श्रीकृष्णस्य वचसां परत्वम्

Posted on by

श्रीश्यामसुन्दरमनोहरदिव्यरूपम्
यायान्मनो मम यदा कृपयेश्वरस्य ।
वाग्भिर्वदेयमहमस्य कथं नु कीर्तिम्
सत्यं खलु श्रुतिवचो वचसां परोऽयम् ॥

ईश्वर की कृपा से मेरा मन जब श्री श्यामसुन्दर के मनोहर दिव्य रूप पर आता है तब मैं इसकी महिमा शब्दों द्वारा कैसे कहूँ? श्रुति का वचन सत्य ही तो है : यह (रूप) वाक्यों से परे है।

~ पारस महेता

śrī-śyāmasundara-manohara-divya-rūpam
yāyān mano mama yadā kṛpayeśvarasya
vāgbhir vadeyam aham asya kathaṁ nu kīrtim
satyaṁ khalu śruti-vaco vacasāṁ paro ‘yam

Out of the mercy of the Lord when my mind goes to the divine, charming form of Śrī Śyāmasundara, how can I describe its glory with words? The statement of the śruti is indeed true: He is beyond words.

— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

परजयकामनाभावः (Absence of a Desire to Defeat Others)

Posted on by
नैवोपक्रमते योगी पराणां मतखण्डने ।
स्वात्मनि सुस्थितस्तुष्टः पराञ्जेतुं न काङ्क्षति ॥
 
योगी दूसरों के मतों का खंडन करने हेतु कभी प्रयत्न नहीं करता। स्वयं में अच्छी तरह स्थित हो कर वह सन्तुष्ट है; अतः वह दूसरों पर विजय प्राप्त करना नहीं चाहता।
 
केवलं शिष्यशिक्षार्थं सिद्धान्तं स्पष्टयन्सुधीः ।
निराकृत्य मतान्दुष्टान् प्रकाशयति सन्मतम् ॥
 
केवल शिष्यों को सिखाने हेतु वह प्रज्ञावान योगी सिद्धान्त को स्पष्ट करते हुए दुष्ट मतों का निराकरण कर सच्चे मत को प्रकाशित करता है।
 
~ पारस मेहता
 
naivopakramate yogī
parāṇāṁ mata-khaṇḍane
svātmani susthitas tuṣṭaḥ
parāñ jetuṁ na kāṅkṣati
 
A yogī never tries to refute the opinions of others. Satisfied with being situated in his own self, he does not desire to defeat others.
 
kevalaṁ śiṣya-śikṣārthaṁ
siddhāntaṁ spaṣṭayan sudhīḥ
nirākṛtya matān duṣṭān
prakāśayati san-matam
 
Only for the purpose of teaching his students, the wise yogī, while clarifying the conclusive truth, refutes the wrong opinions and brings up the true understanding.
 
— Sanskrit verses composed and translated by Paras Mehta

सत्यो मार्गः (True Path)

Posted on by
श्रेष्ठो मे मार्ग इत्याहुः ये जनास्ते विमोहिताः ।
सत्यो मे मार्ग इत्याहुः तेषां प्रज्ञा व्यवस्थिता ॥
~ पारस मेहता
 
śreṣṭho me mārga ityāhuḥ
ye janāste vimohitāḥ
satyo me mārga ityāhuḥ
teṣāṁ prajñā vyavasthitā
 
जो लोग कहते हैं कि मेरा मार्ग श्रेष्ठ है वे विमोहित हैं। जो लोग कहते हैं कि मेरा मार्ग सच्चा है उन की बुद्धि व्यवस्थित है।
 
જે લોકો કહે છે કે મારો માર્ગ શ્રેષ્ઠ છે એ વિમોહિત છે. જે લોકો કહે છે કે મારો માર્ગ સાચો છે એમની બુદ્ધિ વ્યવસ્થિત છે.
 
Those who say that “My way is the best” are bewildered. Those who say that “My way is correct” have a proper understanding.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रशस्तिः (Glorification of Śrī Rāmacandra)

Posted on by
अचलवचनभाषी राघवो रामचन्द्रः
स्वपदधरणिसङ्गात् लोकमाङ्गल्यकारी ।
नरपतिवरशीलः श्रेष्ठकोदण्डपाणिः
अभयवरदहस्तो राजतामन्तरे नः ॥
~ पारस मेहता
 
acala-vacana-bhāṣī rāghavo rāmacandraḥ
svapada-dharaṇi-saṅgāt loka-māṅgalyakārī
narapati-vara-śīlaḥ śreṣṭha-kodaṇḍa-pāṇiḥ
abhaya-varada-hasto rājatām antare naḥ
 
रघुवंशीय श्रीरामचन्द्र, जिनके वचन अचल हैं, जिन्होंने अपने चरणों से धरती का संग कर के लोगों का मंगल किया था, जिनका चरित्र श्रेष्ठ राजा की भाँति है, जो अपने हाथ में श्रेष्ठ धनुष धारण करते हैं, जिनका हाथ अभयता का वरदान देता है, वे हमारे हृदय में विराजें।
 
રઘુવંશ માં અવતરિત શ્રીરામચંદ્ર, જેમના વચનો અચલ છે, જેમણે પોતાના ચરણોં નો ધરતી સાથે સંગ કરીને લોકો નું મંગળ કર્યુ હતું, જેમનુ ચરિત્ર શ્રેષ્ઠ રાજા જેવુ છે, જે પોતાના હાથમાં શ્રેષ્ઠ ધનુષ ધારણ કરે છે, જેમનો હાથ અભયતા નું વરદાન આપે છે, એ આપણા હૃદયમાં વિરાજે.
 
