Shri Dattatreya's Teachers - # 17 - A courtesan

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Bhagavata Purana: XI:viii: 22-44 [summary verses only] [tr.

C.L.Goswamy; Gita Press, Gorakhpur].

 

Teacher #17. A Courtesan

 

pi~Ngalaa naama veshyaa aasiit videha-nagare puraa .

tasyaa me shikshita.n ki~nchit nibodha nR^ipanandana .. 22..

 

Now hear O Prince, what I learnt from Pingala, a courtesan, who at

one time lived in the city of Videha [Mithila]. 22 .

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na hi a~Ngaajaata-nirvedaH dehabandha.n jihaasati .

yathaa vij~naana-rahitaH manujaH mamataa.n nR^ipa .. 29..

 

For no person, O King, who has not acquired this feeling of disgust

for the world would snap the bodily ties any more than he who is

devod of discretion could give up the sense of my-ness.

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pi~Ngalaa uvaacha .

aho me moha-vitatiM pashyata avijita- aatmanaH .

yaa kaantaat asataH kaama.n kaamaye yena baalishaa .. 30..

 

Pingala said: Alas! how senseless and of uncontrolled mind am I!

Behold the extent of my foolishness; ignorant as I am, I have

expected the fulfilment of my desire from a trifling mean paramour!

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santa.n samiipe ramaNa.n ratipradaM

vittaprada.n nityam ima.n vihaaya .

akaamada.n duHkha-bhaya- aadi shoka/-

mohaprada.n tuchchham ahaM bhaje aj~naa .. 31..

 

Forsaking (the adoration of) the eternal and real Lord, who resides

in the heart and gives wealth and joy forever, fondly have I sought a

poor man who cannot satisfy my desires and who only gives grief,

fear, worry, sorrow, and infatuation. 31 .

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nuunaM me bhagavaan priitaH vishhNuH kena api karmaNaa .

nirvedaH aya.n duraashaayaa yat me jaataH sukhaavahaH .. 37..

 

Forsooth, Lord Vishnu has been pleased with me for some action of

mine, as in my heart, full of vicious hope, the feeling of disgust

for the world has been engendered, which will lead to happinees. 37 .

 

 

tena upakR^itam aadaaya shirasaa graamya-sa~NgataaH .

tyaktvaa duraashaaH sharaNa.n vrajaami tam adhiishvaram.h .. 39..

 

Placing on my head the benefit rendered by Him and forsaking vicious

hopes of sense-enjoyments, I shall seek refuge with the said Lord.

39 .

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aatmaa eva hi aatmanaH goptaa nirvidyeta yadaakhilaat.h .

apramattaH idaM pashyat grasta.n kaalaahinaa jagat.h .. 42..

 

When one carefully sees the world devoured by the serpent of Time,

and feels disgusted with worldly objects, one realises the fact that

one's Self is the only protector. 42 .

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