Meditations on Transcendence

Verse 60: Bhagavān Bhagahā Nandī Vanamālī Halāyudhaḥ Ādityo Jyotirādityaḥ Sahiṣṇur Gatisattamaḥ ||60|| He is Bhagavān —the possessor of all opulences, and Bhagahā —the one who can withdraw them at will. Though all divine qualities and powers ( vibhūtis ) emanate from Him, He retains the freedom to reclaim them, especially at the time of pralaya or cosmic dissolution. By His inherent nature, He is Ānandī —always blissful, because He is full of bhaga , the six-fold opulences. This bhaga is intrinsic to Him and never diminishes; instead, it constantly flows back into Him, signifying no loss whatsoever. He is Nandī because He is in a perpetual state of bliss, and to access this bliss, one must associate with and serve the Ānandī —the ever-blissful Lord. This bliss is maintained by constantly remaining in service ( sewa ) to the son of Nandagopa—Śrī Krishna. The idea that this verse refers to the son of Nandagopa is supported by Bhīṣmadeva's following words in the Mahābhārata....

Bliss in Divine Service: The Path of Swadharma True bliss lies in divine service. This service, however, must be grounded in swadharma—one’s individual duty or natural calling. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of swadharma when he says, "Better is one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well performed" (Gita 3.35). This highlights that spiritual fulfillment and happiness arise when we express the unique abilities and responsibilities that the Divine has instilled within us. Swadharma isn’t merely a worldly duty; it’s a form of worship. Each of us is born with specific talents, skills, and inclinations. These are not accidental but are gifts from the Divine, meant to be used in service to the world. According to Vedanta, the essence of dharma is the alignment of one's actions with the divine order. Our natural abilities, when harnessed and used for service, help us contribute to the well-being of society, while simultane...