Exhorting to Yoga
Vaisvamitra exhorts listeners to take to yoga in many verses.
सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये सुदुघामिव गोदुहे | जुहूमसि द्यविद्यवि || (1.004.1)[1]
The Wise and skilfull are bound to Union (yoga), just as a cowherd is attached to a good milch cow; Go to fasten (invoke) Brahman one day.
The sage likens Union (Yoga) to a good milch cow: just as a cowherd is attached to a good milch cow (सुदुघामिव गोदुहे), so the wise and skillful are bound to Union (Yoga) (सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये). The idea seems to be that wisdom and skills are nourished by yoga. One must fasten oneself to Brahman one day (जुहूमसि द्यविद्यवि).
Speaking of the futility and disappointments in worldly life, Vaisvamitra says with a brilliant play on words:
सुतेसुते न्योकसे बृहद्बृहत् एदरिः | इन्द्राय शूषमर्चति || (1.009.10)[2]
Begotten offspring abandon the house, Behold ! The fullgrown eldest turns into foe. (It is better to spend life) praising Indra’s good fortune and strength.
After expounding on the evils of drinking in one verse, in the next verse, the sage exhorts:
अथा ते अन्तमानां विद्याम सुमतीनाम् | मा नो अति ख्य आ गहि ||(1.004.3)[3]
Rather, you should push your will to utmost (अथा ते अन्तमानां) to ascertain spiritual knowledge of Brahman (विद्याम), be called wise (सुमतीनाम्); (This gives ) authority, prosperity, renown even to the family.
Vaisvamitra repeatedly calls for meditation, union and emancipation. Thus:
वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः | तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् || (1.002.1)[4]
Meditation is sacred to Vayu (वायवा याहि), see thou it destroys fetters (सोमा) in exchange, prepare; Willingly pray (श्रुधी हवम्) for thine emancipation, protection (तेषां पाहि).
He calls to his aid, the ravages of time and age:
वाय उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते त्वामच्छा जरितारः | सुतसोमा अहर्विदः || (1.002.2)[5]
Revere Union. Recite your submission man aging inside (उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते), thou are moving towards old age and a host of enemies; Have offspring, destroy fetters (सुतसोमा), one day be a wise man (अहर्विदः).
वायो तव प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे | उरूची सोमपीतये || (1.002.3)[6]
Revere Union Thou, before getting caught in the swiftly moving river (of time), turn pious (दाशुषे); Before your earth (उरूची) time comes to an end, increase protection (सोमपीतये).
In light of the fact that Indra, the ruler of heaven, also pioneered Yoga (see section on Indra for details), one can understand the terse choices posed by the sage:
इतो वा सातिमीमहे दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि | इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः || (1.006.10)[7]
(Decide which is best) :
Inner knowledge is connected with immortality. Hence, its contrast with pursuit of property and perishing. Since Indra the pioneer of Union is also the ruler of heaven, the second contrast is between heaven and earthly delights दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि. The final choice is between Indra, proponent of yoga which destroys moral darkness, and moral darkness: इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः.
Speaking of social psychology, the sage says
अनवद्यैरभिद्युभिर्मखः सहस्वदर्चति | गणैरिन्द्रस्य काम्यैः || (1.006.8)[8]
The irreproachable heavenward bound man is worshipped (अनवद्यैरभिद्युभिर्मखः), the mighty are praised (सहस्वदर्चति), but everyone desires to go to Indra and dwell with him (गणैरिन्द्रस्य काम्यैः).
Vaishvamitra himself favours a fourth option, that of knowledge and meditation:
अतः परिज्मन्ना गहि दिवो वा रोचनादधि | समस्मिन्नृञ्जते गिरः || (1.006.9)[9]
Henceforth stop running around (अतः परिज्मन्ना). Choose: family, heaven or Enlightening delighting knowledge (गहि दिवो वा रोचनादधि). Be in meditation to be celebrated in speech (समस्मिन्नृञ्जते गिरः).
