(From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji)

Compiled by Swami Datta Pada Renu

“Even a man of the most wicked conduct with exclusive devotion to Me should be regarded righteous, for, he has rightly resolved indeed.” (30-IX).

“Soon he becomes righteous and attains external peace. O son of Kunti, know for certain that My devotee never perishes.” (31-IX)

Even if a most wicked person becomes repentant of his sins and takes refuge in the Lord, he should be regarded as righteous. The reason is that he has rightly resolved. He has taken a right decision with determination to change his character and mode of life. He develops devotion and love for the Lord. His devotion removes all his shortcomings and makes him established in a divine life.

Thus it is clear that a devotee of the Lord is never destroyed. He may be a sinner or a wicked man. But the moment he surrenders to the Lord and becomes His devotee, he is freed from all his sins. By reason of his devotion, he is purified almost in no moment and attains eternal peace.

“Taking refuge in Me, O Partha, those even of inferior birth – women, vaisyas as well as sudras – attain the Supreme goal.” (21-IX)

“How much more easily then the holy Brahmins and the royal saints attain the goal! Having come into this transient and unhappy world, worship Me.” (33-IX)

Everyone, whether he is of a low caster or high caste, man or woman, can attain the Supreme Lord. The only condition is that one should have intense love and devotion for the Lord. Brahma Jnana is everyone’s birthright. Caste, creed, or even low birth or high birth, or male or female have nothing to do with it.

‘Those even of inferior birth – women, Vaishyas as well as Shudras – attain the supreme goal!’ It may be found that a masculine body has more strength than the feminine body.

Vaishyas are those who are engaged in trade, commerce and agriculture. As they spend most of their time in those activities, their mind is not ripe to understand the spiritual truths. And the craftsmen and those who render services to others are the Shudras. They are illiterate folk with less developed intelligence.
Even such men and women of the lowest of the low births shall attain the Lord if they tale refuge in Him and worship Him. What is necessary is devotion and passionate love of God. All else like low birth or high birth, man or woman, is worthless.

When even the worst of sinners can attain the Supreme Lord through love and devotion, how much more easy it is to attain Him by holy Brahmins and royal saints! A Brahmin is he who leads a righteous and divine life. Such a Brahmin is a holy person because he has self-restraint and devotion to the Lord. Devotion and love for the Lord are prerequisites for God-realization. Mere birth as a Brahmin cannot entitle one for Brahma Jnana.

In olden days there were even kings who were God-realized persons. They were known as Rajarshis, the royal saints or seers. Although these kings had heavy responsibilities of administering their kingdoms they made time to meditate and hold discussions about Brahman with the spiritual masters of those days. Such kings were called Rajarshis. If they with their heavy burden of kingship could attain God-realization, certainly people with lesser responsibilities also can attain it. Therefore the Lord says, “worship Me, having come into this transient and unhappy world.”

This world is impermanent and devoid of happiness (anityam and asukham). One cannot get permanent peace and happiness in this contingent world. The wise man knows that all worldly enjoyments are followed by pain and suffering. As such he has no attractions for the temptations of this world. He takes refuge in the Lord and worships Him with all his heart.

As peace and happiness can be found only in the Lord, ‘Worship Me’ is the Lord’s command. Happy is he who discarded worldly enjoyments and devoted to the Lord with his whole heart and soul.

“Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice unto Me, pay obeisance to Me. Thus having made yourself steadfast in Me, taking Me as the supreme goal, you will come to Me.” (34-IX)

A distracted mind cannot achieve anything. A single-minded devotion is necessary to achieve the aim of self-realization. Therefore the Lord says that the Sadhaka has to fix the mind on Him and has to make himself steadfast in Him considering Him as the supreme goal. By discrimination when a man comes to know that all worldly enjoyments are short-lived and painful in the end, he will realize that there is no other goal for him but the attainment of the Lord who is supreme peace and happiness. And the Lord assures that all those who attempt to reach Him by constant contemplation and meditation will surely reach Him.

Thus ends the Ninth Chapter.