May 26th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
देहदण्डनमात्रेण का मुक्तिरविवेकिनाम् ।
वल्मीकताडनादेव मृतः कुत्र महोरगः ॥

- गरुडपुराण


Transliteration:
dehadaṇḍanamātreṇa kā muktiravivekinām ।
valmīkatāḍanādeva mṛtaḥ kutra mahoragaḥ ॥
- garuḍapurāṇa

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Only the imprudent think that they can achieve salvation by penalizing the body. How will patting the anthill kill the great snake?

Commentary:
Amongst many people, there is a practice of putting their bodies through rigorous rituals or actions. For example: fasting wherein the body is starved for a long time, or rigorous exercises to keep the body fit, etc. 

The poet says that only the imprudent people think those practices will liberate them and lead them to salvation. Those practices only help in purifying the body. But liberation is not attained by the body! It is the jīva (soul) that attains nirvāṇa (salvation). In that case, isn't it the jīva that should be cleansed?

The metaphor used by the poet is that of an anthill and a snake. A snake overtakes the anthill and makes it its home. If the intention is to kill the great serpent residing inside, it is not sufficient to tap and pat the outside of the anthill. The body is just like the anthill where the monstrous serpent (ego) resides. Enduring hardships of the body will not put a dent in the resolve of the ego. It is the ego that has to be eliminated to attain mukti (salvation).

Uproot the problem by digging up the roots rather than hacking at the leaves! 

pada vigrahaH:
देह-दण्डन मात्रेण का मुक्तिः अविवेकिनाम् ।
deha-daṇḍana mātreṇa kā muktiḥ avivekinām ।

वल्मीक-ताडनात् एव मृतः कुत्र महा उरगः ॥
valmīka-tāḍanāt eva mṛtaḥ kutra mahā uragaḥ ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
dehadaNDanamaatreNa kaa muktiravivekinaam ।
valmIkataaDanaadeva mRutaH kutra mahoragaH ॥
- garuDapuraaNa

deha-daNDana maatreNa kaa muktiH avivekinaam ।
valmIka-taaDanaat eva mRutaH kutra mahaa uragaH ॥

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