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1008 Pearls of Sayings
of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Index
Introduction
Pearls 1- 100
Pearls 101 - 200
Pearls 201- 300
Pearls 301- 400
Pearls 401- 500
Pearls 501 - 600
Pearls 601 - 700
Pearls 701 - 800
Pearls 801 - 900
Pearls 901 - 1008
From 1 to 100
"Suklambaradaram
Vishnum Sashivarnam
Chathurbhujam Prasanna Vadanam
Dhyayeth
Saravavignopa Shantaye"
One who wears a white dress; One who
is omnipresent;
One who shines like the Moon; One who
has four hands;
One who has a beautiful and shining
face;
One who wards off all obstacles. I
meditate on Him.
1
TODAY
is the Birthday of Rama who is Dharma itself. He is Veda Dharma in Human
Form. He is Anandaswarupa and Dharmaswarupa. On this holy day of Ramnavami
you must immerse yourself in the Atma as Dharmaswarupa as the motivator of
the moral life. Rama is "Atma Rama" in every being. There is no place where
Rama is not. He is imminent and eternal. Rama for you should mean the Path
He trod, the ideal He held aloft, and the Ordinance He laid down. They are
eternal and timeless. Now you worship His Form, you repeat His name;
ignoring His orders. Without practicing the discipline laid down by Rama to
purify the mind, all else is mere show, empty rituals. Contemplate on this
unique day to obtain Godhood. Use it not for feasting, picnics, hikes,
watching films, playing games, gambling, etc. The Immortal had come in the
form of Rama to show the way to Immortality.
2
THE four
brothers Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrughna represent the Rig, Yajur,
Sama and Atharva Vedas. When man neglects the Divine aspect of their natures
and the awareness of the Omnipresent and Omnipotent OM, he falls prey to the
impulses and instincts dominated by the ego and develop faith in material
gains. He spends his life in amassing wealth, power and authority over
fellow-beings and believes that holding others under his sway is a desirable
achievement. If there were a vacancy in Heaven, he would surely apply for
the position of God, for he believes that he has all the necessary
attributes.
3
THE Ramayana has a deep undercurrent of significant meaning. Dasaratha means: he
who rides in a chariot of ten, that is to say, Man. He is tied up with three
Gunas or three wives, as in the Ramayana. He has four sons, the Purusharthas;
Dharma (Rama), Artha (Lakshmana), Kama (Bharatha) and Moksha (Satrughna).
These four aims of man have to be systematically realised, always with the
last one, Moksha, clearly before the eye. Lakshmana represents the Buddhi or
intellect and Sita is Truth. Hanuman is the Mind and the repository of
courage, if controlled and trained. Sugriva, the master of Hanuman, is
Discrimination. With these to help him, Rama seeks the Truth and succeeds.
That is the lesson of the Epic to every man.
4
RAMA is
Dharma personified. "Vignahavak Dharmah". Rama is the Supreme Exemplar of
the Virtues that man must cultivate so that he might live as a master,
husband, son, brother, friend or even foe. The other three brothers of Rama
personify the other three ideals. Bharatha is the embodiment of Sathya;
Satrughna of Shanti; and Lakshmana of Prema. Study the Ramayana with the aim
of imbibing from it the ideals for happy living, for making this life
worthwhile and you will be amply rewarded. Then you can deservedly style
yourselves "Devotees" of the Lord.
5
THE Ramayana is a guidebook, a sacred text, an inspiring scripture for every man
in all lands, whatever his creed or condition might be. It imparts poise,
balance, equanimity, inner strength and peace. Peace is the best treasure,
without it power, authority, fame and fortune are all dry and burdensome.
Thyagaraja has sung that there can be no happiness without inner peace.
6
WHY is it
that the world reveres Rama and revolts at Ravana? Rama is not the uncle's son
or Ravana the step-mother's child! It is the kinship of the spirit, innate
goodness, responding lovingly, adoringly to the goodness in Rama; and
reacting revoltingly to the wickedness of Ravana. It is not enough, nor is
it essential that you should repeat the name of Rama loudly; respect it in
the fullness of love and admiration. If you have no spring of love in you,
dig into your heart with external instruments like Puja, Stotra, etc. and it
will start to flow.
7
VIBHISHANA,
Ravana's own brother, chastised him for his willfulness and lust and urged
him to save himself, his kingdom and his kith and kin by restoring Sita
unharmed to her Lord. When Vibhishana went over to Rama, Rama knew that he
had a pure heart and that he could not survive the poisonous atmosphere of
Lanka. So He took him and saved him. The Lord likes to be called "Aarthathraana-paraayana"
more than any other name, for He is most happy when He rescues those in
agony.
8
YOU talk
glibly of Ramarajya, but how can it be established if you do not emulate
Rama? He was "Vignahavaan Dharmah", the very Embodiment of
Dharma. He never deviated from it. Dasaratha means one who is master of the
ten Senses, the five Karmendriyas and the five Jnanendriyas; that is to say,
the successful Sadhaka. Such a person can have the holy progeny of the four
Purusharthas-Dharma (Rama), Artha (Lakshmana), Kama (Bharatha) and Moksha (Satrughna).
Become a Dasaratha and save that holy progeny as a gift from God.
9
HANUMAN
succeeded in coordinating his thought, word and act. Therefore he had the
unique distinction of being great in physical strength, mental stability and
virtuous character. He shines as an invaluable gem among the personalities
of the Ramayana. He was also a great scholar, who had mastered, of all
things, the six schools of grammar. He knew the four Vedas and the six
Sastras. The Gita says that a scholar is one who sees the same Divine force
motivating everyone. "Pandithaha Samadarsinha". Hanuman was a good example
of this outlook.
10
HANUMAN
spoke to the brothers in sweet, gentle and pleasing words. Rama was struck
by the grammatical accuracy of his sentences. They readily answered all his
queries; and Hanuman was satisfied with their bona fides. He offered to take
them to his Master and Monarch. The Darshan (sight) and first Mana of Rama
had removed all his sins; their Sparshan (touch) burnt away all the
consequences of his deeds in previous lives; and their Sambashan (conversation)
filled his mind with joy. That is the experience of all who welcome the
impact of Divinity.
11
HANUMAN
became the messenger of Rama. There are three classes of messengers: those
who do not understand the orders of the Master or do not care to understand
and who operate to the detriment of the work assigned them; those who do
only just as much as the order literally communicates; and those who grasp
the purpose and significance of the orders and carry them out unflinchingly
until the purpose is achieved. Hanuman belonged to the last category.
