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The Hindu

Rishabha's sermon

Srimad Bhagavatam is a road map for a man's true journey in life, which is, not worldly pleasures, but a wealth of devotion which alone can help him attain God. To reach that goal, one should be guided by the teachings in our scriptures which are explained in a simple manner by pandits through discourses. The ever-merciful God, aware that, today, man is distracted by technology as well as material quest, has ensured that the same technology is a convenient tool for dissemination of knowledge to devotees, constrained by space and distance, which in due course will crystallise into bhakti, said B. Damodara Dikshithar. Gnana is indeed true acquisition, the only wealth worthy of being passed on to successive generations. As in life, not everyone will be on a same level when it comes to scriptural knowledge, but one can gradually gain mastery with diligent application of mind. The sermon by the great ruler Rishabha, detailed in the fifth skandam of Bhagavata Puranam, is a great primer. Rishabha, who had once made the rain arrive during severe drought through his yogic powers, informed his hundred children that he would be leaving home within an hour and asked if they had any questions. When they said he had not taught them anything, he quietly asked whose fault it was, before proceeding to deliver his sermon. 'The sacred human body you have got in the world is not meant to be utilised for sensuous enjoyments. It is to be used for the observance of austerity with noble spiritual ends. By such austerity the mind becomes pure, enabling one to attain the bliss of Brahman. The association with holy ones is the door for entrance to the realm of liberation. So long as man does not make an earnest enquiry about the spirit within, will he, out of ignorance, be debarring the dawn of spiritual consciousness in him.' He then advised everyone on the efficacy of devotion and service to an enlightened guru, equanimity in joy and sorrow, study of scriptures, conquest of the senses and dedicating everything one does, to God.