What is the idea behind a सप्ताह? सप्ताह or a week has seven days and this cycle of seven days keeps getting repeated all our life. Does the idea of seven days have any meaning within the धर्म परम्परा? Like many numbers, apart from the time period allotted for a week, seven as a number also signifies सप्त कुण्डलिनी (मूलाधार, स्वाधिष्ठान, मणिपुर, अनाहत, विशुद्ध, आज्ञ and सहस्रार), seven rays of … Continue reading Structure of a week as per Sanatana Dharma
Rama Temple in Ayodhya – does it signify anything?
I usually do not write on a political topic. Trigger for this piece is an intellectual debate that has come up with the installation of राम मंदिर in अयोध्या. Question being raised is whether भारत has now become a Hindu majoritarian “religious” nation and has moved away from a “secular” identity? I can probably end this blog easily by saying that … Continue reading Rama Temple in Ayodhya – does it signify anything?
Vegetarian or non-vegetarian
Almost on a routine basis, one comes across debates on adoption of vegetarian (V) lifestyle versus virtues of being non-vegetarian (NV). People adopting vegetarian lifestyle talk about virtues of not harming animals and also quote religious scriptures as evidence to prove their point. Those adopting to NV lifestyle refer to ingredients present in such food … Continue reading Vegetarian or non-vegetarian
Defining Hinduism precisely
This has been a one year project. And the outcome of this one year effort is to put together a bunch of videos that collectively define Hinduism in a manner that is far more precise than what most of us are exposed to. And the precision of this definition is not from an academic lens … Continue reading Defining Hinduism precisely
Must-read Purana stories for all Sanatani Hindus
All Hindus are familiar with इतिहास texts - the रामायण & महाभारत. Among the पुराण, Hindus often develop familiarity in today's times with the most popular पुराण - श्रीमद्भागवतम्. Apart from the main theme, even these texts include many other sub-stories - आदिपर्व in the महाभारत and बालकाण्ड in the रामायण contain various other stories … Continue reading Must-read Purana stories for all Sanatani Hindus
Pitru Stotra – Markandeya Purana
पितृ is a key class of beings within the सनातन धर्म tradition. While देवता may be seen as “enablers or facilitators of अनुभव”, पितृ may be seen as “caretakers” of all beings. The मार्कण्डेय पुराण contains स्तोत्र referred to as the पितृ स्तोत्र – the same स्तोत्र also comes within the गरुड महापुराण too and … Continue reading Pitru Stotra – Markandeya Purana
Vishnu and Lakshmi are inseparable – Vishnu Purana
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नम: There is a duality in the expression of life – this fascinating idea keeps coming in the शास्त्र (वेद as well as पुराण) again and again. One representation of this duality is the अर्धनारीश्वर and the other is the विग्रह of विष्णु with लक्ष्मी in His वक्षस्थल. Even the नाम kept … Continue reading Vishnu and Lakshmi are inseparable – Vishnu Purana
1. Brahma Sutra – a background
ॐ ॥ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः हरिः ॐ॥ ॥ श्री बादरायणाभिधेयश्रीवेदव्यासमहर्षिप्रणीतानि श्री ब्रह्मसूत्राणि॥ ब्रह्म सूत्र is one of the three शास्त्र that comes under the trio called as प्रस्थान त्रय (the other two being the श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता and the उपनिषद्). To be recognized as a scholar, a person had to write a भाष्य on the प्रस्थान त्रय. … Continue reading 1. Brahma Sutra – a background
10 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (161 – 183)
कार्यकारण-निर्मुक्ता कामकेलि-तरङ्गिता । कनत्कनकता-टङ्का लीला-विग्रह-धारिणी ॥ १६१॥ 862. कार्यकारण-निर्मुक्ता: कार्य is प्रपञ्च while कारण is प्रकृति. From an individual lens, while शरीर (and प्राण) are the कार्य, our own कर्म is the कारण. Therefore, कार्य is the effect while कारण is the cause. She is however neither cause nor effect and She is thus beyond cause … Continue reading 10 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (161 – 183)
09 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (141 – 160)
