6

 

The word 'Bhaakt' is becoming very familiar to us. Bulk of people are claiming themselves as 'Bhaakt'. Are we really eligible to be a 'Bhaakt' by uttering Jay Shree Ram, that is the question. Let's see, what Hinduism actually focuses on this issue. So, when we are talking about Hinduism, then the Gita will be the best reference. I hope, no Hindu believer will discard the Gita. Now what the Gita has said about the 'Bhaakt'? As now I'm talking about religion, sorry actually 'Bhaakt' & 'Bhaakti', so unnecessary I'll not devote my time for arguing on history, logic or etc.

      Let's put a little attention on Krishna's words in the Gita. Before going to that, few words about Krishna. In Hinduism, ten Avatars are mentioned in Bhagbat. Although many different numbers are there, yet I'm focusing on Bhagbat as it is the main Purana. Many sages consider that this Mahapurana is scripted by Krishna. As he said 'Bhaakt-Bhagabat-Bhagvan are three in one and vice versa i.e. one in three. So as per this theory these three are same. Here it is also mentioned that Krishna himself is the Bhagvan.

      Now come to the Gita. There are eighteen chapters. Twelfth chapter is 'Bhaktiyoga'. Mahatma Gandhi started his Gita version with this chapter. Here lord Krishna expresses the qualities of his Bhaktas.

অদ্বেষ্টা সর্বভূতানাং মৈত্রঃ করুণ এব চ।

নির্মমো নিরহঙ্কারঃ সমদুঃখসুখঃ ক্ষমী।।১৩।।

সন্তুষ্টঃ সততং যোগী যতাত্মা দৃঢ়নিশ্চয়ঃ।

ময্যর্পিতমনোবুদ্ধির্যো মদ্ভক্তঃ স মে প্রিয়ঃ।।১৪।।

★ The person who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feeling of I and mine, who looks upon all pain and pleasure the same and who is content, always meditates and is self-restrained and who is firm in his convictions as well as his mind and logic is surrendered to me, he is my closest Bhakta.

যস্মান্নোদ্বিজতে লোকো লোকান্নোদ্বিজতে চ যঃ

হর্ষামর্ষভয়োদ্বেগৈর্মুক্তো যঃ স চ মে প্রিয়ঃ।।১৫।।

★ He from whom the world has no cause to be worried, who is not worried by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear and repulsion - he is dear to me.

অনপেক্ষঃ শুচির্দক্ষ উদাসীনো গতব্যথঃ।

সর্বারন্তপরিত্যাগী যো মদ্ভক্তঃ স মে প্রিয়ঃ।।১৬।।

★ He who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent and free from agony, who has renounced every undertaking - he is dear to me.

যো ন হৃষ্যতি ন দ্বেষ্টি ন শোচতি ন কাঙ্ক্ষতি।

শুভাশুভপরিত্যাগী ভক্তিমান্ যঃ স মে প্রিষঃ।।১৭।।

★ He who rejoices not, nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, who renounces good and evil, who is full of devotion to me, is my dearest Bhakta.

সমঃ শত্রৌ চ মিত্রে চ তথা মানাপমানয়োঃ।

শীতোষ্ণসুখদুঃখেষু সমঃ সঙ্গবিবর্জিতঃ।।১৮।।

তুল্যনিন্দাস্তুতির্মৌনী সন্তুষ্টো যেন কেনচিৎ।

অনিকেতঃ স্থিরমতির্ভক্তিমান্মে প্রিয়ো নরঃ।।১৯।।

★ He who is same to foe and friend, honour and dishonour, who is alike to both cold and heat, please and pain, and who is free from all attachments, and regards alike both blame and praise, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to me is very dear to me.

যে তু ধর্মামৃতমিদং যথোক্তং পর্যুপাসতে।

শ্রদ্দধানা মৎপরমা ভক্তাস্তেহতীব মে প্রিয়াঃ।।২০।।

★ Those who follow this nectar of virtuous duty as taught above, who are full of faith and who regard me as the supreme, they are exceedingly dear to me.

      So, according to the Gita these are the characteristics of a Bhaakt. "If you are shouting terribly and build gigantic temples by my name then you'll be called Bhaakt" - this statement is never mentioned in anywhere in the Gita.

