Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 11, Chapters: 7 & 8
King Yadu asked Avadhut Dattatreya how He wandered through the world completely detached and ever blissful. Dattatreya replied that He had learned from various aspects of nature and had accepted twenty-four gurus: (1) Earth, (2) Air, (3) Sky, (4) Water, (5) Fire, (6) Moon, (7) Sun, (8) Pigeon, (9) Python, (10) Ocean, (11) Moth, (12) Honeybee, (13) Elephant, (14) Honey Gatherer, (15) Deer, (16) Fish, (17) Pingala, (18) Kurara Bird (osprey/hawk), (19) Child, (20) Maiden, (21) Arrow-maker, (22) Serpent, (23) Spider, and (24) Bhringi Insect.
Dattatreya said, "From the Earth I learned patience, forgiveness, and selfless service. Just as the Earth endures everyone's assaults without being disturbed, a seeker should remain firmly established on the spiritual path without becoming angry at others' behaviour. And just as mountains and trees dedicate everything they possess for the welfare of others, the life of a saint should likewise be devoted to the welfare of the world.
"From the Air I learned that a seeker should accept only what is necessary for sustaining life and should not desire sense objects merely for sense gratification. Just as the air moves among all things yet remains untouched by their virtues and faults, a seeker should likewise live in this world without attachment and without deviating from the spiritual goal. Just as the air carries fragrance without becoming attached to it, a self-realised soul experiences the pleasures and pains of the body while remaining completely detached from them.
"From the Sky I learned that just as space pervades everything while remaining one, indivisible, and unattached, the one Supreme Lord is equally present within all living beings. Because of the differences between bodies, He appears to be many, but in reality, He is one alone. Just as the sky remains untouched by creation and all its changes, the Self likewise remains completely unaffected by birth, death, and all the transformations of the material world.
"From Water I learned purity, sweetness, and the power to purify others. A seeker's nature should be such that merely by seeing him, touching him, hearing his words, or associating with him, people are spiritually uplifted.
"From Fire I learned that a seeker should be radiant, austere, free from unnecessary possessions, and master of the senses. Just as fire consumes everything yet remains untouched by what it burns, a seeker should remain detached even while coming into contact with sense objects. Just as fire is sometimes manifest and sometimes hidden, a seeker should reveal or conceal himself according to time and circumstance. And just as fire appears differently in different pieces of wood while remaining distinct from them, the one Self appears differently in various bodies while always remaining completely separate from them.
"From the Moon I learned that although its phases appear to wax and wane with the passage of time, the Moon itself neither increases nor decreases. It always remains the same. Similarly, from birth to death, the body passes through childhood, youth, old age, and many other conditions, but none of these affects the Self. The Self always remains unchanged.
"Just as the flame of a fire or a lamp changes every moment, yet appears to us to burn continuously, the body is likewise changing at every moment under the influence of time. New cells are constantly being formed while old ones perish. Yet because of ignorance, we fail to perceive this continual transformation.”
Dattatreya continued, "From the Sun I learned that just as the sun draws water from the earth through its rays and, at the proper time, returns it as rain, a yogi similarly uses sense objects only as much as necessary and readily gives them up when the time comes. He never becomes attached to them.
"I learned another lesson from the Sun. The sun appears reflected in many pots filled with water. To an observer, it seems as though there is a different sun in each vessel, but in reality, there is only one sun. Similarly, because of the differences between bodies, it appears that each living being possesses a separate soul. This, however, is merely an illusion born of ignorance. In reality, the Self is one alone. Just as the sun is not many, the Self too is one in its essential nature and admits no division.
"From the Pigeon, I learned that one should never become excessively attached to any person or object. Excessive attachment destroys a person's freedom of thought and ultimately causes suffering.
“Once, there lived a pigeon and his mate in a forest. They built a nest in a tree and lived there together happily for many years. Gradually, their attachment to one another became so intense that they were always together, whether sleeping, wandering, eating, playing, or talking. Their minds remained completely absorbed in each other.
“In due course, the female pigeon laid eggs, from which several young chicks were born. Both parents loved their little ones dearly. They carefully nurtured them, rejoiced in hearing their sweet chirping, and delighted in watching their innocent movements.
“One day, both the pigeon and his mate flew into the forest in search of food for their young. During their absence, a bird-catcher happened to pass by. Seeing the helpless chicks near the nest, he spread his net and captured them.
“When the female pigeon returned carrying food, she saw her little ones struggling helplessly in the net. Overwhelmed with grief, she lost all sense of herself. In her desperate attempt to rescue her children, she flew straight into the very same net and was trapped.
“A short while later, the male pigeon also returned. Seeing both his beloved mate and his children caught in the hunter's net, he was overcome with sorrow and began to lament.
“He cried, 'Alas! Everything dear to me has been destroyed. My beloved wife and my children are gone. What purpose does my life serve now? For whose sake shall I continue living in this empty home?’
“Blinded by grief and attachment, he lost all discrimination. Though he clearly saw the net before him, he, too, jumped into it. The bird-catcher was overjoyed. Now the entire pigeon family, the male, the female, and all their young, had been caught in his net. Gathering them together, he departed.”
Shree Dattatreya said, "A person who regards his family, wealth, and worldly relationships as the source of all happiness while forgetting Bhagwan ultimately meets the same fate as that pigeon. Such a person can never attain true peace.
