“As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal.“
THE SPARROW WHO CONQUERED THE OCEAN
Compiled by Mohinī Devī
“One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with undeviating determination and faith. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of false ego and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.” (BG 6.24)
PURPORT: The yoga practitioner should be determined and should patiently prosecute the practice without deviation. One should be sure of success at the end and pursue this course with great perserverance, not becoming discouraged if there is any delay in the attainment of success. Success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rūpa Gosvāmī says:
utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat tat karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgāt satovṛtteḥ ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
“The process of bhakti-yoga can be executed successfully with full-hearted enthusiasm, perseverance, and determination by following the prescribed duties in the association of devotees and by engaging completely in activities of goodness.”
EXECUTE BHAKTI-YOGA WITH DETERMINATION
“As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuḍa, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuḍa was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuḍa at once asked the ocean to return her eggs lest he himself take up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuḍa. (BG 1972 Purports)
Similarly, the practice of yoga, especially bhakti-yoga in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, may appear to be a very difficult job. But if anyone follows the principles with great determination, the Lord will surely help, for God helps those who help themselves.
śanaiḥ śanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā
ātma-saṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcid api cintayet
Gradually, step by step, with full conviction, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else. (BG 6.25)
THIS STORY IS TAKEN FROM THE PANCHATANTRA
The original text of the PANCHATANTRA in Sanskrit was probably written about 200 B.C. by a great Hindu scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma, but some of the tales themselves must be much older, their origin going back to the period of the Rig-Veda and Upanishads. According to some scholars of the Indo-European languages the PANCHATANTRA is the oldest collection of Indian fables surviving. In course of time, travellers took these stories with them to Persia and Arabia and finally through Greece, they reached Europe.
THE STORY OF THE TITTIBHA BIRDS AND THE SEA
“Somewhere in the world, on a seashore, there lived a pair of tittibha birds (birds called seven sisters) husband and wife…In the course of time the female was expecting a family. As the time came near to lay her eggs, she said to her husband:
“My dear husband, it’s almost time to lay my eggs. Look for some safe place, where I can lay them.“- „Dearest,“ said the male tittbha, „this coast is very nice. You can lay your eggs here.“- „But, „said she, „on nights when the moon is full, the Sea here sends its waves so high they can drag off even a wild elephant. No, find some better place, away from here.”
When the male tittibha heard this, he laughed and said, „What a thing to say! The Sea wouldn’t dare harm my children! Lay your eggs here and stop worrying!”
Now the Sea heard this and thought to himself, „What kind of impudence is this, from a bird, the size of a worm! For fun, I’ll take away his eggs and see what he does.”
In the course of time the female laid her eggs. One day shortly afterwards, when the two birds had flown off in search of food, the waves of the Sea came higher and higher and swallowed up the eggs.
When the birds returned, the female went to her nest and found it empty. She wept bitterly and said to her husband „You fool! The waves of the Sea have swallowed my eggs. I asked you to find somewhere else to for me to lay them, but you, stupid thing that you are, wouldn’t listen to me!
They say: Those who refuse to follow the advice of friends, who wish them well, come to grief. Like the foolish turtle who fell off the stick.”
„How was that?“ asked the male tittibha. And his wife told him:
THE STORY OF THE TURTLE WHO FELL OF THE STICK
In a certain lake, there lived a turtle by the name Kambugriva (pot-necked). Two swans, whose names were Saṅkaṭa (calamity) and Vikata (ugly or difficult), were her friends. Every day the three of them would go to the bank of the lake and tell each other stories about holy saints and hermits and than go home at sunset.
After a few years that part of the country had no rain and, bit by bit, the lake began to dry up. The two swans were worried about it and said to the turtle, „This Lake is becoming nothing but mud. We are worried as to how we will be able to survive here without water.”
“My friends,“ replied the turtle, „It’s quite true that it’s impossible to stay here. But we will find some way out:’ Even in bad times a man should not loose hope, for by making an effort, he can certainly find a solution.’
“So,“ continued the turtle,” first look for a lake of water. Than find a strong stick or a rope somewhere. I shall hold on tight with my mouth to the middle of the stick and you can hold the ends and carry me like this to the lake.”
“Friend,“ replied the swans, “we will do as you suggest, but while we are flying, you must not open your mouth to speak, or you will fall of the stick.”
They carried out this plan. When they had come some distance, the turtle saw a town. The townspeople looked up and saw something being carried in the sky. They said to each other full of admiration, “Look at that! Those birds are carrying a round thing!“
When the turtle heard the commotion, she opened her mouth to ask, “What’s all the noise about?“ But of course, the minute she opened her mouth to speak, she fell down to earth and the people hacked her to pieces and ate her.
