BHAJA GOVINDAM - 18. Swami Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

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Chaturdasha Manjarika Stotram

PART III – Slokas : 14-27

“Where Is Happiness?”

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Tuesday, 11 Jun  2023. 05:30. 

Song - 18 : The Man of True Dispassion

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Song - 18 : The Man of True Dispassion

1 

sura mandira taru moola nivaasah = sheltering in temples or under some trees,

2 

shayyaa bhootalam ajinam vaasah; = sleeping on the naked ground, wearing only 

a deerskin,

3 

sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah + thus renouncing all idea of possession and 

thirst to enjoy,

4 

kasya sukham na karoti viraagah. = to whom will not dispassion bring happiness?

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At last, after having seen failed attempts since verse 14, we have a description of 

the true Vairagi or man of dispassion. The simplicity of this person is quite clear.

1 

Indian culture supports religious practices like no other country in the world. We 

can benefit from that if we are sincere seekers. If we are not sincere, we become a burden 

to that hospitality.

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2 

The life of utter simplicity is described here, not extremism or moderation. This is 

how great saints like Swami Tapovanji and Swami Sivanandaji lived after renouncing 

lucrative careers and choosing to voluntarily live the simple life described here. They also 

underwent many hardships in such a life, but accepted them cheerfully. The hardships of 

such a life should not dissuade one from it. It is the way God has created the system to test 

the sincerity of seekers.

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3 

Parigraha: “sense of possession”. If we go a little deeper, the word includes “the 

sense of wanting to be recognized as a Vairagi”.

A true Vairagi will use whatever cloth is given to him to use, even if it is silk. It is not 

worn out of pride, but as any other piece of cloth.

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4 

This is how the true Vairagi lives. He brings his mind under control, with practical 

and sensible dispassion. And by doing so, he succeeds in attaining lasting happiness which is 

the result of true dispassion.

Acharyaji gave the following example of how difficult it is to remain unattached. A 

doctor does hundreds of operations on a number of people, but he will never do an 

operation on his own family members because of attachment.

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Next

Song - 19: The Source of Happiness

To be continued

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