GURU (3) - गुरु:

SUBHASHITHANI:206
Guru is a Sanskrit term that connotes someone who is a "teacher, guide or master" of certain knowledge.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘Gu’ stands for darkness and ,’Ru’stands for remover.  So in essence, a guru shatters the darkness or ignorance ( avidya ) and helps one to gain knowledge including power to analyse, to discriminate right  from wrong and be able to take the right action at the right time.  He is the one who ensures success for his disciple. Here is a collection of some very beautiful slokas on "guru"

विद्वत्त्वं दक्षता शीलं सङ्कान्तिरनुशीलनम् ।
 शिक्षकस्य गुणाः सप्त सचेतस्त्वं प्रसन्नता ॥
The following seven are the qualities of a good teacher; Scholarship, dexterity, morality, reflection or moving from place to place, constant practice, intelligence, and cheerfulness.   
ध्यानमूलं गुरुर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरुर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरुर्वाक्यं  मोक्षमूलं गुरूर्कृपा ॥   
    Dhyaanamoolam gurormoortih poojaamoolam guroh padam; Mantramoolam gurorvaakyam mokshamoolam guroh kripaa”.
The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.

गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तु छिन्नसंशयाः ।। 

“It is strange to see, the very old disciples, and the very young teacher, who sit under a banyan tree, with the teacher always observing silence, and the students getting all the doubts cleared.” (Shri Dakshinamurti Stotram: 12)

न गुरोरधिकं तत्त्वं न गुरोरधिकं तपः ।
तत्त्वज्ञानात्परं नास्ति तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ Guru Gita
na guroradhika.n tattva.n na guroradhika.n tapaH
tattvadnyaanaatpara.n naasti tasmai shriigurave namaH
Salutation to the noble Guru, beyond whom there is no higher truth, there is no higher penance and there is nothing higher attainable than the true knowledge.

दुग्धेन धेनुः कुसुमेन वल्ली शीलेन भार्या कमलेन तोयम्। 

गुरुं विना भाति न चैव शिष्यः शमेन विद्या नगरी जनेन॥ 

Cow is respected for its milk, a creeper for its flower, wife for exemplary behaviour, and water body for its lotus flowers. A city for its people and education for nurturing sense control. In the same way , a student can not shine with out a guru.

धर्मज्ञो धर्मकर्ता च सदा धर्मपरायणः ।
तत्त्वेभ्यः सर्वशास्त्रार्थादेशको गुरुरुच्यते ॥

Dharmagyo dharmakartaa cha sadaa dharmaparaayanah I

Tatvebhyah sarva shaastrartha deshako gururuchyate II

One who is well-versed in righteousness  ( Dharma ) , who performs dharma, always inclined towards dharma, and explains all the nuances of shastraas to his disciples is called a ‘guru’.

सर्वाभिलाषिणः सर्वभोजिनः सपरिग्रहाः ।
अब्रह्मचारिणो मिथ्योपदेशा गुरवो न तु ॥

Sarvaabhilaashinah sarva bhojinah saparigrahaah I

Abrahmachaarino mithyopadesaa guravo na tu II

Excessive Desire, excessive enjoyment, grabbing  every thing, not following celibacy, giving spurious advice, these are not the qualities of a Guru.

विना गुरुभ्यो गुणनीरधिभ्यो जानाति तत्त्वं न विचक्षणोऽपि ।
आकर्णदीर्घायित लोचनोऽपि दीपं विना पश्यति नान्धकारे ॥

Vinaa gurubhyo gunaneerdhibhyo jaanaati tatvam na vichakshanopi I

Aakarnadeergaayita lochanopi deepam vinaa pasyati na andhakaare II

Even if one is very intelligent and scholarly ,he will not be able to grasp the truth without a guru ,who is an ocean of virtues. Like, even though a man may have an excellent vision , he will not be able to see in darkness without a lamp.  

अधिगत्य गुरोर्ज्ञानं छात्रेभ्यो वितरन्ति ये।

विद्यावात्सल्यनिधयः शिक्षका मम दैवतम॥

The one who by acquiring knowledge from his teachers, distributes it to the students, that source  of knowledge and love, teacher, is my God.

गुरुर्न स स्यात् स्वजनो न स स्यात्

पिता न स स्याज्जननी न सा स्यात्।
दैवन्न तत् स्यात् न पतिश्च स स्यान्-
न मोचयेद्यः समुपेत-मृत्युम्॥५-५-१८॥ Srimad Bhagavatham

gururna sa syāt svajano na sa syāt  pitā na sa syājjananī na sā syāt|
daivanna tat syāt na patiśca sa syān-  na mocayedyaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum||5-5-18||
One is not a guru (worthy of being a guru): one is not a relative
One is not father; one is not a mother; One is not a deity; one is not a husband; If they cannot guide those dependent from [the cycle of birth and] death.

