Lakshmana Brahmacharya

[Guest guest]

>From - Narasimhapriyaa(Vaishnava Mthly Magazine)

 

 

 

Paarvatee sukaroopena Lakshmanam Paripricchati

 

Srutvaa hrishto Lakshmano'pi prativakti Jitendriyah (1)

 

PARVATHI, assuming the form of a parrot, intending to test the determination

of LAKSHMANA, questions him ; and LAKSHMANA, who was the master of his

senses was happy to reply to her queries.

 

Taptaangaarasamaa naaree ghritakumbhasamah pumaan

 

Tayorekatra vaasachet manah kasya na chanchalam ( 2)

 

Whe a women full of fire and a man like a pot of ghee co - exist, whose mind

not waver?

 

Pitaa yasya visuddhah syaat maataa yasya pativrataa

Ubhayoryastu sambhootah tasya chittam na chanchalam (3)

 

The mind of a man born of noble parentage, will forever be steadfast without

any wavering.

 

Pushpam ramyam phalam ramyam kaamyam streenaamcha yauvanam

Trayaanaam samkramam drishtvaa kasya chittam na chanchalam (4)

 

Flowers, fruits and young women are beautiful. Whose mind not waver on

seeing all the three together?

 

Paradaaraan maatrivadyah sampasyati Jitendriyah

Saravatra vartamaanasyaapyasya nocchalitam manah (5)

 

For one who has conquered his senses, and who regards other's wives as his

own mother, even though he may be moving everywhere, his mind will not

waver.

 

Padmaananaam padmagandhaam sarvaabharana - bhooshitaam

Mandasmitaam striyam drishtvaa kasya no chanchalammanah ( 6)

 

Whose mind will not waver when he sees the gentle - smiling woman bedecked

with all ornaments, whose face resembles the lotus and who radiates the

fragrance of a lotus?

 

Deveepaadaabjasevaayaam tripto yo vartate narah

Pratyaham yatachittasya tasya no chanchalam manah (7)

 

One who is happy to serve at the lotus - feet of Mother Goddess and who

always controles his mind, his mind will never waver.

 

 

Bhartraa virahitaam Raamaam subhagaam sookshmamadhyamaam

Drishtvaikaante chaasramasthaam kasya chittam na chanchalam (8)

 

Whose mind will not waver on seeing a beautiful lady with a slim waist and

one whose husband is away and stays alone in the hermitage.

 

Janakassya sutaam saadhveem Vishnoh sahachareem vidan

Bhraatripatneeti yo bhaktah tasya chittam na chanchalam ( 9)

 

A pious minded person, who knows his brother's wife, the good natured

daughter of King JANAKA as the Consort of Lord VISHNU, his mind will not

waver.

 

Kausiko yogansihtho ' pi

Menakaadarsane' vasah

Tyakta - yogas - tadaasaktah katham te syaat

mano' chalam (10)

 

KAUSIKA the great sage, who was the very embodiment of penance and

determination, yielded on seeing the heavenly MENAKA, giving up his hard -

earned penance . how does not your mind waver ?

 

Bhaaryaam tyaktvaa vanam Bhraatuh

kainkaryaayaagato' smyaham

Bhraatridaasyaratasyaasya mama cheto na chanchalam (11)

 

Leaving my Wife, I have come to the forest with the sole purpose of serving

my brother. So my mind does not waver.

 

Svasaaram maataram putreem ekaante

pasyato muhuh

Sadyaschalati chittam vai teshaam sreshtho

bhavaan katham (12)

 

How is it that your great mind is so steadfast, when there may be a

momentary wavering when one often sees one's sister, mother or daughter

alone?

 

Keyooraadeen apasyantam pasyantam noopure sadaa

Dhyaayantam satatam Raaman ko maam chaalayitum kshamah (13)

 

I am seeing only the anklets and not seeing the armlets and other ornaments

of SITA and am always meditating on Lord RAMA. Who can perturb my mind?

 

Rudrasya bhakto yo nityam Gaureem Rudrena

sevate

Kim tasya vikritam chittam

tadvadevaachalo'smyaham (14)

 

Just as a devotee who worship SIVA along with his Conort GAURI everday, can

harbour no evil thoughts, so too, I am steadfast.

 

Vaame bhuje paanchajanyam dakshine cha

sudarsanam

Oordhva pundram lalaate cha tasya cheto na chanchalam (15)

 

One who has the mark of the Conch on his left arm and the mark of the

Discus his right arm and one who wears the urdhava pundra marks on his

forehead, for him there is no wavering.

 

Kaaveri - Setugangaadyaah sadaacharya - saduktayah

Sriyahpatischa yacchitte tasya cheto na chachalam ( 16 )

 

One who is mind is filled by thoughts of the holy CAUVERY , SETU and GANGES

by the good teacing of the acharya -s and whose mind constantly remembers

the Lord of SRI, for a such a person there is no wavering.

 

Ashtaakshara - Dvaye mantrau

Charamasloka - samyutau

Yasya chitte prakaasete tasya cheto na

chanchalam (17)

 

One whose mind shines with the ASHTAKSHARA and DVAYA MANTRA along with

CHARAMA SLOKA, for him there is no wavering.

 

Parvatee - Tvadvrittam srunvataam nityam manonigraha kaaranam

Apriccham tvaam pareekshaayai jitendriya! Namo' stute ( 18)

 

Parvati Says :

 

I bow down to you, who have conquered your senses. I wanted to test you,

having heard the story about your determination .

 

Gauree ( Suka) Lakshmana - samvaadam srinoti pathateeha vaa

Labhate' bheeshtamakhilam Raagahavasya prasaadatah (19)

 

Phalasruti

One who reads or listens to this dialogue between PARVATI and LAKSHMANA,

will have all his desires fulfilled by the grace of Lord RAGHAVA.

 

Indriyaani vijityaiva bhaktimaan sobhate narah

Iti Vedanta - guruvaakhya - yateendrenopabrimhitam (20)

 

" A blessed soul who conquers his senses alone will shine in splendour ' ,

so says the ACHARYA VEDANTA DESIKA YATINDRA MAHADESIKA, who has composed

this .