Hiranyakaśipu continued, “The Self (atma) has karmic bondages only as long as it is connected with the subtle body (linga śarīra), mind etc. Due to this connection, it appears differently from its original state and afflictions such as spiritual ignorance, attach to it.
It is futile to see and talk about happiness and sorrows, which are the outcome of the trigunas, as real. It is nothing but sheer waste. Akin to objects created by the mind during dream, this universe which is grasped by the senses is purely unreal”.
Swamiji explains: In reality, neither are senses real nor is this world. Never question God, “Why have you created me? Why was I born?” You existed like an atom earlier. In order to merge that atom into Him, He filled life-force into it, using which, we are leading life. All the senses are part of this game. We cover ourselves with a cloth hoping it will protect us, when in reality it can protects only the sense-organs but not us. It cannot protect the Supreme Lord who is all-pervading. This cloth which protects the sense-organs perishes when the sense-organs perish. The Supreme Lord remains unconnected with either the sense-organ or the cloth. From this it is clear that these material objects are impermanent, while the Supreme Lord who resides within as the Self is permanent.
“Atha nityam anityaṁ vā neha śocanti tad-vidaḥ Nānyathā śakyate kartuṁ sva-bhāvaḥ śocatām iti
Those who possess knowledge of objects permanent and impermanent in this creation do not grieve for the Self which is of permanent existence nor for the worldly objects which are impermanent in existence. Those who grieve for them can only continue to grieve but they cannot convert impermanent objects into permanent objects”.
Swamiji explains: They cannot retrieve the object that they have lost nor can they send back the unwanted object that has come to them.
“For this reason, wise persons consider grieving for these impermanent objects a sheer waste. Once upon a time, there was a hunter who went regularly to the forest for capturing birds. He would spread a net, beneath which he sprinkled grains and through this technique catch them. It was as if God of death had created him purely for the sake of killing birds.
A pair of woodpeckers was living in that forest. Attracted by the grains sprinkled by the hunter, the female woodpecker got trapped in the hunter’s net. Seeing his partner trapped in the net and unable to rescue her through any means, the male bird lamented inconsolably,
“O this all-pervading Lord is merciless. My dearest lover, who takes utmost care of me and who loves me dearly, is most eligible for his compassion. What does He benefit by taking her? What plans does He have for her? I wish He would also take me in accordance to His plan. What is the use of this life when my dearest wife is no more? Without her it is as if a part of me is dead. What will I do with this longevity if she is not there with me? What will I do with this body when she is not present?
My unfortunate chicks, who have not yet developed wings, have at this tender age been separated from their mother. How am I to support and maintain them in her absence?” In this way, the male bird cried in loud hoarse voice. Meanwhile the hunter who was the personification of death and who was hiding in the nearby bushes released an arrow and killed the male bird.
O foolish women! Even if you continue to cry for another 100 years, this man will not be revived. Why are you still grieving for him?’- in this way Yama, the Lord of death, who had disguised as a young boy advised these women.”
Govindāya namah