It is just a tight rope walk, sure, life life is

 

Nothing is moral or criminal in the absolute terms; it is the definition of the society or a major chunk of the populace that ultimately evolves into law. What is de facto becomes de jure by efflux of time. This is an established social dictum. If today I say that the sight of someone other than my wife excites me, people call me a pervert or criminal. However, emotionally or in the biological sense, no one can really find fault with me, because nature has created human mind like that.

Human race, and the two sexes, man and woman, existed and the institution of marriage evolved later only as a matter of social safety and security. I know what I posted here will seem abhorrent to some or even to many.

Law is just a creation of the society, a sort of imposition or restriction on the Individual liberty, brought about by some sort of consent, some operation of the idea of checks and balances.

However, we lull ourselves to the belief that certain laws existed even before the start of civilized society. It is not so. I am here talking about Law we see in courts, worn in the collars of advocates and higher judiciary and not biological laws or scientific theories. But the social law tends to override even the laws of biological propensities and laws of statics, dynamics and thermodynamics.

The issue will be inconclusive because human mind is not exactly capable of defining absolute morality or the lack of it. Great philosophers might have reached very near the conclusion but like Absolute Zero in thermodynamics, the summit is beyond reach. Moreover, we the ordinary mortals are far off the summit. Life is just moving ahead, making instant, temporary, semi-permanent or even permanent adjustments and compromises. A simple person can easily accept it and come to terms with it, but we complicate the issues.

When considered from the perspective of social stability, no one can find fault with the restrictions the society clamps unless they stymie the individual into non-existence or self-annihilation. The present social order cannot subsist without reasonable controls. It is ultimately a dynamic balance between interests of the Individual, molecular family, larger family, region, state, Nation and humanity as a whole. The priorities can vary with mind-set, time and other circumstances. However, we end up with false notions when we try comparison among things that are by nature contradicting. Only a sensible balance is the viable solution. The wisdom of the social group alone can lead us to success in such a balancing act.

It is not that I oppose law and social order and i would not dream of entertaining thoughts of carnal and avaricious nature and I have never coveted the things that belonged to anyone else. My idea is rather to point out that there are some basic materials inside our minds which when left without channelling can create problems of adjustment for ourselves with the external world. It is just a tight rope walk, sure, life life is.

Duniya ek Circus hai..

I am seeing people going gaga about being very happy for having friends, for having acquired new connections, gadgets, abodes, having additions in the family, change of job,

or may be the departure of mother in law to the land of Shiva.

But I feel that happiness is just a state of mind..

Each Individual reaches that state in his own way..

Some become happy by flaunting their fashionability.

Some do it by flaunting their sense of antiquity or frugality..

Some become happy when they see others happy at least apparently,

and some have to switch on their happiness by seeing the misery of others..

And some find happiness if flaunting their apparent equanimity, saying that Yoga and spirituality would imply a state of neutrality..

There is no rule of the thumb for happiness.. and generalization do not appear to be of any use except in literature or in a Facebook post..

Duniya ek Circus hai..

can we afford to risk it?

 

These days anyone can just publish his own untested views as gospel truth in the web. Someone would quote them and some other people might publish them through cut and paste. No one would ever check whether such statements sprang out after any research, test, or verification of any kind at any point of time.

True, our knowledge or understanding of the diseases and their causes, diagnosis and treatment would appear to be much more advanced with the advent of Information revolution, but still the body and its ailments hold too much of strength to yield to medicine. A doctor is always experimenting and the body itself and perhaps God are curing the ailment

There are people, call them doctors or physicians or whatever you would like, who openly declare that we can get relief from diabetes by eating excessive amount of sweets and exercising and all. However, I am a diabetic. I personally would not risk it.

Diabetes ultimately is the inability of the pancreas to generate and apply sufficient quantity and quality of Insulin. One can understand the treatment of introducing insulin into the body to have at least temporary reprieve. Even the chemicals and drugs we consume are just meant to squeeze out whatever the glands can do, or to neutralize the sugar content.

If one can find some chemical like in perceivable quantities in potato, it is nice.

However, the difficulty with natural remedies is that the potions contain very small quantities of any drugs, too little to make much of an impact.

In allopathy, at least, the concentration appears to be higher, and guinea pigs have already lost their lives in dozens already through research.

We may be telling lies even when we lie in our grave

I hate people who are not good to their words..

I do not claim I am able to live up to my own words always..
But I make an honest attempt..
And frankly I hate myself intensely when I could not keep my word even it happens for things beyond my control..

