“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.14)

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सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां
यतन्तश् च दृढ-व्रताः
नमस्यन्तश् च मां भक्त्या
नित्य-युक्ता उपासते

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate

1. Traffic violation dismissed

“There it was. I had been waiting for it. The promise was a few weeks. That was the amount of time it would take to hear back. The attorney said he would handle everything. I never had to visit an office. Just snapped a few photos and sent them over. He apparently works in that courtroom every day. He is on a first-name basis with the judges and the prosecutors.

“I got off. The major violations were reduced to parking infractions. No damage to the driving record or the driving license. Only a hefty fine to pay. The minor violations were dismissed entirely. I had been so worried. That was a bad day, when I got pulled over. I guess the police officer did not like me. I was nowhere close to being the fastest car on the road. I don’t know why he targeted me, but this news has me jumping for joy. It has entirely changed my mood. Today is a day I will never forget.”

2. House thoroughly cleaned

“We had been talking about it for a while. I was always against it. The spouse practically insisted upon it. Move to a new home. Something bigger. Something better. Well, today the one we live in was thoroughly cleaned. It looks brand new, if you ask me. I wish it looked this way every day, but what can you do? I can only help out so much, having to work and all. At least for the next few days, I can live in peace.”

3. The cookies were a hit

“I brought them to the gathering. I feel bad showing up empty-handed. Not that anyone would mind, but I would remember. I feel like I am taking or exploiting. I want to give, as well. I want to contribute. I barely know what I am doing in the kitchen. I gathered the ingredients together and tried my best. At the meeting, I very quietly and inconspicuously placed the tray on the table. I was hoping no one would know it was from me. That didn’t happen. They ended up loving it. A few people asked me for the recipe. It was a delightful experience, if you ask me.”

4. Office extending the holiday

“It made no sense to begin with. Practically everyone was going to be out the next day. Then the powers that be decided to show some grace. They declared that the next day would be an extension of the original holiday. A four-day weekend for all! I am so happy. I can take some time to rest, to recover, and to catch a breath. What a lovely surprise!”

5. Glorified the Supreme Lord

In the above hypothetical situations, there is unexpected news which leads to an unexpected shift in mood. Rather than hearing about a tragic accident, getting rejected for something you applied for, or learning about failure in general, something amazing happened. At least to you the result is amazing. Simply hearing about something is enough to brighten the spirits, to have a new outlook on the day.

मच्-चित्ता मद्-गत-प्राणा
बोधयन्तः परस्परम्
कथयन्तश् च मां नित्यं
तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च

mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā
bodhayantaḥ parasparam
kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ
tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca

“The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.9)

The culture of bhakti-yoga can be viewed in a similar light. It is like brightening each and every day. The activity aligns with the nature of the individual. As it is the inherent characteristic, or dharma, of the living being to serve, so the service directed to the one who can always accept more is ideal for the eternal living entity. This kind of service has the same endurance as the individual providing the service.

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः

nāsato vidyate bhāvo
nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo ’ntas
tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ

“Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.16)

Bhagavad-gita confirms that individuals on an elevated platform of understanding follow through on their service with determination. The Sanskrit is dridha-vrata. It is like a vow that cannot be broken. No external conditions can get in the way. Someone may try to interfere. Others may grow envious. Even one’s own father might look to obstruct, but as seen with the esteemed Prahlada Maharaja, the object of that service offers protection. That worshipable object might even appear in person, out of a pillar, in a form no one has seen before.

हरिः सुरेशो नरलोकपूजितो हिताय लोकस्य चराचरस्य
कृत्वा विरूपं च पुरात्ममायया हिरण्यकं दुःखकरं नखैश् छिनत्

hariḥ sureśo naralokapūjito hitāya lokasya carācarasya
kṛtvā virūpaṃ ca purātmamāyayā hiraṇyakaṃ duḥkhakaraṃ nakhaiś chinat

“Shri Hari, who is the Lord of the demigods, who is worshiped by the people of the world, for benefiting the moving and nonmoving beings of the world took that dreadful form through His own energy and tore apart Hiranyakashipu, who caused suffering to so many, with His nails.” (Narasimha Purana, 44.43)

In Closing:

From few words to hear,
That the violations to clear.

And only left with a fine,
Brightened this day of mine.

Imagine the potential then,
Continuous glorification when.

In something fixed like a vow,
Bhakti my path now.

Categories: the five

Tags: bhagavad-gita, dailyprompt, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, yoga