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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 [[Krishna (कृष्ण )|Shri Krishna]] and his friend Uddhava known as Uddhava Gita.<ref>[https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_giitaa/uddhavagiitaa.html Uddhava Gita] (Refer Chapter 26)</ref>
 
 
Aila Gita (Samskrit: ऐलगीता) refers to the outpourings of Aila (the son of Ila), also known as Pururavas. It appears within the conversation between Shri Krishna and his friend Uddhava known as Uddhava Gita. Aila Gita is found in the 26th chapter in the 11th canto of the Bhagavata Purana.
 
  
 
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
 
== 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 (27) and attain the Supreme Being (22) [see also B.G. 9: 25, 14: 18].
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In the chapter preceeding the Aila Gita, Shri Krishna describes the effects of the [[Trigunas (त्रिगुणाः)|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. However, those who take shelter of the Supreme Being become free from the trigunas and attain the Supreme Being.<ref name=":0">Anand Aadhar (2022), Srimad Bhagavatam ([https://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/pdf/canto11-eng.pdf Canto 11])</ref> It also emphasizes that happiness generated by sense objects is rajasik in nature while that which arises from realising the Supreme Being is beyond the Gunas.<ref name=":1">Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://www.dlshq.org/download2/lordkrishna.pdf Lord Krishna His Lilas and Teachings], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref> 
 
 
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 belong to 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. 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).
 
 
 
Therefore, those who obtain the human body by which one acquires knowledge and develops wisdom, should be smart enough to shake off their attachment to the gunas and worship the Supreme Being (33).
 
 
 
== Subject Matter ==
 
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.
 
 
 
(2) Someone who fixed in spiritual knowledge has become free from the cause of material life that is based upon the products of the modes, does not get entangled in their illusory qualities despite of being surrounded by them; although present before his eyes they are insubstantial and nothing but illusion to him.
 
 
 
(3) One should never at any time seek the company of materialists devoted to the gratification of their sense organs and cravings because they who follow such people will fall into the darkest pit, like a blind man following another blind man.
 
 
 
(4) The descendant of Ilā [called Aila or Purūravā, see also 9.14: 15-16], the well-known great emperor, sang the following mighty song when he bewildered being separated from Urvaśī, in resignation managed to restrain his grief.  
 
 
 
(5) The moment she abandoned him and left, he naked crying like a madman ran after her calling out: 'Oh my wife, oh you terrible woman, please stop!'
 
 
 
(6) With his mind possessed by Urvaśī he after years of insignificantly gratifying his lusts, was not satisfied and did not notice the nights coming and going.'
 
 
 
(7) Purūravā said: 'Just see how bewildered I got! With my consciousness contaminated by lust I, in the embrace of this goddess, did not notice my life time passing.  
 
 
 
(8) I had no idea whether the sun was rising or setting and was, thus spending my days, alas robbed by her of countless years.
 
 
 
(9) Oh what a pity this total bewilderment of mine because of which the body of this mighty emperor, this crown jewel of kings, became a toy animal for women!
 
 
 
(10) When she abandoned me, the mighty controller, together with all of my kingdom as if I were a blade of grass, I ran crying naked like a madman after the woman.
 
 
 
(11) Where is now the influence, strength and sovereignty of the person I am? I ran after this woman leaving me, just like an ass with the hoof
 
 
 
being kicked for punishment!
 
 
 
(12) What is the use of knowledge, austerities, renunciation, the scriptures or of solitude and silence for the one whose mind is stolen by women?
 
 
 
(13) To hell with the fool I am not knowing what his best interest would be; I who thought to be a scholar in achieving the position of a lord and controller but who, just like a bullock or ass, was conquered by women!
 
 
 
(14) For so many years serving Urvaśī's lips I, with the lust born from my mind, never got enough of the nectar, just like a fire one can never satisfy with oblations.
 
