Lesson 65

Beginning Prayers:

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

Topic Summary:

• इव usage
• Revision of previous two topics

Home Work:

• Write 5 examples using इव 

Topic Details:

The word इव is used to express similarities between two things.  So it is widely used in making similes to connect the compared and the comparable.

Ex:
राम इव कृष्णः
नाग इव वेणी
कमल इव मुखम्

Let's see how it is used in a couple verses here -
1.
अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्पायुर्विघ्नकोटयः
तस्मात्सारं विजानीयात् क्षीरं हंस इवाम्भसि
- गरुडपुराण

anekaani cha shaastraaNi svalpaayurvighnakoTayaH
tasmaatsaaraM vijaanIyaat kShIraM haMsa ivaambhasi
- garuDapuraaNa

Many a scriptures, minuscule a lifespan, ten million hurdles! Hence, understand the quintessence, like a swan (takes) milk from water.

There are multitudes of scriptures and books of knowledge. It is very difficult for one, to know and learn all of it. And there is no point in it either. Any knowledge or scripture that is just learnt, is not sufficient. It needs to be applied and put to use as well. With the limited lifespan one is bestowed with and the innumerous hurdles life throws at him, it is practically impossible to know everything that there is. Especially in today's world, bombarded with various modes of information and the world shrinking faster than ever, it is extremely hard to keep up.

Allegorically, a swan can separate milk from water and take just the milk! Similarly, the poet encourages one to get the gist of the knowledge than trying to dig into all the arenas and end up with nothing much in any field.

Consolidate your knowledge. Be selective about what and how many things you want to do in the given amount of time. Both the time and effort will prove to be productive.

अनेकानि च शास्त्राणि स्वल्प आयुः विघ्न कोटयः
anekaani cha shaastraaNi svalpa aayuH vighna koTayaH

तस्मात् सारं विजानीयात् क्षीरं हंस इव आम्भसि
tasmaat saaraM vijaanIyaat kShIraM haMsa iva aambhasi


2.
अनाहूताः स्वयं यान्ति रसास्वादविलोलुपाः
निवारिता न गच्छन्ति मक्षिका इव भिक्षुकाः

anaahUtaaH svayaM yaanti rasaasvaadavilolupaaH
nivaaritaa na gachChanti makShikaa iva bhikShukaaH

Those desirous of food come uninvited. Like the flies, beggars do not leave even when deterred.

When hunger strikes, self esteem is thrown to the wind. Just like the flies that keep swarming around the fruit, despite being shooed; a beggar keeps coming back asking for alms, although he is shunned many times.

When desire or greed blinds one's thought, without his knowledge, he behaves like the beggar.

Know when to give up.

अनाहूताः स्वयं यान्ति रस अस्वाद विलोलुपाः
anaahUtaaH svayaM yaanti rasa asvaada vilolupaaH

निवारिता न गच्छन्ति मक्षिका इव भिक्षुकाः
nivaaritaa na gachChanti makShikaa iva bhikShukaaH

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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