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Chapter 18
Generally, people think that a devotee living in solitude and engaged in devotion, adoration and meditation, attains salvation. But how can a man, who is ever engaged in activities, like a machine, attain salvation? The Lord, clarifies the doubt, by announcing "Matprasadat (by My grace)". It means, that he who has taken refuge in Him, attains salvation by His grace. Who can check Him from blessing His devotee with beatitude?
The Lord, regards every human being, as His own and so the Divine grace is axiomatic, and is always showered. But, so long as, a man depends on the world, having a disinclination for God, His grace, does not bear fruit, for him. But, as soon as, he starts giving up his dependence on the world, he starts feeling His grace. When he totally depends only on God, he fully realizes, His grace.
Avapnoti sasvatam padamavyayam:- The supreme eternal imperishable state, cannot be attained, through action, effort and spiritual discipline. It can be attained, only by His grace. The same state, is named Paramadhama (Supreme Abode), Satyaloka (the Abode of Brahma, the uppermost of the seven worlds), Vaikuptha]oka (the Abode of Lord Visnu), Goloka (the Abode of Lord Krsna) and Saketaloka (the Abode of Lord Rama), in the path of devotion while emancipation, salvation or Self-realization, in the path of knowledge the supreme abode or state attained is one and the same but it is named differently from the viewpoint of different strivers following various paths of discipline [1]. Where there is God there is His Abode, because both of these are, one and the same. As God is omnipresent, so is His Abode. As soon as, a devotee develops an exclusive devotion for Him, no trace of individuality or limitedness remains, and he can behold His Divine sport and His Abode, everywhere. But, a devotee who holds that the Lord resides, in a particular Abode, as Goloka or Saketaloka etc., he is carried to that Abode, either by the courtiers of God, or sometimes even by God, after the death of his physical body.
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