चित्कलाऽऽनन्द-कलिका प्रेमरूपा प्रियङ्करी । नामपारायण-प्रीता नन्दिविद्या नटेश्वरी ॥ १४१॥ चित्कला: All living beings have a जीव कला (the प्रकाश that emanates from all living beings). श्री माता however possess चित्कला (meaning प्रकाश that emanates from ईश्वर चैतन्य). In fact, it is the चैतन्य present within living beings that eventually gets displayed outside via the उपाधि of … Continue reading 09 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (141 – 160)
08 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (121 – 140)
दरान्दोलित-दीर्घाक्षी दर-हासोज्ज्वलन्-मुखी । गुरुमूर्तिर् गुणनिधिर् गोमाता गुहजन्मभूः ॥ १२१॥ दरान्दोलित-दीर्घाक्षी: दर means slowly आन्दोलित means moving and दीर्घाक्षी means long eyes. She is therefore one who has long eyes which are moving Her eyes slowly on either side. By moving slowly, She is taking cognizance of how all beings in the विश्व are living their lives. Equally, दीर्घाक्षी also means … Continue reading 08 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (121 – 140)
07 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (100 – 120)
अनाहताब्ज-निलया श्यामाभा वदनद्वया । दंष्ट्रोज्ज्वलाऽक्ष-मालादि-धरा रुधिरसंस्थिता ॥ १००॥ अनाहताब्ज-निलया: श्लोक 100 and 101 need to be seen as one collective group. This collective is useful to address the problems relating to one’s blood and one’s दृष्टि in one’s हृदय. This नाम is referring to the देवी (who goes by the नाम of राकिणी देवी) who resides in अनाहत पद्म … Continue reading 07 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (100 – 120)
06 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (81 – 99)
परा प्रत्यक्चितीरूपा पश्यन्ती परदेवता । मध्यमा वैखरीरूपा भक्त-मानस-हंसिका ॥ ८१॥ परा: To take up this शब्द, some background will be useful. Let us take up a seed – there are multiple stages a seed takes to eventually turn into a tree. The first stage that a seed takes up is that it swells once it makes … Continue reading 06 Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (81 – 99)
05 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (61 – 80)
पञ्च-प्रेतासनासीना पञ्चब्रह्म-स्वरूपिणी । चिन्मयी परमानन्दा विज्ञान-घनरूपिणी ॥ ६१॥ पञ्च-प्रेतासनासीना: What does प्रेत mean? That which is अचल. She is sitting in those who cannot move. There are five things that are अचल – ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, रुद्र, माहेश्वर and सदाशिव. The चैतन्य within all of them is ईश्वरी and without Her, all these five cannot do anything. … Continue reading 05 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (61 – 80)
04 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (41 – 60)
भवानी भावनागम्या भवारण्य-कुठारिका । भद्रप्रिया भद्रमूर्तिर् भक्त-सौभाग्यदायिनी ॥ ४१॥ Next twenty names are referred to as शाम्भवी विद्या. भवानी: She is the primary देवी in शाम्भवी विद्या. These नाम are also referred to as उपासना नाम. भवानी is the शक्ति of भव (शिव is भव) which means one who exists as well as that which enable existence. In the वेद, the word used for … Continue reading 04 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (41 – 60)
03 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (21 – 40)
सर्वारुणाऽनवद्याङ्गी सर्वाभरण-भूषिता । शिव-कामेश्वराङ्कस्था शिवा स्वाधीन-वल्लभा ॥ २१॥ सर्वारुणाऽनवद्याङ्गी: everything in red. Everything associated with Her is red. From Her red feet, all ब्रह्माण्ड get प्रकाश. श्रीरुद्र which says that अरुणा (the colour of the सूर्य at the time of dawn) is copper red in colour which is auspicious. ‘The colour of red is auspicious’ says श्रुति (वेद). Her original red colour then gives energy in … Continue reading 03 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (21 – 40)
02 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (1 – 20)
ॐ श्रीमाता श्रीमहाराज्ञी श्रीमत्-सिंहासनेश्वरी । श्रीमाता - Mother who gives immeasurable wealth who removes all sorrows and gives only happiness; indicates also her role of creation. श्रीमहाराज्ञी - She who is the empress who takes care of the universe- indicates her role of protection श्रीमत्-सिंहासनेश्वरी - She who sits on the throne of lions-indicates her role of destruction … Continue reading 02 Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – Translation and commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables (1 – 20)
