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From Issue 214, we have been discussing the losses incurred due
to ego and importance of dissolving ego to a seeker. So far,
we have discussed this in relation to the path of Action (Karmayog)
and path of Devotion (Bhaktiyog). In this Issue we will discuss
some other losses incurred due to ego on the path of Devotion.
On the path of Devotion (Bhaktiyog) and ego:
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Not benefiting
from making an offering* |
The following incident from the epic Mahabharata illustrates the
above point.
Once a brahmin (Hindu priest) and his family offered their share
of food as alms to an aged guest and themselves went hungry. After
satiating his hunger, the guest washed his hands. Just then a mongoose
appeared there. It rolled its body in the water where the guest
had washed his hands and half its body turned golden.
This news spread far and wide. The eldest of the Pandava
princes, Dharmaraj, who was renowned for his generosity, too heard of this.
He thought to himself, "I
offer food to thousands of people. If the mongoose comes here and rolls its
body then the other half of its body too, will become golden." However,
when the mongoose was brought there and when it rolled its body in the water,
the other half of its body did not turn golden. Dharmaraj was perplexed and
asked Lord Krushna the reason for it. Lord
Krushna replied, “You have
developed ego that only you can offer food to others. Hence, the body of the
mongoose did not turn golden.”
In the next Issue we will continue to discuss some more points
regarding losses due to ego and importance of dissolving ego to
a seeker on the path of Devotion.
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