The Guru is the same as the Self,
the same as
Consciousness itself.
This is the truth. This is the
absolute truth.
Those who seek wisdom should
make
every effort to find their Guru.
Guru buddhyaat | |
goo – roo bood - dhyaat | |
Note: The consonant combination "dh" means there is a slight aspiration, as though you have extra air following the pronunciation of each consonant. When it's doubled-up as it is here, first pronounce the 'd' then the 'dh'; then start smashing them together. In Sanskrit, there would be a subtle distinction of pronunciation between saying 'budhyat' or 'buddhyat'. It's as though there's a really small pause on the first d to give it a moment on its own, then you roll into the next 'dh'. It's subtle though - don't get stressed about it... Buddhi means intellect, the discrimination function of the mind. |
|
mano naanyat | |
mu - no naan - yut | |
Note: take the 'at' of the end of the prior word and add it to 'man'. What do you have? Atman, meaning the Self, the Soul. | |
satyam satyam | |
sut - yum sut - yum | |
Note: satyam means Truth. Repeating here it emphasizes the strength of this statement. | |
na samshayaha | |
nu sum - shu - yu - (hu) | |
Note: In Sanskrit there is a letter often seen at the end of words that looks like a colon : संशयः Samshaya means doubt, and na means not. So together this expression means 'without a doubt'. We also see it in verses 14, 73, 76, 82. |
|
Now repeat the first line all together... | |
Guru buddhyaat mano naanyat, satyam satyam na samshayaha | |
Tallaa bhaartham | |
tu - laa bhaar - tham | |
Note: bhaartham has two aspirated consonants: the consonant combination "bh" means there is a slight aspiration, as though you have extra air following the pronunciation of each consonant – bh is pronounced like 'abhor' In English, when we see a 'th', we always want to pronounce it like 'this' or 'that'. These are sounds that don't exist in Sanskrit. When you see the 'th', just give it extra air after the 't', like our word anthill. |
|
prayat nastu | |
pru - yut nus - too | |
kartavyo hi | |
kur - tuv - yo hee | |
Note: kartavyo literally means '[effort] should be made', but it kind of sounds like the English word cartagrapher – a mapmaker, and amps are used for looking / seeking. The point of keywords is to help you remember the English meaning so that, as you recite the Sanskrit you can simultaneously contemplate the meaning. And if a little word association like this can help you do so... go for it. | |
manishibhihi | |
mu - ni - shee - bhee - (hi) | |
Note: this word has both the short and the long 'i' - watch for the difference: the first is short, the second long, the third is long, and the fourth... is not an 'i' ... it is the visarga again - so we just bounce on the last vowel, giving a faint echo to the 'eee' sound. Here's how this word looks in Devanagari मनीषिभिः Manis is from manas, meaning mind, implying wisdom, one who thinks. |
|
Now repeat the second line all together... | |
Tallaa bhaartham prayat nastu, kartavyo hi manishibhihi | |
Now repeat the entire verse all together: |
|
Guru buddhyaat mano naanyat, satyam satyam na samshayaha; Tallaa bhaartham prayat nastu, kartavyo hi manishibhihi. | |
And with the keywords: | |
Guru buddhyaat mano naanyat, satyam satyam na samshayaha; Tallaa bhaartham prayat nastu, kartavyo hi manishibhihi. | |
The Guru is the same as the Self, the same as Consciousness itself. This is the truth. This is the absolute truth. Those who seek wisdom should make every effort to find their Guru. | |