Question 1: As per the Bhagavad-gita sloka 4.8 “paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskrtam..” the Godhead commits Himself to come to the world for performing His duties. This being the case, how we can aspire for a condition of no birth? Hence, for us too, birth is certain, and consequently sufferings and worldly pleasures are equally certain. Bondage to this world is unavoidable and permanent. As Godhead has a larger duty to perform, each and every soul has duties assigned to them for which they have to take birth. This makes it clear that our prayer can only be for the support of Godhead in doing our duties (dharma) correctly and effectively. Is this not correct?
Answer by Romapada Swami: There are several assumptions you have made, which need to be addressed. First, when Krishna appears, He comes of His own will, not out of obligation to perform some duty. His duties are not obligatory, like ours are for us. He states this directly in Bhagavad-gita.
It is true that the Lord has created the material world and declares that He will come again and again to establish peace. However, the Lord also describes His abode as lying beyond this material creation; He confirms that the spiritual world is the highest destination for the conditioned soul. Krishna also promises that those who go there do not have to come back to this material region. (Cf. Bg 15.6; Bg 8.15,16). The material world exists, and we are temporarily within it. But the soul is not bound here; he actually belongs to the spiritual region.
A simple analogy is that the State maintains a prison, and the head of the State may visit the prison from time to time for the benefit of the prisoners, but that does not mean that the head of State has become a prisoner by his entering into the prison house; rather, if the common prisoner manages to rectify his consciousness and become a reformed individual, and if he becomes an obedient citizen, on the request of the head of State he may be set free.
While in this world, we have act within the Lord’s plan for us, i.e. we must fulfill our God-given duties. But our higher duty is to heed to Krishna’s call, which is to go back to His eternal abode, on the strength of His mercy and our unalloyed devotion to Him.
NOTE: In the following questions there are several overlapping points. In answering a question, I have not repeated points already explained in previous questions of that section.
Question 2: I need little more illustration on the following: “Dharme Rakshita Rakshitaha” – which means “If you protect Dharma it will protect you”. What is Dharma in this materialistic world for a family man? Is it to not cheat others, to speak truth, to not harm others (manasa, vacha, karmana)?
“Service to people is service to God”: Does this mean to not be self-centered in this life? If you are fortunate to have material benefits in this world, are you to share a little for the sake of others who are less fortunate, have concern for fellow human beings, etc. After all we are children of the same God. Is this is act of Dharma?
Answer by Romapada Swami: The Sanskrit word ‘dharma’ refers to one’s constitutional nature or occupation. For example, we can say that the ‘dharma’ of fire is heat and light. Similarly, the dharma of soul is to serve. This service has to be directed to the Supreme Lord, and anything that furthers the development of that pure service has to be taken up as our duty. (Cf. Bhag 2.6) As part of that duty we may try to serve others, family and society, to help them also in executing their ultimate dharma of progressing spiritually. So, a partial answer to your question is, “Yes, the items you have mentioned are all parts of dharma.”
Please note, however, that Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 1.2.8) indicates that these duties are unfortunately wastes of labor if the performer of duties does not awaken an attraction for hearing topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, this attainment is the actual intended goal of all sacrifices, charity, duties, good works, etc.
Question 3: I have been trying to understand the purpose of our life, what is our duty in this world including fulfilling the family obligations.
Answer by Romapada Swami: The purpose of this human life is to understand that we are not this body, but we are spiritual by nature and eternal servants of the Supreme Lord. By understanding this, we have to revive our lost loving relationship with God. And our duty is simply to do those activities that will help this realization and revive our love for God, as mentioned in the scriptures. Hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord are the best ways by which we can achieve this. Other duties are not contradictory or independent but simply subsidiary to this prime duty.
Question 4: In family life, one has to look after wife, children, earn sufficient money for their better education, health, and comfort. One has to look after parents in their old age. We cannot just forget this materialistic life. As a head of a family one has to fulfill many of these duties at his best.
Answer by Romapada Swami: Amongst these and many other obligations we have, the supreme obligation is to our Supreme Father, Who is the actual maintainer of all of us. By fulfilling that obligation, all others are fulfilled, just as by watering the root of the tree, one takes care of the whole tree.
Question 5: How can I solve this dilemma? I have surrendered completely to Lord Krishna, but I am also a human being. I need to do something for my family and friends. But these services take me away from Krishna.
Answer by Romapada Swami: The secret is to keep Krishna in the center of one’s life and dovetail all other duties in the fulfillment of that primary service. One must act responsibly in taking care of the need of family and friends ultimately for the sake of assisting them and ones own self in achieving the goal of life. If we keep this in clear focus, then being with family and friends need not take us away from Krishna or His teachings. Arjuna was also a family man, and had the responsibility of ruling the whole world!
