rule



 

Canto 3

S'rī Rādhikāshthakam

 

 

Chapter 27: Liberation from Falsehood

(1) The Supreme Lord [as Kapila] said: 'Even though the living entity abides in a material body, he is not affected by the basic qualities of matter when he does not claim proprietorship and thus is not subject to change, just like the sun that is not affected by being reflected in water. (2) But when this very living entity is absorbed in false ego and thus is possessed by the modes of material nature, the individual soul is bewildered and thinks: 'I am the doer'. (3) Because of the faulty actions resulting from dealing with material nature in such a way, he thus, in discontent, helplessly undergoes the repeated occurrence of birth and death in births from different wombs [or species] depending the good or bad life he led or a combination of these. (4) Like having landed in a nightmare wherein the things happening do not really exist, there is for the living entity, who [only] contemplates what occurs to his senses, no end to his materially conditioned existence [of illusion]. (5) Therefore the mind of attachment to material pleasure must consequently, free from attachment, gradually be brought under control on the path of bhakti-yoga. (6) Beginning with yama [meaning the great vow of yoga of nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness in the discipline of detachment], one should practice the different forms of yoga and develop, endowed with faith, unalloyed devotion unto Me by listening to My stories. (7) Therein one must be without enmity and regard all living beings as equal, not entertain intimate relations and be celibate*, be free from chatter and offer the results of one's labor. (8) One should be satisfied with whatever comes of its own, eat little and live thoughtfully in a secluded place and be peaceful, kind, compassionate and self-realized. (9) In relating to others and to one's body one should not follow the physical concept of life but rather, from the spiritual perspective attend to the factual truth of [both] the material and the personal aspect. (10) One should transcend the stages of consciousness [of waking, dreaming and deep sleep] and stay away from other conceptions of life. Thus, with a purified intellect, the true self, the soul of one's realization within, should be seen as clear as the sun before one's eyes [outside]. (11) One should arrive at the realization of the transcendental support of the material cause [the Supreme Soul] that is manifest as a reflection within the untrue, that is there as an eye for the illusory nature of matter that penetrates everything as one without a second. (12) It is like with the sun that can be seen as a reflection on water or on a wall, but factually is situated in the sky. (13) The truth of the seer is thus revealed as a reflection of the Absolute in the threefold nature of the materially identified ego that consists of body, senses and mind. (14) Someone who in this material world falsely unites with the material elements, the objects of enjoyment, the material senses, the mind, intelligence and so on, is situated in sleep, but once he is awakened [in the devotion of yoga] he is freed from false ego. (15) Even though not being lost, still someone [who spiritually awakened, at first] unjustly considers himself lost because he, just like someone upset because of losing his fortune, as the silent witness realizes the demise of his false ego. (16) Coming to understand this, such a person, knowing the situation that he accepted under the reign of the false ego, realizes [the mercy of] the original position of his true self, his original individuality [svarūpa].'

(17) Devahūti said: 'Dear brahmin, is it not so that material nature never releases the soul because the two are eternally attracted to each other, oh Best One? (18) Just as aroma and earth have no separate existence and taste does not exist apart from water, intelligence cannot exist independent of consciousness. (19) Then how can a soul be free from material nature? Is the soul, being a passive observer, not forced to act because of the basic qualities of matter? (20) The great fear, one may avoid by contemplating the fundamental principles, will not cease because every time its cause appears again.'

(21) The Supreme Lord said: '[One will realize the freedom,] when one, with a pure mind serious unto Me and faithfully listening to My stories in devotional service, manages to perform one's duties without desiring the fruits thereof. (22) By means of spiritual knowledge, with the vision of the Absolute Truth, in yoga strongly connected in penance, detached and firmly fixed, someone becomes absorbed in the soul. (23) Bound to its material nature a living entity is day after day consumed, like firewood by fire, disappearing gradually. (24) [But] with the damage experienced in his dependency understanding the wrong of the desire to always enjoy, he, with his [thus] forsaking sensual pleasures, [firmly] stands in his own glory. (25) The many inauspicious matters a person may dream of in his sleep, will not in the least daunt him when he has awakened. (26) Someone, who has fixed his mind upon Me, the knower of the Absolute Truth always contented within, thus has nothing to fear from material nature. (27) When someone wise thus for many years and many births is engaged in self-realization, he will develop a distaste for [enjoying] whatever, up to the heaven of the creator [brahmaloka]. (28-29) Someone devoted to Me who under My protection for the sake of awakening his intelligence, by My unlimited mercy goes for the ultimate goal of his existence that is called kaivalya [enlightenment, emancipation, beatitude], will in this life soon attain a steady self-awareness and be free from doubt. The yogi who departed for that heavenly abode will, after leaving behind both the subtle and the gross body, never return. (30) When the attention of the perfected yogi is not drawn towards yogic powers to control the material illusion, my dear mother, then, having no other purpose in his life, his progress towards Me will be unbounded, because the power of death is lost therein.'
 

next                    

 
  Third revised edition, loaded January 27, 2024.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

The Supreme Lord [as Kapila] said: 'Even though the living entity abides in a material body, he is not affected by the basic qualities of matter when he does not claim proprietorship and thus is not subject to change, just like the sun that is not affected by being reflected in water.
The Supreme Lord [as Kapila] said: 'Not being of change, not claiming proprietorship, is the living entity, although residing in a material body, not affected by the modes of material nature; just like the sun, which stays unaffected from being reflected in water. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

But when this very living entity is absorbed in false ego and thus is possessed by the modes of material nature, the individual soul is bewildered and thinks: 'I am the doer'.

