared!”
And indeed, everything had changed. In place of what he
had known before, there were 16,108 royal palaces. People
were riding horses and royal elephants along the splendid
roads. There were very beautiful gardens full of lovely
flowers and berries, and decorated with attractive ponds of
cool water. Peacocks danced madly, and doves and cuckoos
called melodiously.
“What has happened?” thought Sudama. “Where have I
come? Am I in heaven?”
22
Meanwhile, someone told his wife, “Your husband has
returned.” Oh, she was so happy. She came out very joyfully
to meet her husband. She was just like an angel, for during
the night Krishna had made her as beautiful as a young,
teenage girl. She was surrounded by thousands of
maidservants, for each of Krishna’s 16,108 queens had given
something to Sudama and his wife. Now they had all the
wealth and opulence that one could ever imagine. That is why
he could not believe that he had come to his own house.
Sudama’s wife saw her husband coming, with his stick in
his hand. He had not changed. He still wore the same dirty,
old clothes, and looked like a poor, old person, although he
was still young. Then she came out with her whole party of
16, 108 maidservants, singing and playing drums and many
other musical instruments.
Sudama saw the party coming with golden water pots to
welcome him. He was surprised. “Why are they coming
towards me? Perhaps they have mistaken me for someone
else.” But there was no mistake. If Krishna had changed
Sudama as well as his wife, she would not have recognised
him when he came back. That is why Krishna left him in his
original form.
When she came towards Sudama with her arms
outstretched, he became alarmed and began to run away, but
they detained him. Immediately his wife touched him, he
became as young and beautiful as she was, and very strong.
Then Sudama said out loud, “O Krishna, you are wonderful.
I never wanted anything, but during the night while we were
asleep, You gave me so much wealth and opulence!” and he
began to weep. “How kind and merciful Krishna is. We
thought that He might give some donation, but we cannot
believe what He has given.”
KRISHNA LOOKS AFTER HIS DEVOTEES
We should understand that Krishna is very merciful. If you
chant His name, Hare Krishna, He will provide enough for
23
you if you have some requirements or even if you don’t have
any requirement. So don’t be afraid. If you have a job, you
can donate one thousand or ten thousand dollars a month.
But if Krishna is pleased, then hundreds and millions of
dollars may come without your having to do anything.
Krishna will give so much. He will break open a hole in the
ceiling and he will pour it in.
Translation - Marathi If there are images in this attachment, they will not be displayed. Download the original attachment
गुरुदेव ओम विष्णुपाद १०८ स्वामी भक्तिवेदान्त नारायण गोस्वामी महाराजांचे प्रवचन
श्री चौडय्या मेमोरिअल सभागृह
१७ क्रास, मल्लेश्वरम
बंगलोर-५६०००३
तारीखः १३ सप्टेंबर २००९
वेळः सकाळ १० ते मध्यान्ह १
पाश्चिमात्य देशांमध्ये प्रवास करून संदेश देताना मला अतिशय आनंद होतोय. परंतू मी काही नवीन सांगण्यासाठी आलेलो नाही. मी केवळ श्री भक्तिवेदांत स्वामी महाराज यांच्या मार्गावरून चाललो आहे. त्यांनी जो संदेश पाश्चिमात्य देशांमध्ये दिला, तोच पुन्हा सांगण्यासाठी मी आलो आहे. स्वामी महाराज हेच माझे जिवलग सखा आणि मला आदेश देणारे गुरु आहेत. स्वामी महाराजही जगाला काही वेगळं देण्यासाठी आले नव्हते. श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभूंपासून गुरुपरंपरेने मिळालेले ज्ञान, स्वामी महाराजांनी जगाला दिले.
श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभू हेच श्रीकृष्ण होत. मात्र आपल्याला निःसीम भक्तिमार्ग, शिकविण्यासाठी श्री कृष्ण स्वतःच आपल्या भक्ताच्या रूपात अवतरले. जेणेकरून जनसामान्य त्यांच्यावर शुद्ध आणि अनन्यभावाने प्रेम करतील.
आपण या जगात आनंद शोधू शकत नाही
आपण आनंदी व्हावं अशी श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभू आणि या गुरुपरंपरेतील सर्वांचीच इच्छा आहे. मात्र या जगात आपल्याला अतिशय थोडा आनंद आणि प्रेम मिळतं. त्यातही दुःख आणि यातनाच अधिक असतात.
आपल्याकडे इतक्या गोष्टी असूनही आपण आनंदी का नाही याचा विचार आपण केला पाहिजे. नेपोलियन, अमेरिकेचे अध्यक्ष केनडी किंवा प्रिंसेस डायना यांचं उदाहरण घ्या. ते काही रस्त्यावरचे भिकारी नव्हते. प्रिंसेस डायनाकडे नाव, पैसा, सौंदर्य सगळं काही होतं, पण ती आनंदी नव्हती.
लोकांकडे ऐश्वर्य, संपत्ती, अधिकार असं सगळं काही असूनही ते आनंदी का नाहीत याचा अतिशय गांभीर्यानं विचार करण्याची गरज आहे. जर आपण विचार केला नाही तर आपल्यात आणि जनावरांमध्ये काय फरक आहे.
तुम्ही मुसोलिनीबद्दल ऐकलं असेल. राजकीय शक्तीमुळे तो अतिशय ताकदवान होता. हिटलर तर त्यांहूनही वरचढ होता, मात्र ते दोघे आनंदी
नव्हते. आपण सध्या ज्या पद्धतीने जगतो त्यावर दृष्टिक्षेप टाकून भविष्याचा विचार करा आणि स्वतःला प्रश्न विचारा, ‘मी सध्या जे करतोय, ज्या मार्गाने जातोय, त्यामुळे भविष्यात मी आनंदी होईन का?’
आपण स्वतःला हा प्रश्न विचारल्यावर असं लक्षात येईल की आपणही त्याच मार्गानं जातोय. ते सगळे दुःखी होते. त्याच मार्गाने गेलो तर आपणही दुःखी होऊ.
