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    The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari
    The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari
    The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari
    Ebook476 pages8 hours

    The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari

    By Vassant Shirvaikar

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    About this ebook

    Seven centuries ago Saint Dnyaneshwar wrote a commentary on Gita called Bhavarthadeepika, now popularly known as Dnyaneshwari after its author. He wrote it on the instructions of his Guru Nivruttinath who wanted to bring to the common man the Vedanta philosophy of Upanishads, hitherto available to only Sanskrit- knowing pundits. Since then Dnyaneshwari has been a timeless spiritual guide providing solace to the rustic folk as well as the educated elite. It is considered by many as one of the most important guides for spiritual aspirants seeking Self-Realization and moksha, offering them a choice of four spiritual paths depending upon their individual makeup.

    Dnyaneshwar Maharaj naturally composed this work in contemporary Marathi in the traditional ovi style verse. To this day, melodious singing of these verses can be heard in Indian villages.

    Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, taking into account that the reader would most probably be a rustic farmer or a villager, has used numerous similes and examples from nature and day-to-day life to explain the Gita shlokas. In this translation, meant for today’s well-educated reader, all superfluous similes and examples have been omitted to ensure a smooth flow of philosophical thought without digression. In addition, while maintaining the original order of the numbered verses the text has been paragraphed for a group of consecutive verses dealing with the topic under discussion providing headings and sub-headings to the paragraphs thus making the text easily tractable, permitting a convenient back-reference for a given topic.

    Dnyaneshwari is not a book just to be read and kept aside. It is a guide, loaded with eternal wisdom, to be read over and over again – and each reading brings out an entirely fresh take on life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVassant Shirvaikar
    Release dateApr 29, 2013
    ISBN9789382788102
    The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari
    Author

    Vassant Shirvaikar

    Dr V. V. Shirvaikar, born in Goa in 1933, had his primary and secondary education in Goa. He then studied at the Wilson College in Bombay and did his Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics. He later joined the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay where he was a research scientist, specialising in the Environmental Sciences, especially subjects related to safety from radioactive gaseous pollutants released from Nuclear plants, until his retirement in 1991. He did his Doctorate from University of Mumbai in 1972 while working at the Research Centre. He has authored several research papers in scientific journals, written several technical reports and guided research in his subject of specialisation. He was also connected with International Atomic Energy Agency, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Bureau of Indian Standards and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute at Nagpur.He developed high respect and an attraction towards Shri Shankar Maharaj when he happened to read the Marathi translation of Towards the Silver Crests of Himalayas and saw the photograph of Maharaj with his childlike face and remarkably big eyes. This attraction was fanned by Mr N. G. Date, a spiritualist from Malad (Bombay) who has been a catalyst to many in their spiritual path and with whom he came in contact by chance. Circumstances led to his being taken in his fold by Maharaj through another disciple in 1985, some 38 years after Maharaj took Samadhi.Though Dr. Shirvaikar did initially keep in contact with the scientific work related to environment he now keeps himself busy with spiritual topics. He wrote several articles on spiritual topics for the quarterly periodical Sai-Arpan including a ten part series on Datta-Parampara and another ten part series on Teachings of Dnyaneshwari.Dr Shirvaikar lives with his wife in Pune where he settled immediately after retirement from service. His two sons live in the USA.

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      The Eternal Wisdom Of Dnyaneshwari - Vassant Shirvaikar

      1

      Arjuna’s Despondency

      OBEISANCE

      Obeisance to the Supreme Soul who is in the form of AUM and whom only the Vedas can describe. My obeisance to you who are the Self and can only be experienced.¹ Oh God, you are Ganesha,who enables everybody’s intellect to understand everything. Thus says this disciple of Shri Nivruttinath.² (1:1–2).

