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Murari Gupta was a righteous and pure Vaishnavite. But he was very fond of logical arguments and discussions about Shastras. Prabhu said to him, "Murari! It is these vain and dry arguments that are preventing you from being a whole-hearted devotee. Stop them and give importance to devotional literature among spiritual shastras." Murari said, "But I argue only when I meet Pundits and not otherwise." Prabhu asked, "Do you not argue about Advaita Philosophy with Advaitãchãrya?"

Advaitãchãrya asked with surprise- " Prabhu! Is it wrong to even discuss Advaita Philosophy?" Prabhu replied with a smile, " Did I say it is wrong? It is indeed good. But for the one following the path of Bhakti(devotion), what is the use of getting caught in the whirlpool of such vain arguments? Saying so he chanted the following verse from Bhagavatam.

"Na sãdhayati mam yogo na sãnkhyam dharma Uddava |
Na swãdhyãyastapastyago yatha Bhaktirmamorjita ||"
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11:14:20)

Murari became silent on listening to the words of Prabhu. Prabhu continued, "Murari! What necessity do you have to resort to other means to attain Brahman? God is already there for you right from your birth. You have been the Lord's devotee for so many births now! Your form and Bhava are like those of Hanuman. You are indeed Hanuman. Remind yourself of your true form! Murari was an ardent devotee of Sri Rama. As soon as Prabhu reminded him, he meditated upon his Ishta Devata (Favorite Deity). He felt as though he had turned into Hanuman himself and was worshipping the Holy Feet of his Lord Sri Ramachandra Prabhu. He immediately lifted his face and looked at Prabhu only to have a vision of MahaPrabhu as SeethaRama himself. He started chanting verses on his Ishta Devata before the divine form of Prabhu and prostrated again and again. With folded palms, he begged for unswerving devotion to Lord Rama before Prabhu. Prabhu too blessed him by placing His Lotus Feet on his head.

To be continued...

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