May Śrī Rāmacandra who appeared in the dynasty of Raghu, who with the touch of his feet with the earth caused well-being for everyone, whose conduct is of the best of kings, who holds the best bow in his hand, who bestows the blessing of fearlessness with his hand, reside gloriously in our hearts.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

कृष्णभक्तिमहिमा (Greatness of Krishna-bhakti)

Posted on by
भक्तिस्तु कृष्णे गहना गभीरा
न बुद्धिहीना न विरागशून्या ।
ज्ञानस्य काष्ठा परमा प्रवृद्धा
वैराग्यविद्या परितोषदा सा ॥
~ पारस मेहता
 
bhaktis tu kṛṣṇe gahanā gabhīrā
na buddhi-hīnā na virāga-śūnyā
jñānasya kāṣṭhā paramā pravṛddhā
vairāgya-vidyā paritoṣadā sā
 
श्रीकृष्ण के प्रति भक्ति गहन है और गहरी है। वह बुद्धिहीन और विरक्तिहीन नहीं है। वह ज्ञान का सबसे ऊंचा और परिपक्व रूप है, वैराग्य की विद्या है और संपूर्ण संतोष प्रदान करती है।
શ્રીકૃષ્ણ પ્રત્યેની ભક્તિ ગહન અને ઊંડી છે. તે બુદ્ધિ વગરની કે વૈરાગ્ય વગરની નથી. તે જ્ઞાનનું સર્વોચ્ચ અને સૌથી પરિપક્વ સ્વરૂપ છે, વૈરાગ્યની વિદ્યા છે, અને સંપૂર્ણ સંતોષ આપે છે.
Bhakti unto Shri Krishna is rare and very deep. It is not bereft of knowledge or detachment. It is the highest and most developed form of knowledge, the method of renunciation, and gives complete satisfaction.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

Course on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam

Posted on by
A course on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the greatest Purāṇic text, with Sanskrit commentary
The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is likened to the ripened fruit of the desire-yielding tree of the Veda. It is the sāra, quintessence, of Vedic knowledge. Its study elevates one’s consciousness to the realm of pure being and bliss.
It has twelve sections and deals with ten topics: sarga(fundamental creation), visarga (subsequent creation), sthiti (regulation), poṣaṇa (nourishment), ūti-s (impetus for activity), manvantara (time periods of Manus), īśānukathā (activities of avataras of Bhagavan Vishnu), nirodha (annihilation), mukti (liberation), āśraya (ultimate shelter). The tenth topic, āśraya, is the main topic of the Bhāgavatam.
In this course, the students will gain an in-depth understanding of the following:
1) Philosophy of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
2) Nature of the ultimate reality
3) Various avataras of Bhagavan Vishnu
4) The ultimate gain
5) The means to attain it
Method: Each verse will be explained by analysing the Sanskrit and referring to a Sanskrit commentary.
Philosophical and theological sections will be explained in great detail. The medium of teaching will be English.
Classes will be conducted online through Zoom, every Tuesday and Saturday 7-8 PM IST.
The initial aim of the course is to complete the first section (751 verses) out of the 12 sections of the Bhāgavatam in 84 classes.
Recorded video classes will be available to all registered participants.
Course begins: 5-Feb-2022, Saturday, 7-8 PM IST
Eligibility: Respect for Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
Teacher: Paras Mehta
PhD Research Scholar [Philosophy]
Research Associate, EFEO
M.A. Sanskrit [Indian Philosophy]
Fees: Rs. 500/- per month
To register, contact the teacher at
Email: psmehta.in@gmail.com
Phone: +91 7045083765

किं नाम नम्रता (What is Humility)

Posted on by
नम्रता नास्ति दीनत्वं नापि पामरता च सा ।
पारतन्त्र्यं च भीरुत्वं मूढत्वमपि सा न हि ॥
 
सति ज्ञाने च सामर्थ्ये माने धनेऽपि वैभवे ।
दर्पदम्भविहीनत्वे परादरो हि नम्रता ॥
 
~पारस मेहता
 
namratā nāsti dīnatvaṁ
nāpi pāmaratā ca sā
pāratantryaṁ ca bhīrutvaṁ
mūḍhatvamapi sā na hi
 
sati jñāne ca sāmarthye
māne dhane’pi vaibhave
darpa-dambha-vihīnatve
parādaro hi namratā
 
नम्रता नाम का गुण कोई नीच स्थिति नहीं है, न वह बदहाली है, न वह परतन्त्रता, डरपोकपन अथवा मूर्खता है।
ज्ञान, सामर्थ्य, सम्मान, धन, और वैभव के होने के बावजूद, बिना किसी अहंकार और घमण्ड के रहते हुए दूसरों का आदर ही नम्रता है।
 
The quality called humility is neither a lowly state of being, nor is it wretchedness, and nor is it dependence on others, timidity, or being foolish.
Being without conceit and arrogance in spite of having knowledge, competence, respect, wealth and grandeur, and having respect for others is called humility.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

यशोदायाः मातृकोपः (Yaśodā’s Maternal Anger)

Posted on by
यह पद्य मञ्जुभाषिणी वृत्त मे मेरी पहली रचना है।
This is my first composition in the Mañju-bhāṣiṇī meter.
 
