Chapter
13: The
Hamsa-avatâra Answers the Questions of the Sons of
Brahmâ
(1)
The
Supreme Lord said: 'The goodness, passion and ignorance we know
of the gunas are matters of the mind and not of the
soul; with goodness the other two may be counteracted while
goodness itself is controlled by character and good sense
[*].
(2)
Character strengthens the religious principles that form the
lead of one's devotional service to Me. The mode of goodness
will result in [bhâgavata-]dharma when one
seriously cultivates inner strength. (3)
Dharma puts with an increase of goodnesss an end to the passion
and ignorance. Godlessness, their root, is quickly vanquished
when those two are superseded by goodness. (4)
The doctrine followed, the way one deals with water, the people
one associates with, one's surroundings and the way one behaves
with time, one's occupation, one's social background, as also
the type of meditation, mantras and purificatory rites one
respects are the ten factors determining the prominence of a
particular mode. (5)
Matters which in this by the classical sages are appreciated
belong to goodness, matters they critizice belong to ignorance
and matters they are indifferent about belong to the mode of
passion. (6)
Until there is the [guna] denying
self-remembrance, a person should cultivate the things
belonging to the mode of goodness so that character is
developed from which there is the religiousness that brings
spiritual knowing. (7)
The same way as fire, that in a forest of bamboos was generated
by friction of the stalks, pacifies after having burned
[see also 1.10:
2, 3.1:
21] pacifies the
fire of the material body that was generated by the interaction
of the natural modes.'
(8)
S'rî
Uddhava said: 'Mortals generally known with the situation of
sense-gratification as a source of trouble nevertheless revel
in it, o Krishna. How can it be that they aware of this behave
like dogs, asses and goats?'
(9-10)
The
Supreme Lord said: 'Obsessed with what belongs to him the
foolish person does not consider the consequences of his sense
enjoyment and thus arises in his mind the so terrible mode of
passion. The wayward mind, that in the mode of passion imagines
all kinds of things, is with all the plans made because of that
sensual appetite fully determined by the modes and thus becomes
intolerable. (11)
With one's senses not under control engages one, bewildered by
the force of passion and under the sway of desires, in fruitive
activities, despite of being well aware of the resulting
unhappiness. (12)
Even though the intelligence of a learned person gets
bewildered by passion and ignorance, rises no attachment in him
because he, clearly seeing the contamination, carefuly puts his
mind back on the right track. (13)
Having conquered the breathing process and having mastered the
sitting postures, one should attentively, step by step, without
slackening gather one's mind by concentrating on Me at
appointed times [to the positions of the sun and the moon,
see B.G. 7:
8 and
5:
26-28].
(14)
The yogasystem to this extent instructed by My pupils under the
lead of Sanaka [the Kumâras]
entails that the mind withdraws from everywhere and directly
finds absorption in Me as should [with mantras, see also
8.3:
22-24].'
(15)
S'rî
Uddhava said: 'When, and in what form, dear Kes'ava, have You
instructed Sanaka and the others in this yoga? That I'd like to
know.'
(16)
The
Supreme Lord said: 'The sons headed by Sanaka who took their
birth from the mind of the one who is of the inner gold
[Hiranyagarbha
or Brahmâ], inquired with their father about the so
very subtle, supreme goal of the science of yoga.
(17)
Sanaka and the others said to him: 'The mind runs after the
objects of the senses and the sense objects get thus imprinted
on the mind. O Master, what is for someone who desires
liberation, for someone who wishes to overcome the
sense-gratification, the process of breaking away from that
bondage [see also B.G. 2:
62-63]?'
(18)
The
Supreme Lord said: 'The great self-born godhead, the creator of
all beings, thus questioned, seriously pondered over what was
asked but could, with his mind bewildered because of his
creative labor, not find the words to describe the essential
truth [see also 2.6:
34, 2.9:
32-37 and
10:
13].
(19)
With the desire to find closure he remembered the original God
[he himself sprouted from, see 3.8],
and at that time I became visible in My Hamsa form [the
Swan]. (20)
Seeing Me as they approached Me, they offered, with
Brahmâ in front, their obeisances at the lotus feet and
asked: 'Who are You?' (21)
I was thus by the eager sages asked to disclose the ultimate
truth. Please Uddhava, hear now what I told them at the time:
(22)
If you think that with the oneness of the self there wouldn't
be a substantial difference between you and Me, how then would
you be able to pose a question like that o sages, or how could
I as a speaker then be of any authority [or constitute a
refuge]? (23)
Your question of 'Who are You' would be a meaningless use of
words if you'd refer to the same five elements our bodies are
composed of or when you'd refer to the essence we have in
common. (24)
That what by the mind, speech, sight and by the other senses as
well is handled is what I all am. There is really nothing that
exists outside of Me, that is what you have to understand
clearly. (25)
The mind adheres to the sense objects and the sense-objects
occupy the mind dear men, but to the living entity whose Soul I
am, are both the mind and the sense objects outer appearances.