या जगात पंतप्रधान, अध्यक्ष यांच्यासारखी अनेक अतिशय श्रीमंत मंडळी आहेत. त्यांच्याकडे अधिकार आणि मौजमजेची सगळी साधनं असूनही ती दुःखी आहेत. एक दिवस वृद्धापकाळानं त्यांचं निधन होईल. या जगात त्यांच्याकडे असलेलं सर्वकाही नष्ट होईल.
आपण भौतिक जगात अगदी स्वयंपाकघरापासून ते वैद्यकशास्त्र अशा प्रत्येक क्षेत्रात प्रचंड प्रगती केलीय. विशेषतः संज्ञापन, दळणवळण, औषधे अशा क्षेत्रांमध्ये नवनवीन शोध लावलेत. आपला एखादा अवयव निकामी झाला तर आपण तो बदलू शकतो. एखाद्या मृत व्यक्तीचे डोळे मिळाल्यामुळे अंध माणसाला दृष्टी मिळू शकते. शल्यचिकित्सक हृदयात बिघाड असेल तर नवीन हृदय बसवू शकतात. मात्र एवढ्या प्रगतीनंतरही, आपल्याला जीवन-मृत्यूचं चक्र काही चुकलेलं नाही. भौतिक प्रगतीच्या बाबतीत अमेरिका सर्वात आघाडीवर आहे. पण अमेरिकी लोक आनंदी आहेत का? जर ते आनंदी आहेत तर ते एकमेकांशी भांडाभांडी का करताहेत? आत्महत्या करणाऱ्यांची संख्या इतकी मोठी का आहे?
यातून हेच दिसून येतं की केवळ भौतिक प्रगतीमुळे आपण आनंदी होऊ शकत नाही.
वृद्धापकाळ अटळ आहे.
आपल्या म्हातारं व्हायचं नसतं, आपले केस पांढरे होऊ नयेत असंच आपल्याला वाटतं. आपली दृष्टी कमजोर होऊ नये, आपण आंधळे होऊ नये असं आपल्याला वाटतं. आपल्याला चिरंतन तरुण आणि सुंदर राहावंस वाटतं. मात्र एक दिवस आपण म्हातारे होऊच. सर्वसाधारणपणे, जी स्त्री वृद्ध आणि कूरूप आहे तिच्याशी पुरुषाला विवाह करायचा नसतो. वृद्ध होणं म्हणजे कुरूप होणं, मग अशा व्यक्तीशी कोण विवाह करणार?
कुणालाही म्हातारपण नको असतं. मात्र ते येतंच. त्यामुळे तुमचे दात पडतील, तुम्हाला कवळी बसवावी लागेल. आपण आपले पांढरे केस रंगवून काळे करू शकू, दातही सुंदर करू शकू, मात्र चेहऱ्यावर सुरकुत्या येणारच. म्हातारपणी कदाचित तुम्हाला चालताही येणार नाही. शेवटी मृत्यूनंतर अनेकजण तुम्हाला खांदा द्यायला येतील. दफनभूमी किंवा स्मशानात नेलं जाईल. स्मशानभूमीत नेलं तर अग्नी दिल्यानंतर तुमच्या मृतदेहाची राख होईल. दफन केलं तर मृतदेहाचा काही भाग कीटक आणि कृमी खातील तर उरलेल्या भागाचं विघटन होईल. जर मृतदेह तसाच टाकला गेला तर कुत्री, कोल्हे, मुंग्या त्यांवरून भांडतील, सरते शेवटी शरीराचं विष्ठेत रुपांतर होईल. ज्या शरीरावर आपण एवढं प्रेम करतो त्या शरीराचं शेवटी विघटन होईल, राख होईल किंवा विष्ठा होईल, हेच सत्य आहे. मरणानंतर शरीर कायमचं नष्ट होईल. मात्र आपला मृत्यू होऊन आपण कायमचे नष्ट होऊ असा विचार आपल्याला करायचा नसतो.
आपण इथे आश्रित आहोत
आपण खरे कोण आहोत हे शरीर की त्यातील आत्मा? आपली खरी ओळख म्हणजे आपला आत्मा आणि शरीरात फरक आहे, हे मूलभूत सत्य आहे. हे जाणून आपण भौतिक तसंच वासनामय इच्छा बाजूला सारून आत्म्याला शरीरांपासून विभक्त केलं पाहिजे. हा आत्मा कुठून आला असा प्रश्न आपण विचारायला पाहिजे. आपण देवाचेच एक घटक आहोत. हे भौतिक जग आपलं घर नाही. इथे आपण आश्रित आहोत. एके दिवशी क्षणार्धात आपल्याला हे सगळं सोडावं लागेल. त्यानंतर आपण कुठे जाऊ?
आपल्याला हवं शुद्ध प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता
शास्त्रज्ञांनी अण्वस्त्रांचा शोध लावला, अजूनही त्यावर संशोधन सुरू आहे. संपूर्ण जगाचा निमिषार्धात नाश होईल अशी शक्तिशाली शस्त्र तयार करण्याचा या शास्त्रज्ञांचा प्रयत्न आहे. मात्र याला प्रगती म्हणता येणार नाही. पती-पत्नी, वडील-मुलगा यांच्यातलं प्रेम कुठे आहे. दोन देशांमधले सौहार्दाचे संबंध कुठे आहेत. दोन देशांदरम्यान पारपत्र आणि व्हिसासाठी इतकी गुंतागुंतीची आणि अवघड प्रक्रिया का आहे? मी नियमितपणे भारतातून इतर देशांमध्ये जातो. लोकांना कृष्ण भावनामृताची शिकवण देणे एवढा माझा एकच उद्योग आहे. तरीही हे अधिकारी ही प्रक्रिया इतकी अवघड का बनवतात?