"This human birth is a rare opportunity bestowed by Bhagwan for attaining God-realisation and liberation. If, after obtaining this precious human body, one remains entangled only in attachment to home and family, one falls from a very exalted position. The scriptures describe such a person as ārūḍha-chyuta, one who had the opportunity to attain the highest state but fell from it because of attachment."
Shree Dattatreya continued, "O King! Just as a person receives suffering according to his past karma, whether he desires it or not, in the same way, the pleasures of the senses also come of their own accord when the time is right, without extraordinary effort. Therefore, one who understands this truth neither runs after worldly pleasures nor exhausts himself trying to obtain or avoid them.
"From the Python, I learned to remain content with whatever comes naturally, without asking or desiring. Whether the food is simple or delicious, little or abundant, one should sustain one's life with whatever is received and keep the mind peaceful.
"Just as a python lies patiently even when it goes without food for many days, a person should likewise remain patient and content with whatever comes by Bhagwan's will. Although the python possesses great strength, it does not engage in unnecessary activity. Similarly, even if a seeker possesses physical strength, mental power, and capable senses, he should avoid needless restlessness and unnecessary actions. He should act only when required and spend the rest of his time absorbed in the remembrance of Bhagwan.
"From the Ocean, I learned that a seeker should remain cheerful, peaceful, and grave under all circumstances. His heart should be deep, vast, and steady like the ocean. No external event should disturb the tranquillity of his mind.
"I learned another lesson from the Ocean. During the rainy season, countless rivers pour their waters into it, yet the ocean does not overflow its shores. Likewise, during the summer, when the rivers diminish, the ocean neither grieves nor becomes diminished.
"In the same way, a devotee of Bhagwan does not become excessively delighted upon receiving wealth, honour, pleasure, or other worldly enjoyments, nor does he become dejected when they are taken away. He remains established in equanimity and contentment under all circumstances.
"From the Moth, I learned that infatuation with physical beauty and outward attraction can lead to one's downfall. The moth is irresistibly drawn to the brilliance of a flame. It does not realise that the very light which attracts it will become the cause of its destruction. In the end, it falls into the fire and is consumed. Similarly, a person who becomes captivated by beauty and external charm loses discrimination and ultimately suffers.
"Therefore, a seeker should remain vigilant against the attractions of the senses and should never lose sight of the goal of life by becoming entangled in external glitter.
"A sannyasi should sustain himself like the bumblebee, causing no inconvenience to householders. He should obtain only a few pieces of bread from several homes, sufficient to maintain his body.
"Just as the bumblebee gathers nectar from many flowers, whether large or small, a wise person should similarly extract the essence from all the scriptures, regardless of their size or complexity.
"From the Honeybee, I learned that a seeker, especially a sannyasi, should never accumulate more than necessary. He should accept only as much as is needed for the present. His hands are his begging bowl, and his stomach is his storehouse.
"Honeybees spend their entire lives collecting honey, yet in the end, they are unable to enjoy it themselves. Someone else comes and takes it away, and often the bees themselves are put in danger.
"In the same way, a person who accumulates more than necessary eventually becomes burdened by anxiety, fear, and sorrow because of those very possessions. Therefore, a seeker should accept only what is required, avoid hoarding, place his faith in Bhagwan, and live with contentment.
"From the Elephant, I learned that attachment to sense enjoyment becomes the cause of a seeker's bondage. Just as a mighty elephant is captured because of its attraction to a female elephant, a person who becomes entangled in sense objects also falls from the spiritual path. Therefore, a seeker should always remain vigilant against sensual temptations.
"From the Honey Gatherer, I learned that a greedy person spends his entire life labouring to accumulate wealth and possessions, yet neither uses them wisely nor shares them in charity. In the end, everything he has collected is enjoyed by someone else.
"Just as honeybees painstakingly gather honey only to have the honey gatherer come and take it away before they can enjoy it, so too the wealth amassed by a miser is ultimately consumed by others.
"From the Deer, I learned that a seeker should beware of songs, music, and entertainments that stimulate attachment to sense pleasures. The deer becomes so enchanted by sweet music that it loses awareness of its surroundings. Taking advantage of this, the hunter easily captures it.
“Likewise, if a seeker becomes attached to songs, music, or entertainment that nourish worldly desires, the mind gradually turns away from Bhagwan and becomes absorbed in the world, causing one to deviate from the spiritual path.
"An example of this is Rishyashringa Muni. Although he was exceptionally pure and austere, he became captivated by the songs, music, and dancing of women and eventually came under their influence.
"From the Fish, I learned that greed for taste can become the cause of one's downfall. Just as a fish is caught because of its craving for the bait attached to a hook and thereby loses its life, a person who becomes a slave to the tongue likewise loses discrimination and ultimately suffers.
"I also observed that while a seeker may comparatively easily control the other senses, conquering the tongue, the craving for taste, is the most difficult of all. Merely reducing one's food or fasting does not completely subdue it; in many cases, its demands become even stronger.
"Therefore, until a person has gained mastery over the tongue, he cannot truly be called jitendriya, one who has conquered the senses. But if he succeeds in overcoming the craving for taste, he has, to a great extent, conquered all the other senses as well."
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 17.07.2026
