mahAvAkyaratnAvaliH- Translation No. 13

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*Translation of mahAvAkyas- No.13- Sentences dealing with bondage and

liberation *

 

17. anAsthaiva hi nirvANam, duhkham AsthAparigrahaH—

 

Indifference to worldly matters is (the means to) liberation. Concern

about worldly matters is sorrow.

 

18. karmaNA badhyate jantuH vidyayA ca vimucyate—One is bound by karma and

liberated by knowledge. Actions are performed only because of desire. As

long as there is desire there is bondage. So action is an indication of

being still in bondage. The karma of a liberated person is akarma (not

karma) because he has no sense of doership and no desire.

 

19. svarUpAvasthitiH muktiH, tadbhramSo'hamtvavedanam—Being established in

one's real nature (as brahman) is liberation. The notion of 'I-ness' (in the

body, etc.,) is fall from that state of one's real nature.

 

20. citte calati samsAro niScale moksha ucyate—When the mind is restless it

is the state of transmigration. When the mind becomes calm, it is called

liberation.

 

21. bandho hi vAsanAbaddho mokshaH syAd vAsanAkshayaH—Bondage is being under

the control of vAsanAs. Elimination of vAsanAs is liberation.

 

22. padArthabhAvanAdArDhyam bandha iti abhidhIyate—The strong inclination

towards worldly objects is known as bondage.

 

23. na moksho nabhasaH pRshThe na pAtAle na bhUtale. Liberation is not above

the sky (not being in heaven), nor in the nether regions, nor on the earth.

Liberation is not going to some other world or attaining some other state on

this earth itself; it is only realizing one's real nature by getting rid of

the wrong notion that one is in bondage.

 

24. sarvASAsamkshaye cetaHkshayo moksha iti ishyate--

 

sarvASAsamkshaye—when all desires have subsided, cetaHkshayaH- the

eradication of the mind, moksha iti ishyate- is known as moksha.

 

When the mind becomes absolutely calm because of being free from desires,

that state is liberation.

 

S.N.Sastri

 

(To be contd)