Your Awareness of Sri Hari Is His Gift

Bhagawan reaches out.
Reaches out to the deserving.

We think, he takes care of only those who go to him on their own, voluntarily.
Had he not reached out to you, how would you even have known that he existed.
That is his mercy.

So, don’t think you are finding about his greatness using your own independent, whatever, go to him and then he takes care of you.
No, he only comes to you.

Bhagawan himself sent Akrura to Hastinapuri.
Kunti was very intelligent and very sharp. Her discretion between right and wrong was sharp. Her awareness between right and wrong was sharp. This is called viveka.

She had five sons –

Yudhishthira - युधि युद्धे स्थिरः
He doesn’t run away from battle. He knows what is kshatriya dharma. He wouldn’t run away from battle.

Bhima – भयहेतौ भीमः
He is Bhima because he causes fear in others, who will cause fear? Only someone who is strong.
So dharma first, then strength.

Then Arjuna
करोमि कर्म्म शुद्धञ्च तेन मामर्ज्जुनं विदुः
Arjuna means – one whose acts are pure, clear, straightforward.
So Arjuna means purity, straightforwardness.

Nakula - नास्ति कुलमस्य
He doesn’t have family. He doesn’t have attachment.
Nakula means detachment.

Sahadeva – to be with God, piety, being pious, faith in God.

So from intelligence, from viveka – see what all is born?
Dharma, strength, purity, detachment and piety.
They can only exist where intelligence and viveka are there.

Where you don’t see these, then you may probably have to redefine your criteria of intelligence.
An intelligent being will always end up being dharmic, pure, detached and pious and he would become strong thus.

Everything is connected you see. You need to see these connections. Don’t think these names were picked up at random, or the ones who named them Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna… thought so and named them thus.
No, they would have never consciously thought so. Unless we go and tell them this, they would probably not realize this.
But that is how it is.

When we say that everything is interconnected, everything has a meaning significance in Bhagawan’s scheme of things – this is what it means.

Why was Dhritarashtra blind? What is blindness? Lack of vision, lack of viveka.
And he displayed all the characteristics of lack of viveka.
Obsession with his children, possessiveness.

I am not saying that the blind lack viveka or discretion. That is not the intention.
This is one way of tagging that karma does, putting a label to identify.
In another case blindness could also mean something as noble as detachment.
So, I am not saying being blind means something bad.
But here in this case when in combination, this is what is being conveyed.

And Akrura was Bhagawan’s messenger – why did Bhagawan send Akrura as the messenger.
Akrura – means – not krura – not cruel.
So the message comes from Bhagwan – don’t be cruel.
Let possessiveness, let partiality towards your own sons not overpower you, make you cruel. Be impartial, be kind.
Akrura.

This is what we should understand. Everything is clearly planned. If Almighty can go to the extent of such intricate planning, even in naming of people, what is in our hand.

Everything else, all the upadeshas, be righteous, be kind, be truthful are only to enable you to get this clarity.
But, then isn’t that also in his hand? Enabling this clarity?
Making one righteous, making one good, making one kind, making one truthful.
Even that is in his hands.

That is why it is called a leela. His divine play.

• If Bhagavan reaches out first, what is my role?
  Respond. Say yes. Show up daily with remembrance, gratitude, and honest effort. Grace opens the door; you walk through it.

• How do I know it is grace and not coincidence?
  When events nudge you toward dharma, clarity, and inner quiet, that is grace. Coincidence flatters the ego; grace purifies it.

• Does bhakti reduce personal effort?
  No. Bhakti sharpens effort. You still act, but without panic and ego clutching. Results become offerings, not obsessions.

• What practical habits invite Lakshmi’s grace at home?
  Cleanliness, truth in dealings, timely payments, gratitude before meals, sharing food, and avoiding waste. Lakshmi stays where order, honesty, and generosity live.

• How does viveka look in everyday choices?
  Choosing long-term right over short-term comfort. Saying ‘no’ to what weakens you. Saying ‘yes’ to what strengthens character and service.

• How do dharma, strength, purity, detachment, and piety fit together?
  Dharma gives direction, strength executes, purity keeps motives clean, detachment prevents greed, piety keeps you aligned with Bhagavan. Drop one, and the rest wobble.

• What does ‘detachment’ mean inside family life?
  Love fully, but do not treat people as possessions. Guide without control. Support without smothering. Correct without cruelty.

• How do I stay impartial as a parent?
  Praise effort, not favoritism. Correct with calm rules, not moods. Ask, ‘Is this fair if roles were reversed?’ Then act.

• How do I prevent possessiveness from turning into cruelty?
  Notice the early signs: jealousy, harsh words, double standards. Stop, breathe, remember you are a trustee, not an owner. Choose kindness with firm boundaries.

• What is a healthy way to seek wealth under Lakshmi’s gaze?
  Earn by rightful means, price fairly, deliver quality, pay on time, share a portion, and keep accounts clean. Wealth gained with purity stays; the rest leaks.

• How does prayer help physical health in real terms?
  It steadies breath, reduces stress, and improves discipline. Lower stress supports sleep, digestion, and blood pressure. Use prayer alongside proper medical care.

• How can bhakti strengthen family bonds?
  Shared prayer time, shared service, and shared meals reduce friction. When the home revolves around gratitude, ego shrinks and respect grows.

• What do I do when I feel spiritually blind or confused?
  Admit it, ask for guidance, keep a simple daily japa, and serve someone without expecting returns. Light returns when humility leads.

• If everything is Bhagavan’s leela, why do I still suffer?
  Suffering exposes attachments and false measures. Face it with dharma and prayer. What you learn becomes strength; what you release becomes peace.

• Do names and labels shape character?
  Yes. Repeating a noble ideal trains the mind. Keep names, mantras, and family mottos that point to truth, courage, and generosity.

• How do I tell divine prompting from ego noise?
  Divine prompting brings humility, responsibility, and wider benefit. Ego brings haste, entitlement, and collateral damage.

• How do I balance strength with kindness?
  Be unbending on principles, gentle with people. Correct the wrong, protect the weak, and drop the need to humiliate.

• What if I keep failing despite prayer?
  Stand up again. Clean the motive, simplify the goal, and keep the vow. Failure that returns you to Bhagavan is progress, not defeat.

• How do I begin bhakti without fuss?
  Fix a small daily time in the puja room, chant a set count, read a few lines on Vishnu or Lakshmi, and do one act of service. Keep it steady; let grace do the heavy lifting.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi