Vairagya Shatakam 3
Elusive contentment
The book can be divided into four parts grouping the important slogans.
They are:
1. Elusive contentment in day- today life.
2. Desire
3. Explaining the superiority of zeal,( Vairagyam)
4.Conclusion
1. Elusive contentment
Humans are all focused on achieving/ acquiring something or other from childhood. This keenness to acquire arises out of a feeling that material acquisitions would provide security and enjoyment in the day- to- day life. But we are not able to discontinue this acquiring tendency at any point. We acquire one thing the desire for more of it or desire for something else crops up. We never reach the point of satisfaction that we achieved the desired security and happiness..
It is partly true that both are achievable in the world. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. On the other hand, Those efforts brings along with the feeling of protection and happiness sadness and dissatisfaction. This is what this book explains
The more these two- security and happiness -brings along more of sorrows and insecurity. Items that are thought to provide security are also a cause for fear. The knowledge we have gained is not complete until we know these two aspects. It is with this semi-knowledge that samsara is experienced. The snake that appears on the rope occurs only in dim light. Similarly the half-knowledge that exists in worldly pleasures makes us experience misery. What we need to understand from this is that the world is a mixture of happiness, sorrow, fear and security. Ignorance of this does not mean that we are seeking pleasure while suffering.
In the first six verses Maharshi elaborately depicts the pathetic plight of a man who chases the elusive happiness. The scene created by the Maharshi ഡcenturies ago is applicable even today to a number of NRIs travel to Gulf countries and western nations to earn material resources. But at the end find themselves that they have not realised the much sought after material security nor the lasting happiness. Their journey is a race after mirage.
Let us see Maharshi says:
Verse 2
भ्रन्तम् देसमनेकदुर्गविसमम् प्रप्तम् न किन्चित्फलम् त्यक्त्व
जतिकुलभिमनमुचितम् सेव क्र्त निस्फल ।
भुक्तम् मनविवर्जितम् परग्र्हेस्वसन्̇कय ककवत्
त्र्स्ने ज्र्म्भसि पपकर्मपिसुने नद्यपि सन्तुस्यसि
ப்⁴ரந்தம் தே³ஸமனேகது³ர்க³விஸமம் ப்ரப்தம் ந கின்சித்ப²லம் த்யக்த்வ ஜதிகுலபி⁴மநமுசிதம் ஸேவ க்ர்த நிஸ்ப²ல .
பு⁴க்தம் மனவிவர்ஜிதம் பரக்³ர்ஹேஸ்வஸன்̇கய ககவத்
த்ர்ஸ்னே ஜ்ர்ம்ப⁴ஸி பபகர்மபிஸுனே நத்³யபி ஸந்துஸ்யஸி 2
bhrantam desamanekadurga visamam praptam na kincitphalam tyaktva jatikulabhimanamucitam seva krta nisphala ।
bhuktam manavivarjitam paragrhesvasaṅkaya kakavat
trsne jrmbhasi papakarmapisune nadyapi santusyasi 2
Meaning of words
bhrantam = roamed; desam = places; aneka = various; durga = difficult; visamam = obstacles; praptam = obtained; na = not
kincit = even a little; phalam = result/wealth; tyaktva = having given up; jati = birth in a caste
kula = lineage; abhimanam = pride; ucitam = proper
seva = service;krta = having performed; nisphala = fruitless; bhuktam = fed
mana = honor;vivarjitam = devoid of;paragrhesu = in others’ homes
asaṅkaya = hankering after gain;kakavat = like a crow;trsne = thirsting desire
jrmbhasi = increases;papakarmapisune = indicative of evil deeds; na adya api = not now even;santusyasi = satisfied
Short meaning
Travelling across many difficult and dangerous places brought me no wealth; giving up pride of lineage, I have served the rich in vain, without self-respect, in others’ homes; I have craved and eaten like crows in others’ homes; and still, oh Desire! instigator of wicked deeds, you prosper and even then remain unsatisfied
Explanation
I dug the earth in search of treasure. I melted ore from the mountains (for gold). I crossed the sea (in search of wealth). I tried and pleased the kings (for wealth). In the worship of mantras, I concentrated my mind and spent nights in the graveyard (to get enlightenment). But I did not even get the broken penny. Wow! Oh, Desire, Now, leave me alone.
Now, leave me alone - you will be satisfied.
Verse 3
உத்க²தம் நிதி⁴ஸன்̇கய க்ஸிதிதலம் த்⁴மத கி³ரேர்த⁴தவோ நிஸ்திர்னஹ் ஸரிதம் பதிர்ன்ர்பதயோ யத்னேன ஸம்தோஸிதஹ் . மந்த்ரரத⁴னதத்பரேன மனஸ நிதஹ் ஸ்மஸனே நிஸஹ் ப்ரப்தஹ் கனவரதகோ’பி ந மய த்ர்ஸ்னே ஸகம ப⁴வ 3
उत्खतम् निधिसन्̇कय क्सितितलम् ध्मत गिरेर्धतवो निस्तिर्नह् सरितम्
पतिर्न्र्पतयो यत्नेन सम्तोसितह् ।
मन्त्ररधनतत्परेन मनस नितह् स्मसने निसह् प्रप्तह्
कनवरतको’पि न मय त्र्स्ने सकम भव ३
utkhatam nidhisaṅkaya ksititalam dhmata girerdhatavo nistirnah saritam patirnrpatayo yatnena samtositah ।
mantraradhanatatparena manasa nitah smasane nisah praptah
kanavaratako’pi na maya trsne sakama bhava 3
Meaning of words
utkhatam = dug;nidhi = precious metals;saṅkaya = in quest of;ksititalam = earth;dhmata = smelted;gireh = stones
dhatavah = precious metals nistirnah = crossed;saritam = oceans;patih = chief;nrpatayah = royal;yatnena = with effort;samtositah = favored
mantra = incantations;aradhana = worship
tatparena = utmost effort manasa = mentally;nitah = carried out;smasane = cramation grounds nisah = nights;praptah = achieved kanavaratakah = a broken cowrie api = even;na = not;maya = by me; trsne = desire; sakama = satisfied bhava = be
Meaning in short
Digging the earth for wealth, smelting the rocks for prcious metals, crossing the oceans, laboring to keep in favor of kings, chanting incantations with a totally absorbed mind in cremation sites,–brought me not even a broken piece of a glimmering shell. Oh Desire! therefore, remain unsatisfied
Explanation
.
Wandering through the impassable paths and wandering in many countries, I found no use. It is useless to work for the pallor (rich), let alone the natural pride of the caste and clan. Apart from selfishness, I had food in other homes, like crows, in fear. Soaking in sinful deeds, foolishness! You are not finished.
Like a crow - even if it eats a crow, it will eat it for fear that it will be chased away.
Verse 4
க²லலபஹ் ஸோத⁴ஹ் கத²மபி தத³ரத⁴னபரைஹ் நிக்³ர்ஹ்யந்தர்ப³ஸ்பம் ஹஸிதமபி ஸுன்யேன மனஸ . க்ர்தோ வித்தஸ்தம்ப⁴ப்ரதிஹததி⁴யமன்ஜலிரபி
த்வமஸே மோக⁴ஸே கிமபரமதோ நர்தயஸி மம் 4
खललपह् सोधह् कथमपि तदरधनपरैह् निग्र्ह्यन्तर्बस्पम् हसितमपि सुन्येन मनस । क्र्तो वित्तस्तम्भप्रतिहतधियमन्जलिरपि
त्वमसे मोघसे किमपरमतो नर्तयसि मम् ४
khalalapah sodhah kathamapi tadaradhanaparaih nigrhyantarbaspam hasitamapi sunyena manasa । krto vittastambhapratihatadhiyamanjalirapi
tvamase moghase kimaparamato nartayasi mam 4
Meaning of words
khala = wicked;alapah = talk;sodhah = shabby;kathamapi = somehow
tat = that;aradhanaparaih = servile attendance; nigrhya = suppressing
antarbaspam = tears;hasitam = smiling;api = even;sunyena = vacant
manasa = mentally
krtah = made;vitta = wealth;stambha = inactive;pratihata = dulled;dhiyam = intellect;anjalih = obeisance;api = also;tvam = you;ase = oh Desire!
moghase = with hopes thwarted;kim = what;aparam = other;atah = hence
nartayasi = dance;mam = me
Short meaning
Enduring somehow in servility the talk of the wicked; holding back tears; smiling with a vacant mind; bowing low to wealthy but stupid people;
oh insatiable Desire! What other futile deeds would you have me dance in?
Explanation
In order to accept the theorists, I somehow tolerated their harsh words. I suppressed my inner tears and smiled frantically. I blunted the will and worshiped the fool. Desire, vanity! How many more ways will you haunt me?
Verse 5
அமிஸம் ப்ரனனம் துலிதபி³ஸினிபத்ரபயஸம்
க்ர்தே கிம் நஸ்மபி⁴ர்விக³லிதவிவேகைர்வ்யவஸிதம் . யத³த்⁴யனமக்³ரே த்³ரவினமத³னிஹ்ஸம்ஜ்னமனஸம் க்ர்தம் விதவ்ரிதை³ர்நிஜகு³னகத²பதகமபி 5
अमिसम् प्रननम् तुलितबिसिनिपत्रपयसम्
क्र्ते किम् नस्मभिर्विगलितविवेकैर्व्यवसितम् । यदध्यनमग्रे द्रविनमदनिह्सम्ज्नमनसम् क्र्तम् वितव्रिदैर्निजगुनकथपतकमपि ५
amisam prananam tulitabisinipatrapayasam
krte kim nasmabhirvigalitavivekairvyavasitam । yadadhyanamagre dravinamadanihsamjnamanasam krtam vitavridairnijagunakathapatakamapi 5
Meaning of words
amisam = our;prananam = all the vital forces;tulita = unsteady;bisini = lotus
patra = leaf;payasam = water;krte = done;kim = what;na = not
asmabhih = by us;vigalita = depraved;vivekaih = conscience;vyavasitam = performed;yat = which;adhyanam = of the rich;agre = in the presence
dravinamada = pride of wealth;nihsamjna = stupefied;manasam = minds
krtam = committed;vita = without;vridair = shame;nijaguna = own virtues
katha = reciting;patakam = sin;api = even
Meaning in short
Our energies, as fickle as the water drops on the lotus leaf, we have spent with thoughtless abandon. In front of the rich, with their minds dulled by the arrogance of wealth, we have sinned by flattering ourselves
For our (unstable) breath of life, like water on a lotus leaf, renouncing rationality, what did Yam not do? Shameless self-promotion for Ballistic Products and a great bargain on a neat little knife for you.
Verse 6
க்ஸந்தம் ந க்ஸமய க்³ர்ஹோசிதஸுக²ம் த்யக்தம் ந ஸம்தோஸதஹ் ஸோத⁴ து³ஹ்ஸஹஸிதவததபனக்லேஸ ந தப்தம் தபஹ் .
த்⁴யதம் வித்தமஹர்நிஸம் நியமிதப்ரனைர்ன ஸம்போ⁴ஹ் பத³ம் தத்தத்கர்ம க்ர்தம் யதே³வ முனிபி⁴ஸ்தைஸ்தைஹ் ப²லைர்வன்சிதஹ் 6
क्सन्तम् न क्समय ग्र्होचितसुखम् त्यक्तम् न सम्तोसतह् सोध
दुह्सहसितवततपनक्लेस न तप्तम् तपह् ।
ध्यतम् वित्तमहर्निसम् नियमितप्रनैर्न सम्भोह् पदम् तत्तत्कर्म क्र्तम्
यदेव मुनिभिस्तैस्तैह् फलैर्वन्चितह् ६
ksantam na ksamaya grhocitasukham tyaktam na samtosatah sodha duhsahasitavatatapanaklesa na taptam tapah ।
dhyatam vittamaharnisam niyamitapranairna sambhoh padam tattatkarma krtam yadeva munibhistaistaih phalairvancitah 6
Meaning of Words
= forgiven;na = not;ksamaya = forgiveness;grhocitasukham = comforts of home-life;tyaktam = renounced;na = not;samtosatah = with contentment;soDhA;duhsaha = inclement;sita = cold;vata = wind
tapana = heat;klesa = suffered inclement weather;na = not;taptam = heated
tapah = austerities;dhyatam = meditating;vittam = money;aharnisam = day and night;niyamita = controlled;prana = breath and vital forces;na = not
sambhoh = of Shiva;padam = feet;tattatkarma =those very acts;krtam = done;yadeva = which verily;munibhih = by reclusive saints;taistaih = those only;phalaih = of good results;vancitah = deprived of
Meaning in short
Forgiving out of weakness, giving up comforts of the home out of lack of fulfilment, tolerating the unbearable cold, wind, heat, without
fulfilling austerities, thinking of riches day and night with intense energy but not on Shiva’s feet,; thus have we performed the actions of the ascetic recluse
,Still our desire has not subdued. We have not felt the fulfillment of our desires. We are still unhappy.
Explanation
We have not enjoyed mundane pleasures, but ourselves have been devoured by desires. We have not performed austeriries, but got scorched ourselves, nevertheless; time is not gone but we approach the end. Desires do not.
We are patient, not forgiving. We renounced the comforts of home, not contentment. We endure the hardships of extreme cold, storms, and deadly heat, but not for the sake of repentance. During the day, we held our breath and meditated, not for wealth, not to reach the feet of Lord Shiva.. We did all the work that the sages do, but we did not get the benefit of it.
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