 
 
(15) Who else but the Innerly Satisfied Lord of the Sages, the Supreme Lord Beyond the Senses, can free someone else who lost his mind with a courtesan?
 
 
 
(16) Out of control with myself being dull-minded, I saw no end to my confusion, even though the goddess [Urvaśī] eloquently gave me advice [see 9.14: 20-22].  
 
  
(17) What would she have done wrong to a 'seer' like me who, taking a rope for a snake, has no notion of his real nature [his svarūpa]? I am the one out of control with his senses is it not?
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Infact, elsewhere also, the Bhagavata Purana (Canto 11, Chapter 15) states that when one focusses one's mind that is pure in the Supreme Being, the impersonal [[Brahman (ब्रह्मन्)|brahman]] that is free from material qualities, one obtains the supreme of happiness wherein one's desire finds its complete fulfillment.<ref name=":0" />  <blockquote>निर्गुणे ब्रह्मणि मयि धारयन्विशदं मनः । परमानन्दमाप्नोति यत्र कामोऽवसीयते ।। १७ ।।<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15]</ref> nirguṇe brahmaṇi mayi dhārayanviśadaṁ manaḥ । paramānandamāpnoti yatra kāmo'vasīyate ।। 17 ।।  </blockquote>The [[Bhagavad Gita (भगवद्गीता)|Bhagavad Gita]] also iterates that one discovers happiness in the Self when unattached to the external contacts. And that, with the Self engaged in the meditation of the Brahman one attains endless happiness.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>  <blockquote>बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत् सुखम् । स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ॥५.२१॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 5 (Karma Sannyasa Yoga)].</ref> bāhyasparśeṣvasaktātmā vindatyātmani yat sukham । sa brahmayogayuktātmā sukhamakṣayamaśnute ॥5.21॥  </blockquote>
  
(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!
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== पार्श्वभूमिः ॥ Background ==
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In the chapter leading to the Aila Gita 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. In fact, all that exists is a composition of the trigunas.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>द्रव्यं देशः फलं कालो ज्ञानं कर्म च कारकः । श्रद्धावस्थाकृतिर्निष्ठा त्रैगुण्यः सर्व एव हि ।। ३० ।। सर्वे गुणमया भावाः ...<ref name=":2">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 25]</ref> dravyaṁ deśaḥ phalaṁ kālo jñānaṁ karma ca kārakaḥ । śraddhāvasthākr̥tirniṣṭhā traiguṇyaḥ sarva eva hi ।। 30 ।। sarve guṇamayā bhāvāḥ ...</blockquote>However, though the various forms of existence and stages of life of the repeatedly incarnating living beings are bound to the operation of the gunas, those who being dedicated to the Supreme Being in [[Bhakti Yoga (भक्तियोगः)|bhakti yoga]] conquer these gunas that manifest in the mind, qualify for the transcendental love of the Supreme being.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>एताः संसृतयः पुंसो गुणकर्मनिबन्धनाः । येनेमे निर्जिताः सौम्य गुणा जीवेन चित्तजाः ।। ३२ ।। भक्तियोगेन मन्निष्ठो मद्भावाय प्रपद्यते ।<ref name=":2" /> etāḥ saṁsr̥tayaḥ puṁso guṇakarmanibandhanāḥ । yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya guṇā jīvena cittajāḥ ।। 32 ।। bhaktiyogena manniṣṭho madbhāvāya prapadyate ।</blockquote>Having elaborated on the human body as the substratum of the trigunas that lead one to be bound by attachments, it further emphasizes on the human body as 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.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्माद्देहमिमं लब्ध्वा ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवम् ।। ३३ ।। गुणसङ्गं विनिर्धूय मां भजन्तु विचक्षणाः ।<ref name=":2" /> tasmāddehamimaṁ labdhvā jñānavijñānasambhavam ।। 33 ।। guṇasaṅgaṁ vinirdhūya māṁ bhajantu vicakṣaṇāḥ ।</blockquote>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 (रजः)|Rajas]] and [[Tamas (तमः)|Tamas]] by developing [[Sattva (सत्त्वम्)|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 (मोक्षः)|Moksha]]. Such a person will have nothing to do with the objects of sense externally through actual contract nor internally through thought.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>जीवो जीवविनिर्मुक्तो गुणैश्चाशयसम्भवैः । मयैव ब्रह्मणा पूर्णो न बहिर्नान्तरश्चरेत् ।। ३६ ।।<ref name=":2" /> jīvo jīvavinirmukto guṇaiścāśayasambhavaiḥ । mayaiva brahmaṇā pūrṇo na bahirnāntaraścaret ।। 36 ।।</blockquote>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 Pururavas or Aila Gita that appears in the succeeding chapter (Chapter 26) of the 11th Canto in the Bhagavata Purana. 
  