When this very living entity is absorbed by false ego in the modes of material nature, is the individual soul bewildered, thus thinking: 'I am the doer'.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Because of the faulty actions resulting from dealing with material nature in such a way, he thus, in discontent, helplessly undergoes the repeated occurrence of birth and death in births from different wombs [or species] depending the good or bad life he led or a combination of these.

Because of faulty actions, following his association with material nature, he from this helplessly undergoes the path of repeated birth and death in discontent, being born from different wombs [or species], living a good or a bad life or a mixture of these. (Vedabase)


Text 4

Like having landed in a nightmare wherein the things happening do not really exist, there is for the living entity, who [only] contemplates what occurs to his senses, no end to his materially conditioned existence [of illusion].

Although he actually does not exist but from the real cause, does it - the contemplating of the objective of the material existence of the living entity - not cease to be and thus, like with a dream, he ends up in disappointment.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

Therefore the mind of attachment to material pleasure must consequently, free from attachment, gradually be brought under control on the path of bhakti-yoga.

Therefore must the mind of attachment to material enjoyment gradually be brought under control by devotional service on the path of stringent detachment. (Vedabase)


Text 6

Beginning with yama [meaning the great vow of yoga of nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness in the discipline of detachment], one should practice the different forms of yoga and develop, endowed with faith, unalloyed devotion unto Me by listening to My stories.

Beginning with yama [meaning the great yoga-vow of nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-possessiveness in the practice of detachment], he will be steadfast by the yogasystem, having great faith in unalloyed service unto Me and listening to the stories. (Vedabase)

  

Text 7

Therein one must be without enmity and regard all living beings as equal, not entertain intimate relations and be celibate*, be free from chatter and offer the results of one's labor.

Seeing all living beings equally without enmity, not entertaining intimate relations living celibate and in silence, he offers the results of his labor.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

One should be satisfied with whatever comes of its own, eat little and live thoughtfully in a secluded place and be peaceful, kind, compassionate and self-realized.

Satisfied with what comes without effort, eating little and living thoughtfully in a secluded place, he is peaceful, kind, compassionate and selfrealized. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

In relating to others and to one's body one should not follow the physical concept of life but rather, from the spiritual perspective attend to the factual truth of [both] the material and the personal aspect.

Not following the physical concept of life in relating to others and in the dealings with his own body does he, through spiritual knowledge, see the factual truth of the material and the personal. (Vedabase)

  

Text 10

One should transcend the stages of consciousness [of waking, dreaming and deep sleep] and stay away from other conceptions of life. Thus, with a purified intellect, the true self, the soul of one's realization within, should be seen as clear as the sun before one's eyes [outside].

With the intelligence on material things in peace keeping other conceptions of life afar, he realizes the soul within as if he has his eyes on the sun itself.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 11

One should arrive at the realization of the transcendental support of the material cause [the Supreme Soul] that is manifest as a reflection within the untrue, that is there as an eye for the illusory nature of matter that penetrates everything as one without a second.

He realizes the being bound to the truth, the eye for the illusory of matter, as being transcendental, manifest as a reflection in the untrue and as having entered into everything as one without a second. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 12

It is like with the sun that can be seen as a reflection on water or on a wall, but factually is situated in the sky.

It is like the sun above the water and in the sky, that is seen as a reflection on the water or on the wall. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

The truth of the seer is thus revealed as a reflection of the Absolute in the threefold nature of the materially identified ego that consists of body, senses and mind.

Thus is by the reflections of the true in the threefold of the materially identified ego consisting of mind, body and senses, the truth of the self discovered.  (Vedabase)



Text 14

Someone who in this material world falsely unites with the material elements, the objects of enjoyment, the material senses, the mind, intelligence and so on, is situated in sleep, but once he is awakened [in the devotion of yoga] he is freed from false ego.

The elements of matter, the objects of enjoyment, the material senses, the mind, intelligence and so on, that here as in one's sleep are merged in the untrue are there in the awakening freed from the egotism. (Vedabase)


Text 15

Even though not being lost, still someone [who spiritually awakened, at first] unjustly considers himself lost because he, just like someone upset because of losing his fortune, as the silent witness realizes the demise of his false ego.

Although he is not lost, he in falsehood then thinks himself as lost, because as a witness, he is, like someone who lost his fortune, distressed of losing his self-consciousness. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Coming to understand this, such a person, knowing the situation that he accepted under the reign of the false ego, realizes [the mercy of] the original position of his true self, his original individuality [svarūpa].'