01 Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotra – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नम: ॐ श्री मात्रे नम: Who exactly is देवी or शक्ति in the धर्म ज्ञान परम्परा? Who exactly is देवी or शक्ति in the धर्म ज्ञान परम्परा? Simple meaning of देवी is one who is a स्वयं-प्रकाश favourable शक्ति. It exists to help us and its presence enables us to live well. श्री ललिता देवी is however not a mere beneficial देवी but … Continue reading 01 Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotra – Translation & Commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables
Remembering Dharma variables using numbers
The धर्म ecosystem is elaborate and there are lots of ideas or word ecosystem contained within itself. How does then a person remember all these ideas in order to anchor their existence to a life of धर्म? The ancient पुराण and इतिहास literature has various श्लोक contained within them where the ideas of धर्म are … Continue reading Remembering Dharma variables using numbers
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 18
Chapter name is मोक्ष-संयासयोग Types of people and their Drishti अर्जुन उवाच संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्। त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन।।18.1।। 18.1 अर्जुन said - O महाबाहो! O हृषीकेश! O केशिनिषूदन! I want (इच्छामि) to know (वेदितुम्) distinctly (पृथक्) the truth (तत्वं) about संन्यास (संन्यासस्य) as also about त्याग (त्यागस्य च). श्री भगवानुवाच काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 18
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 17
Chapter name is श्रद्धात्रय विभाग योग Life experience is aligned to our Guna orientation अर्जुन उवाच ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयाऽन्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः।।17.1।। 17.1 "अर्जुन asked: O कृष्ण! Those who (ये) do यज्ञ (यजन्ते), casting away (उत्सृज्य) scriptural injunction (शास्त्र-विधिम्) yet being endowed (तु अन्विताः) with श्रद्धा (श्रद्धया), what is (का) their … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 17
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit translatables – Chapter 16
Name of chapter is दैव-असुर संपद् विभाग योग Two modes of lifestyles and their consequent journeys Pre-notes for Ch 16 Let us take a person who has taken up study of Engineering. He has to study hard for four years till he gets his degree. The four qualities stated in chapter fifteen may be taken as … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit translatables – Chapter 16
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 15
Chapter name is पुरषोत्तम योग Ashwattha Tree श्री भगवानुवाच ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित्।।15.1।। 15.1 The भगवान said They say of (प्राहु:) the Imperishable (अव्ययम्) अश्वत्थ viz peepul Tree, which has its roots (मूलम्) at the top (ऊर्ध्वम्) and the branches (शाखम्) flowing downward (अध:), and its leaves (यस्य पर्णानि) are … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 15
Gita word-to-word translation using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 14
Chapter name is गुणत्रय विभाग योग Understanding Guna श्री भगवानुवाच परं भूयः प्रवक्ष्यामि ज्ञानानां ज्ञानमुत्तमम्। यज्ज्ञात्वा मुनयः सर्वे परां सिद्धिमितो गताः।।14.1।। 14.1 The भगवान said - I will again (भूयः) declare (प्रवक्ष्यामि) that most profound knowledge (ज्ञानमुत्तमम्) of all knowledge (ज्ञानानां), having known which (यद् ज्ञात्वा) all the sages (सर्वे मुनयः) have gone to (गताः) … Continue reading Gita word-to-word translation using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 14
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 13
Knowing Srishti to know ourselves अर्जुन उवाच प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव।।13.1।। 13.1 अर्जुन said! What I wish (इच्छामि) to know (वेदितुम्), O केशव! is this (एतद्), प्रकृति and पुरुष, the क्षेत्र and क्षेत्रज्ञ, ज्ञानं and ज्ञेयं श्री भगवानुवाच इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते। एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः।।13.2।। … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 13
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatabes – Chapter 12
Chapter named भक्ति योग Do we REALLY have multiple paths to Yoga? एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते। येचाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां केयोगवित्तमाः।।12.1।। 12.1 अर्जुन said Among those (तेषां) devotees (भक्ता:) who (ये), in this same way (एवं), are always dedicated (to You) (सततयुक्ता) and meditate onto (पर्युपासते) You (त्वां), and those again (who meditate) (ये च अपि) … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatabes – Chapter 12
