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DISCOURSE XXXV
... POWER OF RELIGION
Gentlemen,
The consideration which is very essential in the present age has commenced from the previous discourse. That consideration has established religion as an essential entity and therefore more consideration is essential in this connection. The power of Karmas prevails all over the universe-over all the creatures. Even Indras, Vasudevas and Prativasudevas cannot escape from the influence of Karmas, then what to say of other creatures ? But religion can dissolve this power of karmas. You know who is victorious when a cobra and a mungoose fight. If the cobra gives a poisonous sting to the mungoose, the latter enters its abode and smells the herb, 'Nolveri' to counter-effect the poison. The mungoose is not afraid of the cobra's hood, its venomous teeth, and its coiled body. It goes on fighting bravely till it overpowers the cobra.
Same is the case with religion. Despite very strong power and influence of Karmas, religion continues its fight heroically to overpower the karmas. In this fight of Karmas and the religion, the religion is victorious and this is the reason why it is honoured and praised. If the soul is vanquished then none would praise it and honour it. The world always pays tributes to the victor. You garland the victorious and not the vanquished in the election fights. The banquets are offered in the honour of passing candidates and not failing ones.
You might doubt as to why innumerable souls are wandering in this universe when Religion is equipped with such great power. Why they are not liberated by this time? We would reply that the world abounds in iron ores and also in Paras jewels. Iron is not transformed into gold till the necessary contact between the two is not effected. If contact is effected then the iron would turn into gold. The reason why the innumerable souls are wandering in the universe is that they have not established contact with the religion as much as required. When the contact will be established then the souls will break off the fetters of karmas to realise emancipation.
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