(19-20) One can never tell whether this body belongs to one's parents, wife or employer, to [the funeral] fire, the dogs and jackals or to the [indwelling] soul or one's friends. One gets attached to this unholy matter and praises it, in case of a woman, for having such a cute nose, beautiful smile and face, but one heads with it for the lowest destination [of decay].  
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== विषयविस्तारः ॥ Subject Matter ==
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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. It is strongly advised that 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.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>सङ्गं न कुर्यादसतां शिश्नोदरतृपां क्वचित् । तस्यानुगस्तमस्यन्धे पतत्यन्धानुगान्धवत् ॥ ३ ॥<ref name=":3">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AC Adhyaya 26].</ref> saṅgaṁ na kuryādasatāṁ śiśnodaratr̥pāṁ kvacit । tasyānugastamasyandhe patatyandhānugāndhavat ॥ 3 ॥</blockquote>It is in this context that the descendant of Ila known as Aila or Pururavas is mentioned. 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.<ref name=":1" />
  
(21) In what sense would one differ from worms when one enjoys that what is composed of skin, flesh, blood, muscle, fat, marrow and bone, urine, stool and pus?
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=== ऐलस्य विलापः ॥ Aila's Lament ===
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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.
  
(22) A man understanding what's best for him, should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged, for the sole reason that 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].
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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.<ref name=":1" /> He wonders of what use is knowledge, [[Tapas (तपस्)|austerities]], renunciation, scriptures, solitude and silence to the one whose mind is stolen by women.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>पुंश्चल्यापहृतं चित्तं को न्वन्यो मोचितुं प्रभुः । आत्मारामेश्वरमृते भगवन्तम् अधोक्षजम् ॥ १५ ॥<ref name=":3" />
  
(23) [Because] a thing not heard or seen gives no rise to mental agitation, the mind of someone not engaging his senses becomes fixed and pacified.  
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puṁścalyāpahr̥taṁ cittaṁ ko nvanyo mocituṁ prabhuḥ । ātmārāmeśvaramr̥te bhagavantam adhokṣajam ॥ 15 ॥</blockquote>He also mentions that Urvashi did try to talk him out of his passion with eloquent verses of advice. However, being dull-minded and out of control with his senses, there was no end to his confusion.<ref name=":0" /> He says, <blockquote>किमेतया नोऽपकृतं रज्ज्वा वा सर्पचेतसः । रज्जु स्वरूपाविदुषो योऽहं यदजितेन्द्रियः ॥ १७ ॥<ref name=":3" />
  
(24) When not even wise men can rely on the six enemies [lust, anger, greed, bewilderment, intoxication and envy; the ṣaṭ-varga], then what about persons like me? One therefore should not get sensorily attached to women or to men attached to women [see also yoṣita].'
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kimetayā no'pakr̥taṁ rajjvā vā sarpacetasaḥ । rajju svarūpāviduṣo yo'haṁ yadajitendriyaḥ ॥ 17 ॥</blockquote>Meaning: 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.<ref name=":0" />
  
