Lesson 51

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' truly depends on the attitude!  Giving with the wrong attitude negates the act of giving, where as, the right attitude, even towards loss beyond one's limitation shall be accredited as daanam!

अग्नौ दग्धं जले मग्नं हृतं तस्करपार्थिवैः |
तत्सर्वं दानमित्याहुः यदि क्लैब्यं न भाषते ||
- सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार

agnau dagdhaM jale magnaM hRutaM taskarapaarthivaiH |
tatsarvaM daanamityaahuH yadi klaibyaM na bhaaShate ||
- subhaaShitaratnabhaaNDaagaara

Meaning:
(Anything) burnt in the fire, drowned in water, snatched by the thieves or the kings - all these would be called 'daana' (giving), only if (one) doesn't speak woefully of it.

Exposition:
It is all in the attitude!

When an act of giving is performed, it is debited into one's account of virtues immediately. Giving is not necessarily what is donated. Even something lost to natural calamities like fire and water can be accounted for sacrifice, provided the approach is right. Even if possessions were stolen or annexed by the kings or law enforcers (could be as tax or in any other form), when tackled with grace, that could be accredited as giving too.

When a material possession is lost for any reason - if one doesn't lament about it and instead thinks that it was not meant to be his anymore - he gains more than he lost, in the form of virtues for his share! On the contrary, even if one gives generous charities but is emotionally attached to the object, his act of giving goes futile. Hence, attitude is what defines everything and every action in this world.

Bygones are bygones. Do not fret about them. Better times are yet to come!

pada vigrahaH:
अग्नौ दग्धं जले मग्नं हृतं तस्कर पार्थिवैः |
agnau dagdhaM jale magnaM hRutaM taskara paarthivaiH |

तत् सर्वं दानम् इति आहुः यदि क्लैब्यं न भाषते ||
tat sarvaM daanam iti aahuH yadi klaibyaM na bhaaShate ||

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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