Narayaneeyam – Dasakam 2 – Sloka 9

Preamble

There are six important Slokas (Slokas 9-14) of Isavasya Upanishad that clearly bring out the limitations of following the paths of Karma, Upasana and Gnana in isolation, in our spiritual journey. A seamless integrated approach is what is recommended for ordinary mortals like us in our journey. I get a feeling that Bhattathri echoes this philosophy in Sloka 9. Let us study this Sloka.

Audio Link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/67ztrum4updugn9/Verse%202.9.mp3?dl=0

Sanskrit Verse

अत्यायासकराणि कर्मपटलान्याचर्य निर्यन्मला

बोधे भक्तिपथेऽथवाऽप्युचिततामायान्ति किं तावता ।

क्लिष्ट्वा तर्कपथे परं तव वपुर्ब्रह्माख्यमन्ये पुन–

श्चित्तार्द्रत्वमृते विचिन्त्य बहुभिस्सिद्ध्यन्ति जन्मान्तरैः॥९॥

English Transliteration

atyaayaasakaraaNi karmapaTalaanyaacharya niryanmalaaH

bOdhe bhaktipathe(a)thavaa(a)pyuchitataamaayaanti kiM taavataa |

kliShTvaa tarkapathe paraM tava vapurbrahmaakhyamanye punashchittaardratvamR^

ite vichintya bahubhissiddhyanti janmaantaraiH ||

Tamil Transliteration

அத்யாயாஸகராணி கர்மபடலாந்யாசர்ய நிர்யந்மலா

போ₃தே₄ ப₄க்திபதே₂(அ)த₂வா(அ)ப்யுசிததாமாயாந்தி கிம் தாவதா |

க்லிஷ்ட்வா தர்கபதே₂ பரம் தவ வபுர்ப்₃ரஹ்மாக்₂யமந்யே புந-

ஶ்சித்தார்த்₃ரத்வம்ருதே விசிந்த்ய ப₃ஹுபி₄ஸ்ஸித்₃த்₄யந்தி ஜந்மாந்தரை: || 9||

Meaning in Tamil

முழுமுயல்வும் மிகு சிரமமும் ஏற்று கர்மயோகம்தனைப் புரிந்து

மும்மலமகற்றி ஞான பக்தி யோகம் புரிய தகுதி பெறுவர் சிலர்.

இத்துனை முயன்றினும் அவர்தம் பெற்றிடும் பயன்தான் என்ன !

உளஅழுத்தமிகு தருக்கம் பல புரிந்து பிரமமெனும் பரம்பொருளை

உணர உழையும் பலர்; எனினும் உளமுருகி உனைப்பாடா அவர்

பல பிறவி எடுத்து அல்லல் எனும் மாசு அறுத்தடைவர் உனையே !

2.9

Meaning in English

O Lord! Some people follow the path of Karma Yoga,and perform the various disciplines for long and attain mental purity. This only entitles them to become fit for the practice of Gyaana or Bhakti yoga. Some others strive hard pondering over the attributeless Supreme Brahman, based on logic and reason. They, without melting their hearts in love for Thee, take a long time to reach their goal of perfection.

Meaning of the Sanskrit Words

अत्यायासकराणि = अति-आयास-कराणि = great + effort + to be done = demanding great effort –

कर्मपटलानि = कर्मणाम् पटलम् कर्मपटलम् = Karma + portion/piece/section/chapter = the disciplines of Karma (yoga) = கர்மயோக

आचर्य = to be approached = by performing = புரிந்து

निर्यन्मलाः = निर्यन्तः + मलाः = set free + impurity = become purified (in mind) = மலமகற்றி

बोधे = awakening/knowledge = (required) for following the path of Gyaana (yoga) = ஞானோதயம்

भक्तिपथे अथवा अपि = भक्ते: + पथम् + अथवा + अपि  = devotee + path + rather/and + also = and also for the path of Bhakti (yoga) = பக்தி மாரக்கமதிலும்

उचितताम् आयान्ति = उचितताम् + आयान्ति = fitness + gain = (one) gains fitness – தகுதி பெற்று

किम् तावता = किं + तावता = why + to that extent = what is the use (after spending so much effort) = இத்துனை முயற்சியின் பலன் என்ன

क्लिष्ट्वा तर्कपथे = क्लिष्ट्वा तर्कपथे = क्लिष्ट्वा + (तर्कस्य पथम् ) तर्कपथम् = distress/strain + logical reasoning + path = of straining in the path of logical reasoning (Gyaana yoga) = மிகை முயல் தருக்க விளை ஞான யோகம்

परम् तव वपुः ब्रह्माख्यम् = परं + तव + वपु: + ब्रह्म + आख्यम्- = Supreme + You + body + Brahman + name/known = (because) Thy unmanifested aspect known as Supreme Brahman = பிரமனெனும் பரம் பொருள்

अन्ये पुनः = others, however மற்றோர் எனினும்

चित्तार्द्रत्वम् ऋते = चित्त + आर्द्रत्वम् + ऋते = mind/heart + wet/moist/ + without = without melting of the heart (in love) – உளம் உருகி

विचिन्त्य = pondering over (trying to fathom)= தீர எண்ணி

बहुभिः = (take) a lot of (time) – வெகு நேரம்

सिद्ध्यन्ति = मनसः आर्द्रता = accomplishing = attain அடைவர்

जन्मान्तरैः = जन्मन: + अन्तर: = life + another = अनेकजन्मभिः = after many lives – பல பிறவி எடுத்த பின்