Yogakshemam VahAmyaham

Here is a story in connection with one of the most famous lines from Bhagavad Gita 

Ananyaschinthanyantho maam ye janaa: paryupaasathe

theshaam nithyaabhiyukthaanaam yogakshemam vahaamyaham

"The devotees who constantly think of me, without any other thoughts in their minds, worship Me with single- minded love and devotion, without any other interest than uniting with Me, I attend to their needs and security”

Once there lived  a very poor Brahmin  who was very knowledgeable. He had practically no income  to make both ends meet and was struggling to fulfill the needs and desires of his wife and two children. Whenever people called him  to talk on Bhagavatham or Bhagavad Gita, they gave him some money and so he was trying to utilize his spiritual knowledge to make a living. One day his wife told him to visit the king and do a talk on Gita. Both of them were expecting some form of remuneration from the king. 

He went to the palace and king asked him to elaborate on the meaning of the above slokam. He started talking about the meaning and after some time king told him to stop and asked him to come back after understanding the meaning of the slokam better. Against the poor Brahmin's expectation, king did not give him anything. He went back, studied further, came back and gave a talk again. This was repeated several times and king did not give him anything.  When ever he asked for some help, king told him to study the meaning of those lines more and more. After some time, poor Brahmin understood what message the king was indirectly giving him. If he had single-pointed faith in Bhagavan, he would not have shared his spiritual knowledge expecting something in return. Sharing spiritual knowledge for material gains is just the opposite of what Bhagavan wants us to do. If we shared spiritual knowledge or helped somebody in any way as a service to Bhagavan and worshiped him with out any other interest than attaining his lotus feet, then he would attend to all our needs and security. That was the promise He gave in the above sloka. King was very knowledgeable and he wanted to elevate the poor and pious Brahmin to that level of self-less surrender. Brahmin got the message and he started worshiping Bhagavan with total surrender and shared his knowledge of the scriptures as a service to Bhagavan. After some time, the same king, convinced of Brahmin's realization, requested him to come to the palace for a discourse on Bhagavad Gita. He presented the essence of Bahgavad Gita in an exemplary manner and king and all those who listened to him showered him with everything he needed even though he did not desire or request for anything. Bhagavan was taking care of his Yogakshemam!!

Can one evolve spiritually by selling "spirituality"? Will Bhagavan take care of their real yogakshemam? Questions and answers are many for us to think about.

May Bhagavan bless us to know Him more and more!