“And so,“ continued the female tittibha, “that’s why I said:
Those who refuse to follow the advice of friends, who wish them well, come to grief, like the foolish turtle who fell of the stick
and
He who puts his mind to a problem before it presents itself, and he who puts his mind to it when it actually arrives, both these categories escape, but those who depend on luck will be destroyed, as Yadbhavisya (trusting to luck) was, by the fisherman.”
“How was that?“ asked the male tittibha and his wife told him:
THE STORY OF THE THREE FISHES
In a certain pond there lived three fishes. There names were: Anagatavidhata (one who ponders over the solution of a problem before it arrives), Pratyutpannamati (one who ponders the solution of a problem when it actually arrives) and Yadabhavisya (trusting to luck).
One day some fisherman were passing by. They saw this pond and said to each other, “We have never investigated this particular pond. It’s full of fishes! But we already have a good catch today, and it is evening, so let’s go home and come back here tomorrow.“ So the fisherman left.
Now when Anagatavidhata heard this he was dumbfounded, as if struck by a thunderbolt, he called all the fishes together and said to them, „Did you hear what the fisherman just said now? Let’s leave immediately for some other pond for:
‘When a weak man meets a stronger opponent, the best thing he can do is run, or else make for a hideout. There is no other way out.’
“I think the fishermen will return tomorrow morning,“ Anagatavidhata went on, “and they will start killing all the fishes. So it’s not wise to stay here a moments longer or:
‘Those who in times of calamity, can without difficulty go elsewhere, avoid seeing the destruction of their families and land.’
When Pratyutpannamati heard this he said, “You are right! Let’s go somewhere else!”
But Yadbhavishya laughed loudly and said, “Oh, I don’t agree with you! Would it be right to give up this pond that belonged to our forefathers just because of the talk of fishermen? And in any case, if it’s time for us to die death will certainly not spare us wherever we are, for:
‘A man whom fortune smiles on, though unprotected, eludes destruction, but the man with luck against him is done for, even though he be well protected.’
“So I won’t come with you,“ continued Yadbhavishya. “Do, as you think best.”
When Anagatavidhata heard his decision he left the lake immediately with his family. Early next morning Pratyutpannamati saw the fishermen coming in the distance and he too left the lake with his family.
The fishermen arrived at the lake, threw their nets and caught all the fishes, including Yadhbavishya and they all died.
“And so,“ continued the female tittibha, “that’s why I said:
He who put his mind to a problem before it presents itself, and he who puts his mind to it when it actually arrives, both these categories will escape. But those who depend on luck will be destroyed as Yadbhavishya was by the fishermen.”
„But my dear,“ said the male tittibha, “do you think I’m as stupid as Yadbhavishya! You will see how brilliant I am when I dry up the sea!”
„How can You oppose the Sea!“ retorted the female tittibha, for they say:
When a weakling gets angry he hurts himself and He who attacks an enemy without knowing his strength will be destroyed like the moth in the fire.”
“But my dear,“ said the male tittibha, “don’t talk like that! Even when you are small, if you are zealous, you can overcome even the strongest opponent as they say:
An elephant can be brought under control by a goad, well is the goad as big as the elephant? When a lamp is lightened the darkness disappears, well is the lamp as big as the darkness? When a thunderbolt strikes it a mountain crumbles, well is a thunderbolt as big as a mountain? So the man with zeal is the man who is strong, the size is unimportant.”
„And so,“ continued the male tittibha bird, “I shall dry up the whole sea by sucking it up with my beak.”
“My dear fellow,“ said his wife, “how could you suck up the sea when the Sindhu and the Gaṅgā along with hundreds of other rivers flow into it. What is the good of your babbling?”
‘My dear,’ said the male tittibha, ‘my beak is as solid as iron. Why can’t I suck up the Sea, if I work day and night at it? And until a man puts some effort into what he is doing, he does not succeed.’
-‘My dear,’ said the female, ‘if you really want to quarrel with the Sea, then send a message to some of the other birds and do this with their help.”
“All right than,“ said the male tittibha, „I will dry up the Sea with the help of my friends!”
THE BIRDS ASK GARUḌA FOR HELP
And so the male tittibha send a call to the crane, the swan, the peacock and the rest of them and said, „the Sea has insulted us by stealing our eggs. Think of a way to dry him up completely!“
At this all the birds came together to discuss the situation. „We can’t suck up the Sea in our beaks,“ they said, „what’s the good of trying? As they say:
When a weak man, blown up with self importance, attacks a strong enemy, he has to retreat, like a elephant with a broken tusk.
Instead we should go and tell everything to Garuḍa, our king. If he is angry that his people have been insulted than he himself will take revenge. But even supposing, that out of pride, he refuses to help us, all the same, we shall feel relieved or as they say:
When a man can tell his sorrows to an affectionate friend or a dutiful servant, an obedient wife or a powerful master than he finds relief.
