Tuesday, November 5, 2019

PANCHADASI BY VIDYARANYA (Sloka 39)


From verse no 32 Vidyaranya points out that the primary means for Atma Gnanam is Vedanta Vichara only which means doing Shravanam and Mananam.

Many students of Vedanta gain knowledge through vichara under the guidance of a Guru. Some students gain knowledge through Shravanam and Mananam. This is called Aparoksha Gnanam. There are some others who are not able to gain this knowledge. Guru and Shastra together are able to give knowledge to a student who is a serious seeker. Students who are not able to gain knowledge have some obstacles preventing them. Obstacle in the shisya’s mind is there. In tharka sastram it is defined clearly.

Tharka is logic (reasoning). Tharka will not reveal the truth. We should never use logic as an independent means of knowing the truth. Tharka must be used to extract message from the Vedanta.

For example Tharka is like a juice crushing machine. Vedanta sastra is like the sugarcane. Use tharka sastra and enquire Vedanta. Shruthi and Smirithi combined will give the answer to us. We will get the right message Viz. “Aham Brahma Asmi.”

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR
26102019