Get up O Rama

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैव मान्हिकम्

kousalyaa suprajaa raama poorvaa saMdhyaa pravartatE
uttiShTha narashaardoola kartavyaM daiva maanhikam


Shloka Meaning:

O good son of kausalya the morning twilight has begun in the east
get up the best amongst men duty respected by Gods need to be done

This is a shloka from the 23rd Sarga of Baalakaanda from Valmiki Maharshi's Ramayana. Sage Vishwaamitra brings both Rama and Lakshmana the forest in order to destroy the evils that were destroying their yagnas and the prayers to Gods. Before crossing the river they rested near the River Bank and the next day early morning when the Sun raised in the east, the great sage woke Rama to do his duty that is respected by Gods.

Where exactly is Bhagavadgeeta mentioned in the Mahabharatha

पर्वोक्तं भगवद्गीता पर्व भीष्म वधस्ततः
द्रोणाभिषेकः पर्वोक्तं संशप्तक वदस्ततः

parvOktam bhagavadgeetaa parva bheeshma vadhastataH
drONaabhishekaH parvOktam samshaptaka vadastataH


Shloka Meaning:

This parva has the Bhagavadgeeta and Bheeshma being laid down
Drona being given the army chief and being killed due to an oath are in that parva

This is Shloka No 56 of Adiparva from Sriman Vyaasa Mahabharata. This is where one will see the word "Bhagavadgeetha" in the entire epic. Even in the Bheeshma parva where the actual Bhagavadgeeta is wonderfully knitted in, it is portrayed more like the greatest mentor and a normal mentee session

What do we Learn from Ramayana

पात्यो गेये च मधुरं प्रमाणैस्त्रिभिरन्वितं

जातभिहि सप्तभिर्युक्तं तंत्रीलयसमन्वितं ॥  

इक्ष्वाकुणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंषॆ महात्मनां

महादुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतं ॥

तदिदं वर्तैश्यामि सर्व निखिलमदितहः

धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनुसूयय ॥

paatyO gEyE ca madhuram pramaaNaistribhiranwitam

jaatabhiH saptabhiryuktam taMtreelayasamanwitam

ikShwaakuNaamidam tEShaaM raaj~jaam vaMShE mahaatmanaam

mahaadutpannamaakhyaanam raamaayaNamiti shrutam

tadidam vartaishyaami sarva nikhilamaditaha

dharmakaamaarthasahitam shrOtavyamanusooyaya

Shloka meaning:

 

influenced by the song which is pleasant and imbibes a proof of three aspects

have grown with delight that is created by that which has embodied the seven strings

out of ikshwaaku clan this is about a king known to be a mighty soul in the dynasty

if one has to assert something very clearly, listen to this great one called Raamayana

it will teach the sense of entire livelihood from the beginning

hence with righteousness and wish listen to it without jealousy

These are the compilation of shlokas from the first few sargas (chapters) of Valmiki marharshi's Ramayana. This summarizes that if anyone has to learn anything about life, they need to study Ramayana, if anyone wants to understand what are the three aspects of life, study Ramayana, if anyone wants to understand the song that can be sung using the seven string instrument, study Ramayana, if anyone wants to understand what is righteousness and what and when to make right wishes, study Ramayana but without jealousy. 

Krishna the almighty and the real mentor

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता
यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा
अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पांडवस्तदा
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनंजयः
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृतांजलिरभाषत

diwi sooryasahasrasya bhavedyugapadutthitaa
yadi bhaaha sadrushee saa syaadbhaasastasya mahaatmanaha
tatraikastham jagatkrutsnam pravibhaktamanekadhaa
apashyaddevadevasya shareere paandavastadaa
tataha sa vismayaavishto hrushtaromaa dhananjayaha
pranamya shirasaa devam krutaanjaleerabhaashata

shloka meaning:

There are thousands of divine Sun and seems that there is a flying universe in him (the lord)
We can only see one Sun, but this great almighty soul has many such sun in him
He is constant the creator of the universe and has numerous disciples all over
His magnificent being isn't been seen by many God of the Gods and even rest of Pandavas
However this has been seen by dhananjaya (arjuna) who is astonished and overwhelmed by this
He (arjuna) then bending his head bowed to the great lord and with courteous tears he spoke

The above are 12-14 shlokas from 11th adhyaaya of shribhagavadgita from the Bheeshmaparva of Maharshi Vyaasa's epic Mahaabhaarata. Arjuna is blessed with the divine eyes by the great lord Krishna so he can see what is inside him. The key here is that if something wants to be shown to the person who really has the urge to see it, it will give him those eyes so that the person can see itself. It is primarily applicable for the almighty God. However, it also holds good when one seeks mentor (the Guru) who opens up after a lot of pursuasion and helps his disciple who trusts him completely and surrenders to him.