So we will all go to Garuḍa, our master.“
The birds went to him with glum faces and tears in their eyes and began to sigh piteously. “Oh Master, what a catastrophe! You are our protector and yet the Sea has robbed the good tittibhas of their eggs. If this sort of thing continues, one day our whole race will be destroyed. They say:
A king is a kinsman to those without family, an eye to the blind and a father to the law abiding. Just as a gardener looks after his plants, so a king should take care of his subjects.”
When Garuḍa heard the birds wailing, he thought to himself, „These birds are right! I will go and dry up the Sea.“ But just as he was thinking this a messenger arrived from Lord Vishnu and said, “Noble Garuḍa! I have been send by Lord Vishnu. He wants you for some sort of service in Amarāvatī. You had better come quickly with me.“
When Garuḍa heard this he said petulantly, “Messenger! What could Lord Vishnu want with such a commonplace servant as I am! Please give him my regards and ask him to find another servant instead of me!”
“Garuḍa!“ said the messenger, „You have never talked like that before! Tell me, how has our master offended You?” – “Well,“ said Garuḍa, “the Sea, Lord Vishnu’s resting place, has swallowed up the tittibha bird’s eggs. If Lord Vishnu does not force the Sea to return them, I refuse to serve him any more. This is my firm resolution. Go and report all this to your Master.”
When Lord Vishnu heard from the Messenger that Garuḍa was sulking he thought to himself, “I understand why he is sulking. I’ll go and see him myself and pacify him, for they say:
He who has his own interest at heart should avoid offending anyone but should handle other with affection as he would his own son. “With these thoughts in his mind Lord Vishnu went quickly to Rukmapur where Garuḍa was.
When Garuḍa saw his Master coming to his house, he bowed his head with embarrassment and said, “Master! The Sea, your resting place, by swallowing up the eggs of my servant, has insulted me, but I have restrained myself from punishing him, because of respect for you for:
If you fear the Master, You don’t beat the dog.”
When Lord Vishnu heard this he said, “You are quite right Garuḍa. Come with me and we shall take the eggs from the Sea and hand them over to the tittibha birds. Than we will go to Amarāvatī.“
When Lord Vishnu had finished speaking he reprimanded the Sea and, taking a thunderbolt in his hand, he said, “Wicked Sea return the tittibha birds eggs at once or I shall dry you up!“
At this the Sea was terrified and handed over the eggs to the male tittibha who gave them to his wife. And so continued Damanaka, „that’s why I said:
He who attacks an enemy without knowing its strength will be defeated, as the Sea was defeated by the tittibha birds.”
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DETERMINATION MEANS THAT ONE HAS TO
CONTINUE WITH PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo ‘vyavasāyinām
“Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.” (BG 2.41)
Prabhupāda: Determination means that one has to continue with patience and perseverance. I’m not getting the desired result. “Oh what is this Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I give up.” No. Determination. It is a fact. Because Kṛṣṇa is saying this it must happen. There is nice example. That a girl is married to a husband. She’s hankering after a child. So if she thinks that “Now I am married, I must have immediately a child.” Is it possible? Just have patience. You just become faithful wife, serve your husband, and let your love grown up and because you are husband and wife, it is sure you’ll have children. But don’t be impatient. Similarly, when you are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, your perfection is guaranteed. But but you’ll have patience, determination. That “I must execute. I should not be impatient.” That impatience is due to loss of determination. And how that loss determination is there? Due to excessive sex life. These are all consequences. Go on.
Devotee: “Success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rūpa Gosvāmī says, ‘The process of bhakti-yoga can be executed successfully with full-hearted enthusiasm, perseverance and determination by following the prescribed duties in the association of devotees and by engaging completely in activities of goodness.’ ”
Prabhupāda: Yes, go on.
Devotee: “As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean. But the big ocean carried them away on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal and so she decided to dry up the ocean.”
Prabhupāda: Just see, a sparrow is trying to dry up the ocean. (laughs) This is called determination. Just like our Gandhi. He declared war against the Britishers. War is that non-violent, noncooperation. You see? But the determination was there. That “I must drive away the Britishers.” And he did it. And what is the weapon? Nonviolence. “All right, you fight, you kill me, I shall not attack you.” You see? He became, what is that? Determination. People laughed. “Gandhi is declaring war with the Britishers, so powerful, British Empire.” And actually after the Britishers lost India, they lost all Empire. Because that was the jewel of British Empire. They lost all possession in the Far East, they lost possession in Egypt, they lost possession on Suez Canal, everything lost. So determination is so nice thing. Go on.
Devotee: “She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuḍa, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, heard it.” (Lecture on BG 6.16-24 — Los Angeles, February 17, 1969)
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