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 11
Chapter named as विश्वरूपदर्शन योग अर्जुन उवाच मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्। यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम।।11.1।। 11.1 अर्जुन said: This (अयं) delusion of mine (मम मोह:) has departed (विगत:) as a result of (तेन) that speech (वच:) which is most secret (परमं गुह्यम्) and known as (संज्ञितम्) pertaining to the आत्मन् (अध्यात्म), and which (यद्) was … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 11
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 10
दशम अध्याय named as विभूति योग श्री भगवानुवाच भूय एव महाबाहो श्रृणु मे परमं वचः।यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामिहितकाम्यया।।10.1।। 10.1. The भगवान् - O महाबाहो ! Listen (श्रृणु) again (भूय एव) to My (मे) words (वचः) (revealing) the limitless (परमं). To you (ते) who are pleased (प्रीयमाणाय) at this (यद्), I will expound (अहं वक्ष्यामि), with a desire … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 10
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 9
Chapter name is परंविद्यागुह्यविद्यानाम श्री भगवानुवाच इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे। ज्ञानंविज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्।।9.1। 9.1. The भगवान् said Whereas (तु) (apart from that travelling to various लोक), I will tell (प्रवक्ष्यामि) to you (ते), who is not inclined towards jealousy, (अन् असूयवे) this (इदं) most secret (गुह्यतमं ) knowledge (ज्ञानं), together with its assimilation (विज्ञान … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 9
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 8
Name of this अष्टमोध्याय is अक्षरब्रह्मयोगो Akshara to Jiva अर्जुन उवाच किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किंकर्म पुरुषोत्तम। अधिभूतं चकिं प्रोक्तमधिदैवंकिमुच्यते।।8.1।। 8.1 अर्जुन said O पुरुषोत्तम, what is that ब्रह्म? What is अध्यात्मं? What is कर्म? And what is अधिभूतं? What is that which is said to be अधिदैव? अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्रदेहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन। प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसिनियतात्मभिः।।8.2।। 8.2 O मधुसूदन, what (क:), and how (कथम्), is … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 8
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 7
सप्तम अध्याय: named as ज्ञानविज्ञानो योग Journey of a Yogi श्री भगवानुवाच मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगंयुञ्जन्मदाश्रयः। असंशयं समग्रं मांयथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु।।7.1।। 7.1. The भगवान् said O पार्थ! Please listen to that (तद् श्रुणु) by which, having your mind committed (आसक्त मनाः) to Me (मयि), practising योगं (योगं युञ्जनम्) and taking refuge in Me (मद् आश्रयः) you shall understand Me (मां ज्ञास्यसि) fully (समग्रं), … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 7
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 6
षट् अध्याय named as ध्यानयोग श्रीभगवान् उवाच । अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यम् कर्म करोति यः। स सन्न्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्नचाक्रियः ॥६.१॥ श्रीभगवान् उवाच । The one who performs (करोति) कर्म that is to be done (कार्यम्) without depending (अनाश्रितः) on the फल of कर्म (कर्मफलम्), he (सः) is also (च) a सन्न्यासी and (च) a योगी, and (च) not (न) just the सन्न्यासी who has renounced all fire rituals (निरग्निः) and (च) who does not … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 6
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 5
पञ्चम अध्याय referred to as सन्यास योग How various components operate within us अर्जुन: उवाच: संयासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंसति। यछ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ।। (५:१) अर्जुन said: O श्रीकृष्ण, you praised कर्म संयास (renunciation of कर्म), and you also advised to do कर्मयोग . Please tell me (ब्रूहि) decisively (सुनिश्चितम्) which of the two is more beneficial? … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 5
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 4
