Sri Sanath Sujatheeyam – Sri Mahabharath –
Sri Shankarabhashyam
Chapter – 1 – Introduction
Sanath Sujatheeya consists of the
marvelous verses of Gnana Upadhesha by Maharishi
Sanathsujatha/Sanathkumara to Dhritarashtra, in the Udhyogaparva of Sri
Mahabharath, the conversation took place between Rishi Sanathsujatha and
Dhritarashtra in the four chapters is named as Gnana Upadhesha.
Pandavas return from the Vanavasa and
one year of Ajjathavasa, the haughty Duryodhana
make all efforts to make their life miserable and refuses to follow his
promises give even a tiny piece of land has the size of the tip of the needle
to the Pandavas. At that moment, there was no option left before the Pandavas
other than defeating the Kauravas in the battle and achieve the Kingdom of
Hastinapura. Dhritarashtra who was blind by birth, have been witnessing all
the atrocities of his sons have become a complete failure to restrain his sons
from the immoral activities against the Pandavas who are the essence of Dharma,
he was thoroughly aware of the consequences of the battle between Pandava and
Kauravas hence lost his peace. He was quite confident that the battle between
Pandavas and Kauravas would definitely wipe out his entire clan, therefore he
wanted to put a hold on the great war of Kurukshetra, and eventually, he lost sleep.
On that night, he ordered his sincere attendant to bring his younger brother
Vidura who has profound knowledge in Asthras and Shastras, a great companion
and advisor to Dhritarashtra. At that moment, Vidura advises Dhritharashtra
about the Do’s and Don’ts in detail, but Dhritharashtra sincerely wanted to
follow all those advice remains helpless to follow any, reveals his inability
to Vidura, the fruitful suggestions given to
Dhritarashtra was known as ‘Viduraneethi’. Vidura understood that, without the
knowledge of that all-pervasive supreme Bhramam/Athmajjyanam, Dhritarashtra
could not get relieved from his grief. The Upanishad describes ‘Tharathi Shokam
Athmavith’, the knower of the Athman that has no birth or death, changeless,
eternal, and free from impurities and affliction will easily get rid of the
miseries and grief. Vidura who was born from the Shudra woman and Maharishi
Vedavaysa, considered himself as not qualified to give ‘Athmajjyanam’ to his
elder brother Dhritarashtra. Hence, Vidura with his Yogic power invoked the
illustrious Sanathkumara, mind-born son of Bhrama to impart the supreme
knowledge of Bhramam to Dhritarashtra. Vidura received the Maharishi
Sanathkumara with great reverence and requests him to advice his elder brother
Dhritarashtra who is extremely anguish, without the knowledge of that supreme
Bramham. Further, Sage Sanathkumara appears before Dhritharashtra and imparts
the knowledge of the all-pervasive Bhramam, the Athma Thaththva Upadhesha is
known as ‘Sanath Sujatheeyam’.
Sri Adhishankaracharya’s commentary on
Prasthanathrayi, Bhramasuthra,
Upanishad, Bhagavadgita, Vishnusahasranama,
Sanathsujatheeyam, and Lalithathrishthi, highly speaks about the concept of
Moksham as ‘Gnana Deva Thu Kaivalyam’, without Gnana/wisdom it is impossible to
achieve Moksha. Acharya states that ‘
Pramadho Vai Mrithyu:’ the lethargy/laziness is considered as Mrithyu/death, ‘Chiththasya
Shudhdhaye Karma Na Thu Vasthu
Upalabhdhaye”/ the righteous deeds provide the purity of intellect, without
the performance of pious deeds it is impossible to attain serenity of
mind/Chiththshuddhi and Moksha. Acharya
strongly affirms that ‘Jeevo Bhramaiva Napara:’ Jeeva is nothing but
Bramham. The ‘Sanathasujatheeyam’
describes the qualities required for a Moksharththi and the Dhosha/impurities
to be abandoned.
