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. 

Who is Valmiki?

As we all know Valmiki Maharshi is the great author of the greatest epic in Hindu Dharma 'The Ramayana'.

But who is this Valmiki Maharshi?

According to great sources in Ramayana (from his great self by Valmiki) and the Bhagavata, (which was seen by KrishnaDwaipaayana maharshi or the Vyaasa Maharshi who wrote another greatest epic 'Jayam' or later known as 'The Mahabhaarata') portrays that Brahmaa who is the son of lord Vishnu when he decided the Genesis of life on earth as per the direction of his father, he created human beings who are called 'Manasa Putras' to begin life on the mortal world.

One among those sons was 'Prachetas', who was well versed in the Four Vedas, and the Vedaanta or the Upanishat. Prachetas had ten sons known as 'Praachetasaha', who he trained on the Vedas  and the Vedaanta and was a great sage at the ashram having several disciples.

One among the 'Praachetasaha' is our Valmiki maharshi who writes the great epic by the advice of Narada Brahmarshi and blessings of Brahma Deva.

Valmiki Maharshi being a great sage is being misrepresented by some who have written wrong stories without originally studying the great epic written by him.

Some mention that he was a hunter tribe and have build some embarrassing stories to let down the great sage. It is not that sect to which he belonged to, he is the grandson of lord Brahma, the creator of the universe.

I would like to call out to all intellectuals please read the original 'Ramayana' from our 'Praachetasa' or the 'Valmiki' maharshi and the 18 Puranas from 'Krishna Dwaipayana' or the 'Paarashara' (Son of sage Parashara) or the 'Vyaasa Maharshi' first before making a comment on this great sage who gave a great epic to the world.

Human Being with 14 qualities

Praachetasa (Valmiki) Maharshi has already done the great introduction of Sri Rama to this world about 7500 Years ago. But what I'm trying to do here is reiterate some of key introductory notes written in our Dharma Grantha "रामायण".

The 14 Qualities of a Human Being as asked by Valmiki Maharshi to Brahmarshi Narada.

The Divine Book of Ramayana starts with Valmiki Maharshi asking a great question to Naarada Brahmarshi providing the list of those 14 qualities and asking whether was there any person existed with all those qualities as below:
 

1. अस्मिन्साम्प्रतम लोके: AsminSaampratam Loke: Who the world praises and prays as the Best!

2. गुणवान: Gunavaan: Who has the great attitude

3. वीर्यवान: Veeryavaan: Who is valorous

4. धर्मग्न्य: Dharmagnya: Who has the knowledge of righteousness

5. कृतग्न्य: Krutagnya: Who has the knowledge of gratitude

6. सत्यवाक्यो ध्रुडवृतः Satyavaakyo DhruDavrata: Who follows the Difficult Penance for following and protecting Truth

7. चारित्रेण को युक्तः CharitrEna kO yuktaha: Who has a great temperament

8. सर्वभूतेषु को हितः Sarvabhooteshu ko hitaha: Who is a friend to all the living beings

9. विद्वान्कः समर्थः कः Vidvaankaha Samarthaha kaha: Who is very versed with education

10. च एक प्रियदर्शनः Cha Eka priyadarshanaha: Who can attract with the first sight

11. आत्मवान्को: AatmavaankO: Who understands, values and respects the soul within

12. जितक्रोधो: JitakrOdhO: Who has won over anger and all wishes

13. मितामान्को अनसूयकः MitamaankO Anasooyakaha: Who is Reserved but loved for the same.

14. कस्य बिभ्यति देवाश्च जातरोषस्य संयुगे: Kasya BiBhyati DEvaashcha jaatarOShasya samyuge: To whom the Gods even Fear when he is angered.

Who do we have amongst us with these qualities? Even if we achieve a few of the above, we should be able to achieve great things, which normal beings can't.

Upon request of Valmiki Maharshi, what did Narada Brahmarshi say? Await for my next post

Where is Isha awasa?

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम पूर्णात पूर्णमुदच्यते |
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ||

Om Poornamadah poornamidam poornaat poornamudachyate
poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaavashishyate ||

The very first shloka from Ishaavaasya Upanishat. This mentions how the one, which everyone's trying to find, is there in everything and everywhere.

The completeness/wholeness is there and it is here as well. After its accomplishment, it becomes complete and engrossed. This arrives from the whole, does or earns whatever it has to by its grace and enters into the Oneness/Wholeness/Completeness Bliss.


इशावास्यमिदम सर्वं यत्किंच जगत्यां जगत |
तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम ||

Ishaavaasyamidam sarvam yatkincha jagatyaam jagat
tEne tyaktena bhunjeethaa ma grudhah kasyasviddhanam ||


The above shloka continues in the Upanishat and says that everything here is the abode of Isha (God - not to be confused with the Lord Ishwara and that is different) accepting the God's omni presence and highlights that this is just a small world that we live, in this huge universe. The shloka suggests to understand this in particular and just leave everything that is ego-centric as this is the treasure that one has to earn.

Brahma Vijigyaasa

अन्नं ब्रह्मेति वैजानात | अन्नाध्येवा खल्विमानी भूतानि जायन्ते |

अन्नेना जातानी जीवन्ति | अन्नं  प्रय्त्यभिसंविशंती  इति |  

तद्विग्नाया | पुनरेवा वरुणं पितर मुपससार | 

अदिही भगवो ब्रह्मेति | तागुम होवाचा | 

तपसा ब्रह्म विजिग्न्यासस्व | तपो ब्रह्मेति |

स तापोतप्य्त | स तपस्तप्त्वा |

Annam brahmEti vaijaanaat, AnnadhyEva khalvimaani bhootani jaayante |
annena jaataani jeevanti, annam prayatyabhisamvishanti iti|
tadvigaaya, punareva varuNam pitaramupasasaara |
adhIhi BhagavO brahmeti | tagum hOvaacha |
tapasa brahma vijigyaasasva, tapO brahmeti |
sa tapotapyata, sa tapastaptvaa |

The above shloka is from the Taittareeya upanishat.

Bhrugu is the son of VaruNa, who asks his father where do I find Brahma (God), where is this? whether it is in the soul, eyes, ears, mind, mouth etc without which the beings (whichever has life on the earth) can't live without or from which the beings lead the life.

VaruNa replies, go ahead and do the research upon it. Do the tapas (research/analyze/pray/meditate/seek) about the Brahma  (the supreme soul) with a vishesha jigyaasa ( i.e, understand that it is great or special and you have the mind of a child to seek with). He continues you'll see Brahma by conducting tapas and hence mentions to have the heat and the urge to do the tapas and to see the Brahma have the hunger moving until you are satisfied that you have understood.

Bhrugu does the meditation and research and comes up to VaruNa stating that Annam (Food) is the Brahma (God), without which one cannot live, but then he also finds out that without food one can live upto many days, so it cannot be Brahma and again goes to Tapas as directed, guided, suggested and taught by his father...    

Tapaha swadhyaaya niratam

I would like to start this by bowing to Maharshi Valmiki and Maharshi Vyasa who have provided the great epics, which if read in their original verses will lead to greater enlightenment in one's life.

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्

This is a beginning sentence of the very first shloka from the Valmiki Ramayana. It is the first line from Balakanda. What does this mean?

तपः : Tapaha: Means the heat, urge, passion, keenness, enthusiasm to do something

स्वाध्याय : Swaadhyaya: This denotes "learning on one's own ability" or "Self-Learning" or "Self-Study" to accomplish the objectives

निरतं: Niratam: to accomplish the objectives, one need to do it as a routine. So, niratam means always, continuous, permanent, constant, eternally, ceaselessly, persistently..one would follow to accomplish the objective.

What do one get if "तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं" or "Tapasswaadhyayaniratam" is conducted: The person would become

तपस्वी: Tapasvi: This is a person who gains something by doing all the necessary to accomplish the objectives

वाग्विदां वरम्: Vaagvidaam Varam: This person is blessed with the boon (varam) to talk (vaak) about various knowledge areas that has been acquired (vidaam).

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरम चैव नरोत्तमम| देवीम सरस्वतीम चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत ||

The above shloka is the very first shloka of the Mahaabhaarata written by the Brahmarshi Vyaasa also known as "KrishnaDwaipaayana".

It means that bowing to Narayana-who is an individual here and the best amongst all human beings, and Saraswati who would grant victory.

This is a great shloka that highlights that one should be able to achieve something beacuse that is granted by the divine, so one should always bow down to and thank divine for giving us such great things in life.