Q and A Hymn of Sankara.
Date uploaded in London – 21 July 2024
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In the Upanishads we see Question and Answer style, in other words Conversation Stye. Later we see it in Bhagavad Gita where Arjuna asks lot of questions and Lord Krishna answers them with patience. Aadi Sankara also used this in many of his poems. This is a Hindu invention. If we believe the age of Upanishads is thousands of years old, then we are the first to use this style. Half baked and empty headed westerners thought that it is Socrates who started this and named it Socratic method. Even Socrates learnt it from the Upanishads.
VC= Viveka Chudamani (choodaamani)
The reason I am saying is Sankara ‘s Prashnouttara Ratnamaalika hymn is just Q and A. Because he wrote commentaries to main Upanishads and the Gita he thought that this technique would serve the cause better. The Yaksha Prasna (Questions of Ghost) in Mahabharata is the most famous Q and A anecdote.
Slokas 40 to 50 of is in Q and A style with very basic things. if you need the original slokas, please go to websites such as Wisdomlib.com
I will deal with some interesting slokas with comparable materials.
Forest on fire
तथा वदन्तं शरणागतं स्वं
संसारदावानलतापतप्तम् ।
निरीक्ष्य कारुण्यरसार्द्रदृष्ट्या
दद्यादभीतिं सहसा महात्मा ॥ ४१ ॥
tathā vadantaṃ śaraṇāgataṃ svaṃ
saṃsāradāvānalatāpataptam |
nirīkṣya kāruṇyarasārdradṛṣṭyā
dadyādabhītiṃ sahasā mahātmā || 41 ||
41. As he thus speaks, tormented by the afflictions of the world – which is like a forest on fire – and seeking his protection, the saint eyes him with a glance softened with pity and spontaneously bids him give up all fear.
Sankara is from Kaladi (kaaladi) town in Kerala and the state is sandwiched between the 1000 mile long Sahyadri (sahyaadri) mountains shown as Western Ghats in the maps and the Arabian sea. Those who travel to Kerala always see forest fires in one part or other. This shows Sankara’s geographical background. Though we see forest fire in Tamil Sangam poems as well, they don’t use it as a simile. We have only one phrase in Tamil- “the news spread like forest fire or wild fire”. We saw the forest fire in Sloka 39 as well.
Slokas 43 and 44 deals with crossing the sea of Samsara/family life (Birth and Death). This is repeated thousands of times in Tamil and Sanskrit religious hymns and day to day Bhajans in India.
Sloka 46 says a seeker needs faith, devotion and yoga of meditation.
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Sloka 47 is interesting
अज्ञानयोगात्परमात्मनस्तव
ह्यनात्मबन्धस्तत एव संसृतिः ।
तयोर्विवेकोदितबोधवन्हिः
अज्ञानकार्यं प्रदहेत्समूलम् ॥ ४७ ॥
ajñānayogātparamātmanastava
hyanātmabandhastata eva saṃsṛtiḥ |
tayorvivekoditabodhavanhiḥ
ajñānakāryaṃ pradahetsamūlam || 47 ||
47. It is verily through the touch of Ignorance that thou who art the Supreme Self, findest thyself under the bondage of non-Self, whence alone proceeds the round of births and deaths. The fire of knowledge, kindled by the discrimination between these two, burns up the effects of Ignorance together with their root.
மாயனை மன்னு வடமதுரை மைந்தனைத்
தூய பெருநீர் யமுனைத் துறைவனை
ஆயர் குலத்தினில் தோன்றும் அணிவிளக்கைத்
தாயைக் குடல்விளக்கம் செய்த தாமோதரனைத்
தூயோமாய் வந்துநாம் தூமலர்தூ வித்தொழுது
வாயினால் பாடி மனத்தினால் சிந்திக்கப்
போய பிழையும் புகுதருவான் நின்றனவும்
தீயினில் தூசாகும் செப்பேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.
—திருப்பாவை எண் 5, ஆண்டாள் பாடியது
Translation of Tiruppavai 5
The elusive son of blooming North Madurai
Riverman de facto of grand Yamuna pure
Appeared in Ayar tribe a glow of lamp and
Brought sanctity to mother’s womb
If we reach pure, shower fine flower and
Worship Him , Damodara the Lure
With song in lips, mind engrossed
The sins committed deliberate or inadvertent
In the past, present and future entire
Shall be burnt a refuse in bonfire
Prithee, listen and consider our demand
–Teen age girl Saint Andal (aandaal)
Translation by Chenni Padmanabhan
Sankara said ignorance will be burnt and Andal said the sins will be burnt to dust.
Next two Slokas are Q and A with basic stuff.
To be continued……………………
Tags- Sins, fire, dust, burnt, Andal, Sankara, V C part 18, Socratic Methods, Q and A style
Tamil and Vedas 