अध्याय name is ज्ञानकर्मसंयास योग Circle (or cycle) of life of a Jiva श्रीभगवान् उवाच । इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवान् अहमव्ययम् । विवस्वान् मनवे प्राहमनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्॥४.१॥ श्रीभगवान् उवाच: I (अहम्) taught (प्रोक्तवान्) this (इमम्) imperishable (अव्ययम्) योग (योगम्) to विवस्वान् (विवस्वते), विवस्वान् taught (प्राह) it to मनु (मनवे) and मनु taught (अब्रवीत्) it to इक्ष्वाकु (इक्ष्वाकवे). विवस्वान् is translated as the सूर्य and श्रीकृष्ण says that He taught the original कर्मयोग to the … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 4
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 3
अर्जुन उवाच । ज्यायसी चेत् कर्मणस्ते मताबुद्धिर्जनार्दन । तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसिकेशव ॥३.१॥ अर्जुनः said: If (चेत्), O! जनार्दन, your (ते) contention (मता) is that knowledge (बुद्धिः) is better (ज्यायसी) than action (कर्मणः), why (किम्) then (तत्) do you impel (नियोजयसि) me (माम्) into this gruesome (घोरे) action(कर्मणि), O! केशव. व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीवमे । तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येनश्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥३.२॥ With words (वाक्येन) that are seemingly (इव) contradictory (व्यामिश्रेण), you appear to be (इव) confusing (मोहयसि) my (मे) mind (बुद्धिम्). Having decided (निश्चित्य) which is better (तत्), tell me (वद) the one … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 3
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 2
Satya is at the heart of Adhyatma - the fundamental particle of everything सञ्जय उवाच तं तथा कृपयाऽविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्।विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाचमधुसूदनः।।2.1।। सञ्जय उवाच – says सञ्जय, तं – to him, तथा – in that way, कृपया – by pity, आविष्टम् – was overwhelmed, अश्रुपूर्णा – filled with tears, आकुल इक्षणम् – with eyes stressed, विषीदन्तम् – (and) was sad, इदं – this, वाक्यम् – statement, … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 2
Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वतसञ्जय || धर्मक्षेत्रे - in the field of धर्म, कुरुक्षेत्रे – at (the field called as) कुरुक्षेत्र, समवेता – assembled, युयुत्सवः – desiring to fight, मामकाः – my (people), पाण्डवा: च एव – and the पाण्डव indeed, किम – what? अकुर्वत – did (they) do, O सञ्जय 1.1 धृतराष्ट्र said On the holy field of कुरुक्षेत्र, gathered … Continue reading Gita word-to-word commentary using Sanskrit non-translatables – Chapter 1
Gita using Sanskrit non-translatables – an introduction
ॐ तत् सत् ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नम: प्रश्न: What are we to expect in this translation of the श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता? उत्तर: The format adopted in this translation is as follows: The श्लोक comes firstA word-to-word meaning with translation in English followsA commentary is provided where the श्लोक needs one to elaborate its meaning in a clearer … Continue reading Gita using Sanskrit non-translatables – an introduction
Why/ how should we celebrate a New Year or an Anniversary or a birthday?
Why do we celebrate New Year eve? Or our anniversaries? Why do we “celebrate” festivals? More particularly, what does celebration mean and is there a certain way an ideal “celebration” needs to be undertaken? There is a certain “routine” one may ascribe to an anniversary celebration also as undertaken by normal people (receive wishes from … Continue reading Why/ how should we celebrate a New Year or an Anniversary or a birthday?
Durga Stuti before any new venture/ vocation (from Virata Parva of Mahabharata)
विराट पर्व is primarily devoted to the sons of पाण्डू under employment. And as they embark on their employment, युधिष्ठिर does a स्तुति of श्री दुर्गा. What is presented below is the स्तुति along with a literal translation of each of the श्लोक for interest of the readers. Practicing Hindus may chant these श्लोक before … Continue reading Durga Stuti before any new venture/ vocation (from Virata Parva of Mahabharata)
Nature of experience in the state of Moksha
How does one experience oneself and the world when one attains their innate core identity? The idea of oneness is often difficult to understand given that all of us experience life as a duality (or a plurality). विवेकचूडामणि is a प्रकरण शास्त्र composed by श्री आदि शंकराचार्य in which a गुरु explains the true nature of reality … Continue reading Nature of experience in the state of Moksha
Conduct of an employee – what does Mahabharata say on this topic?