अक्रोधो गुरुशुश्रूषा शौचमाहारलाघवम् ।
नित्य स्वाध्याय इत्येते नियमाः पञ्च कीर्तिताः ॥

Mastery over anger, serving the guru, purity, moderation  in eating, and regular  scriptural study are the five qualities which will bring respect to a sadhaka.

इमं लोकं मातृभक्त्या पितृभक्त्या तु मध्यमम्।

गुरुशुश्रूषया त्वेव ब्रह्मलोकं समश्नुते॥
imaṁ lokaṁ mātṛbhaktyā pitṛbhaktyā tu madhyamam|
guruśuśrūṣayā tveva brahmalokaṁ samaśnute||
By honouring/worshipping (one’s) mother he gains this world, by honouring one’s father the middle sphere, but by obedience to his Teacher, the World of Brahman.

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव, त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव। 

त्वमेव विद्या च द्रविणं त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥

This is a prayer dedicated to the Almighty who is the Ultimate Guru. (Oh Guru!) You are my mother and father; you are my brother and companion; you alone are knowledge and wealth. Oh the Almighty, you are everything to me.

गुरोर्यत्र परीवादो निंदा वापिप्रवर्तते ।

कर्णौ तत्र विधातव्यो गन्तव्यं वा ततोऽन्यतः ॥

Guroryatra parivaado nindaa vaapi pravartate I

Karnau tatra vidhatavyo gantavyam vaa tato anyatah II

Where something bad about guru is being  said you should try to refute it. If it is not possible don’t listen to such words. Even if that is not possible leave that place without delay. ( This advice is stressed by both Sri  Ramanuja and  sri Vedanta Desika )

गुरुं प्रयोजनोद्देशादर्चयन्ति न भक्तितः l 

दुग्धदात्रैति गौः गेहे पोष्यते न तु धर्मतः ll 

gurum prayojanoddeshaadarchayanti na bhaktitah l

dugdhadaatraiti gauh gehe poShyate na tu dharmatah ll

People worship a guru (preceptor) not because of devotion, but because they have some motive behind this. (It is just like) People do not feed and nourish a cow at home because it is the right thing to do, but because it gives milk !

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH 

SCHOLAR- WISE MAN -VIDVAAN- विद्वान्

SUBHASHITHANI:205
विद्वान्नैव विजानाति विद्वज्जनपरिश्रमम् |

न हि वन्ध्या विजानाति गुर्वीं प्रसववेदनाम् ||
Vidvaan eva vijaanaati vidvat jana parishramam I
Na hi vandhyaa vijaanaati gurvi prasava vedanam II
Only a learned person can understand the hardship borne by another learned person to earn knowledge just as a barren woman cannot understand the severe pain endured by a pregnant woman.

अपां प्रवाहो गाङ्गोऽपि समुद्रं प्राप्य तद्रसः।
भवत्यवश्यं तद्विद्वान्नाश्रयेदशुभात्मकम्॥
apāṁ pravāho gāṅgo’pi samudraṁ prāpya tadrasaḥ|
bhavatyavaśyaṁ tadvidvānnāśrayed aśubhātmakam||
A stream of tasteful water (even arising from the Ganges?), having flown into the sea, becomes saline and thus undrinkable.  For this simple reason, a wise man should never associate with one of wicked and impure soul.

स्वगृहे पूज्यते मूर्खः स्वग्रामे पूज्यते प्रभुः I

 स्वदेशे पूज्यते राजा विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते ॥

Svagruhe poojyate moorkhah, svagraame poojyate prabhuh I

Svadese poojyate raajaa vidvaan sarvatra poojyate

A fool is honoured in his own house, a landlord is honoured in his own village, a king is honoured in his own country and a scholar is honoured everywhere.

गन्धः सुवर्णे फलमिक्षुदण्डे
नाकारि पुष्पं खलु चन्दनेषु ।
विद्वान् धनाढ्यो न तु दीर्घजीवी
धातुः पुरा कोऽपि न बुद्धिदोऽभूत ॥

Gandhah  suvarne  phalamikshudande .
                 Naakari  pushpam  khalu  chandanasya.
Vidvaandhanaadhyashcha  Nrupashchiraayuh.
                  Dhaatuh  puraa  kopi  na  buddhidobhoot.

Fragrance in gold; fruit in sugarcane; big flowers too in sandalwood; an educated who is rich; a king who lives forever - (alas!) there were no counsellors for the creator earlier!

