Lesson 50

Beginning Prayers:

• शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
• सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
• गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 

Topic Summary:

• Importance of 'giving' established through a verse on 'daanam'

Home Work:

• Learn by heart, the verse below and write in your own words, the exposition of the verse.

Topic Details:

Giving is par none other deed one can do in one's life!  To establish that, let's see the verse below -

गौरवं प्राप्यते दानात् न तु वित्तस्य सञ्चयात्
स्थितिरुच्चैः पयोदानां पयोधीनामधः स्थितिः
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चय

gauravaM praapyate daanaat na tu vittasya sa~nchayaat
sthitiruchchaiH payodAnAM payodhInaamadhaH sthitiH
- subhaaShitaratnasamuchchaya

Meaning:
Respectability comes from giving and not collecting. Clouds (attain) a higher position and the oceans, a lower position.

Exposition:
What kinds of teachings hasn't God given us? He has left us hints to all kinds of essentials, in the nature itself! Even the code of conduct is given to us in nature!

Naturally clouds exist high up in the sky and the oceans are down below. The reason, according to the poet is, because anyone who 'gives' attains a higher respect than one who 'collects' all for himself. The clouds give away all the water they contain and disintegrate themselves in the due course. Once they shower the rain in them, then even cease to exist. Whereas, the oceans collect all the water that come their way (even turning the fresh water, salty). That is why they haven't reached heights!

The essence here is, giving has more value than accumulating or pooling. It could be money, resources, knowledge, wealth or anything of the like. Sharing our knowledge, resources and wealth with our fellow beings, brings a higher permanence to the giver, as well as, what he is giving. For example, if one shares knowledge with others, the knowledge gets passed down for generations to come and will live for ever. If one shares his wealth, it not only benefits the receiver, it instills the spirit of giving in him too. Greed and stinginess have never been approved in any culture.

Giving is always an honorable act.

pada vigrahaH:
गौरवं प्राप्यते दानात् न तु वित्तस्य सञ्चयात् |
gauravaM praapyate daanaat na tu vittasya sa~nchayaat |

स्थितिः उच्चैः पयोदानां पयोधीनां अधः स्थितिः ||
sthitiH uchchaiH payodAnAM payodhInaaM adhaH sthitiH ||

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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