Saturday, 3 October 2020

Sri Sanath Sujatheeyam – Sri Mahabharath – Sri Shankarabhashyam - Intrduction

 


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.