The Cardinal and Supremely Beneficent a Teaching

The divine sage Narada, gives various illustrations to explain the peculiarity of the world and the need for awakening discrimination, to Shukadeva. May rich men, on being afflicted by fatal diseases, spend a lot of money and get themselves treated by highly competent and renowned physicians, but their ailments are not cured. Many famous doctors, who are in possession of highly and precious nutritious medicines, themselves get afflicted by disease and old age. And many a time, they die even before old age. Another thing to be noted is that birds, animals and other creatures living in the forest, and poor and lowly people are generally not afflicted by any disease. If at all they do, there is such an arrangement in nature that they get cured automatically within a short time. In view of these idiosyncrasies of worldly life, one should keep one’s mind calm considering that the keep one’s mind calm considering that the mighty current of time throws worldly men, surrounded by all kinds of sorrows as they are into good and bad conditions. Most men are bound by their powerful nature that makes them slide into the pit of their minds cannot be eradicated even by wealth, royalty and severe austerities. Everyone in the world wants to get all his wishes fulfilled, but this is not possible. If it be ordained that all men’s desires will be fulfilled, no man would die or grow old and there would be nothing untoward in anybody’s life. All men in the world innately do whatever is within their reach to attain to as elevated a state as possible but none has ever been nor is anybody expected to be successful in such attempts. It is also seen in the world that there are kings and affluent men who are habitually inebriated or remains intoxicated by the heady wine of wealth; and there are teetotalers who are valiant warriors but are foolish at the same time and are gladly engaged in serving the former with all care and dispatch. Many people get rid of their troubles, the cause of which they are not able to find in spite of their best efforts. People are generally seen to be miserable, swinging between pleasure and pain, profit and loss, happiness and sorrow. There are all kinds of miseries in the world. Therefore, O Shukdeva! Renounce the fruits of dharma as well as dharma and steer clear of the distinctions of truth and untruth. As light and darkness are inseparably liked to each other, know that the same is true for dharma and adharma, truth and untruth; and renounce them both. O Shukdeva! O Rishi! The Knowledge I have shared with you is the most mysterious. This Knowledge can make on rise from the earth to heaven. This is a wonderful means to Supreme Beatitude. Shukadevji followed the teachings of Naradaji and finally abandoned his physical body and attained oneness with the Supreme Being. There is no doubt that the spiritual thoughts Naradji shared with Shukadevji are highly significant, peace-giving, and of utmost value for the travelers of the path to Supreme Beatitude. Nothing need be said about the nectarine discourse, imbibing which a great ascetic and world-renowned yogi like Shukadevji attained liberation. Yet it must be stated that Naradji’s spiritual knowledge is for the good of people belonging to all classes and schools of thoughts. It is also a caution to save oneself from pitfalls. The gospel is a complete guide to Supreme Beatitude for the travelers of that exalted path.