(25) The Supreme Lord said: 'He, the worshipable lord of gods and men, who thus sang his song [of complaint], then gave up the world of Urvaśi. Realizing Me, the Supersoul in his heart, he with the transcendental knowledge found peace within himself and ended his illusion.
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=== ऐलस्य अवबोधः ॥ Aila's Understanding ===
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Lamenting over the power of delusion, Aila shares his understanding. He says,
  
(26) An intelligent person having abandoned bad association therefore should be fixed on devotees, for only by their words he can cut off the deep attachment of his mind.  
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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. For, there is no difference between a worm and the one who enjoys what is composed of skin, [[Mansa Dhatu (मांस धातु)|flesh]], [[Rakta Dhatu (रक्त धातु)|blood]], tendon, [[Meda Dhatu (मेद धातु)|fat]], [[Majja Dhatu (मज्जा धातु)|muscle]], marrow, [[Asthi Dhatu (अस्थी धातु)|bone]], urine, stool and pus.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>त्वङ्‌मांसरुधिरस्नायु मेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ । विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥<ref name=":3" /> tvaṅ‌māṁsarudhirasnāyu medomajjāsthisaṁhatau । viṇmūtrapūye ramatāṁ kr̥mīṇāṁ kiyadantaram ॥ 21 ॥ </blockquote>Therefore, a man who understands what's best for him should never run after women or associate with men thus engaged. Because, the mind united with the [[Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)|senses]] reaches for sense objects and thus, gets agitated. 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. 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.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्मात्सङ्गो न कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु स्त्रैणेषु चेन्द्रियैः । विदुषां चाप्यविस्रब्धः षड्वर्गः किमु मादृशाम् ॥ २४ ॥<ref name=":3" /> tasmātsaṅgo na kartavyaḥ strīṣu straiṇeṣu cendriyaiḥ । viduṣāṁ cāpyavisrabdhaḥ ṣaḍvargaḥ kimu mādr̥śām ॥ 24 ॥</blockquote>Infact, it is stated in 5th Canto of the Bhagavata Purana that according to the wise, service rendered to great people is the gateway to mukti, while association with those who are attached to women, is the entrance to tamas or samsara. It is indeed those who are of balanced mind, serene and composed, free from anger, friendly and righteous that are really great.<ref>The Bhagavata Purana ([https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-Purana-Part-2.pdf Part 2]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>महत्सेवां द्वारमाहुर्विमुक्तेस्तमोद्वारं योषितां सङ्गिसङ्गम् । महान्तस्ते समचित्ताः प्रशान्ता विमन्यवः सुहृदः साधवो ये ॥ २ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5].</ref>
  
(27) Devotees with their minds fixed on Me do not depend [on lusts] and are, with an equal minded vision, completely peaceful and free from possessiveness, false ego, the dualities and greed.
+
mahatsevāṁ dvāramāhurvimuktestamodvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgisaṅgam ।
  
(28) Oh most fortunate one, these greatly fortunate souls are constantly discussing My stories that have the power to completely eradicate the sins of anyone who chooses for them.
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mahāntaste samacittāḥ praśāntā vimanyavaḥ suhr̥daḥ sādhavo ye ॥ 2 ॥</blockquote>
  
(29) They who, faithfully dedicated to Me, hear, chant and respectfully take them [My stories] to heart, will attain My bhakti.  
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=== 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.<ref name=":1" /> He advices that 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.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>ततो दुःसङ्गमुत्सृज्य सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् । सन्त एवास्य छिन्दन्ति मनोव्यासङ्गमुक्तिभिः ॥ २६ ॥<ref name=":3" /> tato duḥsaṅgamutsr̥jya satsu sajjeta buddhimān । santa evāsya chindanti manovyāsaṅgamuktibhiḥ ॥ 26 ॥</blockquote>To emphasize the benefits of associating with good people, Bhagavan explains their characteristics. He says,
  
(30) What else would there remain [to be accomplished] for a devotee once he has achieved devotional service unto Me, the One of Countless Qualities who is the Absolute Truth comprising the experience of spiritual happiness?
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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.
  
