BHAJA GOVINDAM "Hammer Blows to Delusion" : Slokam - 11. Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji (Reflection by Swami Guru Bhaktananda - Chinmaya Mission.).

 

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Sunday, May 30,  2021. 6 : 53. AM.
Slokam - 11 :  
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Slokam #11 :

"ma kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam harati nimesatkalah sarvam |

mayamayamidamakhilaṁ buddhva brahmapadam tvam  pravisa viditva "|| 11 ||

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Word Meaning :

mā - do not, 

kuru - take, 

dhana - in possession, 

jana - in the people, 

yauvana - in youth, 

garvaṁ - pride, 

harati - loots away (takes away), 

nimeṣāt - in a moment, 

kālah- the Time, 

sarvam - all these, 

māyāmayam- full of illusory nature, 

idam - this, 

akhilaṁ - all, 

budhvā - after knowing, 

brahmapadaṁ - the state of Brahman, 

tvaṁ - you, 

praviśa - enter into, 

viditvā - after realising.

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Meaning :

Take no pride in your possession, in the people (at your command), in the youthfulness (that you have). Time loots away all these in a moment. Leaving aside all these, after knowing their illusory nature, realize the state of 

 One gets entangled in Samsaara due to the attachment to the tools of Maya, such as wealth, friends, youth, etc. These are all false vanities and hollow conceits, which will vanish in no time.

 All the arrogance born out of these false attachments will change in a moment into shame, because of their instability.

 One invites problems when one maintains relationship with the world of objects, feelings and thoughts through one's body, mind and intellect.

 Many human beings are slaves to this aspect of Maya, as the materialistic world is completely dependent on this.

 As we learnt from the earlier slokas, the relationship with kith and kin is proportionate to the wealth one possesses. Once it is vanished, all the relationships will vanish in no time. The youth of today will be an elderly person of tomorrow. One cannot escape from the jaws of the wheel of time. With the passage of time, the body decays and perishes.

 Bhagavan Adi Sankaracharya, therefore, warns that one should not dissipate one's energies in these false vanities. Instead, realizing the illusory nature of these world of objects, one should concentrate and realize the state and true nature of Brahman. Only that will give relief from the vicious cycle of birth-death-birth.

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Conclusion :

Slokam 11: The Props of the Ego

"ma kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam harati nimesatkalah sarvam |

mayamayamidamakhilaṁ buddhva brahmapadam tvam  pravisa viditva "

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Translation :

1 maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam      =Take no pride in wealth, status or youth;

2 harati nimeshaat kaalah sarvam;              = time loots away all these in a moment.

3 maayaam ayam idam akhilam buddhvaa  = Know that all this is full of illusion only;

4 brahma-padam tvam pravisha viditvaa.   = so realize and stay in the state of Brahman.

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Commentary :

1 Dhana, Jana and Yauvana: These three stand for wealth, fame, and desire; or Kanchana, Keerti and Kama; also called Vitteshna, Lokeshna and Putreshna (desire for wealth, fame and progeny).

These three are the classical obstacles to all spiritual endeavour. They represent the very opposite of spiritual life. They cannot co-exist with spiritual Sadhana. Why are the two opposed to each other? It is because they prop up the Ego, whereas spiritual Sadhana aims to destroy the Ego. They have opposite aims – the former thrives in edarkness; the latter in Light.

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2 The three obstacles give us a sense of false security. But what is the worth of that security? When examined closely, we find that they are flimsy things to depend upon. They are with us at one moment and leave us the next. How can we be secure by possessing them?

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3 Spirituality begins only when understand that this whole Samsara or worldly existence is Maya’s trick on us. It is one big illusion, appearing so glorious. In reality their support is like stilts placed in fluctuating sands.

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4 Knowledge of Brahman sounds the death knell to Samsara. Therefore, the Sage urges us to make realisation of God our sole aim in life. Therein alone can we find true, lasting security. Self-realisation makes us Immortal.

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End.
Next -Slokam 12 : The Stubborn Gusts of Desire.
To be continued ....

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