srimadbhagavatham skandha5-chapters13 to 15

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Chapters 13 to 15 Bharaths advice continued.

 

Samsara is a forest and jiva enters into it like a merchant with his wealth. The wealth here is his life. He is waylaid by a band of six robbers, that is, the five indhriyas and manas, who rob him of his wealth. That is, the life is taken away by the sensual pursuits dictated by the mind which is corrupt. The life of man is supposed to be spent in adoration of the Lord and when it is spent in sensual pursuits it is like robbing it of its wealth. In addition he encounters wolves which carry him away like the sheep. The wolves here are the wife and children. The path through the forest is extremely difficult and hard and the vegetation consists of the creepers and grass which have grown from the seeds of desire. The lights emitted by evil impulses fly like meteors . To quench his thirst, that is, desires, he runs after a mirage, gold, which eludes him and brings only more trouble. He seeks the shelter of poisonous trees, the worldly men who have wealth which is of no use to anyone. For a short time he enjoys imaginary bliss by building air castles. Now and then he is caught by the python of sleep and remains like a dead body. Blinded by desire he falls into the dark pit of infatuation with women. Bitten by the serpents of evil impulses he forgets the divine impulses which stand as witnesses to his ruining himself. There are forest fires to cross, that is, the intense suffering. Exhausted finally he gives up his self- centered actions fulfilling the desires in this world and the next , which result only in suffering. Even good acts like performing yajnas and other meritorious activities bring only short time benefit, because even going to heaven does not bring permanent happiness. ( In Gita the Lord say ksheeNe puNye marthyalokam viSanthi, when the merit is exhausted they return to earth.) Hence Bharatha advised Rahugana to give up the dhehaathmabudDhi, identification of the self with the body.