The Lord’s Grace is for All!

In Srimad Bhagavatam,

* In the 1st Canto, we see the story of how little son of a poor widow (Narada’s earlier birth), who earned her living as a servant maid, attained God through mere association of holy men.

* Again in the1st Canto, we find that the great Yogi Bheeshma, who was awaiting the auspicious time of ‘uttharaayana’, attained God.

God's grace* In the 2nd Canto, we find that the earth was drowned in the ‘pralaya’ waters (the great deluge) and Lord Brahma was commanded to do tapas, in order to begin his work of creation. Thus, Lord Brahma did as he was told and attained the Lord’s vision.

* In the 3rd Canto, Kardama Prajapati, the creation of Lord Brahma did penance and attained the Lord’s darshan.

* In the 4th Canto, the 5-year old child Dhruva, born of great parents, followed his Guru’s advice, saw the Lord face to face and was blessed by Him.

* In the 5th Canto, Priyavrata, obedient to the counsel of Manu, worshipped the feet of holy men and gained Knowledge.

* Also in the 5th Canto, Rishabha Yogi and his son Jada Bharata attained to the highest state.

* In the 6th Canto, Ajamila, the worst sinner, attained God.

* In the 7th Canto, we come across Prahlada, the little son of an Asura, attaining God.

* In the 8th Canto an elephant, Gajendra, is seen attaining God.

* Again in the 8th Canto, the Devas pray to the Lord for amruta and are graced by Him.

* In the 9th Canto is the narration of the life of Ambareesha, who was a great emperor enjoying all comforts in life. He too attained God due to his pure bhakti.

Through the narrations of all these stories, Srimad Bhagavatam reveals that everyone is the same to God. God is not biased.

The Lord graced the little child (Narada) who had nothing to boast of – no glorious family or high birth, no wealth, no education, no wisdom, no worldly experience.
The Lord also graced the child Dhruva, born of royal parents but literally thrown away by his father.
The Lord did not forsake even Ajamila who, caught in the mire of a prostitute’s company, lived a lowly life.
The Lord did not forsake Prahlada, who was born of an Asura or even Vritrasura, who was an Asura himself!
The Lord recognized even the devotion of an elephant and blessed him.
The Devas prayed for the Lord’s assistance in receiving amruta and He extended His Grace to them, too.
Bali, the great ruler, was very proud of his status and charitable nature. Destroying his ego, the Lord blessed him too.
Ambareesha, a great emperor, was virtuous. God blessed him, too.

Thus Srimad Bhagavatam shows that God pours His love and blessings on all – irrespective of whether they (and we) are a child without a glorious family background, a demon’s child, a little prince, even an Asura, a yogi, a sage, an animal, a sinner, a virtuous king, a proud king, the Devas or anything or anyone else!

Excerpts from the discourses of HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji.

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