12
YOU find
some one parade all of a sudden some -ism- as new and revolutionary
socialism, for example. Socialism, which means, recognising the equality of
every individual with every one else was in fact practiced in India long
ago. Rama, undisputed Sovereign of a vast Empire, gave heed to the flippant
scandal uttered by an irresponsible laundry-man during a quarrel with his
wife, and sent his Queen, the very dear person for whom had waged a war of
tremendous carnage, into exile, regardless of the fact that she was pregnant
at the time. Every one's voice was given equal weight in the empire ruled
over by Rama.
13
THE Vanaras,
while building the bridge across the ocean, carried huge boulders on their
heads repeating Rama-Nama all the while; and that made the rocks weigh less.
It is even said that they wrote the name on the stones and that made them
float. Each time they handled or lifted a stone, they sang Rama-Nama in
unison and so they were a happy lot doing Puja, not work, which is
unpleasant. Rama's Grace helped all to overcome obstacles. Take the name and
make your work light: that is My advice to you.
14
I
INSIST on your seeking and remaining in good company, Satsang. Being in the
midst of such spiritual heroes, you can fight against evil with a greater
chance of success. Once, when Garuda the sworn enemy of snakes went
to Kailas, he saw the snakes that Siva wore round His neck, His arms, His
waist, and His Feet. The snakes were safe now and they hissed with their
puffed hoods at the celestial bird, which could not do them any harm since
they were in such Divine Company. Garuda said: "Well! Glide down from the
Body and I shall kill everyone of you"! That is the value of the Sath one
has reached. Satsang is valuable, for it is like keeping a pot of water
inside a tank of water; there will not be any loss through evaporation.
15
PRIDE
is one of the worst sins in the spiritual field. If you feel
conceited that you are Bhakta of Hare, He will "hare" (destroy, in Telugu)
you. Remember, Sharanaagathi should be like the attitude of Lakshmana. Rama
said: "Take Sita and leave her in the forest". Implicit obedience! There is
no other way. That is Lakshmana. That is Sharanaagathi; the rest deserve,
only of "Sarangathi", the arrow of Rama.
16
WHEN the
queen Kaikeyi persuaded her husband to agree to her two requests -
enthroning her son Bharatha as the Crown Prince and sending the legitimate
heir, Rama, into exile for fourteen years - Lakshmana, another brother of
Rama and Bharatha, did not acquiesce tamely. He argued that man must meet
every little crisis with courage and self-reliance and that he should not
yield craven-like to the machinations of intrigue. He boasted that his arrow
could avert the crisis. But the arrow is an inferior weapon, even a
negligible weapon when compared with the efficiency of Love. Rama heard him
coolly and advised him to desist from that hasty Karma, "Dharma must guide
Karma"; then alone can it be praise-worthy and successful.
17
THE
path of spiritual discipline, which is most beneficial to man, is laid down
in a simple and sweet manner in the great Scriptures of Ancient India.
They explain, through example and precept, the Divine Principle inherent in
the Universe and inspire mankind to gaze with awe and reverence at the
handiwork of God and His inscrutable Leela (sport). They prompt man to march
along the pilgrim road of sacrifice in the happy company of Sages, so that
the body feels the vision of the Eternal, which can be gained and enshrined
in the heart forever.
18
WHEN Sri
Rama decided to end His Avatar career and walked into the flooded Sarayu
River, a dog too followed the concourse. When asked why it had attached
itself to the entourage, it said, "I desire to enter Heaven with you all. I
was in my previous life a full-fledged Yogi; but I slipped and fell from the
straight path of self-control. I became the slave of conceit. I expounded
the Vedas as my fancy dictated, in strange but attractive ways. So, I have
now become this animal that takes delight in barking, biting and baying. The
persons who encouraged me then by praise are now the fleas and the flies
that crowd on my skin and pester me. Help me, Lord, to escape from the
disgrace. I have worked my Karma; I have lived out my sentence".
19
WHEN Rama
is installed in the heart, every thing will be added unto you - fame,
fortune, freedom, fullness. Hanuman was a mere monkey-leader until he met
Rama. He was a Minister in the Court of his Master. But when Rama gave him
the commission to seek Sita, that is to say, when Rama was installed in his
heart as Guide and Guardian, Hanuman became immortal.
20
DASA means
"ten" and Ratha means "Chariot". Hence Dasaratha (the father of Rama) in
fact symbolizes "man" who operates with his ten sense organs such as the
eyes, the ears, the nose etc. His three wives symbolize man's three Gunas (attributes)
and his four sons, the four Purusharthas (purposes). Lakshmana also
represents the Buddhi (Intellect) of Rama. Hanuman is the mind, the
repository of courage, while Sugriva stands for Discrimination. With these
to help him, Rama succeeds in finding Sita, the lost Truth. This is the
lesson of the Ramayana to everyone.
21
THERE are
many who spend much time in mechanically reciting the name "Rama" or
systematically reading the Ramayana according to a fixed time-table, or who
worship the images of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman as a daily ritual,
with noisy pomp and pedantry; but like a person who puts a foot forward only
to draw it back again, these persons do not progress at all as the years
elapse. Without gaining purity of thought and intention, compassion and the
urge to serve, these outward expressions and exhibitions are but ways of
cheating yourself for having society applaud you as a great devotee. Your
sight must become an insight; it must be turned within and used to purify
and clarify your mind.
22
THE greatest formula that can liberate, cleanse and elevate the mind is
Rama-Name, the Name of Rama. Rama is not to be identified with the hero of
the Ramayana, the Divine offspring of Emperor Dasaratha. The Court-Preceptor
named him Rama because it was a Name, which was already current. Vasishta,
the Preceptor, said that he had chosen that Name since it meant: He who
pleases. While everyone pleases the self, nothing pleases the caged
individualized self more than the free universal individualized self. The
self is therefore referred to as Atma-Rama, the self that confers unending
joy.
23
HANUMAN
was ordered to discover the whereabouts of Sita and he implicitly, without
question, obeyed and succeeded. He did not calculate the dangers of the
journey and hesitate; and he did not feel proud that he was chosen for the
high adventure. He listened; he understood; he obeyed; and he won. The name
Rama Dootha, Messenger and Servant of Rama that he earned thereby has made
him immortal. You must earn the name, Sai Rama Dootha. Have fortitude and
self-control; use good and sweet-words; and examine each act of yours on the
touch-stone of My preference.
