Na Me Bhaktah Pranasyati
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Author: A.K. Srivastava
(Twitter account @aksrivastava232) is Senior Advocate in Supreme Court of India, New Delhi where he is practicing since last 40 yrs. He had been Advocate General of Govt. of Sikkim & was Hon.Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association for two years(1991-92,1992-93). He writes at http://ak-srivastava.blogspot.in & has agreed to post his articles here too.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ksipram bhavati dharmatma
saswat santim nigacchati l
Kaunteya pratijanahi
na me bhaktah pranasyati ll
( Bagwad Gita 9.31)
The aforesaid verse is from Srimad Bhagwat Gita wherein Lord Krishna says 
that my devotees never get destroyed. Lord Krisna says:- “He soon becomes possessed of a virtuous mind ;he attains everlasting peace.Do you proclaim boldly, O son of Kunti, that My devotee does not get ruined.”
that my devotees never get destroyed. Lord Krisna says:- “He soon becomes possessed of a virtuous mind ;he attains everlasting peace.Do you proclaim boldly, O son of Kunti, that My devotee does not get ruined.” Many enlightened saints have explained the aforesaid verse which is very core of Bhagwad Gita.
Sant Gyaneshwar wrote his commentries called “GYANESHWARI” most reverred amongst the devotees wherein explaining the aforesaid verse, the saint says that the moment anyone who gives up his evil behaviour, verily possessed of a virtuous mind, he attains everlasting peace and becomes like me and as such he never gets ruined.When a lamp is lighted from another lamp,it is difficult to say which one is first because both look alike.As I am in eternal peace,my devotees also attains eternal peace.
The saint explained that what ever may be the body.body of a Brahmin or Shudra or an animal, all become pure and pious.When the elephant’s feet was trapped by crocodial,the elephant became restless and remembered me, he became one with me and lost animalhood and merged in me.
Swami Ranganathanand, one of the past President of Ramkrishna Mission while explaining the aforesaid verse said how does a holy mind view human failings and weaknesses? With tremendous compassion, not in harsh way.He explains, generally,in all these orthodox society,there is too much of that harsh judgment.That is the type of a prudish society.But,where there is real bhakti, there will never be that kind of harsh judgment. Today’s sinner can become tomorrow’s saint. He quotes Dr. Radhakrishnan who used to say, behind every saint there was a sinner and in front of every sinner there is a saint.
He further said when pure religion will come, the hange will come.The proximity with God brings humanists feeling. That is how a bhakta never gets ruined.
Mahabharata recites some stories to prove the point of Lord Krishna. Once Rishi Durvasha came to Draupadi with his disciples and demanded food from everyone. By then food in the kitchen was over and all the utensils were cleaned. Rishi after ordering Draupadi went to river for bathing.
Finding herself in such a piquant situation, Draupadi remembered Lord Krishna. When Krishna arrived, he also asked for food.Draupadi was amazed. She showed the washed utencils to the Lord.Krishna found a small portion of spinach stuck in the pot and ate it.Rishi Durvasha and his desciples at once had the feeling that they had stomachful of food and never returned.
There is another storey. Pandavas lost even Draupadi in gamble. Duhssasan was sent to bring in Draupadi in King’s Court. She was dragged inside the Court by holding her hair. Duhssan was ordred by Duryodhana to strip her. Draupadi begged to her five husbands who hanged their heads with shame. She then looked towards the elders in the Court but no help came from them too. Then she cried for help Lord Krishna who at once appeared and saved her honour. Na me bhaktah pranasyati was proved.
The aforesaid stories may or may not be believed. But my story is that when I joined the Bar 40 yrs. back, I used to afford only one meal on every Sunday. Rest of the days in week, I remained hungry, at best a piece of bread and a cup of tea at best. When I was allotted a chamber in Supreme Court in 1978, I could not pay Rs.100/- PM as licence fee.Today I am Senior Advocate in Supreme Court and at least nine families depend upon my office fully or partially.
My first priority in life is devotion to God apart from my profession. I am completely withdrawn from the world.
Ananyascintayanto mam
ye janah paryuoasate l
Tesam nityabhiyuktanam
yogaksemam vahamyaham ll
( Bhagwad Gita 9.22)
” Persons who mediating on Me as non-seoarate, worship Me through everything they do,to them.who are thus ever zealously established in yoga,I privide what they lack and preserve what they alrady have.”
Aforesaid words of Lord Krishna are eternal truth which if acted by the devotee,shall never be destroyed.
Hari Om Tatsat. Reply Forward
The author Sh. A.K. Srivastava (@aksrivastava232) is Senior Advocate in Supreme Court of India, New Delhi where he is practicing since last 40 yrs. He had been Advocate General of Govt. of Sikkim & was Hon.Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association for two years( 1991-92,1992-93).
Latest posts by AK Srivastava (see all)
- Amending Powers Under The Constitution - October 12, 2014
- Encounter With Pakistan - October 10, 2014
- SWACH BHARAT-2 (CLEAN INDIA-2) - October 6, 2014
Respected Sir,
I read your blog thank you very much to reflect on these wonderful instructions of Lord Krishna however , you have titled your article based on 9.31 ksipram bhavati dharmatma…. na me bhaktya pranashyati.
The points you wanted to bring out are not what the slokas intend no matter how flowery thoughts are about them.
Your have also given an example of how the lord protects his devotees, and your article is more somewhat close to ananyas cintayanto maam.
However please forgive me the purport and intent of 9.31 should be read in continuation with 9.30 you being a lawyer would appreciate what i am trying to say for sure.
In 9.30 Lord Krishna says even if a person is with faults and committing sins, unknowingly if such a person is my devotee he should be considered to be a dharmatma since his goal is ultimate and in 9.31 the Lord says since his goal is attainment of Bhakti to Lord Krishna and being in his service, his faults will soon go away and he will remain in loving service of the lord thereby his devotee never perishes.
One incident you quoted about the Lord Saving Gajendra, that pastime comes from Bhagavatham, he cries out to the cause of all causes to come and save him (Sarva karana karanam), the Lord hastily comes to save him, Gajendra looking at the Transcedental form of the lord who has come to save him he becomes overwhelmed with unalloyed devotion and love even though he was in pain he wanted to serve the lord he lifted up a lotus flower and offered it to him, he did not merge with the Lord he wanted to serve him the eternal constitutional position of the jivatma is to serve the lord what ever his or her position is.
I only wanted to pointed out 9.31 has to be read in conjunction with what the lord has to say in 9.30, and also with respect to the philosophy of merging is not the final and eternal position of the living entity it is eternal loving service to the Lord. Also 9.30 and 31 show how merciful the Lord is which is unfathomable for a person like me with a stone heart.
Forgive me to disagree with you on certain points, I may not have 1/1000th devtion you have however I just wanted to share these thoughts.
Regards
Brother,you have rightly recited the aforsaid verse in your comments.Thank you.Without Bhakti, life is without essence.Bhakti provides such strength that you can cross the ocean effortlessly.Pusti Marg evolved by Bhagwan Bhakaracharya lays down that” Grace of God alone nourushes the life.”
Hari Om Tat Sat
Pranam Srivastava Sir! ! Great Blog on Gita Upanishad, Gyaneshwari & others.
man-manä bhava mad-bhakto,
mad-yäjé mäm namaskuru,
mäm evaiñyasi yuktvaivam,
ätmänam mat-paräyanah|| 9.34 Gita||