Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 108

Now I tell the way of one indifferent to taste, who has given up love of flavor -- knowing every taste to be present in HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → himself, his mind's inclination is never drawn toward greed for taste anywhere. Having drunk of that supreme nectar, he has become enraptured; even in dream he no longer delights in worldly happiness, having understood sensory pleasure to be worthless.

Whoever has drunk that supreme nectar no longer relishes any other taste in his mind. Even Shukji and others who drank this nectar took no delight in any other flavor. Sanaka and his brothers drank this nectar, as did the nine great Yogeshwars. King Janaka too drank this nectar, and his mind never rested on drinking any other. The devotee Prahlad drank this nectar, and his mind never assented to any other taste. Dhruva and Ambarish drank this nectar, and the gopis, and Arjuna drank this nectar. The devotee Jayadev drank this nectar, as did Uddhava; these and other great sages drank this supreme nectar and became enraptured.

Whoever has drunk of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s nectar has turned away in disgust from the taste of worldly life. Whatever taste remains in all fourteen worlds has become, by comparison, like something bitter and rejected. Whoever has drunk this full, supreme nectar can no longer accept anything else in his mind. This very nectar has come to us today, and it surpasses every other taste. There is no other taste equal to this -- the one we have drunk. Any taste other than this should be understood to be nothing but suffering.

Those who are drawn to other tastes are bound like fish in a net; they have lost their very selves and suffered ruin, having bound their love to mere taste. If one becomes a renunciant and then still craves taste, his very renunciant-ness is lost. Sugar, salt, gheegheeThis is clarified butter or pure butter that is formed by heating it until the impurities in it settle to the bottom.Tap to open in glossary →, spices, and the like -- to consider these as objects of relish is the fault.

Salty, sour, pungent, sharp, sweet, rich -- whatever pleases the mind -- if one has it fetched to satisfy the mind's craving and eats it, there is a real flaw in his detachment. Shiro, puri, soft vermicelli, fine sweets, and soft breads -- to crave various such delicacies is a real flaw in one's detachment. To relish what is warm and soft, to eat tasty food carefully prepared just so, and to feel no aversion while eating it -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment. To hide away whatever tastes good, driven by an eager appetite to eat it, and to run after taste day and night -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment. To praise and describe some delicacy so vividly that the mouth waters on hearing it, and to make efforts to obtain it -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment. The tongue demands various tastes, and people become slaves to the tongue; such a person can never give up craving taste -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment.

Taste nourishes the five senses, and nourishing the five senses only increases negligence; then PurushottamPurushottamGod. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth forTap to open in glossary → can no longer be truly worshipped -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment. Whoever loves to nourish the five senses -- what could he understand of the way of the supreme nectar? To take pride on seeing his own body grown stout -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment. One who craves taste day and night can never truly be called a devotee of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →; he is to be reckoned no better than a mere water-creature -- this is a real flaw in one's detachment.

Whoever is called a devotee of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, his mind is never drawn by greed; whoever has drunk this supreme nectar remains forever enraptured. One in whose heart dwells true detachment -- who could ever cause him sorrow? With his heart forever fixed in meditation on HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, he remains enraptured. Having understood what is essential and what is not, he holds every trivial thing in contempt; he has kept God enshrined within -- and remains enraptured. From Brahma down to the smallest worm, every pleasure and pain has its end; but whoever is attuned wholly to PurushottamPurushottamGod. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth forTap to open in glossary → remains enraptured.

Such sants of pure understanding gather and say: look at the way of this soul -- even those who should keep the name of Ram on their lips instead keep forbidden things there. Some spoil the very mouth that should worship Shri HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, by intoxicants -- they smoke ganja, drink bhangbhangAn intoxicating drink produced from cannabis leaves.Tap to open in glossary →, take other intoxicants, and eat meat for the taste of the tongue. In the very mouth that should worship the Supreme Brahman, they instead consume tobacco; they eat forbidden things for the sake of intoxication -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. The mouth meant for worshipping HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, they instead fill with bhangbhangAn intoxicating drink produced from cannabis leaves.Tap to open in glossary →; even if offered a smoke, they do not refuse it -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. The mouth from which God's name should shine forth is instead reeking of asafoetida and garlic; and this sinner delights even in onions -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. The mouth that should sing HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s praises, that same mouth consumes opium; they prepare narcotic drinks and do wrong -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. The mouth that should daily worship HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, that same mouth -- the sinner -- drinks toddy; they equip themselves fully for hell -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. Through intoxication reason departs, wisdom flees and one becomes stupefied; yet the shameless feel no shame -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure.

All these vices that have been named exist only within the inclination toward taste; whoever does not renounce them -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure. In taste dwell many thorns; taste is the root of every sin. From taste, the very furnishings of hell are assembled -- such men have earned the Lord's displeasure.

Seeing so many faults, the sants never crave taste in any way; whatever food comes at whatever time, they eat it without complaint, seeing it without fault. Like the python and the bee in their manner, the sants hold to non-attachment; either unsought food comes to them, or else they go begging from many houses. Whether raw or cooked, dry or mixed, fruit, root, flower, or ground grain -- whatever is HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →'s own consecrated food, the devotees eat it and become joyful.

But whoever makes special effort merely for the sake of taste cannot be called indifferent to taste. The wise eat whatever comes naturally, and sustain their life however it may be. Giving up all hope for taste or distaste alike, they worship God with every single mouthful; whoever has true detachment within has renounced taste entirely. Catechu, lime, betel leaf and areca nut, cardamom and fine cinnamon, mace and cloves, and other such mouth-fresheners -- these they do not desire. Perfumed oils, sandalwood paste, scented oil, garlands of flowers, and fragrant oils -- the renunciant does not desire these upon his body either, one in whose mind true detachment dwells.

Whatever foods and drinks have been sought and named above, the sants have renounced them all, remaining vigilant; they have formed a deep and thorough aversion to them, one that never wavers, come what may. Just as men have conquered lust and greed, so too has the santsantA sãdhu. A tyãgi. In the Vachanãmrut, sant refers to sat- purush.Tap to open in glossary → conquered taste; when the destruction of desire is complete from deep within, only then is the outward craving truly given up. Whatever is renounced only outwardly, by force, still harbors taste secretly within; given the chance, it strikes; if not, it sits and listens for its opportunity. That craving departs only through inner renunciation; by no other means, not even by ten million methods, can it be removed. Renunciation, detachment, discernment and reflection -- these exist only where the Lord himself dwells. Without him, mere outward garb of renunciation cannot remove even a trace of lust and the rest. It is only when true love for the Lord arises that lust, greed, and craving for taste flee.

Thus, whoever has conquered taste, all his negligence has been removed; having conquered taste, they have become pure of themselves, through the grace of Swami Sahajanand.

By their very nature, this is how it remains within the sants -- even when it is available, their minds do not waver toward it; how then would they desire what is not even available? Thus have the crown-jewels among the sants conquered taste; their love extends beyond body and universe alike -- I shall now tell of such sants, indifferent to worldly attachment.

Thus, in the Bhaktachintamani composed by Nishkulanand MuniMuniSãdhu.Tap to open in glossary →, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the glorious Ekantik DharmaDharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, the chapter named "The Vow of Indifference to Taste," the one hundred and eighth chapter, is concluded.