“If having not seen Sita I shall leave from this place and go to the city ruled by the king of Vanaras, of what avail will my achievements prove to be? My crossing over the ocean, entering Lanka and seeing the Rakshasas will have all been useless.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 13.20-21)

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यदि सीतामदृष्ट्वाऽहं वानरेन्द्रपुरीमितः
गमिष्यामि ततः को मे पुरुषार्थो भविष्यति
ममेदं लङ्घनं व्यर्थं सागरस्य भविष्यति
प्रवेशश्चैव लङ्कायाः राक्षसानां च दर्शनम्

yadi sītāmadṛṣṭvā’haṃ vānarendrapurīmitaḥ
gamiṣyāmi tataḥ ko me puruṣārtho bhaviṣyati
mamedaṃ laṅghanaṃ vyarthaṃ sāgarasya bhaviṣyati
praveśaścaiva laṅkāyāḥ rākṣasānāṃ ca darśanam

It is a mandatory day at the office. The higher-ups give the excuse about the need for collaboration, but you can spot the farce from a mile away. You know that they simply want to bring everyone back into the office on a regular basis, as a means of spreading the misery. The boss is a miserable person who will do everything he can to avoid spending time with his family. They make the excuse of having to work long hours, to give the appearance of diligence, perseverance, and dedication.

They now want to distribute the burden evenly. Under the pretense of a large townhall meeting, everyone has travelled to the office. From great distances, from far and wide, everyone has to sit and listen to a boring presentation on the future of the department. Perhaps in a moment of confusion you happen to be paying attention when one particular objective stands out to you.

The department wants to make “every win count.” That is the title to the particular slide appearing on the screen. The idea is that any gain, whether large or small, is significant. Anything to help improve the efficiency of the operation will be noted, recognized, and rewarded.

The problem, of course, is that you have your own recent history in this area that contradicts the stated objective. You spent many months on a particular project, only to have the managers pull the plug on the entire operation at the last minute. All the wins ended up counting for nothing except the passage of time. All the work you did essentially went into the trash bin. There was nothing that could be used for the future. In essence, the entire effort was a waste of time.

We could apply a similar outlook to the life experience itself. We see a restored photograph from over a century ago. It shows people in a community enjoying a day at the beach. They wear different clothes from today, but the idea is not foreign. People want to relax for a bit of time. They want to forget about the daily responsibilities.

The thing is, all of those people are now gone. They have been crushed under the wheels of time. The same will happen for everyone alive today. All the future births, all the people appearing at a later time – they will also suffer the same fate. It is like this giant wave arrives to wash away whatever gains and losses accumulate.

The promise in the bhakti-yoga path is that the effort will not go to waste. Even a little progress is meaningful. If considering in terms of a bank account, the balance only increases. Every bit matters, as the progress carries over into future births, if necessary.

नेहाभिक्रम-नाशो ऽस्ति
प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते
स्व्-अल्पम् अप्य् अस्य धर्मस्य
त्रायते महतो भयात्

nehābhikrama-nāśo ‘sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.40)

It is a win to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It is a victory to make a humble offering before the deity. It is worthwhile to remember the Supreme Lord as Vishnu [vishno-smaranam]. The time spent reading sacred texts will make an impact, whether it manifests immediately or at a later date. After all, the Rakshasa named Vibhishana received the title of king of Lanka through the grace of Shri Rama, but the actual ascension to the throne took place at a later time.

बलकल भूषन फल असन तृन सज्या द्रुम प्रीति
तिन्ह समयन लंका दई यह रघुबर की रीति

balakala bhūṣana phala asana tṛna sajyā druma prīti
tinha samayana laṃkā daī yaha raghubara kī rīti

“During the exile period wearing the garb of an ascetic, while subsisting on fruits, seated on a bed of grass, and having love for trees, He gave Lanka to Vibhishana. In this way does Raghuvara behave.” (Dohavali, 162)

Despite this assurance, an advanced person like Shri Hanuman still wants his wins to mean something in the immediate term. He had amazing accomplishments to his name in a short amount of time. He leaped over the ocean to reach Lanka. He entered the city while facing stiff opposition. He observed the Rakshasas while searching for Sita Devi, who is the wife of Shri Rama.

Hanuman is not content with the wins. He wants the mission to reach the proper and successful end. He wants to find Sita. Then the personal accomplishments will mean something to him. In the same way, if we can reach the side of the Supreme Lord, in always thinking of Him, in remembering Him at the time of death, then even the many past births we spoiled can be purified.

बिगरी जनम अनेक की सुधरै अबहीं आजु
होहि राम को नाम जपु तुलसी तजि कुसमाजु

bigarī janama aneka kī sudharai abahīṃ āju
hohi rāma ko nāma japu tulasī taji kusamāju

“The many past births you spoiled can be rectified right now, today, if you start chanting Shri Rama’s holy name and renounce bad association, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 22)

In Closing:

With repeated effort to mount,
Making every win count.

That sacred text to read,
Deity with offerings to feed.

Support to the guru lending,
Time with mantra spending.

Still Hanuman thinking of more,
To link all accomplishments for.

Categories: devotional service

Tags: bhakti, dailyprompt, hanuman, poem, poems, poetry, yoga