In fact one of the causes for conflict with myself all through my life was for this reason..

But I have seen many who just dish out reassurances, sweet words, and solemn(?) promises in public too many times and then just fail to remember those words and do things contradicting themselves ever and ever..

The majority of us have become like that..

Lies in words, lies in action, lies in life, lies in spirit, lies to God, lies to devil..

We may be telling lies even when we lie in our grave..

We proclaim that God is Truth.. every religion says so..

Maybe it is also a lie..

Who else other than Krishna can protect us?

वेद्यो वैद्यः सदा योगी वीरहा माधवो मधुः vedyo vaidyaH sadaa yogee veeraha maadhavo madhuH.......

He is the doctor

औषधं जगतः सेतुः aushadam jagathaH sethuH

He is the medicine

पुण्यो दुःस्वप्ननाशनः punyo DuHswapna Naashanah

He dispels bad dreams

भूशयो भूषणो भूतिर विशोकः शोकनाशनः bhooshayo bhooshano bhoothir vishokaH shokanaashanaH

He saves us by destroying all our miseries

लोकबन्धुर्लोकनाथो माधवो भक्तवत्सलःlokabandhurlokanaatho maadhavo bhaktavatsalaH He is the relative of all,

He is the master of all.

And He loves us all.

प्रमाणं प्राणनिलयः प्राणभृत प्राण जीवनः pramaanam praana nilayaH praanabhrut praanajeevanaH

He is life,

He is the source and abode of life

these are all from Vishnu Sahasranamam.. (of course I have described only the protective features of the Lord.. and the quotes have greater meanings)

Who else other than Krishna can protect us?

We then become mere machines

We may be forced to engage ourselves in some activity, whether we like it or not, just to eke out our livelihood..

We may be compelled to consent to some social and group activities by virtue of our location, family connections and friendships too..

Sure, these are facets of our lives over which we have really no control.

But when we do something creative, innovative and nice beyond normal necessities, we can afford to place our personal satisfaction ahead of everything else and we can enjoy the thrill arising out of such creative actions..

However when our creativity becomes subject to and servile to the likes and dislikes, praises and criticisms of others beyond a certain level,

we would cease to be creative ..

We then become mere machines

quirky functions of mind can be set right by mind alone

 

Diseases or dysfunctions of the mind appear to be following similar pattern as issues affecting the physical body.

Time just cures minor ailments. We have to overcome some other diseases by some mild curative action. Some require medicines, surgery, doctors, chemotherapy and so on. And there are ailments which will leave us only along with our own lives.

The same logic applies to the mind too..

Those who contract that terminal state of mental dysfunction. - we can find many among us in that state though appearing sane and sanguine...nothing can help them..

May be God can save.

One enigma is that we can analyse and diagnose the ailments of the body by application of mind- and when the mind faces quirky functions there, again we can depend on mind alone. That is a major handicap.

depend for their livelihood and even existence on six distinct categories of people

 

षडिमे षड्सु जीवन्ति सप्तमो नोपलभ्यते।

चौराः प्रमत्ते जीवन्ति व्याधितेषु चिकित्सकाः।

प्रमदाः कामयानेषु यजमानेषु याजकाः।

राजा विवदमानेषु नित्यं मूर्खेषु पण्डिताः॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ३०६७ ३०६८ महाभारते

ṣaḍime ṣaḍsu jīvanti saptamo nopalabhyate|

caurāḥ pramatte jīvanti vyādhiteṣu cikitsakāḥ|

pramadāḥ kāmayāneṣu yajamāneṣu yājakāḥ|

rājā vivadamāneṣu nityaṁ mūrkheṣu paṇḍitāḥ||

indiśce sprūce 3067 3068 mahābhārate

There are six categories of people who thrive on, who exist making use of, who depend for their livelihood and even existence on six distinct categories of people

First, the thieves, pilferers, frauds and exploiters thrive on the gullibility and carelessness of their victims.

Second, the doctors are in place, treating, consulting, and prescribing medicines only because there are people who are sick in some manner or other.

Third, Attractive damsels celebrate their lives in pomp and celbrations because they have devoted suitors who pursue them with romantic intent,ready to satisfy any and all of their whims and fancies.

Fourth, The priests and people who are directly involved in organizing and deputizing for rituals, their satellites and event managers perhaps, survive only because there are people who would conduct the rituals in their capacity as the sponsors, suppliers or funds and other materials to the priests and their people by way of presents and offerings in cash and kind.

