Life is slipping away, and yet I do not know what it means? What should I do? I have no time to ponder, meditate and understand it all ? What should I do now?

The beauty of understanding ourselves lies in understanding why something happens to us and what role we played in letting or making that happen. This simple relationship between our actions and its effect is Karma yoga. When we understand the inevitability of karma, our mind surrenders to the unfailing powers, giving rise to realisation of Bhakti yoga. The awareness with which we are able to center our lives on knowledge of Karma and Bhakti is Gyana Yoga.

Bhagavatham follows this very pattern to deliver the three supreme yogas to Parikshit and us. Just like how Parikshit in throes of Kali Yuga performs actions that are regrettable and eventually invites his own demise. We too invite many miseries in our life by performing thoughtless actions. These actions done under the influence of time and space with no awareness churns us constantly in its consequence.

I took Bhagavatham in my hands when I was caught in the endless roller coaster of my actions and its consequence and what it gave me was priceless. Through the coming blogs I would like to take you on a journey. A journey where I found my answers in Bhagavatham so you may find yours.

I have come face to face with many regrets in my life, some mine, some belong to others. They have common theme in them, an inappropriate response to a situation and lost time that cannot be recalled. Accepting all regrets as product of time space and mind, here is how Parikshit sought answers.

Parikshit was roaming in forest, thirsty and tired from hunting. He approached an hermitage in the forest and found a rishi by name Shamika deep in meditation. Caught in desperation of the thirst that was tormenting his body, with no awareness in his mind that the rishi was to be left undisturbed during meditation. He requests the rishi to give him some water. After a few futile attempts, he loses his temper and feels insulted that the king of the land has not been treated correctly. He avenges the insult by placing a dead snake around the neck of Shamika

Now the son of Shamika who as bathing in a river close by is informed of the inappropriate act of Parikshit and insult of his father. He curses Parikshit to die in seven days from a deadly bite of Takshaka. Shamika, when he completes the meditation becomes aware of the action of Parikshit  and retribution of his son. In his kindness he sees the whole event as a play of time and decides to inform Parikshit about the curse, so he may find a peaceful way.

Parikshit meanwhile deeply regrets his reproachable act which insulted an innocent sage with hidden spiritual power. Was preparing himself for all kinds of consequences and punishments. Thus when Shamika informed him that he is going to die from takshaka’s bite, he finds peace in that, as that very awareness of impending death cuts asunder all attachments  he had for the world.

Like all evolved dying men he sought banks of Ganga which washes the feet of the lord who had always protected him. He seeks a way to make the best use his seven days. He foregoes all pleasures of life, even food, sat on Khusa grass on river bed and begged all rishis who had assembled there to tell him what could he do now, at this hour where he was on the verge of dying, what can one  do his life to take him safely across all actions and consequences.

This sincere seeker in him brought out the guru in Suka who rendered to him the knowledge of bhagavatham.

What can we learn from this ?

  1. When we accept and regret our action truly and deeply the very consequence of our action can liberate us
  2. When you are wronged like Shamika choose to understand that the perpetrator is under the influence of time and space
  3. Always seek knowledge to solve problems of mind, it can bring a guru in your life
  4. Above all , As an answer to the question that was bugging my mind, life is slipping away and when you can’t do anything else take bhagavatham in your hands and read it.