Disciple:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son.
Disciple:
Gurudev, many people have asked me to discuss a specific topic today, and you also mentioned that this is an important subject. Many people believe they can commit a crime and get away with it. They think, "No one is watching, so I can do whatever I want." But there is a belief that everything is being accounted forāthe right, the wrong, every single misdeed. It is said that nothing escapes this measurement. Elders often say, "Someone is watching everything." Could you please elaborate on this?
Gurudev:
This is a profound matter. When we are performing any action, we often think we are hidden. Whether we do it secretly or openly, a person thinks no one is watching them. But in reality, there is a "CCTV camera" that is constantly recording everything. We don't realize it or understand it, so we think we have escaped. But escaping is very difficult.
Gurudev:
The Paramatma (Supreme Soul) within us remains silent, but He keeps the account. Whatever the Atma (individual soul) does, the Supreme Soul records it. This is why the folk-saint Bhava Pagla once sang:
Gurudev:
"Whatever you have done since coming here, Chitragupta has written it in his ledger. The Creator will judge your deeds, And before Him, no trickery or deceit will work."
Gurudev:
This means that someone is always watching me. In my work, my movements, my walksāeverything is under observation. That observer is the Paramatma. While the Supreme Soul is still and silent, He is the one keeping the records. He is often referred to as "Chitragupta" (the celestial accountant). There is no way to cheat Him. He is the ultimate judge. You cannot escape by paying a bribe or using money.
Disciple:
That is a powerful thought.
Gurudev:
This is why we must always be conscious of our actions. Ordinary people often try to be "clever" and think they can hide. Let me tell you a beautiful story about this.
Gurudev:
Once, two friends went to a wise, realized soul to seek initiation (Diksha). One friend was quite simple, and the other was very "clever." The master said to them, "I will give you each a pigeon. You must kill this pigeon in a place where no oneānot even a bird or an animalācan see you. If anyone sees you, the task is failed."
Gurudev:
The two friends left with their pigeons. The "clever" one looked around and realized that everywhere he went, someone was there. Then he had an idea. He took his shawl, covered himself and the pigeon completely, and snapped its neck under the cloth. He thought, "Since I am under the shawl, no one saw me." He returned to the Guru and said, "Gurudev, I have done it. No one saw me."
Gurudev:
The Guru said, "Sit down and wait for your friend."
Gurudev:
The other friend, who was simpler, tried many times to kill the pigeon. But every time he looked at the bird, he saw the pigeon's eye looking back at him. He felt as if the bird was saying, "Why are you killing me just for initiation? You are committing a sin." He went to many secluded places, but he felt the presence of the Divine everywhere.
Gurudev:
Finally, he returned to the Guru with the live pigeon and said, "Gurudev, I could not do it. Every time I tried, the pigeon was looking at me with one eye. I realized that even if no human was there, God was watching, and the bird itself was a witness."
Gurudev:
The Guru smiled and said, "You are the one truly worthy of initiation. You understood that even when you think you are alone, there is a gaze that never leaves you."
Disciple:
That is a beautiful lesson. People forget that God has "three eyes"āeven if two are closed, one is always open.
Gurudev:
Exactly. People commit crimes and think they are safe. But the law of Karma is absolute. If you murder someone, someone is already standing behind you to take your life. You might think you escaped in this life, but you will carry that debt into the next.
Disciple:
This brings up another question. Some people seem to suffer for their crimes before they die, while others seem to live well. Is there an account after death?
Gurudev:
Yes, there is the "Prarabdha" (accumulated) fruit of actions. You might think you escaped in this life, but you will be born again with the burden of those deeds. That "fruit" will drive you mad with suffering in the next life. This is why we say there is a world beyond death where the ledger continues. When a person is born with great suffering, it is often the result of these past records.
Gurudev:
My only message is this: You are born as a human. Do not do anything for which you have to give a painful explanation to God. He sent you here, and He will demand an account. His judgment is absolute and perfectly balanced.
Disciple:
Gurudev, today is also Vishwakarma Puja.
Gurudev:
Actually, it is tomorrow.
Disciple:
Ah, yes. Vishwakarma is called the divine architect. He is the one who created the blueprints for everything. Could you say a few words about him?
Gurudev:
Vishwakarma is one of the deities worshipped on the day of Sankranti (the transition of the sun). There are a few deities associated with Sankranti: Brahma, Kartikeya, Manasa, and Vishwakarma. Usually, people consider Sankranti a difficult or "heavy" day, but these deities are specially worshipped then.
Gurudev:
Vishwakarma is the craftsman of the gods. Whenever the gods needed something builtāpalaces, weapons, or citiesāthey called upon him. He is the patron of workers, craftsmen, and engineers. This is why you see his puja performed with great devotion in factories and workshops. While he may not be a primary Vedic deity in the same way as others, his role as the divine architect makes him essential to the world of work and creation.
Disciple:
Thank you, Gurudev. So the main takeaway today is that our accounts are always being written, and we should live our lives with that awareness.
Gurudev:
Yes. Be mindful of your Karma. Nothing is forgotten.
Disciple:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son. Blessings to you.