24
THE toughest fiber is anger. It is the stickiest dirt. When you get angry, you
forget mother, father and teacher; you descend to the lowest depths. You
lose all discrimination in the excitement; even Hanumantha set fire
to the whole of Lanka when the Rakshasas who set fire to the tip of his tail
incensed him; and he lost sight of the fact that Sita was in the Asoka Vana.
It was only after he had exulted in achievement for a little while that he
remembered it and then he started condemning himself for his anger.
25
RAMA is extolled
as the ideal son who acted according to his father's wish regardless of his
own happiness. But Bhishma is a better example in this respect. He acceded
to a whim of his father and in so doing made even a greater sacrifice than
Rama. Dasaratha made Rama an exile in the forest for fourteen years to
satisfy the claims of Truth, while Santhanu made his son give up the throne
as well as a wedded life to satisfy a sensual desire of his senile body. As
a matter of fact, it is not the obedience to the father's whim that is
important; it is the adherence to Sathya and Dharma, which is Rama's forte.
26
RAMANAMA Feast is cloying to some tastes,
but it is something ever fresh that gives undying sweetness to the heart
that is filled with the love of God. One single name will yield fresh
sweetness and fresh joy every time it is rolled on the tongue. I have to
tell you the things I have told you often before; for until digestion is
well established, medicine has to be taken. The face has to be washed day
after day. One meal is not the end of the story; you have to eat, again and
again.
27
RAMATATWA is known only to Rama. What can
the rest know? At best, they can have but a glimpse of Rama's grace; and
even then, only if they are immersed in intense inner prayer for God. Think
of Him. Call out for Him; He melts. Whatever form He may be shining in, that
intensity will make you recognise Him. He may be a cowherd boy, standing
under a tree with a flute at His lips. You will see Him and adore Him and
place Him in your heart. You extol the Lord as Love, Mercy and Grace.
28
EVERY step in the
career of the Avatars is fire-determined; Rama knew that the
coming of Surpanaka was the prelude to the coming of Ravana He had asked
Sita to enter the fire and remain in it as just an outer
manifestation. Even before the human manifestation, the Lord had decided
that the Shakti must also accompany Him. Ravana's Tapas were so strong that
only a major sin could make the blessings he had won from the
Gods null and void.
29
DO not ask God for anything. Let Him deal
with you as He wills. Did Jatayu ask that Rama should come to him and
perform the last rights? Did Sabari plead with Rama? Earn the qualifications
- holiness, purity faith and universal love - then He will approach you on
foot, to console, comfort and save. If you have purity of heart and mastery
over the senses, His Grace is your right.
30
EGO plays all kinds of tricks in order to
get unholy pleasure. During the construction of the bridge to Lanka to take
the army across, Hanuman heaved a boulder on the raging waves of the sea as
part of the bridge! It floated. Rama heaved another; it sank. Hanuman's ego
was tickled, naturally. He laughed in derision; at that very moment, his
boulder sank! And the boulder that Rama had thrown rose from the bottom of
the sea and floated! Hanuman's ego was pricked into nothing. That was the
purpose for which Rama had willed that His boulder should sink!
31
RAMA Nama will save you, if you have at
least the Pithru Bhakthi and Mathru Bhakthi that Rama had. If not, Rama Nama
is merely a movement of the lips. Meditate on the Rama Swarupa, the
Ramaswabhawa, when you recite or write Rama Nama. That will give exercise to
the mind; and it will be made healthy and strong in the spiritual sense.
Make the Dharmaswarupa your Atma Rama on the Janmadina of Rama. That is My
advice and My Blessing.
32
MAKARA Sankranti is a holy day because the
day takes you from darkness to increasing light. From today, the sun enters
upon the Uttarayana taking a northward direction for six months. When your
Drishti (Sight) is on BRAHMAN and when you have Uttama guna it is Uttarayana,
and when your Drishti is on Prakriti it is Dakshinayana. When you have fever,
the tongue will be bitter. The bitter tongue is "Dakshinayana". When you are
healthy, your sweet tongue tastes well, it is Uttarayana. The real
Uttarayana is when you crave for the thought of the Lord and the company of
the Godly. Bhishma spent days in bed with pain, as he felt death, when the
sun starts towards north is auspicious. Bhishma yearned for the vision of
Krishna in Uttarayana. Become fit for the vision of God, cultivating Prema
in your heart, full of fragrance and uncontaminated by the pests of greed
and egoism.
33
WITHOUT the flowers, the plant yields no
fruit. Without the emerging fruit, ripeness cannot happen. Without intense
Karma, Bhakti cannot emerge. Without Bhakti, how can Jnana be found? Somaka
the wicked, spurned and suppressed the Veda. But did he reap any happiness?
The ten-headed monster coveted and kidnapped another's wife. But did he
achieve any gain? The close-fisted Kaurava refused a pinpoint of land to his
closest Kin. But did he keep his loot? The terror-bound Kamsa sought out and
slaughtered each newborn baby; but did he escape from death? Wicked men,
even now, shall meet this fate. Take this Sai word as the word of Truth.
34
HERE are the three vows that Krishna had
taken; they are mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita for all humanity to read,
know and believe: "For the protection of the good and the punishment of the
bad, for the establishment of the Moral I shall concretize Myself, age after
age. Whoever is wholly immersed in My contemplation, with no other thought,
I shall be ever with Him; and I shall bear the burden of his welfare. "Surrender
unto Me, giving up all the other duties and obligations. I shall liberate
you from all sin; do not grieve". The armlets are reminders of these tasks
on which He is set.
35
VYASA is the Loka guru, he is Divine
Effulgence. Vyasa sought to bring home, through the Puranas, the need for
mastering the egoistic impulses, as the Sloka says:
Ashtaa dasa puraneshu
Paropakara punyaya
Paapaaya para peedanam
Two statements can summarize all the eighteen Puranas
composed by Vyasa. "Do good to others; avoid doing harm". Doing good is the
drug; avoiding harm is the regimen that must accompany the treatment. That
is the cure for the disease of suffering from joy and grief, honour and
dishonour, prosperity and adversity and the dual thong that bothers man and
deprives him of equanimity.
