Verses for Introspection

Maa Gurupriya

Verse No. 15 (15 Oct 2009)

 


   
   

 

   
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bhoge roga-bhayaṁ kule cyuti-bhayaṁ vitte nṛpālād-bhayaṁ

māne dainya-bhayaṁ bale ripu-bhayaṁ rūpe jarāyā bhayam |

śāstre vādi-bhayaṁ guṇe khala-bhayaṁ kāye kṛtāntād-bhayaṁ

sarvaṁ vastu bhayānvitaṁ bhuvi nṛṇāṁ vairāgyam-evābhayam ||

Vairāgyaśatakam 31

Translation:
In enjoyment, there is fear of disease; in family reputation, there is fear of falling; in wealth,
there is fear of kings; in prestige/pride, there is fear of misery; in power, there is fear of
enemy or adversary; in beauty, there is fear of old age; in scriptural erudition, there is fear of
learned opponents; in virtue, there is fear of wicked vilifying person; in body, there is fear of
death. For human beings, everything in this world is coupled/associated with fear. Vairāgya
(dispassion towards worldly enjoyments) alone bestows fearlessness.

Points for Introspection:

Everybody wants to be joyful and happy in this world. However, such a state is rarely had as
life is full of anxiety, tension and fear. If we look into ourselves we find how the mind is
fearful every moment regarding even small and insignificant matters. A student is fearful of
getting scolded by the parents or teachers on not being able to secure good marks. A
housewife is fearful whether the children will be brought up well or even whether others will
appreciate the food she has cooked. A professional is fearful of interaction with colleagues,
boss or subordinates.

© Narayanashrama Tapovanam, 2009

Our life is full of a number of desires and expectations. We want to possess the things we
desire. Not only wealth or property, but fame, position, importance, and so on. As we acquire
possessions we become attached to them. For fear of losing these possessions, life becomes
more and more full of anxiety every moment.
This shloka points out how everything in life is laden with fear. If we have things to enjoy,
may be plenty of whatever we desire, still we are not happy. Because associated is the fear
whether we will have the health to enjoy. May be very good food is prepared everyday but
one who has a weak stomach cannot enjoy any of that.
If we are proud of our lineage, then there is fear of losing that reputation. Family members
may misbehave or become immoral to spoil the reputation. Suppose one has acquired a lot of
property, the fear will be that the King (or the Administration) may confiscate the property. If
it is not the fear of the King or Administration, it will be the fear of being robbed by thieves
and dacoits.
If one has prestige or fame, there is always the fear of being humiliated. If we are powerful,
then we will be scared of the enemy who might be even more powerful. If we are proud of
our beauty, then we are afraid of old age debility. How much time and energy people spend
in protecting their beauty and youth!
In scriptural erudition, there is fear of getting defeated by another scholar. In having merits
and qualities, we have the fear that some wicked person may vilify us. Above everything, as
long as we have the body, we are afraid of death.
So, what is there in this world that is not associated with fear? Where lie peace and joy then?
How to get rid of this fear? Is there any state where we will be free of fear?
This shloka tells us where lies that abode of fearlessness. It says fear arises only when we
have a sense of possessiveness, when we hold on to things as mine. All fear is about losing
the possessions. So, to be fearless one must have Vairāgya – dispassion. What does
dispassion mean in essence? Dispassion means desirelessness. Know that nothing belongs to
us. Know that every possession is fleeting, transitory. Know that the sense of possession
causes fear and anxiety. So, the redemption from fear (Abhaya) lies in getting rid of
possessiveness.
This is a very powerful shloka. When chanted repeatedly concentrating on the meaning of the
words, it generates intense dispassion towards the ordinary worldly desires, revealing the
transitoriness and perishability of all worldly gains. It lifts us up to the realm of fearlessness
and freedom.

Word Meaning:

 (bhoge) = in enjoyment; 
 (roga-bhayam) = fear of disease;

 

(kule) = in lineage;  
  (cyuti-bhayam) = fear of falling down; 
 
(vitte) = in wealth; 
 
  (nGpālāt bhayam) = fear of kings;  

(māne) = in prestige; 
 (dainya-bhayam) = fear of misery; 
 (bale)

= in power; 
 
(ripu-bhayam) = fear of enemy/adversary ;  (rūpe)

= in beauty; 
 (jarāyā bhayam) = fear of old age;   (śāstre) = in
scriptural erudition;  
 (vādi-bhayam) = fear of learned opponents;
  (guMe) = in virtue; "

 (khala-bhayam) = fear of wicked vilifying
!

person;  (kāye) = in body; # 
  (kGtāntāt bhayam) = fear of

death; $N (sarvam) 
= all; &  (vastu) = things;
 ' (bhayānvitam) =
   (nGMām) = of mankind;
 (bhuvi) = in the world; !
filled with fear;

(  (vairāgyam) = non-expectation, disattachment; Q (eva) = alone;

R
 (abhayam) = fearlessness;

R'S

   


 
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 ।

bhoge roga-bhayaṁ, kule cyuti-bhayaṁ, vitte nṛpālāt bhayaṁ, māne dainya-

bhayaṁ, bale ripu-bhayaṁ, rūpe jarāyā bhayam, śāstre vādi-bhayaṁ, guṇe
khala-bhayaṁ, kāye kṛtāntāt bhayam. nṛṇāṁ bhuvi sarvaṁ vastu bhayānvitam.
vairāgyaṁ eva abhayam.

* * *

Narayanashrama Tapovanam
Venginissery, P.O. Paralam, Trichur, Kerala, India
http://www.brahmavidya.org