धौम्य is the Purohita of the Pandavas. In the Virata Parva, as Yudhistira along with wife and brothers decide to work as employees the kingdom of Virata, धौम्य gives advice to the Pandavas on the rules of conduct of an employee. What is the relevance of such a discussion in modern world? My sense is … Continue reading Conduct of an employee – what does Mahabharata say on this topic?
Why do we have the idea of a nation?
This blog is an Independence Day special. What should the idea of a nation be? During Olympics, we witness the wins of sportsmen representing a nation and get happy when the country we belong to win medals while appreciating the sportsperson also. Why are we happy if our nation does well in a medal tally … Continue reading Why do we have the idea of a nation?
Simplified overview of Yogasutra using lens of Sanatana Dharma
People interested in deeper ideas about योग are often asked to refer to पतंजलि योगसूत्र. And there are various books written by Swamijs like Swami Vivekananda or Swami Krishnananda and there are books written by academicians like Edwin Bryant. And of course, there are videos on Youtube where one comes across videos by various kinds … Continue reading Simplified overview of Yogasutra using lens of Sanatana Dharma
From self-respect to self-realization (using Dharma lens)
Abraham Maslow, in his hierarchy of needs, puts self-respect as the fourth highest need and self-realization as the highest need. Or to use the language of शक्ति traditions, to move up from lower चक्र like मूलाधार, अनाहत, etc to the highest viz सहस्रार चक्र is the goal of the tradition. What exactly is our true … Continue reading From self-respect to self-realization (using Dharma lens)
Wisdom of Savitri
The story of सावित्री is known to most Hindus. Within the महाभारत, the event comes up towards the end of Vanaparva as Rishi Markandeya relates the story to Yudhistira. But while the high-level story may be known, the specific nuances of धर्म conveyed by सावित्री to यम and thereby impressed him may not be very … Continue reading Wisdom of Savitri
How Karma works – Vyadha Gita
ब्राह्मण उवाच कथं संभवते योनौ कथं वा पुण्यपापयोः | जातीः पुण्या ह्यपुण्याश्च कथं गच्छति सत्तम || Asks the ब्राह्मण! How does आत्मा take its birth and how does it become attached to पुण्य and अपुण्य? O great one! How does it come to belong to a person with पुण्य character and another with अपुण्य character? … Continue reading How Karma works – Vyadha Gita
Can anyone live without killing any creature? Vyadha Gita
The ब्राह्मण knows and sees the व्याध doing कर्म of a butcher. He naturally therefore asks the व्याध that being such a knowledgeable person, how can the व्याध perform acts of हिंसा. Can people aligned to the वेद perform such कर्म? This is an age-old question that never ends. Can one ever call oneself a … Continue reading Can anyone live without killing any creature? Vyadha Gita
How do persons of each Guna behave? Vyadha Gita
ब्राह्मण उवाच सत्त्वस्य रजसश्चैव तमसश्च यथातथम् | गुणांस्तत्त्वेन मे ब्रूहि यथावदिह पृच्छतः || ब्राह्मण asked: Truly described to me as I ask you to convey the respective specifics about सत्व, रजस् and तमस् गुण. व्याध उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि | एषां गुणान्पृथक्त्वेन निबोध गदतो मम || व्याध said: I shall tell you … Continue reading How do persons of each Guna behave? Vyadha Gita
What does living with Shistachara mean – from Vyadha Gita
महाभारत and other पुराण have various श्लोक other than श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता which convey wisdom of the वेद. One of the celebrated events is referred to as व्याध गीता which is a long and wonderful conversation between a ब्राह्मण named Kaushika who approaches a व्याध (butcher) to learn about wisdom of the वेद. Given the long nature … Continue reading What does living with Shistachara mean – from Vyadha Gita
Adhyatma Writings 