36
THE Lord will be the Guide of whoever
installs Him as his Sarathi. He will not consider that position inferior. He
is the Sanathana Sarathi, come to be the Sarathi of all. He is the Lord for
all who seek a Master, a support. The Atma is the Master in every one; and
Krishna is the "Universal Atma" personified.
37
THE moment Krishna was born, the chains
that bound his father fell off; the doors that had been bolted flew open;
and the prison guards were immersed in the Ocean of Bliss, so that they
could not recognise any event or thing in the material world. The fire of
hatred that was burning in them was cooled; and darkness gave place to the
dawn of wisdom. The sky showered raindrops to soften the earth and lay down
dust. How can the lament operate against the Divine Will?
38
KRISHNA has three separate meanings - (1)
the word Karsh is one root from which the name is derived. It means, that
which attracts; Krishna attracts hearts to Himself by His sportive pastimes,
miraculous victories over the forces of evil, His charming conversation, His
Wisdom and His personal beauty. (2) The word is also related to the root,
Krish: to cultivate, a field, for growing crops. The word means, He who
removes the weeds from the heart of Man and sows seeds of Faith, Courage and
Joy. (3) It is related to the root Krish, meaning something above and beyond
the three attributers and the three eras; and "na" means Sath-Chith-Ananda.
39
KRISHNA had taken three Vows
and the Kankans were symbolic of His determination to fulfill them. They
were, as mentioned by Him in the Gita: (1) "Dharmasamsthapanaya Sambhavaami
Yuge Yuge". (I shall incarnate myself, in every age, to revive and resurrect
Dharma) - (2) "Yogakshemam Vaham Yaham" (I shall bear the burden of
ensuring peace of prosperity for all who rely on me) - (3) "Mokshayishyami
maa sucha" (I shall save all those who surrender wholeheartedly to Me and I
shall liberate them from the cycle of birth and death).
40
KRISHNA dealt with the World as with
a Sitar, pulling its heartstrings to arouse the melody of comradeship,
heroism, love, affection, compassion and conviction. But, of these, the two
emotions of love and compassion were characteristically His and His own. His
breath was Love! His behaviour was Compassion! Adore Him, placing a garland
of tears around His neck; washing His feet with tears, springing from joy at
the contemplation of His Love! That very worship will endow you with the
wisdom that Sages seek and the Bliss that the Books extol!
41
THIS is the genuine Bharathiya Vision to
transform life into a pilgrimage towards the God resident in oneself; a
steady march along the straight path to Bliss. There is no such steadiness
now. Fancy and Fantasy rule the mind of man. You desire one thing in the
morning; at noon you change over to something else. That desire will not
persist until evening. If your desire is fulfilled, you praise God and
parade your devotion. But if it does not prevail, you throw God overboard
and parade your disbelief!
42
NARADA, who moves always by and with the
Lord, feels that God is beyond his understanding; Balarama who came as His
own brother could not fathom His personality. How then can you grasp My
Mystery? How can those who strut about in well-ironed bush-coats fathom the
Truth? I know some that are here, who sold their Faith to hollow men and
started talking about My dress and My Hair! If you dare, seek My Truth.
Come, surrender unto Me. Do not teach treason to your friends and to other
seekers. Dress and manners have become polished now; but the inner man has
deteriorated in virtue and faith!
43
DETACHMENT is a plant of slow growth; if
you pluck the tender plant to look for the pods, you will be disappointed.
So too, long and constant practice alone is rewarded by the Peace that God
offers. Grace is acquired by Surrender as Krishna has declared in the Gita.
44
WHEN the Gita directs you to give up all
Dharma (Set Codes of morality), it does not ask you to also give up all
Karma, and when you do it for God, through God and by God, the Dharma of it
does not matter; it has to be acceptable; and it is bound to benefit you.
The statement is not an invitation to licentiousness or complete inactivity;
it is a call for dedication and surrender to the highest in Man, namely GOD.
45
OF all the Slokas in the Bhagavad Gita,
Ramakrishna was especially impressed by the one that emphasized the attitude
of Atmanivedana or Sharanaagathi:
Manmana Bhava Madbakto
Madyaji Maam Namaskuru
Mamevaishyasi Yuktvaitvam
Atmanam Matparayanah.
"Become one with Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice
to Me and bow down to Me. Unify yourself, thus you will surely come to Me".
46
THE Mahabharatha declares: "What is not in
Bharath does not deserve reverential consideration"; and in Bharath, the
message has always been: tolerance, respect for all faiths and the practice
of the essential teachings of love and service with giving up of hatred,
envy and pride.
47
PERFORM all acts with as much love as you
would offer God. In Truth, you eat for the satisfaction of the "I" in you
and dress up to please the self-same "I". The husband loves his wife for the
sake of the "I". And who is this "I" that is persistently inherent in
everyone? It is God Himself. "Iswara Sarva Bhootaanaam" says the Gita: the
Lord resides in the heart of every being. He is the Atman in every being. He
is the Atman in everyone, the Paramatma.
48
PONDER over your "sthithi" (present
condition), "gathi" (direction of movement), "shakti" (capabilities), and "mathi"
(inclination). Then enter upon the path of Sadhana step by step, so that you
approach the goal faster every day, every hour, every minute. Arjuna became
entitled to the Gita Upadesh from the Lord Himself, because he evinced the "Vishada",
the "Vairagya", the "Sharanaagathi", and the ?Ekagratha?, essential to
assimilate The Great Message. When the yearning for liberation has become
intense, beyond expression, man can set aside all social conventions,
worldly norms and codes of conduct that do not subserve that high purpose.
49
KRISHNA does not speak of whoever among
men who pronounce the "Pranava" at the moment of death, etc. The word He
uses "whoever" is without any qualification of sex. He does not say "Whoever
that is authorized" or "Whoever among the deserving". The clear intention of
the Lord is to encourage women, as well as men, to take up Pranava-Upasana.
You would have seen that I do not discourage anyone from the Upasana. It is
the royal road to spiritual victory which all are entitled to use.
50
THE Gita says that, if you give up all
Dharma and take refuge in Him, then He will save you from Sin and wipe your
tears. Giving up Dharma does not mean that you can bid farewell to virtue
and righteous action; it means, you have to give up egoism that you are the
doer. Be confirmed in the faith that He is the "doer" of every deed. That is
the genuine "giving up".
