Ishtopadesh Gatha 14

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

Utthanika (Prelude):

The disciple then asks, “It is truly astonishing! When wealth and material possessions are so difficult to acquire and also cause suffering in both worlds, why do people still not renounce such possessions?

इष्टोपदेश गाथा 14

विपत्तिमात्मनो मूढ:, परेषामिव नेक्षते दह्यमान-मृगाकीर्णवनान्तर – तरुस्थवत् ॥14॥

Vipattimātmano mūḍhaḥ, pareṣāmiva nekṣate
Dahyamāna-mṛgākīrṇa-vanāntara-tarus-thavat ॥14॥

Poetic Translation (Padyanuvad )

Van mein taru par baitha jaisa, man mein chintan karta hai,
Vanya-jantu ab jale mare sab, aag lagi van jarta hai.

Par ki chinta jaisi karta, apni chinta kab karta?
Moodh bana tan puni-puni dharta, marta hai puni-puni darta ॥14॥

Like a person sitting on a tree in a burning forest,
Thinking of how the wild animals are perishing, as the fire consumes the woods.

He worries about others’ plight but never reflects on his own.
Deluded, he repeatedly takes on bodies, dies, and fears death again and again.

The fool is not warned by seeing distress overtake others, he acts like the man who, seated on the top of a tree in the midst of a burning forest, sees deer and other living things perish, but does not think that the same fate is soon to overtake him!

Note – The acharya here gives us a true description of the individual blinded by the lusts of the world, who though surrounded by calamity and distress all round is still unable to check himself in time to turn to the true side of life, taking no warning by the fate of others.

Deliberation (vivechana)

When a forest, filled with deer, lions, tigers, and various other creatures, catches fire, a person may climb to the branch of a tall tree, thinking, “I have climbed high, and this fire cannot harm me.” Feeling secure, he becomes complacent. However, this ignorant individual fails to realize that, just as all the other creatures in the forest are burning before his eyes, he too will soon be reduced to ashes.

Similarly, an ignorant being constantly recalls the misfortunes that befall others due to wealth and material possessions but, like a drunken man intoxicated by liquor, he forgets the dangers and miseries that hover over his own life. He fails to focus on his own well-being.

It is also observed in the world that when a wealthy person witnesses others losing their property, homes, or fortunes, they rarely consider that the same fate may await them. The fire of time, which is consuming their possessions, will eventually spare no one. The wealth and property of the observer will also be destroyed by this same fire of time.

Isthopadesh Gatha 14 – Dwadasa Varshiya Shraman Sanskriti Swadhyaya Pathyakram

Anvayartha – (Mṛṇākīrṇa) Filled with animals such as deer, and (dahyamāna) burning with fire, (vanāntara) in a forest, (tarusthavat) like a person sitting on a tree, the (mūḍhaḥ) foolish being (pareṣāṁ) others’ (vipattim iva) misfortunes, does not see (ātmanḥ) his own misfortunes.

Bhāvārtha – Just as in a forest filled with dangerous animals such as lions, tigers, and snakes, and surrounded by fire burning everything, a person sitting on a tree may observe the animals running from the fire, yet does not notice the fire coming toward him or the danger from the wild animals. This is similar to how worldly beings, caught in their desires, see others suffering from death, disease, grief, fear, and various misfortunes but fail to recognize that the same sufferings may come to them as well. They continue to believe themselves to be happy and unaffected.

Uttānika – The disciple then says, “O Lord, what is the reason that people fail to see the impending misfortunes that come near them?” The Acharya responds, “Due to greed.” O child! People, attached to wealth and possessions, fail to notice even the misfortunes that approach them because of their greed. The reason for this is explained in Gatha 15.

Swadhyay Ishtopadesh Gatha 13 to 17

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 ( Gatha 12) | गाथा 13 ( Gatha 13 )| गाथा 14 | गाथा 15 | गाथा 16 | गाथा 17 | गाथा 18 | गाथा 19 | गाथा 20 | गाथा 21 | गाथा 22 | गाथा 23 | गाथा 24

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