Talk:Svadharm-Niṣhṭha: Performs his Worldly Duties Diligently

By Vishal Agarwal

The Bhakta Yogi, having decided to live the life of whole-hearted Bhakti, should continue to protect (practice) the commands of scriptures. Otherwise, there is a fear that the Bhakta might fall from Dharma. Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 12-13 On the attainment of Bhakti Yoga or even for the attainment of it, life in the society need not be shunned; but only the fruit of all actions are to be surrendered to the Īshvara. All such activities, naturally righteous and so bearing noble fruit may be continued. Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 62 A Bhakta must continue to follow virtues of character like Ahimsā, truthfulness, purity (internal and external), compassion, faith etc. constantly. Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 78

Not caring about censure or praise does not mean that one ignores his or her duties towards others. The Bhakti Yogī continues to adhere to the principles of Sādhāraṇa Dharma (truth, honesty, compassion, kindness, charity, etc.) and also follows the duties resulting from his social class (varṇa) and stage of life (ashrama).

Fulfilling one’s worldly duties does not mean that we continue to serve even our loved ones if they turn towards evil or if they hinder our spiritual progress. For example, the widowed Sant Meerābāī wanted to devote her life to the worship of Krishna but her in-laws tormented her in many ways, defamed her, and even tried to kill her. Exasperated she wrote to Sant Tulsidas for his advice. The latter replied, “Forsake them as if they were a crore (ten million) enemies even if you have the highest love for them if they do not love Rama and Sita. Remember that Vibhīshana abandoned his evil brother Ravana, Prahlāda gave up on his atheist father Hiraṇyakashipu and Bharata abandoned his wet nurse Mantharā.”

The stories below from the lives of two great Bhaktas illustrate this quality of Bhakta Yogī-s.

Story - Bhagavān Krishna Blesses His Bhakta Pundalika For His Devotion to Parents

In the city of Pandharpur, there lived a man named Pundalika with his wife and with his old parents. Pundalika did not respect his parents at all. One day, his parents said to Pundalika, “Son, we want to go to the holy city called Varanasi. Can you take us there?” Pundalika replied rudely, “I do not have time. You can go on your own.”

The parents became very sad. They had no money to go to Varanasi. So they just started walking towards Varanasi, thinking that they would beg for food every day on their way. But, after a few days, Pundalika thought that he should have been nice to his parents. He felt bad at what he had done to them. One night, he could not sleep. He woke up his wife, and they set out on their horses to look for his parents. Luckily, he found them soon on the way to Varanasi. He took them respectfully on horseback to Varanasi, and after the pilgrimage was over, they all returned home.

Now onwards, Pundalika was a changed man. He was now devoted to his parents. He served them lovingly, gave food to them, pressed their feet when they were tired, and read holy books to them when they wanted.

Far away in the city of Dwaraka, Krishna heard about the beautiful change in the behavior of Pundalika and He decided to visit him. Krishna’s wife Rukmani said, “Why are You going to visit Pundalika? He does not even do a Puja to you.” Krishna replied, “Pundalika worships his parents, serves them lovingly, and gives them everything that they want. This is just like worshipping Me because I am the Father and the Mother of the whole creation.”

When Krishna reached Pundalika’s home, the latter was absorbed in massaging his father’s feet and therefore did not pay attention to the visitor. But when he noticed the divine light coming from the body of Krishna, he turned around and said, “My Īshvara, I am serving my parents right now and cannot leave the feet of my father unattended. But I am throwing this brick at you. Kindly use this as a stool till I am done with my father, and then I will come and attend to you. Krishna humbly stood on the brick, waiting patiently for Pundalika, with His hands on his waist.

When Pundalika’s father went to sleep, he went to the door to welcome Krishna. The Īshvara was so pleased with Pundalika’s respect for his parents now, that he asked Pundalika to request a boon from Him. Pundalika had just one request, “Bhagavān, please stay with me forever on this brick.” Krishna agreed and transformed Himself into the Murti of ‘Vitthala’ (‘Vit’ = brick; ‘sthala’ = location, station).

Pundalika too became a Saint after some time. When he died, people constructed a Shiva Mandir on his grave. And Bhaktas constructed a Mandir where Bhagavān Krishna had decided to stay in the form of the Murti. This story shows how Pundalika earned the blessings of Bhagavān by doing his duty towards his parents. The Mandir of Pandharpur has developed into a great center of Hindu Dharma since it was founded. Many Sants and Bhaktas have been associated with the Mandir for the last 800 years or more. These include Nāmadeva, Jnāneshvara, Chokhamela, Kūrmadāsa, and so on.

Story- Guru Nanak Serves His Guest

Towards the last years of his life, Guru Nanak settled down in a place called Kartarpur (today in Pakistan, across the Ravi river from the border of the Gurdaspur district in India), where a devotee gave him and his disciples some land. Guru Nanak tilled and cultivated his plot because he believed in earning his bread through his labor, even though he headed a religious community.

Lehna from Khadur, a small village close to the city of Amritsar, had once heard some verses of Guru's horse gently by its reins and walked them to the house of Guru Nanak.

Lehna entered the house and was ushered into the room of Guru Nanak by his disciples gathered outside. When he entered the room, he was shocked to see that the farmer who had led him to the house now sat on the Guru’s seat! Lehna felt very bad and he apologized to the Guru, “Gurudev, I did not realize that it was you doing the farming work in the field. I should not have let you walk while I came here on your horse.” Guru Nanak smiled and said, “You do not have to feel sorry for anything. You are my guest, and it was my duty to take care of you.”

Lehna had tears in his eyes and he asked for forgiveness multiple times. He asked Guru for permission to stay with him so that he could serve him. Guru Nanak could see that Lehna had the spark of spirituality in him, and so he obliged. After a few years, Lehna succeeded Guru Nanak as Guru Angad, the second spiritual head of the nascent Sikh community.