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Chapter 8
Bhatva bhutva prahyate:—Bodies are born and they die again. There is a constant change, in them. But the changeless soul, by having its affinity with the bodies, accepts their change, their birth and death, as its own. To be born and to die is 'Paradharma', and to realize God is, 'Svadharma'.
Ratryagame'vasah partha prabhavatyaharagame:—Man by assuming the things, as his own, thinks that he is their master, but actually he becomes a slave to them. The more things, he possesses, the more dependent he becomes. He can never be liberated, from this dependence, unless he attains, God. So long as, he continues his affinity with nature, he will have to follow, the wheel of birth and death. By performing actions, and reaping their fruits, even at the time when Brahma wakes up (creation), and when he retires to sleep (dissolution) (8/18), at the time when Brahma manifests himself (new creation), and when he merges in the Lord (final dissolution) (9/7-8) and when he is made to act helplessly, by the modes of nature (3/5). It means, that he cannot be free from the painful cycle of birth and death, unless he realizes the self or God, and unless he renounces his affinity with nature. But when he is not swayed by Nature and objects born of Nature viz., he realizes the pure self, by totally renouncing affinity with nature, he is not reborn, even at the
time of new creation and is not tormented at the time of final dissolution (Gita 14/2).
He is subject to birth and death, only because he attaches importance to material objects. The helplessness of his birth and death is known as such, because of time, nature, action or modes. This helplessness continues, so long as, he derives pleasure which are born of sense-contacts. He, does not want to renounce this desire, and so he remains helpless. He thinks, that he is unable to be liberated from it, but actually this desire is self-made, and so it is his responsibility to renounce it. He can renounce it, if and when, he has a firm determination.
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