Aila Gita (ऐलगीता)
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Aila Gita (Samskrit: ऐलगीता) refers to the outpourings of Aila (the son of Ila), also known as Pururavas. It is found in the 26th chapter of the 11th canto in the Bhagavata Purana and appears within the conversation between Shri Krishna and his friend Uddhava known as Uddhava Gita.
परिचयः ॥ Introduction
In the chapter preceeding the Aila Gita, Shri Krishna describes the effects of the trigunas and their combinations one by one. It is mentioned therein that human beings are bound to trigunas because they manifest in the mind and lead to attachment to life-forms and sense-objects (12) [see also B.G. 4: 14]. However, those who take shelter of the Supreme Being become free from the trigunas (26) and attain the Supreme Being (22) [see also B.G. 9: 25, 14: 18].[1]+
It also emphasizes that (29) happiness generated by sense objects is rajasik in nature while that which arises from realising the Supreme Being is beyond the Gunas.[2] [see 11.15: 17 & B.G. 5: 21, but also 6: 7].
It is explained that material substance, place, fruit of action, time, knowledge, activity, the performer, faith, the state of consciousness and the species and the destinations of life, all are affected by the trigunas (30). In fact, all that exists is a composition of the trigunas (31). These forms of existence and stages of life of the repeatedly incarnating living beings are bound to the operation of the gunas. However, those who being dedicated to the Supreme Being in bhakti yoga conquer these gunas that manifest in the mind, qualify for the transcendental love of the Supreme being (32).[1]
पार्श्वभूमिः ॥ Background
Having elaborated on the human body as the substratum of the trigunas that lead one to be bound by attachments, it is said, in the chapter preceeding the Aila Gita (Chapter 25) that the human body is also the means by which one acquires knowledge and develops wisdom. Therefore, it is suggested that those who obtain the human body should be smart enough to shake off their attachment to the gunas and worship the Supreme Being (33).[1]
It is said that when the wise worship the Supreme Being with alertness, controlled senses and without attachment to anything else; when one conquers Rajas and Tamas by developing Sattva and thereafter overcomes even Sattva by means of desirelessness and by concentrating the mind on the Supreme Being, one goes beyond the Gunas, abandons the body and attains the Supreme Being.
And such a person who is released from the body and from the Gunas which arise in the mind, being full of the Para Brahman, shall not do anything external or internal i.e., leading to Samsara or Moksha. Such a person will have nothing to do with the objects of sense externally through actual contract nor internally through thought.[2]
This discussion on the trigunas highlighting the need to go beyond material desires and develop the quality of detachment forms the basis for the Song of Pururava or Aila Gita that appears in the succeeding chapter (Chapter 26) of the 11th Canto in the Bhagavata Purana.
विषयविस्तारः ॥ Subject Matter
At the outset, Bhagavan Shri Krishna explains that one who has become free from the cause of material life that is a product of the trigunas by being fixed in spiritual knowledge, does not get entangled with the illusionary objects of the world despite being surrounded by them. Although present in front of one's eyes, they become insubstantial and remain nothing but an illusion (2). It is strongly advised that (3) one should never at any time seek the company of materialists devoted to the gratification of their sense organs and cravings because those who follow such people will fall into the darkest pit, like a blind man following another blind man. It is in this context that the descendant of Ila known as Aila or Pururavas (see also 9.14: 15-16] is mentioned.[1]
It is said that the highly renowned emperor Aila (Pururavas) was overcome with grief and despair on account of his separation from Urvashi whom he passionately loved. When he got over the sorrow, he developed dispassion and renunciation, and sang the Aila Gita out of sheer disgust for his past disgraceful life.[2]
ऐलस्य विलापः ॥ Aila's Lament
When Urvashi abandoned Pururavas and left, he wept aloud and followed her naked like a madman crying; asking her to stop and not run away. Urvashi had lived with him for many years but his desire was not satiated. Infact, his mind was so allured by Urvashi that he was not aware of the passing of the days, nights and years.
Pururavas confesses that his understanding was clouded by lust so much so that his passing lifetime went unnoticed and made him, an emperor, a plaything of a woman.[2] He wonders (12) of what use is knowledge, austerities, renunciation, scriptures, solitude and silence to the one whose mind is stolen by women.[1] And states that only the Supreme Being can be powerful enough to make the mind pure and free when it gets carried away behind a courtesan.[2]
He also clarifies that Urvashi did try to talk him out of his passion with eloquent verses of advice [see 9.14: 20-22]. However, being dull-minded and out of control with his senses, there was no end to his confusion. He says (17) what could she have done when one has no notion of one's real nature or svarupa and thereby mistakes a rope for a snake.[1]
ऐलस्य अवबोधः ॥ Aila's Understanding
Lamenting over the power of delusion, Aila shares his understanding. He says,
(19-20) One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife, employer, fire (of one's funeral), dogs, vultures, oneself or one's friends. Even then, one gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, especially in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face. And by doing so one heads with it for the lowest destination of decay. (21) For, there is no difference between a worm and the one who enjoys what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, tendon, fat, muscle, marrow, bone, urine, stool and pus.