51
I AM in your heart all the time,
whether you know it or not. Draupadi called out for the Lord of Dwaraka, Sri
Krishna, when the wicked cousins of her husbands cruelly assaulted her, and
so the Lord responded but after a little delay. He had to go to Dwaraka and
come from there to Hasthinapura where she was! He told her that she could
have received Him in the fraction of a second had she called out, "Oh
Dweller in my heart", for He dwells there as everywhere else.
52
THE elders in Brindavan who
reveled in scandalizing Krishna - successors have been born for them even
now - set an ordeal for Radha to test her virtue. She was given a mud pot
with a hundred holes and asked to bring water in that pot from the Yamuna to
her house! She was so full of Krishna-consciousness that she never knew the
condition of the pot. She immersed it in the river, as usual repeating the
name of Krishna with every intake of the breath and every exhalation. Every
time the name Krishna was uttered, a hole was covered, so that by the time
the pot was full, it was whole. That was the measure of her Faith. Faith can
affect even inanimate objects.
53
IN Realty, Truth is God; Love is
God; Dharma is God. The Gopis and Gopalas saw in Krishna the Embodiment of
Truth, Love and Dharma. What He said was Truth; what He was became Love,
what He did was Dharma. They were so immersed in Krishna-Consciousness that
they saw everywhere and in everything nothing but Krishna. Krishna for them
did not exist as a separate entity in the home of Nanda; He was right in
their own consciousness, at all levels of it. These Gopis and Gopalas were
true Bhaktas indeed.
54
WHATEVER is dedicated and offered
to God can never be lost. People can gain enormous benefit by offering even
a little to God. "A leaf or a flower, a fruit or a little water" - that is
enough, if offered with devotion. Draupadi gave Sri Krishna the fraction of
a leaf sticking to the side of a vessel and God granted her endless good
fortune. Kuchela gave a handful of parched rice and received from the Lord
awareness of His endless Glory.
55
THE Lord had Maya as His consort,
so to say, and He had a son called Manas. This Manas, to continue the
parable, had two wives. Pravritti and Nivritti (Attachment and Detachment).
Of course, Pravritti was His favorite wife and she had a hundred children.
Nivritti was ill treated and neglected; and she had just five. That is the
symbolism of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Though all the children lived in
the same kingdom, ate the same food and learnt from the same Teacher, their
natures differed widely from one another. The Kauravas, children of the
attachment, were greedy, cruel, self-centered, and vain. The Pandavas, five
of them, each one represented a Supreme Virtue, so that they could be said
to symbolize Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. As they were so pure
and born of Detachment, the Lord became their Guide.
56
THE Gita speaks of Bhakthi, Jnana,
and Karma as Yogas; and by Yoga is meant what Patanjali intended it to mean:
"Chiththa Vrithi Nirodha", that is to say, "the stilling of the agitations
of the consciousness". Vishnu is the supreme exemplar of this calm, for He
is "Saanthaakaaram bhujagasayanam", the very picture of peace and calm,
though reclining on a thousand-hooded snake, the snake being the symbol of
the objective world with its poisonous fangs. Being in the world but not of
it, not bound by it - that is the secret.
57
THE riches that you should strive
to amass are not fields, factories, bungalows or bank-balances but the
wisdom and experience of oneness with the Grandeur of the Universe and the
Force that runs it without a hitch. Arjuna is called Dhananjaya by Krishna
because he had won (Jaya) such Dhanam (riches) that saves man; and that
cannot be taxed, stolen or transferred. The method of winning these riches
is Sadhana.
58
GIVE joy to all. Prema or Love is
the means to achieve this ideal. When Love can bring even God nearer to you,
how can it fail where man is involved? Krishna could not be bound by any
other means. That is the reason why SAI has declared: "Start the day with
Love; spend the day with Love, fill the day with Love; end the day with
Love. That is the way to God".
59
KRISHNA was known to all as
Almighty, All knowing, all encompassing, and All-fulfilling. Yet, the
enthusiasm to do Seva promoted Him to approach Dharmaraja, the eldest of the
Pandava brothers, on the eve of the magnificent Rajasuya Yaga that he had
planned to perform and offered to take up Seva of any kind. He suggested
that He might be given the task of cleaning the dining-hall after the guests
had partaken of the feast! Krishna insisted on outer cleanliness and inner
cleansing. Clean clothes and clean minds are an ideal combination.
60
DURING the battle of Kurukshetra,
which climaxed the Mahabharatha story, Krishna served as the "driver" of the
chariot of Arjuna throughout the day till dusk on the field and caused the
adjournment of the fight. He led the horses to the river, gave them a
refreshing bath and applied healing balms to the wounds suffered by them
during the fierce fray. He mended the reins and the harness and rendered the
chariot battle-worthy for another day. The Lord sets the example for the
Devotees to follow. He teaches that Service done to any living being is
offered to Him and is accepted by Him most joyfully. Service rendered to
cattle, to beasts, and to men is laudable Sadhana.
61
THE World is today in deep
distress because the common man and his leaders are all distracted by lower
desires and lower motives, which require only the lower skills and meaner
impulses of man. This is what I call "devaluation". Though man is inherently
divine, he lives only at the animal level. Very few live even in the native
human level.
62
KRISHNA does say: "whoever among
men who pronounce the Pranava at the moment of death", etc. The word he uses
is "whoever" without any qualification of sex. He does not say "whoever is
authorized or whoever is among the deserving". The clear intention of the
Lord is to encourage women as well as men to take up Pranava Upasana. You
will see that I do not discourage any one from the Upasana. It is the royal
road to spiritual victory which all are entitled to use.
63
BHISHMA, for example, has to be
revered and accepted as an inspiration, even more potent than Rama so far as
homage to the father is concerned. In order to cater to the carnal cravings,
which he could have ordinarily condemned, he denied himself gladly,
spontaneously, without demur and for the entire period of his life, both
wedded life and royal status. He honoured the Vedic injunction, ?Pithru
Devobhava? in the fullest manner.
64
THIS created Universe has two
aspects, one is impermanence (Anityam), the second one is unhappiness (Askulham).
