151. Learning from King Vali.

As per the epic Ramayana, king Vali (Bali) was invincible, as he had the ability to take away half of his enemy’s strength in any encounter. Even Lord Rama had to kill him from behind a tree. One way to look at this phenomenon is that Vali was a quick learner, he grasped the skills and knowledge from people and situations as he saw the possibility of Paramatma in them but not enmity.

Krishna earlier said that all the world is pervaded by Him (9.4) which indicates that each person or situation is nothing but a facet of Paramatma. However, our ignorance about this basic fact prevents us from being a ‘Vali’. Krishna in this regard says, “The ignorant, oblivious of my transcendental nature as the maker of all creatures, discount also my presence within the human form” (9.11). It’s not just about being ritualistic or heaping praise upon the Lord, but a deep realisation that He pervades every human around us whether we like them or not.

Certainly, the journey from ignorance to awareness is long and requires regular practice with determination (6.23). Ignorance is the low point about which Krishna says, “Of vain hopes, of vain actions, of vain knowledge, senseless, they verily are possessed of the delusive prakriti (nature) of rakshasas (fiends) and asuras (demons)” (9.12).

The pinnacle of this journey is that of a Mahatma (great souls) and Krishna says, “They, possessed of my divine nature, worship Me with an unwavering mind, having known Me to be the imperishable source of beings (9.13). Always glorifying Me, striving, firm in vows, prostrating before Me with devotion, ever steadfast, they worship Me (9.14). They worship Me as a manifold facing all directions” (9.15).

It’s about getting the best out of the situation by dropping hatred while performing karmas (actions) at hand (5.3). The key is complete surrender to the all-pervading Paramatma, regardless of the name or form.


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