I've heard sometimes that a disciple should be able to surrender himself/herself such that even if the Guru says to dive in the well, the disciple should do it without uttering a word. We'll see and hear a lot about this kind of people in Mahaabhaarata alone. People like drona and ayodhadhaumya have illtreated their disciples and are a shame to being mentors. For being a "Real Mentor" one should read 'Bhagavadgita"

What is Mahabharata

चत्वार एकतो वेदा भारतं चैकमेकतः ।
समागतैः सुरर्षिभिस्तुलामारॊपितं पुरा ।
महत्वे च गुरुत्वे च ध्रियमाणं ततो अधिकम् ॥२०८॥
महत्वाद्भारवत्वाच्च महाभारतमुच्यते ।
निरूक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥२०९॥
तपो न कल्को अध्ययनं न कल्कः
स्वाभाविको वेद विधिर्न कल्कः ।
प्रसह्य वित्ताहरणं न कल्कस् ।
तान्येव भावोपहतानि कल्कः ॥२१०॥

chatvaara ekato vedaa bhaaratam chaikamekataha

samaagataihi surarshibistulaamaaropitam puraa

mahatve cha gurutve cha dhriyamaanam tato adhikam

mahatvaat bhaaravatvaachcha mahaabhaaratamuchyate

nirooktamasya yo veda sarva paapaihi pramuchyate

tapo na kalko adhyayanam na kalkaha

swaabhaaviko veda vidhirna kalkaha

prasahya vittaaharanam na kalkasa

taanyeva bhaavopahataani kalkaha

Shloka meaning:

The oneness of the four Vedas can be experienced in one Bharata

This is filled with the combination of divine spiritual elements

The magnificence and teaching content is given in abundance

This splendid and the heavy combination is pronounced as Mahabharata

Those who study these as one Veda, whatever wrong has been done by them will be washed out.

One can practise the brilliance by having the urge/faith/belief to do/gain

By default one cannot practise the Vedas and its rights.

One should not practise the unusual spending of their wealth

One should read this to understand and practise by getting involved in it.

The above is the meaning of the shloka and why one should read and practise Bharata so to transform themselves into a great being. The above shlokas form 308-310 in Maharshi Vyasa's Mahabharata. The Maharshi points out why this big content filled with all the four vedas should be studied and practised in life to become a person who can understand and relate all emotions in life. I would like to request all the readers to start reading this great epic to understand all the concepts of life, which is still true and would be applicable forever, whatever changes may happen in this world.

Naarada elucidates on the greatest human being

Naradaa explains to Valmiki's question of the greatest human being on Earth:

1.       नियत आत्म: Niyata aatma: Who’s soul is dedicated

2.       महावीर्यो:  MahaaveeryO: Who is Valorous

3.       धृतिमान धृतिमान वाशी: DhrutimaanDhrutimaan vashi: Who has control over all the senses

4.       बुद्धिमान: Buddhimaan: Who is intelligent

5.       नीतिमान  वाग्मी: Neetimaanvaagmi: Who talks with Moral

6.       श्रीमान: ShrImaan: Who is married

7.    शत्रुनिबर्हणः   Shatrunibarhanaha: Who knows how to destroy his enemies

8.       विपुलाम्सो महाबाहुहु: VipulamsO Mahaabahuhu: Who has a great body structure

9.       कम्बुग्रीवो महाहनुहु: KambugreevO Mahaahanuhu: Who is handsome with the great chin

10.   महोरस्को महेष्वासो:  MahOraskO MaheshvaasO: Who is healthy

11.   गूढ़ाजत्रुर  अरिन्दमः  Goodha jatrur arindamaha: Who shows righteousness with the ambassadors

12.   आजानुबाहुहु: Ajaanabahuhu: Who is handsomely tall

13.   सुशिरः सुललाटह:     Sushiraha  SulalaaTaha : Who has a great forehead

14.   सुविक्रमः Suvikramaha: Who has specialist skills in dealing situations

15.   समः समाविभक्तान्गाह: Samaha Samavibhaktaangaha: Who treats everyone equal and stays in the heart of all his desciples

16.   स्निग्धवर्णह: Snigdhavarnaha : Whose color is wheatish

17.   प्रतापवान: Prataapavaan: Who is a great warrior

18.   पीनवक्षा: Peenavakshaa: Who has a lean waist

19.   विशालाक्षो: VishaalaakshO: Who has broad eyes

20.   लक्ष्मीवान: Lakshmivaan: Who is wealthy

21.   शुभलक्षणः  Shubhalakshanaha: Who is greatly attractive

22.   धर्मग्न्यः Dharmagnyaha: Who has the knowledge of being righteous

23.   सत्यसंधशच  Satyasandhashcha: Who follows and implements truth in his ways

24.   धर्मस्य परिरक्षिता:  Dharmasya parirakshitaa: Who is being protected by the righteousness

25.   वेदवेदान्गतत्वज्ञो: VedavedaangatatvagnO : Who has a great knowledge on Vedas and the vedaangas.

