“Bhagavan, who is a treasure of happiness and the home of mercy, can only be won over by ecstatic, meaningful devotion. Giving up attachment, arrogance, and pride, one should always be devoted to the husband of Sita.” (Dohavali, 135)

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भाव बस्य भगवान सुख निधान करुना भवन।
तजि ममता मद मान भजिअ सदा सीता रवन ॥

bhāva basya bhagavāna sukha nidhāna karunā bhavana।
taji mamatā mada māna bhajia sadā sītā ravana ॥

1. My ability at the office

“Seriously, what is wrong with people? How are they so slow to complete tasks? They cry about everything. They complain all the time. The things they struggle with are beyond my comprehension.

“I far exceed expectations. I know that this place would not function without me. They need me more than I need them. They are so lucky to have me. Just imagine where they would be if left to rely on these others, who are slackers.”

2. My ability to multitask

“I run the household. I handle multiple jobs. I take care of the finances. I am basically in charge of everything. I never have to beg in weakness. I don’t rely on others to get important things done. Who can be better than me? You people would not last a day in my house, with the mountain of responsibilities.”

3. My cooking skills

“I don’t eat out anymore. The food is terrible. The worst ingredients. Put together in the wrong combinations. These places make money, for sure, but I am much better at cooking. I can make so many things. Sometimes, I experiment with a new recipe and it comes out great.”

4. My driving

“I have routinely put hundreds of thousands of miles on cars that I own. I bought them new. I can handle long distances without an issue. I can transport people to wherever they need to go. I am always willing to step up. I don’t complain about fatigue.”

5. My knowledge

“I didn’t realize it at first. I didn’t have any point of reference for comparison. But now that I have spent time in association with other so-called scholars, I see that my knowledge is vastly superior. I know much more than they do. They have a lot they could learn from me.”

…

Goswami Tulsidas offers the recommendation to be devoted to the husband of Sita Devi. The one who gives pleasure to the daughter of King Janaka. The one who is eternally with the goddess of fortune, with the contest of the bow providing visual evidence of the link.

The one who is also known as Bhagavan, since He holds every opulence to the highest degree and simultaneously. We should be devoted to Him with feeling, bhava. Not as a matter of protocol, ritual, or tradition. Not in a mood of fear, where we worry over the potential punishment from failing to show allegiance.

Not where we are seeking something in return. That is impure devotion. Bhava is following the interests of the Supreme Lord with genuine feeling, rising to ecstasy and beyond. It is through this bhava that a person can win the favor of Bhagavan.

On the other side of that favor is happiness and mercy. We can think of it like opening the door to a room that is full of treasures. Instead of physical objects like gold and jewels, we have sukha. This is happiness. It is not in short supply. There is no scarcity.

It is not that only one person gains access. Every person has the potential to open this door. It is the birthright of every living being. A certification attesting to the fact is not necessary. To be is to have the connection. As long as something exists, it is connected to the Supreme Lord. From that connection the living being has every right to share in the happiness offered by Bhagavan.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते
तांस् तथैव भजाम्य् अहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

“All of them – as they surrender unto Me – I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

Bhagavan is also the home of mercy. There is no punishment based on the length of time spent in defiance. If we finally come home, so to speak, returning to the natural way, our dharma, then there is no lingering resentment or ill will.

If Rama is all of these things, why would any person hesitate? Why would they not immediately enter the realm of bhakti-yoga? Why would they delay for even a second? What can be a better gift than endless sukha and a shelter made of mercy?

The answer is attachment, mamata. Along with attachment, there is ego, arrogance, and pride. We think we are too good. We think we can do everything on our own. Why should we surrender when everything is already in our hands? Why should we submit to someone else, in weakness, when we are so strong?

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि
गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः
अहङ्कार-विमूढात्मा
कर्ताहम् इति मन्यते

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

The truth is that we are not the doer. Our ability, in whichever way we are known through exceptional talent, is due to the same Bhagavan. He is the ability in man. He is the source of everything. If I were so great, I could defeat everyone, all the time. I would never be influenced by time. My ability would never go away, but we know that is not true.

Therefore, the wise choice, based on intelligence, is to give up the arrogance. Acknowledge that God is superior, that He is everything, and that He gives pleasure and protection to those who are surrendered to Him, like Sita Devi.

In Closing:

The one with Sita living,
To whom pleasure giving.

With potency beyond measure,
Giving happiness in treasure.

Release arrogance and pride,
Remain always on His side.

Not that everything only from me,
In devotion clearly to see.

Categories: dohavali 121-160, the five

Tags: dohavali, god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, pride