Sunday, November 05, 2017
Sri Dasbodh (2.8) सद्विद्या निरूपण
Sri Dasbodh (2.8) सद्विद्या निरूपण
(Description of hallmarks of Excellent Knowledge)
As per Sri Samartha, society can be divided into three categories of people. Those are either Benign (सत्व), Pleasure loving (रज) or Indolent and lazy (तम).
People belonging to the first category undertake pursuits conducive to spiritual way of life and living. They are selfless, ever ready to help beings and society at large.
The second category people indulge in activities that pamper the ‘body’ since those are pleasure loving. They are selfish and do not see anything beyond happiness for themselves .
Third category people exhibit excessive indiscrimination. They are extremely selfish, mean and possessing destructive mentality. Those are lazy, indolent and nurture entire despicable traits.
All these three categories require some form of enlightenment for their own betterment. Characteristics of excellent learning or knowledge are described in this chapter, which the ideal person possesses in full measure. A society having such persons must be considered extremely fortunate. It is common experience that his sublime biography keeps enthusing and inspiring generation after generations.
It is extremely pleasant and satisfying to listen to characteristics of a person possessing traits of excellent knowledge. He is always loyal, affable, peaceful, compassionate and very humble. He is always ready to help others ; his speech is soft, sweet and truthful.
Sri Samartha enumerates some interesting pairs of qualities that are usually antagonistic to each other. However, the one possessing both qualities in the pair must be unique, indeed very hallmark of an ideal being !
For example, he is handsome as well as clever (सुंदर आणि चतुर पण !) ; very powerful yet serene and docile (!) ; wealthy yet generous ; very knowledgeable but deeply devoted ; highly erudite but detached ; great ascetic yet very peaceful ; great orator yet not greedy ; treats others with respect in spite of being all-knowing ; very humble in spite of being great. He is religious in spite of occupying sovereignty; valiant yet discriminative. He follows code of conduct in spite of his youth. He obeys directives of parents while following ancestral rituals. He consumes food in regulated quantity and quality but does not fall prey to passions. He is successful yet philanthropic. He undertakes great tasks but is egoless. A good singer yet devoted unto the Lord. In spite of being very wealthy he worships the Lord. He is fully detached in spite of him being philosopher.
Such an ideal person is both pure at heart and righteous too. He is highly learned and therefore he is able to offer definitive opinion. He possesses discretion as whom to respect and how much. He takes every care with regard to money and women by virtue of morality.
The one endowed with excellent knowledge is a repository of joy and contentment. He is truly fortunate and ever successful. He nurtures entire virtues and is ever blissful. He is both great thinker as well as righteous in his conduct. He is ever truthful , wealthy and courageous.
Before concluding this chapter Sri Samartha emphasises that the one making all-out efforts can certainly acquire all the virtues mentioned above.
“Hari Om Tat Sat”
(Description of hallmarks of Excellent Knowledge)
As per Sri Samartha, society can be divided into three categories of people. Those are either Benign (सत्व), Pleasure loving (रज) or Indolent and lazy (तम).
People belonging to the first category undertake pursuits conducive to spiritual way of life and living. They are selfless, ever ready to help beings and society at large.
The second category people indulge in activities that pamper the ‘body’ since those are pleasure loving. They are selfish and do not see anything beyond happiness for themselves .
Third category people exhibit excessive indiscrimination. They are extremely selfish, mean and possessing destructive mentality. Those are lazy, indolent and nurture entire despicable traits.
All these three categories require some form of enlightenment for their own betterment. Characteristics of excellent learning or knowledge are described in this chapter, which the ideal person possesses in full measure. A society having such persons must be considered extremely fortunate. It is common experience that his sublime biography keeps enthusing and inspiring generation after generations.
It is extremely pleasant and satisfying to listen to characteristics of a person possessing traits of excellent knowledge. He is always loyal, affable, peaceful, compassionate and very humble. He is always ready to help others ; his speech is soft, sweet and truthful.
Sri Samartha enumerates some interesting pairs of qualities that are usually antagonistic to each other. However, the one possessing both qualities in the pair must be unique, indeed very hallmark of an ideal being !
For example, he is handsome as well as clever (सुंदर आणि चतुर पण !) ; very powerful yet serene and docile (!) ; wealthy yet generous ; very knowledgeable but deeply devoted ; highly erudite but detached ; great ascetic yet very peaceful ; great orator yet not greedy ; treats others with respect in spite of being all-knowing ; very humble in spite of being great. He is religious in spite of occupying sovereignty; valiant yet discriminative. He follows code of conduct in spite of his youth. He obeys directives of parents while following ancestral rituals. He consumes food in regulated quantity and quality but does not fall prey to passions. He is successful yet philanthropic. He undertakes great tasks but is egoless. A good singer yet devoted unto the Lord. In spite of being very wealthy he worships the Lord. He is fully detached in spite of him being philosopher.
Such an ideal person is both pure at heart and righteous too. He is highly learned and therefore he is able to offer definitive opinion. He possesses discretion as whom to respect and how much. He takes every care with regard to money and women by virtue of morality.
The one endowed with excellent knowledge is a repository of joy and contentment. He is truly fortunate and ever successful. He nurtures entire virtues and is ever blissful. He is both great thinker as well as righteous in his conduct. He is ever truthful , wealthy and courageous.
Before concluding this chapter Sri Samartha emphasises that the one making all-out efforts can certainly acquire all the virtues mentioned above.
“Hari Om Tat Sat”
