Verse 15
अतो विचारः कर्तव्यो जिज्ञासोरात्मवस्तुनः ।
समासाद्य दयासिन्धुं गुरुं ब्रह्मविदुत्तमम् ॥ १५ ॥
ato vicāraḥ kartavyo jijñāsorātmavastunaḥ |
samāsādya dayāsindhuṃ guruṃ brahmaviduttamam || 15 ||
(Therefore, a true seeker of the Self
should learn to enquire and meditate after duly approaching a Guru who is
himself established in the experience of the Self and who is an ocean of
kindness.)
Atah vichara kartavyaḥ.
In the 13th sloka, Sankara said
Vicharah alone will give knowledge.
And this vichara should be done by
whom? jijnasu; by a person seeking
knowledge.
Jnatum icchuhu iti
jijnasuhu;
these are beautiful words in Samsr̥kit; ‘jij’ conveys the meaning of desire; jijnasuhu means desirer of knowledge; mumukṣuhu means desirer of moksha; tipadiṣuhu means desirer of studying.
So jijnasuhu
vicharaḥ kartavyaḥ;
one who is desirer of knowledge of the self. In short, desirer of
self-knowledge.
The word 'samasadya', by duly
approaching is a simple word full of suggestions. It pinpoints the mental
attitude with which a seeker should approach the Master in order that he
may derive the maximum benefit during his association with the Teacher.
Sankara stresses; gurum samasadya;
never make independent enquiry; but by approaching a guru. What is the
definition of a guru; gr̥ nati atma tatvam upadisati iti guruḥ; to teach, to communicate; to
consistently impart knowledge.
गु gu means darkness; र
ru means remover; गु र is equal to darkness remover; and what is
darkness, ignorance; गु means ignorance; र
means remover; and therefore guru means darkness remover;
And what are the qualifications of the
guru?
Two are mentioned. Brahmavit uttamam; he is the greatest brahma jnani; brahmavit means brahma jnani; uttamam means greatest brahma jnani; and
uttama indicates nishta;
Sankara mentions another
qualification: dayasindhum; who is an
ocean of compassion; Daya, compassion; sindhuḥ means samudrah; daya samudruh; kripa sagarah; karuna
sagarah;
A Guru should not only be a man of
Self-experience, but he should also have a large heart full of kindness
and sympathy for all types of seekers.
Swami
Chidananda, Disciple of Swami Sivananda, writes on Guru Kripa,
“We
have been told by our scriptures that guru kripa is a wonderful, mysterious
factor that will enable the aspirants to seek and to attain the summum bonum of
life, Self-realisation, darshan of God, or moksha.
But
then, how can we receive it? How should we conduct ourselves if we are to be
ready to receive this grace? By discipleship. For, the question of Guru and guru
kripa arises only for the disciple. For those who are not of the category named
disciple, it is said that mercy, compassion, grace and ashirvad will be given,
but not guru kripa.
Inasmuch
as guru kripa takes us to the highest state, discipleship is qualifying
ourselves to attain that highest state or the realisation of ourselves as
satchidananda.
The
best thing is to humbly leave everything to the Guru:
“I
do not know whether I am a disciple or not. Therefore, O Ocean of Mercy and
Compassion, pray make me a proper disciple. Generate in me that mumukshutva
that makes me a disciple, and give me the spirit of willing obedience.
Help
me in trying to follow thy instructions. Help me in trying to mould myself upon
the pattern set up by thee.”
This
must be our constant prayer. And by this alone shall we be able to draw the
kripa of our Guru and make our life fruitful. And the perfect way of praying is
trying our best to be a real disciple.”
Love.
