Expansion unlimited

Embodiments of Love!

One well-wisher asked about the following slogam appearing in Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad.

Before going into the meaning part a few highlights:

1)  बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् is associated with the Shukla Yajurveda. ( the other category is Krishna Yajurveda) ; it has been  was notably commented upon by Adi Sankara

2)  बृहत् –Brihat-means large, big, great; आरण्यक means relating to a forest or a forest animal; The term "Upanishad" literally means the inner or mystic teaching. It is derived from उप -upa (near, under, below), नि -ni (down, in, within) and षद् -s(h)ad (to sit), i.e., sitting down near, which refers to groups of pupils sitting near their teacher to learn from him the secret doctrine; Literally translated it could mean a great forest doctrine/teaching

if you can appreciate the beauty the title of this Upanishad itself is very poetical and means a lot; Aranyaka indirectly means the uncultivated mind.

This Upanishad concludes by stating the three virtues that one should practice, i.e. self-restraint, giving, and compassion.

Please correlate the 3 principles in the following universal prayer

a)    It is wishing for others’ happiness, demonstrating compassion.

b)    it gives by way of wishing everyone a healthy life which is the real wealth; health cannot be achieved without self restraint in anything, food, sex, entertainment etc

c)    it ultimately guides us to the ultimate Bliss by teaching us to live for others, wishing for others as a role model

Slogam in Devnagari

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयः।

सर्वे भद्रणिपश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःख भाग भवेत्॥--- बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् 1.4.14

Transliteration

Sarve bhavantu sukhina, sarve santu niramaya

Sarve bhadrani pashyantu, ma kascit dukha bhaga bhavet---- Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

Meaning word by word

om-om

sarve—everything/everyone/all( indeclinable)

bhavantu—they shall(root word bhu)in imperative mood

sukhinaha—happy (people) in plural form

sarve—everything/everyone/all( indeclinable)

santu—shall be ( in imperative mood form of “ be “)

nirA (kru)—discard off, cast off

mayaha—hurt/injury

nirAmaya—wholesome, free from illness/disabilitie, secure, pure, untainted, complete, well

sarve—everything/everyone( indeclinable)

bhadrAni—good fortune/gold/prosperity/benefit—in plural form

pashyantu—shall see  (plural)

maa—no/none

kaschit- कश्चिद्—someone

duhka-दुःख—distress/unpleasant/misery/sorrow

bhAga –भाग—unit/part

bhaveth—let it last—root verb again is भू; ( bhave means being )

May all be happy, may all be free from illness I

May all see prosperity and none may have smallest distress II

Note: i see the essence of this Upanishad in the Film Song..Anbe Sivam written by Vairamuthu and sung by Kamal Hasan....i have appended below; i listen to the song everyday at least once.

Yaar yaar sivam? Nee naan sivam,
Vaalvae dhavam, anbae sivam,

Who all is god? You and I, are god.
Life is a Penance, Compassion is god.

Idhayam enbathu sathaithaan endraal erithalal thindruvidum,
Anbin karuvi idhayam endraal saavai vendruvidum,

If the heart is just flesh, the burning fire would Destroy it
If the heart is a tool of compassion, it would Defeat and transcend Death

Anbin paathai saernthavanukku mudivae illaiyadaa,
Manathin neelam edhuvoe, athuvae vaalvin neelamadaa

For the one who joins the path of Love, there is no End
The Extent of your mind is the Extent of your life.

Special thanks to Nandhini for being my guide in my quest for Sanskrit mastery; if at all I am writing about Sanskrit, it is her encouragement and guidance directly and indirectly; May Mother Saraswathi be with Her forever!

Thanks to Raji for asking me a question on the above slogam; this day has been spent well because of you; God Bless You! keep asking me so that I learn something before my final Retreat!

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

8.03.2012