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Aptavani-4
39
The word “purusharth” is a word that comes from the language of illusion. It is not a word that is found in the language of truth. It is just like saying, “I am his brother-inlaw”. It is not a real word. In that respect, the language is different altogether.
How Does A Living Being (Jiva) Evolve?
Questioner: Through what purusharth has the jiva (a living being) evolved?
Dadashri: I will explain that to you. Our Narmada River flows over its mud and rocks. Where there are rocks and boulders, its current is particularly strong, that the water's force breaks off the fragments from the rocks' edges. These fragments of rock end up as large stones and small pebbles cast out to sea. When these rocks and stones first start out, their edges are so sharp and jagged that they could easily cut you and make you bleed. This is because freshly-cut, broken stones that fall in the river are sharp. I will explain to you what the purusharth of these living beings (jivas) is. As the river flows in its course, it drags and pulls these stones along with it. These stones constantly collide and abrade with each other. And after about ten or fifteen miles, they are smooth and shiny. They look as if they have been polished and made to look like marble. Even then however, they still have their edges and corners. And by the time they pass through the Bhadbhooja area, they become so rounded that when people go on to a pilgrimage, they are asked to, 'Bring home a “shaligram” for worship’. (Shaligrams are symbolic round stones that represent the lingam in the worship of Lord Shiva). So people worship these rounded stones. And this is how all the living beings perpetually collide with one another. Nature continually makes them collide, and at the same time, they are also becoming rounder (they are evolving; become well rounded).
Questioner: So one does not have to do anything?