Therefore, a man who understands what's best for him (22) should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged. Because, the mind united with the senses reaches for sense objects and thus, gets agitated [compare 5.5: 2, 7.12: 9, 9.19: 17, 9.14: 36]. (23) However, a thing not heard of or seen gives no rise to mental agitation. Therefore, the mind of someone not engaging his senses becomes fixed and pacified. (24) Moreover, even wise men cannot rely on the six enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy known as the Ari-Shad Varga. One should therefore, not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women [see also yoṣita].[1]
सत्सङ्गतिः ॥ Good Association
Bhagavan states that Pururavas who spoke the Aila Gita then shook off the delusion through knowledge, realised the Supreme Being and attained the bliss of Self-realisation.[2] He advices that (26) an intelligent person, having abandoned bad company should associate himself with the righteous and the wise, for only their company can cut off the deep attachment of one's mind.[1]
To emphasize the benefits of associating with good people, Bhagavan explains their characteristics. He says,
The wise desire nothing. They are independent and do not accept any gifts. They devote their mind to the Supreme, have a calm mind and visualise the Supreme equally everywhere. They are free from the notions of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ and are beyond the pairs of opposites. They are free from attachments of any kind.
Also, they constantly talk of the Supreme Being and by virtue of listening to talks or stories about the Supreme Being (from them), one is completely absolved from their papas. For, those who listen to talks or stories about the Supreme Being with sincerity, reverence and faith in their efficacy, sing them and are delighted in them, become attached to the Supreme Being and attain faith and devotion to Him. And once devotional service unto the Supreme Being, the embodiment of knowledge and bliss, is achieved, there remains nothing else to be accomplished by one.[2]
Chapter 26
The Song of Purūravā
(1) The Supreme Lord said: 'Having acquired this human body that is My characteristic, one achieves, being situated in My dharma, Me, the Supreme Soul of Spiritual Happiness situated in the heart.
(18) What does this filthy body, unclean, full of bad odors, have to offer; what are those 'pleasing [feminine] qualities' and so on anyway? They constitute an influence originating from ignorance!
(31) Just as cold, fear and darkness will dissipate for the one who resorts to the supreme grace of fire [Agni], similarly dullness, apprehension and ignorance will dissolve for someone who serves the devotees.
(32) For those who submerge and again rise in the fearful ocean of material life, the saintly devotees, peaceful in understanding the Absolute, constitute a supreme shelter as good as a life boat for people drowning in the water [compare 11.23: 28 and 11.17: 44].
(33) Devotees constitute the refuge of those afraid to fall down, as good as food is there to grant the living beings their life, I exist as the shelter for the distressed and dharma is there as the wealth of the deceased.
(34) The devotees grant you the [divine] eyes while the sun [only] shows the external world after having risen; they are the worshipable ones, one's [true] relatives, they are one's actual self and Me as well [see also e.g. 1.1: 15, 3.5: 47, 3.6: 28, 11.2: 6].
(35) He [Purūravā] who for that reason no longer desired the world of Urvaśī, then liberated from all attachment, innerly satisfied wandered this earth.'
श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामेकादशस्कन्धे श्रीकृष्णोद्धवसंवादे ऐलगीतं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २६॥
Aila-gita: The Song of Pururava (11.26.7–24)
The Aila-gita also is part of the Uddhava-gita. To explain how unfavorable association is a threat to one's position in devotional service, Lord Krishna gave the example of the emperor Pururava (also called Aila). Aila was bewildered by the association of the heavenly beauty Urvashi, and later became renounced after being separated from her. Expressing his contempt for undue attachment to the opposite sex, he sang a song called the Aila-gita:
"Persons who are attached to the body of a woman or a man – which is simply a mass of skin, meat, blood, bones, and so on – are not much different from worms. When one's mind is stolen away by the opposite sex, what is the worth of education, austerity, renunciation, Vedic knowledge, and so forth? Learned men should distrust their six mental enemies, headed by lust, and thus avoid degrading association."
Thus Pururava was freed from illusion and eventually attained peace by realizing the Lord.
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