[Advaita-l] Karma yoga: the kinder, softer preparation for self-inquiry and surrender

[H S Chandramouli]

Namaste Sudhanshu Ji,

I could not locate the particular episode you have referred to concerning
Svetaketu in Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. Any links for the same??

Regards

On Fri, Mar 12, 2021 at 8:21 PM Sudhanshu Shekhar <sudhanshu.iitk at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thank you Chandramouli ji. I went through Jivanmukti Viveka for the first
> time after your comments. It cleared my misunderatanding.
>
> One question though. May seem like a bit too much but please allow the
> indulgence. In Jivanmukti Viveka, reference is made to Jabalopanishat
> (तथान्यस्यां कण्डिकायाम् 'तत्र परमहंसा नाम' इत्युपक्रम्य
> संवर्तकादीन्बहून्ब्रह्मविदो जीवन्मुक्तानुदाहृत्य...). Jabala Upanishad in
> the relevant mantra names Samvartaka, Aruni, Shvetaketu, Durvasa, Ribhu,
> Jada Bharata etc. Then I checked Moksha Dharma parva of Mahabharata,
> chapter 220 of Shanti Parva, where discussion is made about Shvetaketu in a
> particular context. The context is regarding attainment of Supreme in
> grihasthashram. Shvetaketu is elaborated upon there as a person who never
> did physical renunciation.
>
> As per our understanding, since Shvetaketu never had physical sanyasa, he
> cannot be jivanmukta. Being a grihastha, his jivanmukta-tva should be
> impossible. But Jabala Upanishad read with JMV treats him as JM.
>
> How should we understand this.
>
> Regards,
> Sudhanshu.
>