SADHANA PANCHAKAM | 40 INSTRUCTIONS | 5 VERSES | 2 TRANSLATIONS | SRI ADI SANKARACHARYA

|| INTRODUCTION | SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA ||

In 5 verses Sankara enumerates 40 items that constitute Vedantic Sadhana .

Ritualism can be a discipline only in the field of the many , Dvaita .

In Advaita there cannot be sadhana in the form of worship , invocation , surrender or sacrifice .

Yet , the student who is entangled in mind-intellect-equipment is still in the level of the ego ( jiva bhav ) .

One is to be shown the path by which one can steadily raise one's vision into the Yonder , beyond the frontiers of the many

into the One Self , the state of Peace that passeth all understanding .

Adi Sankara in these 5 simple looking verse lovingly lists the ways and means , which can readily be followed by all students of Vedanta seeking direct experience of the Divine , beyond the mind , the Spring of Consciousness .

Any seeker who sincerely follows these pointers will surely not miss one's way and wander into the labyrinth of futile , self-defeating , negative arguments and false conclusions .

Sankara shows the great path to Truth , the Path that was trodden by the innumerable Masters of the Vedas and the Upanishads .

|| SADHANA FOR REALIZATION | VERSE 1 ||

वेदो नित्यमधीयतां तदुदितं कर्म स्वनुष्ठीयतां
तेनेशस्य विधीयतामपचितिः काम्ये मतिस्त्यज्यताम्‌।
पापौघः परिधूयतां भवसुखे दोषोऽनुसन्धीयतां
आत्मेच्छा व्यवसीयतां निजगृहात्तूर्णं विनिर्गम्यताम्‌ ॥ १ ॥

vedo nityamadhiyatam taduditam karma svanusthiyatam
tenesasya vidhiyatamapacitih kamye matistyajyatam |
papaughah paridhuyatam bhavasukhe doso nusandhiyatam
atmeccha vyavasiyatam nijagrhatturnam vinirgamyatam || 1 ||

|| TRANSLATION 1 ||

01 . Study the Vedas daily .
02 . Perform diligently the duties ( karmas ) ordained by them .
03 . Dedicate all those actions ( karmas ) as worship unto GOD .
04 . Renounce all desires in the mind .
05 . Wash away the hoards of sins in the bosom .
06 . Recognise that the pleasures of sense objects ( samsar ) are riddled with pain .
07 . Seek the Self with consistent endeavour .
08 . Escape from the bondage of " home " .

|| TRANSLATION 2 ||

01 . Study the scriptures ( Vedas ) daily .
02 . Perform diligently the duties ( sva dharma ) ordered by the scriptures .
03 . Dedicate all the actions thus performed ( as above ) to GOD ( ishvarArpanna buddhi ) .
04 . Gradually give up performance of selfish actions .
05 . Filter sinful adhArmic likes and dislikes .
06 . Recognize the inherent defects of material pursuits .
07 . Seek moksha with consistent endeavour .
08 . Get out from the bondage of activity ( specified to the ones which end up entangling us ) .

|| SADHANA FOR REALIZATION | VERSE 2 ||

सङ्गः सत्सु विधीयतां भगवतो भक्तिर्दृढाऽऽधीयतां
शान्त्यादिः परिचीयतां दृढतरं कर्माशु सन्त्यज्यताम्‌।
सद्विद्वानुपसृप्यतां प्रतिदिनं तत्पादुका सेव्यतां
ब्रह्मैकाक्षरमर्थ्यतां श्रुतिशिरोवाक्यं समाकर्ण्यताम्‌ ॥ २ ॥

sangah satsu vidhiyatam bhagavato bhaktirdrḍha dhiyatam
santyadih pariciyatam drḍhataram karmasu santyajyatam |
sadvidvanupasrpyatam pratidinam tatpaduka sevyatam
brahmaikaksaramarthyatam srutisirovakyam samakarnyatam || 2 ||

|| TRANSLATION 1 ||

09 . Seek companionship with Those of Wisdom .
10 . Be established in firm devotion to GOD .
11 . Cultivate the virtues such as Shanti etc .
12 . Eschew all desire ridden actions .
13 . Take shelter at a Perfect Master ( Sat Guru ) .
14 . Everyday serve The Teacher .
15 . Worship OM the Immutable .
16 . Listen in depth to the Upanishadic declarations .

|| TRANSLATION 2 ||

09 . Seek companionship with Those of Wisdom .
10 . Be established in firm devotion to GOD and perform upasanas .
11 . Gain mind control , sense control , withdrawal , forbearance , faith and focus .
12 . Give up karma and upasanas when they are not required any longer for spiritual growth .
13 . Seek Knowledge from a Sat Guru .
14 . Serve The Teacher .
15 . Ask for Brahma Vidya .
16 . Listen in depth to the Upanishadic declarations .

|| SADHANA FOR REALIZATION | VERSE 3 ||

वाक्यार्थश्च विचार्यतां श्रुतिशिरः पक्षः समाश्रीयतां
दुस्तर्कात्सुविरम्यतां श्रुतिमतस्तर्कोऽनुसन्धीयताम्‌।
ब्रह्मास्मीति विभाव्यतामहरहर्गर्वः परित्यज्यतां
देहेऽहंमतिरुझ्यतां बुधजनैर्वादः परित्यज्यताम्‌ ॥ ३ ॥

vakyarthasca vicaryatam srutisirah paksah samasriyatam
dustarkatsuviramyatam srutimatastarko nusandhiyatam |
brahmasmiti vibhavyatamaharahargarvah parityajyatam
dehe hammatirujhyatam budhajanairvadah parityajyatam || 3 ||

|| TRANSLATION 1 ||

17 . Reflect ever upon the meaning of the Upanishadic commandments .
18 . Take refuge in the TRUTH OF BRAHMAN .
19 . Avoid perverse arguments .
20 . Follow the discriminative rationale of Sruti ( Upanishads ) .
21 . Always be absorbed in the attitude ( bhav ) — " I AM BRAHMAN " .
22 . Renounce pride .
23 . Give up the delusory misconception — " I am the body " .
24 . Give up totally the tendency to argue with Those of Wisdom .

|| TRANSLATION 2 ||

17 . Analyze the meanings of Upanishadic commandments .
18 . Perform such analyses by sticking to scriptures .
19 . Get away from logic based system ( logic is good when it corroborates scripture , in the sense dont try to substitute it ) .
20 . Dwell upon the discriminative rationale of shruti ( basically , develop viveka ) .
21 . Constantly remain steeped in the fact that you are BRAHMAN .
22 . Renounce pride , vanity , arrogance .
23 . Give up the delusionary misconception — " I am the body " .
24 . Do not argue with Those of Wisdom .

|| SADHANA FOR REALIZATION | VERSE 4 ||

क्षुद्व्याधिश्च चिकित्स्यतां प्रतिदिनं भिक्षौषधं भुज्यतां
स्वाद्वन्नं न तु याच्यतां विधिवशात्प्राप्तेन सन्तुष्यताम्‌।
शीतोष्णादि विषह्यतां न तु वृथा वाक्यं समुच्चार्यतां
औदासीन्यमभीप्स्यतां जनकृपानैष्ठुर्यमुत्सृज्यताम्‌ ॥ ४ ॥

ksudvyadhisca cikitsyatam pratidinam bhiksausadham bhujyatam
svadvannam na tu yacyatam vidhivasatpraptena santusyatam |
sitosnadi visahyatam na tu vrtha vakyam samuccaryatam
audasinyamabhipsyatam janakrpanaisthuryamutsrjyatam || 4 ||

|| TRANSLATION 1 ||

25 . In hunger diseases get treated .
26 . Daily take the medicine of Bhiksha — food .
27 . Beg no delicious food .
28 . Live contentedly upon whatever comes to your lot as ordained by GOD .
29 . Endure all the pairs of opposites : heat cold , and the like .
30 . Avoid wasteful talks .
31 . Be indifferent .
32 . Save yourself from the meshes of other peoples' kindness .

|| TRANSLATION 2 ||

25 . Consider hunger as a disease .
26 . Treat hunger , the disease , by taking bhiksha food .
27 . Beg no delicious food .
28 . Live contentedly with whatever comes your way as prasadam .
29 . Endure all pains of opposites — heat cold , likes dislikes , pleasure pain .
30 . Avoid wasteful talk .
31 . Be indifferent and avoid groupism .
32 . Do not get attached to either someone's love or criticism .

|| SADHANA FOR REALIZATION | VERSE 5 ||

एकान्ते सुखमास्यतां परतरे चेतः समाधीयतां
पूर्णात्मा सुसमीक्ष्यतां जगदिदं तद्बाधितं दृश्यताम्‌।
प्राक्कर्म प्रविलाप्यतां चितिबलान्नाप्युत्तरैः श्लिष्यतां
प्रारब्धं त्विह भुज्यतामथ परब्रह्मात्मना स्थीयताम् ‌॥ ५ ॥

ekante sukhamasyatam paratare cetah samadhiyatam
purnatma susamiksyatam jagadidam tadvadhitam drsyatam |
prakkarma pravilapyatam citibalannapyuttaraih slisyatam
prarabdham tviha bhujyatamatha parabrahmatmana sthiyatam || 5 ||

|| TRANSLATION 1 ||

33 . In solitude live joyously .
34 . Quieten your mind in The Supreme .
35 . Realise and see the All-pervading Self everywhere .
36 . Recognise that the finite Universe is a projection of Self .
37 . Conquer the effects of the deeds done , by the present right action .
38 . Through wisdom become detached from future actions ( Agami ) .
39 . Experience and exhaust " Prarabdha " the fruits of past actions .
40 . Thereafter live absorbed in the bhav — " I AM BRAHMAN " !

|| TRANSLATION 2 ||

33 . In solitude also , live joyously .
34 . Quieten your mind in GOD .
35 . Realize and see the Self in everything , everywhere .
36 . Recognize the Universe as a finite projection of the Self .
37 . Destroy the effects of deeds done , through the strength of knowledge .
38 . Through wisdom , become detached from Agami karma ( give up doership and enjoyership ) .
39 . Experience and exhaust the prarabdh , fruits of past actions .
40 . Thereafter , live eternally as BRAHMAN .

SOURCE | SATYAVEDISM.ORG