Multi language testing

  वाक्य संग्रह 

                    श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं

                    shraddhAvA.Nllabhate j~nAnaM

One who is sincere obtains knowledge.

 Reference:  

shrImad bhagavadgIta chapter 4 verse 39

 Main Shloka:  

          श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।

ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥

shabdArtha:  

shraddhAvAn = One with Sincere Faith, labhate = obtains,

j~nAnaM = Knowledge, saMyatendriyaH = Who has mastered his

senses, labdhvA = having obtained, shAntiM = peace (mokSha,

libereation), achireNa = not in long time (quickly),

adhigachchati = attains

 Meaning (भावार्थ):  

He, who has faith, is devoted to Me and has secured mastery

over his senses, obtains that knowledge and having got it

attains quickly shAnti (MokSha, liberation)

 Description:  

This verse occurs in the j~nana yoga chapter of shrImad

bhagavadgIta.  Shri Krishna is describing to Arjuna the

essential qualification necessay in an aspirant desirous of

knowledge which leads to liberation.  That qualification is

shraddha, which means total dedication and sincerity of

purpose.  Such devotion and dedication coupled with mastery

over ones senses leads to true knowledge. When one accquires

true knowledge, one quickly attains immense peace.

In previous verses, He emphasizes the purifying ability of

true knowledge. He instructs that a sincere aspirant should

endeavor to accquire knowledge by prostration, by enquiry,

and by service. In later verses, He warns that those who

remain insincere, ignorant, and doubtful perish. Those who

cannot clear their doubts have neither happiness in this

world nor the world beyond. He, therefore, urges Arjuna to

cut asunder the doubts born out of ignorance with knowledge

accquired through sincere enquiry and stand up for battle.

 Main Reference:  

shrImad bhagavadgIta chapter 4, chapter 17

 Related story:  

Mahabharata

 Further readings:  

MahAbharata

shrImad bhagavtaM

 Comments:  

Shrimad BhagavadgIta is a very widely available resource

and there are many interpretations of it avaialable these

days. Shrimad BhagavadgIta forms the core of vedantic thoughts.

It is a dailouge between shri Krishna and Arjuna

(shrikRiShNArjuna saMvada).  It essentially teaches the

science of the infinte (brahma vidya) and a practical

methodology (yoga shastra) of reaching that Supreme Reality

as emphasized at the end of each chapter of it. Any

interpretation that strays from what is contained in the

colophon could be potentially a suspect. The tradition has

given us chiefly three system of interpretation namely,

Advaita, VishiShThAdaivta and Dvaita meaning monism,

qualified monism and dualism respectively.  To get to the

essence of the wisdom contained in it, one would be well

advised to adhere to one of traditional systems rather

than accept any and every interpretation.

                               AR

                    महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः

                    mahAjano yena gataH sa panthAH

Follow the path tread by the great, wise people.

 Reference Shloka:  

तर्कोऽप्रतिष्ट्टः श्रुतयो विभिन्ना

     नैको ॠषिर्यस्य मतं प्रमाणम् ।

धर्मस्य तत्त्वं निहितं गुहायां

               महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः ॥

shabdArtha:  

tarka = logic, apratiShTTaH = not unbiased, shrutaya =

revelations(vedic scriptures), vibhinnA = many, naiko =

not one, RiShi = sage(wisemen), mataH = doctrine,

pramANam= established fact, dharma = right conduct,

tattvaM = essence, nihitaM = very subtle, guhAyAm =

secret, mahAjana = great men, gataH = follow,

panthAH = path

 Meaning (भावार्थ):  

Logical reasoning is not without bias(assumptions),

vedic revelations are numerous, not one wisemen's thesis

can be accepted as facts, truely the essence of right

conduct is a very subtle secret.  So the only recourse is

walk in the footsteps of great men.

 Description:  

This is a response from yudhiShThira, the eldest of

pandava brothers, to a query posed by yakSha, a celestial

being. The original query is what is the way?

YudhiShThira is echoing the wisdom of expereince. He is satating

that we cannot rely totally on rational thinking as it is not

without its bias. One has sieve through numerous revelations to

gain information and it is not handy guide for us. The thesis of

not one Rishi (scientist, researcher) has been established

as canonical. With such difficulties facing us in all modes of

enquiry, what is the way that can leads us out of ignorance

to knowledge and to right conduct? Only, walking in the footsteps

of great men ahead us who have experienced the truth can really

give us the way.

 Reference:  

yakSha yudhiShThira saMvAda in Mahabharata vana parva

 Related Story:  

This incident occurs when Pandavas are in exile.  Once during their

stay in the forests, pandavas are very thirsty.  Yudhishthira sends

Nakula(youngest) to fetch some water for the rest.  Nakula locates

a pond after much searching.  Just as he tries to quench his thirst,

an invisible person's voice asks him to first answer his questions

before drinking the water.  Nakula is very thirsty and he disregards

the voice.  As soon as he tries to sip the water, he instantly falls

down dead.  Meanwhile, yudhiShThira is concerned and sends sahadeva

to find the whereabouts of Nakula and also get some water.  On

reaching the pond, Sahadeva also does exactly like his brother and

falls down unconscious.  Arjuna goes next, finding his brothers lying

dead, and hearing the heavonly voice, he becomes very furious and

defiant.  He also first tries to quench his thirst and meets with

same consequence.  Likewise Bhimasena too, who went next. Finally,

Yudhishthira arrives and accepts the condition put forth by the

invisible person.   He  replies each question to the best of his

reasoning abilities.  We see a fascinating discussion between yakSha

(lord yama dharmaraja in disguise) and Yudhishthira.  YakSha asks

crptic questions and Yudhishthira provides refreshingly innovative

and wonderfully informative answers.  Pleased with the responses,

yakSha tells him that he can only free one of his brothers. He then

asks yudhiShThira to choose one from the four. Faced with such

preplexing choice, Yudhishthira picks Sahadeva!! Surprised by the

choice, yakSha asks him why he picked Sahadeva over Bhima and Arjuna?

He calmly replies, Of the sons of Kunthi, I am still alive, but of

sons of Madri(Makula and Sahadeva) none is alive.  To be fair to my

mothers, I picked Sahadeva.   Again very impressed by the response,

lord yama brings all the four paNDavas to life!!

From the example set by Yudhishthira himself it is clear that he is

great and noble person. The path set by him is worthy of emulation.

 Further Reading:  

Mahabharata

 Comments:  

There are many great wise individuals to follow.

Where you might end up

depends on whom you choose to or not to follow.

                               AR