A friend was talking a great deal about the soul (you, me, or anyone) going through one of the three possible paths after his current life. She heard it in ‘Pearls from Bha:gavatam’, a weekly live discourse from Swamiji.

I said, “Why worry about what happens after current life? I am happy with myself, family, work, and friends surrounding me. All of us die someday in the future. How does the knowledge about after death help me today?”

She replied, “This is exactly why it’s important to know. We don’t even know the impact of our ignorance on this topic. I was of the same impression as you. However, this discourse is an eye-opener and a must-read. Even though the future is uncertain, we prepare and plan for it. Similarly, regardless of our ignorance about after-death, it’s still beneficial and wise to be prepared and planned for a better state after current life. Isn’t it?”

I said, “Yeah, I guess. Go on…” 

She continued, “Sage Veda Vyasa in Srimad Bhagavatham (3rd Canto, 29th chapter) talks about these three paths. They are each elaborated in detail by sage Kapila to his mother, Devahuthi.”

I asked, “Okay, according to the scripture, which of those three paths will a person like me travel through?”

Path One and Path Two

Ya:mya:di ma:rga

(tha:masik path – ignorance driven)

Dhu:ma:di ma:rga

(ra:jasik path – arrogance driven)
E:vam kutumba bharana udarambhara e:vava: visrujya iha ubhyam pre:tya bhunkthe: tathphalam i:drusam Vishaya:n abhisandha:ya yasaha aishwaryam e:vacha
[People who will travel in this path are focused and confined on addressing needs of his body, his family and never bothers to go beyond this, leaves the body in the final stage with loads of pain and trouble] [People who will travel in this path are greedy to earn, experience, and repeat, continues to earn until he feels satisfied, and turns the desire from material wealth to social power; does good deeds for the sake of name and fame, like Ravana or Dhuryodhana]
After death, such soul goes through yama loka, experiences hell of various intensities; comes back to Earth and takes another body (human or any creature depending on karmic records) After death, such soul goes through cha:ndrama:sa lo:ka, pitru lo:ka etc; avoids hell and comes back to Earth, takes another body (human or any creature depending on karmic records)

Are you saying Ravana and Dhuryodana did not go through hell?

Yes! Surprisingly. The reason such people escape hell is their good deeds (although for selfish reasons) which benefit some people. The grace of those benefited people works on them. 

Ravana studied Vedas and in this process introduced several others in the path of Vedic wisdom. Those several others benefited from confining themselves to satisfying their bodies alone and not hurting others in the process. They know God exists. 

After several attempts to curb Sri Rama, Ravana realized on the last day of the war that Sri Rama is Sriman Narayana Himself, but chose to go through the course of action he preferred.

He said, “tam manye: Raghava vi:ram na:ra:yana ana:mayam?”

Even though, Ravana’s actions drove him through the Dhu:ma:gi ma:rga (path of arrogance), his actions provided opportunities for others to know/see/feel/experience Sri Rama and that saved him from hell!

Dhuryodhana clearly said,
ja:na:mi dharmam nahi me: pravrutthi, ja:na:mi adharmam nahi me: nivrutthi

[I know what is dharma, but I don’t want to follow it. I know what is adharma, but I don’t want to give it up].
His actions, although selfish, paved the way for others to know Sri Krishna and thus, he was also saved from hell.

Path Three

Archira:di ma:rga (sa:tvic path– devotion driven)

Swadharma:khye:na parishuddhe:na che:tasa:

People who will travel through this path do their duty with a pure heart, the keyword here is ‘pure heart’

It is defined as:
addhishnya darsana sparsa pu:ja sthuthi abhinandanai bhuthe:shu madvabha:naya: satve:na asangane:na cha

One with such a pure heart

  • Believes in God as the sole supporter of all existence
  • Knows his limits, and does not hesitate to put others in their limits
  • Shares wisdom about God with everyone, and practices it unquestionably at all circumstances
  • Breathes, walks, talks, works, serves, sleeps and does everything as if it is a yajna (service of God) because he sees God’s presence through every activity
  • Respects all beings and serves them where necessary as service to God
  • Refrains from stealing the show, because he understands that everything that’s happening is a result of multiple factors and all players (visible and invisible) – all supported by the Supreme God
  • Serves the Deity form of God, feeling grateful for His magnificent ability to be accessible in any form
  • Enjoys every activity as a divine deed
  • Most importantly, does all these with no expectations purely out of love and gratitude for God

After death, such souls travel through surya lo:ka and a beautiful divine path beyond it reaching paramapadam, the eternal abode of God

Su:rya dware:na the: ya:nthi purusham viswatho: mukham

Avoids the cycle of births and deaths after current life. Reaches the eternal abode of God and enjoys the togetherness of bliss with God forever (becomes a muktha)!

She asked me, “What do you think now? A 90-minute discourse per week on such important topics isn’t something that we can buy using what we earned. It’s a result of the sheer compassion of Swamiji.” 

I obediently agreed and bowed to Swamiji with my hand on my heart and head down (I don’t know where He is physically, but I hope this expression of mine reaches Him).

She said, “Swamiji asked everyone to think: if giving up short-lived pleasures (thamasik and rajasik) a wise thing to do in order to gain the long-term benefit of eternal bliss.”

– From the discourse of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Pearls from Bhagavatham, 06th June 2020
– An IT professional, Hyderabad, TN, Bharath (India)