|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 318 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  169

Gam Dhugdhadhohamasathi Cha Baryam  Dheham Paradheenamasathprajam Cha | Viththam Thva Theerthikrithamanga Vacham Heenam Maya Rakshathi Dhukha Dhukhi || Sath Sanga Labhdhaya  Bhakthya Mayi Mam Ya Upasitha | Sa Vai Mey Dharshitham Sadhbir  Anjjasa Vindhathe Padham ||

Krishna speaks “ Oh! Udhdhava, I shall narrate an interesting legend to you, there was a huge peepal tree and there were two birds sitting on the two different branches, one was sitting on the lower branch was keeps twittering, taking pleasures in the fruits, and restless/Jeevathma.   The other bird sitting on the top of the branch/Paramathma was silently watching all the deeds with the knowledge that the bird sitting in the lower branch is not different from him.  Suddenly the bird sitting on the lower branch looked up and saw the other bird serene and contented even though it was not taking pleasure in the fruits.  It inspired the bird sitting on the lower branch and started practicing calmness and eventually, it reached on the top of the same branch where the other one was already seated, looked at it in awe and realized that they both are the same.  An ignorant is a Nithyabadhdha, he is not free from worldly matters and bondage, constantly engages in seeking sensual pleasure, he is over-dependent and attached to people, wealth, possession, fame, and richness, in this way he isolates himself from the supreme Lord.   An intellectual who constantly engages in the practice of meditation and contemplation upon supreme Lord who resides as soul gets liberated from worldly matters and bondage remains Nithyamuktha/liberated soul and with the constant practice attains nearness to supreme Lord.  Oh! Udhdhava, my nature as the supreme soul is Universal and it is independent, like the air that has the nature of the free flow, like dreams that are not real.  The thought creates bondage and attachment, intellectual frees him from the cluster of thoughts like waking up from the dream.  Oh! Udhdhava, listen to me carefully, do not praise anyone or do not disgrace anyone, even if a person follows all those religious and spiritual rites, recite Veda, visit shrines, reading scriptures, without elevating the soul with the supreme knowledge, lacks serenity of the mind, it would be same as taking care of a cow that will not give milk or birth to a calf .”

Krishna continues “ Oh! Udhdhava, The person who is taking care of a cow that has stopped giving milk, having a  wicked wife, body full of ailments,  having evil children, and the wealth that never been used for charitable purposes, speak unpleasant words, and never practiced devotion, would remain unhappy always and no one can protect him. The person who is practiced devotion keeps away from the sorrows and eventually, the sorrows remain unhappy in failing its attempts to make the person dejected. Oh! Udhdhava, the more you are devoted to me, you will be freed from the miseries and sorrows of the worldly existence, therefore practice singing in praise of me, contemplating upon my glorious pastimes and myths, and perform all the deeds selflessly, follow Dharma, Artha, and Kama without taking pride in it, in this way you will attain intense devotion and faith on me, and  always remain in the association of saintly men and ascetics, and contemplate upon me, perform all the deeds with the constant remembrance of me and surrender the results to me.”