aananda saagara stavaH - verse 10

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astvaxaragrahavidhirjanuShaaM sahasrai-

raapaatato bhavatu vaapi tato.arthabodhaH |

durvaadikalpitavikalpatara~Ngasaandraan.h

duShpuurvapaxajaladhiin.h kathamuttareyuH || 10 ||

 

In a split form:

 

astu axara-graha-vidhiH januShaaM sahasraiH

aapaatato bhavatu vaapi tataH arthabodhaH.

durvaadi-kalpita-vikalpa tara~Nga-saandraan.h

duSh-puurva-paxa jaladhiin.h kathaM uttareyuH || 10 ||

 

Assuming one manages to learn just the text of vedas

(axara-graha-vidhiH), that is to chant correctly, in a thousand births

(januShaaM sahasraiH). Then (tataH), say in some more births (bhavatu

vaapi), at least superficially (aapaatato) one manages to understand

the meaning of these vedic texts (arthabodhaH) . Even then, who can

cross (kathaM uttareyuH) the ocean (jaladhiin.h) of cunning counter

arguments (duSh-puurva-paxa) filled with impenetrable waves

(tara~Nga-saandraan.h) of distorted arguments of the wicked

(durvaadi-kalpita-vikalpa)!

 

In this verse, shrI diikShita wonders at the difficulty in

understanding the essence of veda-s. First difficulty is just

learning the text alone, next being understanding it, and the

final third is those proposing counter arguments which confuse

and mislead the seeker. In essence, shrI diikshita, is saying

jnAna marga is way too difficult. This is so because, aatma

vichaara is not possible without the support of vedic

understanding and could be terribly misleading to a

self-flattering state of false knowledge confused for aatma

jnAnam, without that. From the previous verses and current one,

shrii diikshitaa is of the opinion that for liberation through

this path one has to master the veda-s comprehensively and

definitely not through the mere knowledge of few words here and

there from vedic texts.

 

AUM shrImAtre namaH

 

Ravi & svAmi Vishvarupananda.