Monday, April 10, 2023

Stages in Journey of Life -- Baalstaavat Kreedaasaktah

Baalstaavat Kreedaasaktah - Tarunastaavat Taruni Saktah
Vridhastaavat Chintaa Saktah - Paramay Brahmani ko-api na Saktah
              Bhaj Govimdam -7 (Adi Shankracharya)

                                Translation

Childhood slips away in attachment to playfulness. 
Youth passes away in attachment to the woman (Opposite-sex). 
Old age passes away in being absorbed in worrying about everything. 
No one wants to be attached, engrossed, absorbed, and lost in Parabrahman.
                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a child, one is absorbed in playing - attached to toys and playfulness. All he can think of is toys, play, and games - without a worry about anything else in the world.

In Adolescence - one's attention is taken up by passion, lust, and romance. Everyone is usually preoccupied with sensual pleasures when they are young - constantly thinking about opposite-sex and romantic fantasies. 
Thus, youth also passes away in the enjoyment of sensual pleasures.

In old age - one's mind is full of worries and anxieties. 
Nothing else but Chinta - either regret of the past - 
or worrying about the future - about family and children and even grandchildren. 

In other words - Shankaracharya says - throughout their life, everybody is constantly absorbed in one thing or the other. Always busy worshipping something - although the objects of interest are different in childhood, youth, and old age - but in every stage of life - we are always engrossed in something other than the Parbrahm. 
No one seems to be committed to the Almighty. 

This is a beautiful observation.
Sri Sankara portrays life's journey and says that everybody is immersed in worldly pursuits - but no one is interested in realizing the Truth.
Though we have time for everything else in the world, we have no time or interest for our own Self - to contemplate the Self. 
Unfortunately, at no stage in our life do we seem to have Viveka to think about life - about Reality. 
No one seems to have that interest.
We think whatever we see is real and everlasting and devote time to them. 
But -
             Parame Brahmani ko Api na Saktah  
No one is connected to ParBrahma - to the Self. 

Such verses are great reminders so that we may reflect upon our priorities in life. 
                                     " Rajan Sachdeva "

बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्तः तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः 
वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः परमे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः ॥ 

3 comments:

  1. We need to learn this early in life but unfortunately that knowledge comes too late or for some it never comes🙏🙏.

    ReplyDelete

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