Prabhu was pleased and imparted the teaching, 'Naradji, you have become
liberated from the cycle of taking birth in the eighty-four lac species
but never again feel irreverence for the guru. I myself had come in the
form of the hunter. I placed the tulsi mala around your neck only for the
purpose of testing you. By my grace you have been forgiven for your wrong
doings, but, if anyone else commits offences against guru, I will not be
able to pardon them. It is only through guru's grace such offences can be
forgiven and for this reason one should remain ever alert.' After receiving
these teachings, Narad took his leave. Understanding the significance of
this narration, each person should maintain vigilance to avoid any impurities
in one's reverence for guru. The sevak does not have worthiness to judge
the actions of guru. The single duty of the sevak is to be obedient and
expediently fulfill all of guru's orders.
The great gyani Uddhavji regarded the gopies as his guru.
“Aashomaho charanrenujushamaham shyam,
Vradhavane kimpi gulmalthoshdhinaam,
Ya dhusthyajam savjanamarchpatham ch hithva,
Bayjumukund padhvi shruthimidhimmragyath.”
Uddhavji prays to take birth in Vrindavan as tree, bush
or blade of grass etc, so that he may partake of the sacred dust of the
gopi's feet. Such is the significance of the earth consecrated by proximity
with the gopis, so what can be said for any person, place or thing having
the proximity of Krishna himself or gurudev?
A pilot in the British Air Force who became an Indian sadhu and great
yogi, bearing name as 'Krishna Prem' with unwavering faith in guru, has
written: 'Keep total faith in the words of guru. Even if a crocodile approaches
to swallow you, do not become frightened. By keeping faith, he will take
you upon his back to cross the river ganga. Know that to be undeniably
true. Write it and keep it. If the Guru sends us into a lion's mouth,
rest assured, he gives order such fully knowing that you will be returned
unharmed.
Human souls attracted by mundane pleasures have become entrapped in an
mysterious state of mind and have forgotten their ultimate and real destiny.
Due to innate faulty predisposition, worldly beauty and pleasures become
tools of entrapment. Prabhu's divine beauty alone can save one from faulty'
predisposition and misguided inclinations. The true guru diverts the attention
of the sevak to the imperishable realm of life. Guru has ability to enable
a dedicated disciple to reach to Bhagwan.
In the second chapter of Srimad Bhagavadgita, Arjun has taken Shri Krishna
as guru and humbly requests’, 0 guru of the Universe, Shri Krishna! My
buddhi is pervaded with perfections and can not remain firm on any thought.
0 Prannath! Guide me and show me the true path so that I may extricate
myself from and transcend this mundane existence, which is the cause of
all sufferings and attain enlightment of the atma'.
In this way whenever Arjun faced any dilemma, he accepted the teachings
of Shri Krishna whom he regarded as guru. This guru bhava is expressed
in the following words:
“Sishye satham shadhimam tavam prpannaam,
Krishna vande jagad gurum.”
Goswami Tulsidasji also expresses the same principle
in Ramayana:
Bhagwan Sri Ramchandraji, in describing the greatness of Guru, declares
that the demons could only be destroyed through the grace of Guru Vashishtji.
“Guru vashith kul pugiya hamare,
Enhim ki kripa dhanuj hane mare.”
Bhagwan Sri Ramchandraji, in describing the greatness
of Guru, declares that the demons could only be destroyed through the
grace of Guru Vashishtji.
12.2
continued |
