Gems of Vedas

This is an attempt to collect some of the Great Sayings in our Vedas.

1. “Avichara- krito Bandhah, Vicharena Nivartate”- All bondage is due to either total lack of thinking, incomplete thinking or wrong thinking. It can be removed by right and complete thinking. (Tatva Bodham).

2. “Tat Doore, Tat-u-Antike” – It is distant and it is near. This alone can be the definition of the All-Pervading Atman. (Isavasya Upanishad-5). India is not only here, not in Delhi or Kolkata alone; it is there in Cape Comorin and in Mumbai also. The State called India is all-pervading, as far as the frontiers of this Country define it. Similarly, the Pure Consciousness, the Supreme reality, being all-pervading, it is at once near and the most distant.

3. “Sishya Papam, Gurum Vrajet” – For all the sins created by his students, the Guru is morally responsible . (Neethi Sastram).

4. “Yogah, Chitta Vrithi Nirodhah”- Yoga is the control of thought waves in the mind. (Patanjali).

5. “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshita” – Dharma will protect the one who protects Dharma. (Artha Sastram).

6. “Satyam Bhootahitam Priyam” – What is good and likable for all beings, by thoughts, speeches and actions, is Satyam(Truth). (Periyaval)

7. “Yadhe Chhasi Tadha Kuru” – Act as you choose. This is what Lord Krishna says to Arjuna at the end of His Gita Upadesam. (Gita: 18-63).

8. ” Raja Rashtra Kritam Papam ” – All the sins created by the people of the State will go to the Raja “. (Neethi Sastram).

9. “Muhurtham Jwalitham Shreyo natu Dhumayitam Chiram” – It is better to flame forth for one instant than to smoke away for ages. The context is- it is better to have such brilliant men like Vivekananda who lived for only 39 years and Adi sankara who lived for only 32 years.

10. “Shrutim Pashyanti Munayah” – The Rishis just saw the Vedas. They have not created them.

11. “Nishekati Shmashanantam” – From the womb to the tomb, a man has to undergo performance of 40 Samskaras. The first one ‘Nishekam’ and the last one ‘Cremation’ both are done with Agni as witness.

12. “Ksheene Punye Martyalokam Vishanti” – On the exhaustion of your ‘Punyams’, you will be pushed back to Earth. This is the limitation of Karma Marg.

13. “Gayatrim Chhandasam Mata” – Chhandas means Vedam. Gayatri is the mother of all Veda Mantras.

14. “Yogasya Prathama Dvaram Vak-nirodha” – The main entrance to the Yoga Empire is through ‘Silence’.

15. “Trividham Narakasyetam Dvaram Nashanam Atmana” – There are 3 gates which lead to the hell called ‘Atma Nasham’ – They are Kama, Krodha and Lobha (Lust, anger and greed).

16. “Athatho Dharma Jijnasah” – Let us therefore start the enquiry of Dharma.The Poorva Mimamsa (Karma Kanda) starts with this ‘Sutra’.

17. “Athatho Brahma Jijnasah” – Let us therefore inquire into the Brahman.The Uttara Mimamsa (Jnana Kanda) starts with this ‘Sutra’.

18. “Aho Niranjan” – O!, I am taintless, Serene- The Mavellous Self. This is how King Janaka expressed his “Joy of Realisation” on hearing the teachings of Sage Ashtavakra. You can tell this to yourself everyday morning, as soon as you wake up, just to boost up your own morale. It serves as ‘Inspiration’ whenever one undergoes depression.

19. “Shraddha-Bhakti-Dhyana-Yogad Avaihi “– Through Faith, Devotion and Meditation alone, you can know the Truth yourself.(Kaivalya Upanishad-Mantra 2 ).

20. “Me Nasti Kinchana, Athava Me Sarvam” – In fact, one way, nothing belongs to me; or in another way, everything is mine only. This is said by King Janaka in Ashtavakra Gita.

21. “Katham Jnanam Avapnoti” – Teach me this, O Lord, how can knowledge be acquired ?. The famous ‘Ashtavakra Gita’ starts with this Shloka. King Janaka is requesting Sage Ashtavakra.

22. “Ananda-param-anandah, Sah Bodhah Tvam Sukham Chara” – You are that Supreme – Consciousness- Bliss. With this in mind, live happily. This is what Ashtavakra tells Janaka.

23. “Mana eva Manushyanam Karanam Bandha-mokshayoh” – Mind alone is the cause for the state of Bondage or Liberation in man. It is upto us to use this mind for our liberation, by properly controlling it. (Upanishads).

24. “Brahmaveda Brahmaiva Bhavati” – The knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman. (Mundaka Upanishad).

25. “Bhavana Tanavam Moksha, Bandho hi Dridda Bhavana” – Thought- reduction is freedom; Thought-assertion is Bondage. The seeker must learn to rise above his desire-promptings. There is no other escape. (Yoga Vasishta).

