"River-Banks"

    It is symbolic that the River flows within bounds, its banks. Everybody knows what happens if the river outflows its banks. This limiting factor is called 'maryada'. Humans have to maintain this 'maryada, limitation, in all walks of life- public as well as private. Calamities befall if this divine rule of 'maryada' is not followed by humans. We already see such a reckless life, humans crossing their limitations. The result is catastrophic! There is mutual ill-will, strife, secret warfare of different types. The time has come for humanity to realize the mistake of crossing 'maryada', limitation, set by nature.

  There is another aspect of symbolism of this 'River-banks'. nobody will ever know what lies on the other bank of the river unless one crosses the river! In the Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says,"sarva dharman parityjya maam ekam sharanam vraja | This is a little confusing! When it is necessary for everybody to follow 'dharma' without fail, stick to dharma, how can one drop all dharma and take shelter in Him? The answer is simple. As long as one adheres to 'this and that' as dharma, it is difficult to reach Him. One has to cross the river of sansar and reach the other bank. But, this is not possible without a boat and a boatman! It is here that one has to remember His warning! All are struck in a leaky boat on a stormy  day and there is one to rescue. Only the divine help would save this humanity! hence one should cry like a child for help. 

   Yet another aspect of symbolism of this River-banks is the principle of 'salvation'. The humans are a deluded lot. There is mad, mad, rush toward acquisition. This deprives others of their basic needs. It is a battle and survival of the fittest. There is no law of justice and equity, dharma as at present in this Kali yuga. Unless one crossed this side of the river-bank -of trade, market economy, and reaches the other river-bank of 'equity and justice' there is no hope for mankind. To cross the river is also symbolic as 'to open the eyes and see the reality'!
   We, the humans, are all like horses blindfolded running at the behest of the fickle mind taking the senses on errands trying to fulfill the never-ending desires. The budddhi is also misleading, perverted and thus cannot help the jiva here. Prajnya sleeps!

   Hence, it is now more urgent to cross this 'turbulent river of sansar' (senses madly running after dreams, aspirations and desires) without any boat (spiritual knowledge) or a  boatman (attained Guru). The Gita explicitly states that the mankind is struck as if "in a leaky boat on a vast ocean on a turbulent stormy day. vayurnavaivambasi | Who will help us?