Tuesday 26 September 2017

Nine Attachments

In the 2nd Canto, Chapter 4, verse two of Srimad Bhagavatam we find an amazing qualification of Maharaj Parikshit by which he was able to give up his attachment for everything at the end of his life. Let see how with only one shot (whole-hearted attraction), he could give up nine strong attachments.

aatma-jaayaa sutaagaara / pashu dravina bandhushu
raajye caavikale nityam / virudhaam mamataam jahau

"Maharaja Parikshit, as a result of his wholehearted attraction for Lord Krishna, was able to give up all deep-rooted affection for his personal body, his wife, his children, his palace, his animals like horses and elephants, his treasury house, his friends and relatives, and his undisputed kingdom."

Suta Goswami very nicely lists the nine different kinds of attachments as follows in the above verse.

1. aatma—body; 
2. jaayaa—wife; 
3. suta—son; 
4. aagaara—palace; 
5. pashu - horses and elephants - (nowadays cars like BMW and Mercedes);
6. dravina—treasury house; 
7 8. bandhushu—unto friends and relatives;