Srimad Bhagavatam – day 283
“At times this group of traders begins their journey towards waterless rivers. At times of famine they wish that all members should be blessed with food grains. As they thus wander in the forest they are at times unexpectedly tormented by scorching heat. Unable to withstand this they lament pitiably.
When Yakshas steal their wealth, which they consider their lifeline, they sink in sorrows. At other times dacoits loot them. At such hour the leader of this group grieves pathetically with a heavy heart. Unable to withstand this loss he swoons. At other times he visits the cities of Gandharvas. At this place he relaxes for some time as if he has acquired luxuries. When he attempts to climb mountains, pebbles and thorns on his path cause him deep anguish.
In this way as the merchant stumbles at every step throughout his journey, pangs of hunger mercilessly torture him, who is already of a wavering mind. This merchant, who is tormented by helplessness, loses his temper upon his family members towards whom he is extremely infatuated. With this the family members discard him and continue their journey separately. When a python tries to swallow him, he swoons. Helpless and clueless he somehow escapes from its grip and tries to continue his journey but in the path poisonous snakes bite him. The poison results in him becoming blind. He fails to notice a dark deep well on his path. Falling into it he suffers horribly.
In that well he searches for honey. At that moment honey bees sting him badly. With this he loses his self-respect and agonizes terribly. At other times he successfully procures honey and saves his self-respect. Nevertheless others forcibly snatch away the honey from him.
Many a time in that forest he finds himself incapacitated to protect his body from heat, cold, rain, wind etc. Sometimes he cheats others for insignificant material gains. Due to his greed he earns their enmity and wrath. He will be rendered penniless. Bed, chair, home and other enjoyments will not be available to him. At such times he begs from others. However his desires continue to remain unfulfilled and he begins to eye the wealth of others. In the process he faces many insults.
In this path he lends and borrows money. Due to these transactions he develops enmity with others. Even then he tries to maintain friendship with them through marriage and other alliances with their families. He is always troubled by obstacles and difficulties. While he is thus suffering he dies.
O valourous one! His group continues their journey by discarding the dead and accepting the new-born members. This journey of theirs has been going on from times of yore. Nevertheless to-date they have not yet returned from the forest. Only one member of the group successfully found the exit route that could take him to the end of the journey.
Manasvino nirjita-dig-gajendrā Mam ti sarve bhuvi baddha-vairāḥ
Mṛdhe śayīran na tu tad vrajanti yan nyasta-daṇḍo gata-vairo ’bhiyāti
In this world, only he who has given up violence and enmity reaches the ultimate goal (paramapada). People who are filled with feelings of enmity, arrogance and attachments will have to meet their end in the battlefield, even if they happen to be mighty warriors who have earlier conquered other mighty kingdoms. They can never reach the ultimate goal (liberation).
This group of traders at times seeks shelter under tender flowering creepers. Enchanted by the chirping of the birds that flock around the creeper, desires sprout in them. Fearing the pride of lions they develop friendship with cranes, vultures, owls and other birds.
However these birds cheat them. They then try to join a flock of swans. But they are unable to appreciate the habits and nature of swans. Leaving them they befriend monkeys. Following the monkey habits they satisfy their senses through material luxuries. In this way the man-woman couple admires each other. Busy fulfilling their physical needs they forget that even life has some limitations.
The trader, who is one among the group that has been enjoying and resting under the creepers, develops extreme infatuation towards his wife and sons. As he is completely under the grip of sexual needs, he becomes helplessly incapacitated to free himself from these bondages.
At times when he mistakenly falls in mountain caves, he holds on to life by clinging to the honey combs. At such times he fears huge elephants. With great difficulty he comes out of this cave and once again re-joins the group.
Till now there is not even one who among that group of traders who has found the way out of this fearful forest which he entered due to Lord’s illusion.
O Rahūgaṇa! Stop torturing other living entities. Develop love towards all forms of life. Give up inclination towards desires. Serve Lord Srihari. Through this, sharpen the sword called knowledge. Using this sword cut the knot called samsāra and reach the lotus feet of Lord Srihari”.
King Rahūgaṇa said, “Aha! This human birth is the most auspicious amongst all births! Heaven and other supreme planes cannot grant such auspiciousness that can be obtained only on earth. This is because in those planes it is impossible to associate with Supreme Mahatmas like you. O Gurudeva, Your mind is eternally fixed upon the glories of Lord Srihari.
Na hy adbhutaṁ tvac-caraṇābja-reṇubhir hatāṁhaso bhaktir adhokṣaje ’malā
mauhūrtikād yasya samāgamāc ca me dustarka-mūlo ’pahato ’vivekaḥ
O Mahatma! The dust of Your lotus feet washes away the sins of all spiritual aspirants. It is not at all surprising therefore, that spiritual aspirants develop selfless unflinching devotion towards Srihari, who is beyond all visible proofs. Merely by spending an hour in your company indiscrimination, which arises from useless arguments, has been washed away from my mind”.