mahAvAkyaratnAvaliH- Translation No. 14

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*Translation of mahAvAkyas- No.14- Sentences dealing with bondage and

liberation *

 

 

 

25. moksho me astu iti cintA antarjAtA ced utthitam manaH, mananotthe manasi

esha bandhaH sAmsAriko mataH—If the thought, " May I attain moksha " arises in

the mind, then the mind has awakened. When the mind has awakened, that

bondage in the mind is said to indicate the transmigratory nature of

existence.

 

The idea is that most people do not even know that there are such things as

bondage and liberation. It is said in avadhUtagItA that even the desire to

know the non-dual brahman arises only by God's grace (ISvarAnugrahAdeva

pumsAm advaitavAsanA). Such a desire arises only when a person realizes that

he is a limited being. This is the state of bondage which is mentioned here.

Those who do not realize that they are in bondage are also in bondage, but

since they are not aware of it, the desire for liberation does not arise in

their minds.

 

26. tadamArjanamAtram hi mahAsamsAratAm gatam—

 

tadamArjanamAtram- not wiping it away or not removing it,

 

mahAsamsAratAm—great or intense transmigration,

 

gatam= avagatam- is understood to be.

 

Not removing it (bondage) is itself the state of intense transmigration.

 

27. tatpramArjanamAtram tu moksha iti abhidhIyate--

 

tatpramArjanamAtram—removing it alone.

 

Removal of the bondage is itself known as liberation. Thus liberation is

merely cessation of the wrong identification with the body, etc and not the

attainment of anything new.

 

End of sentences dealing with bondage and liberation.

 

S.N.Sastri

 

(To be contd)