(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.  
+
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 [[Pataka (पातकम्)|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 [[Bhakti (भक्तिः)|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.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>ता ये श्रृण्वन्ति गायन्ति ह्यनुमोदन्ति चादृताः । मत्पराः श्रद्दधानाश्च भक्तिं विन्दन्ति ते मयि ॥ २९ ॥
  
(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].
+
भक्तिं लब्धवतः साधोः किमन्यद् अवशिष्यते ।  मय्यनन्तगुणे ब्रह्मण्यानन्दानुभवात्मनि ॥ ३० ॥<ref name=":3" />
  
(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.
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tā ye śrr̥ṇvanti gāyanti hyanumodanti cādr̥tāḥ । matparāḥ śraddadhānāśca bhaktiṁ vindanti te mayi ॥ 29 ॥
  
(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].
+
bhaktiṁ labdhavataḥ sādhoḥ kimanyad avaśiṣyate । mayyanantaguṇe brahmaṇyānandānubhavātmani ॥ 30 ॥</blockquote>Elaborating further on the importance of Satsangati, Bhagavan says, <blockquote>यथोपश्रयमाणस्य भगवन्तं विभावसुम् । शीतं भयं तमोऽप्येति साधून् संसेवतस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥
  
(35) He [Purūravā] who for that reason no longer desired the world of Urvaśī, then liberated from all attachment, innerly satisfied wandered this earth.'
+
निमज्ज्योन्मज्जतां घोरे भवाब्धौ परमायनम् । सन्तो ब्रह्मविदः शान्ता नौर्दृढेवाप्सु मज्जताम् ॥ ३२ ॥
  
श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
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सन्तो दिशन्ति चक्षूंषि बहिरर्कः समुत्थितः । देवता बान्धवाः सन्तः सन्त आत्माहमेव च ३४ ॥<ref name=":3" />
संहितायामेकादशस्कन्धे श्रीकृष्णोद्धवसंवादे
 
ऐलगीतं नाम षड्विंशोऽध्यायः २६॥
 
  
=== Aila-gita: The Song of Pururava (11.26.7–24) ===
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yathopaśrayamāṇasya bhagavantaṁ vibhāvasum । śītaṁ bhayaṁ tamo'pyeti sādhūn saṁsevatastathā ॥ 31 ॥
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."
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nimajjyonmajjatāṁ ghore bhavābdhau paramāyanam । santo brahmavidaḥ śāntā naurdr̥ḍhevāpsu majjatām ॥ 32 ॥
  
Thus Pururava was freed from illusion and eventually attained peace by realizing the Lord.
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santo diśanti cakṣūṁṣi bahirarkaḥ samutthitaḥ । devatā bāndhavāḥ santaḥ santa ātmāhameva ca ॥ 34 ॥</blockquote>Meaning: Just as cold, fear and darkness leave the one who resorts to [[Agni (अग्निः)|Agni]], similarly, ignorance, fear of [[Mrutyu (मृत्युः)|death]] and all other evils run away from the one who associates, worships and lives with the wise. Infact, the wise who have realised Brahman are the supreme resort for those who rise and fall ie. take higher and lower births in the fearful ocean of Samsara like a strong life boat to those drowning in water. And unlike the [[Surya (सूर्यः)|Sun]] that bestows only one external eye on people after having risen, the wise bestow on them many eyes (internal) i.e., many ways of attaining knowledge. Thus, the wise are the veritable [[Deva (देवः)|deities]] and true friends; They are the Supreme Being, the [[Atman (आत्मन्)|Atman]].<ref name=":1" />
  
http://btg.krishna.com/gitas-bhagavatam
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Infact, it is mentioned in the very first chapter of the Bhagavata Purana that even water of the divine [[Ganga (गङ्गा)|Ganga]] sanctifies only after actual ablutions  while the mere presence of those who have taken resort to the Supreme Being's feet and who are the abodes of tranquility, purify one immediately when approached.<ref>The Bhagavata Purana ([https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-purana-Part-1.pdf Part 1]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref> 
  
