On the road to dharma, no room for Kali
Class Notes | March 17, 2019
We only desire that in which we believe. Our desires are a true indicator of what we believe to be real. Until Shrimad Bhagavata, Rishi Vyasa believed that bhakti was a means and not the end. Rishi Narada encouraged him to inquire that bhakti was actually the end. We too, like Rishi Vyasa, believe that bhakti is the means that leads to jnana, but the truth is bhakti is the end. When we come to love bhakti, the Infinite, we WILL be happy.
The first Shloka of Bhagavata focuses on the ends — Brahma or Infinite and we contemplate on the highest. The Creator is like light and His creation appears to be real, like a mirage in a desert. In reality, the water in a desert and creation are both illusions. There is only light or Consciousness. This is what we are contemplating on.
The second shloka focuses on the means to the ends — dharma. By listening to Bhagavata, all that Bhagavan Narayana — the Maha Muni — has shared, can be caught in our hearts. Bhagavan will become so clear to us that He will reside in our hearts. The end is to know Consciousness and the means is through Bhagavan.
Post Mahabharatha war, Viduraji, an incarnation of Bhagavan Yama, Lord of Dharma, taught his brother Raja Dhritharashtraji and Queen Gandhariji to shift their focus from creation to the Creator. Renouncing their kingdom, Raja Dhritharashtraji and Queen Gandhariji left Hastinapura accompanied by Viduraji and became enlightened.
Following their example, Raja Yudhishthira also decided to focus more on the Creator, but observed a change in his people. There was much more anger and violence. He was concerned that Prince Arjuna, who had gone with Bhagavan Krishna, and had been away from Hastinapura for seven months, had not returned yet. Kali had made Prince Arjuna forget the Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavan Krishna, the insulator of dharma had left His form. His name had been erased from being manifest. With His departure, all of Prince Arjuna’s support was gone. Remembering the Bhagavad Gita or smriti helped Prince Arjuna achieve enlightenment. Mother Kunti thought of Bhagavan Krishna deeply and she too became enlightened. Raja Yudhishthira and his brothers also began a deep sadhana, part of which was to make Parikshita, the son of Prince Abhimanyu, the king as he had all the qualities to rule the kingdom. Raja Yudhisthira let go of his worldly responsibilities and renounced the kingdom, choosing instead to focus on the Creator.
Raja Parikshita was a solid leader like the others in his lineage. One day, he learned that Kali was residing in his kingdom. With Bhagavan Krishna’s departure, selfishness had crept in. As someone who was constantly engaged in pariksha, he knew he had to control Kali to prevent terrible consequences. So he traveled far and wide in search of Kali and one day came upon a sad sight. A person disguised as a king, was kicking a bull and a cow. The bull was trembling with fear. Three of its legs had been broken.
The cow, unable to bear the bull’s suffering, was crying. The bull asked the cow why it was crying. A lovely dialogue ensued between the cow and bull.
The cow was sad because with Bhagavan Krishna gone, no one was engaged in yajna any more, no one was thinking about serving society. The rulers themselves are confused, leading to misrule.
There is very rich imagery here. The cow represents Mother Earth. When Bhagavan Krishna’s feet were on Her, She was happy because lush greenery thrived everywhere, but with Bhagavan gone, vegetation became scarce.
The bull represents Dharma or responsibility. One who is engaged in dharma may be afraid but never cries, criticizes nor complains. Such a person never gives up. Mother Earth was crying, but not Dharma. Even in this time of corruption and violence, we must stand up even if we only have one leg.
The four legs of the bull represent the four principles of dharma — tapa, shaucha, daya and satya. Applying this to our everyday lives, the 4 legs also represent investing, organizing, sharing and dedicating respectively. Tapa means to invest in yourself. Introspection and inquiry are necessary for this. Once we engage in introspection, we will have shaucha — organizing our inner and outer space. With shaucha, daya or sharing will follow and we can share happiness with others. Satya is truth or dedicating. Someone who is focused on the truth cannot be stopped.
The bull’s three legs were broken and the fourth — satya — will also be broken. When all four are present, there is dharma, but in Kaliyuga, ego, attachment and desire take over and make us irresponsible. Ego or ahankara is the kick that breaks tapa; attachment or raga is the kick that breaks shaucha and desire or kama is the kick that breaks daya.
Raja Parikshita took out his sword and was about to kill Kali when Kali fell at his feet, begging for forgiveness. Raja Parikshita agreed to forgive Kali and gave him permission to live in four places only: dyuta (gambling), paana (intoxication), striya (lust) and soona (violence, slaughter houses). So Kali could only go to casinos, bars, brothels and slaughterhouses. But Kali pleaded that it was not enough for him to reside in four places and he wanted to live in more homes. Raja Parikshita then agreed that Kali could also reside in kanchana (gold).
For a leader, who is protecting dharma, there cannot be any space for selfishness. One who is on the path of dharma must stay away from the five places where Kali resides. If not, the four legs of dharma will be destroyed in the following ways:
Tapa — destroyed by paana
Shaucha — by striya
Daya — by soona
Satya — by dyuta
Sutaji told Shaunaka Rishi and others gathered around him that one should not even describe adharma. If we speak it, we are thinking it and that means we are living it. That’s how careful we have to be with adharma. As we learned in Ramayana, the greatest paapa is paraninda or gossip. A guru, lokapati, or leader should not allow any space for kali and should not entertain any thoughts of adharma.
Such applicable and visual teaching by Rishi Vyasa! When we study Bhagavata and introspect, we too can be enlightened like Viduraji, Raja Dhritharashtraji and Queen Gandhariji.
Class discussion: How are you observing Kali in yourself?
CF: Excessive indulgence in the “I”- in pleasure, possession and position.
Vivekji’s observation: Holding back is a form of Kali. When you hold back from truth, from working hard and from being honest — ego will hold you back.
