The Forty Verses

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Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaaya

 

Dear Peter,

 

Thanks for your three posts;

 

1) The reference posted yesterday is from the book called “uLLatu NARpatu” by

Lakshmana Sarma, written in Tamil. In is the footnote on page one. I understand

that LS has written a translation, which has not been published. Much of the

book, however, is almost impossible to translate as such because of its

frequent reference to Tamil words and mystic concepts, which are not understood

by the English reader. However, with frequent readings of uLlatu NARpatu, (i.e.

the poem itself) much of what the book is saying becomes self-explanatory. It

becomes clear when the devotee directly experiences the meaning for

him/herself.

 

2) The book “Revelation” is Lakshmana Sarma’s translation of Sri Bhagavan’s

Forty Verses along with the Supplement. LS has also added his own benedictory

verses, in Sanskrit, and one of Sri Bhagavan’s verses in the Supplement — Verse

11 — is actually based on Lakshmana Sarma’s own Sanskrit composition. An honour

indeed! (This is Verse 57 in “Revelation”). To clarify, the entire work is LS's

translation of Bhagavan’s Tamil verses into Sanskrit.

 

 

3) Your quoting Talk §567 is indeed cogent and this has been used near the

beginning of this year as part of our run of Sri Bhagavan’s Sri Arunachala

Ashdakam; it is indeed to be kept to the forefront of our studies, and can be

interwoven during the scrutiny of the Forty, with particular reference to the

First Verse.

 

Additionally members should particularly study and absorb §199; Talk §313 is

also extremely useful, and there are doubtless many other invaluable references

as well. It is of course necessary to keep the focus on the verses themselves,

as this is the purpose of the study list, for the meaning which awakens of its

own accord inside the devotee’s heart, is a matter best understood in silence.

It is certain that by studying Sri Bhagavan’s original words themselves, the

Vichara process is activated, for Truth awakens of its own accord.

 

4) Finally, I must add that a huge debt of gratitude is due to Robert Butler for

permission to quote extensively from his exhaustive grammar, translation and

commentary on uLLatu NARpatu; The_Deep_Forty was formed with the express

purpose of giving his book a wider airing, and additionally Robert has

translated the Kali Venba version of these Verses, which give extra clues, and

in some instances a real “Eye Opener” as to the method, technique and practise

of our sadhana and in particular, the Atma Vichara. As far as I know, there has

been no adequate translation of this version up till now, so the verses which

are to be screened to the list are being transmitted for the first time.

 

anbudan

 

John