Fifth, The king or ruler can survive and thrive only if he has judges and law enforcers, policy makers and executors in his employment. If there is no proper administration, arbitration and enforcement, there can be no stability. And the people who want the intervention of law for their protection, keep the government in place, pay the taxes and the king and his retinue lives happily on that revenue alone.

And sixth and final, the learned persons, comparatively few in number compared to the proliferation of ignorant people and idiots thrive on the latter because the men with education get employment, occupation and social standing and also many a times chance to exploit the illiterate and credulous nature of the ordinary man.

Yes, the mutually complementing six categories of gents cover almost the entire population. It is indeed a daunting task to identify such a perfectly matching seventh set, says the narrator of the slokam

A quote from Mahabharatham.

k v a

इमे these षड् six types of people षड्सु depending on, based on the strength or weakness of the following six types/categories of people जीवन्ते subsist, survive, eke out livelihood सप्तमः seventh category न उपलभ्यते not able to locate readily

चौराः thieved, frauds, robbers प्रमत्ते careless, excessively pompous जीवन्ति live on, living using them चिकित्सका the doctors व्याधितेषु people afflicted by diseases जीवन्ति survive on कामयानेषु suitors, those who run after with romance प्रमदाः attractive girls जीवन्ति thrive याजकाः the priests, those who conduct religious ceremony यजमानेषु people who arrange, fund and preside over yajnas and rituals जीवन्ति survive on विवादमाणेषु arbitrators, expostulators and interpreters of law and enforcers of the royal dicta राजा the rule जीवति rely for survival पण्डिताः learned men, those who have knowledge मूर्खेषु on ignorant people, जीवन्ति survive.

education that is possessed by the inefficient parson

अप्रगल्भस्य या विद्या कृपणस्य च यद्दनम्

यच्च बाहुबलम् भीरोः व्यर्थमेतत् त्रयम् भुवि॥४८

भल्लालदेवकृते भोजप्रबन्धे

apragalbhasya yā vidyā kṛpaṇasya ca yaddanam

yacca bāhubalam bhīroḥ vyarthametat trayam bhuvi||48

bhallāladevakṛte bhojaprabandhe

अप्रगल्भस्य या विद्या भवति the education that is possessed by the inefficient parson with no initiative

यद् धनं कृपणस्य भवति च also the money available in abundance with a miser

भीरोः यच्च बाहुबलं भवति and further, brute physical strength obtaining with a coward

एतद् त्रयम् भुवि व्यर्थं एव all these three are simply wasted on this earth..

This is from Bhojaprabhandam

Whatever knowledge that is possessed by a fellow without skill, the money hoarded by a miser, and physical strength available to a coward are of no value either for himself or for others.. Their possessions are waste and they in turn are wasted..

We learn something so that we can apply that knowledge for the benefit of ours as well as others..

We earn money not to hold on to it for ever without spending but to use it again for our own good living and perhaps to help others too.

And

If we grow up with huge muscles and torso and immense power and still we are not mentally bold enough to use them on the face of a crunch situation, that strength is futile

We can possess a lot in this world and still we can be of no use to anyone including ourselves..

Indeed many of us are just like that...

the bellow also breathes in air and blows out air too

यस्य धर्मविहीनस्य दिनान्यायान्ति यान्ति च।

स लोहकारभस्त्रीव श्वसन्नपि न जीवति॥

पञ्चतन्त्राद्

yasya dharmavihīnasya dinānyāyānti yānti ca|

sa lohakārabhastrīva śvasannapi na jīvati||

pañcatantrād

A quote from panchatantram..

A person whose days just come and go but his life is spent without any aherence to Dharma, virtues and morality, is just breathing in air and exhaling the air too just like a bellow in the yard of a blacksmit.. just breathing but not living

The bellow (usually made of leather) in the smithy is used by the worker to take in air from the open and direct it toward the fire..

So just like human lung, the bellow also breathes in air and blows out air too..

But then the bellow has no life.. It just gets inflated and deflated according to the movements of the hands of the worker who lets in air from one side and closes that side of the bellow and then presses it so that the air rushes through the pipe leading to the fire..

.

A fellow just living on without any sort of order and adherence to virtues is just as good as dead..

Every man who is born will have to live till he is dead..

But that life is of little use to anyone including himself..