[1] सुरूप – कृत्नु – मूत - ये सुदुघ – अम् - इव गोदुहे | जु – हू – म - सि द्यविद्यवि ||
Wise (सुरूप) skilful (कृत्नु) bound (मूत) Union (यः = ये) (सुरूप-कृत्नु-मूत-यः = सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये) good milch cow (सुदुघा) to ally oneself with (अम्) as it were (इव)(सुदुघा-अम्-इव = सुधुघामिव) cowherd (गोदुह = गोदुहे) | to go (जु) invoking (हू) Brahman (म) fasten (सि) a day (द्यविद्यवी = द्यविद्यवि)
[2] सुते - सुते न्यस् - ओकसे बृहद् - बृहत् एद - अरिः | इन्द्र - अय शूषम् - अर्चति ||
Begotten offspring (सुत-सुत = सुतेसुते) abandon residence (न्यस्-ओकस् = न्योकसे) fullgrown eldest (बृहत्-बृहत् = बृहदबृहत्) behold foe! (एद्-अरिः = एदरिः) | Indra good fortune (इन्द्र-अय = इन्द्राय) Strength praising (शूषम्-अर्चत् = शूषमर्चति)
[3] अथा ते अन्त - मानां विद्या - म सुमती - नाम् | मा नो अति ख्य आ गहि ||
Rather (अथा) you (ते) extreme point (अन्त) will ascertain (-मान = अन्तमानां) spiritual knowledge Brahman (विद्या-मः = विद्याम) wise called (सुमति-नाम = सुमतीनाम्) | Knowledge (मा) prosperity (नः = नो) exceedingly (अति) renown (ख्या = ख्य) also (आ) family (गहि) ||
[4] वायवा या - हि दर्श – ते - मे सो - मा अरंकृताः | ते - षां पा - हि श्रुधी हवम् ||
Sacred to Vayu (वायव = वायवा) meditation indeed (या-हि) see thou in exchange (दर्श-ते-मे) destroy fetters (सो-मा) prepare (अरंकृत) | thou emancipation (ते-षः = तेषां) protection surely (पा-हि) willing (श्रुधीयत् = श्रुधी) prayer (हवः = हवम्).
[5] वा - य उक्थ – ए – भिर् – जर - अन्ते त्वां - अच्छा जरित - आरः | सुत – सो - मा अहर् - विदः ||
Reverence Union (वा - य) recite submit man aging inside (उक्थ-ए-भिरु-जर-अन्ते) thou towards (त्वां-अच्छा = त्वामच्छा) age host of enemies (जरित-आर) | offspring destroy fetters (सुत-सो-मा) a day wise man (अहर्-विदः)
[6] वा - यो तव प्र - पृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशु - षे | उरूची सो – म – पी - तये ||
Reverence Union (वा-यः) thou (तव) before coming in contact (प्र-पृञ्ज् = प्रपृञ्चती) with river (धेना) going swiftly (जिगत्नु = जिगाति) pious (दाशुषे) | Earth (उरूचि) finish time increase protection (सो-म-पी-तयः = सोमपीतये)
[7] इतो वा सातिमीमहे दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि | इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः ||
Knowledge (इतम् = इतो) or (वा) winning of property/spoils (साति) to die (मी) to rejoice (महे)(सति-मी-महे = सातिमीमहे); Heaven (दिव् = दिवो) or (वा) earthly (पार्थिव) giving (द) delight (धि)(पार्थिव-द-धि = पार्थिवादधि) | Indra/master of-that which is free (इन्द्रं) great (महः = महो) or (वा) living in the darkness (रजसः)
[8] अनवद्य – ईर् – अभिद्यु – भिर् - मखः सहस्वत् – अर्चत् - इ | गण – इर् – इन्द्र - अस्य काम्यैः ||
Irreproachable (अनवद्य) to go (इर्) heavenward (अभिद्यु) man (भिरु = भिर्) worship (मखः) Mighty (सहस्वत्) praising (अर्चत्) obtain (इ) (Multitude (गण) to go (इर्) Indra (इन्द्र) to dwell (अस् = अस्य) desire (काम्यैः)
[9] अतः परिज्मन् - ना गहि दिवो वा रोच – ना - दधि | सम् – अस्मिन् – ऋञ्जते गिरः ||
Henceforth (अतः) running around not (परिज्मन्-ना = परिज्मन्ना) family (गहि) heaven (दिवो) or (वा) enlightening (रोच) knowledge (ना) giving (द) delight (धि) (रोच-ना-द-धि = रोचनादधि | Meditation (सम्) be in (अस्मिन्) to be celebrated (ऋञ्जसान = ऋञ्जते) (सम्-अस्मिन्-ऋञ्जसान = समस्मिन्नृञ्जते) speech (गिरः) ||
Continued in : Tapas for Offspring
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Tapas, Teacher and Disciple, Bragging, Gluttony and Debates, Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni
Vaisvamitra exhorts listeners to take to yoga in many verses.
सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये सुदुघामिव गोदुहे | जुहूमसि द्यविद्यवि || (1.004.1)[1]
The Wise and skilfull are bound to Union (yoga), just as a cowherd is attached to a good milch cow; Go to fasten (invoke) Brahman one day.
The sage likens Union (Yoga) to a good milch cow: just as a cowherd is attached to a good milch cow (सुदुघामिव गोदुहे), so the wise and skillful are bound to Union (Yoga) (सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये). The idea seems to be that wisdom and skills are nourished by yoga. One must fasten oneself to Brahman one day (जुहूमसि द्यविद्यवि).
Speaking of the futility and disappointments in worldly life, Vaisvamitra says with a brilliant play on words:
सुतेसुते न्योकसे बृहद्बृहत् एदरिः | इन्द्राय शूषमर्चति || (1.009.10)[2]
Begotten offspring abandon the house, Behold ! The fullgrown eldest turns into foe. (It is better to spend life) praising Indra’s good fortune and strength.
After expounding on the evils of drinking in one verse, in the next verse, the sage exhorts:
अथा ते अन्तमानां विद्याम सुमतीनाम् | मा नो अति ख्य आ गहि ||(1.004.3)[3]
Rather, you should push your will to utmost (अथा ते अन्तमानां) to ascertain spiritual knowledge of Brahman (विद्याम), be called wise (सुमतीनाम्); (This gives ) authority, prosperity, renown even to the family.
Vaisvamitra repeatedly calls for meditation, union and emancipation. Thus:
वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः | तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् || (1.002.1)[4]
Meditation is sacred to Vayu (वायवा याहि), see thou it destroys fetters (सोमा) in exchange, prepare; Willingly pray (श्रुधी हवम्) for thine emancipation, protection (तेषां पाहि).
He calls to his aid, the ravages of time and age:
वाय उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते त्वामच्छा जरितारः | सुतसोमा अहर्विदः || (1.002.2)[5]
Revere Union. Recite your submission man aging inside (उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते), thou are moving towards old age and a host of enemies; Have offspring, destroy fetters (सुतसोमा), one day be a wise man (अहर्विदः).
वायो तव प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे | उरूची सोमपीतये || (1.002.3)[6]
Revere Union Thou, before getting caught in the swiftly moving river (of time), turn pious (दाशुषे); Before your earth (उरूची) time comes to an end, increase protection (सोमपीतये).
In light of the fact that Indra, the ruler of heaven, also pioneered Yoga (see section on Indra for details), one can understand the terse choices posed by the sage:
इतो वा सातिमीमहे दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि | इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः || (1.006.10)[7]
(Decide which is best) :
- Knowledge or rejoicing in winning property and perishing (इतो वा सातिमीमहे);
- Heaven or earthly delight (दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि);
- Is Indra - great or living in moral darkness (इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः).
Inner knowledge is connected with immortality. Hence, its contrast with pursuit of property and perishing. Since Indra the pioneer of Union is also the ruler of heaven, the second contrast is between heaven and earthly delights दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि. The final choice is between Indra, proponent of yoga which destroys moral darkness, and moral darkness: इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः.
Speaking of social psychology, the sage says
अनवद्यैरभिद्युभिर्मखः सहस्वदर्चति | गणैरिन्द्रस्य काम्यैः || (1.006.8)[8]
The irreproachable heavenward bound man is worshipped (अनवद्यैरभिद्युभिर्मखः), the mighty are praised (सहस्वदर्चति), but everyone desires to go to Indra and dwell with him (गणैरिन्द्रस्य काम्यैः).
Vaishvamitra himself favours a fourth option, that of knowledge and meditation:
अतः परिज्मन्ना गहि दिवो वा रोचनादधि | समस्मिन्नृञ्जते गिरः || (1.006.9)[9]
Henceforth stop running around (अतः परिज्मन्ना). Choose: family, heaven or Enlightening delighting knowledge (गहि दिवो वा रोचनादधि). Be in meditation to be celebrated in speech (समस्मिन्नृञ्जते गिरः).
