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 body through rigorous rituals or actions. For example: fasting, wherein the body is starved for a long time; rigorous exercises to keep the body fit, etc. The poet says that only the imprudent think those practices will liberate them and lead them to salvation. Those practices only help in purifying of the body. But liberation is not attained by the body! It is the soul that attains nirvāṇa (salvation). In that case, isn't it the soul 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 it's 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) is residing. Enduring hardships of the body won’t put a dent in the resolve of the ego. It is the ego that has to be eliminated in order to attain mukti (salvation).
Treat the problem at the roots. Spraying the leaves will not restore the vitality of the tree!
pada vigrahaH:
देह-दण्डन मात्रेण का मुक्तिः अविवेकिनाम् ।
deha-daṇḍana mātreṇa kā muktiḥ avivekinām ।
वल्मीक-ताडनात् एव मृतः कुत्र महोरगः ॥
valmīka-tāḍanāt eva mṛtaḥ kutra mahoragaḥ ॥
The metaphor used by the poet is that of an anthill and a snake. A snake overtakes the anthill and makes it it's 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) is residing. Enduring hardships of the body won’t put a dent in the resolve of the ego. It is the ego that has to be eliminated in order to attain mukti (salvation).
Treat the problem at the roots. Spraying the leaves will not restore the vitality of the tree!
pada vigrahaH:
देह-दण्डन मात्रेण का मुक्तिः अविवेकिनाम् ।
deha-daṇḍana mātreṇa kā muktiḥ avivekinām ।
वल्मीक-ताडनात् एव मृतः कुत्र महोरगः ॥
valmīka-tāḍanāt eva mṛtaḥ kutra mahoragaḥ ॥
dehadaNDanamaatreNa kaa muktiravivekinaam ।
valmIkataaDanaadeva mRutaH kutra mahoragaH ॥
- garuDapuraaNa
deha-daNDana maatreNa kaa muktiH avivekinaam ।
valmIka-taaDanaat eva mRutaH kutra mahoragaH ॥
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