11.007
Pancharatra-Ext: Allegory of chariot and how one can attain Brahman!
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
अहोऽभिहितमाख्यानं भवता तत्त्वदर्शिना। भूय एव तु मे हर्षः श्रोतुं वागमृतं तव ॥११-७-१॥
Oh, the story you have spoken, O seer of truth! My joy increases again and again to hear the nectar of your words.
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura said:
शृणु भूयः प्रवक्ष्यामि मार्गस्यैतस्य विस्तरम्। यच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रमुच्यन्ते संसारेभ्यो विचक्षणाः ॥११-७-२॥
Listen once more as I explain in detail this path, which, when heard, frees the wise from the bonds of worldly existence.
यथा तु पुरुषो राजन्दीर्घमध्वानमास्थितः। क्वचित्क्वचिच्छ्रमात्स्थाता कुरुते वासमेव वा ॥११-७-३॥
O king, just as a man who has undertaken a long journey, at some places or at others, due to fatigue, either stands or takes rest.
एवं संसारपर्याये गर्भवासेषु भारत। कुर्वन्ति दुर्बुधा वासं मुच्यन्ते तत्र पण्डिताः ॥११-७-४॥
O Bhārata, thus, in the cycle of rebirth, the ignorant take residence in wombs, but the wise are liberated from there.
तस्मादध्वानमेवैतमाहुः शास्त्रविदो जनाः। यत्तु संसारगहनं वनमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥११-७-५॥
Therefore, those who know the scriptures call this the path, but the wise call the dense forest of worldly existence a forest.
सोऽयं लोकसमावर्तो मर्त्यानां भरतर्षभ। चराणां स्थावराणां च गृध्येत्तत्र न पण्डितः ॥११-७-६॥
O best of Bharatas, this worldly cycle of mortals, of moving and stationary beings, should not be coveted by the wise.
शारीरा मानसाश्चैव मर्त्यानां ये तु व्याधयः। प्रत्यक्षाश्च परोक्षाश्च ते व्यालाः कथिता बुधैः ॥११-७-७॥
The wise say that the bodily and mental diseases of mortals, whether manifest or hidden, are like serpents.
क्लिश्यमानाश्च तैर्नित्यं हन्यमानाश्च भारत। स्वकर्मभिर्महाव्यालैर्नोद्विजन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः ॥११-७-८॥
O Bhārata, those of little intelligence, though constantly afflicted and struck by their own actions and by great serpents, do not feel any fear.
अथापि तैर्विमुच्येत व्याधिभिः पुरुषो नृप। आवृणोत्येव तं पश्चाज्जरा रूपविनाशिनी ॥११-७-९॥
O king, even if a man is freed from those diseases, afterwards old age, which destroys beauty, inevitably overtakes him.
शब्दरूपरसस्पर्शैर्गन्धैश्च विविधैरपि। मज्जमानं महापङ्के निरालम्बे समन्ततः ॥११-७-१०॥
Surrounded on all sides, unsupported, one sinks into the great mire by sound, form, taste, touch, and various smells.
संवत्सरर्तवो मासाः पक्षाहोरात्रसन्धयः। क्रमेणास्य प्रलुम्पन्ति रूपमायुस्तथैव च ॥११-७-११॥
The year, seasons, months, fortnights, days and nights, and their junctions, in order, gradually destroy his form and life in the same way.
एते कालस्य निधयो नैताञ्जानन्ति दुर्बुधाः। अत्राभिलिखितान्याहुः सर्वभूतानि कर्मणा ॥११-७-१२॥
These are the treasures of time, but the foolish do not understand them. Here, it is said that all beings are recorded by their actions.
रथं शरीरं भूतानां सत्त्वमाहुस्तु सारथिम्। इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुः कर्म बुद्धिश्च रश्मयः ॥११-७-१३॥
They say that the body is the chariot for beings, the mind is the charioteer, the senses are the horses, action is the reins, and intellect guides all.
तेषां हयानां यो वेगं धावतामनुधावति। स तु संसारचक्रेऽस्मिंश्चक्रवत्परिवर्तते ॥११-७-१४॥
He who pursues the speed of those running horses keeps revolving in the cycle of worldly existence, just like a wheel.
यस्तान्यमयते बुद्ध्या स यन्ता न निवर्तते। याम्यमाहू रथं ह्येनं मुह्यन्ते येन दुर्बुधाः ॥११-७-१५॥
He who restrains those (senses) with his intellect is called the true charioteer and does not fall back. This body is called the chariot, and those who lack understanding are deluded by it.
स चैतत्प्राप्नुते राजन्यत्त्वं प्राप्तो नराधिप। राज्यनाशं सुहृन्नाशं सुतनाशं च भारत ॥११-७-१६॥
He who attains royal status, O Bhārata, also faces the loss of his kingdom, friends, and sons.
अनुतर्षुलमेवैतद्दुःखं भवति भारत। साधुः परमदुःखानां दुःखभैषज्यमाचरेत् ॥११-७-१७॥
O Bhārata, suffering arises only when there is no envy. The virtuous person should practice the remedy for the suffering of those who are greatly afflicted.
न विक्रमो न चाप्यर्थो न मित्रं न सुहृज्जनः। तथोन्मोचयते दुःखाद्यथात्मा स्थिरसंयमः ॥११-७-१८॥
Neither valor, nor wealth, nor friends, nor even well-wishers can free one from sorrow as effectively as one's own steadfast self-control.
तस्मान्मैत्रं समास्थाय शीलमापद्य भारत। दमस्त्यागोऽप्रमादश्च ते त्रयो ब्रह्मणो हयाः ॥११-७-१९॥
Therefore, O Bhārata, adopt friendliness as your conduct. Self-control, renunciation, and vigilance—these three are considered the horses of Brahman.
शीलरश्मिसमायुक्ते स्थितो यो मानसे रथे। त्यक्त्वा मृत्युभयं राजन्ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति ॥११-७-२०॥
O king, he who is established in the chariot of the mind, endowed with the rays of virtue, and who has given up the fear of death, attains the world of Brahma.