26.   धनुर्वेदे च निष्टित:    Dhanurvede cha nishTitaha: Who has a specialised knowledge in Archery

27.   सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्वग्न्यो: SarvashaastraarthatatvagnyO: Who can translate any difficult ancient scripts (including Vedas)

28.   स्मृतिमान्प्रतिभानवान: Smrutimaanpratibhaanavaan: Who is great at remembrance and is brilliant

29.   सर्वलोकप्रियह:   Sarvalokapriyaha: Who is loved by the whole world

30.   साधुरदीनात्मा विचक्षणः Saadhuradeenaatma vichakshanaha: Who protects the sages and the poor

31.   सर्वदाभिगतः  सद्भी:  समुद्र  इव  सिन्धुभी:   Sarvadaabhigatah sadbhihi samudra iva sindhubhihi: Who can bring down the ocean to a drop if stood against

32.   आर्य सर्वसमश्च  इव:  Aarya sarvasamashcha iva: Protector of the living

33.   सद्येकप्रियदर्षनाह:  Sad yeka priyadarshanaha: Who can attract anyone with the first meet

34.   समुद्र  इव गम्भीर्ये  धैर्येण  हिमवानिव:  Samudra iva gaambheerye dhairyENa himavaaniva: If the ocean is silent on request, he has the strength of the greatest mountain.

35.   विष्णुना सदृशो वीर्ये  सोमवत्प्रियदर्षन: Vishnunaa sadrusho veerye somavatpriyadarshanaha: Who has emerged on the occasion of Vishnu’s soul being replicated

36.   कालाग्नि  सद्रुषाह:   Kaalaagni sadrushaha : Death doesn’t affect him

37.   क्रोध क्षमय  पृथवीसमः Krodha kshamaya pruthivisamaha: Who is equivalent to Earth in forgiving and Anger.

38.   धनदेन  समस्त्यागे  सत्ये  धर्म  इवापरह   dhanadEna samastyaage satye dharma ivaaparaha: Who can just leave huge wealth and anything for upholding truth and righteousness

39.   तमेवान्गुणसंपन्नं रामं: tamevaanguNasampannam raamam: He is Rama, who is filled with all the above traits

40.   सत्यपराक्रमम: satyaparaakramam: Who fights to uphold Truth.

We hear a lot about Rama being criticized on Sita's treatment. But first, please start reading Ramayana from maharshi Valmiki. This will enlighten as to who he is and why he had to do certain things that he did. Read it before even commenting on Rama. If one is commenting against Rama, they haven't studied him at all.

Ugrashrava Sauti speaks

आद्यम् पुरुषम् ईशानम् पुरुहूतम् पुरुष्टुतम् ।
ऋतमेकाक्षरम् ब्रह्म व्यक्ताव्यक्तम् सनातनम् ॥ 20
आसच्च सच्चैव च यद्विश्वम् सदसतह् परम् ।
परावराणाम् स्रष्टारम् पुराणम् परमव्ययम् ॥ 21
मन्गल्यम् मन्गलम् विष्णुम् वरेण्यमनघम् शुचिम् ।
नमस्क्रुत्य हृषीकेशम् चराचरगुरुम् हरिम् ॥ 22

Aadyam purusham ishaanam puruhootam puru shtutham |

Rutamekaksharam brahma vyaktaavyaktam sanaatanam ||

Asachcha sachchaiva cha yadvishwam sadasatah param |

paraavaraaNaam srashTaaram puraaNam paramavyayam ||

mangalyam mangalam vishNum vareNyamangham shuchim |

namaskrutya hrusheekesham charaacharagurum harim ||

The above shloka (recital) is at the beginning of the 'Bharata', where Ugrashrava Sauti meets Shaunaka maharshi (who had thousands of students then) and is asked as to where was he and what he was doing. Sauti mentions that he had been to the place where 'Sarpa Samskaara', the 'snake sacrifice' was happening at the place of King Janamejaya and Sage Vaishampaayana told the epic written and as directed by the great sage 'Krishna Dwaipayana' or 'Vyasa Maharshi'. When asked by the Shaunaka, Sauti starts reciting the 'Bharata' to all the sages in Shaunaka rishi's ashram. The above shloka is the one Sauti recites before commencing the 'Bharata'.

Shloka meaning:

The supreme of all human beings, who is respected by every living form and is there in every living form. He is the 'Brahma' and to be more specific the 'Ekaaksharam Brahma' as mentioned in the Rig Veda 9th mandala, and always appears and is surrounded since the ancient times. He is the creator of everything, whether it is big or small, pure/impure, as described in the Puranas as the first of all living. I bow to Lord Vishnu, who grants the boon of cleansing, who is known as Hrushikesha and Hari, the Guru for all the movable/immovable   ones.

Sauti then goes further to give credit to Vyasa Maharshi who has written this great epic and has directed his disciples to preach to all the beings.

महर्षेः पूजितस्येह सर्वलोके महात्मनह ।
प्रवक्ष्यामि मतम् कृत्स्नम् व्यासस्यामित तेजसः ॥२३॥

maharsheh pujitasyeha sarvaloke mahaatmanaha |

pravakshyaami matam krutsnam vyasasyaamita tejasaha ||

The Maharshi is worth of being prayed and respected as a great soul 

I'm going to recite the epic created by Vyaasa, whose aura is limitless. 

We talk about plagiarism and copyright and all that stuff and some say that today's world has become like that. However, I'm not sure how it was in the world over 5000 years ago, but the above shlokas definitely teach me the bonding that the Guru and his disciples had and the selfless devotion towards God and the knowledge in the universe.