2023-05-31 04:00:43 by ambuda-bot
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BHAGAVAD GUNA DARPANA
capacity (to perform tapas, etc.). (After all, it is not the
means, however great, that secures the result).
that secures the result). The resulting
gain in the case of the difficult discipline is due to the
infinite grace of God. What is there to punish Him for
granting His favours, even in the case of praise, slight though
it be? It may also be justifiably said that, if in one case He is
pleased with the great trouble taken, in the other, He is delight-
ed by the great sincerity of the mind (of the devotee).
Hence, it is said in the Gita: "He (a person of wicked
conduct, taking to bhakti) is rightly resolved" (IX. 30); and
"A leaf, a flower or fruit or even a little water (I accept)"
(IX. 26). In the Vishnu Dharma, it is said: "He is not pleased
with offerings of wealth, or property, or clothes or ornaments,
but only with the heart (pure and sincere). Who then will
not worship Him?" In the Vyasa Smriti it is stated: "He who
offers flower or water (to God), at the same time reciting the
Purusha sikta, has worshipped the whole world of living and
lifeless things." Again, the Vishnu Dharma says: "Even if a
person offers the whole world with all its gems to krishna,
he will not easily reach Janardana, if his mind is elsewhere".
The fundamental basis on which virtue and sin are decided
is the difference of mental attitude and not particular
actions.
For it is said in the Vishnu Tattva: "It is the purity of the
mind of the man that matters. When a man embraces his
wife, his mind is in a different state from when he embraces
his daughter." It is also laid down in the Mahabharata: "Tapas
is good (lit. not sinful), recitation of the Veda is good, Vedic
conduct is good, even taking another's wealth by force is good
(for the worship of God); but if they are accompanied by a bad
intention, they become sinful." Elsewhere it is stated: "Fish
live in the holy Ganga. flocks of birds reside in temples; they
are not benefitted by the holiness of the Ganga or of the tem-
ple, because they have not the necessary state of mind......"
It is but proper that, as God is All-wise, with no wish of
His unfulfilled and not seeking anything from others, He
should be pleased with a pure heart and not by the offer of
insignificant wealth. With even a little worship though marred
by imperfections in regard to circumstances, He is pleased as if
it were perfect and complete This is in accordance with the
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capacity (to perform tapas, etc.). (After all, it is not the
means, however great, that secures the result).
that secures the result). The resulting
gain in the case of the difficult discipline is due to the
infinite grace of God. What is there to punish Him for
granting His favours, even in the case of praise, slight though
it be? It may also be justifiably said that, if in one case He is
pleased with the great trouble taken, in the other, He is delight-
ed by the great sincerity of the mind (of the devotee).
Hence, it is said in the Gita: "He (a person of wicked
conduct, taking to bhakti) is rightly resolved" (IX. 30); and
"A leaf, a flower or fruit or even a little water (I accept)"
(IX. 26). In the Vishnu Dharma, it is said: "He is not pleased
with offerings of wealth, or property, or clothes or ornaments,
but only with the heart (pure and sincere). Who then will
not worship Him?" In the Vyasa Smriti it is stated: "He who
offers flower or water (to God), at the same time reciting the
Purusha sikta, has worshipped the whole world of living and
lifeless things." Again, the Vishnu Dharma says: "Even if a
person offers the whole world with all its gems to krishna,
he will not easily reach Janardana, if his mind is elsewhere".
The fundamental basis on which virtue and sin are decided
is the difference of mental attitude and not particular
actions.
For it is said in the Vishnu Tattva: "It is the purity of the
mind of the man that matters. When a man embraces his
wife, his mind is in a different state from when he embraces
his daughter." It is also laid down in the Mahabharata: "Tapas
is good (lit. not sinful), recitation of the Veda is good, Vedic
conduct is good, even taking another's wealth by force is good
(for the worship of God); but if they are accompanied by a bad
intention, they become sinful." Elsewhere it is stated: "Fish
live in the holy Ganga. flocks of birds reside in temples; they
are not benefitted by the holiness of the Ganga or of the tem-
ple, because they have not the necessary state of mind......"
It is but proper that, as God is All-wise, with no wish of
His unfulfilled and not seeking anything from others, He
should be pleased with a pure heart and not by the offer of
insignificant wealth. With even a little worship though marred
by imperfections in regard to circumstances, He is pleased as if
it were perfect and complete This is in accordance with the
34