॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥
ભગવાન સ્વામિનારાયણનાં
॥ વચનામૃત ॥
Gadhada II-12: The Art of Ruling
Summary
- None of the vicious natures [such as lust, anger, ego] lies within the jiva; but the jiva has merely believed itself to possess them out of its own foolishness.
- If a king possess little or no intelligence, the people in the village would not obey his orders. As a result, the king would become depressed and powerless and sit idly. Similarly, the jiva in this body is like a king; but if the jiva becomes powerless, then the indriyas, antahkaran, and vicious natures would not let the jiva exercise authority.
- One who aspires for their liberation should learn the art of ruling in the following way:
- Understand the greatness of God thoroughly.
- Believe one’s true self is the ātmā, which is greater than the indriyas, antahkaran, and the five prāns; and I am their controller.
- Exercise control over one’s indriyas, allowing them to follow the path of God [sights, smells, words, tastes, touch related to God] but not on an unrighteous path.
- Vigilantly endeavouring in this way is the greatest of all spiritual endeavours for attaining liberation.
❖