Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-1
Despondency of Arjuna
I now bow to the goddess of learning who, with her novel graceful speech and mastery of arts and skills, holds the world spellbound. My worthy Guru seated in my heart has helped me to cross the flood of existence, and because of him I take special interest in discriminating knowledge. As the antimony applied to the eye extends a person’s vision and the hidden treasure reveals itself to him wherever he casts his eye, or one who has the philosopher’s stone in hand gains all desires, so by the grace of my Guru Nivritti all my desires are fulfilled. Therefore a wise person should serve his Guru and accomplish his object, even as by watering the trees at the base, its branches and leaves become fresh (21-25). or by a dip in the sea one acquires the merit of bathing at all holy places, or by a sip of nectar one enjoys the taste of all juices. So again and again I salute my Guru, who has fulfilled all my desires. Now listen to a profound tale (Mahabharata), the source of all arts and entertainments, the marvelous garden of trees in the form of discriminating thoughts - nay it is the source of joy, being the treasure-house of doctrines and the overfull ocean of nine ambrosial sentiments. Or one may say that it is the primal adobe become manifest, the origin of all lores and the dwelling-place of all sciences (26-30). It is the refuge of all the religions, the cynosure of holy men and the treasurechest of the lovely gems of goddess of learning. It seems that in the form of various stories the goddess of speech became manifest to the worlds by revealing herself to the high-minded Vyasa. This tale is, therefore, the queen of poetry and the source of respect, which literary works command; and from this tale the sentiments (rasas) have received their poetical flavour. From this tale onwards literary works became less arid and doubly sweet. Because the literary art became more erudite, spiritual knowledge became more agreeable and the fortunate state of happiness became perfect (31-35). Because of it, sweet things became sweeter, the erotic sentiment more elegant, and what is proper became popular and acceptable. |
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