भौतिक शास्त्रातील प्रगती आणि नव्या शोधांमुळे जग जवळ येत चाललंय. मात्र दुर्दैवानं त्यामुळे समस्या वाढताहेत. याचं मूळ कारण प्रत्येकाच्या हृदयातून प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता नाहिशी होत चाललीय. त्यामुळे प्रत्येक जण दुःखी आहे. त्यामुळे एकमेकांवर वर्चस्व गाजवण्यासाठी ते भांडतात.
लोक त्यांच्या वैवाहिक जीवनात किंवा सामाजिक जीवनात दुःखी आहेत.
लोकांच्या सुखाच्या कल्पना एवढ्या प्रगत झाल्या असत्या तर एखाद्या कुत्र्यानं आपली मैत्रीण बदलावी त्यानुसार लोकांना आपली बायको का बदलली असती?
प्रत्येकालाच जीवनात शांतता आणि आनंद हवा आहे. मात्र भौतिक प्रगतीमुळे कुणी आनंदी झालंय असं मला वाटत नाही. आनंद हा प्रेमावर अवलंबून असतो. प्रेम, आत्मीयता असल्याशिवाय आपण खरा आनंद शोधू शकत नाही. आपल्याला निखळ आनंद, शुद्ध प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेची खरी गरज आहे. ते आपल्याला सापडत नसले तरी त्यांचं अस्तित्व मात्र नक्की आहे. अपरीपूर्ण अशा व्यक्तींवर अशुद्ध प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेतून आपण आनंद शोधण्याचा प्रयत्न करतो. वेद-पुराणे आपल्याला असं सांगतात देवाप्रती शुद्ध प्रेम आणि अनन्यभाव ठेवूनच आपण आनंदी राहू शकतो.
वेद आणि उपनिषदांमधून आपण वाचतो की आपण त्या भगवान श्रीकृष्णाचेच घटक आहोत. दुर्दैवानं आपण हे विसरून या भौतिक जगात मायेने जखडले गेलो आहोत. जीवनातली सगळी दुःख, यातना या मायेमुळेच आहेत. जन्म, मृत्यू, वृद्धत्व, आजार हे सारं काही तिच्यामुळेच घडतं. भौतिक गोष्टींची तरतूद करून, इच्छा पूर्ण करून, साधन-संपत्ती जमा करून आपण आनंदी होऊ शकत नाही. भगवान श्री कृष्णाची सेवा करून आपण या जगात आणि त्यानंतरही आनंदी होऊ शकतो. आपण सतत त्याच्या नावाचा जप आणि लीलांचं स्मरण केलं पाहिजे.
निर्माता-नियंता-संहारक
ज्यानं या जगाची निर्मिती केली त्या सर्वश्रेष्ठ परम-पिता परमेश्वराप्रती आत्मीयता वाढवली पाहिजे. तोच या जगाचा आधार आहे. जेव्हा हे जग वृद्ध होते तेव्हा ते पुन्हा त्याच्याकडे परतते. परमेश्वराला इंग्रजीत गॉड म्हणतात. याचा काय अर्थ आहे? या शब्दातल्या ‘जी’ आद्याक्षराचा अर्थ आहे ‘जनरेटर’ अर्थात सृष्टीची निर्मिती करणारा. ‘ओ’ आद्याक्षराचा अर्थ आहे ‘ऑपरेटर’ अर्थात नियंता. तोच जगाचा आधार आहे. त्याच्याशिवाय या जगाच्या अस्तित्वाला अर्थ उरणार नाही. ‘डी’ आद्याक्षराचा अर्थ आहे ‘डिस्ट्रॉयर’ अर्थात संहारक.
शाश्वत-मंगल-सुंदर
परमेश्वर ‘सत्यम शिवम् सुंदरम्’ आहे. सत्यम् म्हणजे त्याचा जन्म अथवा मृत्यू होत नाही. तो शाश्वत आहे. परमेश्वर एकच आहे. सर्व वेद पुराणांमध्ये सांगितलेलं आहे की कृष्ण हेच परमेश्वराचे सर्वश्रेष्ठ रूप आहे.
मात्र त्याची अनेक नावं आहेत. परमेश्वर सुंदरम् आहे. कृष्णाइतके सुंदर कोणीही नाही. त्याचे रूप चिरतरुण आहे. त्याचे शरीर सुबक आणि रेखीव आहे. सुहास्य वदनाने बासरी वाजवतोय आणि त्याच्या शरीराला मंत्रमुग्ध करणारा परिमळ, सुवास आहे. तो जगातल्या प्रत्येकाला अगदी त्याच्या आवडत्या गायींनाही आध्यात्मिक जगताकडे आकर्षित करतो. प्रत्येकाला सुंदर गोष्टी आवडतात. मात्र एखाद्या सुंदर व्यक्तीत दुर्गुण असतील तर आपण त्याच्यावर प्रेम करू शकत नाही. त्यामुळेच परमेश्वर हा शिवम् म्हणजेच मंगल असला पाहिजे.
भगवान श्रीकृष्णामध्ये मांगल्य ओतप्रोत भरलेलं आहे. तो सर्वात शक्तिशाली आहे, मात्र तो करुणेचा सागरही आहे, दयाळू आहे.