The life has to be productive and virtuous..

peaise the good but be silent about defects in others

 

गुणदोषौ बुधो गृह्णन् इन्दुक्षेडाविवेश्वरः।

शिरसा श्लाखते पूर्वं परं कण्ठे नियच्छति॥

सुभाषितशतकत्रये॥

guṇadoṣau budho gṛhṇan indukṣeḍāviveśvaraḥ|

śirasā ślākhate pūrvaṁ paraṁ kaṇṭhe niyacchati||

subhāṣitaśatakatraye||

A wise man gives the similar treatment to good and bad just as how Lord Shiva treats the crescent moon, and the poison

Shiva gave an honourable place to moon by keeping its crescent in his matted locks, as an adornment. However, when Shiva saw the poison of Vasuki flowing out during the churning of milky ocean, he just swallowed it and fixed it in His throat, ensuring that it never comes out.

Similarly, when a wise person sees good things, he praises them very high

Nevertheless, when he sees bad things, he just keeps it safe under his throat, keeping quiet and by never talking about it.

Here the poet compares to the Moon and compares the bad to the poison.

We can be lavish in praising and patronising good things.

However, we have to suppress bad things, bad thoughts and bad actions.

the stamp of class

 

एतदेव कुलीनत्वं एतदेव गुणार्जनम्। यत्सदैव सतां सत्सु विनयावनतं शिरः॥

क्षेमेन्द्रस्य् दर्पदलने। महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ७८१७

etadeva kulīnatvaṁ etadeva guṇārjanam| yatsadaiva satāṁ satsu vinayāvanataṁ śiraḥ||

kṣemendrasy darpadalane| mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 7817

The man of class, the man of high birth, the man of great character should ever be prepared; he should never hesitate, to approach great personages with utter humility and keeping heads bent down showing great respect. This indeed is the hallmark of person’s class, birth and breeding in a great family.

This is the sure means, the method that would never fail him in learning, accumulating and keeping intact one’s great qualities and virtues

A very worthy advice from Darpadalanam of Kshemendra, one of the greatest poets, grammarians and linguists of Sanskrit

K v a

एतद् this एव alone कुलीनत्वं is the sign, is the exhibition of high birth, class एतद् this एव alone गुणार्जनं is the means to accumulate virtues यत् that is सदा एव ever, always सतां for good and noble people सत्सु in respect of respectable persons विनयावनतं bowing as a token of great respect शिरः head

if we just follow shastras as pretensions they may be of little use

Human nature and its basic honest and positive response to truth, love, kindness, empathy etc were the same as long as humanity existed..

And the rules of Shastras or other similar laws in any society or faith evolved for the protection of such nice qualities and to instill abhorrence to the bad qulities and the base propensities also present in human nature..

Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas were present everywhere andy basically Sastras evolved to uphold Sattwa or the good against the unlimited attack of Raja and Tama gunas..

So I am always of the view that even if we do not consciously follow the tenets of Shastras but keep a place for love, kindness, co operaton, tolerance etc in our minds, we would be following the Shastras even though without our conscious learning or knowledge..

If that happens there might not be any reason for pariharams at all.. or expiations.. because we would be doing only good and right things

But if we just follow shastras as pretensions or even as duties without imbibing the underlying spirit of love and empathy, such Shastras may be of little use either to us or others..

accomplishmentof the wicked fellow causes miserty to oaa aroud

 

अपि निपुणतरमधीतं दुर्विनयारूढचेतसः पुंसः।

मणिरिव फणीफणवर्ती प्रभवति शोकाय लोकानाम्॥

सूक्तिमुक्तावली

api nipuṇataramadhītaṃ durvinayārūḍhacetasaḥ puṃsaḥ।

maṇiriva phaṇīphaṇavartī prabhavati śokāya lokānām॥

sūktimuktāvalī

A very frank and introspective wise saying

========

If a person is not humble about himself and about what he has achieved and his great learning or accomplishment too would cause only distress and chaos in the world.

It is just a precious gem embedded in the hood of a venomous snake.

=========

Yes, even a little learning makes a man forget himself and makes his arrogant. He shows off and causes a lot of trouble for others. In history, we have seen some learned scholars inviting others for destructive discussions, and even causing their death or disgrace.

Intolerance is the evil side of scholarship..

The precious gem on the hood of a cobra is attractive. But if we try to see it or handle it, the snake would bite us to death..

The attitude of many learned people are not far different..

Maybe, they have knowledge in plenty, but they will not share nor will they teach.

They would use the knowledge to insult others.

That is a fact.

A little humility can add a lot of sweetness to the knowledge one has..

Regards have a nice day

k v ananthanarayan

the words of visionaries, and here it is the Supreme Godhead, make meanings and context

just some food for thought..

Gita, if it is interpreted in the context of that bloody war can be nothing more than many of the pep talk books that mushroomed in every age..

