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Unless the jiva takes to penitence...
The pursuit of the three-fold path occurs only after the eligibility arises. Pursuit of Moksa is no ordinary activity that could be undertaken and accomplished whenever desired. It requires a particular kind of eligibility.
Generally people believe that everybody has the right to follow Dharma. Even the worst sinner or lowest of the men may also follow Dharma. Can a person of such nature understand Dharma at all? Broadly considering, this simple statement sounds alright. But first what needs to be considered is - what is Dharma? If Dharma is believed to be external ritualism, then everybody can do it. But that is not true.
The religious observances which come into practice through the differentiation of Dravya, Desha and Kala, are but the external form and they do not necessitate any great eligibility. With Dravya any tapa, tyaga, darshan, vandan, puja or bhakti can be performed and with Kala it can be done for any length of time. There may be differences, there need not be uniformity in them. Even the person performing can be of any type. But where the bhava matters, where there is bhava Dharma, there Dharma is atma Dharma - of the Soul alone. The true form of the natural disposition of Atma, nothing short of that. Hence, here there is no scope for differences.
Attaining atma through atma is Dharma. For that a special eligibility is certainly required. Without it one does not have the right to realise the atma. Hence, Srimadji has described the characteristics of matarthis in the 'Atmasiddhi Shastra'. He is trying to say that before doing Dharma, one should check the grade to ascertain whether one has acquired the eligibility to the right of understanding Dharma. If yes, then very well! If not, then acquire it.
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