Pearls from Pasaayadaan: Part 6

 

Pearls from Pasaayadaan: Part 6

चलां कल्पतरूंचे आरव
चेतना चिंतामणींचें गांव
बोलते जे अर्णव
पीयूषाचे

Chalaa चलां mobile

Kalpataru Che कल्पतरूंचे of wish fulfilling trees

Aarava आरव grove

Chetanaa चेतना life principle 

Chintaamani Che चिंतामणींचें of a gem that removes all worries

Gaava गांव village

Bolate बोलते talking, vocal

Je जे that

Arnava अर्णव ocean

Piyushaa Che पीयूषाचे elixir of immortality 

( The saints/ devotees of God ) are like mobile groves of wish-fulfilling trees, or an entire live abode of rare gems that can remove all worries( of people they come in contact with), or a vocal ocean of the elixir that confers immortality.

After wishing that all people be blessed to have the company of saints Dnyaaneshwar goes on to explain why such company is desirable. In this first of two verses singing the praises of the saints he cites 3 beautiful metaphors.

Legend has it that if one comes in contact with a wish-fulfilling tree anything that is desired in the heart is granted to the person. Such trees are rare and the person must wander to far off places in it’s search. Here Dnyaaneshwar says the saints are an entire grove of wish- fulfilling trees. What’s more, they move from one place to another and come to people who need help. The person need not take the effort to go see them.

It is said, be careful what you wish for because you may end up getting it ! Although saints can fulfil our wishes, we must be prudent about what to wish for. That which leads to self betterment ( shreyas) is to be wishes for. That which initially seems desirable but eventually leads to suffering( preyas) must not be sought. We must train our minds and intellect to seek selflessness, devotion and service. Any endeavor that aims for greater good surely gets a blessing from the saints. 

In the Bhagwad Gita Lord Shri Krishna has elaborated the qualities in a man arising from the 3 gunas. With diligence and effort a man can rise above the tamas and rajas tendencies and develop saatvic qualities like tyaaga, daan, daya, tapa. The more we lean towards satva the less we would aspire for useless things that bring short lived pleasures. Our energies would be directed towards lasting peace and happiness for ourselves and people around us.

Several years back I remember hearing about a beautiful quote. Worry is like sand in an oyster. A little produces pearl; too much kills the animal.

Mind has a tendency to worry. Often times we see people who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. There is worry for their own health, worry about family, finances, reputation, job, success, future, afterlife and what not. This is a hurdle in the way of progress, both spiritual and worldly. In the company of saints the mind is freed from worries. They teach us to break free from the confines of worry and gain a fresh outlook that is filled with a sense of purpose and determination. Diligence in duty (swadharma) is “the little worry” that produces a pearl in the oyster! Saints emphasize on diligence while making us drop useless worries. 

If reading books can bring positivity, imagine how much more effective it would be to have the company of living saints who can teach by example? Chetanaa chintaamani che gaava !! To have the great fortune of dwelling in a village filled with such inspiring people ! Their speech would be nothing less than an elixir that could confer immortality through knowledge of the soul. Rivers and lakes can run dry but oceans never run dry. Dnyaaneshwar has likened the speech of saints to an ocean of nectar. We can count on it to nourish us forever. 

If this is not enough to motivate us to seek the company of God realized people, Dnyaaneshwar continues making a case for the same in the next verse.