In the Gita, Krishna has said, "Anityam Asukha Lokam Imam Prapy Bhajaseva Maam". Nothing in this World can give happiness that is true and
lasting. Mistaking the World as "All" and forgetting the Atman, which alone
is eternal and the only refuge, is the greatest folly of man today. Man is
pinning all his hopes on slippery work and is madly running after amassing
and hoarding wealth. Of course, material needs are to be taken care of but
within limits and not at the cost of spiritual values. Money and mansions
are not the only wealth. Hoard the wealth of the Spirit. Character is wealth;
good conduct is wealth; and spiritual wisdom is wealth.
65
WORKERS and peasants - that is the
slogan nowadays. These two classes were given their due share of social
importance and honour during the Krishnavathar. Now, people are honoured
even if they grow not food but cash crops. Foreign exchange is what we are
after and so, people are encouraged to produce what others can buy not what
we need; such as milk and a variety of milk products which are highly
nutritious foods. Balarama, the elder brother and an Avathar in his own
right, had as his weapon the plough. It declared agriculture as a
consecrated occupation.
66
EGOISM is the most dangerous
illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed. Bhima had it; but when he
could not lift and lay aside the tail of a monkey, who was really Anjaneya
himself, that bubble was exploded. Arjuna had it one day after the battle.
When Krishna brought the chariot back to camp, he wanted that Krishna should
get down first, like all charioteers; the Master must get down later, after
the Charioteer opens the door for him. Krishna refused and insisted that
Arjuna should alight before He should. At last Krishna won. Arjuna got down
and as soon as Krishna left His seat and touched the ground, the chariot
went up in flames. In fact, if Krishna had gotten down first, the various
fire-arrows, which had the power of burning the chariot, would have hit the
target; but due to the presence of Krishna, their igneous powers could not
manifest themselves. After knowing this, Arjuna was humbled and his egoism
had a powerful shock. He realized that every action of Krishna was full of
significance.
67
THE Gita advises "Karmasamyasa",
that is to say, Karma without attachment to the fruit thereof. There are
Karmas, which have to be done as duties related to the status in ?Samsara?,
and, if these are done in the proper spirit, they will not bind at all. Do
all Karma as actors in a play, keeping your identity separate and not
attaching yourself too much to your role. Remember that the whole thing is
just a play and the Lord has assigned to you a part; act well your part;
there all your duty ends. He has designed the play and He enjoys it.
68
IT is when you are in a desperate
situation that you call upon the Lord, forgetting your pride and your egoism.
The Pandavas were so full of misery in a worldly sense that they always had
an attitude of prayer. If I had given you all the comforts and opportunities,
you would not have come to Puttaparthi. Trouble is the bait with which the
fish is pulled out of the water. Kunthi asked that Krishna should continue
giving her and her sons all kinds of misery so that He may grant them His
Grace continuously.
69
THE Gita prompts you to seek the
answers and directs you to experience them. It helps you to control the "Chittha",
the agitations of the mind; it destroys delusion. It develops true knowledge;
it makes you glimpse the splendour of the Lord and confirms your faith. You
say at one moment: "Baba does everything, I am but an instrument; but the
next moment the same tongue says: "I did this; I did that; Swami did not do
this for me". If you never step into wrong, you can be ever certain of His
Grace.
70
THE Mahabharatha, for example, is
basically the story of the five Vital Airs of Man (the Pancha Pranas)
overcoming the hundred obstacles in the path of upward progress. The eldest
of the Five Pandava brothers is Dharmaraja (Morality, Righteousness); he is
ably supported by Bhima (physical strength devoted to Divine Service and
charged with Devotion), Arjuna (steady pure Faith in God), and Nakula and
Sahadeva, who represent Steadfastness and Equanimity. When these Five are
exiled, the Hasthinapura (body) is inundated with Adharma (unrighteousness).
71
IN the Manasa-Sarovar (the deep,
placid mind-lake) of every man lurks a poisonous cobra with six hoods: Lust,
Anger, Greed, Attachment, Pride and Hate, infesting the air and destroying
all who are near it. The Name of the Lord, when it dives into the depths,
forces it to come up to the surface so that it may be destroyed. So, allow
the Divine in you - the Krishna, Lord over the mind - trample on the hissing
hood and take out the vicious viper; let it vomit the venom and become
Satwic and sweet.
72
LIKE all Avatars, Krishna
announced His advent to the World bit-by-bit, step-by-step, testing every
time how far the Reality will be accepted by the masses. The signs and
miracles were intended, then as now, to proclaim the Avatar.
73
THE mystery and splendour of God
can be grasped only by a pure mind and a clear vision. That is why the Lord
granted a new eye to Arjuna in order that he might not be confounded by his
glory. A resolution adopted by the mind is like a stone thrown into a
Sarovar or lake. It produces ripples that affect the entire face and
unsettles equanimity. A good resolution or "Sankalpa" sets up a series of
such thoughts, each contributing its quota to the process of purification
and strengthening.
74
THE One is comprehensive of all
this. So, it has no wants, no desires and no activity to realise anything.
Sri Krishna tells Arjuna: "Name Partha asthi Karthvyam, Thrishu lokeshu
Kinchava Partha". (There is nothing I have to do in any of the three Worlds).
He has willed the World as his sport. He has laid down that every deed must
have its consequence. He is the dispenser of the consequences but he is not
involved in the deeds.
75
ONE can also be rid of Maya if one
can discard the three Gunas from one's make-up. The "Sathya guna" too has to
be transcended; why? The Gita directs that even the eagerness to be
liberated is a bond. One is fundamentally free. Bondage is only an illusion.
So, the desire to close the bond is the result of ignorance. Krishna says, "Arjuna,
become free from the three Gunas". In truth, the word "Guna" means "rope",
for all three "Gunas" bind the "Jiva" with the rope of desire. Liberation
means liberation from delusive attachment or "Moha"; "Mohakshaya", decline
in the desire caused by attachment to sensory pleasure.
76
CONSIDER for a moment how long
worldly triumphs last. They are but the play of the scintillating name and
form of the Divine, which is the core of every being. Earn the vision that
sees the Divine inherent in all. We are not troubled when something is good;
only when it is bad. This is because goodness is natural. In our evil
aberration, we are worried and alarmed when we slide into wrong or pain or
sorrow. This is because Nature plans us to be right, to be happy and ever in
a state of joy. It is a pity that man has lost his understanding of this
Truth.
77
VYAS sympathized with man who was
caught in the coils of do's and don'ts, of success and failure, of desire
and despair. He demarcated many a path, which leads man along to fulfillment.
