Daily Devotion - Dec 11 2025 (English)- Maya’s Trap

A sādhak's question - What are the four defects in a soul, and what is their meaning?
Shri Maharaj Ji's answer -
Every person bound by Maya, and hence ignorant, has four defects:

1. Bhram,
2. Pramād,
3. Vipralipsā, and
4. Karanāpāṭav.

Bhram -
Not recognising an object correctly and reaching the wrong conclusion about it. For example, mistaking a brass chain for gold. I am the soul, but due to ignorance, I consider myself to be the body. Because the individual soul has been turned away from God since eternity, it is under the illusion that "I am the body."
bhayaṃ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syāt। īśāt apetasya 'viparyayo'smṛtiḥ'॥
Delusion of the intellect is called bhram. In other words, mistaking something for what it is not.

1. Pramād -
   Carelessness or laxity of mind. For example, despite being wise, speaking the wrong words to someone out of carelessness, even without intending to do so.
2. Vipralipsā - Concealing one's faults. Having the arrogance to interfere in everything, whether knowledgeable or not. Deliberately speaking about something out of pride, even without proper knowledge (i.e., hiding your ignorance and not admitting your faults). Even if the Guru points out your mistake, you immediately say, "No, Maharaj Ji," and then try to justify yourself. You have such arrogance about your intellect. When the Guru points out your fault, you should first say, "Yes, sir", then reflect on the mistake. If you are still not convinced, humbly ask the Guru. He will explain how what you did was a mistake according to the scriptures. Then accept it and do not argue further.
   But you do not do this - you hide your faults. This tendency is present in everyone.
3. Karanāpāṭav - Pretending to be experienced even when inexperienced. Even if someone is an expert in one subject, there are innumerable subjects in which that person cannot be an expert. If one is an engineer, he is not a doctor; if he is a doctor, he is not a lawyer. Yet pretending to be experienced is Karanāpāṭav.

These four flaws are present in all souls bound by Maya and will remain until one attains God. Depending on the extent of one’s devotional practice, some may have fewer flaws, and some may have more. Always remember this. Never judge yourself based on just one lifetime's history and think, "I never murdered anyone in this birth; I am not so sinful." If the record of your infinite past lives is placed before you, it will be clear that no one is big or small. Even if someone committed only one sin in one lifetime, he would have committed infinite sins in infinite past lives. However, the sins of the one who recognizes this gradually diminish.
"Jaane te chhījẽ kachchu pāpī" -
To the extent you accept yourself as a sinner, you will be able to shed that many tears before God. Your mind will gradually become purified.

Therefore, you must do sadhāna.

Mahaprabhu said, "tṛṇādapi sunīcena" - consider yourself lower than a blade of grass, an utterly sinful soul. The stock of sins from your infinite past lives, accumulated in the form of sanchit karma, is forgiven only after you attain God. Without that, a soul can never be liberated. It is God's grace that -
"Aham tvā sarvapāpebhyo mokṣayiṣhyāmi"
He frees us from all sins and purifies us completely. By God's grace, these four defects disappear altogether and permanently.

Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:

Kamna Aur Upasna - Hindi

Hello True Happiness! - English