Pride!

Hearing Yudhisthira, the serpent challenged: If one’s varna (caste) is to be determined by qualities alone & not by birth, then no distinction could be made between persons until their qualities are properly understood

Yudhisthira said: Yes, that is a fact. Until one is initiated by a bonafide spiritual master, he must be considered a Sudrā, no matter how exalted his birth is. Hence, one’s personal qualities must be determining factor while ascertaining his social status. Swāyambhu Manu said: Anyone from a lower mixed caste who has become purified by reformatory process is superior to one born in a Brāhmanā family but has fallen from the conduct suitable for his order

Serpent said: As you have answered my questions very nicely, I’ll not eat your brother

Yudhisthira said: Nahusa! Since you’re well acquainted with Vedic knowledge, tell me what one should do if he desires to be freed from the miseries of material existence

Snake said: One who gives charity, speaks truth & respects, practices non-violence towards all living beings certainly goes to heavenly planets after his life

Yudhisthira asked: How would you rank in terms of importance the 3 practices you mentioned?

Nahusa said: All 3 are important & depends upon particular situation in which they’re applied. It is very enlivening for me to answer your questions for I have passed a long time in this miserable condition without any stimulating association. Ask more questions pls

Yudhisthira asked: How does the soul transmigrates to another body after death? How can soul, which is transcendental, perceive thro’ material senses? How is that the living entity obtains the results of his actions (Karma)?

Nahusa said: Soul transmigrates from one body to another, being carried by subtle body. It is thro’ the medium of mind that one experiences pleasure & pain, and the realm of sense objects. According to the Karma stored in subtle body, one is awarded a new body after quitting his old useless one

Yudhisthira asked: How could such an exalted person like you become overwhelmed by illusion & thus fall from heaven?

Nahusa said-You should know for certain that prosperity acts as powerful intoxicant upon conditioned soul, even it happens to be a very wise or heroic personality. By association with great opulence, even a man of discrimination loses his good intelligence & falls

Pride comes before the fall but even after the fall our pride doesn’t fall. We may suffer physically the consequences of our false pride but still repeat the same mistake again & again

Till we bring about the fall of the pride internally, the external fall does not have a lasting impact. This can be done only when we understand that we are eternal servitors of the Supreme Lord & not our senses. He is the controller & we aren’t. As we serve him, we identify the real pride & get away from the false one

avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam

param bhavam ajananto mama bhuta-mahesvaram

Thoughts? #gameoflife