      (Dnyaneshwar Maharaj in ovis (1:3–84)describes in beautiful poetic style the form of Ganesha, the God of Knowledge and remover of all obstacles comparing each part of the body to some branch of knowledge. He then offers obeisance to Sharada,³ the Goddess of learning and then praises his Guru, Nivruttinath, ascribing to him the credit for initiating the work and providing strength, enthusiasm and sense of devotion for fulfilling this immense task. He then extols the qualities of the Gita, which even great Rishis read respectfully and enjoy.

      From ovi (1:85) onwards is described the situation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra on the opening day of the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra, father of the Kauravas, being blind had requested Maharshi Vyasa to enable him to get the news about the war sitting at home. Maharshi Vyasa then empowered Dhritarashtra’s charioteer, Sanjaya with Divine vision that would enable him to see the events on the battlefield and describe them to the blind king.)

      Overcome by the love for his sons, Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya to describe the situation on the battlefield of Kurukshetra where his sons and the Pandavas have gone to fight each other. (1:85–87)

      Sanjaya replied, "There is a furious stir in the Pandava army like the waters at the time of the Great Flood. It is arranged in many strategic formations and looks terrifying. (1:88, 91).

      But Duryodhana looked at it with scorn and approaching Dronacharya, his teacher, he remarked, "Look at the various strategic formations of the Pandava army. It is Drishtadyumna, son of Drupada whom you taught and made an expert in the military arts, who has arranged these formations. (1:92–95). There are other warriors also in their army with strength and capability comparable to those of Bhima and Arjuna. They include the great warrior Yuyudhan, Virat and the great chariot-warrior Drupada. Also come for the war, are Chekitan, Dhrishtaketu, Kashiraj, Uttamouja and the great king Shaibya. Abhimanyu the son of Subhadra looks like a younger image of Arjuna. Other sons of Draupadi as well as many other warriors have also come." (1:99–102).

      Now I shall mention the names of the warriors fighting on our side too. Here is our Grand-uncle Bhishma with a capability as bright as sun. This brave Karna is like a lion. Then we also have the powerful stalwarts like Kripacharya, Vikarna, Ashwathama, Samitinjaya, Soumadatti and innumerable other warriors. (1:103–108, 109). Besides, Grand-uncle Bhishma has been appointed the chief of our army. His strength imparts this army the appearance of a fort. Who can face this army? On the other hand the Pandava army is very small, yet it appears huge to me. On top of it, that colossus Bhima has become the chief of their army." (1:115–120).

      After talking thus to Dronacharya, Duryodhana addressed the rest of the army and calling upon them to arrange themselves in proper formations, for their own protection and the protection of their great chariot-borne warriors, enjoined them to obey Bhishma. He also asked Dronacharya to protect Bhishma and give him as much respect as they gave him, since the strength of the entire army depended on Bhishma. (1:121–125). Hearing this, Bhishma was pleased and gave a battle cry and blew his conch, which frightened both the armies. (1:130).

      Now listen to the happenings in the Pandava army. (1:137). Shri Krishna whose love for his devotees is paramount, is acting as Arjuna’s charioteer out of love for him. Shri Krishna blew his Panchjanya conch which silenced the war cries of the Kaurava army. This was followed by the terrible sounds from Arjuna’s conch and the conches of the other Pandavas. Other warriors like Drupad, Kashiraj, Arjuna’s sons, Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Virat etc., also blew their conches, the sounds from which shook the earth. (1:142–143, 146–153). The disoriented Kaurava army was brought under control by their leaders who began to shower arrows on the Pandava army. (1:164–166).

      Feeling satisfied, Arjuna eagerly glanced at the army and when he saw the Kauravas ready for war he slowly picked up his bow. Then he asked Shri Krishna to take his chariot and place it in the middle of the two armies so that he could observe the great warriors who have come there to fight. He said, I must know with whom I must fight. These Kauravas generally are of evil nature and though they are eager for war they lack courage. (1:167–173). Thus reporting Arjuna’s speech to Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya further

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