Date uploaded in London – – 21 MAY 2024
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Adi Sankara, the greatest philosopher of India, wrote a wonderful commentary on the oldest Sahasranama of Hindus, known as Vishnu Sahasranama (VS).
Sahasranama means Thousand Names of God. Later all Gods of Hindus got Sahasranamas.
Sankara used hundreds of quotations from Vedas, Upanishads, Itihasas (epics) and Puranas (Mythologies). I have selected 75+ Quotations from his commentary on VS. I have avoided Bhagavad Gita quotations because most of us know them. Upanishad quotes also left out because they are too short and wouldn’t mean much for laymen.
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Here are some popular quotes:-
Word No. 817 in VS is Sulabhah
Commenting on this Shankara quoted,
Patresu puspesu phalesu toye
Svakrita labyesu sadaiva sastu
Bhaktyeka- labhye puruse puraane
Muktyai katham na kriyate prayatnah
Meaning
When there are freely available all requisites like leaves, flowers, fruits and water to make offerings to Him who is attainable by devotion alone, why should not man make an effort to Mukti?
This is a quote from Mahabharata.
My Comments
This is in Bhagavad Gita ( part of Mahabharata) and Tamil Sangam book Purananuru also,
Patram pushpam phalam toyam
Yo me bhaktya prayachchati
Tad aham bhaktyupahrutam
Asnami prayatatmana: 9.26
Whoever with devotion offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water- that I accept: the devout gift of pure heart.
In Purananuru (201) Tamil Brahmin poet Kapila says,
This poet Kapila translated Bhagavad Gita verse ‘Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam’ (B G 9-26) and incorporated into the Purananuru (naanuuru) anthology in verse 106:
கபிலர் (புறம் 106); நல்லவும் தீயவும் அல்ல குவி இணர்ப்
புல் இலை எருக்கம் ஆயினும்,உடையவை
கடவுள் பேணேம் என்னா; ஆங்கு,
மடவர் மெல்லியர் செல்லினும்
கடவன் பாரி கை வண்மையே
Literal translation:
Even if you offer grass, leaves, Arka flowers, God wouldn’t reject them; philanthropist Paari also would not send back anyone poor.
Arka/Erukkam puu (flowers of Calotropis gigantea) with inflorescence and leaves is not considered one of the puja flowers; but yet God wont reject it if you offer it.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति |
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: || BG 9-26||
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Bhagavaan – Word No.558 in the VS
Aisvarayasya samagrasya
vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva
ṣaṇṇāṁ bhaga itīṅganā
(Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.47)
ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य धर्मस्य (वीर्यस्य)यशसः श्रियः
ज्ञान-वैराग्ययोश् चापि षण्णां भग इतीङ्गना
Meaning
Lordliness, prowess, fame, beauty, knowledge, non-attachment- the combination of all these six attributes is Bhaga. One who possesses these six attributes is Bhagavaan.
Sri Sankara gives an additional interpretation based on another Shloka from the Vishnu Purana (6.5.78):
Utpattim Pralayam chaiva Bhutanam Aagatim Gatim;
Vetti Vidyaam Avidyaam cha sa Vaachyo Bhagavan iti
Meaning: He is called Bhagavan because it is He who knows the origin and dissolution, the bondage and salvation of creatures, and also Knowledge and Ignorance’.
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Adbhutah – Word No.895 in the VS
Sankara quotes the following from Kathopanishad 1-2-7
Sravanaayaapi bahubhir yon a labhyah
Sravantopi bahavo yam na vidyuh
Acsaryo vaktaa kusalosya labdhaa
Acsaryo jnaataa kusalaanusistah
Meaning
Many do not happen even to hear it. Many even when they hear , are not able to know it. A wonder is the one who can speak about it. And the man of high capacity is the one who can attain it. The one who attains it after by instructed by a competent teacher is indeed a marvel.
My comments
Bhagavad Gita also says it
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन
माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्य: |
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्य: शृ्णोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् || 29||
āśhcharya-vat paśhyati kaśhchid enan
āśhcharya-vad vadati tathaiva chānyaḥ
āśhcharya-vach chainam anyaḥ śhṛiṇoti
śhrutvāpyenaṁ veda na chaiva kaśhchit
BG 2.29: Some see the soul as amazing, some describe it as amazing, and some hear of the soul as amazing, while others, even on hearing, cannot understand it at all.
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Another Amazing Interpretation
Sanaat (word No.896 in VS)
The word SANAAT indicates a great length of Time. Time is also the manifestation of the Supreme Being;
Vishnu Purana says (1-2-15)
Parasya brahmano ruupam purusha prathamam dvija
Vyaktaavyakte thathaivaanye ruupe kaalas tathaapuram
O Holy men! The first manifestation of the Supreme Being is Purusa, the Indiscreet, the Discreet and the Great Entity (Mahaatattva) and others are its manifestations. Time is also a manifestation of His.
Einstein said it thousands of years later!
According to Einstein , you need to describe where you are not only in three-dimensional space —length, width and height—but also in time. Time is the fourth dimension. So to know where you are, you have to know what time it is.
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Money, Money ,Money
Panah -(word No.958 in VS) பணம்
Panam is money. Sankara says,
It comes from the root Pana meaning transaction- so one who bestows the fruits of Karma on all according to their merits. Says Taittriya Aranayaka 1-2-7
Sarvaani ruupaani vicitya dhiro
Naamaani krtvaabhivadan yad aste
Meaning
The intelligent Being contemplating all forms, gave them names and remains calling those by those names.
My Comments
P and M are interchangeable. English word Money is derived from Sanskrit word PANA.
To be continued……………………….
Tags- Sankara, commentary, Vishnu Sahasranama, quotes, , part 1
Tamil and Vedas 