GEETA DHYANAM -2. Sri Madhusudana Saraswati

 ================================================================

=======================================

Tuesday, June 07, 2022. 19:00.

Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta :  (9 Slokas)

Slokam-2. Salutation to Sage Vyasa

================================================================

Slokam-2.

"Namah astu te vyasa  vishala buddhe phulla aravinda  ayata patra netra;

yena tvaya bharata  taila purnah prajvalitah jnana- mayah pradipah."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Translation :

1 namah astu te vyasa  vishala buddhe  =  Salutations unto thee, O Vyasa, Of 

mighty 

intellect;

2 phulla aravinda  ayata patra netra;        =   like the full-blown lotus tree  are the 

petals of  Thy  eyes;

3 yena tvaya bharata  taila purnah          =  By whom, the Mahabharata  oil filled to 

the brim;

4 prajvalitah jnana- mayah pradipah.    =  with Knowledge and wisdom, was 

lighted, - the Lamp that symbolizes knowledge.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commentary :

The word Vyasa has the root ‘as’ in it, which means to divide, compile, differentiate,

or gather together. Vyasa is a title given to one who does this kind of work with texts. Sri

Vyasa had compiled all 4 Vedas, in order to ensure that the Parampara of knowledge

continues in India. This is why he is called Veda Vyasa.

1 Vyasa: This verse is especially dedicated to the Teacher and author of the Geeta,

Sri Vyasa, in whose pure mind the whole teaching of Krishna was reflected in crystal clear

form, exactly as taught by Krishna. Vyasaji never rested – he wrote continuously for the

benefit of man. He also created a system by which the knowledge would spread from

generation to generation.

2 The Lotus Flower: Once again a simile is used to express the greatness of the Guru.

It is the lotus flower, which stands for beauty and purity. The lotus rises out of muddy

waters, it is unaffected by its environment of origin. It is free from all taints in it. Its beauty is

inherent, and is due to the nectar of knowledge which is to be found deep within itself.

3-4 Sri Vyasa was extremely dexterous in this work. A fitting proverb used for such a

hardworking scholar is “one who burns the midnight oil”. This simile is actually used here to

refer to the magnanimous work done by Vyasa ji in writing the Mahabharata.

The Mahabharata is the oil. When it is lit, the light produced is the knowledge it

bestows. The oil is also “filled to the brim”, indicating that this light will go on burning for

thousands of years, always lighting the path of ignorant man.

*****

Next - Slokam-3. The Beloved Divine Krishna

To be continued ......

================================================================