Dr.AP.Rao
Aug 2020
In the previous article meaning of the first sloka of Sadhana panckam was given in detail. In the present Part 2 of the article, the second sloka of Sadhana Pancakam meaning is given in detail. Each sloka has four padas and each pada has two simple phrases of dos and don’ts.
Second Sloka:
sangah satsu vidhiyatam bhagavato bhaktirdrḍha dhiyatam
santyadih pariciyatam drḍhataram karmasu santyajyatam |
sadvidvanupasrpyatam pratidinam tatpaduka sevyatam
brahmaikaksaramarthyatam srutisirovakyam samakarnyatam || 2 ||
सङ्गः सत्सु विधीयतां भगवतो भक्तिर्दृढाऽऽधीयतां
शान्त्यादिः परिचीयतां दृढतरं कर्माशु सन्त्यज्यताम्।
सद्विद्वानुपसृप्यतां प्रतिदिनं तत्पादुका सेव्यतां
ब्रह्मैकाक्षरमर्थ्यतां श्रुतिशिरोवाक्यं समाकर्ण्यताम् ॥ २ ॥
B-1 sangah satsu vidhiyatam: “सङ्गः सत्सु विधीयतां”
Always keep companionship with wise people. Adi Shankaracharya expresses that in his sloka from Bhaja-Govindam:
satsaṅgatve nissaṅgatvaṃ nissaṅgatve nirmohatvam |
nirmohatve niśchalatattvaṃ niśchalatattve jīvanmuktiḥ ‖
सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ॥
Companionship with wise people leads to detachment (to worldly attachments). With detachment comes freedom from delusion. Thus, detachment leads to a steady mind; without mind wavering with various thoughts and desires. This Nischala tatvam leads to mukthi here and now itself.
B-2 bhagavato bhaktirdrḍha dhiyatam भगवतो भक्तिर्दृढाऽऽधीयतां
This companionship with wise people will lead to a deep devotion to God. Attachment to material objects is the foremost obstacle for sadhana. The moment one gets material detachment it immediately leads to devotion and attachment to God. Thus, it is the easiest path to God.
B-3 santyadih pariciyatam शान्त्यादिः परिचीयतां
The next step is to develop good virtues like santhi etc. Patanjali in his Ashtanga yoga has very well defined in eight steps (with sub-steps) to develop these virtues.
These eight with sub-steps are listed below:
“kartur ājñyayā prāpyate phalaṃ
karma kiṃ paraṃ karma tajjaḍam”.
कर्तुराज्ञया प्राप्यते फलम् ।
कर्म किं परं कर्म तज्जडम् ॥ १॥
The essence of these slokas can be succinctly explained as good results will come only if one thinks that God is the real doer. This finally leads to “Aham Brahmasmi” state.
B-4 drḍhataram karmasu santyajyatam दृढतरं कर्माशु सन्त्यज्यताम्
Give up karma and Upasana when they are not required any longer for spiritual growth. A stage may come in sadhana when routine karmas may come in the way of one’s growth – so one may have to leave “mano vak karma” – mano like dhyana, vak like mantra Japam, and karma like puja, yagna, vratam etc.
B-5 sadvidvanupasrpyatam सद्विद्वानुपसृप्यतां
But before reaching that stage it is essential one finds his essential target of getting a good GURU. Guru is greater than parents who gave birth to the body and even GOD – as Guru makes one get rid of the cycle of birth and death.
B-6 pratidinam tatpaduka sevyatam प्रतिदिनं तत्पादुका सेव्यतां
Once one is lucky enough to find such a guru; one should submit to Guru’s feet. Guru paduka mantra is the highest of all mantras. In that, three forms of Guru are worshipped. Guru who is in human form is nearest to the disciple and guides him daily in all affairs of learning. Guru’s Guru is called “Parma Guru” who is a siddha purusha. Parma Guru teaches us to see God in all living things. In the final stage, Parma Guru’s Guru (Guru’s Guru’s Guru) called Parameshthi Guru is seen in everything living / or nonliving and takes the disciple to the final stage of “AHAM BRAHMAASMI.” It is said in Guru Gita that:
shive kruddhe guru straataa
gurau kruddhe shivo na hi
tasmaat sarva prayatnena
shri gurum sharanam vrajet
If Shiva is angry Guru can save the disciple, but if Guru is angry even Shiva cannot save the disciple. Therefore, take refuge at Guru’s feet.
B-7 brahmaikaksaramarthyatam ब्रह्मैकाक्षरमर्थ्यतां
If one is lucky enough to get such a Guru devote all the time to learn Brahma vidya from him. Simply serving Guru is sufficient to get that Brahma vidya.
B-8 srutisirovakyam samakarnyatam श्रुतिशिरोवाक्यं समाकर्ण्यताम्
Following all the above steps of sadhana will make one learn shruti and smriti and finally to Jivanmukthi.