Countering Negative Habits 2

Durvasana pratikara dasakam 2

(adapted from the talk by Swami Paramarthananda)

Verse 6

alasyamtvarayasramamsamadhiyatandramsamuthanataha

bhedabhrantimabhedadarsanabalathmithyatmatamsatyataha

marmoktimnijamarma karma kathayakrothamswasamyekshanat

akroshamkushaloktitastyajamanaschindyapramadadbhayam II6II

Overcome laziness by developing a habit of prompt response, fatigue by relaxing the mind, lethargy by forcibly keeping alert, the delusion of plurality or seeing differences among people and situations by showing in practice the strength of non-duality, the mistaken notion that the world is real by understanding the reality of the unreal nature of the world, uttering words and saying things that harm others by realizing one’s own shortcomings and recalling things that hurt themselves, anger by visualizing others also just as themselves, rebuking others by speaking soft and soothing words to them. (Oh Mind!) Through the strength of being well informed of matters dispel the fear born of uncertainty and insecurity.

Laziness, a sign of Tamoguna, has to be countered through brisk activity, a trait of RajoGuna. If this manifests as excessive activity inducing bodily fatigue it is to remedied by calming the mind, a characteristic of Satvaguna.  Perception of plurality and differences among people must be removed by remembering the mithyatvam of the perceived world.  Avoid looking for defect in others remembering your own defects. Controlling anger and inclination to shout, talk only good to the other person, even if he does not.  Eschewing fear act with alertness remembering your Real nature as Athma that is ever free from fear.

Verse 7.

bhutarthasmaranamvrthasramadhiyapraptamtuhaneksanat
bhavyarthavyasanamsadatyajamanahprarabdhachodyekshanat |
sistasistajanakriyastyajavrthakashtanusandhanatah
snehaddveshakatassadatyaja janebhasmantathasamsmrteh || 7 ||

Renounce the tendency to brood over the past due to delusion by recognizing that it has already passed. Give up worrying about the future as to a great extent it is governed by prarabhdha. Taking into account the in-built dukham inherent in them, avoid all karmas, righteous as well as unrighteous, with worldly aspirations. Always avoid ill feelings and hatred by friendship and love. By considering that in the end everything ends up into ashes, avoid attachment to people.

Don’t worry about the past as it is behind and nothing can be done about it and also about the future as it is governed by prarabdha.  Advice to give up karmas is given which applies to sanyasis only.  Conquer hatred through feelings of friendship and where sneha becomes excessive, treat it with Vairagyam.  Don’t blindly follow what others do but act in conformity with your needs. Attachment to the body, one’s or others is to be given up through the remembrance that however loved or lovable it may be, it will end up in flames and will be reduced to ashes only.

Verse 8

adhyatmanubhavanmanastyajamahatapamswabhavekshanat

vaishamyamsamabhavatahparakathavikshobamakshobhatah

dhikkaradhibhavamtudukhamanisamtadyogyatabhavanat

tajjatanyasuchahakshamasvakrupayakarmakshayattadanam II8II

Avoid always the agony caused by the body, senses etc by realizing that in reality you are the Athma (that is always in bliss and is not affected by grief). Avoid injustice and inequality towards others by realizing that the same Brahman is present in all. Avoid the disturbance arising out of gossip without agitation or emotional reaction. Overcome the constant unhappiness caused by contempt by others by your internal search. Condone with compassion the offences committed by others knowingly or unknowingly. Forgive bodily harm (inflicted by others) as expiation of your karmic debts.

Face problematic experiences of life with the Jnanam that you are the ever blissful Athma and body-mind-complex is a upadhi only.  Develop the equanimity of vision to view alike undisturbed, the ups and downs of life. With the understanding that the one and same Athma is in all, learn to treat with compassion mistakes committed by others and to be unperturbed by gossip and not to blame others.  When others cause any harm, accept and tolerate it as a means of exhausting past karma (prarabhdha) 

Verse 9

ayurgachhatipetikajalamivatyaktvaivadehamjavat

gachhantindriyasaktayopikulatayadvannaramnirdhanam

pragnyagacchatidavadahasamayesrenimriginamiva

jnyatvasatvaramasrayatmapadavimdehamvrutha ma kruthaha II9II

Life ebbs away quickly from the body in the same way as water (leaks away from) a vessel (with a hole)! The strength of the organs of the body also goes away just as a prostitute leaves when her paramour becomes pauper. Just as a herd of deer (leaves) at the time of forest fire (so also) the sense of discrimination disappears. Realizing quickly (the impermanence of this life) seek shelter in the state of Real Self.  Do not waste this human life.

In this verse, a note of caution is sounded by pointing that that life is fleeting. Like water kept in a leaky vessel keeps draining, life in the body is ebbing away. As one grows old, sense organs keep losing power and intellect is also becoming weak.  One should be aware of this and take to the study of Self-Knowledge while the faculties are strong and healthy. This human birth which has come with difficulty should not be wasted but be used to know one’s identity with Brahman.

Verse 10

dhairyairavata shanti dhenudamasanmandarabrindhamsada

maitryadyapsarasamvivekaturagamsantoshachintamanim

atmajnanamahamrutamsamarasamnairasyachandrodayam

vedantarnavamasrayananudinamsevasyamuktisriyam II10II

Seeking refuge in the ocean of Vedanta day in and day out, always help yourself with these treasures: Courage, as Airaavatha; Peace, as Kamadhenu; Sense-control, as the Kalpatharu; Virtues like friendship as Apsaras; Discrimination,as Uchchaisravas, Contentment as Chintamani, Knowledge of the Self as the Amrutha, the truth of Universal Equality, Dispassion, as the rise of the Moon  and the Release from repeated Births and Deaths as Lakshmi Devi.

In this verse an imagery is presented comparing Vedanta vichara to the churning of the milky ocean described in the puranas with Airavatha, white elephant of Indra representing courage; Kamadhenu,  peace of mind; Kalpatharu, the wish-yielding tree,  sense-control; Apsaras, positive values like friendhip and compassion; Uchchaisravas,  viveka; Chintamani, the wish fulfilling stone, contentment; moon, vairagya; Goddess Lakshmi,  final Liberation from the cycle of birth and death; and Nectar,  Athma Jnanam.  Endowed with all this, the Vedanta vichara blesses one with the Truth of universal oneness, without any adverse off-shoot like poison in the samudramathanam

conclusion

prasadatdakshinamurtehsrutyacharyaprasadataha

durvasanapratikaradasakamrachitammaya

By the grace of Lord Dakshinamurthy, by the grace of my own Acharya, and by the grace of the sruthi, I have composed this  Durvasana PratIkara Dasakam.

Swami Vidyaranya concludes his work dedicating it to Lord Dakshinamurthy, to the Sruthi and to his Acharya, whose blessings enabled him to compose this work.  Swami Paramarthananda remarks in his talk that this work is not just for reading only, but one for treasuring and regularly referring to identify one’s durvasanas and take appropriate remedial action.

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