Human Birth

We have been given this human life to understand the all-pervading, omnipresent God. This knowledge can only be given by someone who has themselves realized God. Life becomes truly happy only after meeting such a God-realized person.

Or else such a one is born into the lineage of wise yogis — yet this kind of birth is far rarer to obtain in this world.

In this very fire the gods offer the seed. From that oblation the embryo arises.

How much more then the holy brāhmaṇas and devout royal sages! Having come into this transient and joyless world, worship Me.

When a child is born, there is no symbol to indicate that it belongs to a particular religion or caste. The distinction of man is only that he is man. It is the same divine light that dwells in every human being. It is therefore essential that after taking birth as a human being one must behave like a human being.

Human life has been determined and treated as superior to all others. Then, its objective, its purpose should also be the noblest. His importance is there only when he establishes his relationship with God. This is what has been accepted as the real aim of human life.

Just as 'I' is not the house, similarly, 'I' is not the body even. 'I' is in fact a spirit originating and flowing from God, a ramification of the divine entity. The value of human life or importance of the human body comes from the very realisation of this fact.

Thus it is that at the fifth oblation the waters come to be called man. That embryo, wrapped in the membrane, having lain within for ten months or nine, or however long, is then born.

He brought the human body for them — they exclaimed, 'Well done indeed! The human form is truly well made.' He then told them: 'Enter each according to your proper abode.'

In man, this embryo first takes form as the vital seed — that luminous essence gathered from all the limbs, which man carries as his very self within himself. When he pours it into woman, that is this self being born. That is his first birth.

O human, the opportunity is still there. Nothing is yet ruined. Do not sit in despair thinking that perhaps this is no longer possible. O human, your union with the Lord is possible. Do not waste this birth in vain.

The great souls have spoken of only one thing: O human being, you must forge your bond with this Supreme Lord and become a true human being. If a lack of greatness is seen anywhere today, it is because of the absence of these very sentiments.

Do not throw away this priceless human birth in vain. Do not let it slip from your hands; it will not come into your hands again and again. You have been given the chance of your own deliverance, so seek it out. Grant your soul, caught in the cycle of birth and death, a resting place, a refuge. Let your soul attain awareness of the Formless Supreme, so that it may be freed from the bondage of birth and death.

When a child is born there is no mark upon it to declare that it belongs to a certain religion or caste. Yes, birds and beasts may have species — our eyes can recognise that this is a cow, a goat, a camel or an elephant — but the identity of a human being is only human. For this reason man is held to be great. In every human being dwells this one Light, the divine essence. Therefore, having attained a human birth, one should also perform deeds worthy of a human being.

This human life is the highest of all lives. Those who pass this life in a spirit of dedication and serve everyone - they alone attain the immortal rank.

This human birth has come to us after a very long journey. To squander it in vain is a great sin. To attain this great form of life again is very difficult. Therefore, in this very life one should come to know the one Lord, the Bestower, and then through devotion to Him make this birth fruitful.

Take for example a vessel which contains valuable articles. The vessel also becomes precious and is kept with lot of care; but nobody cares for a dustbin. Similarly, this human body has no value if man does not realise God.

He brought a cow for them — they said, 'This is not sufficient for us.' He brought a horse for them — they said again, 'This too is not enough.'

The son asks his father, 'What should a wise person do, knowing that human life is short? Please tell me, so I can follow your instructions and acquire virtue.'

I am death, the destroyer of the worlds. I have grown to full stature and am now engaged in destroying human life. Without you, all these warriors will cease to exist.