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I am the Soul
745 can we, the ordinary jivas, merely being influenced by the niscaya naya concept, abandon vratas-niyamas and pratyakhyana saying 'we do not need all these because we are pure and intelligent’?
Brothers! Forgive me! But many have so understood and go around convincing others that vratas-niyamas lead to asrava. But I want to ask them, if vratas-niyamas lead to asrava then what do avrata and unrestrained life lead to? Samvar? Which scripture says that samvar is possible through an unrestrainedunrestricted life? Just give it a thought! If vrata-niyama are properly observed, they become instrumental in the onset of samvar. The asrava of avrata goes away and the samvar in the form of vrata accrues. But if rola-niveama are not properly observed, then isn't the papa asrava held up? Just so that punya asrava does not occur, is it fair not to stop papa asrava? Brothers! That's a great misconception. If you follow this idea, and taking vrataniyama to be reasons for asrava tend to ignore them, then the stay in material world is bound to increase. Moksa is certainly there, but mind you, you will be drifting away from it.
That is why, Srimadji says, means have to be sought towards the goal of niscaya. Never ignore any means. If the knowledge of niscaya is important, then so is the observance of activity. If you only understand niscaya and abandon the activity, it will be a mistake, so also if you forget the goal of niscaya while performing the activity, it will be a mistake. Therefore, for the purification of the atma, attachment and aversion have to be diminished and for that purpose vrata-niyama-samyama have to be observed. This Shastra has been composed for the proper understanding of these two. Srimadji says --
नय निश्चय एकांतथी, आमां नथी कहेल; yahid Claer TET, as hre Tem.....83? गच्छमतनी जे कल्पना, ते नहीं सद् व्यवहार; 97 TEN FAST Fuj, a first the FIR . . . . .833
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