The Bhagavata Purana describes the fierce battle between Dhruva and the yakshas. Dhruva is upset that his brother Uttama is killed by the yakshas and hence he retaliates in this fashion. At that time, his grandfather, Swayambhuva Manu intervenes and advises Dhruva to halt the battle. Dhruva is not a mere Kshatriya and a ruler but also a jnani and is therefore able to understand his grandfather’s esoteric instruction, said Sri Jamadagni in a lecture.
Taking a philosophical stance on an issue can help to understand the role of individual karma and fight the ajnana that deludes and distorts one’s vision.
Each jivatma comes into the world to expend his past karma. Nothing in this world belongs to any particular jivatma; no one can claim possession on any object, being or place. What appears as one’s own is soon to pass on to another’s hands.
So there is no cause for joy or sorrow. Even one’s body is only a temporary possession to be treated as an object on lease, just as one owns a house or a car. He has the sole right to maintain it well and offer it to the Lord and cannot misuse or abuse it. The sense of I and Mine becomes irrelevant to a jivatma when he ponders over the basic dichotomy between the body and the atma.
Swayambhuva Manu also draws Dhruva’s attention to the momentous incident in his early life when as a young boy he had undertaken severe penance for six months and was blessed with the direct vision of the Lord. Dhruva now realises the fact that by giving vent to anger, desire, etc, during one’s lifetime one is only led to further karma and samsara. Being a realised soul, he understands the situation and gives up the fight.
Published - July 12, 2016 11:51 pm IST
