Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
गर्भे व्याधौ श्मशाने च पुराणे या मतिर्भवेत् ।
सा यदि स्थिरतां याति को न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥
- गरुडपुराण
Transliteration:
garbhe vyādhau śmaśāne ca purāṇe yā matirbhavet ।
sā yadi sthiratāṃ yāti ko na mucyeta bandhanāt ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Who will not be freed from bondage if the attitude/disposition pertinent - when in the womb, in sickness, at a funeral, and while (listening to) spiritual teachings - remains undeterred!
Commentary:
Moods and temperaments are like monkeys, jumping from one branch to another. It is very hard to predict how they will change or what they land upon next. But apathy is inherently ingrained in every being. It surfaces occasionally -
1. When in the womb, it is said that the soul is filled with detachment. After spending time in the womb, the soul feels like it never wants to come back into the world and go through all that pain ever again. (This is प्रसूति-वैराग्य (prasūti-vairāgya)).
2. In sickness, we automatically pray to the Lord and feel dispassionate towards worldly comforts and pleasures. No one wants to deck themselves up and be pompous when unwell. At that time, all vanities look meaningless. (This is आपद्-वैराग्य (āpad-vairāgya)).
3. At a funeral, when a loved one is being taken away, everyone present sees the momentariness of life. They see that when a person passes on, he doesn't take any of his worldly possessions along with him. Although this is common knowledge, it will aid as a reality check and induce the feeling of detachment in the onlookers. (This is श्मशान-वैराग्य (śmaśāna-vairāgya)).
4. While listening to mythological teachings or spiritual scriptures, there is a sudden stir in the mind and the mind then simulates an aversion to the materialistic indulgences. There is instantaneous dispassion towards mundane possessions. (This is पुराण-वैराग्य (purāṇa-vairāgya)).
These situations go beyond mundane level and break all bondages, although tentatively. When there are no bondages, there is a sense of dispassion. These are all situations that bring out what is already in us - a feeling of apathy (this word is not as effective as - 'vairāgya'). The verse says, if only this detachment/dispassion attains firm ground and remains unfluctuated, then there is no stopping from achieving mokṣa (salvation).
We have in us what is needed to attain nirvāṇa, but if we desire it, we need to be consistent!
pada vigrahaH:
गर्भे व्याधौ श्मशाने च पुराणे या मतिः भवेत् ।
garbhe vyādhau śmaśāne ca purāṇe yā matiḥ bhavet ।
सा यदि स्थिरतां याति कः न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥
sā yadi sthiratāṃ yāti kaḥ na mucyeta bandhanāt ॥
1. When in the womb, it is said that the soul is filled with detachment. After spending time in the womb, the soul feels like it never wants to come back into the world and go through all that pain ever again. (This is प्रसूति-वैराग्य (prasūti-vairāgya)).
2. In sickness, we automatically pray to the Lord and feel dispassionate towards worldly comforts and pleasures. No one wants to deck themselves up and be pompous when unwell. At that time, all vanities look meaningless. (This is आपद्-वैराग्य (āpad-vairāgya)).
3. At a funeral, when a loved one is being taken away, everyone present sees the momentariness of life. They see that when a person passes on, he doesn't take any of his worldly possessions along with him. Although this is common knowledge, it will aid as a reality check and induce the feeling of detachment in the onlookers. (This is श्मशान-वैराग्य (śmaśāna-vairāgya)).
4. While listening to mythological teachings or spiritual scriptures, there is a sudden stir in the mind and the mind then simulates an aversion to the materialistic indulgences. There is instantaneous dispassion towards mundane possessions. (This is पुराण-वैराग्य (purāṇa-vairāgya)).
These situations go beyond mundane level and break all bondages, although tentatively. When there are no bondages, there is a sense of dispassion. These are all situations that bring out what is already in us - a feeling of apathy (this word is not as effective as - 'vairāgya'). The verse says, if only this detachment/dispassion attains firm ground and remains unfluctuated, then there is no stopping from achieving mokṣa (salvation).
We have in us what is needed to attain nirvāṇa, but if we desire it, we need to be consistent!
pada vigrahaH:
गर्भे व्याधौ श्मशाने च पुराणे या मतिः भवेत् ।
garbhe vyādhau śmaśāne ca purāṇe yā matiḥ bhavet ।
सा यदि स्थिरतां याति कः न मुच्येत बन्धनात् ॥
sā yadi sthiratāṃ yāti kaḥ na mucyeta bandhanāt ॥
garbhe vyaadhau shmashaane cha puraaNe yaa matirbhavet ।
saa yadi sthirataaM yaati ko na muchyeta bandhanaat ॥
- garuDapuraaNa
garbhe vyaadhau shmashaane cha puraaNe yaa matiH bhavet ।
saa yadi sthirataaM yaati kaH na muchyeta bandhanaat ॥
No comments:
Post a Comment