“In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as possible, Hiranyakashipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.4.19)

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स इत्थं निर्जितककुबेकराड् विषयान् प्रियान्
यथोपजोषं भुञ्जानो नातृप्यदजितेन्द्रिय:

sa itthaṁ nirjita-kakub
eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān
yathopajoṣaṁ bhuñjāno
nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ

“I know you like to have fun with the following exercise, so let me indulge your inclinations for a bit. Let’s do an informal Sanskrit language class, with the topic tying in to the general theme of bhakti-yoga, sanatana-dharma, devotional service, or what have you. The word of the day is jitendriyah.

“Now, astute observers will note that this one word actually consists of two important terms. There is jita, which refers to victory or conquering. There is also indriya, which refers to the senses. The jitendriyah person has conquered their senses. The emphasis is regular and strong within teachers of the Vaishnava tradition. If considering yoga in the genuine sense, practiced through a steady discipline under proper training, then there is the accompanying step known as anartha-nivritti. Pravritti is like a positive activity, something which you indulge or connect with. Nivritti is the opposite. It is like a restriction, or something which you might give up.

“Anartha-nivritti is the stage where you give up anarthas, which are those activities, behaviors, indulgences, and connections that are not profitable. Think of a person suffering from dehydration who decides to down a six-pack of light beer or fire up the coffee machine. Someone suffering from insomnia turning on all the lights in the room and standing up.

“In yoga, it makes sense to get rid of stuff that is bad for you. The teachers recommend focusing on four particular anarthas in this period of time: meat-eating, gambling, intoxication, and illicit sex. I know what you are thinking. The average person would faint if they were asked to give up any of these, for even a day or two. But I get it. This is not supposed to be easy. It is yoga, after all. We are reaching for something better.

“I am here to tell you that for me to give up anarthas is practically impossible. It will never happen. If I see a pizza pie sitting on the table, fresh out of the oven, I know that I will eat more than I should. I indulge in those beverages that supposedly give you energy, wherein you are really accepting momentary alertness in exchange for delayed fatigue. The amount of illicit materials that are around today is mindboggling. Some women even have the message stamped on their behinds. They are begging you to look. How is anyone supposed to control their senses, then? Do you see what I am saying? I am not sharing struggles with you. I am sharing failure. We are all destined to fail. There is no hope. This means that real yoga is impossible, if you ask me.”

“Liberation from material contamination is called anartha-nivritti, indicating a diminishing of all unwanted things. This is the test of development in devotional service. If one actually develops the devotional attitude, he must be freed from the material contamination of illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. These are the preliminary symptoms. When one is freed from all material contamination, his firm faith awakens in devotional service.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 23.13 Purport)

In this situation, we are considering your average person. You might extend the sympathy to the fallen, the one who is struggling in life. There is some difficulty they cannot seem to overcome. It makes sense to then contemplate yoga, dharma, religion, or some better way of living. Bhagavad-gita places the people who approach the Supreme Lord into four general categories, with the distressed being one of them.

चतुर्-विधा भजन्ते मां
जनाः सुकृतिनो ऽर्जुन
आर्तो जिज्ञासुर् अर्थार्थी
ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ
janāḥ sukṛtino ‘rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

“O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me – the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.16)

Anartha-nivritti might be one of the recommendations offered to someone suffering, who makes the approach. But think about the person who has it all, who does not think they are in difficulty. Consider the individual who has protection from all sides, promised to them by someone who is responsible for creating the 8,400,000 varieties of bodies inhabited by the eternal living beings.

व्यसुभिर्वासुमद्भ‍िर्वा सुरासुरमहोरगै:
अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे ऐकपत्यं च देहिनाम्
सर्वेषां लोकपालानां महिमानं यथात्मन:
तपोयोगप्रभावाणां यन्न रिष्यति कर्हिचित्

vyasubhir vāsumadbhir vā
surāsura-mahoragaiḥ
apratidvandvatāṁ yuddhe
aika-patyaṁ ca dehinām

sarveṣāṁ loka-pālānāṁ
mahimānaṁ yathātmanaḥ
tapo-yoga-prabhāvāṇāṁ
yan na riṣyati karhicit

“Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.3.37-38)

The teachings of the Vaishnavas apply to such individuals, as well. Whether high or low, thriving or struggling, coming or going, there is always the opportunity for success. This is because of the facilities available specifically within bhakti-yoga. A young child of five years once described nine different ways that such yoga can be implemented. He presented this list as the best instruction he had heard. He gave this list to his father, who supposedly had it all.

श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णो: स्मरणं पादसेवनम्
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम्

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

“Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) – these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service.” (Prahlada Maharaja, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.23)

Hiranyakashipu is described to be ajitendriyah. He was conquered by the senses. Prahlada still saw an opportunity. He thought that the father could be cured of his condition. Simply think of Vishnu. Make the connection in truth. Move beyond an abstract figure and consider a distinct personality, who is wishing well to everyone. Worship such an individual. Dedicate everything to Him. In always thinking of Him, you will surely come to Him. Hiranyakashipu had the special distinction of the object of worship making the approach, in intentionally manifesting from the pillar as the avatara named Narasimha. This shows that even the person struggling the most, whose senses are in the driver’s seat, can be liberated, through good association.

In Closing:

No way I tell you now,
To control senses how?

When in abundance to be,
And everywhere to see.

But the worst case just consider,
How Prahlada tried to deliver.

Father to anarthas bound,
But vision of Narasimha found.

Categories: questions

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, life, poem, poems, poetry