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Chapter 12
SAGUNA AND NIRGUNA BHAKTI
63. Complementarity between Saguna And Nirguna: Examples From The Ramayana
17. Saguna is secure and easy, but it needs nirguna. Saguna should, in fact, grow and eventually blossom into nirguna, into devotion to principles. Nirguna and saguna are not opposed to each other; in fact, they complement each other. One must advance from saguna to nirguna; and nirguna also needs the warmth of saguna to remove subtle impurities from the mind. They thus enrich and gain lustre from each other. 18. Both these types of bhakti are beautifully depicted in the Ramayana. We find them first in the Ayodhyakand (the second Chapter) and they have been described extensively throughout the rest of the Ramayana. Bharat, Rama’s brother, is an example of nirguna devotee and Lakshman, another brother, is an example of saguna devotee. The nature of saguna bhakti and that of nirguna bhakti will be clear from their examples. 19. When Rama set out for the forest, he was not ready to take Lakshman with him. He felt that there is no ground for taking him along. He told him, “I am going to the forest at the behest of our father. You should stay at home. If you accompany me, our parents would be more disconsolate. Serve them and the people. If you are with them, I shall be free from any worries. Be my representative here. Do not be worried about me. Going to the forest is not a matter of misfortune; I would rather have the opportunity to visit the ashrams of the sages.” Rama thus tried to dissuade Lakshman from his resolve, but Lakshman cut short all the arguments in one stroke. Tulsidas has pictured this incident vividly. Lakshman says, “You are explaining to me the path of duty prescribed by the scriptures. I should certainly follow it. But I would not be able to bear the burden of princely duties. I am not competent to be your representative. I am just a child: दीन्हि मोहि सिख नीकि गोसाईं। लागि अगम अपनी कदराईं॥ —Can a swan lift up the mountains? O, Rama! I have been nourished on your love. Please tell about princely duties to somebody else. I am only a child.” Thus he put a stop to the discussion. |
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