imported>Vij: Added sloka content

2025-01-07T10:08:44Z

Added sloka content

imported>Vij: Added sloka content

2024-12-17T10:47:24Z

Added sloka content

New page

== Sloka 8 ==
'''Original Text:'''
<pre>
अतो विमुक्त्यै प्रयतेत्विद्वान्
संन्यस्तबाह्यार्थसुखस्पृहः सन् ।
सन्तं महान्तं समुपेत्य देशिकं
तेनोपदिष्टार्थसमाहितात्मा ॥ ८ ॥
</pre>

- Transliteration:

ato vimuktyai prayatet vidvān
saṃnyasta-bāhyārtha-sukha-spṛhaḥ san
santaṃ mahāntaṃ samupetya deśikaṃ
tenopadiṣṭārtha-samāhita-ātmā ॥ 8 ॥

- Translation:

Therefore, a wise person should strive for liberation, relinquishing the craving for external objects and pleasures. Approaching a noble and great teacher, who instructs on the essence, one should focus their mind on the teachings imparted.

- Word Meanings:
* ato - therefore
* vimuktyai - for liberation
* prayatet - should strive
* vidvān - a wise person
* saṃnyasta - renounced
* bāhya-artha - external objects
* sukha-spṛhaḥ - craving for pleasures
* san - being
* santaṃ - noble
* mahāntaṃ - great
* samupetya - approaching
* deśikaṃ - teacher (spiritual guide)
* tena - by him
* upadiṣṭa - instructed
* artha - meaning, essence
* samāhita-ātmā - having focused their mind

- Commentary:

This sloka speaks about the journey of a seeker aiming for liberation, underscoring the significance of seeking guidance from a qualified teacher (deśika). The verse emphasizes that intellectual understanding and wisdom alone are insufficient; one must transcend mere conceptual knowledge by abandoning attachments to worldly pleasures and materialistic desires. The 'vidvān' or the wise individual is encouraged to recognize these cravings as obstacles on the spiritual path.

The approach to a 'santaṃ mahāntaṃ deśikaṃ', a noble and great teacher, is crucial because such an enlightened guide offers not just theoretical knowledge but imparts experiential wisdom that steers the seeker towards self-realization. The teachings of the deśika provide clarity and focus, helping the aspirant align their mind ('samāhita-ātmā') with the truth and deepen their practice.

This journey of liberation is grounded in both effort and surrender: effort in the form of striving and discipline, and surrender in seeking guidance and wisdom from one who has tread the path before. Such a balance of effort and surrender reflects a mature spiritual pursuit, harmonizing gnosis and devotion, knowledge, and detachment.

'''

Further Readings:'''
* [[Vedanta]]
* [[Vivekachudamani]]

Sloka 8 - Revision history

imported>Vij: Added sloka content

imported>Vij: Added sloka content