Rising from fault finding to worthy appreciation
Kali-yuga is characterized as an ocean of faults. Just as it is extremely easy to find water in an ocean, faults are evident in this age. It is said – Energy flows where intent goes. A caterpillar, on account of repeatedly thinking of a butterfly, gets the body of a butterfly. Similarly, contemplating, discussing or hearing about another’s fault leads to the development of that fault in our own selves. Furthermore, it has the pitfall of turning into an offense if done with devotees. The perils of offenses are highlighted throughout the narrations of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Śrīla Prabhupāda writes, “An offense unto the feet of a pure devotee murders one’s position in devotional service (SB 3.15.39 P).”
How Good turns into Evil?
In the fourth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there is a mention of Dakṣa, the leader of Prajapatis, offending Lord Śiva. Dakṣa arrived in the sacrificial assembly where all great sages, demigods and fire gods had assembled. Seeing Lord Śiva not getting up, he spoke ill of Śiva, cursed him and left. At a later time, Dakṣa performed a great sacrifice named brhaspati-sava. Many brahmarṣis, great sages and demigods attended this sacrifice. Sati, the wife of Śiva and daughter of Dakṣa, also desired to go. But Lord Śiva explained to her that without being invited, one must not go to a place where one will be judged and offended. He stated,
vidyā-tapo-vitta-vapur-vayaḥ-kulaiḥ
satāṁ guṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhir asattametaraiḥ
smṛtau hatāyāṁ bhṛta-māna-durdṛśaḥ
stabdhā na paśyanti hi dhāma bhūyasām
Although the six qualities education, austerity, wealth, beauty, youth and heritage are for the highly elevated, one proud of possessing them loses his good sense being blinded, and cannot appreciate glories of others. SB 4.3.17
Milk becomes poisonous when touched by an envious serpent. Similarly, pride makes one lose all good qualities. A humble person can seldom find faults with others.
Pride of one’s accomplishments, background etc., envy towards others, wanting others to match our expectations are some of the causes of fault finding.
Four Levels of Fault Finding
Śiva further warned that the result of Sati’s going will be death. Sati, being adamant, went to her father’s place. As predicted, Dakṣa completely neglected her. She said to Dakṣa,
doṣān pareṣāṁ hi guṇeṣu sādhavo
gṛhṇanti kecin na bhavādṛśo dvija
guṇāṁś ca phalgūn bahulī-kariṣṇavo
mahattamās teṣv avidad bhavān agham
Twice-born Dakṣa, a man like you can simply find fault in others. Lord Śiva magnifies a small good quality of another person and finds no faults. But you have insulted him. SB 4.4.12
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, in his commentary to this verse, describes four levels of fault finding in an increasing order, and the terminologies used for such persons.
1] Thinking that the potentially good qualities will turn into faults (asādhu).
2] Seeing the good and bad in a person, but focusing on the bad (asādhutara).
3] Magnifying small faults, completely neglecting the good (asādhutama).
4] Finding faults where there are none (ati-asādhutama).
Dakṣa belonged to the fourth category. He invented faults in Lord Śiva out of his own frenzied imaginations.
The Dangers of Fault Finding
What was the result of Dakṣa’s offense? His daughter Sati gave up her body which was connected to him, he received ill fame due to his hard-heartedness, and his head was chopped off by Vīrabhadra, one of the assistants of Lord Śiva, but later he was reinstated by a goat’s head. After he gave up that body, he took birth as the son of Pracetas, who were rulers of the world during Svāyambhuva manvantara. He performed great austerities for about five manvantara periods (One manvantara is seventy-one divya yugas. One divya yuga is a cycle of four yugas – satya, treta, dvapara and kali which lasts for 43,20,000 years). He recited the Hamsa Guhya prayers unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord appeared to Him, and gave him the benediction of increasing the progeny and expanding material life.
It may be asked, even after seeing the Lord, why was his desire not removed? And why didn’t the Lord bestow love for Himself to Dakṣa? This is because the influence of Dakṣa’s offense to Lord Śiva had not been completely removed. As a result of this offense only, Dakṣa criticized Nārada Muni in the subsequent future. Also, Dakṣa didn’t desire love for the Lord. So, he didn’t get the same.
Contemplating on even one fault makes one find faults repeatedly. This is a chain reaction, which if not stopped can create havoc in one’s life.
Dakṣa found fault with Śiva, offended him and as a result, even after bowing down to Śiva when had received the goat’s head, even after performing austerities for five manvantaras, even after having the direct audience of the Lord, the traces of his offense didn’t leave him. He was thwarted from attaining the real goal of life.
A great Vaiṣṇava Ācārya Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura writes,
hari-sthāne aparādhe tāre harinām
tomā-sthāne aparādhe nāhi paritrāṇ
The holy name rescues one who mistakenly offends Lord Hari. But if one offends a devotee, there is no salvation for him.
The Solution
How can one refrain from something so ghastly yet so difficult to avoid?
Pariksit Maharaj is glorified in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by the words – sāraṅga iva sāra-bhuk – Essence seeker like the honeybee. Because he was non-envious, he didn’t find faults with Kali – even though Kali is essentially made of faults!
What does it mean to seek the essence? It signifies to see only the good, neglecting the bad. Although smoke from fire may cause disturbance to the eyes, one doesn’t refrain from using fire for eradicating darkness and cold. Similarly, even though one may see the bad, one has the choice not to focus on it.
Four levels of appreciation, or positive outlook are described in a similar way as the faults.
1] Thinking that the potential faults will turn into good (mahat).
2] Seeing the good and bad, but focusing on the good (mahattara).
3] Magnifying a small good quality, neglecting the bad (mahattama).
4] Seeing good qualities where there are none (ati-mahattama).
It may be difficult to attain the fourth stage. But the second and third stages are quite possible. Mahārāja Parīkṣit took the only one good quality that Kali had – kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet (SB 12.3.51). His absorption in hearing and chanting neutralized the effects of Kali. A positive cultivation of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness is necessary to consistently focus on the good qualities of others. It requires a non-envious attitude to fan the minute spark of good in a person. At the same time, one must repeatedly hear about the hazards of fault finding and try earnestly to not get entrapped by its causes. By this twin effort, one can very quickly attain the state of righteousness and serenity.
