Vidur Neeti (6) - Sanat-sujaat's Discourse (2)
[These pages on Vidur Neeti are mostly based on Kamala Subramaniam's "Mahabharata" Udyog Parv, Chapter 7, or otherwise from Mahabharata, Udyog Parv Chapter 44-46.]

Dhritraashtra asked - "Tell me something about that is unconnected with the objects of worldly desires."

Sanat-sujaat said - "Brahm is not attained soon. After the senses are controlled, and after the will has been merged in intellect, the state in which one reaches, is one of utter absence of worldly thought. Thus knowledge of Brahman is attainable only by the practice of Brahmcharya."

Dhritraashtra asked - "You said that the knowledge of Brahm is in the mind, and there is no effort needed to manifest it during the seeking (by observing Brahmcharya). How then the immortality is associated with attainment of Brahm?" Sanat-sujaat said - "though residing in and inherent to the mind, the knowledge of Brahm is still not manifest, it is by the help of pure intellect and Brahmcharya that the knowledge is manifest. And naturally, indeed, the Yogee leave this world after attaining that knowledge. Now I will tell you about this knowledge."

Dhritraashtra said - "What should be the nature of Brahmcharya by which this knowledge is attained without much difficulty?" Sanat-sujaat said - "They who live with their preceptor, win their good will and friendship practice Brahmcharya austerities, become like Brahm and meet Brahm after their death. They, with the desire to attain Him, control all their desires and follow the route of righteousness. By this they succeed in dissociating the soul from the body. Discoursing upon Brahm and granting immortality, he who wraps up on Truth, should be considered as father and mother and bearing this in mind he should never do any injury to him.

(1) This is the first step of Brahmcharya, that the person should always salute his preceptor habitually with respect and purity, must study, must not consider any service mean, and must never be angry. Learning by observing other students is also the first step towards Brahmcharya. (2) A disciple should always be agreeable with his preceptor regarding with his life, possessions, thoughts, words and deeds.  He should behave with preceptor's wife and son as he behaves with his preceptor. This is the second step. (3) Bearing well in mind that he has been taught by his preceptor the disciple should always think that he has been taught and made great by him. (4) Without giving Guru Dakshinaa (the final gift to preceptor), he must not undertake another mode of life. This is the fourth step.

He attains the first step of knowledge of Brahm by the aid of time, the second step though he preceptor's discourses, the third one by the power of own understanding, and the fourth one by discussion. The learned people say that Brahmcharya  is constituted by 12 virtues - Yog practices are called its Ang (parts). Whatever wealth is earn during this period should be given to the preceptor. It is thus the preceptor obtains his livelihood. Thus engaged in preceptor's services, the disciple renounces the world, and gets fame,. The people also shower wealth upon him. It is by this kind of Brahmcharya the celestials have got divinity and the Rishi have got Brahm Lok. It is by this that Gandharv and Apsaraa have got their personal beauty and Soorya rises to make the day. He that is blessed with the knowledge, attains Brahm which is everlasting by that knowledge. There is no other path other than the knowledge or attaining Brahm leading to emancipation."

Dhritraashtra said - "Hey Rishivar, You said that a wise man perceives the existence of Brahma in his own soul. Please tell me what the true form and color of that Omnipresent is?" Sanat-sujaat said - "Brahm may be perceived as white, red, black or brown or blue, but neither on Earth, nor in the sky, nor in the waters of the ocean is there anything like it. Neither in the stars, nor in the lightning, nor in the clouds is its form to be seen. Nor is it visible in the atmosphere, nor in the Devtaa, nor in the Moon, nor in the Sun. Neither in the Rig Ved, nor among the Yajur Ved, nor among the Atharv Ved, nor in the pure Saam Ved is it to be found. Incapable of being compassed and lying beyond the reach of limited intellect, even the Universal Destroyer himself, after the Dissolution, is lost in it. Incapable of being gazed at it, it is SUBTLE as the edge of a razor; and it is GROSSER than the mountains. It is the basis on which everything is founded. It is unchangeable, it is vast, it is delightful. Learned men say that it is without any change except in the language used to describe it."

Sanat-sujaat further said -"Sorrow, anger, covetousness, lust, ignorance, laziness, malice, self-importance, continuous desire of gains, affection, jealousy and evil speech; these 12 faults destroy a man's life. While righteousness, Truth, asceticism, self-restraint, contentment, modesty, renunciation, love of others, gifts, acquaints with scriptures, patience and forgiveness; these 12 qualities are of a Braahman. he that is covetous, or is fierce, or has harsh speech, or is garrulous, or is short of temper, or is boastful - these are the six characteristics of a wicked.

Thus conversing with Rishi Sanat-sujaat and learned Vidur, Dhritraashtra passed the night.