Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Itasca

Jay Shree Swaminarayan

Instinct of envy

Chapter-4

In Samvat 1876, on the seventh day of the first fortnight of the month of Margshirsh, Shriji Maharaj was seated in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at Gadhada. He was dressed in all white attire. Saints and the devotees from the various places were seated before him.

Then Shriji Mahraj said, "The devotees of God should not nourish the feelings of envy amongst themselves." Then Anandanand Swami said "Maharaj ! It but persists, as per it's nature." Then Shriji Maharaja said, "If it is so, and so called envy persists, you should follow the example of Narad in relation to that envy. Once upon a time, Narad and Tumbru went to Vaikunth for the Darshan of Lakshmiji and Narayan. Tumbru sang before them. Lakshmi and Narayan were profoundly pleased at the art of Tumbru's singing and they, as the token of their propitiation, gave him their rich garments and the ornaments. There upon Narad felt belittled and nursed a feeling of envy for Tumbru. He thought that he would also learn the art of singing, then will sing before Lakshmi and Narayan and will please them like Tumbru. He then learnt singing and sang before Goddess Lakshmi and the Lord Narayan, but they said "Narad ! You do not possess that art which Tumbru displays". To propitate Lord Shiva and by his blessings to attain proficiency like that of Tumbru, Narad once again began a very austere Tapas. Shiva was pleased by his Tapas and blessed him for such proficiency. Now once again, Narad sang before Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi, but they were not pleased. For seven Manvantras he tired to attain that proficency which Tumbur possessed and every time he sang before Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayan, but was not appreiciated. Ultimately, he respectfully, approached Tumbru for learning this art. After some time Narad went to Dwarika and displayed his art of singing before Lord Shri Krishna, who was pleased at his attainment of such proficency and gave him his valuable clothes and the ornaments. If at all anyone sustains a feeling of envy for another, he should try t o imbibe his virtues of which he falls short and for which he feels envy. If one can not become like that should shed his envy and envious instinct totally which rather may reject a devotee.

Thus Ends Vachanamriti : Gadhada - 4