Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2.5.1-10 Lecture 76 on 11 October 2026 Q&A

Discussion on the Puranic Stories, Interdependence, and the Cosmic Play

Question 1: Puranic Stories Showing the Interdependence of the Macrocosm and Us

Participant: In the Puranas, we see a lot of stories where the Asuras come and they disrupt the sacrifices, the yajnas.

Response (Maharaj): Correct.

Participant: And as a result, two things happen: people suffer and the devas also become weak, so to speak, and because they depend upon the oblations which are being offered into the fire by the worshippers.

Response: Correct.

Participant: And we also find that I just stated that when people stop following dharma to a great extent, then the seasons lose their seasonality.

Response: Which we are experiencing right now.

Participant: Yes, Maharaj. So Maharaj, in terms of the Puranic stories, we of course depend upon the devas. That is how we have defined – we cannot live without them. But these stories are also showing this interconnectedness of the adhyatmika, this triangle – that just as much as we depend on this, this macrocosm depends on us. But it is said in a story form.

Response: Yes.

Participant: Is that correct?

We Are Because the Presiding Deities Exist Only Through Us

Response: Absolutely. You understood it correctly. We are – because if we do not exist, then where do the presiding deities exist? When I am in deep sleep – when you are in deep sleep, do you think of the Pancha Bhutas?

Participant: No.

The Play of Subject and Object

Response: So this is the play that is going on. What is the play? Subject and object. Experiencer and experienced. So we become both experiencers as well as experienced.

I am looking at this sun. This sun also is looking at us. But remember, according to scientists, I am looking at the sun, but the sun is not looking at me. That is their blindness.

We also don't see the living, but I would put it this way – you know what we call the Pancha Devatas, meaning Pancha Bhutas. Forget about devata and all that. So you pollute the space, Akasha, through aeroplanes and rockets and drones and all those things. Pollute the air through factories and other things. Pollute the – what is called – all the sunlight, stop the sunlight coming. Pollute the waters by discharging factory dirt, etcetera. Pollute the earth by over-cultivating, over-usage of fertilizers and everything. Will it affect us or not? Are we not suffering from it?

Participant: Yes, Maharaj.

Insulting the Devatas by Polluting Nature

Response: So that is insulting the devatas. Only they don't accept the word devata. But you say, "Yes, we are polluting nature," then they understand. Isn't it? It is the same. You use different terminology; I use different terminology.

Some people say, "I don't believe in spiritual life." I say, forget about spiritual life. Do you want to be happy or not? And do you want to progress in your happiness or not? And that is what exactly we mean by spiritual life. The more spiritual we are, the less we are dependent upon others, the more happy we are, isn't it?

Participant: Yes, Maharaj.

Response: So don't use the word God. "I want happiness." Make sense. That's all. As simple as that. You are right.

Puranas Teach Vedantic Truths Through Stories

Response: So this is what is happening. The Puranas are only teaching Vedantic truths in the form of these kinds of stories. That's all.

So another point you have to note down: when these Asuras are spoiling all the sacrifices, are they incurring dharma, punya, papa? Then they are being destroyed. Rama – Kama – destroys all the Asuras, isn't it?

The Cycle of Rise and Fall of Devas and Asuras

Response: But when are the devas really defeated? When these Asuras start living an austere life, depend upon God, do terrible tapasya, please God, and then obtain tremendous powers – which the devas did earlier. And as a result, they got their positions.

Now they started misbehaving, forgetting God, becoming angry, becoming egotistic. And that is when these Asuras did what the devas did earlier. God the power kicked them out. Then the devas wake up and they start doing tapasya, praying to God. And then their lives become a little better.

And then by the time these Asuras have become slaves, they forget how they got their positions, and they misuse the power, and they accumulate papa. And then these devas will come and kick them out. What a marvellous drama is going on.

Okay. Any other question?

Question 2: Why Did Sage Vishwamitra Need Rama to Slay the Asuras?

Participant: Yes, Maharaj – just like a follow-up, almost, or side question. When I was thinking about this subject, I was wondering about this – that specifically in Lord Rama's life, we even find that, you know, he took this avatara, of course, to kill Ravana. But in the process, he freed the forest where all these rishis were doing spiritual practices, of many other Rakshasas. And also earlier in his life, Sage Vishwamitra came to take him to help him slay some of these Asuras.

Response: Correct.

Participant: So the thought that came, Maharaj, was something is missing in my understanding. Sages like Sage Vishwamitra knew, or were powerful enough in so many ways – could they not have taken care of these Asuras themselves?

They Could Have, But They Wanted to Glorify God

Response: Yes, they could have easily taken care of them. But then Sahanam Saroduk Khanam – they have to show to the world. So you got power, you got a little. But if I am troubled, what am I supposed to do? So they want to glorify God, saying, "Rama, you come and do." So Rama – I am just making a little fun.

So this Rama went and he killed some Tataki and some few stray Rakshasas and Rakshasis, etcetera. Remember, Rakshasis were very advanced in those days. Why should only Rakshasas do all the damage? We will also follow in the CJI protest. They are also – they are all Rakshasis. So Rama goes and kills all of them.

Then Vishwamitra continues. Then he is arranging how he can do mass destruction. So he leads, he teaches all the astra, shastras, etcetera. That means, like this Claude, all the AI intelligence he passes on to Rama. All shastras are nothing but what AI-directed weapons.

The Honey Trap and Mass Destruction

Response: And then he took Sita, because this is called – this is what Russia does. If you want to kill somebody, destroy somebody, and this is called a honey trap. So this Sita has become the target honey trap.

Then Rama learnt the lesson: killing here one and there one is not going to solve the problem. It should be on a mass scale. So he provoked Ramanasura. He is an agent of Rama only.

So what did Ravana do? He gathered all the existing 14,000 Rakshasas. So instead of searching here and killing one mosquito here, one mosquito there, we go to the breeding ground and destroy them. So he went to Sri Lanka. What is Sri Lanka?

Participant: Breeding ground.

Response: Breeding ground of all Rakshasas.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: And he sprayed all the DDT, etcetera. And for some time, they will be having peace of mind.

The Sadhu's Role: Showing Restraint

Response: So a sadhu is not supposed to do it. He is supposed to show restraint – if some enemies and friends, you should treat alike, isn't it?

Participant: Yes, Maharaj.

Response: Yeah. That ideal life has to show. Otherwise, if they also start destroying, how could they be ideal for us anyway?

Conclusion: The Cosmic Play (Lila)

Response: So this is how we have to rightly understand that it is a play. Sometimes one actor acts as the villain. Sometimes the same actor acts like a hero. Sometimes he acts both the roles of both hero and villain. He fights with himself, and he kills himself. This is a huge Lila.