Section 1 1

Need of Sadhana

Summary (in English)

These slokas collectively provide profound insights into the path of spiritual realization and liberation. The teachings begin by emphasizing the importance of venerating *Govinda*, the supreme blissful teacher, who transcends ignorance and embodies Vedantic truths. Achieving human birth is seen as a rare and precious opportunity for spiritual growth, furthered by attributes like spirituality and wisdom. Liberation requires a discerning understanding of the self in relation to Brahman, aided by divine grace. The path to *mukti* (liberation) involves striving for self-awareness, undertaking self-discipline, and associating with enlightened teachers while renouncing desires for worldly pleasures. There is an emphasis on inquiry over rituals for true understanding. Knowledge and introspection are prioritized over external rituals or material wealth for realizing the Self. A competent individual is vital for achieving results, and such competence is defined by wisdom, reasoning, detachment, virtues, and a fervent quest for liberation.

सारांश

ये श्लोक एक साथ मिलकर आध्यामिक ज्ञान और मुक्ति का मार्ग प्रशस्त करते हैं। शिक्षा गोविन्द की वन्दना से प्रारम्भ होती है जो अद्वैत वेदांत के सिद्धांतों को समझाने वाला परम आनन्दमय गुरु है। मानव जन्म को एक दुर्लभ और मूल्यवान अवसर माना गया है जो आध्यात्मिक प्रगति के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है और इसे आगे बढ़ाने के लिए आध्यात्मिकता और विद्या जैसे गुण आवश्यक हैं। मुक्ति के लिए आत्मा को ब्रह्म के संबंध में विवेकपूर्ण समझ की आवश्यकता है, जो दिव्य कृपा से सहायता प्राप्त होती है। *मुक्ति* के मार्ग पर आत्म-जागरूकता को प्राप्त करने, आत्म-अनुशासन का पालन करने और प्रबुद्ध शिक्षकों के साथ जुड़ने की आवश्यकता है, साथ ही दुनिया के सुखों के प्रति इच्छा का त्याग भी शामिल है। सही समझ के लिए अन्वेषण को अनुष्ठानों पर प्राथमिकता दी जाती है। आत्म की प्राप्ति के लिए ज्ञान और अंतर्दृष्टि को बाह्य अनुष्ठानों या भौतिक धन से ऊपर रखा जाता है। एक योग्य व्यक्ति द्वारा परिणामों की प्राप्ति विशेष रूप से महत्वपूर्ण है और इस योग्यता को विवेक, विवेक, गुण और मुक्ति के लिए उत्कट खोज जैसी विशेषताओं के द्वारा परिभाषित किया जाता है।

Important Concepts (महत्वपूर्ण अवधारणाएँ)

• paramānanda (परमानन्द)
• tam-agocara (तमगोचर)
• ātma-anātma-vivecana (आत्म-अनात्म-विवेचन)
• devānugraha (देवानुग्रह)
• yogārūḍhatva (योगारूढत्व)
• bhava-bandha-vimukti (भवबन्धविमुक्ति)

Topics

• Rarity and significance of human birth
• Requirements for liberation
• Role of divine grace
• Importance of discernment and wisdom
• Renunciation and self-discipline in spiritual practice
• Role of enlightened teachers and guidance

Categories (वर्गीकरण)

• Importance of human birth and spiritual opportunity
• Teaching methods of self-liberation
• Roles of divine assistance and wisdom
• Qualifications necessary for spiritual inquiry

S-V-O Tuples or Propositions as Text

Subject-Verb-Object (S-V-O) Tuples

Subject	Verb	Object
Devotee	bows to	Govinda, the supreme blissful Guru
Liberation	is not attained	without countless virtuous deeds
Divine grace	grants	human birth, desire for liberation, association with enlightened souls
The seeker	should strive for	self-liberation
Foolishness	lies in neglecting	self-interest after obtaining the body
Actions	purify	the mind for realizing truth
Correct comprehension	dispels	fear and suffering
Inquiry	should be undertaken	by seeker into self
Intelligent person	is fit for	self-knowledge

Slokas & Translations

Sloka 1

सर्ववेदान्तसिद्धान्तगोचरं तमगोचरम् ।
गोविन्दं परमानन्दं सद्गुरुं प्रणतोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ १ ॥

Translation: I bow to Govinda, the supreme blissful Guru, who is beyond the reach of darkness and comprehends all Vedantic truths.

Sloka 2

जन्तूनां नरजन्म दुर्लभमतः पुंस्त्वं ततो विप्रता ।
तस्माद्वैदिकधर्ममार्गपरता विद्वत्त्वमस्मात्परम् । 
आत्मानात्मविवेचनं स्वनुभवो ब्रह्मात्मना संस्थितिः ।
मुक्तिर्नो शतजन्मकोटिसुकृतैः पुण्यैर्विना लभ्यते ॥ २ ॥

Translation: Liberation is not attained without countless virtuous deeds, such as discerning the self from the non-self, self-experience, and abiding in the Self as Brahman.

Sloka 3

दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतद्देवानुग्रहहेतुकम् ।
मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः ॥ ३ ॥

Translation: These three, which are rare and occur by the grace of the divine: human birth, the desire for liberation, and association with great souls.

