Uttar Kaanda

215 - Delineation of Gnosis and Devotion; a description of the Lamp of wisdom and the surpassing glory of Devotion

Chaupais

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Description

They who knowingly cast aside such Devotion and take pains to acquire mere wisdom are fools who would leave alone the cow of plenty at their own house and knock about in search of the aka plant (the milk-weed) to get milk out of it. Listen. O lord of the winged creatures; the fools who ignore Bhakti and seek happiness by any other means stupidly seek to swim across the ocean without the help of a vessel". Garuda, O Bhavani, (continues Lord Sankara,) rejoiced to hear Bhusundi's words and submitted in gentle accents : "By your grace, my lord, doubt, sorrow, error and delusion have disappeared from my heart. I have also listened to the praises of Sri Rama and attained peace of mind by your blessing. My lord, I ask you one question more: pray, explain the whole thing clearly, O ocean of compassion. The saints and sages as well as the Vedas and Puranas declare that there is nothing so difficult of attainment as wisdom. Although the sage (Lomasa) instructed you in the same, my lord, you did not show the same amount of regard for Gnosis as for Devotion. Explain to me, my gracious lord, all the difference between Gnosis and Devotion." The sagacious crow was gratified to hear the question of Garuda (the enemy of the serpents) and politely replied, "There is no difference whatsoever between Gnosis and Devotion : both are equally efficacious in relieving the torments of birth and death. Great sages nonetheless point out some difference between the two, my lord: listen to the same with rapt attention, O chief of the birds ! Wisdom, dispassion, Yoga (union with God) and Realization-mark me-are all masculine in conception, O mount of Sri Hari ! The might of man is formidable indeed; while a woman is naturally weak and dull by her very birth.