We have to understand it as a stand alone treatise.. and as we are believers, we have to take it as coming from the Supreme being... who is free of any contexts..

Every statement of Gita is said as spoken by Bhagavan.. shree Bhagavan Uvacha.. not Krishna or Vasudeva..

Bhagavan.. the word is profound beyond our ordinary thoughts..

Of course we can take different stands in argument..

I remember what I quoted from Bhavabhooti a few days ago.. The words of ordinary men depend on the context and meaning.. But the words of visionaries, and here it is the Supreme Godhead, make meanings and context..

True, I have often tried to criticize Gita for the different tongues it speaks.. but there the prisoner of logic in me that is speaking..

In His supreme presence, no logic is relevant.. Yato vaacho nivartane..

The "wise" men of this age many create shortcuts

when we are performing a ritual as prescribed in smritis and grihya sootras or any other codified set up we have to follow the procedure as expected. or envisaged in that text .

For example, they say the most important part of Sandyavandanam is giving Arkhyam. offering water three times to the Supreme being with chant of Gayatri..

So some would say just pouring water three times chanting Gayatri can substitute for the worship of Sandhya.. Is it right.?.

There are rules for seating, Aachamanam, Pranayamam, Invoking the Devata, Rishi , Chandas, chanting Vedic mantras, prokshanam, praashanam and so on..

Then upasthaanam, Gayatri japam, Deva Prarthana, also are prescribed.

The "wise" men of this age many create shortcuts..

Maybe the short cut might be okay if we are in a helpless condition and pouring of water is the only thing possible.. Usually we are not so..

Funnily, seeing all these rituals and complications people just give up worshiping Sandhya.. that is another thing..

for a suddhasattwa there will be no pleasure or pain.

on sloka 5 of satakam 5 of Narayaneeyam, which I tried to explain, the following query was raised.

NishTrai Gunyo Bhavarjuna , was the lord's statement in Gita.?

I felt , that the state of Trans Satwa is the supreme state.

Narayana Bhattathri cannot be wrong.

I am confused.

Can you please help me understand the subtle intent of Shri Bhattathri?

My answer to that query is

When the process of genesis (creation of universe) is to be described, the author bhattathiri had to scrupulously follow the original authorities.

Here it is the Bhagavatham of Vyasa,

The world has to be seen realistically as is created and not as the ideal situation where a creature should reach.

The very fact that arjuna was subject to the three gunas like anyone else, made the blessed lord to say" nistraigunyo bhavaarjuna.. " निस्त्रैगुण्यो भव अर्जुन

The lord prefixes this advise with a statement, " Traignunya vishayaa lokaah..". त्रैगुण्यविषयाः लोकाः the creations are afflicted by the three gunas, and Arjuna, please go above this..

So the state of affairs is evident.. the three gunas were created, and surely they were created through the will of God through his own Maaya ..

One of the main purposes for the beings to assume life in this world is to enjoy or suffer and expiate the Karmaphalam..

for a suddhasattwa,( a man with only sattwa or in your perception one who is above all the three gunaas) there will be no pleasure or pain.

So how can an ordinary human being live in this world and live out his karmas, ?

If you try to subscribe to the view that there are two states for the creations.. one which is the ordinary state as we see in our mundane lives which are subject to all the vagaries of the gunas and sufferings arising from there because these creations are caught in the web of maayaa,

and the ideal state,

where, after contemplation on the Lords Grace, the same being gets emancipated from the grip of such Maaya and become inure to all the worldy vaasanas.

You are assuming the ideal which has to be reached in this world through bhakthi and saadhana should be present in the whole world right from the first moment of creation.

If that is so the creation itself which is only a leela of the Blessed lord through his Maaya, becomes unnecessary.

In the earlier sloka Bhattathiri has already stated that the Lord just willed through his power of Maaya the mode of creation, and there he wanted every type of persona..

not only the ideal one who has transcended the three gunas.

How can one transcend the three gunas if such gunas are not there.?

We do not become post graduates or rulers of the world, nor evil and imbecile persons on the day we enter the world as infants.

We train ourselves for life, and we have to go though the same process for the life above or beyond the ordinary life also.

If you would follow of the advaita philosophy of Shankara alone then there is a different argument..

If we subscribe to that philosophy then the whole process of creation and even the fact of existence of the universe with all its constituents is just an illusion, there is only the supreme soul that has real existence.

If that is so our debate and even Bhattathiris account is just academic.

That is the stuff for philosophers and renunciates, and not for the ordinary humans who form the majority in the scheme of things.