(26)
With the mind time and again reverting to the objects of the
senses enjoyed and with the sense objects [thus] giving
rise to the mind must the one who is of My transcendental
[Hamsa] form give up the mind as well as the objects
[see also vritti
and neti
neti].
(27)
Wakefulness, dreaming and deep sleep are the functions of the
intelligence following from the modes of nature. The individual
soul is with characteristics different from them known to be
the witness [see also 7.7:
25 and B.G.
7:
5].
(28)
The materially motivated intelligence constitutes the bondage
that keeps the soul occupied with the modes of nature, but when
one situated in Me, the fourth state of consciousness
[turîya],
succeeds in breaking away from it has one at that moment
forsaken the mind and the sense objects [see
11.3:
35].
(29)
The bondage of the soul as a result of identifying oneself with
the body constitutes the opposite purpose. The one who detached
in samsâra
knows about it should, being situated in the fourth state, give
up the anxiety [about those ego-matters].
(30)
As long as a person is convinced of many different purposes and
cannot find his peace the appropriate way [as
mentioned] will he, even though awake, be sleeping with his
eyes open, just as unaware as someone who sees something in a
dream [see also B.G. 2:
41].
(31)
The states of existence apart from the Supreme Soul will,
inessential as they are, because of the separation created by
them, to the seer who is filled with motives and objectives be
just as deluding as what one has in a dream. (32)
While awake he enjoys the qualities of the external affair at
the moment. In his dreams he experiences within his mind all
the sensual a similar way. In deep sleep he looses his
consciousness. But being one in his remembrance becomes he in
his witnessing of the functioning of the successive three
states of consciousness the lord and master over the senses
[see also 4.29:
60-79 and B.G.
15:
7-8].
(33)
When you situated in Me consider the three states of
consciousness that originate from the modes of nature of My
deluding potency, then be resolute about the purpose of
worshiping Me as being present in the heart. Wield for that
purpose the sword of discrimination that was sharpened by the
logic and instructions concerning the true, to cut through the
bonds with the [ahankâra]
cause of all doubts. (34)
Behold this delusional state of mind which, with images popping
up today that are gone tomorrow, wavers as much as the glowing
end of a moving firebrand. It is the One spiritual soul who
deceptively appears in many divisions which manifest as an
illusion of a threefold variegated way of dreaming that was
created by the transformation of the modes of nature [see
also B.G. 9:
15, 15:
16, linga
and siddhânta].
(35)
Looking away from that [deceptive material reality] one
should, being silent with the material hankering ceased, arrive
at the realization of one's actual happiness. That happiness
comes about when one is free from materially motivated actions.
And the times one is of the earth, one should, keeping that in
mind as being insubstantial, abide by relinquishing the earthly
in order not to err till the end of one's days.
(36)
Just as someone who blinded by liquor is not aware of the
clothes he wears, takes the one who is of perfection, you see,
no heed whether the perishable material body sits or stands, or
whether he according to the will of God leaves this earth or
obtains by fate determined [a new body], for he has
achieved his original position [his svarûpa].
(37)
As long as the body is there to the arrangement of destiny and
there is still karma, will it self-propelled continue with its
life-air and senses and its variety of manifestations. Situated
highly though in the full absorption of yoga will the one who
awakened to the essence no longer cultivate that dreaming.
(38)
O learned ones, now that I have explained to you this
confidential analysis and yoga system, the science of uniting
one's consciousness, please understand that I came as
Yajña [Vishnu, the Lord of Sacrifice] in order
to remind you of your actual duties. (39)
O best of the twice-born, I am the Supreme Way of yoga, the
analysis, the truth and the sacred law as also beauty, fame and
self-control. (40)
All qualities such as being free from the modes and
expectations, being the Wellwisher, the Dearest, the True Self,
the One Equal, the detachment and so on, do, because they have
no affinity for the modes, find their shelter and service in
Me.
(41)
Thus
I have put an end to the doubts of all the sages headed by
Sanaka who fully of worship in transcendental loving devotional
service with beautiful hymns chanted My glories.
(42)
Perfectly worshiped and glorified by the greatest of sages I
then, before the eyes of Brahmâ, returned to My
abode.'