कृष्णाशी प्रेमाचे नाते
कृष्ण हाच सत्यम् अर्थात शाश्वत आहे, शिवम् अर्थात मांगल्य, सुंदरम् अर्थात सुंदर आहे. तो सर्वसमावेषी असल्यामुळे सर्व इच्छा पूर्ण करू शकतो. तुम्ही नरसिंह देवांबद्दल ऐकलं असेल. नरसिंह देवही कृष्णाचेच रूप आहेत. सिंहाचे मुख असलेले नरसिंह देव अतिशय शक्तिशाली आणि रौद्र आहेत. मात्र त्यांचं स्वरूप कृष्णासारखं सुंदर नाही. प्रभू श्री रामचंद्र सुंदर आहेत परंतू ते सर्व इच्छा पूर्ण करू शकत नाहीत. येशू ख्रिस्त अतिशय प्रभावशाली आहेत. आई किंवा वडिलांप्रमाणे ते आपलं रक्षण करतील. मात्र आपण एखाद्या जिवलग सख्याप्रमाणे त्यांच्याशी खेळू शकत नाही. आपण आपल्या पतीप्रमाणे त्यांच्याशी नातं जोडू शकत नाही. नरसिंह देव सगळ्यांचे रक्षण करतात मात्र त्यांच्या रौद्र रूपामुळे ते मित्र होऊ शकत नाहीत. मात्र कृष्णाच्या व्यक्तिमत्त्वात ही सगळी रुपं सामावली आहेत.
त्याचं सौंदर्य आणि त्याच्या करुणेला तोड नाही. तो सर्वव्यापी आणि त्रिकालदर्शी आहे. त्याच्यात सर्व सद्गुण आहेत. आपण जशी इच्छा करू त्याप्रमाणे तो आपल्याशी नातं जोडेल. आपण त्याचे सेवक होऊ शकतो किंवा जिवलग सखाही होऊ शकतो. आपण पालकाप्रमाणे त्याची काळजी घेऊ शकतो किंवा त्याच्याविषयी प्रियकराचा भावही मनात ठेवू शकतो.
तुमच्या मनात कृष्णाविषयी थोडी जरी आत्मीयता असेल तर तो तुमच्या इच्छा-आकांक्षा पूर्ण करेल. तो परमपिता परमेश्वर आहे, परमेश्वराचं मूळ रूप आहे. जे प्रभू श्रीरामही देऊ शकत नाहीत ते कृष्ण देऊ शकतो.
आपल्या मनात कृष्णाबद्दल थोडंसं प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता असेल तर आपण नेहमी आनंदी राहू शकतो. आपण केवळ याच जगात नाही तर पुढच्या जन्मी आणि जन्मोन् जन्मी सुखी राहू शकतो. कृष्णभक्तीने मोक्ष मिळाल्यानंतरही आपण आनंदी राहू शकतो.
चैतन्य महाप्रभूंचे अभियान
प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेचे मूर्तिमंत प्रतीक असलेल्या कृष्णाप्रती, आपण अनन्यभाव निर्माण करायला हवा. हेच सांगण्यासाठी चैतन्य महाप्रभू अवतरले. गोकुळातल्या गोपींप्रमाणे कृष्णावर प्रेम करा हेच त्यांनी सांगितलं. चैतन्य महाप्रभू हेच कृष्ण आहेत. त्यांनी अवतार धारण केला कारण ते निरपेक्षपणे कृपावर्षाव करणारे आहेत. आपण सर्वजण श्रीकृष्णाचेच घटक असल्यामुळे ते सर्वांवर प्रेम करतात. कृष्णाप्रती प्रेमभाव आणि आत्मीयता जागृत करण्यासाठी ते आले. जगरहाटी, भौतिक सुख, खोटा अहंकार आणि फसव्या सुखापासून आपल्याला दूर करून, श्रीकृष्णाच्या अधिक जवळ नेण्यासाठी चैतन्य महाप्रभू अवतरले. ते आपल्याला शाश्वत कृपा, प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता देतात, ज्यामुळे आपण आनंदी आणि शांत होतो. अर्थात त्यासाठी त्यांनी आपल्याला जे दिलंय ते आपल्याकडे असायला हवं. चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी या जगात येऊन, सर्वांना सुखी करण्यासाठी एक नवा संदेश दिला. ‘श्री चैतन्य चरितामृत’ वाचल्यानंतर तुम्हाला ते सविस्तर कळेलच. त्यांनी आपल्या परम भक्तांसाठी उच्च कोटीतल्या प्रेमाचं तत्त्वज्ञान सांगितलं. सामान्य लोकांनाही त्यांनी अतिशय सोप्या भाषेत संदेश दिला. एवढंच काय, वृंदावनाच्या मार्गावर जंगलातल्या वाघ, अस्वल, हत्ती यासारख्या वन्य प्राण्यांनाही त्यांनी आपलं दैवी प्रेम दिलं.
हरिनाम जपातून आनंद
तुम्हाला आनंदी व्हायचं असेल, परमपिता परमेश्वराचं प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता अनुभवायची असेल तर तुम्ही, हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे, हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे हा जप करावा. त्यामुळे तुम्हाला शाश्वत आनंद मिळेल. त्याशिवाय अन्य दुसरा मार्ग नाही. चैतन्य महाप्रभू यासाठी पुराणातल्या या मंत्राचा दाखला देतात,
‘भांडण-तंटे आणि खोटारडेपणाने ग्रासलेल्या या कलियुगात आपण फक्त त्याचे मंगल नाम जपावे, त्याशिवाय अन्य कोणताही मार्ग नाही.’
आम्ही पाश्चिमात्य देशांमध्ये चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी दिलेला हाच संदेश देण्यासाठी आलो आहोत. प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेचा हा संदेश अतिशय सखोल आहे मात्र आम्ही तो अतिशय थोडक्यात आणि सोप्या भाषेत देतोय.
हे गहन तत्त्वज्ञान समजून, आचरणात आणण्यासाठी लोकांनी सर्वप्रथम, हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे, हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे, हा जप सुरू करावा. हा संदेश आधी त्यांनी सोप्या पद्धतीनं समजावून घ्यावा. नंतर पवित्र नाम जप आणि कृष्ण भावनामृताच्या साधनेतून त्यांना हा संदेश अधिक सखोल आणि सविस्तर कळेल. नाम जपातून श्रद्धा, ठाम समर्पण, भक्तिभावे सेवा, श्रीकृष्ण आणि त्याच्या सोबत्यांशी अनुबंध, सर्वोच्च आनंदी भाव, त्यानंतर कृष्णाप्रती प्रेम आणि अनन्यभाव अशा क्रमाने पद्धतशीरपणे प्रगती होत जाईल. परमपिता परमेश्वराप्रती प्रेम निर्माण करण्यासाठी चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी संतसंगाच्यावेळी नामजप करण्याचीच पद्धत सांगितली आहे.
