09 Sep 2021
[Ms. Laxmi Thrylokya asked:- You told that Pariikshit got the true knowledge from Sage Shuka explaining Bhaagavatam and the inspiration, practice and divine fruit are spontaneous and hence, knowledge obtained means the divine fruit obtained. Please elaborate this.]
Swami Replied:- Once the knowledge is obtained, the divine fruit is to be understood as obtained. Obtaining knowledge from Sadguru (contemporary human incarnation) is the 1st step. Obtaining inspiration or devotion from knowledge is the 2nd step. Obtaining practice from inspiration is the 3rd step. Obtaining divine fruit from practice is the 4th step. Obtaining divine fruit from knowledge is the overall step. Here, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th steps are spontaneous and consume no time. All the time consumed is only in the 1st step. Therefore, the time taken for the 1st step = the time taken for the overall step. Hence, we can say that the overall step is the ultimate step, which is that knowledge gives the divine fruit directly because other steps are spontaneous consuming no time.
However, in the case of Pariikshit, he has to give up his gender ego, which was also very strong because he placed a dead snake around the neck of Sage Shamiika immersed in penance due to ego. Once the perfect true knowledge is delivered, the actual effort finishes because this is the part of awareness. The other parts like inspiration, practice and attainment of divine fruit are mechanical and automatic, which can be treated as inert steps. Only awareness takes the decision and implementation of the decision is inert and automatic. Inert actions are always under the control of decisions taken by awareness. It is told that once all the doubts are cleared by the Sadguru (contemporary human incarnation) seen by you, the main central knot of ignorance is broken and deeds binding the soul are destroyed (Bhidyate hṛdayagranthiḥ, chidyante sarvasaṃśayāḥ, kṣīyante cā'sya karmāṇi, tasmin dṛṣṭe parāvare).
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