Lesson 64

Beginning Prayers:

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

Topic Summary:

• More examples for upasarga-s, avyaya-s and opposites

Home Work:

• Write pairs of opposites adding अ or अन् (5 for each one)

Topic Details:

Let's see the verse from previous home work.

Here अकृत्वा and अगत्वा get the क्त्वा pratyaya.  Although they have अ as a prefix, अ is NOT an upasarga.  Only the 22 prefixes seen in the upasarga list, qualify to apply any upasarga rules. Hence अ or अन्, that make opposites do not influence and call for the use of ल्यप्.

The next avyaya in the verse is, अनुत्सृज्य.  अन् is NOT an upasarga.  Then, why did ल्यप् come into play?  That is because of उत्.  उत् IS an upasarga and hence calls for ल्यप्.  This word has 2 prefixes - one makes it an opposite (अन्), another is an upasarga (उत्) => अन्-उत्-सृज्य = अनुत्सृज्य

Let's see the overall meaning of the verse -
अकृत्वा परसन्तापम् अगत्वा खलनम्रताम् |
अनुत्सृज्य सतां मार्गं यत्स्वल्पमपि तद्बहु ||

अ-कृत्वा पर-सन्तापम् अ-गत्वा खल-नम्रताम्
a-kRutvaa para-santaapam a-gatvaa khala-namrataam

अन्-उत्सृज्य सतां मार्गं यत् स्वल्पम् अपि तत् बहु
an-ut-sRujya sataaM maargaM yat swalpam api tat bahu

Without tormenting others, without putting forth false modesty, without giving up the path of the noble, any little (achieved) is more.

Tormenting other beings, being dishonest, showing false submissiveness, trading off the very essence of dharma, one may think he has achieved everything in life. That might make him rich and comfortable too. But these benefits do not stay for long. Moreover, they do not bring any peace of mind. The mind is constantly busy, churning up devious plans to fool and cheat others.

Keeping the values, one may not climb mountains or reach the pinnacles of the noble, all at once. But any little achieved (without the above influences), is more! That gives him more clarity, purity and piety! Isn't that a much better reward than riches?

Keep thy path of virtue, morality and nobility.


Another verse on similar lines -
अनुगन्तुं सतां वर्त्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥

अनुगन्तुं सतां धर्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
anugantuM sataaM dharma kRutsnaM yadi na shakyate |

स्वल्पम् अपि अनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो न अवसीदति ॥
swalpam api anugantavyaM maargastho na avasIdati ||

अनुगन्तुं here, is a तुमुन् अन्त अव्यय, अनु being the उपसर्ग.  Meaning of the verse -

If following the righteous path of the noble is difficult and seems impossible, in spite, if one follows - even a little bit, he does not perish.

No need of elephantine sized steps!  If one wants to tread on the path of the noble and tries to do so, there may be many a hurdles he may face on the way.  It may not only be difficult, but seem impossible!  In spite, if one continues to grasp at least a little bit and persist on the same path, he shall not perish.

It is said that even an ant can traverse miles by just keeping at it.  Just the fact that it is moving, means that it is covering ground and reaching some place else.  Finally, due to persistence, it would have left its starting point miles behind!  Similar would be a person on the path of dharma.  If he keeps doing righteous acts (however small in size or caliber,) in a lifetime, he would have accumulated so much virtue to his credit that he would be amazed!  How can one with virtue in his account ever perish?!

Great acts are made up of small deeds.  In reality, true happiness comes from the joy of deeds that are done well, with good intentions.  These are the things that shape one's fate.  True winners are not people that never fail but people that never quit.

So, let's take charge of our fate and give it the direction we want it to be in!

pada vigrahaH:
अनुगन्तुं सतां धर्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
anugantuM sataaM dharma kRutsnaM yadi na shakyate |

स्वल्पम् अपि अनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो न अवसीदति ॥
swalpam api anugantavyaM maargastho na avasIdati ||

Until next lesson, happy practicing.

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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