prabhu bhala kinha mohi sikha dinhi, marajadi puni tumhari kinhi.
dhola, nagaar, sudra, pasu, nari, sakala tadna ke adhikari
This is from Sundarkand, verse 58. This particular paragraph caught my attention because of Arvind Pathak when he stated in his lecture that he was making a change in what Tulsidasa had to say. He took objection to the word tadna.
Ramayana is a beautiful story about Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman and their life story. Sunderkanda was written by Tulsidasji. Tulsidasji was an enlightened being who had tremendous compassion and power. When he wrote Sunderkanda, it is said that every other line was written by Hanumanji. Tulsidasji suffered a lot in his lifetime. He had an infectious power of sparking spiritual interest in many souls around him and Maya or Satan looked at him and his actions very unfavorably. They put him through many trials. It is said he composed many verses to help save people from suffering. All of his prayers and hymns are still very powerful and effective and help save many a soul, even to this day from pain and anguish. These include the Sunderkanda, Hanuman chalisa, Hanuman Bahuk, Hanuman Sankatamochana etc.
I have more about Tulsidas and Hanuman in my other blogs. Neem Karoli Baba was an avatar of Hanuman.
Like many stories in hinduism and in the bible, the stories are based on some truth and have a very profound meaning also. This verse 58 is a statement made by Ocean who is asking Rama forgiveness. Rama wanted to cross the ocean to reach Lanka and the ocean had to be crossed. However, the ocean would not let him pass. So, Ram takes his arrows out and wants to destroy the ocean and the ocean stated the verse 58 asking his forgiveness.
The translation of these 2 lines is as follows.
God has graced me by giving me a lesson and has made me a “marjadi” or told me my limitations (once again).
The following things should be beaten – drum, country bumpkin, low caste, animals (cattles) and women.
This, like many things in religion, on surface value seems senseless.
Just remember any scripture written by great souls like Tulsidas is NEVER meaningless. There always is a deeper meaning to it. If you read the interpretation of the Rubiyaat by Paramhansa Yogananda, we realize how incredible and spiritually profound the verses by Omar Khayaam are. On surface it seems like verses written by an alcoholic and womanizer but the truth is far deeper.
Let us take the word marjadi. Generally, especially the vaishnava take this literally as following some injunctions and follow many social restrictions. The real meaning of marjadi is – mar means to die and jadi is a misnomer of jaye meaning to be born again. Thus marjadi means to die and be born again. This is in all essence another word for Samadhi. It is very similar to what St. Paul said – “I die daily“. He of course meant that he goes into Samadhi daily.
Like most westerners and eventhose from India, everyone uses the word Samadhi very lightly. The truth is, it is rare and it is the crown jewel of Yoga. It is true and a rare soul can go into the highest Samadhi where the heart stops and breathing stops and the person seems dead. You need a living Guru to reach that stage for he alone knows the technique to bring you back to life. Hence the word Marjadi – meaning to die and be born again!
Back to the verse, first line – now the true and most beautiful meaning is uncovered! I am greatful to God because he graced me with Samadhi!
Line 2. The following things should be beaten – drum, country bumpkin, low caste, animals (cattles) and women.
This line gives us the method to reach Samadhi! Patanjali Bhagwan gave us Yoga Darshan, the primary treatise on Yoga. All other books on Yoga are subequent to it and have merely expounded on what Patanjali Bhagwan had to say.
In his book, he talks about the 5 obstacles to Samadhi and these obstacles have to be driven out (beaten out) before Samadhi can be reached. The 5 obstacles are Avidya (ignorance), Ego, Raga (attachment) Dvesha (hatred) and Abhivinesha (attachment to the body).
Line 2 thus talks about driving out the 5 obstacles in order to reach Samadhi.
1) Gavaar or country bumpkin – This obviously refers to Ignorance
2) Drum refers to Ego. Just like a drum is hollow and has no substance, makes a lot of noise, a soul driven by Ego has no substance and makes a lot of unnecessary statements
3) Naari or Women – Refers to attachment
4) Animal – Dvesha a purely animalistic tendency to abhor
5) Shudra – Refers to Abhinivesha or attachment to the body. The body is of low caste compared to the spiritual splendor of the soul!
The corresponding reference in Mahabharata and God talks with Arjuna by Yogananda are – Ego is Bhisma, ignorance is Kripacharya, Karna is attachment, Vikarna is Dvesha and Jaydratha is Abhinivesha.
Bhavin