Sloka 2
Sloka 2
Original Text:
जन्तूनां नरजन्म दुर्लभमतः पुंस्त्वं ततो विप्रता तस्माद्वैदिकधर्ममार्गपरता विद्वत्त्वमस्मात्परम् । आत्मानात्मविवेचनं स्वनुभवो ब्रह्मात्मना संस्थितिः मुक्तिर्नो शतजन्मकोटिसुकृतैः पुण्यैर्विना लभ्यते ॥ २ ॥
- **Transliteration:**
``` Jantūnāṃ narajanma durlabhamataḥ puṃstvaṃ tato vipratā tasmādvaidikadharmamārgaparatā vidvattvamasmātparam | ātmānātmavivecanaṃ svānubhavo brahmātmanā saṃsthitiḥ muktirno śatajanmakōṭisukṛtaiḥ puṇyairvinā labhyate || 2 || ```
- **Translation:**
``` Among creatures, human birth is rare, more so is manhood; after that, Brahminhood; superior to that is steadfastness in the path of Vedic Dharma; above that is erudition; above all is discrimination between the Self and the non-Self, direct spiritual experience, and establishment in Brahman. Liberation cannot be attained without meritorious deeds accumulated over hundreds of millions of lives. ```
- **Word Meanings:**
* जन्तूनाम् (jantūnām) - among creatures * नरजन्म (narajanma) - human birth * दुर्लभम् (durlabham) - rare * अतः (ataḥ) - hence * पुंस्त्वम् (puṃstvam) - manhood * ततः (tataḥ) - then * विप्रता (vipratā) - Brahminhood * तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that * वैदिकधर्ममार्गपरता (vaidikadharmamārgaparatā) - steadfastness in the path of Vedic Dharma * विद्वत्त्वम् (vidvattvam) - erudition * अस्मात् (asmāt) - above this * परम् (param) - superior * आत्मानात्मविवेचनं (ātmānātmavivecanaṃ) - discrimination between Self and non-Self * स्वानुभवः (svānubhavaḥ) - direct experience * ब्रह्मात्मना (brahmātmanā) - by the identity with Brahman * संस्थितिः (saṃsthitiḥ) - establishment * मुक्तिः (muktiḥ) - liberation * न (na) - not * शतजन्मकोटिसुकृतैः (śatajanmakōṭisukṛtaiḥ) - by meritorious deeds of hundreds of millions of births * पुण्यैः (puṇyaiḥ) - by merits * विना (vinā) - without * लभ्यते (labhyate) - attained
- **Commentary:**
This verse provides a profound insight into the hierarchy of spiritual evolution and existence. It begins by acknowledging the rarity of obtaining a human birth among all life forms, signifying its unique capability for spiritual pursuits. This rarity is further compounded by the excellence of being a male (puṃstvam), which in the traditional context, indicates greater opportunities for Vedic studies and spiritual duties.
Brahminhood (vipratā) here is symbolic of a revered path oriented towards Vedic wisdom and duty. However, the verse stresses that merely possessing such birth attributes isn't enough; what elevates an individual spiritually is their dedication (vaidikadharmamārgaparatā) to the path of righteousness as prescribed in the Vedic scriptures.
Beyond adherence to Dharma, the sloka highlights the importance of 'vidvattvam' or learning. Education in this context implies not just rote learning but an internalization of wisdom that facilitates viveka (discrimination between the transient and the eternal). This discrimination forms the bedrock of spiritual practice.
Further, true knowledge culminates in 'svānubhava' (direct experience) and 'brahmātmanā saṃsthitiḥ'—abiding in the awareness of one's unity with Brahman, the ultimate reality. The achievement of moksha, or liberation, the passage declares, is not trivial. It is not the outcome of happenstance but the accrual of merits over innumerable lifetimes, shaping the seeker’s inner faculties for this transformative realization.
This verse, thus, delineates an aspirant’s progression from gross physical existence to the subtle heights of spiritual enlightenment, emphasizing that sincere effort and divine grace together lead to liberation.
Further Readings: