Slokam 9

A very important question is raised in this Slokam.  The question is – is it necessary to experience unhappiness and suffering  for one to stay on the patg of devotion?  Why are those that are on the path of enjoying worldy luxury apparently happy?  The answer has been provided again and again in all the scriptures.  Worldly happiness is a transient illusion that immerses you in the Rajasic Guna of seeking possessions and wealth endlessly.  Enjoyment of worldly sense perceptions oriented pleasures are the exact opposite of the requirement of evolution, which requires the dropping of all attachment to worldly objects.

Worldly attachments are never ending. They are the fundamental reason why we are reincarnated and never manage to break the unending cycle of births and deaths (which is the fundamental requirement of elevation to the next level of existence).

Unfortunately, pursuit of worldly attractions are a very strong temptation and act as a huge magnet to hold the conscious mind in an iron grip of self gratificatory experiences.  That is why, the Paramathma says that when he wants to punish someone, he gives them whatever pleasures they want.  They will then move lower on the evolutionary scale (the Patala Logam), and stay there until realization sets in that this is not the correct pursuit. 

On the other hand, those that are handed down handicaps and failure, automatically tend to reject worldly pursuit since they cannot experience sensory pleasures or success/adulation.  Obstacles on the pathway to worldly success are a great blessing, because one starts life with a natural disinclination to such pursuit.  In this case, we turn to the Paramathma, to either rid us off the physical affliction or to give us release from (what to us is ) miserable existence.  Either way, we naturally turn to the Paramathma. 

It is in recognition of this requirement of suffering the Kunti Devi prays to the Paramathma to keep Her constantly immersed in an ocean of sorrow and suffering so that her conscious mind will always be with Him. This is the key to elevation and release. The mind and consciousness, should always be with the Paramathma in a mode of devotion.  Sri Bhattadri was blessed because of the affliction. He never veered off the path of requesting a cure for the disease.  Once we are on this path of association with the Paramathma, even if the suffering disappears, the mind would have already started its journey on the devotional path and will not veer away from it..,…ever.

Sri Bhattadri, requests the Paramathma to release him from the inner conflict of physical suffering and the need to completely devote all energy of a healthy self to the higher attainment.  Sri Bhattadri is on a slightly different path from Kunti Devi. Kunti feels that unless there is constant suffering, she will drop the focus on the Paramathma.  Sri Bhattadri feels that if his desire of becoming the Paramathma’s best devotee is to be fulfilled, he needs to be released from physical pain and suffering. 

The underlying objective is the unfailing focus on the Paramathma. If one can do this without going through pain and suffering, or having to go through pain and suffering only for a limited time, then that is the best attainment.  It may not work for many of us. Like Kunti Devi, we may have to constantly face difficulty in the world to be able to renounce its temptations.