Sloka 4

लब्ध्वा कथंचिन्नरजन्म दुर्लभं
तत्रापि पुंस्त्वं श्रुतिपारदर्शनम् ।
यस्त्वात्ममुक्तौ न यतेत मूढधीः
स ह्यात्महा स्वं विनिहन्त्यसद्ग्रहात् ॥ ४ ॥

Translation: Having somehow obtained the rare human birth, manhood, and the ability to discern the essence of the scriptures, if one does not strive for self-liberation, being deluded, one destroys oneself by holding onto the unreal.

Sloka 5

इतः को न्वस्ति मूढात्मा यस्तु स्वार्थे प्रमाद्यति ।
दुर्लभं मानुषं देहं प्राप्य तत्रापि पौरुषम् ॥ ५ ॥

Translation: Who indeed is more foolish than the one who neglects self-interest, having attained the rare human body and likewise, strength?

Sloka 6

वदन्तु शास्त्राणि यजन्तु देवान् 
कुर्वन्तु कर्माणि भजन्तु देवताः । 
आत्मैक्यबोधेन विनापि मुक्तिः 
न सिध्यति ब्रह्मशतान्तरेऽपि ॥ ६ ॥

Translation: Without the realization of the unity of the Self, even after hundreds of Brahma's years, liberation cannot be achieved.

Sloka 7

अमृतत्वस्य नाशास्ति वित्तेनेत्येव हि श्रुतिः ।
ब्रवीति कर्मणो मुक्तेरहेतुत्वं स्फुटं यतः ॥ ७ ॥

Translation: Indeed, the scriptures declare that immortality is not attained through wealth. It clearly explains the ineffectiveness of actions in achieving liberation.

Sloka 8

अतो विमुक्त्यै प्रयतेत्विद्वान्
संन्यस्तबाह्यार्थसुखस्पृहः सन् ।
सन्तं महान्तं समुपेत्य देशिकं
तेनोपदिष्टार्थसमाहितात्मा ॥ ८ ॥

Translation: Therefore, let the wise strive for liberation, renouncing desire for external pleasures, approaching a great and noble teacher, and focusing the mind on the teachings imparted by him.

Sloka 9

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं मग्नं संसारवारिधौ ।
योगारूढत्वमासाद्य सम्यग्दर्शननिष्ठया ॥ ९ ॥

Translation: Lift oneself from the ocean of worldly existence, having attained the state of being established in true vision through yoga.

Sloka 10

संन्यस्य सर्वकर्माणि भवबन्धविमुक्तये ।
यत्यतां पण्डितैर्धीरैरात्माभ्यास उपस्थितैः ॥ १० ॥

Translation: Renouncing all actions for liberation from the bondage of existence, let the wise and steadfast strive through the practice of self-discipline.

Sloka 11

चित्तस्य शुद्धये कर्म न तु वस्तूपलब्धये ।
वस्तुसिद्धिर्विचारेण न किंचित्कर्मकोटिभिः ॥ ११ ॥

Translation: Action is meant for the purification of the mind, not for the attainment of reality; reality is realized through discernment, not by countless actions.

Sloka 12

सम्यग्विचारतः सिद्धा रज्जुतत्त्वावधारणा ।
भ्रान्तोदितमहासर्पभयदुःखविनाशिनी ॥ १२ ॥

Translation: Correct comprehension of the rope's reality dispels the illusory fear and suffering caused by the imagined great snake.

Sloka 13

अर्थस्य निश्चयो दृष्टो विचारेण हितोक्तितः ।
न स्नानेन न दानेन प्राणायमशतेन वा ॥ १३ ॥

Translation: The truth of meaning is perceived through thoughtful analysis and beneficial sayings, not through bathing, giving, or hundreds of breathing exercises.

Sloka 14

अधिकारिणमाशास्ते फलसिद्धिर्विशेषतः ।
उपाया देशकालाद्याः सन्त्यस्मिन्सहकारिणः ॥ १४ ॥

Translation: The fruition of results especially depends on the competent individual, and means such as place and time are contributors in this.

Sloka 15

अतो विचारः कर्तव्यो जिज्ञासोरात्मवस्तुनः ।
समासाद्य दयासिन्धुं गुरुं ब्रह्मविदुत्तमम् ॥ १५ ॥

Translation: Therefore, inquiry into the true nature of the Self should be undertaken by the seeker, having approached a compassionate and supreme knower of Brahman (guru).

Sloka 16

मेधावी पुरुषो विद्वानुहापोहविचक्षणः ।
अधिकार्यात्मविद्यायामुक्तलक्षणलक्षितः ॥ १६ ॥

Translation: The intelligent and wise person, skilled in reasoning and analysis, is fit for the knowledge of the Self, being marked by the stated qualifications.

Sloka 17

विवेकिनो विरक्तस्य शमादिगुणशालिनः।
मुमुक्षोरेव हि ब्रह्मजिज्ञासायोग्यता मता॥ १७ ॥

Translation: Only one with discrimination, detachment, and virtues like calmness, who is also eager for liberation, is considered fit for inquiry into Brahman.