During Treta Yuga, when Narada asked Sri Ramachandra about the
nature and characteristics of His Dasas and of the Sadhakas or
spiritual aspirants, He answered as below:
"Listen, O Narada! Men who are my Dasas are full of Love;
they always stand by Dharma or Righteousness; they speak the
Truth; their hearts melt with mercy; they are devoid of wrong;
they avoid sin; their nature is wellfounded; they will renounce
everything gladly; they eat in moderation; they are engaged in
doing good to others; they have no selfishness, they are worried
by no doubts; they will not lend their ears to flattery. They
are eager to listen to the praise of the good nature of others.
They have beautiful, strong and holy character. Sadhakas are
those who endeavour to acquire such qualities and possess such a
character. Now, I shall tell you about those who are Priya to
me. Any one who is engaged in Japa, Tapas and Vratha, who has
Samyama or self-control, Niyama or discipline, any one who has
Faith, Patience, Comradeship, Kindness and Joy as well as
unalloyed Prema towards Me, is Priya to Me."
"Now, about My real Bhakthas. Whoever, with Viveka and
Vairagya, and Vinaya and Vijnana, with discrimination and
renunciation, with humility and wisdom, are aware of the
knowledge of Reality, whoever are always immersed in the
contemplation of my leela, whoever dwell on My name at all times
and under all conditions, and who shed tears or love whenever
the Lord's name is heard from any lip, they are My genuine
Bhakthas."
Thus answered Sri Rama to Narada. So, the Lord will protect in
all ways and at all times those who worship Him in complete and
uncontaminated Bhakthi, just as a mother protects her infants, a
cow saves her calf from danger, and the eyelids guard the eyes,
effortlessly and automatically. When the infant grows up into an
adult, the mother will not pay so much attention to its safety. So
too, the Lord does not pay much attention to the Jnani. The Saguna
Bhaktha is like an infant of the Lord; so, it has no strength
except the strength of the Lord. For the Jnani, his own strength
is enough. Therefore, until one can rely on one's own strength,
one must be an infant in the Lord's Hands, as a Saguna Bhaktha. No
one can become a Nirguna Bhaktha, without having been a Saguna
Bhaktha. So, Bhakthas should grow up like infants in the lap of
the mother and thereafter, become Jnanis who can rely on their
'own' strength and be free. Still, both have the same source of
strength, the Mother. Those indeed are really fortunate who grasp
this secret of the path of Devotion, who develop one-pointed
Bhakthi and strengthen the traits of their character, who
transform themselves into infants in the lap of the Lord and who
get everything done by him as He wishes.
Therefore, those who yearn to be Dasas, Bhakthas, Priyas and
Ananya Bhakthas should take up the corresponding path and name and
act and live accordingly: the Bhaktha should develop the above
said characteristics of devotion; the Priya should follow the
Prema of the Lord; the Ananya Bhaktha has to surrender completely
to the Lord. Mere reading and rolling on the tongue are of no
avail. Ananda is the result of Action only. This Ananda is not
dependent on caste or race or sex. Even in those days, when Sri
Rama came to Sabari, she asked him in the following manner, while
Sri Rama was gladly partaking of the feast of roots and fruits,
selected and reserved by Sabari for him after herself tasting
every individual item. "Lord! I am but a woman; in addition, I am
of feeble intellect. Above all, I am low-born. How can I praise
You? I do not know what to do or how!" Then, Sri Rama smiled and
said, "Sabari! My mission is only the kinship of Bhakthi. I have
no kinship of race or caste. Of what use is it to have status,
wealth and character, without Bhakthi? Like the cloud that does
not bear rain, which wanders about in the sky, these people
without devotion are at the mercy of the winds, whatever their
status in caste, wealth, power, and fame. Bhakthas reach me
through nine paths; any one of them takes them to Me". Then,
Sabari prayed and Sri Rama responded.
"Sravanam Kirthanam Vishnossmaranam Paadasevanam
Vandanam Archanam Daasyam Sneham Atmanivedanam"
"If the devotee sincerely practises any one of these paths, He
can attain Me. I am bound by these nine forms of Bhakthi. That is
why You have been able to so easily obtain this opportunity of
seeing, touching and speaking with Me, an opportunity which even
Yogis find too difficult to get. You have realised Life's purpose
today. See Today's Words are only the Works of Yesterday!"