https://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/pdf/canto11-eng.pdf
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It is said that Pururavas or Aila, for this very reason abandoned his desire for the world of Urvashi. And then, liberated from all attachment, wandered the earth being innerly satisfied.<ref name=":0" />
  
https://www.dlshq.org/download2/lordkrishna.pdf
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== References ==
 +
<references />
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[[Category:Puranas]]
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[[Category:Vedanta]]
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[[Category:Darshanas]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 19 May 2022

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.[1]

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. However, those who take shelter of the Supreme Being become free from the trigunas and attain the Supreme Being.[2] It also emphasizes that happiness generated by sense objects is rajasik in nature while that which arises from realising the Supreme Being is beyond the Gunas.[3]

Infact, elsewhere also, the Bhagavata Purana (Canto 11, Chapter 15) states that when one focusses one's mind that is pure in the Supreme Being, the impersonal brahman that is free from material qualities, one obtains the supreme of happiness wherein one's desire finds its complete fulfillment.[2]

निर्गुणे ब्रह्मणि मयि धारयन्विशदं मनः । परमानन्दमाप्नोति यत्र कामोऽवसीयते ।। १७ ।।[4] nirguṇe brahmaṇi mayi dhārayanviśadaṁ manaḥ । paramānandamāpnoti yatra kāmo'vasīyate ।। 17 ।।

The Bhagavad Gita also iterates that one discovers happiness in the Self when unattached to the external contacts. And that, with the Self engaged in the meditation of the Brahman one attains endless happiness.[5]

बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत् सुखम् । स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ॥५.२१॥[6] bāhyasparśeṣvasaktātmā vindatyātmani yat sukham । sa brahmayogayuktātmā sukhamakṣayamaśnute ॥5.21॥

पार्श्वभूमिः ॥ Background

In the chapter leading to the Aila Gita 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. In fact, all that exists is a composition of the trigunas.[2]

द्रव्यं देशः फलं कालो ज्ञानं कर्म च कारकः । श्रद्धावस्थाकृतिर्निष्ठा त्रैगुण्यः सर्व एव हि ।। ३० ।। सर्वे गुणमया भावाः ...[7] dravyaṁ deśaḥ phalaṁ kālo jñānaṁ karma ca kārakaḥ । śraddhāvasthākr̥tirniṣṭhā traiguṇyaḥ sarva eva hi ।। 30 ।। sarve guṇamayā bhāvāḥ ...

However, though the various forms of existence and stages of life of the repeatedly incarnating living beings are bound to the operation of the gunas, 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.[2]

एताः संसृतयः पुंसो गुणकर्मनिबन्धनाः । येनेमे निर्जिताः सौम्य गुणा जीवेन चित्तजाः ।। ३२ ।। भक्तियोगेन मन्निष्ठो मद्भावाय प्रपद्यते ।[7] etāḥ saṁsr̥tayaḥ puṁso guṇakarmanibandhanāḥ । yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya guṇā jīvena cittajāḥ ।। 32 ।। bhaktiyogena manniṣṭho madbhāvāya prapadyate ।

Having elaborated on the human body as the substratum of the trigunas that lead one to be bound by attachments, it further emphasizes on the human body as 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.[2]

तस्माद्देहमिमं लब्ध्वा ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवम् ।। ३३ ।। गुणसङ्गं विनिर्धूय मां भजन्तु विचक्षणाः ।[7] tasmāddehamimaṁ labdhvā jñānavijñānasambhavam ।। 33 ।। guṇasaṅgaṁ vinirdhūya māṁ bhajantu vicakṣaṇāḥ ।

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.[3]

