siddho bhavati

[Guest guest]

Sri Madavji’s post in another mailing list prompted me to read and reread

Ravi’s translation for the third sutra of NBS. For the phrase ‘siddho

bhavati’ he gave a beautiful translation as

‘becomes perfect’. This seems to be much more appropriate than other

interpretations.

 

siddha can mean ‘a perfect individual’ or ‘one who posses occult powers’.

The second interpretation is not valid in this context as one who longs for

supernatural powers in not a ‘tR^ipta’ or a contented person. (the sutra

also says tR^ipto bhavatI)

 

A bakta never succumbs for siddhIs. He considers them as distractions and

hurdles in the way towards the almighty. I was able to understand from

MadavjI’s post that only the half-baked go about demonstrating their feasts

like magicians diverting from the ultimate aim. These occult powers have

nothing to do with enlightenment or self-realization. A baktha considers

these as inimical. A spiritual infant has to be careful not be carried away

by black magic. Real saadhU-s withdraw into seclusion and are always humble

practicing their dharmic duties. If ones mind is always fixed on

transcendental reality, there is little need for a worldly achievement or

craving for superhuman strength.

 

Shankara’s explanation for the names ‘siddhArtah siddha sankalpah siddhi dah

siddhi saadanaH’, does not deal with occult powers even for one nAma. He

quotes from chAndokya “satyakAmah satya sankalpaH” as supportive evidence

for his explanation as a perfect one. He characterizes the lord as one who

grants the fruit for our actions for the nAma ‘siddhi dah’ and not as one

who gives superhuman powers.

 

Aravind

 

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