EXTRACT FROM MUMUKSHU VYAVAHAARA PRAKARANAM
वसिष्टोवाच तस्मात्प्रकृतमेवेदं शृणु श्रवणभूषणं
मयोपदिश्यमानं त्वं
ज्ञानमज्ञान्ध्यनाशनम् ।
Vasishta spoke: Therefore
now listen to what I am going to say.
It
is an ornament to the ears. It is the knowledge which will destroy the
blindness of ignorance.
(Before starting the study of
this huge text, you must cultivate some essential qualities as a must.
First is the determination to
finish the text and understand the whole thing, however much time it takes,
even if it be a work that takes the whole of your life-time.)
Liberation is your goal; and
you will stop not till the goal is reached.)
BELIEVE
IN HUMAN ENDEAVOR NOT DAIVAM
सर्वदा सर्वमेवेह हि सदा संसारे रघुनन्दन संयक्प्रयुक्तात्सर्वेण पौरुषात्समवाप्यते ।
O Delight of the Raghu
dynasty! Anything in this world is always achieved through ‘properly directed
human endeavor’ by one and all.
इह हीन्दोरिवोदेति शीतलाह्लादनं हृदि परिस्पन्दफलप्राप्तौ पौरुषादेव नान्यतः ।
Like the
pleasant coolness felt in the heart which rises from the moon, sincere
endeavor will lead directly towards the attainment of the fruit.
पौरुषं स्पन्दफलवद्दृष्टं प्रत्यक्षतो नयत्कल्पितं मोहितैर्मन्दैर्दैवं
किञ्चिन्न विद्यते ।
Human endeavor directly leads
to the attainment of the fruit of the action done by the body and the mind.
There is nothing called
Daivam, which is just a concept, imagined by dullards and deluded minds.
(Daivam
means that which bestows fruit of actions, as mentioned in the description of
Kaala.
It is
just the nature of the time phenomenon, the moving flow of deterioration.
Daivam,
as any supernatural entity that controls the life-events of anyone, does not
exist, to block your endeavor towards liberation.)
HAVE
A GOAL BEFORE STARTING THE STUDY
साधूपदिष्टमार्गेण यन्मनोङ्गविचेष्टितं तत्पौरुषं तत्साफल्यमन्यदुन्मत्तचेष्टितम् ।
When the
mind and the body act through the path advised by noble men, then that goes by
the name of ‘Paurusha’ or Human endeavor; that alone gives results; otherwise
the wasteful movements of the mind and body are just the actions of the insane
(which have no purpose to fulfill).
DO NOT
ABANDON THE EFFORT HALF-WAY
यो यमर्थं प्रार्थयते तदर्थं चेहते क्रमादवश्यं स तमाप्नोति
न चेदर्धान्निवर्तते ।
He who wants to attain some particular goal will
naturally strive for it and will definitely attain it; he will never abandon it
mid-way.
EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO REACHED THEIR GOALS
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यसुन्दरां कश्चिद्प्राणिविशेषो हि वृषतां समुपागतः ।
Some living being of some species alone has
attained the post of Indra (Vrshaa) endowed with the wondrous pleasures of the
three worlds, through trying hard with Paurusha.
पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन सहसाम्भोरुहास्पदं कश्चिदेव चिदुल्लासो ब्रह्मतामधितिष्टति ।
Some playful fluctuation in the Chit alone (Pure awareness
state of Brahman) attains the state of Brahmaa seated on the thousand-petal lotus,
because of trying hard with Paurusha.
सारेण पुरुषार्थेन स्वैनैव गरुडध्वजः कश्चिदेव पुमानेव पुरुषोत्तमतां गतः ।
Some manly being alone has become the excellent of
all men as Vishnu with the flag of Garuda bird by the essence of hard endeavor.
पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन ललनावलिताकृतिं शरीरी कश्चिदेवेह गतश्चन्द्रार्धचूडताम् ।
Some embodied person alone has become Shiva with
the head adorned by the crescent moon and gets embraced by the best of the
ladies, because of hard endeavor.
TYPES OF ENDEAVOR
प्राक्तनं चैहिकं चेति द्विविधं विद्धि पौरुषं प्राक्तनोsद्यतनेनाशु पुरुषार्थेन जीयते ।
Endeavor is if two types- past and present.
The effects of the past endeavor can be conquered
in the present by sincere endeavor.
(In
the context of the study of the text, the past endeavor mentioned here refers
to the blind religious beliefs, fanatic addiction to the form of a Guru or
deity, philosophical theories handed down as family heirloom, and all such
things which block your mind from the understanding of Vasishta’s truths.
Start
the study with an open mind, like a beginner in spiritual school, as Rama does.
He
was also learned in all philosophies and might have had his own beliefs as his
addiction.
Nothing
helped him in his crisis-hour.
He
surrenders to Vasishta, and is ready for the Knowledge-exposition, freed of all
old ideas and theories.
You
must also follow suit, if you trust in Vasishta’s expertise in leading you
towards liberation.)
यत्नवद्भिर्दृढाभ्यासैर्प्रजोत्साहसमन्वितैर्मेरवोsपि निगीर्यन्ते कैव
प्राक्पौरुषे कथा ।
Those who try hard, those who practice hard, those who
have enthusiasm and proper understanding can uproot even mountains like Meru;
what is there to talk about the effects of the past endeavors?
शास्त्रनियन्त्रितपौरुषपरमा
पुरुषस्य पुरुषता या स्यादभिमतफलभरसिद्ध्यै भवति हि सैवान्यथा त्वनर्थाय ।
The Paurusha of a Purusha
(embodied person), which is the supreme endeavor as guided by the scriptures of
Knowledge, will lead to the attainment of the desired fruit (of liberation).
If not guided by scriptures,
the effort ends in harm only.
(If not guided by the scriptures like Upanishads or
Vaasishtam, you will end up in various hallucination experiences as Moksha and
go astray; since you are not even aware of the meaning of the word Moksha.)
कस्यान्चित्स्वयमात्मदुःस्थितिवशात्पुंसो दशायां
शनैरङ्गुल्यग्रनिपीडितैकचुलुकादावापबिन्दुर्बहुः ।
कस्यान्चिज्जलराशिपर्वतपुरद्वीपान्तरालीकृता
भर्तव्योचितसंविभागकरणे पृथ्वी न पृथ्वी भवेत् ॥
शनैरङ्गुल्यग्रनिपीडितैकचुलुकादावापबिन्दुर्बहुः ।
कस्यान्चिज्जलराशिपर्वतपुरद्वीपान्तरालीकृता
भर्तव्योचितसंविभागकरणे पृथ्वी न पृथ्वी भवेत् ॥
A
person who fails to follow the injunctions of the Scriptures and treads the
path of senses as guided by his own desires is equal to a person who -
suffering by diseases and poverty; has lost the use of his hands; is wounded at
the tips of his fingers; is experiencing extreme pain; (is thirsty and) shakes
the bower (of a wet tree) ;collects the few falling eater drops in the cupped
hole of the palm, and throws them into the mouth.
(So much effort for such a
small gain!
That is how the blind
religion that is not supported by Vichaara gets you the results; a
self-soothing hypnotic effect. Thirst will never be satisfied.)
For
such a person, even that drop of water becomes a thing of high value because it
was unattainable otherwise.
Suppose
one follows the injunctions of the scriptures he will be akin to a person who
owns the seven islands containing all the water sources of the Earth; and
dividing it among his sons and brothers, still feels that earth which he has
given away has not much value.
(Least effort and much
gain!
That is what Vaasishtam
promises!
You have to just unravel
the mysteries concealed in the stories; and Moksha lands on you even if you are
not aware of it! No body tortures of asceticism or dependence on a deity to
grace you with a Moksha!)
(You may do the highest effort in the wrong way and
just get very little gain and feel great about it;
You may do the least effort in the right way and even
a big loss will be not considered as a loss at all.)
