In this manifested universe there are animate beings and inanimate things. There is a dharma for all creatures. Jaeva dharma [the dharma of living beings] is for all creatures. But man’s dharma is Bhágavata dharma. And Bhágavata dharma implies vistára (psychic expansion), rasa (devotion) and sevá (service.) Follow your svadharma [humans’ “own dharma”], which is Bhágavata [divine] dharma.

People love God knowingly or unknowingly. Everyone has an inclination towards spirituality. Hindu Dharma, Muslim Dharma, or Christian Dharma is not the svadharma of man. The svadharma of man is Bhágavata dharma. The sentient, mutative and static forces do not remain in Bhágavata dharma, which is beyond the guńas [sentient, mutative and static forces].

These three guńas are like three thieves who lived in a jungle. They once met a gentleman who had lost his way and strayed into the jungle. One thief bound up this gentleman. “Who are you?” asked the gentleman. “I am tamoguńa,” replied the thief. The second man accosted the gentleman and found him writhing in pain. He untied his bonds. The gentleman asked him who he was. He said he was rajoguńa. The third thief [sattvaguńa] met the gentleman and was moved by his plight. “If you go in that direction, you will reach the city, the city of light, of Bhágavata dharma. We are thieves and cannot go to the city of light, of Bhágavata dharma.”

Follow your svadharma. Even if it is difficult to follow your svadharma and easy to follow paradharma [dharma of other beings], you must not leave your svadharma, Bhágavata dharma. Those who follow paradharma move towards crudity. If you wish to save yourself from sorrow, follow Bhágavata dharma.