Lesson 67

Beginning Prayers:

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

Topic Summary:

• यस्य - तस्य usage

Home Work:

• Find 3 verses containing यस्य and/or तस्य 

Topic Details:

यस्य - तस्य are another pair of words that can occur together or used separately as well, depending on the context.  Depending on the context, the meaning can slightly change as well.

यस्य - whose
तस्य - his

If used together, यस्य...तस्य it means 'He who(whose)...his'

Let's see a couple example verses to understand it better -

1.
बुद्धिर्यस्य बलं तस्य निर्बुद्धेस्तु कुतो बलम्
वने सिंहो मदोन्मत्तः शशकेन निपातितः
- चाणक्य नीति

buddhiryasya balaM tasya nirbuddhestu kuto balam
vane siMho madonmattaH shashakena nipaatitaH
- chaaNakya nIti

He who has wisdom has the strength. Where is the strength for the imbecile? The intoxicated lion in the forest got thrown down by the rabbit. (In the panchatantra story of the Lion and the rabbit.)

One doesn't always have to be physically strong to win over his opponent. Many a times, a little extra wisdom has gone a long way! If one is wise enough and can think on his toes, he can bring himself out of the toughest situations. Like in the panchatantra story, a little hare fells a huge lion. He tells the lion that there is another lion dwelling inside the well. The dumb lion, not seeing that it is his own image, pounces into the well, to bring about his own end!

To him who is not wise, even his physical power proves useless. He needs wisdom to know and decide how to channelize his energies effectively, else, all his efforts will prove futile.

It is not always muscle power that comes out victorious. Be wise!

pada vigrahaH:
बुद्धिः यस्य बलं तस्य निर्-बुद्धेः तु कुतः बलम्
buddhiH yasya balaM tasya nir-buddheH tu kutaH balam

वने सिंहः मद उन्मत्तः शशकेन निपातितः
vane siMhaH mada unmattaH shashakena nipaatitaH

2.
यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किम्
लोचनाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति
- चाणक्य नीति

yasya naasti swayaM praj~naa shaastraM tasya karoti kim
lochanaabhyaaM vihInasya darpaNaH kiM kariShyati
- chaaNakya nIti

One who doesn't have his own intellectual insight, what can the scriptures do for him? What can a mirror do to one who is blind in the eyes?

To build a structure, the raw material available should be in favor for construction. If a pile of sand is all that there is, one can not expect to build a multi-storied monument with it. If one has no eyes, he cannot be expected to look at himself in a mirror, let alone the beauty of nature around him. If one has no aptitude and awakening within himself, the scriptures cannot help guide him in any which way! It is futile to invest energy and expect to change him because of all the rules that are drilled into his head. He has to exhaust his vaasanaas (behavioral tendencies, from previous experiences and births - as per the shaastra-s,) all by himself. One can only pray that he gets the prajnaa (intellectual awareness) soon enough, so that he can delve deeper into the scriptures once he has the necessary skill set to do so.

Pick your battles. Fundamentally, if it can't bear fruit, then there is no point fighting it!

pada vigrahaH:
यस्य न अस्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किम्
yasya na asti swayaM praj~naa shaastraM tasya karoti kim

लोचनाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति
lochanaabhyaaM vihInasya darpaNaH kiM kariShyati

Happy practicing!

Ending prayer:

•  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - om pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam

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