Coming to understand this, realizes that person himself as one who manifests his own individuality and does he see what he of the situation under the false of ego accepted.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Devahūti said: 'Dear brahmin, is it not so that material nature never releases the soul because the two are eternally attracted to each other, oh Best One?

Devahūti said: 'Dear brahmin, isn't it so that material nature never releases the soul as the two are eternally attracted to one another, o Best One? (Vedabase)

  

Text 18

Just as aroma and earth have no separate existence and taste does not exist apart from water, intelligence cannot exist independent of consciousness.

As we have no separate existence of the aroma and the earth or water and taste, so is it also with the intelligence and consciousness. (Vedabase)

  

Text 19

Then how can a soul be free from material nature? Is the soul, being a passive observer, not forced to act because of the basic qualities of matter?

How then can of this there be the freedom from material nature of the soul, that as a non-doer with those modes existing, is bound to the karma caused by the association therewith? (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The great fear, one may avoid by contemplating the fundamental principles, will not cease because every time its cause appears again.'

The great fear in a certain case avoided by reflecting upon the reality, reappears, since the cause did not cease to be.' (Vedabase)

Text 21

The Supreme Lord said: '[One will realize the freedom,] when one, with a pure mind serious unto Me and faithfully listening to My stories in devotional service, manages to perform one's duties without desiring the fruits thereof.

The Supreme Lord said: '[The freedom will be realized,] when with a pure mind serious unto Me and hearing for a long time about Me, one in devotional service executes one's duties without desiring the fruits thereof. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

By means of spiritual knowledge, with the vision of the Absolute Truth, in yoga strongly connected in penance, detached and firmly fixed, someone becomes absorbed in the soul.

By means of the spiritual knowledge with the vision of the Absolute of the Truth, is one, by yoga detached and strongly connected in penance, firmly fixed in being absorbed in the soul. (Vedabase)


Text 23

Bound to its material nature a living entity is day after day consumed, like firewood by fire, disappearing gradually.

In its material nature is a living entity day and night consumed, disappearing gradually like firewood does with the incidence of fire. (Vedabase)

  

Text 24

[But] with the damage experienced in his dependency understanding the wrong of the desire to always enjoy, he, with his [thus] forsaking sensual pleasures, [firmly] stands in his own glory.

Giving up on the pleasure he tasted [in the material world] he stands in his own glory, seeing the wrong of the desire to enjoy it always and the harm it does to depend on that. (Vedabase)


Text 25

The many inauspicious matters a person may dream of in his sleep, will not in the least daunt him when he has awakened.

As indeed with one who is asleep with a dream bringing many bad things, can that very dream though certainly not bewilder the one who's awake. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Someone, who has fixed his mind upon Me, the knower of the Absolute Truth always contented within, thus has nothing to fear from material nature. 

Thus can someone who knows the Absolute Truth of the material of nature in fixing his mind on Me, as the One who always rejoices in the soul, not be harmed. (Vedabase)


Text 27

When someone wise thus for many years and many births is engaged in self-realization, he will develop a distaste for [enjoying] whatever, up to the heaven of the creator [brahmaloka]

When thus for many years and many births he is engaged in self-realization, he becomes in every respect, up to the highest spiritual position [of satyaloka], detached and a thoughtful person. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28-29

Someone devoted to Me who under My protection for the sake of awakening his intelligence, by My unlimited mercy goes for the ultimate goal of his existence that is called kaivalya [enlightenment, emancipation, beatitude], will in this life soon attain a steady self-awareness and be free from doubt. The yogi who departed for that heavenly abode will, after leaving behind both the subtle and the gross body, never return.

My devotee, under My protection realizes by My unlimited mercy, for the good of the intelligence, the ultimate goal of what is called kaivalya [enlightenment, emancipation], attaining in this life a truly steady self-knowledge and freedom from doubt. Having left for that abode the yogi never returns after taking leave from the subtle and gross bodies. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

When the attention of the perfected yogi is not drawn towards yogic powers to control the material illusion, my dear mother, then, having no other purpose in his life, his progress towards Me will be unbounded, because the power of death is lost therein.'

When the attention of the perfected yogi is not drawn towards yogic powers, my dear mother, then, having no other cause, will his progress towards Me become perpetual, as therein he will not find the power of death.' (Vedabase)



*: Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupāda in his commentary says here that intimacy refers to intimacy with non-devotees and that celibacy does not exclude a modest sex life: 'Aprasangatah means “not to be in intimate touch with everyone.” ' ... 'A devotee should observe the vow of celibacy. Celibacy does not necessitate that one be absolutely free from sex life; satisfaction with one’s wife is permitted also under the vow of celibacy.'
 

 

 

 

 Creative Commons
              License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
.

The vintage image refers to the omnipresence of Krishna in the heart of everyone. Source.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

Feed-back | Links | Downloads | MusicPictures | What's New | Search | Donations