रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः.

“Mrutam Sareeram Utsrujya Kaashtha Loha Samankshitau Vimukha Bandhavayaanthi Dharmastamanu gachhati” (Garuda Puranam) 

 

When we leave this human body and the funeral pyre is lit, our friends and relatives can no longer accompany us on the journey. Only our good deeds in this material world proceed with us to the heavenly realm.


Dharma and Adharma are indeed man’s real friend and foe. And since both Dharma and Adharma are put forth into action by man, man is his own friend or foe. Hence one must never attribute one’s own joy or suffering to be the result of others but to one own’s actions. The Shastras hence say that happiness and sorrow are not bestowed upon us by anyone, and to think so is foolishness -

सुखस्य दुःखस्य न कोपि दाता ।
परो ददातीति कुबुद्धिरेषा ॥

Lord Rama was Dharma personified – रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः. 

Best qualities of Sadhaka

 “The Lord is pleased only by a devotee who is humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree.” 

तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना ।
अमानिना मानदेन सेवनीयः सदा हरिः ॥

Humbler than blade of grass,
Tolerant than tree,
Never expects the honor, despite honors others
.... Sri hari pleased to get his offers.

God and Guru

We have to follow the path shown to us by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. God and Guru. It is the Lord alone who removes our suffering while the Guru shows us the right path. The Lord is self-sufficient and is beyond needs. So it is only for our own good that we approach the Lord, worship Him or even remember Him.

Man essentially commits two kinds of sins. He does not do what he has to do, and does what he should abstain from.

यत्कृत्यं तन्न कृतं यदकृत्यं तत्कृत्यवदाचरितम् ।
उभयोः प्रायश्चित्तं शिव तव नामाक्षरद्वयोच्चरितम् ॥

Chanting the names of the Lord (Siva)are a sure means to absolve oneself of both these types of sins.

Character of Satpurushas

एकेनाप्युकारेण कृतेन परितुष्यति ।
न स्मरत्यपकाराणां शतमप्यात्मवत्तया ॥

Lord Rama remembered even a small favor rendered to Him but forgave anyone even if they had offended Him many times. Lord Shiva has shown that man should learn to see in others their good qualities and not focus on their undesirable qualities. Both the moon and the Halahala poison had come out of the ocean. Lord Shiva kept the crescent moon on his forehead and swallowed the Halahala poison The character of Satpurushas is such that they will be able to find a good quality even in a great sinner.

कोऽन्धः? को बधिरो? को मूकः?

Sri Adi Shankaracharya  -

कोऽन्धः? – योऽकार्यरतः

को बधिरो? – यो हितानि न शृणोति ।

को मूकः? -  यः काले प्रियाणि वक्तुं न जानाति ॥

Who is blind? He who keeps engaging in wrong acts.

Who is deaf? He who does not listen to right advice.

Who is mute? He who does not know how to speak sweetly when the time arises.

The Jagadguru said that one must never be deaf to the instructions of the Guru. Even if people engage in various activities for the purpose of filling their stomachs, they must never swerve from Dharma.

                                                                - Prasnottara-ratna-mAlika