LalithA SahasranAma [286] varnAsramavidhAyini

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varnAsramavidhAyini : She who establishes the castes and orders [of

life]

 

Thus she becomes the Vedas, which are her own commands, in order to

lead the created jivas into the right path. The vedas are divided

into two parts, the KarmakAnda and BrahmakAnda; as according to the

rule, the Devas and lower animals have no share in the KarmakAnda,

the [divine] Mother established righteousness[dharma] through

karmakAnda after dividing men into four castes and four orders.

 

The Kurma Pr after praise od Devi by HimavAn, says, "Devi, the life

of the universe having heard his words, remembering her husband

[siva] answered her father with a smile. O Lord of Mountains, hear

from me this doctrine, which is supreme, secret, known to Isvara

only, practised by BrahmavAdins alone… describing the means of

attaining .. by meditation, Karma Yoga, devotion, and wisdom, O Lord

of Mountains, this is to be attained by these means, not by crores

of other actions [karmans]; "thus concluding again she says in order

to describe Karma Yoga…" Karman is ordained by the Srutis and Smrtis

according to castes and orders; always perform this karman

associated with the knowledge of the Self, for the sake of

liberation. Devotion arises from righteousness [dharma], by devotion

the supreme is attained.

 

Dharma means sacrifice, etc, ordained by Srutis and Smrtis. Dharma

is not to be otherwise known, because from Vedas alone dharma came

into existence; hence the aspirant for liberation should depend on

the Vedas which are my form, for the sake of Dharma. By my command

the divine BrahmA, for the sake of protecting Vedas, created the

BrAhmanas at the beginning and established them in their respective

duties."

 

 

 

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry.