Series of discourse by H.H. Shreemajjagadguru Shankaracharya Shree Shree Raghaveshwara Bharathi Mahaswamiji.
Whom to Remember at the End ?
Once upon a time there lived a tradesman who owned a shop. He was all the time engaged in business and was not satisfied with any amount of profit he made. One day his friend took him to a harikatha programme and the storyteller was narrating the story of Ajamila, a great devotee of Sri Hari. The narrator concluded his spiritual discourse with a piece of advice:
“Those who remember and call the name of Sri Hari at the time of death, reach the lotus feet of the Lord.”
The tradesman was very happy. He thought of a clever plan to remember God always. He named his three sons as Narayana, Sri Hari and Srinivasa, so that it is easy and convenient to remember God, whenever he called his sons. Later, the tradesman forgot all about God and immersed himself completely in his business.
After several years, his time to depart from this world arrived. He was sick and bedridden. His wife and children stood by his bed-side. Looking at them, he asked, “who is at the shop?” As the tradesman was uttering these words, he drew his last breath. His final thought and words were about the shop.
At the time of death, we will remember only what we have been doing all our life. If we want God to deliver us at the end, we need to pray to Him every day with devotion.
Translated by : Sharada Jayagovind.