जीवो जीवविनिर्मुक्तो गुणैश्चाशयसम्भवैः । मयैव ब्रह्मणा पूर्णो न बहिर्नान्तरश्चरेत् ।। ३६ ।।[7] jīvo jīvavinirmukto guṇaiścāśayasambhavaiḥ । mayaiva brahmaṇā pūrṇo na bahirnāntaraścaret ।। 36 ।।

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 Pururavas 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. It is strongly advised that 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.[2]

सङ्गं न कुर्यादसतां शिश्नोदरतृपां क्वचित् । तस्यानुगस्तमस्यन्धे पतत्यन्धानुगान्धवत् ॥ ३ ॥[8] saṅgaṁ na kuryādasatāṁ śiśnodaratr̥pāṁ kvacit । tasyānugastamasyandhe patatyandhānugāndhavat ॥ 3 ॥

It is in this context that the descendant of Ila known as Aila or Pururavas is mentioned. 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.[3]

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.[3] He wonders of what use is knowledge, austerities, renunciation, scriptures, solitude and silence to the one whose mind is stolen by women.[2] 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.[3]

पुंश्चल्यापहृतं चित्तं को न्वन्यो मोचितुं प्रभुः । आत्मारामेश्वरमृते भगवन्तम् अधोक्षजम् ॥ १५ ॥[8] puṁścalyāpahr̥taṁ cittaṁ ko nvanyo mocituṁ prabhuḥ । ātmārāmeśvaramr̥te bhagavantam adhokṣajam ॥ 15 ॥

He also mentions that Urvashi did try to talk him out of his passion with eloquent verses of advice. However, being dull-minded and out of control with his senses, there was no end to his confusion.[2] He says,

किमेतया नोऽपकृतं रज्ज्वा वा सर्पचेतसः । रज्जु स्वरूपाविदुषो योऽहं यदजितेन्द्रियः ॥ १७ ॥[8] kimetayā no'pakr̥taṁ rajjvā vā sarpacetasaḥ । rajju svarūpāviduṣo yo'haṁ yadajitendriyaḥ ॥ 17 ॥

Meaning: 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.[2]

ऐलस्य अवबोधः ॥ Aila's Understanding

Lamenting over the power of delusion, Aila shares his understanding. He says,

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. 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.[2]

त्वङ्‌मांसरुधिरस्नायु मेदोमज्जास्थिसंहतौ । विण्मूत्रपूये रमतां कृमीणां कियदन्तरम् ॥ २१ ॥[8] tvaṅ‌māṁsarudhirasnāyu medomajjāsthisaṁhatau । viṇmūtrapūye ramatāṁ kr̥mīṇāṁ kiyadantaram ॥ 21 ॥

Therefore, a man who understands what's best for him 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. 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. 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.[2]

तस्मात्सङ्गो न कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु स्त्रैणेषु चेन्द्रियैः । विदुषां चाप्यविस्रब्धः षड्वर्गः किमु मादृशाम् ॥ २४ ॥[8] tasmātsaṅgo na kartavyaḥ strīṣu straiṇeṣu cendriyaiḥ । viduṣāṁ cāpyavisrabdhaḥ ṣaḍvargaḥ kimu mādr̥śām ॥ 24 ॥

Infact, it is stated in 5th Canto of the Bhagavata Purana that according to the wise, service rendered to great people is the gateway to mukti, while association with those who are attached to women, is the entrance to tamas or samsara. It is indeed those who are of balanced mind, serene and composed, free from anger, friendly and righteous that are really great.[9]

महत्सेवां द्वारमाहुर्विमुक्तेस्तमोद्वारं योषितां सङ्गिसङ्गम् । महान्तस्ते समचित्ताः प्रशान्ता विमन्यवः सुहृदः साधवो ये ॥ २ ॥[10]

mahatsevāṁ dvāramāhurvimuktestamodvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgisaṅgam ।

mahāntaste samacittāḥ praśāntā vimanyavaḥ suhr̥daḥ sādhavo ye ॥ 2 ॥

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.[3] He advices that 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.[2]

