By Sri Swamiji
Translated from Tamil Madhuramurali issue
The story of Vritrasura is narrated in the sixth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Even though he was an asura, while battling with Indra, the characteristics of highest prema bhakti were revealed in him. He offered four slokas on Sri Hari. The essence of these slokas is the highest and profound precept of Bhagavata dharma that the four purusharthas of dharma, artha, kama and moksha are all only Sri Hari bhakti.
“Was it an asura who did bhakti like this? How is this possible?” We may wonder! The same question also arose in King Parikshit who was listening to Srimad Bhagavatam. But Parikshit, who knew the greatness of this kind of bhakti did not ask how the asura suddenly got bhakti. Parikshit knew very well how rare bhakti was and that it would not appear all of a sudden. Hence he asks this question very accurately in six slokas.
(This is how the Canto 6, Chapter 14 begins in Srimad Bhagavatam.)
The question itself is nectarine! King Parikshit asks, “O Brahmarishi, are not the gunas of rajas and tamas detrimental to bhakti? And these gunas are part of the asuras’ nature. When this is the case, how is it that Vritrasura alone developed such deep devotion to Narayana?
“The reason I am asking this is because such devotion towards Sriman Narayana does not generally sprout even in devas and rishis who are sattvic in nature and pure of mind. I have heard that Hari bhakti is that rare!
“There are innumerable souls on this earth. Just like there are countless grains of sand on this earth, the number of souls are also countless. In the experience of some saints, many souls have not even taken their first birth and are waiting for Bhagavan’s blessing to do so. Those that have entered the cycle of birth and death, are born as one in 84 lakh different species of living beings. Among these, only very few are born as human beings.
“Instead of being born as a donkey, or a bull that suffers unbearably with heavy burden, or a pig that revels in the sewer, how rare is it to obtain instead a beautiful human birth? Even in this, to have a human birth with a fully-functional body, organs, eyes, ears, hands, legs, is rarer! Even with a complete body, isn’t a birth without any mental health issues the rarest of the rare? Even with a normal body and mind, to be born in a society that has dharma as its objective, i.e. in our eternal religion (Sanatana dharma) – how wonderful is this? We see that in some neighboring countries, people are struggling just to stay alive day by day. Instead of this, how rare is it to be born in a civilized, peaceful society where Sanatana Dharma prevails!
“But even among them, only very few people lead a truly dharmic life; while the majority lead a mundane, purposeless life, or are atheists who deny the existence of God, or are materialistic agnostics who do not care whether God exists or not but are only concerned about their own worldly pleasures.
“Among those who are dharmic, many perform karmas without even knowing why they are doing it. Some know that there is a God and remain only as believers, and nothing more. Some go after astrology, expiation, mantras, tantras, fortune telling, etc.
“Among those who are dharmic, only a few wish to attain Liberation (Moksha). They are called mumukshus. From a thousand mumukshus, only one is able to renounce attachments such as his home and family, and emerge victorious in his efforts.
“So, the desire for Liberation is rarest of the rare. But it is not enough if there is mere desire for Moksha. Additionally, there should also be strong dispassion to sacrifice everything. The spiritual practices followed to attain Moksha must also have the sanction of the scriptures. It is very very rare that a seeker, despite the existence of many paths to Liberation, is able to discern correctly which path he is truly eligible for, and follow it.
“Among even such Realized souls, only one in a crore performs pure bhakti to Narayana, with a pure mind and renouncing all desire. To follow the path of bhakti and become a devotee is rare. Even in this, to develop bhakti towards the pure sattvic Lord Narayana is rarest of the rare.
“When such is the case, how did this Vritrasura do such steadfast Hari bhakti? This is very surprising! A great doubt rises in my heart because of this,” said King Parikshit.
Srimad Bhagavatam shows how rare Hari bhakti is, simply through a question.
Yes. Hari bhakti is the greatest of the great! To truly understand why this is the greatest of the great, is also great!
Translated from Madhuramurali Magazine.
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