Passage 8

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

The reason: right saṃskāra has been lost! The study of base kinds of learning is one reason. The lack of learning that brings humanness to light is one reason. The lack of the qualities that are the crown of humanness is one reason. The lack of divine and noble feelings in man is one reason. Look at him any time: man is rotting in narrow feelings. However much wealth, however much comfort, however much prosperity he has, man only pretends to be happy; true joy is nowhere to be seen in him. He is living an artificial life, a life of make-believe. To bear the name of man and live like a beast, to have no true Bhakti for God: this is not fitting for humanness.

For one who has attained Prema for God, nothing remains to be attained in the world

What does “Bhagavān” mean? It is not a name given for praise. Nor is it some title given to this One somehow or other. “Brahmeti, Paramātmeti, Bhuvaneti śabdaḥ,” says the Veda. That is, this name of glory, Bhagavān, is the one that stands at the end, after Brahma and Paramātma. Bhagaḥ has two meanings: ‘sambhartā’ and ‘bhartā’. ‘Sambhartā’ means creating, with Prakṛti as the base. The one who takes responsibility for what is created and protects it is the ‘bhartā’. That is, only the one who has both these powers, creation and sustenance, is Bhagavān. Bhagavanta: ‘bha’ means radiance and Śānti. ‘Ga’ means the one who spreads it. ‘Vantuḍu’ means the one who is able. That is, only the One who is able to spread Śānti and radiance over the world is Bhagavān. Man does not try to understand this principle of Bhagavān rightly. There is nothing in this world but God. And in all things the power of God alone pervades everything.

So long as there is this sense of doer and enjoyer, ‘I did,’ ‘I saw,’ ‘I experienced,’ this Ahaṅkāra keeps pressing man down.