Posted on: 06 Jan 2021
[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on December 12, 2020, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]
[Śrī Pavan asked: Swāmi, generally I have noticed that a phalaśruti is given at the end of divine bhajans that praise God’s divine qualities. We even find such phalaśrutis at the end of prayers written by Human Incarnations of God like Śaṅkarācārya. By singing such bhajans, we are making a saṅkalpa (specific request) in the form of that phalaśruti. Can such a saṅkalpa please God? I am asking this question remembering one of Your life incidents, wherein You prayed to God to give You a lot of difficulties (aṣṭa kaṣṭa) and it really happened. Will He bless us by making our saṅkalpas come true in practical life? If not, why are such phalaśrutis mentioned at the end of bhajans? Also, I noticed that in the book ‘Bhakti Gaṅgā’ containing Your numerous bhajans, there are no phalaśrutis mentioned. Why?]
Swāmi replied: Phalaśruti is a statement at the end of a prayer describing the fruits that can be attained by reciting the prayer. Such a statement is meant to attract or encourage the reader to recite that prayer. In the course of time, the reader is expected to develop pure devotion to God, without the aspiration for any fruit. In the initial stage, defects are inevitable. This practice of ending the prayers with the phalaśruti exploits the devotee’s ignorance, which makes him aspire for the fruit. In the very first step, we cannot expect the climax-stage devotion. God also responds to such devotees who pray to fulfil their desires for worldly fruits so that, in the long run, the devotee will develop interest in knowing true spiritual knowledge. Learning the true spiritual knowledge gradually develops devotion to God, without the aspiration for any fruit in return. Of course, the good fruits granted by God in response to a devotee’s prayers are the good fruits existing in the future life cycles of that same devotee. Those future good fruits are merely brought to the present by God. In this preponement of the good fruits, the good fruits reduce in value like prematurely withdrawn fixed deposits.
The phalaśruti is mentioned at the end of the prayer because the devotee aspires for such worldly benefits. But I worshipped God Śiva asking Him for difficulties, just as Kuntī had asked Kṛṣṇa for difficulties. My request to God was opposite to what was mentioned in the phalaśruti of that worship, since most phalaśrutis usually contain some worldly benefits that the devotee performing the worship will obtain. Note that the phalaśruti is not violated just because I aspired for the fulfilment of My desire which was opposite to the phalaśruti. Here, fulfilling the desire of the devotee is the main purpose of these prayers and forms of worship. Fulfilling the good fruit or benefit stated in the phalaśruti is not necessary. But of course, the desires of most devotees generally coincide with the fruits stated in various phalaśrutis. So, God grants the fruits stated in the phalaśruti, which also is the desire of the devotee.