Reversal of Evil Propensities -दुर्वासनाप्रतिकारादशकम्

 SUBHASHITHANI:567

"Durvasana prathikara dasakam” is a work of ten verses by Sri Vidhyaranya Swami, 12th Jagadguru of Sringeri Saradha Peetam.He is a prolific writer and is the author of the famous "Panchadasi".The durvasanas and remedies as stated in the work are easy to understand and do not need any elaborate explanation.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिन: |
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ||BG2.59||

viṣhayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso ’pyasya paraṁ dṛiṣhṭvā nivartate
Aspirants may restrain the senses from their objects of enjoyment, but the taste for the sense objects remains. However, even this taste ceases for those who realizes the Supreme.

Even after cessation of activities by the the body and the senses, the craving persists in the mind. The evil tendencies arising out of this can be overcome by involving in opposing moral activities, by isolating from the environment which is conducive to such bad tendencies, or by mind withdrawing on its own from such activities. In this daskam forty five durvasanas and counter measures to deal with them are beautifully described.

We will take up three of the slokas in this blog.

प्रातर्वैदिककर्मतः तत्तदनुसद्वेदान्तसच्चिन्तया
पश्चाद्भारतमोक्षधर्मकथया वासिष्ठरामायणात् ।
सायं भागवतार्थतत्त्वकथया रात्रौ निदिध्यासनात्
कालो गच्छतु नः शरीरभरणं प्रारब्धकान्तार्पितम् ॥ १॥

Prathar  vaidheeka karma thatthadhanu sad vedantha sachinthayaa
Paschad bharatha moksha dharma kathaya , vaasishta  ramayanath I
Saayam Bhagawatharthaa   tatva kadhayaa, rathrou  nidhyaasanaath
Kalo gachathi   nassareera  bharanam, prarabdha  kantaarpitham II 1

After performing duties ordained by the vedas in the morning, our time may be spent in the following way. Reflect on the essence of vedantic teachings. Reflect on moksha dharma as described in Mahabharata and Yoga Vasishta. Listen to the stories from Srimad bhagavatham in the evening and practice nidhidhyasana during the night. Realise that the results of past karma will play its role in your present life.

आलस्यं त्वरया श्रमं श्रमधिया तन्द्रीं समुत्थानतः
भेद भ्रान्त्यभेददर्शनबलात्तां मिथ्यात्वतः सत्यताम् ।
मर्मोक्तिं निज मर्म कर्म कथया क्रोधं स्वसाम्येक्षणात्
आक्रोशं कुशलोक्तितस्य च मनश्छिन्द्यप्रमादो भयम् ॥ ६॥

.AAlaasyam  thwarayaa  sramam  shamadhiyaa thandhreem   samuthaanatha,
Bedha branthi bedasana balaath, mithyaathmathaam   sathyatham I
Narmokthim   nija marma karma kathayaa krodham swasaamyekshanaath
Akrosam   kusolkthi thasya manaschindhya   pramadhaadh bhayam II 6

By prompt action remove slothfulness, fatigue by relaxing the mind, drowsiness by enthusiasm. Realising the reality of Atma dispense with the delusion of plurality. By realising one’s own shortcomings stop humiliating others, avoid anger by visualising others as oneself, rebuking others by speaking pleasant words. Oh!mind, by being well informed of matters dispel fear of insecurity.

धैर्यैरावत शान्ति धेनु दमना मन्दार वृक्षं सदा
मैत्र्याद्यप्सरसं विवेक तुरगं सन्तोष चिन्तामणिम् ।
आत्मज्ञान महामृतं समरसं वैराग्य चन्द्रोदयं
वेदान्तार्णवमाश्रयन्ननुदिनं सेवस्व मुक्ति श्रियम् ॥ १०॥

Dhairya iravatha  saanthi dhenu  dhama  san mandhara brindam    sadaa
Maitthryaad apsarasaam  viveka thuragam  santhosha   chintha manim I
Aathma jnana  maha amrutham   samaras am  nairasya   chandrodhayam
Vedantharnvam aasrya anudhinam  sevasva mukthi sriyam II10

In the ocean of vedantha seek refuge at all times, always help yourself with these treasures: Courage as Iravatha, shanthi as Kamadhenu, sense control as Kalpaka vruksha, Friendship, love etc like the celestial damsels, Viveka as Uchaisravas, Contentment like the Chintamani, Vairagya as the moon, as also the elixir of self- knowledge  obtained by the churning of the upanisads and finally Lakshmi as liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH