Ishtopadesh Gatha 12

English Translation of Acharya Pujyapada swami’s Ishtopadesh – Deliberation (vivechana) and Poetic Translation by Acharya shri Vidyasagarji maharaj

Utthanika (Prelude):

Here, the disciple asks:
“Swamin! It is understood that a soul attains true happiness in liberation (moksha), but what is the harm if a being remains happy in the worldly existence (samsara)? After all, every living being in this world desires happiness. What is so flawed about worldly existence that saints and wise men strive to renounce it and work towards its destruction? Why is the effort to transcend the world necessary?”

In response, the Acharya says:
“O dear one, listen carefully.”

इष्टोपदेश गाथा 12

विपद्भवपदावर्ते पदिकेवातिवाह्यते यावत्तावद्भवन्त्यन्या: प्रचुरा विपद: पुर: ॥12॥

Vipadbhaavapadaavarte padikevaativahyate
Yaavattaavadbhavantyanyaah prachuraa vipadah purah || 12 ||

Poetic Translation (Padyanuvad )

Bhare reetate kuchh bharate ghat, tab tak yah kram chalta hai,
Ghati-yantra ka paribhraman vah, jab tak rehta chalta hai.

Isi bhaanti bhavasagar mein bhi, ek aapda talti hai,
Kayi aapdaayein aa sanmukh, mohi jan ko chalti hain. || 12 ||

The Samsara (transmigratory condition) is like a wheel at a well, where before one bucketful of distress is got over a large number of afflictions overtake the soul!

Note : The thoughtful mind only discovers the world to be full of misery and pain in all conditions. No one thinks of associating happiness with the conditions of existence in the lower grades of life. The treses are rooted to the spot and remain perpetually exposed to the inclemency of seasons; they are further subjected to all kinds of afflictions in the shape of cutting. Piercing, burning, uprooting and the like. The smaller insects are destroyed by the thousand by the careless movements of their bigger fellow-beings. No one cares for their writhings and suffering. The birds and beasts and fishes are seized and devoured mercilessly by animals and men. Man himself is a constant prey to the fear of death, and lives in perpetual dread of calamity and misfortune. Those even who may be regarded as favourites of fortune are troubled with many kinds of mental and bodily troubles of their own and of their relations and friends. And at the end of a career, even where it has been the least undesirable, there is nothing more comforting than the grave or the burning pyre to look forward to. Death and the blankness of death ever stare the thinking being in the face. Human life is short and the best of its conditions is ephemeral and fleeting; you have hardly celebraterd the advent of a joy when its place is taken by affliction in some form or other. Those who are unlucky spend their whole time in crying and lamentations. Their suffering ceases enen to excite the pity of the passers by, by its frequency. Some of them actually experience all the excruciation horrors of hell-life without being in hell, Kings and millionaires and potentates are no exceptions; they are subject of the pain and misery which the flesh is heir to. To acharya therefore, justly says that this world of transmigratory life is so full of suffering and pain that you have hardly got-over one affliction when its place has been filled up with a dozen others. The wise should, therefore, only seek to obtain release from the world to obtain nirvana where there is eternal peace and joy and life unending.

Deliberation (vivechana)

The Ghatiyantra (Persian wheel), commonly known as rahat, consists of a series of buckets linked together in a chain. This mechanism is operated either by oxen, machines, or manual labor. As the wheel rotates, the buckets alternately fill with water and empty out. Similarly, in the cycle of worldly life, when a soul manages to overcome one affliction, five hundred new challenges stand before it.

When summer departs, winter arrives. In summer, sweaters are stored away, while in winter, they are brought out again. During winter, coolers and fans are put aside, and heating appliances are used instead. Life operates in much the same way: when pleasure (sata) comes, pain (asata) soon follows, and when pain subsides, pleasure returns. This endless cycle continues, and life flows on as:

“The sun sets, the moon hides,
The seasons return again and again.
This dear life slips away unnoticed.”
(Mangatray, Barah Bhavana)

Through the six seasons and three distinct climates, a year passes. The cycle repeats year after year. From the beginning of life to its end, these patterns—years, solstices, seasons, months, fortnights, days of the week, and lunar phases—persist unchanging. In this way, life comes to its close, never free from afflictions. The worldly soul spends its existence striving to avoid hardships, only to find itself progressing from the beginning of life (arth) toward its inevitable end (iti).

One day, life reaches its conclusion, symbolized by the saying, “Ram Naam Satya Hai” (The name of God is the only truth). And then what? The soul moves on to another place, where a new worldly existence begins, and with it, a fresh set of trials and tribulations. For a while, there may be mourning and sorrow, but soon everyone forgets. Despite this reality, people fail to grasp the transient nature of life.

A single drop of honey on someone’s body may attract five hundred bees, stinging the person relentlessly until they lose consciousness, and perhaps their life. Similarly, people strive to immortalize their fleeting lives, but such efforts are ultimately misplaced. True efforts should align with the understanding of permanence and liberation, not in clinging to transient existence.

In Rashtrapati Bhavan, one might think that the President always lives in great peace and happiness, but such solitude does not exist. In fact, they face the greatest number of challenges. While most people work for eight hours and then have time to relax, the President is occupied 24/7. Calls keep coming in—at midnight or in the middle of the afternoon—always bringing news of issues that need to be addressed. Their life appears serene on the outside, but internally it is full of responsibilities and turmoil.

It’s like when a fan is running during a hot windstorm. The fan’s cool breeze turns hot, and people sometimes say, “Turn the fan off, there’s no benefit.” Similarly, when mental stress builds up, even external comforts like cooling treatments, cold water, or ice fail to bring relief. The inner heat of restless thoughts—desires and conflicts—remains. Until these turbulent thoughts subside, no amount of soothing words or comforts can help.

Even in a luxurious and well-ventilated palace, one can feel the sting of pain if the mind is preoccupied with conflicts and desires. The comforts of the place fail to provide peace or happiness. Similarly, the soul inherently contains knowledge, peace, and bliss. However, instead of recognizing this inner treasure, people become engrossed in external objects and their evaluation. When the mind fixates on sources of external pleasure or pain, karmic bonds form. These bonds manifest as pleasure or suffering based on one’s actions, perpetuating the cycle of cause and effect.

This cycle of attachment (raga) and aversion (dvesha) continues, leading to new challenges. Before one problem is resolved, countless others arise. It is futile to hope for a life entirely free from challenges or afflictions.

We are living in the fifth era (panchama kal), known as the “era of misery” (dukhama kal). In Sanskrit, kali means conflict, struggle, or quarrel. How can true happiness be attained in such a time? During this period, physical and mental suffering are inevitable but still bearable. However, when the unbearable phase of suffering begins, it will mark the transition to an even harsher era, dukhama-dukhama kal.

In this phase, suffering will become intolerable, comparable to the constant torment in hellish realms. The human population will drastically decline, leaving only 72 couples to continue the species. Even the tiryancha (animals and lower beings) will experience endless suffering, cycling between lower births without respite. This is the harsh reality of existence in the fifth era of time.

Understanding this truth, one should strive to overcome ignorance and seek the path to liberation, focusing on the inner self and detaching from the illusions of worldly pleasures.

The dukhama era (the age of suffering) is akin to twilight. During twilight, some things are still visible, but in the night that follows, nothing is discernible. Similarly, the dukhama-dukhama era is like complete darkness, where no trace of spirituality or religion can be found. Hence, in this fifth era, it is still possible to mitigate some suffering. Today, we do not endure the kind of suffering faced by beings in hell. As long as livelihoods such as farming, crafts, and other activities exist, sources of comfort can still be accessed. However, in the sixth era, all these forms of sustenance and skills will vanish. Knowledge, craftsmanship, and even houses will disappear. People will live on trees or in burrows, consuming soil at night, fighting and killing one another for survival, and resorting to cannibalism.

In the sixth era, there will only be extreme and incessant suffering. Compared to that, the current era is much more favorable. Even though complete happiness is unattainable in this era, we still have the means to achieve partial comfort. The sixth era will leave no room for laughter, and the expression of joy itself will cease to exist. Today, we still encounter people who laugh and smile, but during the sixth era, moments of happiness will be almost nonexistent. Religion and righteousness (dharma-karma) will completely disappear, leaving behind a life of constant despair and misery.

Thus, it is crucial to use this time wisely. Even amidst limited suffering, strive for peace and pursue methods to attain happiness. At the very least, the means to cultivate happiness and spiritual progress are still available in this era. While complete liberation may not be achievable, efforts toward partial spiritual happiness are possible. Therefore, before the arrival of the dukhama-dukhama era, worship the Arihantas and the Siddhas, even if it means doing so amidst tears. The future does not promise a time for peaceful reflection or spiritual practices. There won’t be opportunities to accumulate merit (punya).

Make the most of this era by earning enough spiritual merit to avoid being reborn during the sixth era. Instead, one could spend time in other regions and later return to pursue the path of the Ratnatraya (right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct). There are 170 karma-bhumi (worlds of karma). Out of these, ten regions—the five Bharata and five Airavata regions—experience this fifth era, while the remaining 160 worlds remain in a state of dukhama-sukhama (moderate suffering and happiness). These regions are untouched by the cyclic struggles we face here.

Life’s challenges increase with progression, just as educational subjects become more complex as students move to higher grades. In the first grade, learning is straightforward, but as one advances, the workload and subjects expand. Even a brilliant student may find it overwhelming and feel unprepared for exams if they have not studied adequately. Similarly, as the range of sensory pleasures expands, so does the need for their maintenance and protection. This growth inevitably leads to greater suffering, as the associated challenges also multiply.

Thus, in this fifth era, as challenges grow, one must remain mindful and dedicate efforts toward spiritual progress, ensuring that suffering does not consume the opportunity to move toward liberation.

Isthopadesh Gatha 12 – Dwadasa Varshiya Shraman Sanskriti Swadhyaya Pathyakram

Literal Meaning:
In the wheel of the world (bhava-ghatayantra), which operates like a water-lifting mechanism (a wheel with foot-operated paddles), just as one affliction (vipad) is removed, many other afflictions (vipadas) arise in its place. Similar to the water-filled buckets that continuously surface in a wheel-driven water-lifting system, as one empties, others quickly follow.

Interpretation:
The wheel of existence, like a water-lifting mechanism from a well, requires constant effort to deal with the challenges it presents. As one physical, mental, or external affliction is resolved, numerous others come forward. For example, in a well’s water-lifting system, stepping on the paddle empties one water-filled bucket, but several other filled buckets immediately appear. Similarly, in the well of worldly existence, as one affliction is endured, hunger, thirst, or other difficulties emerge as a result of accumulated karma.

Thus, the world is a reservoir of afflictions and turmoil. It is an endless cycle where resolving one problem often brings many more to the forefront.

Uthanika (Prelude):
A disciple poses a question to the Archarya (master) :
“Bhagavan! Not all worldly beings seem to be afflicted. Many appear to be living in prosperity. How should one understand this?”

To this, the Acharya provides an explanation in Gatha 13

Swadhyay Ishtopadesh Gatha 11 & 12

Swadhyay Ishtopadesh Gatha 12 & 13

Ishtopadesh Swadhyay youtube playlist

इष्टोपदेश Ishtopadesh

गाथा 1 (Gatha 1) | गाथा 2 ( Gatha 2 )| गाथा 3 ( Gatha 3)| गाथा 4 ( Gatha 4) | गाथा 5 ( Gatha 5) | गाथा 6 ( Gatha 6 )| गाथा 7 ( Gatha 7 )| गाथा 8 ( Gatha 8 ) | गाथा 9 ( Gatha 9 ) | गाथा 10 ( Gatha 10)| गाथा 11 ( Gatha 11 )| गाथा 12 | गाथा 13 | गाथा 14 | गाथा 15 | गाथा 16 | गाथा 17 | गाथा 18 | गाथा 19 | गाथा 20 | गाथा 21

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