My view is that nobody in the frame of reference of the physical world as we see and feel can deny the existence of good and evil, and both these are created by god through his powers to creat illusions , and the Blessed Lord's exhortation to Arjuna is to be seen as a call for the sadhaka to raise himself beyond three gunas..

We should differentiate between the real and the ideal which we strive to reach.

Narayana bhattathiri is not wrong. He is stating a fact.

We cannot expect any narrative like Narayaneeyam which consists of such wide dimension just to talk about supreme state alone.

Bhattathiri at this point of Narayaneeyam is only starting his work.. he is creating the proper framework.

If you have to wonder that Bhattathiri is right or wrong here, then you will have to wonder about the entire puranas, itihasas, and even vedas which never fail to acknowledge the existence of the three gunas.

I do understand your query in the light of this particular sloka, but we can explain things only with reference to a wider canvas..

bhagavat gita gita gondan

GITA GOVINDAM THE IMMORTAL SRINGARA KAVYAM OF INDIA

A learned friend raised a query about Gita Govindam.. in one group.. The query was partly addressed to me..

The query is

I have heard some elders say that the Gita Govindam should be merely sung and the meanings should not be elaborated upon due to the Sringara Bhava that it contains. Instead the Bhagavad Gita must be elaborated for explanation.

can throw light on this?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My response is this

Maybe it is a belief of those who show very great inclination towards bhakti line that Geethagovindam is somewhat sensuous...

But for the Scholars of Sanskrit, the unique style,

use of aesthetically selected words to melody..

the shabdaalankaaram,

the musical nuances ( in fact the raaga for each ashtapadi is prescribed at the time the Kavyam was composed...now musicians do not use those ragas, that is another thing),

all these factors have made this Kavyam uniquely sublime in Sanskrit literature..

There are many scholarly vyakhyas or commentaries on this epic work running to thousands of pages, in Sanskrit and Vernacular

It is the

The greatest Dhvani Kavya.. or Lyric.. in Sanskrit and arguably in whole world literature of mankind ..

and at the same time it containsmany nuances highlighting Sringara Rasam in various facets..

and at the same time it depicts the beauty of the nature and landscape, flora, fauna

and it deals with the delectable relation between man and woman.. in the physical plane as well as in the Divine level..

This kavyam has inspired many poets both in the field of physical love and that love blossoming into spiritual strata too.

As a lover of the great literature of Sanskrit, I cannot agree to the view that Gitagovindam or Ashtapadi should not be analysed for meaning..

because, without knowing the meaning we cannot capture the aesthetic beauty of the work.. the best of its kind ..

Gitagovindam is also a pastoral lyric.. and it has inspired pastoral poetry even in the West..

Of course there are some parts in the epical creation where an open translation might not be to the comfort of people who can see Radha and Madhava only as Godheads and could not come to terms with the leelas of the two at human level..

If we are to extend the argument that the meaning of this Kavyam is not to be analyzed for this reason you, then there are many parts in Puranas and Itihasas which should be shoved under the carpet for treatment of carnal relations, perversion, cruelty, and macabre backdrop..

Of course I tried to translate a few Ashtapadis which were mild in their content of the main theme of Sringaram.. I discontinued such translation because Sringara Rasam does not seem to be my cup of tea..

But I think I have read at least thousand pages on the subject and I am not apologetic about enjoying the beauty of Radhaamaadhavam, understanding fully its meaning..

The texts for Kathakali, Pathakam, Kootiyaattam, Mohiniyattam and many arts forms of Kerala, as also many dance forms of Orissa, Bengal, and even the Seven Sister states have draw their themes and inspiration heavily form Gitagovindam

Radha and Madhava are the symbols of Divine Love and human love too,

way ahead of Romeo and Juliet or Salim and Anarkali and so on..

If a lover of Sanskrit believes that he can avoid going deep into this Kavyam, he is losing too much..

He is missing too much..

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Note..

Sir Edwin Arnold, has translated Gita Govindam to English.. the caption is "The indian Song of Songs".. and that is a classic in its own right..

the terrible taxman

 

The terrible taxman....

Those were the days when the country was divided into many kingdoms each with some separate ruler or king.

And each such kingdom was divided from others through check posts..

Moreover, as is the usual wont, the check posts were occupied with Customs guards and inspectors, who charged duties and cess on products that, entered the kingdom.

An elderly person who was very poor was eking out his daily livelihood by collecting some materials for trade after crossing the border, carting them to his place and selling them for some meagre profit.

The trade yielded him very low returns and payment to the customs either people as cess or otherwise was too heavy a burden for him.

