Dispassion & Devotion from Vairagya Shatakam of Bhartrihari

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste

 

Saint-Poet Bhartrihari prays in Vairagya Shatakam:

 

sphuratsphAra jyotsnA dhavalita tale kvApi puline

sukhAsInAH zAnta dhvaniSu rajanIsu dyu saritaH |

bhavAbhogodvignAH ziva ziva zivet yucca vacasaH

kadA yAsyAmo 'ntargata bahula bASpAkula dazAm? ||85||

 

Comfortably seated in peaceful posture, somewhere

on the blessed banks of the celestial river Ganges,

during the nights which shine with the pure white

glow of the brightly diffused cool moonlight,

when all sounds are stilled into blissful silence, and

fearful of the pleasures of the transmigration,

when shall we have our eyes filled with copious tears arising

out of divine ecstasy while crying aloud "Shiva! Shiva! Shiva!"?

 

vitIrNe sarvasve taruNa karuNA pUrNa hRdayAH

smarantaH saMsAre viguNa pariNAmAM vidhi gatim |

vayaM puNyAraNye pariNata zarat ccandrakiraNAs

triyAmA neSyAmo hara caraNa cintaika zaraNAH ||86||

 

Giving away all possessions, heart filled with

tender compassion, remembering the full course of

the material modes of Nature and Destiny,

contemplating upon the lotus feet of Hara, Lord Shiva,

as the only refuge for us, O! we shall spend our life

in the sacred forest, in the holy nights aglow with

the cool beams of autumnal full moon.

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste.

 

The Saint-Poet described in the previous verses (85, 86) how the

nights had to be spent. In the next verse (87) the Saint was telling

about his days:

 

kadA vAraNAsyAm amarataTi nirodhasi vasan

vasAnaH kaupInaM zirasi nidadhAno 'Jjali puTam |

aye gairInAtha! tripura hara! zambho! trinayana!

prasIdeti krozannimiSam iva neSyAmi divasAn ||87||

 

When shall I pass the days,

controlling the mind and senses,

residing on the banks of the

celestial river, Ganges,

at the holy city of Varanasi,

clad in mere strip of loin cloth,

with folded hands raised over my head,

crying out aloud every moment -

 

"Oh Beloved Lord of Gauri devi!

O Slayer of the demon Tripura!

O Giver of all good and auspiciousness!

O Lord with Three Eyes!

Please bestow Your mercy upon me!"

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste.

 

Saint-Poet Sri Bhartrihari's prayers continued:

 

"Having bathed myself in the holy waters of Ganges

and adored Thee with unblemished fruits and flowers

and having concentrated my mind in meditation

upon the All pervading Supreme Soul, Lord Shiva -

enjoying only the bliss of Self-realization,

living effortlessly on simple foods as fruits

and faithfully devoted to Sri Guru's teachings -

when shall I become liberated through Thy grace

from the grief which has arisen from

serving the sensual, worldly people,

O Enemy of Cupid, Lord Shiva?"

 

(Vairagya Shatakam. 88)

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

Jay Sri Radhey! Namaste.

 

Another beautiful prayer of Saint Bhartrihari:

 

ekAkI niHspRzaH zAntaH pANipAtrO digambaraH

kadA zaMbho! bhaviSyAmi karma nirmUlanakSamaH

 

-Vairagya Shatakam. 89

 

O Lord Shiva! When shall I, living alone detached,

totally free from mundane desires, my mind full of peace,

with only my hands as the begging bowl to receive food,

and clad only in garments of the space on all my four sides,

be able to attain Thy grace, rooting out all Karma,

good as well as bad?

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

, pyari_h <no_reply> wrote:

> Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste.

>

> Saint-Poet Sri Bhartrihari's prayers continued:

>

> "Having bathed myself in the holy waters of Ganges

> and adored Thee with unblemished fruits and flowers

> and having concentrated my mind in meditation

> upon the All pervading Supreme Soul, Lord Shiva -

> enjoying only the bliss of Self-realization,

> living effortlessly on simple foods as fruits

> and faithfully devoted to Sri Guru's teachings -

> when shall I become liberated through Thy grace

> from the grief which has arisen from

> serving the sensual, worldly people,

> O Enemy of Cupid, Lord Shiva?"

>

> (Vairagya Shatakam. 88)

>

> Jaya Sri Radhey!