भाग दुसरा
माझे अभियान
या दुसऱ्या भागात श्री नारायण महाराज आपल्या शिष्यांना आपले लक्ष्य काय आहे हे समजावून सांगतात. ते इथे काय सांगताहेत हे समजावून घेण्यासाठी आपल्याला शिष्य परंपरेबाबत थोडी माहिती असणं आवश्यक आहे. श्री नारायण महाराज हे गौडीय वैष्णव परंपरेतले आहेत. ही शिष्य परंपरा श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभू किंवा प्रभू चैतन्यांपासून सुरू होते. ते पाचशे वर्षांपूर्वी होऊन गेले. कृष्ण भावनामृताची शिकवण आणि त्याप्रमाणे आचरण पुनरुज्जीवित करून त्याला प्रोत्साहन देण्याचं कार्य चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी केलं. चैतन्य प्रभू हेच भगवान श्रीकृष्ण असल्याचे ठोस पुरावेही आहेत. परमेश्वरानं स्वतःच्याच भक्ताचं रूप धारण करून, कृष्ण भावनामृताचा आदर्श आपल्यापुढे ठेवला. जे वैष्णव चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनाच कृष्ण मानून त्यांच्या शिकवणीनुसार आचरण करतात त्यांना गौडीय वैष्णव म्हणतात.
सर्व वैष्णव कृष्ण अर्थात विष्णूंची समर्पण भावनेनं सेवा करण्याची इच्छा करतात. व्रज किंवा वृंदावनवासी ज्या प्रेम भावनेनं कृष्णाची सेवा करतात, त्यावर गौडीय वैष्णवांचा विशेष भर असतो. व्रजवासी कृष्णावर निखळ प्रेम करतात, आदरयुक्त भीतीने त्याची उपासना करत नाहीत. शुद्ध निःसीम भक्ती आणि आत्मीयतेनं ते कृष्णाच्या अतिशय गोजिऱ्या रूपाची पूजा करतात.
आमचे अभियान
कुणीतरी मला विचारत होतं, ’की तुमचा उद्देश काय? तुम्ही इथे काय द्यायला आला आहात?’ चैतन्य महाप्रभू आणि त्यांच्या परंपरेतल्या गुरुंचे जे अभियान होते तेच माझेही आहे. जगातल्या प्रत्येकाला त्यांची जात-पात, शिक्षण याचा विचार न करता प्रेम आणि जिव्हाळा देणं हाच आमचा उद्देश आहे. व्रजवासीयांचा कृष्णाप्रती जो सेवाभाव आहे, तेच प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेचं सर्वोच्च रूप आहे. ज्यांना या सर्वोत्तम प्रेमाची आणि आत्मीयतेची गरज आहे आणि जे त्यासाठी पात्र आहेत त्यांना आम्ही ते देतो. मात्र तुम्हाला याची जाणीव हवी की ज्याचं भगवान श्रीकृष्णावर प्रेम आहे त्याच्याबद्दल आत्मीयता आहे, त्याच्या मनात सगळ्या प्राणिमात्रांबद्दल प्रेम आणि जिव्हाळा हवा. तो कुठल्याही प्राण्याची हत्या करणार नाही तसंच मांस किंवा अंडी खाणार नाही. कुठल्याही जीवित प्राण्याला तो इजा पोहोचवणार नाही, एवढंच काय साधं गवताचं पातंही विनाकारण तोडणार नाही. ज्यांचं श्रीकृष्णावर प्रेम आहे, आत्मीयता आहे ते इतरांबद्दल प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता दाखवून त्याला प्रसन्न करतील.
प्रेम, आत्मीयता आणि दया
कृष्णाचेच घटक असलेल्या इतरांवर आपण दया केली नाही तर आपलं कृष्णावरचं प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता खरी कशी असू शकेल. कधीकधी या पाश्चिमात्य देशांमध्ये मी जेव्हा फिरायला जातो तेव्हा विचार करतो की, ‘मी इथे यायला नको होतं. कारण मला पाहून कुरणात चरणारी गाई वासरं भीतीनं थरथर कापत दूर पळतात. त्याना वाटत असेल, या लोकांना आपली थोडीशीही दया येत नाही. ते आपल्याला बंदिस्त करतात. काही काळानं कत्तलखान्यात नेऊन आपली हत्या करतात’ प्राण्यांवर हल्ला करून त्यांना ठार मारण्याचा अधिकार आपल्याला आहे असा विचारही कुणी कसा करू शकतो? जर त्यांच्या मनात प्राण्याबद्दल दया नसेल तर कृष्ण त्यांच्याबद्दल दया दाखवेल का? आपण बघतो की अनेक प्रसिद्ध धार्मिक नेते, वासरांच्या हत्येला कारणभूत आहेत. ते त्याचं मांस खातात. ती लहान वासरं मरताना जीवाच्या आकांतानं रडतात. त्यांचा हा आक्रोश कुणापर्यंत पोहोचेल. कृष्णाला कान नाहीत का? अशा धार्मिक नेत्यांना असं वाटतं की आपण अतिशय उच्च दर्जाचे नेते आहोत. परमेश्वराचे सेवक आहोत. पण त्या वासराला त्यांच्याबद्दल काय वाटत असेल? आपल्याला समजतं की या नेत्यांना प्राण्याबद्दल जराही प्रेम किंवा आत्मीयता नाही. हे प्राणीही कृष्णाचीच अपत्ये आहेत. ते कृष्णाचे शाश्वत सेवक आहेत. म्हणूनच आपण त्यांच्यासमोर कृष्णाचे पवित्र नाम हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण जपतो.