[1] सुरूप – कृत्नु – मूत - ये सुदुघ – अम् - इव गोदुहे | जु – हू – म - सि द्यविद्यवि ||
Wise (सुरूप) skilful (कृत्नु) bound (मूत) Union (यः = ये) (सुरूप-कृत्नु-मूत-यः = सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये) good milch cow (सुदुघा) to ally oneself with (अम्) as it were (इव)(सुदुघा-अम्-इव = सुधुघामिव) cowherd (गोदुह = गोदुहे) | to go (जु) invoking (हू) Brahman (म) fasten (सि) a day (द्यविद्यवी = द्यविद्यवि)
[2] सुते - सुते न्यस् - ओकसे बृहद् - बृहत् एद - अरिः | इन्द्र - अय शूषम् - अर्चति ||
Begotten offspring (सुत-सुत = सुतेसुते) abandon residence (न्यस्-ओकस् = न्योकसे) fullgrown eldest (बृहत्-बृहत् = बृहदबृहत्) behold foe! (एद्-अरिः = एदरिः) | Indra good fortune (इन्द्र-अय = इन्द्राय) Strength praising (शूषम्-अर्चत् = शूषमर्चति)
[3] अथा ते अन्त - मानां विद्या - म सुमती - नाम् | मा नो अति ख्य आ गहि ||
Rather (अथा) you (ते) extreme point (अन्त) will ascertain (-मान = अन्तमानां) spiritual knowledge Brahman (विद्या-मः = विद्याम) wise called (सुमति-नाम = सुमतीनाम्) | Knowledge (मा) prosperity (नः = नो) exceedingly (अति) renown (ख्या = ख्य) also (आ) family (गहि) ||
[4] वायवा या - हि दर्श – ते - मे सो - मा अरंकृताः | ते - षां पा - हि श्रुधी हवम् ||
Sacred to Vayu (वायव = वायवा) meditation indeed (या-हि) see thou in exchange (दर्श-ते-मे) destroy fetters (सो-मा) prepare (अरंकृत) | thou emancipation (ते-षः = तेषां) protection surely (पा-हि) willing (श्रुधीयत् = श्रुधी) prayer (हवः = हवम्).
[5] वा - य उक्थ – ए – भिर् – जर - अन्ते त्वां - अच्छा जरित - आरः | सुत – सो - मा अहर् - विदः ||
Reverence Union (वा - य) recite submit man aging inside (उक्थ-ए-भिरु-जर-अन्ते) thou towards (त्वां-अच्छा = त्वामच्छा) age host of enemies (जरित-आर) | offspring destroy fetters (सुत-सो-मा) a day wise man (अहर्-विदः)
[6] वा - यो तव प्र - पृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशु - षे | उरूची सो – म – पी - तये ||
Reverence Union (वा-यः) thou (तव) before coming in contact (प्र-पृञ्ज् = प्रपृञ्चती) with river (धेना) going swiftly (जिगत्नु = जिगाति) pious (दाशुषे) | Earth (उरूचि) finish time increase protection (सो-म-पी-तयः = सोमपीतये)
[7] इतो वा सातिमीमहे दिवो वा पार्थिवादधि | इन्द्रं महो वा रजसः ||
Knowledge (इतम् = इतो) or (वा) winning of property/spoils (साति) to die (मी) to rejoice (महे)(सति-मी-महे = सातिमीमहे); Heaven (दिव् = दिवो) or (वा) earthly (पार्थिव) giving (द) delight (धि)(पार्थिव-द-धि = पार्थिवादधि) | Indra/master of-that which is free (इन्द्रं) great (महः = महो) or (वा) living in the darkness (रजसः)
[8] अनवद्य – ईर् – अभिद्यु – भिर् - मखः सहस्वत् – अर्चत् - इ | गण – इर् – इन्द्र - अस्य काम्यैः ||
Irreproachable (अनवद्य) to go (इर्) heavenward (अभिद्यु) man (भिरु = भिर्) worship (मखः) Mighty (सहस्वत्) praising (अर्चत्) obtain (इ) (Multitude (गण) to go (इर्) Indra (इन्द्र) to dwell (अस् = अस्य) desire (काम्यैः)
[9] अतः परिज्मन् - ना गहि दिवो वा रोच – ना - दधि | सम् – अस्मिन् – ऋञ्जते गिरः ||
Henceforth (अतः) running around not (परिज्मन्-ना = परिज्मन्ना) family (गहि) heaven (दिवो) or (वा) enlightening (रोच) knowledge (ना) giving (द) delight (धि) (रोच-ना-द-धि = रोचनादधि | Meditation (सम्) be in (अस्मिन्) to be celebrated (ऋञ्जसान = ऋञ्जते) (सम्-अस्मिन्-ऋञ्जसान = समस्मिन्नृञ्जते) speech (गिरः) ||
Continued in : Tapas for Offspring
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Tapas, Teacher and Disciple, Bragging, Gluttony and Debates, Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni