This prayer recognizes human weaknesses and the helplessness of our intellect, samskaras, beliefs, and practice of virtues. We know virtues are helpful, yet our lust and greed overpowers us. It overtakes all our wisdom gained from bookish or philosophical knowledge.

It doesn't take a college education to know how harmful vices are, but millions still fall victim to them. But instead of giving up and helplessly living a wretched life, we should struggle against the enemies lying within us. We need sincere efforts and God's help to drive our chariot of life to a successful end.

Only after we have sincerely done all we can to fight these vices -- also known as  Duryodhanas, Ravanas and Kauravas -- can we expect additional help from Lord Krishna within us. We must become an instrument of God like Mirabai and act as a faithful and obedient servant as directed by the Lord in the Gita. In this lies our honor, dignity, wisdom, character and manliness, whether we are a woman or a man.

Humility must be the basis of all our acts which otherwise will blind us further. Wisdom is in surrendering to the Lord and loving Him/Her in all the infinite manifestations around us. Faith, humility and love are the three gates to ultimate peace, joy and freedom.

-- Swami Radhanandaji