Vaat 4.64
Swamini Vato Prakaran 4 Vaat 64 · 4 · Verse 64
Sanskrit Original
“Upāsanā draḍh hoy ne dhan-strīmā levāī jāy, te alp doṣh kahevāy.” Tyāre Harishankarbhāīe pūchhyu je, “Lokmā to je na levāto hoy tenu sāru dekhāy.” Tyāre Swāmī bolyā je, “Loknu shu kām chhe? Mūḷ tapāso ne!”
“If one has firm upāsanā and yet submits to women or wealth - that is a trivial defect.” Harishankarbhai asked, “In the world, one who does not submit appears better.” Swami responded, “What do we care with the world? Examine the root!”1 Footnotes: 1. 1. Swami is explaining that upāsanā has a greater importance than observance of niyam-dharma. If a renunciant or householder lapses in niyams related to women and wealth, that is a trivial lapse, because one can atone for these sins. However, if one has firmness in niyam-dharma but lacks upāsanā, then he cannot attain ultimate liberation. One with firm upāsanā would never intentionally lapse from niyam-dharma, however.