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again disunites them, so the creator does with all beings. Devotion
to me serves to make beings immortal. How glad I am that you
have this love to me, for by that love you gain me back. I am the
beginning and end of all beings, I am both inside and outside. As
the material objects resolve themselves into the primal elements,
(Akasa, air, fire, water and earth), so ^the material parts in) all beings
resolve themselves into the primal elements. Atma pervades all
beings as the conscious Ferceiver (Atma). Know both (the Perceiver
and the Perceived) to be reflected in me, the Supreme and the
Immutable."
The Gopis were taught this Adhyatma teaching by Sri Krishna.
Bearing this teaching constantly in mind, they cast off the Jiva sheath
(Jiva Kosa) and they attained Krishna. And they said: "O
Krishna let thy lotus feet be ever present in our minds, home-seeking
though we may have been. The lords of Yoga by their profound
wisdom meditate on thy feet in their hearts. It is by thy feet that
those that have fallen into the well of Sansara are raised."
(Here we take affinal leave of the Gopis, They had known
Krishna as the Purusha of the Heart. They now knew him as the
all-pervading Purusha. They were drawn back into the bosom of
that Purusha, their Linga (Sukshma) Sarira destroyed. They now
entered the divine state, but even there they did not forget the lotus
feet of Krishna. They became centres of devotional love in the bosom
of the Universal Lord.)
Yudisthira and other friends of Krishna addressed him as all-
incarnating Purusha. The wives of Krishna related to Droupadi how
they came to be married to him. The Rishis addressed Sri Krishna
as Isvara. They then took leave of him. Vasudeva however detained
them, saying they should instruct him as to how he could exhaust his
Karma. Narada said it was no wonder that he should ask this ques-
tion of them and not of Krishna. For proximity is the cause of
disregard.
The Rishis, addressing Vasudeva, said:
"Karma is exhausted by Karma. Worship Vishnu by Yajna. He
is the lord of all Yajnas. Wise men do not wish for riches by the
performance of Yajna, nor do they wish for men or enjoyments. They
give up all desires and then go to the forest for Tapas. The twice-
born are indebted to the Devas, Rishis and Pitris, by their birth. You
have paid up your debts to the Rishis and to the Pitris. Now pay up
your debts to the Devas, by the performance of Yajna and then give up
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