‘PRAVRTTI’-INVOLVEMENT IN THE
STUDY
प्रवृत्तिरेव प्रथमं यथाशास्त्रविहारिणां प्रभेव वर्णभेदानां साधनी सर्वकर्मणाम् ।
Like
the sunlight which alone exists as the basic substance for different color
frequencies, ‘Pravrtti’ (involvement/perseverance) exists as the single requirement which
is a ‘must’ for all achievements.
मनसा वाञ्छ्यते यच्च यथाशास्त्रं न कर्मणा साध्यते मत्तलीलासौ मोहनी नार्थसाधनी ।
That
(goal of liberation) which is desired by the mind, yet is not followed by the
action as prescribed the Scriptures (like Vaasishtam), turns into the
ridiculous actions of a mad person; leads astray; and does not obtain the
needed result.
यथा संयत्यते येन तथा तेनानुभूयते स्वकर्मैवेति चास्तेऽन्या व्यतिरिक्ता न दैवदृक् ।
In whatever way one tries hard, the result will be
experienced based only the degree of effort that one applies in his action.
There is nothing else called fate or destiny (Daivam) that brings about a
particular result (good or bad).
PAURUSHA AS GUIDED BY VEDA-BASED KNOWLEDGE TEXTS
उच्छास्त्रं शास्त्रितं
चेति द्विविधं पौरुषं स्मृतं तत्रोच्छास्त्रमनर्थाय
परमार्थाय शास्त्रितम् ।
Paurusha can be classified as two types; that which is
not guided by the scriptures and that which is done under the guidance of
scriptures; the first type leads to harm; and the second one bestows the supreme
result (since it is based on limited theories of human minds with imagined
concepts of Moksha).
द्वौ हुडाविव युध्येते पुरुषार्थौ समासमौ
प्राक्तनश्चैहिकश्चैव शाम्यत्यत्राल्पवीर्यवान् ।
Both
the past efforts (based on blind religion, other philosophical theories and
ascetic practices) and the present efforts (of studying Vaasishtam only) ; both
dash against each other with equal or unequal strength like two goats in fight;
the one with lesser strength will meet with failure.
(You decide your fate; not
the fate!)
अतः पुरुषयत्नेन यतितव्यं यथा तथा पुंसा तन्त्रेण सद्योगाद्येनाश्वद्यतनो जयेत्
।
Therefore a man should endeavor with extreme effort
through proper methods prescribed, by holding on to the correct way of action;
and the present action will become fruitful for sure.
(Cultivate the qualities prescribed by Vaasishtam; and
the success is yours.)
द्वौ हुडाविव युध्येते पुरुषार्थौ समासमौ आत्मीयश्चान्यदीयश्च जयत्यतिबलस्तयोः ।
Both
the past and present efforts dash against each other with one’s own forceful
tendencies against that which is opposing it, like two goats in fight; the one
with greater strength will meet with success.
अनर्थः प्राप्यते यत्र शास्त्रितादपि पौरुषादनर्थकर्तृ बलवत्तत्र ज्ञेयं स्वपौरुषम् ।
If even with full endeavor and acting as advised by the
scriptures, if one meets failure, then one should understand that one’s own
effort was not up to bring about the required effort.
(Analyze
why you failed; do not blame the fate.)
परं पौरुषमाश्रित्य दन्तैर्दन्तान्विचूर्णयन्शुभेनाशुभमुद्युक्तं प्राक्तनं पौरुषं जयेत् ।
Taking recourse to utmost endeavor, gritting one’s
teeth, one should conquer the inauspicious effects of the past endeavors with
new endeavors to attain auspicious effects.
प्राक्तनः पुरुषार्थौsसौ मां नियोजयतीति धीः बलादधस्पदी कार्या प्रत्यक्षाधिका
न सा ।
The
idea that the past habits are driving one to act in the wrong way should be
forcefully removed; such past habits are nothing before the present endeavors.
(Past is gone and dead;
today is ready for you to use it to the fullest extent.)
तावत्तावत्प्रयत्नेन यतितव्यं सुपौरुषं प्राक्तनं पौरुषं यावदशुभं शाम्यति स्वयम्
।
As and
when required, one should try hard with utmost effort till the inauspicious
effort of the past subsides off fully. (Use reason whenever you feel troubled
by the past beliefs and theories.)