अवलोक्य भग्नकलशं यशोमती
स्वशिशोरुपद्रव इदं विजानती ।
विरचय्य वेषमवधृत्य दण्डकं
कुपिता गता प्रियसुतं प्रताडितुम् ॥
~ पारस मेहता
 
avalokya bhagna-kalaśaṁ yaśomatī
sva-śiśor upadrava idaṁ vijānatī
viracayya veṣam avadhṛtya daṇḍakaṁ
kupitā gatā priya-sutaṁ pratāḍitum
 
टूटे हुए मटके को देखकर यशोमती यह जानती हुई कि यह उसके बच्चे का उत्पात है, अपना वेष ठीक कर हाथ में छोटा डण्डा ले कर क्रोध से भरी, अपने प्रिय पुत्र को डाँटने चल पड़ी।
 
On seeing the broken pot Yaśomatī knew that this is her child’s mischief. Arranging her attire and taking a small stick in hand, she set out to chastise her beloved son.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

संस्कृतभारती (Sanskrit Speech [Language])

Posted on by
शुद्धा सुरूपा मधुरा सुरम्या
कण्ठ्यादिवर्णा ऋषिसेव्यमार्गा ।
प्रज्ञाविधात्री शमशान्तिकर्त्री
क्रपेत मां संस्कृतभारती सा ॥
~ पारस मेहता
 
śuddhā surūpā madhurā suramyā
kaṇṭhyādi-varṇā ṛṣi-sevya-mārgā
prajñā-vidhātrī śama-śānti-kartrī
krapeta māṁ saṁskṛta-bhāratī sā
 
संस्कृत भाषा जो शुद्ध है, सुंदर रूप वाली है, मधुर है, मनोहर है, जिसके कण्ठ आदि स्थानों से उत्पन्न होते वर्ण हैं, जिसका मार्ग ऋषियों द्वारा सेव्य है, जो प्रज्ञा प्रदान करती है, मन का शमन करती है और शाश्वत शान्ति प्रदान करती है, मुझ पर कृपा करे।
 
May the Saṁskṛta speech (language), who is pure, nicely formed, sweet, charming, which has sounds produced from the throat and other places, whose path is served by great sages, who bestows wisdom, pacifies the mind and gives lasting peace, bless me.
 
— Sanskrit verse composed and translated by Paras Mehta

A Course on Tarka Sangraha

Posted on by

The Tarka-saṅgraha of Annambhaṭṭa is considered to be the primer for studying the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika discipline. The author Annambhaṭṭa has explained the categories and concepts of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika in an easily understandable way for the beginners in this discipline.

The book delineates the seven categories of padārthas: dravya (substance), guṇa (quality), karma (action), sāmānya (pervasiveness), viśeṣa (particularity), samavāya (inherence), and abhāva (absence).

In doing so, it delineates the subcategories as well, such as the nine types of dravyas, their characteristics, etc., the 24 guṇas and their characteristics, and so on.

It also describes the means of knowledge: pratyakṣa (direct sensory perception), anumāna (inference), upamāna (comparison) and śabda (verbal testimony). In doing so, it describes in detail the types of pratyakṣa, the process of anumāna, the constituents of anumāna, the process of understanding through śabda, etc.

Objectives:

1) To train the students to think analytically and logically. This is useful in constructing arguments for defending the concepts that one subscribes to.

2) To acquaint the students with the categories of Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika that are frequently resorted to by ācāryas of other disciplines in their own texts.

3) To acquaint the students with the constituents of the pramāṇas. In order to gain valid knowledge, it is necessary to be well versed with the means of gaining knowledge.

Method of Teaching: The Tarka-saṅgraha will be taught with the help of the author’s own commentary, the Tarka-saṅgraha-dīpikā, the commentary Padakṛtya by Candraja-siṁha, and occasionally the Nyāya-bodhinī of Govardhana. The teacher will refer to the original texts and explain them.

Classes will be conducted online through the Zoom platform.

Duration: The course will span over 55 classes of one hour each. Each class will also have time for questions and answers. Classes will be conducted twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays in the evenings (Indian time), 7 PM to 8 PM. Thus, the course will be covered in approx. 6 months.
Classes will begin on 16-August-2021.

Fees: Rs. 8,400/- per student

Course Teacher:

Paras Mehta

PhD Research Scholar at University of Mumbai

M.A. Sanskrit with specialization in Indian philosophies

Email: psmehta.in@gmail.com

Phone: +91 7045083765

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paras-mehta-a98200154/