बनावटपणा नको
गुरु हा सर्वसंग परित्याग केलेला, निःसीम भक्त असला पाहिजे. त्याच्यात बनावटपणा नको. त्याच्यात दया आणि करुणा ओतप्रोत भरलेली हवी. कृष्णाबद्दल प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता जागृत करणं ही माझी मोहीम आहे. जेव्हा लोकांमध्ये ती निर्माण होईल तेव्हा आपोआप त्यांच्या मनात सर्व प्राणिमात्रांबद्दल प्रेम आणि जिव्हाळा असेल. तुम्ही सगळ्यांनी या पातळीवर पोहोचावं हीच माझी मोहीम, माझा उद्देश आहे. माझ्या शिष्यांनी या सूचना ऐकाव्यात. प्रेम तसंच आत्मीयतेचे हे गुण अंगी बाणवण्याचा प्रयत्न करा आणि कृष्णावर प्रेम करा. सर्वांवर दया करण्याचा प्रयत्न करा, हा संदेश असलेल्या साहित्याचं वाटप करा आणि सार्वजनिक ठिकाणी श्रीकृष्णाच्या नावाचा जप करा. जे लोक या संदेशापासून अनभिज्ञ आहेत त्यांच्यापासून ते अगदी वासरू, निष्पाप प्राणी यांच्यापर्यंत सगळ्यांच्या कानावर श्रीकृष्णाचं नाव पडलं पाहिजे, त्यांना त्याचा फायदा झाला पाहिजे. त्यांनी इच्छा न करताही, प्रभूनामाने ते शुद्ध होतील. चैतन्य महाप्रभूंनी सांगितलंय, ’सार्वजनिक ठिकाणी कृष्णाच्या नावाच्या जप करा, लोक तुम्हाला हसले, तुमची चेष्टा केली तरी काळजी करू नका.’
श्री भक्तिविनोद ठाकुरांनी लोकांकडे जाऊन त्यांना कृष्ण भावनामृताची शिकवण देण्याची मोहीम उघडली. तुम्ही त्यांच्या सूचना आणि उदाहरणांचं पालन करा. कृष्णावर प्रेम आणि आत्मीयता वाढवा आणि इतरांना ती वाढवायला मदत करा. तुम्ही हे खरोखरच करत असाल तर मी प्रसन्न होईन, श्रीकृष्ण प्रसन्न होईल. त्यानंतरच तुम्ही खरे शिष्य व्हाल, त्याशिवाय नाही.
गौर प्रेमानंदे! हरी बोल!
भाग तिसरा
सुदामा ब्राह्मण
परिचय
आधुनिक भौतिक प्रगती, आनंद निर्माण करू शकली नाही. मात्र पुरातन काळातल्या सुदामा ब्राह्मणाच्या गोष्टीतून आपण शिकतो की, गरीब असूनही, काही आध्यात्मिक तत्त्वाचं आचरण केलं तर आपण सुखी होऊ शकतो. या गतकाळातून आपण हे देखिल शिकतो की समर्पण भावनेनं कृष्णाची भक्ती करणाऱ्यांची, आपण कल्पनाही करू शकणार नाही अशी काळजी घेतो.
कृष्ण अतिशय दयाळू आहे
कृष्ण सर्व शक्तिशाली आहे. शुद्ध प्रेम आणि आत्मीयतेनं कृष्णाशी नातं जोडणाऱ्या भक्तांवर तो कृपासिंधू करुणेचा वर्षाव करतो. तो देवाधि देव आहे. श्रीराम, नरसिंह आणि इतर अवतारांचेही तो मूळ आहे. कृष्ण हा अतिशय दयाळू आणि कृपाळू आहे. त्याला कुणी फक्त पान, फळ किंवा पाणी दिलं तरी तो त्याचा स्वीकार करतो. एखादा अतिशय गरीब असेल
निराश करत नाही. तो म्हणतो, ’तू मला पान अर्पण करू शकतोस.’ पानाचा खरा अर्थ म्हणजे तुळशी पत्र जे कृष्णाला अतिशय प्रिय आहे. मात्र तुमच्याकडे तेही नसेल तर अगदी कुठल्याही झाडाचं पान किंवा एखादी साधी कळी सुद्धा अर्पण करू शकतो. तेही नसेल तर अगदी गवत सुद्धा वाहू शकता किंवा तुम्ही कृष्णाला पाणी देऊ शकता जे सगळीकडे मुबलक उपलब्ध आहे. जेव्हा तुम्ही कृष्णाला प्रेमानं काही देता तेव्हा तो विचार करतो, ’याच्या प्रेमाची परतफेड मी कशी करू’ तो इतका दयाळू आहे की तुम्ही अगदी थोडंसं त्याला दिलं तरी तो म्हणेल, ’त्यानं मला किती दिलं.’
कृष्ण किती कृपाळू आणि दयाळू आहे हे आपल्याला श्रीमत् भागवत वाचल्यावर कळतं. या जगात त्याची तुलना दुसऱ्या कुणाशीच होऊ शकत नाही.
सुदामा आणि त्याची पत्नी
कोणे एके काळी सुदामा नावाचा ब्राह्मण होता. जो ब्रह्म जाणतो, या सृष्टीच्या व्युत्पत्तीचं कारण जाणतो, तो ब्राह्मण... सुदामा वैष्णव होता. तो कृष्णाची पूजा करत असे. कृष्ण हाच परमेश्वराचे सर्वश्रेष्ठ रूप आहे. पृथ्वीवर तो सुमारे पाच हजार वर्षांपूर्वी होऊन गेला. त्यानं राक्षसांचा संहार केला आणि भक्तांना आनंद दिला. सुदामाला याची कल्पना होती. तो सतत कृष्णनामाचा जप करून त्याच्या लीलांचं स्मरण करण्यात रममाण होत असे. तो कृष्णाच्या द्वारकेजवळ राहतं असे. द्वारका अद्वितीय आणि दैवी समृद्धतेनं नटलेली नगरी होती.