दोषः शाम्यत्यसंदेहं प्राक्तनोऽद्यतनैर्गुणैर्दृष्टान्तोऽत्र ह्यस्तनस्य दोषस्याद्य
गुणैर्क्षयः ।
The
fault of the past endeavor will subside without doubt by the present endeavor;
the example here is how fault of the yesterday gets solved by today’s remedy.
(Yesterday might be a room full
of clutter; today you can throw the rubbish off and clean it.
So is the mind that is cluttered
with wrong ideas. Clean it with the broom of reason.)
असद्दैवमधःकृत्वा नित्यमुद्रिकया धिया संसारोत्तरणं भूत्यै यतेताऽऽधातुमात्मनि
।
The
non-existent fate should be trampled down by the intellect which is strongly
following the dictum of scriptures continuously; and one should try to bring
the knowledge of the Self and try to cross over the Samsaara, by developing the
practices of Shama etc, (as mentioned by Vasishta).
न गन्तव्यमनुद्योगैर्साम्यं पुरुषगर्दभैरुद्योगस्तु यथाशास्त्रं लोकद्वितयसिद्धये
।
One should not become a human
donkey by not doing anything also. Any enterprise as prescribed by the
Scriptures results in the welfare of both the worlds.
(Not to study the text (out of laziness) and wait for
the fate to bestow you Moksha is a very wrong attitude.)
संसारकुहरादस्मान्निर्गन्तव्यं स्वयं बलात्पौरुषं यत्नमाश्रित्य हरिणेवारिपञ्जरात् ।
One should get out of the deep hole of worldly existence
using one’s own strength by taking recourse to sincere effort, like the lion
escaping the cage made by the hunters (or, like Vishnu escaping the illusory
network of demons).
प्रत्यहं प्रत्यवेक्षेत देहं नश्वरमात्मनः संत्यजेत्पशुभिस्तुल्यं श्रयेत्सत्पुरुषोचितम् ।
Every day one should observe
the body as a perishing object and discard attachment to it like with an
animal; and try hard to follow the ways of the noble.
(Life is short; try to master the knowledge of Vaasishtam
fast.)
किंचित्कान्तान्नपानादिकलिलं
कोमलं गृहे व्रणे कीटेवास्वाद्य वयः कार्यं न भस्मसात् ।
One should not turn into ashes ‘the house abided by youth’
(youthful body), which is better looking, soft and slimy with food and drink,
and be like a worm nibbling at the wound (interested only in pleasures).
शुभेन पौरुषेणाशु शुभमासाद्यते फलमशुभेनाशुभं नित्यं दैवं नाम किञ्चन ।
Through auspicious (sincere) effort,
auspicious result is obtained; through inauspicious (mechanical) effort,
inauspicious result is obtained; there is nothing called Daivam.
प्रत्यक्षमानमुत्सृज्य योsनुमानमुपैत्त्यसौ स्वभुजाभ्यामिमौ सर्पाविति प्रेक्ष्य पलायते ।
Ignoring
what is directly experienced, he who feels doubtful is like an idiot who runs
away in fear believing his arms to be a pair of serpents.
(Do not be afraid of your
own reasoning ability as a human.)
दैवं संप्रेरयति मामिति दग्धधियां मुखमदृष्टश्रेष्टदृष्टीनां दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मीर्निवर्तते ।
‘Daivam
alone prompts me to act like this’ Looking at those brainless ones who say these
words without observing the examples of men who succeeded with effort, all good
things move away feeling disgusted.
तस्मात्पुरुषयत्नेन विवेकं पूर्वमाश्रयेदात्मज्ञानमहार्थानि शास्त्राणि प्रविचारयेत् ।
Therefore one should first
cultivate discrimination with effort. Later one should analyze the meanings of
the great statements in the scriptures which instruct about self-knowledge.
चित्ते चिन्तयतामर्थं यथाशास्त्रं निजेहितैरसंसाधयतामेव मूढानां धिग्दुरीप्सितम् ।
Though studying the meanings
of the scriptural statements, if the fools do not realize them through proper
efforts (of cultivating qualities like Shama, Vichaara), fie on their wicked
natures!
DO YOU HAVE TO STRIVE HARD FOR
LONG?
पौरुषं च नवानन्तं न
यत्नमभिवान्च्छ्यते न यत्नेनापि महता प्राप्यते रत्नमश्मतः ।
When you start striving for a
goal, the effort need not go on without a finish; result will arise soon.
But if the striving is in the
wrong direction, even if the effort is prolonged, there will not be any success
like diamond cannot be obtained from the stone.
यथा घटः परिमितो यथा परिमितः पटः नियतः परिमाणस्थः पुरुषार्थस्तथैव
च ।
A pot is of limited size; so
is a piece of cloth of limited measure; so is the effort limited to the
attainment of the goal. (Effort and success are of equal measure.)
स च सच्छास्त्रसत्सङ्गसदाचारैर्निजं फलं ददातीति स्वभावोऽयमन्यथा नार्थसिद्धये ।
The effort accompanied by the
study of the scriptures and the company of the good will bestow the required
fruit as a natural occurrence; other than this, nothing else will yield the result.
स्वरूपं पौरुषस्यैतदेवम्व्यवहरन्नरः याति निष्फलयत्नत्वं
न कदाचन कश्चन ।
When a man works hard to
attain the goal he wants, there is never a failure for any effort at anytime.
LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES OF GREAT
MEN WHO ACHIEVED SUCCESS
दैन्यदारिद्र्यदुःखार्ताऽप्यन्ये पुरुषोत्तमाः पौरुषेणैव यत्नेन याता देवेन्द्रतुल्यताम् ।
Excellent men have attained
the equal position of Indra through employing manly effort only, though stuck
with wretched states of poverty and sorrowful situations.
आबाल्यादभ्यस्तैर्शास्त्रसत्सङ्गमादिभिर्गुणैर्पुरुषयत्नेन स्वार्थः संप्राप्यते यतः ।
Sincere effort with the cultivation of the study of
scriptures and company of the noble from childhood itself, will give the
required result for a man who tries hard.
इति प्रत्यक्षतो दृश्यमनुभूतं श्रुतं कृतं दैवोत्थमिति मन्यन्ते ये हतास्ते कुबुद्धयः ।
When this is directly seen,
experienced, and done, the idiots alone imagine it to be the act of Daivam and
are ruined.
आलस्यं यदि न भवेज्जगत्यनर्थः को न स्याद्बहुधनको बहुश्रुतो वा
आलस्यादियमवनिः ससागरान्ता संपूर्णा नरपशुभिश्च निर्धनैश्च ।
If there was no laziness
(procrastination) in the world, who will not be a very rich person or very
learned? Because of laziness only, this earth with its border of oceans is
completely filled with human animals and poor (who live a life without any goal
as such.)
(Job, family, property, wealth, and body-maintenance
are not the prescribed goals for an evolved human. A man is born to think; not breed.)
बाल्ये गतेऽविरतकल्पितकेलिलोले दोर्दण्डमण्डनवयःप्रभृति
प्रयत्नात्सत्सङ्गमैर्पदपदार्थविशुद्धबुद्धिः कुर्यान्नरः सुगुणदोषविचाराणि ॥
Once the childhood filled with its imagined
immature games is over with, from the very time the state of life starts with
the shoulders strong like sticks (youth state), one should make serious effort
and get into the company of the wise men, and clarify the mind with the words
and meanings of the scriptures; and analyze one’s faults and virtues.
वाल्मीकिरुवाच
इत्युक्तवत्यथ मुनौ दिवसो जगाम सायंतनाय विधयेऽस्तमिनो
जगाम स्नातुं सभा कृतनमस्करणा जगाम श्यामाक्षये रविकरेण सहाजगाम ॥
When the Sage was speaking
these words, the day ended; the sun (ina) set; the assembly saluted the Sages
and went to complete the sacred bath for attending to evening rites; and as the
night ended, they all returned along with the rays of the sun
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