When God Becomes Your Provider and Protector
Question
In Gita Shri Krishna said, "I bear Yogakshem of surrendered souls". What does "bearing Yogakshem" mean?
Answer
In Bhagavad Gita 9.22 Shri Krishna says "To those who are always devoted to Me and who worship Me with exclusive focus, I personally carry what they lack (yoga) and preserve what they have (kṣema)."
Yogakshem is a blended Sanskrit word.
Meaning:
- Yoga (योग): Providing what is not yet possessed (gaining necessities or good fortune).
- Kṣema (क्षेम): Protection of what has already been attained (securing it from loss).
So, "Yogakṣema" refers to the acquisition and preservation of well-being, and in the context of this verse, it means God personally ensures the spiritual and material needs of His exclusive devotees.
God Himself keeps a record of all of our past deeds. He is just [1] and also our well-wisher. Based on His own judgment God blesses in two ways. He gives fruits of our deeds [3]
1. good deeds of past lives - He puts us in favorable conditions (good fortune)
2. bad deeds of the past lives - He puts us in challenging situations (bad fortune)
In other words, God puts His children in situations which typically are termed as favorable state and unfavorable state. Since God is genuine well-wisher, and has no ulterior motive, a real devotee considers both the situations as grace of God.
सुख में भी राधे राधे, दुख में भी राधे
sukha meṁ bhī rādhe rādhe, dukha meṁ bhī rādhe
"In happiness or distress, never forget Radha Rani." Even illness or poverty is also divine blessing in disguise [3][4].
Let me share a not so well kept secret... When you undergo difficult times, remind yourself repeatedly, ‘it is the outcome of my bad deeds performed in the past. Those deeds might be from this life or many other past lives. My all-gracious Guru is helping erase those bad impressions of my past lives so that I can make spiritual progress". This is certainly easier said than done. Since one is remembering God in a very positive way this kind of thinking makes it a lot easier to endure those tough times.
Remember, one has to undergo the fruit of each and every deed of past and present. There are no exceptions[2]. Yet, when mind is focused on something else it is not thinking of pain and suffering. Moreover, when one focusses on a Hari-Guru then Bhakti further reduces the effect afflictions[5][6][7] and, one attains tremendous strength to endure those situations. Never blame God or Guru for their miserable moments. Not only is that imprudent but harms you in the moment too.
Let me share my own wonderful experience during a major illness I experienced back in 2014. Although, all the usual side-effects of treatments were happening in my body, their intensity that I experienced was significantly lesser than what most other patients experience. Sometimes, I literally felt, someone is loving caressing me on my head, or fixing my blanket etc. That touch was so soothing that it is impossible to forget the bliss of that experience. Guru can reduce the pain of his devotees and He was obviously reducing my discomfort.
This is the real meaning of Yogakshemam vahaamyaham (Guru/God takes away the pain). However, this statement ought not be misinterpreted.
Bearing fruits of one's actions is a spiritual law and spiritual laws don't change.
You might ask, when Guru and God take away or reduce the pain then why do they give pain and suffering in the first place?
Know that God and Guru work within the confines of the divine laws. They don't violate them. [7]
कर्म प्रधान विश्व रचि राखा । जो जस करइ सो तस फल चाखा ॥
karma pradhāna viśva raci rākhā । jo jasa karai so tasa phala cākhā ॥
"God created this world where everyone experiences the fruits of their actions". No saint or divine personality intervenes in this. In the words of saint Kabir Das -
करता था सो क्यों किया, अब करी क्यों पछिताय ।बोया पेड़ बबूल का, आम कहाँ से खाय ॥
karatā thā so kyoṁ kiyā, aba karī kyoṁ pachitāya ।boyā peṛa babūla kā, āma kahām̐ se khāya ॥
"When you had the choice to perform the (bad) action or not, you chose to perform it. Now what is the point of regretting it? While it was time to sow you chose to sow acacia tree (a tree with huge thorns). Now expecting those seeds to bear sweet mangoes is futile?"
For the surrendered devotees, by His grace, He reduces the pain "I" (the soul) experiences. This is all He can do. The statement Guru yogakshem vahan karte hain (Guru bears your burden) means that He gives you the strength to go through tough times. This is His immense grace. One ought to repeatedly think of this grace and balihaar jana chahiye (one should sacrifice oneself).
Whenever you are in troubled times [10], think of this grace, over and over again. This is the best remedy to tackle every pain.
LEARN MORE
[1] Does God Play Favorites?
[2] Who Really Shapes My Fate?
[3] Wise Response to Crisis
[4] Turning Crisis Into Divine Opportunity
[5] Tritaap
[6] Panchklesh
[7] Tridosh
[8] Why did God create this world after all?
[9] God Created World to Grace Souls
[10] Combat Loneliness Depression, Worries Etc