Swami Brahm Bodhi

From the reflections of Shri Kheda, a few more truths deserve to be illuminated.
There are five essential attributes ascribed to God — Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, Goodness, and Creatorship with sustaining power.

Among these divine attributes, the quality of Goodness embodies several aspects — primarily Justice and Compassion.
In the conception of God across religions, both these aspects coexist: God is at once merciful and just.
He is the perfect balance of the two.

One who truly understands this remains free from anxiety.
Such a person performs his duties faithfully — whether for God-realisation or any other purpose — yet remains untroubled, for he knows that God is just and will not allow injustice to prevail against him.
He receives precisely what he deserves — no more, no less — for impatience never hastens the fruit of karma.
At the same time, a radiant hope remains alive in his heart — the assurance that God is also compassionate and gracious.

The Lord Himself declares in the Bhagavad Gita:

समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः।
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्॥
(Bhagavad Gita 9.29)

“I am equal to all beings; I hate none and no one is dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion dwell in Me, and I too dwell in them.”

Yet, the Lord is not only impartial and just — He is also our Mother, Father, and Friend.
As He says:

पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः।
(Bhagavad Gita 9.17)

When God is neither our enemy nor distant judge, but our friend, mother, and father, why should we ever worry?

He further assures us:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
(Bhagavad Gita 9.22)

“Those who, meditating on Me alone, constantly worship Me with exclusive devotion — for them, I Myself secure what they lack and preserve what they have.”

Therefore, every spiritual aspirant should direct his best efforts toward God-realisation, while at the same time cultivating complete surrender to Him.
There is no need to look toward other deities — they may be revered from a distance, but wholehearted devotion must be reserved for the Supreme Lord alone.

Through the harmonious union of spiritual discipline and surrender, one receives the full grace of God.
Step by step, such a person becomes righteous, tender-hearted, and ultimately attains both God and liberation, as declared by the Lord:

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति।
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति॥
(Bhagavad Gita 9.31)