It was beyond his capacity, by any standards.

So the man used to collect his merchandize from outside terrain, and bringing them in to his place through forestlands skirting the customs post.

The route was devious, but usually he managed.

One day, when the old man was negotiating the forest path, he came face to face with a man-eating bloodthirsty Ogre.

It was ready to pounce on him and make a lunch out of his elderly body.

Though shivering inside, the old man put on a brave face and asked what the ogre wanted.

The ogre replied that it just wanted to eat the old man

The old man asked. "Are you a customs man?"

The ogre did not know about the customs man.

Therefore, it asked the old man to clarify.

The old man said. ‘I am not afraid of even the Customs man. So why should I be afraid of you..?’

The worst thing you can do is to eat me just now and here.

That will put an end to all my problems.

However, the customs man is very terrible.

He catches hold of people and eats them in parts, periodically. People will never die nor will they live peacefully.

You are not capable of doing that”

The ogre was curious. He wanted to see a customs man. He sought the help of the old man.

The old man agreed to help.

He warned. ‘But the customs man is terrible.. Once he sees you, he will start torturing you slowly and steadily. Therefore, I would suggest that you accompany me to the check post sitting inside a gunny bag, which I would stich from outside. And you have to promise me that you will not make any noise nor should you move whatever happens in the presence of the Customs man."

The ogre occupied a gunny bag and the old man carried the bag in his cart to the check post.

The Customs officer was ready there, in all eagerness to extort the toll.

The customs man inspected the cart and found the gunny bag. He queried about the contents, and the old man said that it was just some provisions and vegetables inside the bag.

The customs man poked various parts of the bag with his sharp stick and the ogre inside was getting bleeding bruises.

But true to its promise it kept quiet.. It was really terrified of the customs man, after that experience..

The ogre had a real first-hand experience as to how terrible a taxman could be.

Finally, after a lot of negotiation and haggling, the customs officer settled the issue by levy of one rupee as duty, and let the cart pass.

When they reached safety, the old man opened the gunny bag and the ogre sprang out all bruised and bleeding.

It was a nightmarish experience for the ogre.

The ogre thanked the old man for showing him the customs man.

The ogre was very old fashioned and so grateful too.

He had watched the old man paying one rupee as customs duty for the passage of the gunny bag, which hid him

He wanted to show his gratitude." You have spent one rupee on my behalf, and also given me an experience that would be remembered for a lifetime.. In return, you please dig under the tree in the forest, where we met.. You will find adequate compensation."

The ogre went away saying good-bye to the old man.

When the old man dug under the tree mentioned by the ogre, the senior citizen could get a bag of gold coins. Therefore, his problems in life, including the customs officer was all over.

each person is unique

 

Every person, even if he is almost at the zenith of his status in affluence, profession and so on, is different from all others.

Therefore, it is not right to say that what one person does is better than what another person does.

Modiji or Trump may be at the top as politicians.

Amitabh or Rajani may be at the top as cine actors.

Kimchi paramacharya or Mahasannidhaanam of Sringeri are at the top our spiritual hierarchy.

It is meaningless to compare Modiji with Amitabh or Bharathi teertha swamigal..

Each can be great, average, mediocre or even base in his own place and we can measure the greatness or otherwise only with reference to the class, and comparable qualities.

Likewise, we cannot compare a fire sacrifice with a church service or the Namaz at a mosque.

that darling black boy Krishna

ഓമനക്കുട്ടന്‍ ഗോവിന്ദന്‍ ബലരാമനെ കൂടെ കൂടാതെ

കാമിനിമണിയമ്മ തന്‍ അംഗസീമനി ചെന്നു കേറിനാന്‍

അമ്മയുമപ്പോള്‍ മാറണച്ചിട്ടങ്ങുമ്മ വെച്ച് കിടാവിനെ

അമ്മിഞ്ഞാ കൊടുത്താനന്ദിപ്പിച്ചു ചിന്‍മയന്‍ അപ്പോഴോതിനാന്‍

ഒപ്പത്തിലുള്ള കുട്ടികളൊരു മുപ്പത്തിരണ്ടുപേരുണ്ട്

അപ്പിള്ളേരായ് വനത്തില്‍ മേളിപ്പാന്‍ ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഞാന്‍ അമ്മെ പോകട്ടേ

