Bhagvan, an enlightened soul
Mantra 2.1
अथ हैनं भार्गवो वैदर्भिः पप्रच्छ ।
भगवन् कत्येव देवाः प्रजां विधारयन्ते
कतर एतत् प्रकाशयन्ते कःपुनरेषां वरिष्ठ इति ॥ २.१॥
atha hainaṃ bhārgavo vaidarbhiḥ papraccha
bhagavan katyeva devāḥ prajāṃ vidhārayante
katara etat prakāśayante kaḥ punareṣāṃ variṣṭha iti 2.1
Then, Bhargava of Vidarbha questioned, “O Bhagavan, how many Devas support the living beings? Which of them enlighten this? Again, who among them is the greatest?
The second disciple, Bhargava of Vidarbha, questions. The enquiry has moved from the object to the subject. Devas are that which lords the senses. The student asks, what is responsible for living beings? How does the individual respond? How does he act, and what are the instruments of the individual? Devas refers to the enlightening factor. What is the instrument of knowledge? What is it truly responsible for that experience?
Bhargava addresses the Guru Pippalada: ‘O Bhagavan,’ or Lord.
Six divine opulences, qualities which have to go together to be conferred the title of ‘Bhagavan’:
Wealth – One who is very resourceful at the material level.
Strength – You have the belief that you can achieve anything in life. Have the strength to control all the material temptations.
Fame – Universal recognition and enduring glory
Beauty – Charming and attractive personality
Knowledge – Awareness of the Eternal in the Ephemeral
Renunciation – Dispassion / Detachment of the lower
All these six qualities are of an enlightened soul known as Bhagavan, who is the supreme observer, synchronising all observations. Who amongst them is the greatest?
Q: In the list above, both wealth and vairagya are given. How can a person be wealthy and be dispassionate?
A: A person to be called a Bhagavan – should have these qualities to a point of perfection at an absolute level. It appears to be a contrasting quality of having wealth and yet being dispassionate to it. A man of perfection is resourceful materially, affluent, provided for, much more than what is required, contented, and yet dispassionate towards wealth. Apart from wealth, one can be dispassionate towards fame, strength, power, etc. Such a person is also called a Raja-Rishi. Wealth can be in any form. Lord Shiva is portrayed as someone who does not possess, and Lord Vishnu is married to the goddess of wealth.
Materiality is a by-product of spirituality. If you evolve spiritually, material wealth will come to you for the purposes you are working for. But the moment you start taking wealth as the sole purpose of your life and run behind it, wealth will allure and run away from you. The moment you turn away from it and work for the higher the lower will certainly come to you. That way, you are resourceful and protected. You don’t have to be at the mercy of those who arrogate themselves the wealth. Richness is measured by the values, innately rooted in the culture, and not merely hoarding money.
Detachment can be measured only when there is possession. When you have no possession, what are you are detached to?
Eg: I can resign a job only if I have a job. If I don’t have a job, what will I resign from?
Dispossession of anything by itself is a tamasic quality. You should be in a position where you would be resourceful.
Most of the people who possess become possessive of their possessions, which is a rajasic quality.
Renunciation is to have the dispossessive attitude while you are possessing and may even be enjoying your possessions. That is sattva. This is the reason why wealth and renunciation are held together in the qualities of a Bhagavan.
Q: Why is beauty a quality of Bhagavan?
A: Beauty means to have a magnetic personality. It is the spiritual aura that a realized person has and it expresses as beauty. People fall in love with their charismatic personality. It is not the physical look. It is their inner beauty that flows through.
In Bhagavad Gita Dhyana Shloka, Vyasa is being glorified; his eyes were like a fully bloomed lotus flower. Eyes gives beauty to a person. Eyes are beautiful means he had an attractive personality. This is what is associated as beauty in a spiritual person.
In 1st mantra, the student is asking how many devas support the living beings. Which of them is enlightened and who amongst them is greatest? The Lord answers in the second mantra.