Now we come to Ramcharitmanas, a very popular & widely read scripture after the Gita. It's impact is really remarkable in North India but little low in Bengal. In Ramcharitmanas there is a section is called 'Ramgita'. I'm giving the main Hindi verses along with translation where Lord Rama himself expresses the way to become a Bhaakta.

कहहु भगति पथ कवन प्रयासा। जोग न मख जप तप उपवासा।

सरल सुभाव न मन कुटिलाई। जथा लाभ संतोष सदाई॥1॥

★There is no necessity of ritualistic rigidity like Japa, Tapa, Yoga or Yagga to be a Bhaakta. Transparency & mindfulness with contentment are only required to become a Bhaakta.

मोर दास कहाइ नर आसा। करइ तौ कहहु कहा बिस्वासा॥

बहुत कहउँ का कथा बढ़ाई। एहि आचरन बस्य मैं भाई॥2॥

★I don't understand your trust. In one hand you are showing your devotion to me but on other hand, you depend on others in spite of my presence.

Few verses from Chaytanyacharitammrita convey the same tone -

“কৃষ্ণেরে ভক্তি করে, করে লোকাপেক্ষা।

কৃষ্ণ না করেন কৃপা তারে, করেন উপেক্ষা।।”

"Showing devotion to Krishna, yet

depends on others.

Will be neglected and unblessed

by Krishna. "

Now focus on few more traits....

बैर न बिग्रह आस न त्रासा। सुखमय ताहि सदा सब आसा॥

अनारंभ अनिकेत अमानी। अनघ अरोष दच्छ बिग्यानी॥3॥

★ He does not have any expectation, fear or hostile attitude to others. He is always in bliss. He doesn't initiate anything, very down to earth, not even feel proud for his belonging. He is skilled and wise but far from vice as well as vengeance.

प्रीति सदा सज्जन संसर्गा। तृन सम बिषय स्वर्ग अपबर्गा॥

भगति पच्छ हठ नहिं सठताई। दुष्ट तर्क सब दूरि बहाई॥4॥

★He is always in a healthy relation. To him, earthly desire, heavenly pleasure, eventhe thirst for salvation is as trivial as grass. He respects others by keeping himself aside from any kind of ill-talk.

दोहा -

मम गुन ग्राम नाम रत गत ममता मद मोह।

ता कर सुख सोइ जानइ परानंद संदोह॥46

★He is very composed to me. He doesn't have any vanity. He is free from I & Myself conception. Only he knows the eternal tranquilly of mind which is Paramananda.

So, Ramachandra, the hottest name in present scenario never said, "if anyone creates an earthquake by calling my name, then he'll be called the true Bhaakt of mine." Rather he said that an eligibility is needed to become his Bhaakt. How? Let's see, how the person who is the pioneer of Bhaaktimarg shows the way -

তৃণাদপি সুনীচেন তরোরিব সহিষ্ণুনা ।

অমানিনা মানদেন কীর্তনীয়ঃ সদা হরিঃ ।।

★ The person who considers himself lesser than a trodden grass, has the tolerance like an age old tree, respects all being and doesn't longing for prestige, then he'll be eligible to have the divine name.

Thus, according to Mahaprabho, to be a Bhaakt an intense practise of humanity is needed.

In present time Ramakrishna says "Bhaakta is just like a golden sword by which no violence can be done."

The word 'Bhaakt' which is a current trend doesn't have any authentic definition of proof. This word only can be heard in Tagore's reference of 'Hinduyani' and few specific places in India as 'Hindutva'. Then 'Hinduyani' and 'Hinduism' both are different words? Certainly. There are some fools and pretend to be fool never feel the difference. Therefore it's very serious fact to know in which category the so called Bhaakt is actually belongs. According to Hinduism it is proved that, to be a Bhaakta, it is not a walk on cake . But newly trend of Bhaakt is not so difficult to reach. Keep the difference in your mind. It's

pretty good for the health. God is Gracious.

[Translated By: Sagar Sil]

[Essays: সনাতন ধর্মের ভক্ত বনাম আধুনিক ভক্ত বা ভক্ত্‌]