Guru Bhakti 4.

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

Upadesa Arhata

 

Some time ago, a Brahman was the minister of a King. Since both of them

did their education together, they used to be very close with each

other. One day, after the day's work, the King went to the

minister's house. When the King reached there, he saw that the

minister was doing Sandhyavandanam. After that the minister started to

do some mantra-anushtanam. The King felt very happy and after the

minister came out, asked him " Mitrama! What Mantra-japam were you

doing? Please do upadesham of it to me too. I will also do anushtanam of

it with great care " .

 

Minister replied " Raja! I did not yet get siddhi (achievement) of

this Mantram. I too am in an early stage. Hence I do not have

Upadesha-arhata. " . Then the King replied " Don't you like

telling the Mantram to me or what? Why are you lying? I see that you

know the Mantram that is enough. Tell me the same letters, I will repeat

them in the same way as you told " .

 

Minister smiled internally seeing the foolishness of the King and said

" Mantram not only means the letters and the corresponding

Veda-svaram. It will have anganyaasa-karnyaasam. There will be a

particular anushthaana-vidhi. Most importantly an uttama Guru, who

already had Mantra-siddhi must do the Upadesham. Hence there is no use

of me doing Upadesham to you " . But the King didn't leave —

he kept on asking and the Minister gave the same answer. Finally King

got angry and said " come to the court. I will show you then " .

 

As usual the next day Minister, after his nitya-anushtaanam, reached the

court. The Minister shouted, pointing at the King, " Arrest this

person " . None of the soldiers moved. Seeing this, the King said

" arrest this person " . Immediately all soldiers attacked and

tried to arrest the Minister. Minister then stopped the soldiers and

said to the King.

 

" Now did you see this Raja? It is the same words that we both said.

Also we both said it in the same mood, volume. However only your command

was followed, not mine. This was because you have the power and not me.

Similarly one must do Guruseva and learn any Vidya, with all its Niyamam

and vidhi, from a Guru who already has Vidyaa-siddhi and

Upadesha-arhata " . The King realized his mistake and ruled the

kingdom well from then onwards.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry