Thursday, September 07, 2017
Sri Dasbodh (1.10) नर देह स्तवन
Sri Dasbodh (1.10) नर देह स्तवन (Praise unto Human Body)
Man possesses the capacity to develop his body, especially his mind. He is endowed with an excellent brain, which is lighter in weight but profound in size by virtue of innumerable grooves and gyrations. It is extremely powerful too. Its intellectual and imaginative prowess is great and unique.
Only human brain is capable of ‘knowing’, understanding meaning thereof, visualising unity in diversity, swooping from finite to infinite, cognising laws of this colossal universe etc.
In addition, he has the power to transcend all the above and experience Chaitanya the Life Force immanent within him as well as entire Cosmos. In fact it is regarded as the greatest goal of human life. Therefore Saints exhort everyone to use the human body for achieving that very aim.
Sri Samartha begins his discourse keeping in mind this spiritual aspect and proceeds to narrate human characteristics from that viewpoint.
1. This human body is indeed blessed. Its unique feature rests in the success one achieves while pursuing Paramartha with the help of this body.
2. On acquiring this body, some used it to engross themselves in loving devotion while some were detached and stayed over mountains or in valleys instead.
3. Some move around pilgrim places, some engage themselves into reciting scriptures and some in incessant Namasmarana loyally.
4. Some undergo penance and austerities, some great men engage in Yoga Sadhana while some study Veda and Shastra, becoming highly erudite.
5. Some torture their body through ‘Hatha-Yoga’, whereas some insist upon ‘presence’ of God and ‘acquire’ God on that basis !
6. Some become famous as ‘Mahatma’ while some attain fame as great devotees. Some even acquire mystique power to roam in the sky !
7. Some become so very effulgent that they just merge into that brilliance. Some dissolve in water while some transform into air and just become invisible.
8. In spite of being one, some take up multiple forms; some disappear suddenly while even if seated at a place, appear at many places including the ocean.
9. Some mount over ferocious beasts, some make heavy articles move, while some bring the dead to life through their penance.
10. Some diminish brilliance of light and some dry up lakes. Some hold up breath of entire animal kingdom.
11. Some practice Yoga with firm resolve and they acquire number of occult powers. There have been millions of such (Yogis)
12. Some have mastered their minds (‘Mano-Siddha’); things just happen as per their wishes. Some have mastered speech (‘Vacha-Siddha’) and so everything they speak turns true. Some acquire ordinary occult powers while some entire ones. Thus, there have been variety of Siddha in the past.
13. Some went through Royal Path of ‘Nava-Vidha Bhakti’ (nine-fold forms of devotion) and while experiencing Form of the Self (Swa-Swaroopa) those were blessed. Some Yogis reached ‘Brahma-Loka’ via the secret aerial route.
14. Some reached Heaven, some stayed in ‘Satya-Loka’, while some becoming very form of Shiva stayed in ‘Kailas’ the abode of Sri Shankar.
15. Some became Indra in ‘Indra-Loka’, some merged into ‘Pittu-Loka’. Some settled into stars and planets, while some went to ‘Ksheera-Sagar’ to reside therein.
16. Some established themselves and enjoyed the type of Mukti (deliverance) of their liking, namely ‘Salokata’ (being in the vicinity), ‘Sammepata’ (being near), ‘Saroopata’ (taking up very form) and ‘Sayujya’ (total mergence, being one with)
17. Thus, innumerable Siddha, Sadhu and Saints set forth for Self-realisation. Human body is indeed unique; every description of the same will always fall short.
18. This human body paves the way to many austerities. It is possible to undertake various forms of Sadhana. However, many were emancipated using crystal clear discrimination.
19. On acquiring the human body many aspirants abandoned ego and pride altogether and were blessed with Self-Bliss and attained best possible state.
20. Many of them attained best status by virtue of human body; therefore there need not be any doubts as to its greatness anymore.
21. Everyone emphatically declares that emancipation cannot occur through animal body. Therefore, human body is decidedly useful for attaining Divinity.
22. The Saints, Mahanta, Rishi, Muni, Siddha, Sadhu, the contented, devotee, Mukta (liberated), Brahma-Jnyani (enlightened), the detached, Yogi, ascetics,
23. Philosophers, practitioners of Yoga, Brahmachari (celebate), Digambar (nude Sadhus), Sanyasi, Shad-Darshani (masters of six Shastra), and the austere became so through human body alone.
24. Therefore human body is great. It is greatest among entire animal kingdom. Entire pains and travails of hell are avoided through its help.
25. Another aspect of human body is its independence. It cannot be normally controlled by others. However, one should wear it down for philanthropy (helping others) and leave it behind as fame.
26. If animals such as cow, horse, buffalo, oxen are let loose out of compassion, someone is likely to whisk those away. Same is the case with women, especially maids
27. Nevertheless, such is not the case with male gender; he can roam around or stay at home as per his own sweet will; nobody dare hold him back !
28. Handicapped body is unable to work; body without arms cannot help others.
29. If blind, he is totally wasted; if deaf he cannot listen to discourses.
30. If mute, he cannot speak out his doubts. He is useless if he happens to be frail and weak, sick or rotten. He must be considered absolutely invalid if he is idiot, epileptic or possessed by spirits.
31. If a person is devoid of all the above discrepancies and is physically robust and healthy, he should quickly start pursuing the spiritual path.
32. An idiot may possess healthy body all right, but he forgets pursuing spirituality and then he moves around deluded under the clutches of Maya.
33. For example, a man digs out earth and builds a house for himself. He firmly believes that he possesses the house. However, he does not understand that it belongs to many others too and not him alone.
34. Rats claim that the house is theirs; lizards say the house belongs to them; flies claim ownership of the house;
35. Likewise bugs, big ants, scorpions, snakes, cockroaches,
36. Beetles, bees, white ants,
37. Cats, dogs, Moongoos,
38. Dirty insects, bedbugs, red ants, caterpillars,
39. Domestic pets, maids, family members also claim ownership of the house.
40. Besides guests, relatives, friends, town-dwellers,
41. Thieves and King’s officers call it their house. What is more, even fire is prepared to burn it off claiming its ownership !
42. Thus, everybody claims ownership of the house and this fool also calls it as his house. Ultimately it becomes a burden and he abandons that village !
43. All houses collapse after a time and entire village turns barren. Wild animals begin inhabiting those deserted houses.
44. In fact, the house belongs to insects, ants, white ants and rats that inhabit therein. The poor fool saying ‘mine, mine’ has to abandon it altogether.
45. Such is the condition of the house. In that case, how futile it is to say that the earthen house was his ! As a summary one can say that birth means residence for a couple of days in this world ; it can be done anywhere.
46. Now, it is also not correct to say that the body is mine. Like the house he is also born for the sake of many others. For example, lice inhabit head of man and eat it.
47. Bugs establish themselves near base of hair-shaft and devour meat around it. A boil is full of bacteria and we know that man’s stomach gets infested by worms.
48. Teeth, eyes and ears get infected and flies flock near infected ears.
49. Ticks suck blood, mites make inroads into muscles, insects bite and run away.
50. Beetles and bees sting, leeches suck in blood, snakes and scorpions bite.
51. Tiger suddenly attacks this body so very fondly reared, while wolf jumps over and devours it.
52. Rats and cats bite; dogs and horses tear it. Monkeys and bears kill by torturing the body.
53. Camels bite and throw it, elephants trample under feet, cattle thrust their horns and kill.
54. Thieves tear off the body, while spirits and ghosts overpower and kill.
Be it so ! Ultimate status of the body is such.
55. Thus it will be noticed that the body belongs to many and not us alone. A fool unnecessarily calls it as his own; it is prey to many. This will be further mentioned while discussing three types of nuisances.
56. One should regard the body fulfilled if it is worn out for Paramartha. Otherwise it is wasted due to variety of insults and succumbs at last.
57. Be it so ! Fools entangled in mundane worldly matters can never understand joy of Paramartha. Some hallmarks of such fools will be narrated next.
“Hari Om Tat Sat”
Man possesses the capacity to develop his body, especially his mind. He is endowed with an excellent brain, which is lighter in weight but profound in size by virtue of innumerable grooves and gyrations. It is extremely powerful too. Its intellectual and imaginative prowess is great and unique.
Only human brain is capable of ‘knowing’, understanding meaning thereof, visualising unity in diversity, swooping from finite to infinite, cognising laws of this colossal universe etc.
In addition, he has the power to transcend all the above and experience Chaitanya the Life Force immanent within him as well as entire Cosmos. In fact it is regarded as the greatest goal of human life. Therefore Saints exhort everyone to use the human body for achieving that very aim.
Sri Samartha begins his discourse keeping in mind this spiritual aspect and proceeds to narrate human characteristics from that viewpoint.
1. This human body is indeed blessed. Its unique feature rests in the success one achieves while pursuing Paramartha with the help of this body.
2. On acquiring this body, some used it to engross themselves in loving devotion while some were detached and stayed over mountains or in valleys instead.
3. Some move around pilgrim places, some engage themselves into reciting scriptures and some in incessant Namasmarana loyally.
4. Some undergo penance and austerities, some great men engage in Yoga Sadhana while some study Veda and Shastra, becoming highly erudite.
5. Some torture their body through ‘Hatha-Yoga’, whereas some insist upon ‘presence’ of God and ‘acquire’ God on that basis !
6. Some become famous as ‘Mahatma’ while some attain fame as great devotees. Some even acquire mystique power to roam in the sky !
7. Some become so very effulgent that they just merge into that brilliance. Some dissolve in water while some transform into air and just become invisible.
8. In spite of being one, some take up multiple forms; some disappear suddenly while even if seated at a place, appear at many places including the ocean.
9. Some mount over ferocious beasts, some make heavy articles move, while some bring the dead to life through their penance.
10. Some diminish brilliance of light and some dry up lakes. Some hold up breath of entire animal kingdom.
11. Some practice Yoga with firm resolve and they acquire number of occult powers. There have been millions of such (Yogis)
12. Some have mastered their minds (‘Mano-Siddha’); things just happen as per their wishes. Some have mastered speech (‘Vacha-Siddha’) and so everything they speak turns true. Some acquire ordinary occult powers while some entire ones. Thus, there have been variety of Siddha in the past.
13. Some went through Royal Path of ‘Nava-Vidha Bhakti’ (nine-fold forms of devotion) and while experiencing Form of the Self (Swa-Swaroopa) those were blessed. Some Yogis reached ‘Brahma-Loka’ via the secret aerial route.
14. Some reached Heaven, some stayed in ‘Satya-Loka’, while some becoming very form of Shiva stayed in ‘Kailas’ the abode of Sri Shankar.
15. Some became Indra in ‘Indra-Loka’, some merged into ‘Pittu-Loka’. Some settled into stars and planets, while some went to ‘Ksheera-Sagar’ to reside therein.
16. Some established themselves and enjoyed the type of Mukti (deliverance) of their liking, namely ‘Salokata’ (being in the vicinity), ‘Sammepata’ (being near), ‘Saroopata’ (taking up very form) and ‘Sayujya’ (total mergence, being one with)
17. Thus, innumerable Siddha, Sadhu and Saints set forth for Self-realisation. Human body is indeed unique; every description of the same will always fall short.
18. This human body paves the way to many austerities. It is possible to undertake various forms of Sadhana. However, many were emancipated using crystal clear discrimination.
19. On acquiring the human body many aspirants abandoned ego and pride altogether and were blessed with Self-Bliss and attained best possible state.
20. Many of them attained best status by virtue of human body; therefore there need not be any doubts as to its greatness anymore.
21. Everyone emphatically declares that emancipation cannot occur through animal body. Therefore, human body is decidedly useful for attaining Divinity.
22. The Saints, Mahanta, Rishi, Muni, Siddha, Sadhu, the contented, devotee, Mukta (liberated), Brahma-Jnyani (enlightened), the detached, Yogi, ascetics,
23. Philosophers, practitioners of Yoga, Brahmachari (celebate), Digambar (nude Sadhus), Sanyasi, Shad-Darshani (masters of six Shastra), and the austere became so through human body alone.
24. Therefore human body is great. It is greatest among entire animal kingdom. Entire pains and travails of hell are avoided through its help.
25. Another aspect of human body is its independence. It cannot be normally controlled by others. However, one should wear it down for philanthropy (helping others) and leave it behind as fame.
26. If animals such as cow, horse, buffalo, oxen are let loose out of compassion, someone is likely to whisk those away. Same is the case with women, especially maids
27. Nevertheless, such is not the case with male gender; he can roam around or stay at home as per his own sweet will; nobody dare hold him back !
28. Handicapped body is unable to work; body without arms cannot help others.
29. If blind, he is totally wasted; if deaf he cannot listen to discourses.
30. If mute, he cannot speak out his doubts. He is useless if he happens to be frail and weak, sick or rotten. He must be considered absolutely invalid if he is idiot, epileptic or possessed by spirits.
31. If a person is devoid of all the above discrepancies and is physically robust and healthy, he should quickly start pursuing the spiritual path.
32. An idiot may possess healthy body all right, but he forgets pursuing spirituality and then he moves around deluded under the clutches of Maya.
33. For example, a man digs out earth and builds a house for himself. He firmly believes that he possesses the house. However, he does not understand that it belongs to many others too and not him alone.
34. Rats claim that the house is theirs; lizards say the house belongs to them; flies claim ownership of the house;
35. Likewise bugs, big ants, scorpions, snakes, cockroaches,
36. Beetles, bees, white ants,
37. Cats, dogs, Moongoos,
38. Dirty insects, bedbugs, red ants, caterpillars,
39. Domestic pets, maids, family members also claim ownership of the house.
40. Besides guests, relatives, friends, town-dwellers,
41. Thieves and King’s officers call it their house. What is more, even fire is prepared to burn it off claiming its ownership !
42. Thus, everybody claims ownership of the house and this fool also calls it as his house. Ultimately it becomes a burden and he abandons that village !
43. All houses collapse after a time and entire village turns barren. Wild animals begin inhabiting those deserted houses.
44. In fact, the house belongs to insects, ants, white ants and rats that inhabit therein. The poor fool saying ‘mine, mine’ has to abandon it altogether.
45. Such is the condition of the house. In that case, how futile it is to say that the earthen house was his ! As a summary one can say that birth means residence for a couple of days in this world ; it can be done anywhere.
46. Now, it is also not correct to say that the body is mine. Like the house he is also born for the sake of many others. For example, lice inhabit head of man and eat it.
47. Bugs establish themselves near base of hair-shaft and devour meat around it. A boil is full of bacteria and we know that man’s stomach gets infested by worms.
48. Teeth, eyes and ears get infected and flies flock near infected ears.
49. Ticks suck blood, mites make inroads into muscles, insects bite and run away.
50. Beetles and bees sting, leeches suck in blood, snakes and scorpions bite.
51. Tiger suddenly attacks this body so very fondly reared, while wolf jumps over and devours it.
52. Rats and cats bite; dogs and horses tear it. Monkeys and bears kill by torturing the body.
53. Camels bite and throw it, elephants trample under feet, cattle thrust their horns and kill.
54. Thieves tear off the body, while spirits and ghosts overpower and kill.
Be it so ! Ultimate status of the body is such.
55. Thus it will be noticed that the body belongs to many and not us alone. A fool unnecessarily calls it as his own; it is prey to many. This will be further mentioned while discussing three types of nuisances.
56. One should regard the body fulfilled if it is worn out for Paramartha. Otherwise it is wasted due to variety of insults and succumbs at last.
57. Be it so ! Fools entangled in mundane worldly matters can never understand joy of Paramartha. Some hallmarks of such fools will be narrated next.
“Hari Om Tat Sat”
