Re: Is there help for the sādhu ?
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~
Namaste
The journey (adhvan) starts with the first step (pada) to make the resolve (sa kratuṁ kurvīta).
So one may ask, what could perhaps be a meaningful first step? We could use a invocation¹ that is frequently used from the Garuḍa Purāṇa (2.47.52)
apavitraḥ pavitrau vā
sarvāvastām gataupi vā |
yaḥ smarat pundarīkākśam
sa bhāhyābhyantaraḥ suciḥ ||
Some write it like this:
apavitrah pavitro va
sarvastham gato'pi va |
yah smaret pundarikaksam
sa bahyabhyantarah sucih ||
What does this say? I have offered to the best of my understanding the sanskrit (some like to write saṁskṛt) equivalents for your consideration below - as it will help us with a better apperception to its translation.
This sūkta says ( in brief)
Whether pure or impure, whether all places are permeated by purity or impurity, whoever opens himself to the Lotus Eyed One gains inner and outer purity.
In a nut shell, the one that opens him/her self - moves to, puts oneself in contact with, remembers, experiences or 'sees' (sūci) the Lotus-eyed One (puṇḍarīka) , then this person will gain inner and outter purity i.e. bhā or luster, light, will manifest within this person. This 'person' from the last post can be considered the adhvanīya अध्वनीन, a traveler, the person on the path.
This Lotus-eyed One (puṇḍarīka) is Viṣṇu or Śiva. Puṇḍarīka पुण्डरीक is a lotus-flower, esp. a white lotus expressive of beauty; and we know 'eyed' is akṣa अक्ष. So Pundarīkākśa the white-lotus (puṇḍarīka) + eyed (akṣa अक्ष) is the as puṇḍa पुण्ड the mark or a sign of Viṣṇu or Śiva.
This is considered saṁketa - a hint, a indication, a symbol. But of what? Pundarīkākśa and its 'mark' is pure awareness, of unboundedness, of būmān - the fullness of the Absolute, the SELF. It is by opening oneself to the fullness of pure awareness that one gains inner and outter purity. This is anugraha (grace, favor) that is offered (su - to grant or bestow) by Pundarīkākśa, allowing this to manifest in one's daily life.
So a simple question I think I would ask regarding this sūkta - it starts off by saying apavitra - impure and pavitra पवित्र. What is impure and pure imply? We can look at this in the next post.
pranams
The sūkta by its words
- apavitra अपवित्र - impure note that apa अप when used as a prefix to nouns and verbs , expresses 'away' , 'off' , 'back'
- pavitra पवित्र - a means of purification , filter ; a means of purifying or clearing the mind ; rain or rubbing
- vā वा - 'or', 'on the one side' , 'on the other'
- sarva सर्व whole , entire , all , every
- vastu वस्तु - the seat or place of; any really existing or abiding substance or essence; vasta वस्त - a house
- gata गत - come to, arrived at; known, understood ; gone to any state or condition , fallen into ; relating to , referring to , connected with
- pi पि - move, to go
- yaḥ यः or ya य - mover, goer
- sma स्म - 'ever' , 'always' (as in remembering) ; smara स्मर memory , remembrance , recollection ; loving recollection; smaret is = smara स्मर memory , remembrance , recollection ; loving recollection
- puṇḍa पुण्ड - a mark, sign; puṇḍarīka पुण्डरीक - a lotus-flower, esp. a white lotus expressive of beauty;
- akṣa - the eye; also a seed as in rudrākṣa
- Hence puṇḍarīka पुण्डरीक + akṣa अक्ष = (beautiful, lotus-flowered, lotus-eyed; now the necxt word suggests 'sa' a noun for viṣṇu or śiva it is He that is puṇḍarīka, the beautiful, lotus-eye Lord of spendor (bhā)
- sa स with, togetther with, along with - as it connect to sa bhāya; also a noun for viṣṇu or śiva
- bhā भा - to manifest; light , brightness , splendour ; to appear as , seem , look like , pass for ; be, exist;
- ba ब often meaning va व- auspicious; ocean, water; strong, powerful; wind, air
- tara तर - concuring, surpassing, ; a raft ( for crossing)
- ya य - mover, goer and/or yad यद् 'so that', 'as in so much' ; masculine - puruṣa
- su is rooted sū सू - grant, bestow
- sūci सूचि or sūcī सूची - sight , seeing (dṛṣṭi) ; su is rooted sū सू - grant, bestow and applies here to what is granted.
additional words
- āvāhana आवाहन - invocation , invitation , inviting, calling; āvāhanaṁ आवाहनं is āvāhana आवाहन - invocation , invitation , inviting, calling.
- Garuḍa गरुड - 'devourer'; vehicle of viṣṇu that is a winged bird, chief of the feathered race , enemy of the serpent-race
Purāṇa पुराण -a class of sacred works compiled by the kavi vyāsa; the word Purāṇa itself means belonging to ancient or olden times; There are 18 major purāṇa-s. - saṁketa संकेत - hint , allusion , preconcerted sign or signal or gesture
Last edited by yajvan; 23 December 2008 at 05:04 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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