അയ്യോ എന്നുണ്ണി പോകല്ലേ ഇപ്പോള്‍ തീയുപോലുള്ള വെയിലല്ലേ

വെറുതെ എന്നമ്മേ തടയല്ലേ പോട്ടെ പരിചോടിന്നിടയ്ക്കുണ്ണുവാന്‍

നറുനെയ്യ് കൂട്ടീട്ടുരുട്ടീട്ടും നല്ലോരുറതയിര്‍ കൂട്ടീട്ടുരുട്ടീട്ടും

വറുത്തോരുപ്പേരി പതിച്ചിട്ടും ഈ രണ്ടുരുളയും എന്റെ മുരളീയും

തരിക എന്നൊന്നങ്ങലട്ടി ചാഞ്ചാടി തരസാ കണ്ണന്‍ താന്‍ പുറപ്പെട്ടു 

By Venmani Nambudiri.. Senior

This is a beautiful song, a soothing lullaby perhaps. The way Yasodha dotes on that wonderful darling black child.

Only a person having knowledge of Malayalam Language The can completely absorb and enjoy the sweetness in full. Simple.. Uncomplicated Malayalam.. Unaffected even by tough Sanskrit usages that was the wont of formative years of Malayalam literature.

A translation of sorts, though entirely inadequate--

That cute darling child Govinda, one day, climbed the laps of his mother, that excellent woman, Yasodha. Krishna for a little while had left the company of his little elder brother Balarama.

The mother’s heart brimmed with affection for her little boy. She cuddled him, held him close to her bosom, and covered him with kisses.

She fed him with her breast milk and made him happy.

The child, who is actually the one pervades of the whole universe, told his mother

Mother, I want to go to the jungle and play with a lot of boys (32 in number) who are all of my age.

They are waiting. I want to go just now.

The mother said. Oh my tiny darling, the sun is up and he is scorching us as if he is showering heat straight on us. How can you go?

The boy replied. Mother, sweet mother, do not stop me.

When I leave for playing in the jungle, I will get hungry.

So prepare for me two balls of cooked rice-- with your affection added—do mix the rice with fresh curd and newly cleared ghee, and keep chips made of plantain wafers on the surface of the balls of rice. Then mom, please give me my flute too.

Telling this in a very enticing tone, and rhythmically shaking his beautiful tiny body, the boy convinced his mother, got what he wanted and set out to the jungle for playing and feasting with his fellow tiny tots..

Beautiful imagery- translation will not do- we have to read the original-and enjoy each word-each word soaked in the sweetness of Krishna’s love for his mother and her love for the boy..

remain blemishless and even when they face grave situations

 

अप्यापत्समयः साधोः प्रयाति श्लाघनीयताम्।

विधोर् विधुंतुदास्कन्द विपत्कालोऽपि सुन्दरः॥दृष्टान्तकलिकाशतके

apyāpatsamayaḥ sādhoḥ prayāti ślāghanīyatām|

vidhor vidhuṁtudāskanda vipatkālo'pi sundaraḥ||

subhaashita sudhaaratna bhaandaagaram

The life of great men, their status, remain blemish less and praiseworthy even when they face grave crisis situations. The moon and its attractiveness remains unsullied even during the period when it is caught by the eclipse caused by the shadow planet Rahu

അപ്യാപത്സമയഃ സാധോഃ പ്രയാതി ശ്ലാഘനീയതാം।

വിധോർ വിധുംതുദാസ്കന്ദ വിപത്കാലോഽപി സുന്ദരഃ॥

സുഭാഷിത സുധാരത്ന ഭണ്ഡാകാരം ദൃഷ്ടാന്തകലികാ ശതകം 

ഉത്തമന്മാരുടെ ജീവിതം അവർ എത്ര വലിയ ആപത്തുകളും വെല്ലുവിളികളും അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കുകയാണെങ്കിലും അപ്പോഴും എല്ലാവരാലും പ്രശംസിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന വിധത്തിൽ തന്നെ ആയിരിക്കും. ചന്ദ്രനെ രാഹു വിഴുങ്ങി ഗ്രഹണം സംഭവിക്കുന്ന വേളയിലും നാം കാണുന്ന ചന്ദ്രക്കലയുടെ ഭംഗിക്ക് ഒരു കോട്ടവും വരുന്നില്ല.

ജീവിതത്തിന്‍റെ അഴകും നിലവാരവും നമ്മുടെ ഉള്ളിൽ നിന്നും വരുന്നവയാണ്, വരേണ്ടവയാണ്.. പുറമെയുള്ള കാര്യങ്ങൾ അവയെ ഒരിക്കലും ബാധിക്കരുത്. സുന്ദരമായവ എന്നും, എന്തുവന്നാലും സുന്ദരമായവയായി തന്നെ തുടരും.