Hari OM
Application - that is what 'Workings-days' are about!
With the admonition of focused devotion in shloka 26, the sage king now indicates the cause of suffering in Mankind.
ïImÚam àaeCy naray[aOy<
ke n àapuvaRiÁDt< paipnae=ip,
ha n> pUvR< vaKàv&Äa n tiSmn!
Tean àaPt< g_aRbasaiddu>om!.27.
Shriiman-naama prochya naaraayanaakhyam
Ke na praapur-vaangchitam paapino'pi,
Haa naH puurvam vaak-pravRttaa na tasmin
Tena praaptam garbha-vaasaadi-dukham ||27||
By uttering the holy name Naaraayana, who did not get wishes fulfilled? Even sinners. Alas! In the past we did not engage our speech toward the Lord and, therefore, obtained all the sorrows beginning with entering the womb (being conceived).
Unequivocal, indeed! We are the 'masters of our fate', (to reference another). Our brow-beating king-guru is leaving no doubt what the remedy is to correct and guide us with the creation of our 'fate', however.
Surrender to a Higher Expression.
The truth is, one does not even have to believe in any form of deity in order to benefit from this discipline of devotion. Nourishing the best principles and values of Humanity, we cannot help but improve ourselves. Even if we have been the worst of our kind. This is proven time and again with rehabilitation programs in prisons. Yes, there are some human beings who will not surrender their ego and will remain in their gross state of depravity. For one reason or another, they will not or cannot make a choice to drop it all and move into the better version of themselves. In that way, they are also authoring their fate.
Never mind the mass murderer or the twisted pervert, though. Think on about yourself. Are you the very best you can be? We all must attempt to do this in each and every day. Some days there will be a lower bar, but if at bedtime we can look back and say, "that was my best today, perhaps tomorrow better may be done", we are taking strides to self-development. To look up and acknowledge that numinous Self by whatever name we wish to use, and that too with full devotion to that Higher Expression, we cannot fail in reducing our karmic debt and minimising the number of times we have to be reborn.
If you have difficulty in swallowing the concept of reincarnation, is there still not much merit in being the best human being you can be? To lead a life with a subdued ego and a holistic awareness can only benefit us, individually, socially, and in the broader community.