ततो दुःसङ्गमुत्सृज्य सत्सु सज्जेत बुद्धिमान् । सन्त एवास्य छिन्दन्ति मनोव्यासङ्गमुक्तिभिः ॥ २६ ॥[8] tato duḥsaṅgamutsr̥jya satsu sajjeta buddhimān । santa evāsya chindanti manovyāsaṅgamuktibhiḥ ॥ 26 ॥

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.[3]

ता ये श्रृण्वन्ति गायन्ति ह्यनुमोदन्ति चादृताः । मत्पराः श्रद्दधानाश्च भक्तिं विन्दन्ति ते मयि ॥ २९ ॥

भक्तिं लब्धवतः साधोः किमन्यद् अवशिष्यते । मय्यनन्तगुणे ब्रह्मण्यानन्दानुभवात्मनि ॥ ३० ॥[8]

tā ye śrr̥ṇvanti gāyanti hyanumodanti cādr̥tāḥ । matparāḥ śraddadhānāśca bhaktiṁ vindanti te mayi ॥ 29 ॥

bhaktiṁ labdhavataḥ sādhoḥ kimanyad avaśiṣyate । mayyanantaguṇe brahmaṇyānandānubhavātmani ॥ 30 ॥

Elaborating further on the importance of Satsangati, Bhagavan says,

यथोपश्रयमाणस्य भगवन्तं विभावसुम् । शीतं भयं तमोऽप्येति साधून् संसेवतस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥

निमज्ज्योन्मज्जतां घोरे भवाब्धौ परमायनम् । सन्तो ब्रह्मविदः शान्ता नौर्दृढेवाप्सु मज्जताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

सन्तो दिशन्ति चक्षूंषि बहिरर्कः समुत्थितः । देवता बान्धवाः सन्तः सन्त आत्माहमेव च ॥ ३४ ॥[8]

yathopaśrayamāṇasya bhagavantaṁ vibhāvasum । śītaṁ bhayaṁ tamo'pyeti sādhūn saṁsevatastathā ॥ 31 ॥

nimajjyonmajjatāṁ ghore bhavābdhau paramāyanam । santo brahmavidaḥ śāntā naurdr̥ḍhevāpsu majjatām ॥ 32 ॥

santo diśanti cakṣūṁṣi bahirarkaḥ samutthitaḥ । devatā bāndhavāḥ santaḥ santa ātmāhameva ca ॥ 34 ॥

Meaning: Just as cold, fear and darkness leave the one who resorts to Agni, similarly, ignorance, fear of death and all other evils run away from the one who associates, worships and lives with the wise. Infact, the wise who have realised Brahman are the supreme resort for those who rise and fall ie. take higher and lower births in the fearful ocean of Samsara like a strong life boat to those drowning in water. And unlike the Sun that bestows only one external eye on people after having risen, the wise bestow on them many eyes (internal) i.e., many ways of attaining knowledge. Thus, the wise are the veritable deities and true friends; They are the Supreme Being, the Atman.[3]

Infact, it is mentioned in the very first chapter of the Bhagavata Purana that even water of the divine Ganga sanctifies only after actual ablutions while the mere presence of those who have taken resort to the Supreme Being's feet and who are the abodes of tranquility, purify one immediately when approached.[11]

It is said that Pururavas or Aila, for this very reason abandoned his desire for the world of Urvashi. And then, liberated from all attachment, wandered the earth being innerly satisfied.[2]

References

  1. Uddhava Gita (Refer Chapter 26)
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Anand Aadhar (2022), Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 11)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Swami Sivananda (2000), Lord Krishna His Lilas and Teachings, Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.
  4. Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, Adhyaya 15
  5. Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.
  6. Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 5 (Karma Sannyasa Yoga).
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, Adhyaya 25
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 11, Adhyaya 26.
  9. The Bhagavata Purana (Part 2), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.
  10. Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 5, Adhyaya 5.
  11. The Bhagavata Purana (Part 1), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.