The fulfillment consists in uprooting the animal that lurks in man and
reaching out to the Divinity. That is his essence.
78
DHYANA is not mere sitting erect
and being silent nor is it the absence of any movement. It is the merging of
all your thoughts and feelings to God. Without the mind becoming dissolved
in God, Dhyana cannot succeed. The Gita declares genuine Dhyana as "Anayaschinthayanthomaam
Ye Janah Paryapasathi" (Those persons who adore me without any other thought
or feeling). Krishna has assured such persons that He would carry their
burden and be by their side, guiding and guarding them. Persons adept in
this Dhyana are very rare; most people go through the external exercises
only. So they are unable to win Grace.
79
LIFE is a song, sing it. That is
what Krishna taught through his life. Arjuna heard that song in the
battlefield where tensions were at their highest and when the fate of
millions was to be decided by the sword. Krishna sang the Gita for Arjuna to
listen to. Gita means "Song", and he sang because he was "Ananda" wherever
He might be, in Gokulam, on the banks of the Yamuna or at Kurukshetra
between the warring armies.
80
WHY does He attract all to His
Presence? To plough the heart, prepare it for receiving the shower of Grace,
to grow the seeds of Love, weed it of all evil thoughts, which smother the
crops of joy and to enable it to gather the harvest of Wisdom. That wisdom
finds its fulfillment in Krishna Himself, for Krishna also means the pure
Essence, the Supreme Principle, the "Sath-Chith-Ananda".
81
WHERE there is Dharma there
Krishna is; so, think for yourself, each one of you, how far have you
deserved the Grace of the Lord? You draw Him near; you keep Him far. You
entangle yourself, bind yourself, and get caught in the trap. No one is your
foe except yourself. No one else is your friend. You are your only friend.
The Guru shows you the road and you have to trudge alone, without fear or
hesitation.
82
THE word Dharmakshetra is the
first word in the Gita. In the very first verse of the Song Celestial, the
Kurukshetra (field of Action), in which the Maamakaah (my people, as the
blind Dhritharashtra described them through fond attachment and egoistic
delusion), people motivated by greed and passion, and the Pandavas (the
other people, the good and righteous, the sons of the Fair one, the Progeny
of the pure), is spoken of as already transmuted into Dharmakshetra (field
of Righteousness). For victory is always for Righteousness and not for greed
and passion which blind men.
83
IF you ask Me, I will say that the
Gita is like a balance: scales, needle and all. The scale on the left is the
7th Sloka of the 2nd Chapter, speaking of "Karpanya Dosha". The fulcrum is
the 22nd Sloka of the 9th Chapter, beginning with "Anayaschinthayamshomaam";
and the scale on the right is the Sloka in the 18th chapter, speaking of "Sarvadharmaam
Parithyajya". See how apt the fulcrum Sloka is. It speaks of single-minded
attention, "steady, like the needle of a well-adjusted balance". Really, the
Gita begins with two scales and a fulcrum: the two armies of Righteousness
and Unrighteousness with Krishna, the Teacher, in the middle.
84
BHAKTI is of various types
according to the Damskara of the devotee and the state of his mind and the
stage of his development. There is the Shanta Bhakti of Bhishma, the
Vatsalya Bhakti of Yashoda, and the Madhura Bhakti of the Gopikas. Of these
the Dasya attitude is easiest and the best for the majority of aspirants at
this time. It means "Sharanaagathi" and "Prapathithi" out of Shanti Bhakti.
85
THE fire of sorrow and joy burns
when the fuel of Vaasanas is fed into the furnace of the mind. Take away the
fuel and the fire dies out. Take away the Vaasanas, the force of the
impulses, promptings and urges and you become your own master. This is done
in Yoga by various physiological and psychological exercises. But Bhakti is
the easier means for this end. Naamasmarana is enough: it is said that the
name Sitarama sufficed in the Thretha Yuga; the name Radha-Shama sufficed in
the Dwapara Yuga; and in the Kali Yuga, I tell you, all Names have that
capacity.
86
PRAKRUTHI is Dhara, Earth and
Creation. Think of it always. Long for it. Pine for Dhara, Dhara, Dhara and
you find you are pining for Radha, Radha. So, Radha is the Becoming and
Krishna is the Being; the desire of Being becomes the longing of the
Becoming for the Being - this is the Radha-Krishna relationship, which has
been sung by seers and poets, calumniated and caricatured by ignorant
critics, appreciated and apprehended by aspirants, and analyzed and realised
by sincere scholars of spiritual lore.
87
WELCOME all the blows of fate, all
the misfortunes and miseries, as gold welcomes the crucible, the hammer and
the anvil in order to get shaped into a jewel; or as the cane welcomes the
chopper, the crusher, the boiler, the pan, the sprayer and the dryer, so
that its sweetness may be preserved and used as sugar by all. The Pandavas
never demurred when disasters fell thick upon them. They were happy that
they helped them to remember Krishna and call upon Him. Bhishma was in tears
on the arrow-bed, when he was about to pass away. Arjuna asked Him "why" and
he replied, "I am shedding tears because the miseries undergone by the
Pandavas pass through my mind". Then he said, this is done in order to teach
the Kaliyug a lesson; never to seek power, position or pelf but to submit to
the will of God in a completely resigned way, so that you may be ever happy
and unmoved.
88
THE Gita speaks of Bhakti, Jnana,
Karma, as Yogas. By Yoga is meant what Patanjali intended it to mean "Chiththa
Krishthi Nirodha", that is to say, "the stifling of the agitations of the
consciousness". Vishnu is the supreme example of this calm, for He is "Saanthakaaram
bhujaga Sayanam", the very picture of peaceful calm, though reclining on a
thousand-hooded snake; the snake being the symbol of the objective World
with its poisonous fangs. Being in the World but not of it, not bound by it,
that is the secret.
89
THE Individual is Arjuna, the
Universal, which inspires him, is Krishna: Led by the Universal, the
Individual has to oppose the attractions and delusion of the Manifested, the
Maya, and the Prakruthi, that is, the Kaurava hordes. The battle depicted in
the Epic is the inner battle, between the temporary and the eternal, the
particular and the universal, the sensual and the super-sensual, the seen
and the seer. The Atma is described as a streak of lightning in the blue
cloud. It is a Gita (streak in Telugu). Discover the Gita, then the purpose
of Gita study is fulfilled.
