Effect of karma

Desires may spring in the human consciousness but not all

get fulfilled. Their fulfilment is connected with each one’s

past karma and the efect of this is assuaged by worship of

the Lord.

This is the advice of Suniti to her five-year old son

whose is deeply hurt that his desire to sit on the lap of his

father, a rightful privilege as a son, is thwarted by his step

mother Suruchi. This apparently simple desire and its

consequences signify an important truth in the human

condition, pointed out Sri Damodhara Dikshitar in a

discourse.

Suniti says that though Suruchi was harsh to Dhruva she

has uttered the right thing — worship of the Lord would

help to fulfill one’s desires. The one way to overcome the

evil efects of one’s own past karma is to seek shelter at the

Lord’s feet. She adds that his great-grandfather Brahma

and his grandfather Swayambhuva Manu attained worldly

felicities and the bliss of liberation by propitiating the

Lord. Dhruva, a mere lad, who neither knows the sastras,

nor is aware of spiritual practices such as meditation or

devotion practised by sages, goes to the forest to seek the

Lord, with single-minded determination as his only asset.

Divine will brings Narada as his spiritual guide.

It is said that an incident in the life of the saint poet

Vijaya Dasa marks a turning point in his life. Being born in

a poor family, he reconciles himself to daily sparse meals

got from alms as his lot.

But once, when his hopes to enjoy a good meal on the

occasion of a grand neighbourhood wedding are not

realised, it becomes obvious to him that it is the efect of

his special lot and karma. He goes to Varanasi and is

inspired by Purandara Dasa into the bhakti tradition.