“MEN OF VIRTUOUS DEEDS,” as a result of their actions, “COME TO CLEANSE THEIR SINFUL NATURE” — is a declaration that needs to be correctly understood. Sin is not the nature of man; according to Vedanta, it is only the tarnish that has come to dim the brilliance of the Self, due to an error of judgement in the individual. The craving of the mind-and-intellect, to live in subservience to the calls and appetites of the grosser outer world, is the root-cause for the negative values entertained by us, which ultimately result in ‘sins.’ He is called a sinful-person in whom his body makes the heaviest calls on his time and attention. In such a person, the body becomes the dominant partner, and it ‘enslaves’ the self. An extrovert life — a life spent in pursuing the satisfaction of his sensuous desires, to comfort and console every one of his paltry emotions — is the way of the sinful.

Such a passionate animal-life leaves gross impressions upon the mind and intellect. Impressions (vasanas) decide the future flow of thoughts. As the thoughts, so the actions, and the action deepen the vasanas.

To break this ‘vasana-thought-action’ chain which is now digging the grave of the individual’s peace and tranquillity, it is advised that he start a new life of meritorious actions. Merit (punya) is a contrast to sin (papa) and therefore, it is constituted of actions, feelings and thoughts, dedicated to the godly and the divine. All introvert actions undertaken in the cognition of “THE SELF I AM,” would create in their wake new impressions. In the long run, the patterns of sin that existed in the bosom are wiped out and new divine designs are created therein.

Such a prepared mind-intellect, from which almost all its negativities have been rubbed off is “FREE FROM THE DELUSION OF THE PAIRS-OF-OPPOSITES.” It then becomes an instrument that can, with a single-pointed steadfastness and firm resolve, meditate upon the Self.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOTIVE IN THE HEART OF THOSE WHO ARE THUS MEDITATING UPON THE SELF AFTER THEIR MINDS HAVE BEEN READJUSTED BY LIVING THE LIFE-DIVINE? LISTEN:

Yesam jananam, those persons; tu, on the other hand; punya-karmanam, who are of virtuous deeds, in whom exist virtuous deeds that are the cause of purification of the mind; whose papam, sin; antagatam, has come to an end, is almost eradicated, attenuated; te, they; dvandva-moha-nirmuktah, being free from the delusion of duality as described; and drdhavratah, firm in their convictions-those who [Here Ast. adds, ‘sarva-parityaga-vratena, through the vow of relinquishing everything’.-Tr.] have the firm knowledge that the supreme Reality is such alone and not otherwise are called drdhavratah-; bhajante, adore; mam, Me, the supreme Self. Why do they worship? This is being answered: