Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Tripura Rahasya Day 5 – January 8, 2022 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Chapter 4
On his return journey, Parashurama was extremely repentant. He was overcome with sorrow and attained detachment. Thinking of his insult, he sorrowfully thought,
‘When donating the entire earth to Kashyapa I had pledged that I would never take up weapons, will never lose temper on the Kshatriyas or fight with them. If so, why did I get angry with Rama? Oho! What a calamity has now struck. My intellect got totally clouded and I have been reduced to this state. Anger is one’s biggest foe. Anger has thrown me into the deep pit called delusion.
Krōdha ēva tapōmrtyuḥ krōdhān naśyati vai tapaḥ
Kruddhasya dūratō yāti vicāraḥ sattva buddhijaḥ ‖
Anger is like death to penance. Anger accomplishes nothing. Anger totally destroys penance. The Self-enquiry that arises due to sattvik intellect distances from those who are prone to anger.
Just as a wife who is totally devoted to her husband distances from a paramour, I who have succumbed to anger will never obtain anything pertaining to good intellect. Just as the world condemns those who have skin diseases as ugly, those who succumb to anger lose their reasoning capacity.
Like the ghost, the angry person is least hesitant to engage in any condemnable, fearful or any other despicable deed. Hence there is absolutely no difference between an angry man and a devil. Both of them unhesitantly torture even children and also their loved ones.
Those who are angry will, unhesitantly beat others or murder them. They do not hesitate even to kill their teachers and elders.
Anger alone has reduced me to this state today. Anger is the biggest foe. Previously, my anger caused me to drag Kshatriya infants from their mother’s arms and slaughter them just as a butcher slaughters animals.
Oho! Even a trace of compassion does not exist in my heart. In what way had those infants harmed me? I have harmed innumerable boys and girls who were seen or unseen.
The penance of the person who does not conquer anger, is akin to the kingly comforts being nourished by the kings whose enemies are growing. One day or the other the kings are bound to perish.
Just because one man killed my father, I wiped away the entire kingdom itself. Like the cannibal, who is the worst among the demons, my deed is truly despicable and highly condemnable.
The person’s pride is the cause for his anger. This has trapped me in the jaws of the mighty python called anger and has destroyed me’.
Parashurama, who was thus walking while lost in deep thought, suddenly saw a Mahatma who was glowing radiantly.
His external body was filled with grime, his hair dishevelled and he was walking like an insane man. Yet he appeared like a supreme ascetic, a learned scholar and a Maha-purusha. He was naked. Although his entire body was filled with dust, he appeared like the mighty inebriated elephant that is releasing scent from its body. His eyes were glowing radiantly. He had abandoned all the symbols pertaining to Brahmacharya and other stages of life. He appeared weird to look at.
Seeing him Parashurama wondered, ‘Who is he? With unique traditions, he was showing both good and bad signs.
‘Is he a Maha-purusha? Could he be an enlightened being? However hard I think, I am unable to come to a conclusion. If he were truly insane then how could he be filled with such supreme effulgence?
Whatever it may be, one who is totally calm has to be a Maha-purusha (great person). Undoubtedly, he is a great man who is concealing his true identity. Hence even if it takes great effort, I should test him’.
Having thought so, laughingly Parashurama said to him, “O best among men! Who are you? You appear like a great man. Why are you in this state? Please tell me everything”.
Hearing Parashurama’s words, that man began to run while laughing loudly and pelting stones at Parashurama. He began to shout insanely.
Parashurama immediately caught him, who was thus behaving strangely. ‘He has not understood my opinion. I shall test him once more and then go my way’- thinking thus, Bhargava Rama began to abuse that man.
Despite extensive abuses, extensive ridicule and hateful words, the man remained unperturbed. Parashurama then concluded, ‘This man is undoubtedly a great man’.
With full devotion, he then bowed at that man’s feet and prayed to him. That great man was then totally pleased with Parashurama. With utmost compassion smilingly, he taught philosophical essence, as follows,
“O Bhargava Rama! You had asked, ‘who are you?’ Listen. If the person who is enquiring, knows the meaning of the word ‘tvam’ (you), then the question, ‘who am I?’ becomes useless.
If the person who is enquiring does not know the meaning of the word ‘tvam’ (you), even then your question, ‘who am you?’ becomes futile.
O Bhargava Rama! You had asked ‘who are you?’ If you know the meaning of the word ‘tvam’ (you), then the question is meaningless. The question is not necessary as it amounts to asking something that you already are aware of.
If you do not know the meaning of the word ‘tvam’, then how can you use the word ‘tvam’ and enquire tvam kaḥ? (who are you?). Because no one uses a word whose meaning he is ignorant of.
Hence from any angle, your question ‘who are you’ is meaningless. If you have understood a body to be the meaning for the word ‘you’, then listen.
The Self, that is the form of consciousness (chidroopa), is not cognizable (it cannot be known). As you lack Self-knowledge, it appears you do not know about the Self.
You have seen the gross body (annamaya shareera). In this, there is no doubt whatsoever. Hence, from your question (who are you), it appears you were enquiring about the name of this body. That name (samjya) cannot be known on its own. It has been imaginarily created in varied ways. Further, the name (samjya) does not remain at a place. This is because it has sought shelter in the body. Hence O Rama! If you put forth your doubt clearly, I can answer it”.
Hearing Maharishi’s words, Parashurama remained dumbfounded. Not knowing what to enquire, he shyly prostrated to the great Yogi and prayed,
“O Maha-purusha! I could not clearly understand the science you have explained. I am your disciple free from impurities. Please explain once again to me clearly”.
Filled with compassion, that Maharishi in sweet words then explained his story. He said, “O Bhargava Rama! I belong to the Angirasa gotra. My elder brother is my Guru. My name is Samvarta. Due to my exemplary good traits and behaviour, I have attained renown in the three worlds.
Previously I developed enmity with my elder brother who is also my Guru. Due to this, I was filled with sorrow. It also led me to develop detachment. That is why I am in this state.
Dattātrēyēṇa guruṇā susamyaganubōdhitaḥ – Thereafter, due to Guru Dattatreya, my ignorance was destroyed. I attained enlightenment (knowledge). Guru Datta showered a rain of compassion upon me.
Realizing that everything is the Self, that there is nothing barring the Self and that everything is a sport of that transcendental Supreme Lord, I abandoned all doubts, attachments, fear etc. and adhered to the pure path, and without giving any scope for doubts to enter, I have obtained that unshakeable position. I will never slip from that place.
While existing in that state, I wander everywhere. I am like the puppet which, while remaining tied to the thread completes its role”.
With great faith and devotion, Parashurama heard what Maharishi Samvartaka had said. Thereafter prayerfully he said, “O Maha purusha! Please bless me. I’m distressed by this fear called samsara. Show me the fearless path thereby freeing me from the fear of samsara”.
(Samsara is not having a spouse etc. This birth itself is samsara).
The Maharishi then compassionately said, “O loved one! I shall explain to you the essence of all knowledge. The path that you are treading is fearsome. It is dangerous.
Your path appears like the path taken by a person who, due to ignorance and deluded due to fate, aimlessly and fearlessly moves forward. This is because, in the unfamiliar path, although there is scope for fear and troubles to arise, being fearless is the result of ignorance.
The ignorant remains fearless although the path is filled with dacoits and wayside robbers. Due to ignorance, he suffers at every step and, while experiencing fear, continues to believe that he will obtain some auspiciousness.
Similar is the path trodden by the deluded beings. Thereafter, when warned by a Mahatma to tread the right path, the worldly person begins to tread the right path.
The enlightened person ridicules those who tread the wrong path. I have attained the Supreme Knowledge due to the grace of Lord Dattatreya and hence, treading the right path, I am blissful. Further, seeing those treading the wrong path I ridicule them.
(Mahatmas are always smiling in the photo. They are laughing at us who believe this false world to be true and, despite knowing this world to be full of sorrow and trouble, are enjoying this artificial happiness not realizing the truth).
The worldly path (path of samsara) is filled with extreme suffering. Despite experiencing unbearable agony on this path, the deluded person, due to ignorance fails to realize that it is a wicked path.
With the belief that they will obtain some comforts, the foolish people continue to struggle in this web of difficulties. It is very difficult for them to hold on to the path on which I am travelling.
Hence, understanding the reality of the path on which you are travelling, develop detachment with this world. In the manner taught by the Guru worship Tripura devi, the supreme empress and the form of the Self.
Then, with a speck of her grace, you will learn to treat everyone with equanimity and attain oneness with the Self. Understand that everything barring the Self is an illusion or it is the form of energy (shakti).
With the blessings of Mother Goddess see everything as the Self. Seek shelter under a supreme Guru and free yourself from doubts and fear. Then like me, being freed from transformations, wander freely.
Attain Supreme Knowledge. Throw away egoism and learn that everything is only the Self. Keep the focus only on the knowledge and awaken. The person who realizes the Self and then treads the right path has nothing more left to be done in this worldly life.
Towards this, it is essential to first know the defects of the worldly path. Due to this, the detachment that is essential to tread the righteous path will arise in the person.
I have taught you the essence in brief. The person who eternally follows it obtains the highest path”.
Parashurama asked, “The path that you have taught is beyond sensory understanding. Hence it appears to me that it is not easily understandable.
I could not comprehend your teaching clearly. As my mind is clouded due to impurities, I ask you again. O Mahatma! The essence that you have explained is very hard to comprehend. I could not understand it completely due to its depth. Hence, I am filled with doubts. Pitying me, please explain the same in a way that I understand. You are all-knowing. I surrender to you. Protect me”.
When Parashurama prayed in this way, Maharishi Samvarta meditated for a while. Thereafter perceiving that which was to take place in future, in a very sweet voice he said,
“O Rama! The path that I have taught is not impossible to tread. However, those whose minds are not pure cannot comprehend it easily.
To tread this path, it is imperative to serve the feet of Mother Goddess. Without serving her feet, one cannot tread it. The opportunity to serve Her feet can be obtained only with the blessings of Srigurunatha. Not otherwise. Hence, understand that with the association of the virtuous (Satpurushas), everything is obtained.
Hence, O Bhargava! Go to Swami Dattatreya. Serve that Guru properly. Please him with your services. With it you can fulfil your desires.
Vinā gurōr āśrayataḥ śubham vindēt vai katham -How can one attain auspiciousness without serving the Guru?
To one who is lost in the dense forests that is devoid of any illumination, the Sun is the only solace. (He needs to wait till Sunrise to know his way). Likewise, for those who are trapped in these repeated rebirths (samsara), serving the Guru is the only way out. They must necessarily await the chance to serve their Guru.
None barring the person who makes collyrium and helps in obtaining eyesight can help the blind man. Similarly to obtain auspiciousness there is no path apart from serving the Guru.
Guru is verily Lord Sadāshiva. He is always awaiting the opportunity to uplift the devotees. Taking on a human form, Shiva himself wanders in the form of a Guru.
Guru Dattatreya is wandering in the world. No one in the three worlds, even if he is the most prosperous person, can obtain accomplishment unless he seeks recourse in the Guru’s feet.
Hence, quickly proceed to see the Guru. Without deceit serve him. If he is pleased with your services, then there is nothing in the three worlds that you cannot accomplish.
Siddhas and Yogis serve the supremely renowned Guru Datta who resides in his meritorious ashram located in the Mountain Gandhamadana.
May auspiciousness come to you! May your desire be fulfilled! I will now proceed on my way”- saying this, even as Parashurama was watching, Maharishi Samvarta went in the path of the skies.
He went in the northeast direction, and in a moment, went away from sight like the cloud that is pushed by the winds. Thereafter, as suggested by Maharishi Samvarta, Parashurama decided to approach Dattatreya Swami.
Sri Matre Namah