विद्वानेवोपदेष्टव्यो नाविद्वांस्तु कदाचन ।
वानरानुपदिश्याथ स्थानभ्रष्टा ययुः खगाः ॥ Pancha tantra

Vidvaanevopadeshtavyo naavidvaamstu kadaachana I

Vaanaraanupadisyaatha sthaana bhrashtaa yayuh khagaah II

Advice should be offered only  to the wise and not to fools. Advising the monkeys the birds were forced to leave their place.

मात्रा स्वस्रा  दुहित्रा वा न विविक्तासनो  भवेत्  |
बलवन्निन्द्रियग्रामा  विद्वांसमपि  कर्षति       || मनुस्मृति

Maatraa svasraa  duhitraa vaa na viviktaasano bhavet I
Balavaanindriyagraamo vidvaamsamapi karshati. II

One must not sit alone with mother, sister or daughter. The sense organs are very strong and can derail the thoughts of even a wise man.

सत्यं तपो ज्ञानमहिंसता च   विद्वत्प्रणामं च सुशीलता च । 

एतानि यो धारयति स विद्वान्  न केवलं यः पठते स विद्वान् ॥
Only those who possess these qualities can be called a wise man ( Vidvaan ):Truth, austerities, knowledge, non-violence, respecting other wise men, and a spot-less behaviour. Not one who is merely well read.

विद्वान्प्रशस्यते  लोके  विद्वान्  सर्वत्र  पूज्यते  |
विद्यया  लभते  सर्वं  विद्या सर्वत्र  पूज्यते      ||  चाणक्य नीति 
Vidvaan-prashasyate  loke  vidvaan  sarvatra  poojyate. 
Vidyayaa  labhate  sarvam  vidyaa  sarvatra  poojyate.
 In the social life a knowledgeable and learned person is praised and venerated every where.  Through the acquired skill and knowledge all types of things can be obtained and for this very reason knowledge and learning are venerated every where
वेदाहमेतं पुरु'षं महान्तम्'' | आदित्यव'र्णं तम'सः पर'स्तात् |
तमेवं विद्वानमृत' इह भ'वति | नान्यः पन्था' विद्यतेऽय'नाय || Purusha suktam
vedahametam purusham mahantam  adityavarnam tamasah parastat I 
tamevam vidvan amrita iha bhavati  nanyah pantha vidyate'yanaya (20)"
I have known that great Purusha (Supreme Being) who is brilliant like the sun and who is beyond all darkness. One who knows Him thus becomes immortal (even) here. There is no other path for liberation than this"

अविद्वानपि भूपालो विद्यावृद्धोपिसेवया |
पराश्रियमवाप्नोति जलासन्नतरुर्यथा ||  
avidvaanapi bhoopaalo vidyaavruddhopisevayaa |
paraashriyamavaapnoti jalaasannataruryathaa ||
A king or a ruler of a country may not be very learned, but if he remains associated with highly educated persons and is devoted to them, he gets all the  glory and prosperity through such association just like a tree grown besides a water body gets all the nourishment and grows nicely.

मूर्खशिष्योपदेशेन दुष्टास्त्रीभरणेन च।
दुःखितैः सम्प्रयोगेण पण्डितोऽप्यवसीदति॥
Even a pandit comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple, by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with the miserable.
तास्तु वाचः सभायोग्या याश्चित्ताSSकर्षणक्षमा  | 
स्वेषां परेषां  विदुषां  द्विशामविदुषामपि ||
Taastu vaachah sbhaa-yogyaa yaashchittakarshanakshamaa. I 
Sveshaam pareshaam  vidushaam dvishaamavidushaamapi. II
Only those persons are competent to participate in an assembly of people, who, by their oratory, are capable of captivating the hearts of not only the learned persons and their associates, but also the people who are hostile towards them, as also neutral person
न बुद्धि भेदं जनयेत अज्ञानां कर्म संगिनां ।
जोष्येत सर्व कर्माणि विद्वान युक्तः समाचरन  ।। BG 3.26
Na buddhi bhedam janayet agyanam karma sanginam I
Joshyet sarva karmani vidvan yuktah samacharan II 
Let not the wise man unsettle the mind of the ignorant people attached to karma. By doing persistently and precisely let the wise induce the others in all activities.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

DEATH-MRUTYU,- मृत्युः,

SUBHASHITHANI:204
अनित्यानि शरीराणि विभवो नैव शाश्वतः।

नित्यं सन्निहितो मृत्युः कर्त्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः ।।Mahabharata

This body does not last for ever. Wealth is temporary. Death is approaching you every day. Hence get involved in following Dharma as if there is no tomorrow. Do not put off noble duties to tomorrow

अन्धः स एव श्रुतवर्जितो यः
    शठः स एवार्थिनिरर्थको यः |
मृतः स एवास्ति यशो न यस्य
    धर्मे न धीर्यस्य स एव शोच्यः ||

He who gives up education is blind. He is a cheater who does not give alms to a beggar. He is dead who has not done enough good deeds in his life to give him fame. He is pitiable who does not spare a thought about Dharma (moral code of life).

