Subhashita Nivi-8

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Dear Friends,

 

Enclosed is an attachment containing a summary of verses 85-96 of

the Subhashita Nivi.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

____

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Dear Friends,

 

In this post, I shall continue the summary of Swami Desikan's Subhashita Nivi.

Swami

Desikan describes the path of the accessible in this set of twelve verses. The

underlying

theme in this set of twelve verses is the role of an Acharya in pointing a

person to

the path of Lord Narayana. By serving as an intermediary between a Baddha

Jivatma

and the Lord, the Acharya performs an extraordinary service to the aspirant. As

a result,

the aspirant is eternally indebted to the Acharyan. Swami Desikan glorifies the

role of

the Acharya by using several illustrative examples in this set of twelve verses.

This

set of tweleve verses is pregnant with several layers of meanings. These are

readily

uncovered when one learns about them from the feet of an Acharya.

 

Very briefly,

stated, these verses describe the plight of a Baddha Jivatma steeped in darkness

on account of ignorance. Immersed in Samsara, the Baddha Jivatma thinks of

evanescent

material pleasures as permanent and forever seeks ways of gratifying the senses.

Realization of these detrimental ways dawns when the Baddha Jivatma comes in

contact

with a worthy Acharya. As a result of this association, the Acharya intercedes

with the

Lord on behalf of his protégé and pleads with the Lord to destroy the latter's

sins.

Consequently, the Baddha Jivatma is blessed with an Anubhavam of the Lord and

is

conferred with eternal bliss. The resulting benefits of realizing the Lord

(SArUpyam,

SAmEpyam, and SAlOkyam) are succinctly described by Swami Desikan in verse 8.

Swami Desikan lays out the doctrine of SharaNagati with conssumate effect in

this

set of twelve verses.

 

1. The mere sight of men of transcendent moral excellence and knowledge

wipes out the sins of the wicked and makes them pure.

 

2. Be he a king or a commoner, if he sits at the feet of a worthy virtuous man,

he will acquire true knowledge and will not be beset by passions and

temptations.

 

3. Gracious precepts from learned elders and the resultant knowledge of reality

will

eliminate various types of sins, such as pride, identification of the body

with the

soul etc.

 

4. Whatever obstructs a sinner's realization of the natural goodness of a truly

worthy person will increase his longing for the liberation from his sins.

 

5. A parrot achieves distinction when taught to speak by a preceptor. A crow

on top of a golden mountain appears golden. Sage Vishwamitra was conferred

Brahminhood by fruitful contact with Vasishta.

 

6. Compassionate instruction from a learned scholar to a sinner will eradicate

the

latter's faults and ignorance and will make him attract others through his

good

conduct; like the moon though spotted receives the rays from the Sun and

emits

light to the earth dispelling darkness.

 

7. Even the most self indulgent ignoramus when he finds his path to knowledge

strewn with obstacles will realize the true goals of human existence, if

he

receives instruction at the feet of a worthy teacher.

 

8 A person who realizes the Supreme Lord Narayana through meditation and

spiritual effort attains bliss identical with him.

 

9. A mere thread which links up precious gems, the sandals which adorn the holy

feet of sages and a blade of grass consecrated with Mantras deserve and

receive

esteem. Even so those who follow the great are also worthy of respect.

 

10. One who receives true knowledge from one eye or both eyes of his preceptor

cannot get the same wisdom from several eyes of other ordinary persons.

 

11. Drain water is purified by mingling with the waters of the sacred Ganges; a

kingdom gets renown if it is esteemed by the wise; a composition is

glorified

if it is about the Supreme Lord; a body gets cleansed if it realizes the

true nature

of the self; why, even sex is considered pure if it is for the sake of

progeny;

sacrifice of animals is sanctified if it is for offering at sacred rites.

Similarly, an

absolute dullard gets purified through studying under a preceptor.

 

12. Even apparent flaws or transgressions in the conduct of the truly worthy

and

great deserve utmost respect, like Lord Krishna stealing butter, breaking

two

trees and releasing the imprisoned souls, bestowing salvation to

illiterate Gopas

and Gopis, going to the Kaurava court as an emissary of the Pandavas,

serving

as the charioteer of Arjuna, and even breaking his own promise not to take

up

a weapon in the Kurukshetra war.