Muni's PlayVivekachudamani: Qualifications of a Seeker
To engage in the inquiry of Brahman (Brahma-jijñāsā), a seeker must possess specific intellectual and mental qualifications. These verses define the fit recipient of spiritual knowledge.
The Competent Inquirer (Adhikāri)
Verse 16: Intellectual Fitness
An seeker must be intelligent and capable of discerning the truth through reason aligned with the scriptures.
Sanskrit
मेधावी पुरुषो विद्वानुहापोहविचक्षणः ।
अधिकार्यात्मविद्यायामुक्तलक्षणलक्षितः ॥ १६ ॥
Transliteration
medhāvī puruṣo vidvānuhāpohavicakṣaṇaḥ | adhikāryātmavidyāyāmuktalakṣaṇalakṣitaḥ || 16 ||
Translation
An intelligent and learned man skilled in arguing in favour of the Scriptures and in refuting counter-arguments against them – one who has got the above characteristics is the fit recipient of the knowledge of the Ātman.
Verse 17: Ethical and Mental Fitness
Beyond intellectual sharpess, the seeker must possess discrimination, dispassion, and inner calm.
Sanskrit
विवेकिनो विरक्तस्य शमादिगुणशालिनः ।
मुमुक्षोरेव हि ब्रह्मजिज्ञासायोग्यता मता ॥ १७ ॥
Transliteration
vivekino viraktasya śamādiguṇaśālinaḥ | mumukṣoreva hi brahmajijñāsāyogyatā matā || 17 ||
Translation
The man who discriminates between the Real and the unreal, whose mind is turned away from the unreal, who possesses calmness and the allied virtues, and who is longing for Liberation, is alone considered qualified to inquire after Brahman.
The Four Means of Attainment (Sādhana-catuṣṭaya)
Verification of the four prerequisites for successful spiritual practice.
Verse 18: The Necessity of the Four Means
Sanskrit
साधनान्यत्र चत्वारि कथितानि मनीषिभिः ।
येषु सत्स्वेव सन्निष्ठा यदभावे न सिध्यति ॥ १८ ॥
Transliteration
sādhanānyatra catvāri kathitāni manīṣibhiḥ | yeṣu satsveva sanniṣṭhā yadabhāve na sidhyati || 18 ||
Translation
Regarding this, sages have spoken of four means of attainment, which alone being present, the devotion to Brahman succeeds, and in the absence of which, it fails.
Verse 19: Enumeration of the Four Means
Sanskrit
आदौ नित्यानित्यवस्तुविवेकः परिगम्यते ।
इहामुत्रफलभोगविरागस्तदनन्तरम्
शमादिषट्कसम्पत्तिर्मुमुक्षुत्वमिति स्फुटम् ॥ १९ ॥
Transliteration
ādau nityānityavastuvivekaḥ parigamyate | ihāmutraphalabhogavirāgastadanantaram śamādiṣaṭkasampattirmumukṣutvamiti sphuṭam || 19 ||
Translation
First is enumerated discrimination between the Real and the unreal; next comes aversion to the enjoyment of fruits (of one’s actions) here and hereafter; (next is) the group of six attributes, viz. calmness and the rest; and (last) is clearly the yearning for Liberation.
1. Viveka (Discrimination)
Verse 20: Defining Discrimination
Sanskrit
ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्येत्येवंरूपो विनिश्चयः ।
सोऽयं नित्यानित्यवस्तुविवेकः समुदाहृतः ॥ २० ॥
Transliteration
brahma satyaṃ jaganmithyetyevaṃrūpo viniścayaḥ | so’yaṃ nityānityavastuvivekaḥ samudāhṛtaḥ || 20 ||
Translation
A firm conviction of the mind to the effect that Brahman is real and the universe unreal, is designated as discrimination (Viveka) between the Real and the unreal.
2. Vairāgya (Dispassion)
Verse 21: Defining Renunciation
Sanskrit
तद्वैराग्यं जिहासा या दर्शनश्रवणादिभिः ।
देहादिब्रह्मपर्यन्ते ह्यनित्ये भोगवस्तुनि ॥ २१ ॥
Transliteration
tadvairāgyaṃ jihāsā yā darśanaśravaṇādibhiḥ | dehādibrahmaparyante hyanitye bhogavastuni || 21 ||
Translation
Vairāgya or renunciation is the desire to give up all transitory enjoyments (ranging) from those of an (animate) body to those of Brahmāhood (having already known their defects) from observation, instruction and so forth.
3. Śamādi-ṣatka-sampatti (The Six Virtues)
Verse 22: Śama (Calmness)
Sanskrit
विरज्य विषयव्राताद्दोषदृष्ट्या मुहुर्मुहुः ।
स्वलक्ष्ये नियतावस्था मनसः शम उच्यते ॥ २२ ॥
Transliteration
virajya viṣayavrātāddoṣadṛṣṭyā muhurmuhuḥ | svalakṣye niyatāvasthā manasaḥ śama ucyate || 22 ||
Translation
The resting of the mind steadfastly on its Goal (viz. Brahman) after having detached itself from manifold sense-objects by continually observing their defects, is called Śama or calmness.
Verse 23: Dama (Control) and Uparati (Withdrawal)
Sanskrit
विषयेभ्यः परावर्त्य स्थापनं स्वस्वगोलके ।
उभयेषामिन्द्रियाणां स दमः परिकीर्तितः
बाह्यानालम्बनं वृत्तेरेषोपरतिरुत्तमा ॥ २३ ॥
Transliteration
viṣayebhyaḥ parāvartya sthāpanaṃ svasvagolake | ubhayeṣāmindriyāṇāṃ sa damaḥ parikīrtitaḥ bāhyānālambenaṃ vṛttereṣoparatiruttamā || 23 ||
Translation
Turning both kinds of sense-organs away from sense-objects and placing them in their respective centres, is called Dama or self-control. The best Uparati or self-withdrawal consists in the mind-function ceasing to act by means of external objects.
Verse 24: Titikṣā (Forbearance)
Sanskrit
सहनं सर्वदुःखानामप्रतीकारपूर्वकम् ।
चिन्ताविलापरहितं सा तितिक्षा निगद्यते ॥ २४ ॥
Transliteration
sahanaṃ sarvaduḥkhānāmapratīkārapūrvakam | cintāvilāparahitaṃ sā titikṣā nigadyate || 24 ||
Translation
The bearing of all afflictions without caring to redress them, being free (at the same time) from anxiety or lament on their score, is called Titikṣā or forbearance.
Verse 25: Śraddhā (Faith)
Sanskrit
शास्त्रस्य गुरुवाक्यस्य सत्यबुद्ध्यवधारणम् ।
सा श्रद्धा कथिता सद्भिर्यया वस्तूपलभ्यते ॥ २५ ॥
Transliteration
śāstrasya guruvākyasya satyabuddhyavadhāraṇam | sā śraddhā kathitā sadbhiryayā vastūpalabhyate || 25 ||
Translation
Acceptance by firm judgment as true of what the Scriptures and the Guru instruct, is called by sages Śraddhā or faith, by means of which the Reality is perceived.
Verse 26: Samādhāna (Self-settledness)
Sanskrit
सर्वदा स्थापनं बुद्धेः शुद्धे ब्रह्मणि सर्वदा ।
तत्समाधानमित्युक्तं न तु चित्तस्य लालनम् ॥ २६ ॥
Transliteration
sarvadā sthāpanaṃ buddheḥ śuddhe brahmaṇi sarvadā | tatsamādhānamityuktaṃ na tu cittasya lālanam || 26 ||
Translation
Not the mere indulgence of thought (in curiosity) but the constant concentration of the intellect (or the affirming faculty) on the ever-pure Brahman, is what is called Samādhāna or self-settledness.
4. Mumukṣutā (Yearning)
Verse 27: The Desire for Freedom
Sanskrit
अहंकारादिदेहान्तान् बन्धानज्ञानकल्पितान् ।
स्वस्वरूपावबोधेन मोक्तुमिच्छा मुमुक्षुता ॥ २७ ॥
Transliteration
ahaṃkārādidehāntān bandhānajñānakalpitān | svasvarūpāvabodhena moktumicchā mumukṣutā || 27 ||
Translation
Mumukṣutā or yearning for Freedom is the desire to free oneself, by realising one’s true nature, from all bondages from that of egoism to that of the body – bondages superimposed by Ignorance.
Index: Vivekachudamani