“Indeed, You alone know Yourself by Your own potencies, O origin of all, Lord of all beings, God of gods, O Supreme Person, Lord of the universe!” (Arjuna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.15)

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स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम
भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते

svayam evātmanātmānaṁ
vettha tvaṁ puruṣottama
bhūta-bhāvana bhūteśa
deva-deva jagat-pate

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that while we may come across many lords in our dealings in the material world, no one is actually self-made. There is always some cause to their lordship. This is another way we can identify that being who is supreme, that lord who is above everyone else. There is no cause to His standing, and so He is the ideal person in whom to take shelter.

When the female ascetic named Shabari had the blessing of receiving Shri Rama as a guest at her hermitage in the forest, she offered kind prayers as a sort of welcome. Within those prayers, she referred to Rama as “deva vare”. This acknowledges the reality of devas, proving that higher beings exist, that they persist throughout the ether, holding awesome powers and carrying out important responsibilities. Amongst all the celestials, Rama is the best or topmost. There can only be one, and so this is how to identify God.

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म स्वर्गश्चैव भविष्यति
त्वयि देववरे राम पूजिते पुरुषर्षभ

adya me saphalaṃ janma svargaścaiva bhaviṣyati
tvayi devavare rāma pūjite puruṣarṣabha

“O best of men, today, by worshiping You – Rama who is the greatest of all the gods – my religious practices have become fruitful and my ascension to the heavenly realm will surely take place.” (Shabari speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 74.12)

The bow-warrior named Arjuna makes a similar identification. He says that Krishna is the deva of the devas. Krishna is the god of the gods. The ones who are lords in their own right, who have authority over various aspects of the creation, answer to one person. That person is the source of their authority. The entire universe springs from but a spark of His splendor.

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा
तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं मम तेजोऽशसम्भवम्

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ
mama tejo-’ṁśa-sambhavam

“Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.41)

Every other lord has some kind of cause. Even if they think they are self-made, that they rose to prominence on their own hard work and merit, they still had to learn. They still had to be protected in their youth. Benjamin Franklin once referenced the saying that he who would thrive, must first ask his wife. The better half lends support; for this they are entitled to share in the merits accumulated.

The leader of a philanthropic foundation with a billion-dollar endowment ascended to the post based on ancestry. They inherited the title. The governor of that large state won election on their own, but they were only on the ballot because of family connections. They got a head start; it is like politics is in their blood.

God is the only lord without a cause. If we look to every kind of result, there is some initial work at the start. This is the system of karma. Every person is suffering or enjoying based on their work from the past. That initial spark might have been mere moments ago or as long back as a previous lifetime. The results might continue to last across several generations, like an interest-yielding investment account, or the outcomes might be gone so quickly that barely anyone notices. In either case, there is some work at the start.

अदृष्टगुणदोषाणामध्रुवाणां तु कर्मणाम्
नान्तरेण क्रियां तेषां फलमिष्टं प्रवर्तते

adṛṣṭaguṇadoṣāṇāmadhruvāṇāṃ tu karmaṇām
nāntareṇa kriyāṃ teṣāṃ phalamiṣṭaṃ pravartate

“Unseen and indefinite are the good and bad reactions of fruitive work. And without taking action, the desired fruits of such work cannot manifest.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 66.17)

The Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes, sarva karana-karanam. Placing Him at the highest importance, with the highest priority in interest, in working only for His satisfaction, is thus the natural way. This is the way of Arjuna, Shabari, Narada, and countless other wise individuals of authority.

In Closing:

How female ascetic to pray?
Arjuna following which way?

What exactly Narada to say?
Under whose shelter Vyasa to stay?

The Lord one and only who,
Self-made and individual too.

That cause of every result seeing,
Worship for all troubles freeing.

Categories: bhagavan

Tags: dailyprompt, god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, religion