26. “Jnana-Hino Gurus Tyajyo” – Reject an incompetent and an ignorant Guru. Apart from knowledege, the essential qualification for a teacher is his own inner awakening, accomplished by the 3 means- of indifference, of equanimity and of logical reasoning. (Guru Gita). According to Ashtavakra, “Brahma nishtatvam”- the direct experience of the Self- is the most valid qualification for a teacher.

27. “Sukshmatvat-tad-Vijneyam” – Because of its subtlity, it (the Infinite Self) is ever incomprehensive. (Gita: 13-15)

28. “Nanavaptam-avaptavyam Varta eva cha Karmani” – Nor is there anything unattained by Me; yet, I engage Myself in action. (Lord Krishna in Gita:3-22). The Man of realisation has nothing to gain for Himself by undertaking an activity; nor, has He to lose anything by not doing. Yet, He is seen to be constantly engaged in various programmes of service.

29. “Dritiyat- vai Bhayam Bhavati” – The perception of the other is, indeed, the source of all fear. (Brahadaranyaka Upanishad)

30. “Samatvam Yoga Uchyate” – Evenness of mind is yoga. Equanimity within is spiritual life. (Gita: 2-48).

31. ” Yogah Karmasu Kausalam “ – Yoga is the dexterity in action. ie. Efficiency and dexterity in action is spiritual life. (Gita: 2-50)

32. “Yadrichha Labha Santushta” – He enjoys that “whatever comes to him unasked” (Gita:4-22). The wise one sits happily, sleeps happily, moves happily, speaks happily and eats happily.

33. “Sarva-arambha Parityagi, Gunatitah sa Uchyate” – Abandoning all undertakings, he is said to have crossed beyond the gunas. (Gita:14-25). The Man of Perfection has no vanity of ‘doership’.

34. “Atrana-atmanyaham iti Matir-bandhah” – To identify the Self with the ‘not-self’ – this is bondage of man. (Vivekachudamani: V-139)

35. “Kasminnu Bhagavo Vijnate, Sarvam Idam Vijnatam Bhavatiti” – Sire, what is that knowledge by knowing which all other knowledges become known. (Mundaka upanishad). The Self is “Knowledge of all knowledges”.

36. “Kshurasya Dhara Nishita Duratyaya Durgam Pathas-tat-kavayo Vadanti” – Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path difficult to cross and hard to tread-thus say the wise. (Katopanishad)

37. “Yato Vacho Nivartante, Aprapya Manasa Saha” – The Realm of Reality is there from where the mind along with speech returns disappointed. (Taittiriya Upanishad).

38. “Purnasya Purnam-adaya Purnam Evava Sishyate” – From the Whole, when the whole is negated, what remains is again the Whole. (Upanishadic Shanti Patha).

39. “Pasyamu-achakshuh sa Shrunomy-akarnah” – I see without eyes; hear without ears. (Kaivalya Upanishad, Mantra-21). The Wise-man, in his Self-Realisation, has ended completely his sense of doership and enjoyership.

40. “Na-abhinandati na Dveshti, Tasya Prajna Pratisthita” – Who neither rejoices nor hates, his wisdom is firm. (Gita: 2-57).

41. “Lokan- nodvijate cha yah” – And who cannot be agitated by the world. (Gita:12-15).

42. “Nirdosham hi Samam Brahma” – The Supreme is the flawless state, the same everywhere. (Gita: 5-19)

43. “Yat Chittam Tanmayo Bhavati Purushah” – Whatever springs in mind, man expresses it. (Yoga -Vasishta).

44. “Atmano Mokshartam, Jagat hitayacha” – For the salvation of one’s soul and the welfare of the world. (Vivekananda)

45. “Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” – The Truth is one, the wise call it by many names. (Upanishads)

46. “Sarve Santu Sukhina, Sarve Santu Niramaya” – May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from fear.

47. “Nama Sivaya cha Sivataraya cha” – Salutations unto Siva- the auspicious one; unto Sivatara – the one than whom none more auspicious can exist. (Sree Rudram).

48. “Sakaram-anurtam Viddhi, Nirakaram tu Nischalam” – All which have form are false; the formless is the changeless. (Ashtavakra Gita). The world of names and forms is only the imagination(Vikalpana) of the total-mind. It has no existence whasoever. The Self is Undisturbed, Profoundly Peaceful and ever -Formless.

49. “Tathatma – jnana-hinatma Kalo Jnasya na Labhyate” – Thus to the Man-of -Wisdom, there is no time when He is not aware of the Self-in-Him.(Yoga-Vasishta).

50. “Na Tvaham, Teshu te Mayi” – I am not in them; they are in Me. (Krishna says in Gita: 9-4)