Now I tell of the man free from pride, who has met the Lord Bhagwan himself -- that Lord who is master of all, the doer, the controller, the one who dwells within all hearts. In the mere play of whose eyebrow, millions of universes are destroyed and created -- such an all-powerful Maharaj is the sovereign over all. Whatever he wills, that deed is done; what he has ordained, none can alter. He who is the cause of all causes has himself taken a body upon this earth. Such is Purushottam, the Supreme Brahman, of whom the Vedas say only "not this, not this" -- beyond description; he has taken human form and brings about the liberation of countless souls.
Setting aside his own greatness, the Lord has come to dwell together with mere men; though himself the Master, he has made himself humble, and shows honor to worldly people. He even endures the world's mockery, yet the Imperishable One takes no pride. See how much Rishabhdev endured, having embraced utter humility. See the compassionate Kapildev, whom a king rushed to kill. See Vamanji's humility, who as a mere dwarf received a boon even from King Bali, the giver of boons. See how humble Ram was -- bound at last by the serpent-noose. See how mighty Krishna was -- yet setting aside pride, he became Arjuna's own charioteer. These and many other avatars, too many to recount -- see how humble Maharaj is even now, in the present age.
Though himself all-powerful, and though all submit to him, he adopts this very quality of humility; even when the lowliest soul shows him contempt, he feels not the slightest anger toward it. Now, as for the servants of such a Lord -- how could they fail to bear mockery? When their very Lord is humble, how could his people expect honor?
Those who cling to pride are demons and rakshasas; a devotee should always be one who has conquered pride. Pride was needed by Hiranyaksha's kind, who waged war seeking glory. Pride was needed by Hiranyakashipu, whom none in the world could conquer; pride was needed by ones like Ravana, and other such rakshasas. Pride was needed by King Kansa, and others -- Shalva, Shishupal; pride was needed by Jarasandh; pride was needed by blind Dhritarashtra. Pride was needed by Duryodhan, and other such figures -- such wicked ones alone deserve pride; the devotee of Hari, however, stays far from pride.
By pride, even Jay and Vijay fell from Vaikuntha. By pride Indra, lord of the gods, fell; by pride King Nahusha fell. By pride King Yayati fell, and many other gods and demons fell as well. By pride Chitraketu was crushed and became Vritrasura himself. By pride Daksha suffered great sorrow, met death, and had his face ruined. By pride Ravana's kingdom was lost; by pride many have met their ruin. By pride the Kaurava lineage perished; by pride Kansa's very roots were destroyed. By pride gods and demons alike suffer -- who has ever become happy by holding onto pride?
In heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld, pride has struck down and destroyed men and women. Lust, anger, and greed may eventually depart, but pride -- that is never easily given up. It is no one else's fault -- pride has ruined kings and beggars alike. One will hardly find a man anywhere whose mind is not drawn to pride.
Some leave their homes for the forest, sit in solitude and perform devotions, give up grain and eat only fruit and flowers -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some chant the holy name, some wander the earth, bathe in the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some let their nails and hair grow long, go on pilgrimages, wander from land to land, wear no shoes on their feet -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some remain naked ascetics, some smear their bodies with ash; they go nowhere near wealth or women -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some become knowers and expound knowledge, some become meditators and practice meditation; some become devotees and sing God's praises -- but even then, pride is not given up.
Some keep a patched cloth and a ragged blanket, some lie wherever they happen to be, enduring heat and cold upon their bodies -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some keep silence with their mouths, some eat nothing cooked, eating whatever comes, raw or cooked -- but even then, pride is not given up. Some become ascetics and perform austerities, some become chanters and perform japa; they give up clothing and ornaments by choice -- but even then, pride is not given up. Poets, scholars, the learned, holy men, yogis, ascetics, chaste women, brave warriors -- they would rather die than give up pride -- even then, pride is not given up. All die caught in the illusion of pride; before pride, countless have been humbled.
Having set aside such pride, the great ones worship the Lord with true love. Having set aside pride in body and universe alike, the sants remain forever enraptured; they desire no other honor, for their understanding has become truly great. He regards himself as the very form of the Atma, and thus is regarded as one with the form of Brahman. The gross, subtle, and causal bodies, waking, dream, and deep sleep -- mind, intellect, consciousness, and ego, the vital breaths and the retinue of the five senses, the five subtle elements and the seven bodily constituents -- all these combined make up this body. Just as the equipment of the body has been described, so too is the arrangement of the universe. Beyond that lies Prakriti and Purusha, and beyond even that, Brahman, one single essence. Existence, consciousness, and bliss -- such is understood to be our own true form. Then, from Brahma down to the smallest worm, how could the sant fall into delusion over any of it?
Having themselves become the very form of the Atma, the devotees are joyful and their desires perfectly fulfilled; having set aside pride in both body and universe, they have become one with Brahman, forever enraptured. Those absorbed in such true pride desire no other honor; their minds are drawn to nothing else, only to please Purushottam.
Thus have the wise sants understood; no craving remained for them. From beginning to end, in every stage, such people renounced pride and worshipped the Lord. Understanding this, the sants today have cast off pride from body and mind; thus have they become humble, they who have met the Lord Bhagwan in person. Having renounced the pride of body and mind, they remain forever enraptured in Hari; lust, greed, taste, attachment, and pride -- these five they have set aside. Having sought out and destroyed the enemy, they became victorious and gained great acclaim; with the five enemies slain, sin departed -- such is the glory of the manifest Lord. These five fierce enemies hold sway over body and universe alike; having conquered them, they attained bliss, they who met Swami Sahajanand.
Thus they remain naturally established in satsang, true to the five vows -- lust, greed, and taste, attachment and pride, all understood and renounced. Such is the way of the renunciants; thus do many munis abide. Now I shall tell you, listen all -- of the resolve of the Sankhya-yogi women.
Thus, in the Bhaktachintamani composed by Nishkulanand Muni, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the glorious Ekantik Dharma, the chapter named "The Vow of Freedom from Pride," the one hundred and tenth chapter, is concluded.