90
WHEN Dharmaraja, the eldest of the
Five Pandavas came to know - after the death of Karna which they effected
successfully - that Karna was his brother, his agony knew no bounds; he was
struck disconsolate and was torn by despair. If only he had known the truth,
all that grief could have been avoided. So too, until you know that all are
altars where the name God is installed and all are moved and motivated by
the Grace of the self-same God, you are afflicted by hate and pride; once
you know it and experience it, you are full of Love and reverence to all.
91
WHEN Krishna leapt down from His
Chariot with the wheel-weapon in His hand to slay Bhishma, Arjuna jumped
down with Him and holding both His Feet he prayed, "Oh Lord, you have given
word that you will not wield any weapon. Let it not be said that you broke
your word to save me from Bhishma, I am prepared to die". That was the
measure of his Bhakti. Bhishma too had equal Bhakti. He did not step forward
to fight the new challenge nor did he question the Lord. He stood silent
drinking in the charm of the Lord and filling himself with the vision of the
magnificence of the Lord. That was the measure of the dedication to His will.
92
KRISHNA is slandered by ignorant,
prejudice critics as "jaara" and "chora" and extolled by seekers and sages
with the same appellations, "jaara? and "chora". He stole the hearts and the
owners were glad of it. He shed light, awakened people and made those, whose
hearts he stole, richer and happier. He destroyed all craving for sensual
pleasure and sensual knowledge and filled the entire being with thoughts of
the Divine. How then can He be referred to as "jaara" and "chora"? When the
blind leads the blind in this way, both have to fall into the pit.
93
IN the Mahabharatha, the most
noteworthy theme is Dharmasthapana. When the Pandavas were called into the
forest, it was as if the Five Pranas of Dharma, the sustaining forces of
Dharma, were exiled. Dharmaraja is the Prana of the Right Conduct, Bhima, of
the protective Might of Dharma; Arjuna, of the Faith and Devotion needed as
its Foundation, Nakula and Sahadeva, of the shraddha essential for the
Practice of Dharma. When the Pandavas went to the forest, Hasthinapura was
reduced to Astinapura, a city of bones, without flesh and blood.
94
KRISHNA was the Purushothama,
Arjuna the Narrothama; It was a friendship between The Embodiment of the
Highest and the Embodiment of the Best. Krishna was the Avataric Person.
Arjuna was the anandic person; it was a coming together of the Avathramurthi
and the Anandamurthi. Arjuna was often addressed by Krishna as Kurunandana.
This name has a deep significance. "Kuru" means "act, activity, Karma";
Nandana means "happy, delighted". Kurunandana therefore means "he who is
delighted while engaged in activity". Throughout the eighteen chapters of
the Githa, Arjuna is alert and active, participating vigilantly in every
turn of argument.
95
PRACTICE the constant presence of
God and, learn to offer all your activities at the Feet of the Lord as an
act of worship. Then they will be free from fault. Krishna advised Arjuna to
enter the fight and, at the same time, told him not to have "hatred" towards
"enemies". These may appear to be two irreconcilable attitudes, for war is
rage (passion, attachment) and renunciation of hatred is Vairagya (absence
of raga). Arjuna asked Krishna how he was to reconcile these two attitudes.
Krishna said, "Maamnusmara yudhyacha" (keep Me ever in thy mind, and fight.
Do not cultivate the egotistic feeling that it is you who is fighting. I am
using you as My instrument).
96
THE Pandava brothers were highly
fortunate. The eldest, Dharmaraja, rose to be the emperor. The second was
the Indomitable Bhima, armed with the terrible mace. The third was Arjuna,
son of the Lord of the Gods, Indra. The lord poured His Grace on Arjuna and
deigned to serve him in battle as his charioteer! In spite of all these
advantages, they were subjected to the severest tragedies in life. What is
the lesson that their lives teach? No one can predict what calamity will
overtake one and at what time. Every thing depends on the will of Providence;
it all happens according to the Divine Plan.
97
THE question on the battlefield
was not who was the Kin of whom, but who was right and who was wrong; fight
for justice, fight for truth, fight for these as akshatriyu is in duty bound,
and leave the result to the Dispenser of all. Krishna told Arjuna: "I am
surprised that you should weep, for you are Gudakesa, the conqueror of sleep
and ignorance. You do not kill, so don't be so conceited; nor do they die.
They have many more things to do; and so they are real deathless". "The
sentence of death has been already pronounced on their bodies by Me, and you
have but to carry out My Orders", Krishna said.
98
KRISHNA felt that it was time to
reveal His Truth and so He just showed all creation in His Mouth when His
mother asked Him to show her His tongue, when she suspected He had eaten
sand. He made even the longest rope too short to bind Him. It became the
talk of the place and every one felt he had all the fourteen Worlds in Him!
Avathars choose the time and the mode of announcement of their Advent and
Their Glory. Even in this Avathara such miracles had to be done when I
decided that the time was opportune for taking the people into My Secret.
99
WHEN the righteous Pandavas were
harassed by wicked Kauravas, the beauteous Krishna appeared and saved them.
The lord can never design violence and blood shed. Love is His instrument,
non-violence His Message. He achieves the correction of the evil-minded
through education and example. But it may be asked, why did Kurukshetra
happen? It was a surgical operation and therefore cannot be described as an
act of violence. The Surgeon saves life through the beneficial use of His
Knife.
100
CONSIDER the Name Krishna which the
Avathar bore; what a significant Name? Krishna is derived from the root "krish"
which means (1) to attract (2) to plough and cultivate and (3) the Divine
Principle beyond time, space and causation. Krishna, like all Avathars,
attracts not only seekers, Saints and Sages but the simple, the innocent and
the good. He draws also the curious, the critics, the Skeptics and those who
suffer from atheism. He draws them towards Himself by the irresistible charm
of His Person, by His invincible Look, His Voice, His Flute, His counsel and
His undaunted Heroism! He is ever in a State of Bliss, spreading Harmony,
Melody and beauty around Him; He sings everywhere in the peaceful Pasture
lands of Brindavan and in the blood soaked battle field of Kurukshetra.
Index
Introduction
Pearls 1- 100
Pearls 101 - 200
Pearls 201- 300
Pearls 301- 400
Pearls 401- 500
Pearls 501 - 600
Pearls 601 - 700
Pearls 701 - 800
Pearls 801 - 900
Pearls 901 - 1008
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