Shri Guru Gita: Interactive Sanskrit Course
~ Verse 41 ~
Bow to the Guru’s feet and imbibe his
essence. Thus you will attain knowledge and
detachment. The karmas, which are at the root
of your ignorance, will be destroyed and the
cycle of rebirth will be brought to an end.
| Ajñaana mula haranam | |
| u – gnyaa – nu moo – lu hu – ru – num | |
| Note: In Sanskrit, placing an 'a' before a word often changes the meaning of the word to its opposite. Jñana means knowledge, and ajñana means ignorance. Remember the keyword mula from verse 26? We find it here again. It translates as source or root, so this phrase talks about the root of ignorance. | |
| janma karma | |
| jun – mu kur – mu | |
| Note: Janma means birth, while karma means the seeds of past actions that have not yet found fulfillment. They myst either sprout into future action, causing birth after birth, or be burnt by the grace of the Guru and the fire of Kundalini. | |
| nivaaranam | |
| nee – vaa – ru – num | |
| glue... | |
| Ajñaana mula haranam, janma karma nivaaranam | |
| Jñaana vairaagya | |
| gnyaa – nu vai – raa – gyu | |
| Note: Again, jñana means knowledge. Vairagya is an important word in yoga philosophy. The great sage Patanjali wrote in the Yoga Sutras that "Control over the mind's fluctuations comes from persevering practice (abhyasa) and nonattachment (vairagya)" (1.14). Nonattachment or renunciation can be thought of relative to material objects, or to more subtle phenomena - such as thought itself. The practice of pratyahara – stilling the mind – is the ultimate vairagya, and this in turn is the gateway to liberation. | |
| siddyartham | |
| sid – dyur – thum | |
Note: Siddhi literally translates as accomplishment. The siddhas are thus beings who are supremely accomplished. In this verse it gives the meaning 'attain'. |
|
| guru paado | |
| goo – roo paa – do | |
| Note: The feet of the guru | |
| dakam pibet | |
| du – kum pee – bayt | |
| glue... | |
| Jñaana vairaagya siddyartham, guru paado dakam pibet | |
| Now repeat the entire verse all together: | |
| Ajñaana mula haranam, janma karma nivaaranam; Jñaana vairaagya siddyartham, guru paado dakam pibet. | |
| and repeat it, concentrating on the keywords: | |
| Ajñaana mula haranam, janma karma nivaaranam; Jñaana vairaagya siddyartham, guru paado dakam pibet. | |
| Bow to the Guru’s feet and imbibe his essence. Thus you will attain knowledge and detachment. The karmas, which are at the root of your ignorance, will be destroyed and the cycle of rebirth will be brought to an end. | |
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