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थं च साधयेत् |
गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ||

Virtuous men go about collecting knowledge and wealth as if they will live for ever. When it comes to following Dharma, they never procrastinate. They perform their duties as if death is holding them by their hair.

மின்னின் நிலையில--மன்னுயி ராக்கைகள்

என்னு மிடத்து இறை--உன்னுமின் நீரே.-Thiruvai mozhi-2911

Fleetier than lightning, is the life of the body. Ponder a while on this matter yourself.

यक्ष उवाच ।

 किंस्वित्प्रवसतो मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं गृहे सतः ।

 आतुरस्य च किं मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥ ६३॥

Yaksha said:

Who is the friend of one away from home (travelling)? 

Who is the friend at home?

Who is the friend when one is sick?

Who is the friend when one is dying?

 युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।

 सार्थः प्रवसतो मित्रं भार्या मित्रं गृहे सतः ।

आतुरस्य भिषङ्मित्रं दानं मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥ ६४॥

Yudhisthira said:

Companion(co-traveller) is the friend of a traveller. 

Wife is the friend of a person at home. 

Physician is the friend when one is sick.

Charity (Dana) is the friend of the dying. 

अहन्यहनि भूतानि गच्छंति यममन्दिरम्। 
 शेषा विभूतिमिच्छंति किमाश्चर्य मत: परम्।। Yaksha prasna
ahany ahani bhutaani gacchantiha yamamandiram I
 sheshaa vibhuti icchanti kim ashchaaryam matah param II
“Hundreds and thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, but a foolish living being nonetheless thinks himself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most wonderful thing in this world.”

विद्यां चाविद्यां च यस्तद्वेदोभ्य सह ।

अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वाऽमृतमश्नुते ॥

vidyāṃ cāvidyāṃ ca yastadvedobhya saha ।I Isopanisad

avidyayā mṛtyuṃ tīrtvā’mṛtamaśnute ॥ 

One who knows both, the material science as well as the spiritual science, transgresses fear of death by the former, i.e. by proper bodily and mental efforts, and attains salvation by the latter, i.e. by the purity of mind and soul.

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ,  तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय,  मॄत्योर्मा अमॄतं गमय ॥

Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya | 
 O Lord! Lead me from the untruth to truth, Darkness to Light and Death to immortality.

यथा काष्ठं च काष्ठं च समेयातां महार्णवे। 
समेत्य च व्यपेयातां कालमासाद्य कञ्चन।।2.105.26।।
एवं भार्याश्चपुत्राश्च ज्ञातयश्च धनानि च। 
समेत्य व्यवधावन्ति ध्रुवो ह्येषां विनाभवः।।2.105.27।।Ramayana
In a mighty ocean, two pieces of logs meet one another, float together and in due course get separated. In the same way wives, sons, relatives and riches remain together for some time and thereafter get separated. Their separation is certain.

मरणान्तानि वैराणि निर्वृत्तं नः प्रयोजनम् |
क्रियतामस्य संस्कारो ममाप्येष यथा तव || Ramayana
"Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is even as good mine, as yours.

मृतं  शरीरमुत्सृज्य  काष्टलोष्ट  समं  क्षितौ  |
विमुखा  बान्धवा  यान्ति  धर्मस्तमनुगच्छति  ||   मनुस्मृति      

Mrutam Vshareeramutsrujya kaashta-loshta-samam kshitau. I

imukhaa baandhava  yaanti dharmastamanugacchati. II

After the death of a person, his  family members dispose his dead body like a heap of wood and a lump of earth, and after turning away from him  continue with their activities.    Only his the fame and 'punya' earned by him by observing religious austerity practiced by him during his lifetime accompanies him.

मरणं प्रकृतिः शरीरिणां विकृतिर्जीवितमुच्यते बुधैः ।
क्षणमप्यवतिष्ठते श्वसन् यदि जन्तुर्ननु लाभावानसौ ॥ Raghu vamsam

maraNam prakRutiH sharIriNAm vikRutiH jIvitam uchyate budhaiH ।
kShaNam api avatiShThate shvasan yadi jantuH nanu lAbhAvAn asau ॥

Death is the natural steady state of nature. Life is an aberration. Wise men realize this. Even if one is alive for just a second, he must consider himself in profit.

"देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा |
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति || BG2.13||dehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati
Just as the embodied soul continuously passes from childhood to youth to old age, similarly, at the time of death, the soul passes into another body. The wise are not deluded by this.

SRI KRISHNAYA HUBHYAM NAMAH
PS: This page is dedicated to my aunt Smt.Rukmaja Varadan , who passed away on 31.1.2020