VOICE OF THE RISHIS -88

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PRIYA BHAGAVAT BANDUVULLARA!

 

VOICE OF THE RISHIS: 88

 

COURTESY: SHRI RAPARLA JANARDHANA RAO

 

" SA TARATI SA TATARI, LOKAN STARAYATHI "

 

-NARADA BHAKTI SUTRA

 

This again is a sutra, a short, pithy saying from the great saint-

singer, Maharshi Narada, the greatest devotee of Sri Maha Vishnu and

is also said to be in the nearest proximity to the Lord. Narada is

the greatest propounded of Bhakti school of thought, in the

test `Narada Bhakti Sootras', Narada Maharshi enunciates all the

principles to be followed. When adopted these would bring the

quickest unity with the Lord, known as " MOKSHA " . It is an

unfortunate misnomer that has spread among the people without any

authenticity whatsoever, that Narada is the perpetrator of

quarrels `Kalaha Bhoja " as wrongly termed. Instead he should be

regarded as the greatest of all devotees, who always reveals himself

in praise of the Lord and in total surrender. He is `Maha Bhakta'.

 

The present Sutra describes the status of a saintly devotee or

Bhakta, who leads a pious life in extreme devotion and in total

surrender to the Lord. Maharshi Narada here states that such a

devotee, a Bhakta, attains salvation (Sa tarati). He crosses

(tarati) the human limitations and attains divinity. But Narada

adds something more to it. Such pious devotee not only attains

divinity crossing mundane barriers himself, but by his life makes

others too in the world attain the Godhead (Lokaan stharayati). It

is good and common, if a devotee attains divinity all by himself.

But Narada adds that a devotee by his exemplary living not only

attains the greatest state of divinity himself, but goes even a step

higher making others also attain the Godhead. " Sa tarati Sa

tarati " " he attains " , He ascends, " Lokan Starayati " , but helps

others also attain salvation. The latter part is highly

significant.