p430 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p431w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p432
----- bhagap431.html
Isvara, the eternal friend of Puranjana, is most busy in the
Vaivasvata Manvantara. Every effort is made to raise humanity
to a higher level and to open out all the possibilities of man.
First, the enjoyments of Svarga are held out before the rising
vision of men as an allurement. Man admires those enjoyments
and makes every effort to attain them. The Vedic sacrifice is reveal-
ed to Pururavas, who becomes mad after Urvasi, the nymph of Svarga.
Later on, the heavenly cow, Surabhi, attracts Visvamitra. And he
becomes the chief actor in the promulgation of Vedic sacrifice. In
the firmness of resolve, in the bold and determined pursuit of objects,
and in the in to lerance of inferiority, Visvamitra stands prominently
out as an example to humanity, for all ages to come and it is meet
and proper that in the next Manvantara, he will act as one of the
seven sages guiding the affairs of the universe.
The Karma Kanda of the Vedas is a monument of Visva-
mitara's gigantic efforts for the good of humanity. Isvara made
revelations. He prompted the sages.
If the Karma Kanda holds out the allurements of Svarga
life, it lays down rules and restrictions at the same time, that regulate
life and beget temperance and moderation. Meritorious acts are en-
joined and acts that retard evolution are prohibited. Men do what is
good and avoid what is evil, that they may attain heavenly things.
They do what is right and shun what is wrong, not because that is
the Law, the divine will, but because it gives them some reward.
All the same, the mind is trained, the man curbed and regulated.
The bitter pill is taken and if the child thinks that it is for the sweet-
meat he is only mistaken. When the child grows he knows, that he
takes the bitter pill as it is the law of nature that he should do so. Do
what is right, because that is the law. Shun what is wrong, because
it is against the law. We are all carried forward by the law, and we
must willingly give ourselves up to that law. When we do that, we
partake ourselves of divine life. The ground had to be prepared
for further teachings.
Events in Svarga foreshadow and forestall events that are to
transpire on the earth. The Devas and Asuras by their mutual fight
in Svarga bring about a state of things which casts its shadow on
the earth below.
Two great events happened in Svarga the killing of Vritra,
and the deposition of Bali.
[[431]]
p430 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p431w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p432
v?