सुदामा विवाहित होता. त्याची पत्नी एक पतिव्रता होती. ब्राह्मणानं भिक्षा मागून उदरनिर्वाह करावा आणि आपलं जीवन आध्यात्मिक प्रगतीसाठी समर्पित करावं अशी अपेक्षा असते. सुदामा अतिशय गरीब होता. मात्र तो फार घरी भिक्षा मागत नसे. जेवढं मिळेल त्यातच तो समाधानी होता.
काही लोक विचार करतात की, ‘मी गरीब आहे. त्यामुळे अधिक पैसे मिळवण्यासाठी काहीतरी केलं पाहिजे.‘ मात्र सुदामा समाधानी होता. त्याला आत्मा आणि परमात्म्याची जाणीव झाली होती. परमात्मा अणुरेणूंमध्ये वसलेला असल्याचं त्याला उमगलं होतं. तो कृष्णाचा श्रेष्ठतम् भक्त होता. त्यामुळे कुटुंबाच्या उदरनिर्वाहाची जबाबदारी असूनही त्याला पैसे कमावण्याची चिंता नव्हती. तो सतत नामस्मरणात दंग असे. तो केवळ दोन-तीन घरी भिक्षा मागत असे.
सुदामाकडे धड कपडे नव्हते. आपल्या पत्नीलाही तो उंची वस्त्र आणि आभूषणं देऊ शकत नव्हता. तिची वस्त्रंही जीर्ण शीर्ण होती आणि तरुण असूनही देह सुकलेला होता. मात्र तीही आपला पती जे काही आणेल त्यात समाधानी होती. पाश्चिमात्य देशांमध्ये मी ऐकतो की काही पत्नी काम करून उदरनिर्वाह चावतात. त्यांचे पती काहीच करत नाहीत. मात्र भारतीय संस्कृतीत तसं नाही. अर्थात भारतातही आता हळूहळू अशी पद्धत येऊ लागलीय. सुदामाची पत्नी घरी राहून सतत त्याची सेवा करत असे. पती जे काही घरी आणेल त्यातूनच ती स्वयंपाक करीत असे. त्यातलं बहुतांश अन्न ती पतीलाच वाढी. त्याला याची जाणीव होती. त्यामुळे तो स्वतः अर्ध खाऊन तिच्यासाठी बाकीचं अन्न ठेवत असे. दोघांनाही खाण्यासाठी पुरेसं अन्न नसूनही ते समाधानी होते.
ती त्याला कधीही व्यत्यय आणायची नाही. कारण तिला कल्पना होती की तो अतिशय उच्च कोटीतला ब्राह्मण आणि परमभक्त आहे. ती आपल्या पतीला नेहमी मदत करी आणि आज्ञाधारकपणे त्याची सेवा करी. ती कधीही त्याच्याशी भांडण करत नसे किंवा कटकट करत नसे की, ‘तुम्ही मला चांगलं खायला, दागिने किंवा कपडे का आणत नाही? तुम्हाला माझी काळजी घेता येत नाही तर लग्नच कशाला केलं?’ ती अजिबात अशी नव्हती. ती अतिशय आज्ञाधारक आणि नम्र होती.
कृष्ण- अपूर्व सखा
एके दिवशी सुदामा आपल्या साधनेत रममाण असताना त्याची पत्नी त्याच्याजवळ आली आणि त्याला म्हणाली, ’आज तिसरा दिवस आहे आपण उपाशी आहोत. मला माझी काळजी काळजी नाही. मात्र तुमची अतिशय काळजी वाटते. घरात शिजवायला अन्नाचा कण नाही. मी रोज शेजाऱ्यांकडून मागून आणायचे. मात्र आता मला त्यांना मागायची लाज वाटते.’ ’मी विचार करत होते की श्रीकृष्ण तुमचे जिवलग मित्र आहेत. ते अतिशय उदारही आहेत कारण ते परब्रह्म आहेत. तुमच्यासारखा ब्राह्मण त्यांच्याकडे गेला तर ते इतकं दान करतील की आपण कल्पनाही करू शकत नाही. तर मग तुम्ही आपल्या मित्राकडे का जात नाही?’ ’मी तसं करू शकत नाही’ सुदामा म्हणाला. ’मी माझ्या परमपिता कृष्णाकडे कसलीही भीक मागू शकत नाही. मी त्याच्याकडे जाऊन काही मागणारा सेवक नाही. कदापि नाही’ त्यावर पत्नी म्हणाली, ’तुम्हाला काही मागण्याची गरजच नाही. तो जेव्हा बघेल की तुम्ही अतिशय गरीब ब्राह्मण आहात. तेव्हा तोच तुम्हाला न मागता एवढं भरभरून देईल की तुम्ही कल्पनाही करू शकणार नाही. तो इतका भक्तवत्सल आहे की तुम्हाला पाहताच तो आपणहून दान देईल.’ ’तुम्ही फक्त त्याला भेटायला जा. तुम्ही त्याला काही सांगायची गरज नाही, कारण तो तुमचे हृदय जाणतो.’ पत्नीनं अनेक दिवस समजावल्यानंतर सुदामानं विचार केला,’ मला जायला हवं. मला काही मागण्याची गरज नाही. त्यानं मला काही दिलंच तर आनंद आहे. मला माझ्या परमपिता कृष्णचंद्राच्या पदकमलांचं दर्शन होईल. तेच माझ्यासाठी जास्त महत्त्वाचं आहे. त्यासाठी मला जायला हवं.’ त्यानंतर सुहास्य वदनानं तो पत्नीला म्हणाला, ’त्याला अर्पण करण्यासाठी मला काहीतरी दे. मी जेव्हा त्याच्याकडे जाईन तेव्हा तो विचारेल तू माझ्यासाठी काही भेट आणली आहेस का? तेव्हा मी काय उत्तर देऊ?’
