Bhārata Sāvitrī
Bhārata Sāvitrī
Śrī Vedavyāsa’s final message to humanity in Mahābhārata.
Excerpted from the Svargārohana Parva, 5.47–51.
Life
jāyate’sti vardhate vipariṇamate’pakṣīyate naśyati
jāyate’sti vardhate vipariṇamate’pakṣīyate naśyati |
(Nirukti: 1.2; cited in the Gītā-bhūṣaṇa-ṭīkā on BG 2.20)
“One [i.e., a living being in saṁsāra] is born, exists, grows, changes, decays, and is destroyed.”
kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta-pānaṁ vinā jīvitaṁ vastuto jīvitaṁ na bhavati
kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta-pānaṁ vinā jīvitaṁ vastuto jīvitaṁ na bhavati |
(Excerpt from Sārārtha-darśinī-ṭīkā on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.12.13)
“Without drinking the nectar of Kṛṣṇa-līlā, life is not really life.”
vyāyāmāt labhate svāsthyaṁ dīrghāyuṣyaṁ balaṁ sukham
vyāyāmāt labhate svāsthyaṁ dīrghāyuṣyaṁ balaṁ sukham |
arogyaṁ paramaṁ bhāgyaṁ svāsthyaṁ sarvārtha-sādhanam ||
(Unknown Source)
“From exercise one attains health, long life, strength, and happiness. Freedom from disease is the greatest fortune. Health is the means to [achieve] all goals.”
dina-yāminyau sāyaṁ prātaḥ
dina-yāminyau sāyam prātaḥ
śiśira-vasantau punar āyātaḥ |
kālaḥ krīḍati gacchaty āyus
tad api na muñcaty āśā-vāyuḥ ||
(Moha-mudgāra-stotram: 12)
“Day and night, dusk and dawn,
winter and spring revolve.
Time plays on, and life passes away.
Still, the wind of desire does not let up.”
na jātu kāmān na bhayān na lobhād
na jātu kāmān na bhayān na lobhād
dharmaṁ tyajej jīvitasyāpi hetoḥ |
nityo dharmaḥ sukha-duḥkhe tv anitye
jīvo nityo hetur asya tv anityaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: Svargārohana Parva, 5.50)
“Never—neither because of desires, nor because of fears, nor because of greed—forsake dharma, even for the sake of [one’s] life. Dharma is eternal, whereas pleasure and displeasure are temporary. Life is eternal, whereas its means [i.e., the body] is temporary.”
jīvana-maraṇa kṛṣṇa-icchāya se haya
jīvana-maraṇa kṛṣṇa-icchāya se haya |
viṣa vā amṛta bhakṣileo kichu naya ||
(Caitanya-bhāgavata: 3.2.32)
“Life and death occur by Kṛṣṇa’s will. Even if one drinks poison or nectar, that is nothing [i.e., that cannot override Kṛṣṇa’s will].”
āyuḥ karma ca vittaṁ ca
āyuḥ karma ca vittaṁ ca vidyā nidhanam eva ca |
pañcaitāni hi sṛjyante garbhasthasyaiva dehinaḥ ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti: 4.1; cited in Hitopadeśa: 1.27)
“Lifespan, karma, wealth, learning, and death—these five are created for the bearer of the body [i.e.,the jīvātmā) while situated in the womb [i.e., these five are set out for a living being from the time of their birth].”
aneka-śāstraṁ bahu-veditavyam
aneka-śāstraṁ bahu-veditavyam
alpaś ca kālo bahuvaś ca vighnāḥ |
yat sāra-bhūtaṁ tad upāsitavyaṁ
haṁso yathā kṣīram ivāmbhum adhyāt ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpanam: 15.10)
“There are various texts and so many things to be known. Time is short, and obstacles are numerous. Therefore, the essence is to be appreciated, as a swan can extract milk for the midst of water.”
ananta-pāraṁ kila śabda-śāstraṁ
ananta-pāraṁ kila śabda-śāstraṁ
svalpaṁ tathāyur bahavaś ca vighnāḥ |
sāraṁ tato grāhyam apāsya phalgu
haṁsair yathā kṣīram ivāmbum adhyāt ||
(Pañcatantra: Kathā-mukham, 6)
“Endless indeed are words and texts. Life is short, and obstacles are numerous. Therefore, the essence is to be grasped and the insubstantial set aside, just as milk can be extracted from water by swans.”