Narayanasramam

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sampoornam jagadeva nandanavanam sarvepi kalpadrumah

gaangam vaari samastavaari nivahaah punyaah samstaah kriyaah /

vaachah praakritasamkritaah srutisiro vaaranasi medini

sarvaavashtitirasya vastuvisaya driste parabrahmani //

-- Dhanyaastakam

 

Translation:

To the one who has realized Brahman in all aspects, the whole world becomes the

heavenly garden; all the objects the Kalpavrukshas (the wishyielding trees);

every water-flow the holy Ganges; all his actions, virtue and auspiciousness;

the elevated as well as the foolish talks (words) the Vedantavakyas; the entire

earth, Varanasi. Every thought or awareness of his

reveals to Him only Brahman.

 

Points for Introspection:

In the world we perceive objects as each different from the other. We like

certain things and dislike some others. Because of this differentiation alone we

suffer misery, lack of peace and contentment.

 

This shloka describes that beautiful state when one has merged into the

universal Self, the Brahman, the only one Existence; when wherever we turn to,

each object is perceived as an expression of the same source, the Brahman. There

is no duality then, no division or differentiation. Everything is full of bliss

because that is the nature of the supreme Self, the Brahman. In each and

everything one sees divinity and auspiciousness. Nothing seems bad or repulsive.

 

When the realization of Brahman is had, then the world which seemed to be good

at one time and bad at another, becomes verily the heavenly garden with joy

filled everywhere. All the trees become the wish-fulfilling trees of the heaven.

Every water-flow looks like the pure and holy river Ganga, even the thought of

which generates holiness in oneself.

 

All work that we do – some we like, some we dislike, some are significant and

others insignificant – create only one impression in the mind – `that all work

is noble, virtuous and divine arising from the same source the Oneness'. All

talk that we engage in, whether refined or foolish seem verily the scriptural

messages.

 

Normally, in the earth one does not find holiness in all places but considers

only certain places as holy and auspicious. While visiting these specific places

alone divinity and sublimity is experienced. For one who has experienced the

Brahman, all places on the earth seem holy like the holy land Vaaraanasi. No

necessity arises then to go to places which are considered holy otherwise.

 

In short, for a person who is one with Brahman, whatever state he is in – in all

his thoughts, words, actions – it reveals to him only Brahman, and Brahman

alone.

 

Chanting this shloka again and again contemplating on the meaning and focusing

on the highly elevated joyful state that it describes, one can verily be

immersed in the ocean of Supreme Bliss.