Madhavaya namah

Jadabharata continued, “Only by sprinkling the dust from the holy feet of Mahatmas on the head the sadhaka can understand the Absolute Truth! There is no other way”.

Swamiji explains: It is extremely difficult to locate great Mahatmas who are absolutely detached and who possess supernatural energy. Knowledge can perhaps be easily obtained, but Mahatmas are not! There are many Mahatmas who undoubtedly are respectable, but finding Mahatmas who are willing to teach experiential Self-knowledge and Absolute Truth are very very rare to find. It is also true that it is nearly impossible to recognize them.

Jadabharata here emphatically dictates that unless the head is decorated with the dust from the feet of Mahatmas, one will not get Self-knowledge. This single act will help the aspirant obtain Self- realization.

“Yatrottamaśloka-guṇānuvādaḥ prastūyate grāmya-kathā-vighātaḥ Niṣevyamāṇo ’nudinaṁ mumukṣor mat iṁ satīṁ yacchati vāsudeve

In the assembly of great Mahatmas the pure glories of Srihari are eternally sung. Due to this, obstacles arise in the path of materialistic cravings. Hence the aspirant who is truly desirous of liberation should everyday listen to such glories of Srihari with absolute devotion and dedication. With this his inner mind becomes pure. It fixes itself completely upon Srihari.

In a past birth I was famous as King Bharata. The human being increases his attachment towards objects seen with the eye and heard with the ears. However in that birth I obtained detachment even from those objects. I was not attached to luxuries seen by the eye or heard by the ears. I was freed from this bondage. I had completely given up desire towards comforts of this world and the next. I eternally meditated upon the Lord.

When I was thus spending my days, strangely I developed attachment towards a fawn which became an obstacle in my spiritual journey towards liberation. My entire mind was focused upon cajoling the fawn and attending to its needs. Bondage came to me in the form of a deer. As I was entirely focused upon it I was reborn as a deer. I thus fell down from my goal of Self-realization.

O valourous one! As I had worshipped Srikrishna with utmost faith, even in my deer-birth the memory of my past birth was still etched in my mind. This was due to my refined samskaras.

Even now in this birth the memory of my past births remains intact. As a result I dread developing friendships with people and remain aloof from society. I am eternally cautious so that my real transcendental state is not revealed to others. Hence I wander incognito.

**We should learn to give up desire for this world and its bondages. It is important to develop friendship with Mahatmas who possess total dispassion. The aspirant who follows these techniques will obtain the axe called Self-knowledge. This axe helps him destroy the infatuation towards this world. In this birth itself he can be successful.

Due to listening to the glories of Srihari and by narrating them to others, he will walk on a path that is distinct from the worldly path. He will obtain Srihari, the supreme goal, as his inner Self”. **

With this the twelfth chapter of the fifth canto comes to an end.

Fifth Canto Chapter Thirteen

In this chapter, in order to strengthen the feelings of dispassion, through the means of an allegory Jadabharata Maharishi describes the forest called samsara in great detail.

Jadabharata continued, “O King, trapped by the Lord’s illusion a famous group of traders began walking into deep impenetrable forests. These traders were focused solely upon the various actions that arise due to traits of goodness, passion and ignorance (sattva, rajas, tamas). Their primary goal was acquisition of wealth.

Here the group of traders represents the sum-total of human life. The forest through which they wandered is actually the forest called samsāra.

Even after wandering throughout the forest, they did not obtain any happiness. O king, the leader of this group was of impure wicked mind. He had a careless attitude. In this forest there were 6 dacoits who forcibly looted this group of traders. The dacoits referred to here are the 5 senses and the mind.

Wild jackals which roamed freely in this forest pounced upon the trader and plundered his intellect. Just as jackals try to forcibly drag a ram, they dragged him from all directions. With its many bushes, creepers and grasses this forest is impenetrable. The wild flies and wild mosquitoes tortured the merchants who entered into it. As these traders continue to wander at one place, they spot a habitation of Gandharvas (demi-gods). At another place they come across a ghost which shines luminously like a meteor.

O King, these traders are extremely possessive about their wealth, water and habitats and hence keep chasing them endlessly. Suddenly huge sand-storms arise and fill all the directions with dust. Unable to see anything they remain clueless.

The sounds make by the invisible crickets in the forests cause the trader intense pain. His mind is tormented by the screeching of the owls. Unable to bear the pangs of hunger he seeks shelter (resides) under poisonous trees (sinful trees). When he is thirsty he chases mirages”.

The description of this samsāra forest can be understood only when it is repeatedly heard.