घरात एक तांदळाचा दाणाही नव्हता. पत्नीनं शेजारून दोन-तीन मुठी पोहे मागून आणले. ते बांधायला तिच्याकडे स्वच्छ कापडही नव्हतं. तिनं एका जुन्या वस्त्रात पोहे बांधले आणि ती पुरचुंडी सुदामाला दिली. ती घेऊन सुदामा नामस्मरण करत, मित्राचा विचार करत मार्गस्थ झाला.
अपूर्व द्वारका
रस्त्यात सुदामा विचार करत होता, ’द्वारकेत गेल्यावर श्रीकृष्णाला कसं भेटायचं. तो तर द्वारकेचा राजा आहे आणि मी तर एक भिक्षुक आहे. सांदिपनी ऋषींच्या आश्रमात एकत्र घालवलेले दिवस त्याला आठवतील का?’ तो दिवसभर चालत होता. संध्याकाळी तो महान आणि अपूर्व अशा द्वारकेत पोहोचला. कृष्णाच्या, सोळा हजार एकशे आठ राण्यांसाठी वेगळा महाल होता. त्यांच्या सुंदर दासींसाठीही महाल होते. तो नगरात पोहोचला नंतर जवळपास एकतीस द्वारं त्यानं पार केली. प्रत्येकानं त्याला आदर आणि सन्मानाची वागणूक दिली, त्याला नमस्कार केला कारण त्यानं धारण केलेल्या जानव्यावरून तो ब्राह्मण असल्याचं त्यांनी जाणलं. त्याच्यावर कोणतेही निर्बंध नव्हते. अगदी सिंगापूर विमातळावर ज्याप्रमाणे तपासणी केली जाते त्याप्रमाणे द्वारपालांनी इतरांची मात्र कसून तपासणी केली. कृष्णाकडे कसं जायचं असं सुदामानं विचारल्यावर त्याला रुक्मिणीच्या महालाकडे जायला सांगण्यात आलं. ती कृष्णाची पट्टराणी होती. सुदामा तिच्या महालात पोहोचल्यानंतर त्याला तिच्या शयनगृहाकडे नेण्यात आलं. तिथे कृष्ण अत्यंत उंची, आणि आरामदायक अशा रत्नजडित सुवर्ण शय्येवर आराम करत होता. इतर राण्या त्याची सेवा करत होत्या. त्याला वारा घालत होत्या. कृष्णानं सुदामाला पाहताच अनवाणी पायानंच धावत जाऊन त्याला घट्ट मिठी मारली.’तो किती दयाळू आहे’ असा विचार करत सुदामानं आपल्या अश्रूंना वाट मोकळी करून दिली.
कृष्णाचे आदरातिथ्य
कृष्णाने सुदामाला आपल्या मंचकावर बसवलं. तिथे आजपर्यंत कृष्ण आणि रुक्मिणीशिवाय अन्य कुणीच बसलेलं नव्हतं. कृष्ण स्वतः खाली बसला. सुदामाचे पाय सुवर्णपात्रात ठेवले आणि ते धुण्यासाठी गुलाबपाणी मागवले. कृष्णानं आपल्या राण्यांना सांगितलं, ’हाच माझा देव आहे’ ‘परमेश्वराइतकाच तो मला पूजनीय आहे. तुम्ही त्याला वारा घाला आणि त्याचे पाय धुण्यासाठी मला पाणी द्या.’ सुदामाचे पाय अतिशय मळके आणि भेगाळलेले होते. त्याच्याकडे जोडे नव्हते. त्यानं एक फाटकं धोतर नेसलं होतं आणि गळ्यात एक कापड लटकवलं होतं, कारण त्याच्याकडे धड अंगरखाही नव्हता. रुक्मिणीच्या मंचकावर बसून कृष्णाकडून पाय धुऊन घेताना तो फारच वरमला, ओशाळला. प्रत्येकजण विचार करत होता,’कृष्ण हे काय करतोय आणि हा कोण ब्राह्मण आहे ज्याला तो एवढा सन्मान देतोय?’ त्यानंतर कृष्णाने सुदामाच्या पायाचं तीर्थ घेतलं आणि आपल्या शरीरावर शिंपडलं. त्यानंतर त्यानं ते तीर्थ राण्यांना दिलं आणि म्हणाला,’हे सगळीकडे शिंपडा. आज आपण सगळे शुद्ध झालो आहोत.’
इथे आपण खऱ्या भक्ताचा महिमा लक्षात घेतला पाहिजे. ह्या प्रथा, परंपरा पुरातन वेदिक काळापासून चालत आल्या आहेत. मात्र या आध्यात्मिक परंपरांची शक्ती, तेज आपल्याला माहिती नाही. मात्र कृष्णानं आपल्याला हे शिकवलं. त्यानं आपल्या सर्व अपत्यांचा अर्थात भक्तांचा असाच आदर सत्कार व्हावा हे शिकवलं.
सुदामाच अशा रितीनं स्वागत केल्यावर कृष्ण त्याच्या खांद्यावर हात ठेवून एखाद्या जिवलग मित्राप्रमाणे बोलू लागला. दरम्यान सुदामा तिथलं अपूर्व वैभव न्याहाळत होता. तिथल्या भिंती आणि खांब सोन्याचं होते. त्यांना रत्न, माणकं जडवलेली होती आणि सर्वोत्तम कारागिरीनं तिथली सजावट करण्यात आली होती. आता कृष्ण स्वतःशीच विचार करू लागला,’हा ब्राह्मण विचार करत असेल की कृष्णानं मला खरोखरच ओळखलं आहे का? सांदिपनी ऋषींच्या आश्रमात शिकणारा मी सुदामा....बहुतेक तो मला विसरला असेल. केवळ मी ब्राह्मण असल्यामुळे तो माझं आदरातिथ्य करत
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Years of experience: 24. Registered at ProZ.com: Aug 2009.
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