Selected Vedic Mantras

Relationship of God and the Soul

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया

समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते ।

तयोरन्य: पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्य-

नश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति ॥ ऋग्वेद मं०१ । सू०१६४ । मन्त्र २० ॥

Meaning - God and the Soul are like two birds that stay together as friends on one tree - this World. One of these (the Soul) eats the various tasty fruits on the tree, while the other (God) keeps looking at it, without ever partaking of the fruits.

Thus, the three eternal entities - God, Soul and Matter - are bound together beautifully in this single Mantra. In the briefest of ways, the relationship of the three is defined. Matter provides the various bhogas (desirable objects) for the Soul to indulge in. The Soul is busy indulging in these. However, God is carefully observing what the Soul is up to (and subsequently rewards/punishes the Soul by giving/taking away the bhogas). It Itself never partakes of Matter in anyway.

Most importantly, God and the Soul are friends. In fact, the Soul may not remember this fact always, but God never loses sight of it!

Gambling Vs. Agriculture

अक्षैर्मा दीव्य: कृषिमित् कृषस्व

वित्ते रमस्व बहु मन्यमान: ।

तत्र गाव: कितव तत्र जाया

तन्मे वि चष्टे सवितायमर्य: ॥ ऋग्वेद मं०१० । सू०३४ । मन्त्र १३ ॥

Meaning - A Friend says to a Gambler - O Gambler! Don't play with dice, or any other form of gambling! Instead do agriculture by tilling the soil. And enjoy thoroughly the money you earn from that occupation, considering it to be sufficient for your needs. In this occupation, you will have cows, i.e., animal and other wealth, and a wife, i.e., you will have enough to support a family, and your wife will be happy with you. This is what the Creator and our Lord has ordained.

As usual, this small verse has said many things in a very concise fashion -

1. Gambling is not only a sin, but it leads to broken families and poverty.

2. Do agriculture. We take agriculture for granted, but it is considered a major advancement in civilization from the hunter-gatherer phase. It leads to stability, houses, crafts, trade, study of Science and Arts, etc. etc. Indians have been doing agriculture from Vedic times, as this verse proves.

3. Be happy with the wealth you have rightfully earned. Don't seek a quick buck! Also, enjoy it! The belief that one must always be austere is not something the Vedas propound. They have different advice for different stages of life.

How Should We Approach Our Duties?

विष्णो: कर्माणि पश्यत यतो व्रतानि पस्पशे ।

इन्द्रस्य युज्य: सखा ॥ ऋग्वेद मं०१ । सू०२२ । मन्त्र १९ ॥

Meaning - The mantra exhorts man to look at creation - the work of God, and the true owner of all the wealth in the Universe. From Nature, he should learn about what he should do, and how he should do it. Following the path of God, he will ultimately become like God, and so become worthy of being his friend.

As usual, this small verse says many things -

1. The mantra extols Creation as a perfect creation based on which we should model all our works. God's creation is perfect from the smallest particle of matter to the largest galaxy, and it is so whether somebody admires this perfection or not. Similarly, any job we take up should be done to perfection, whether somebody is out there to give us kudos or not. Actually, in our case, God is always there to reward us!

2. Just like in God's creation, his wealth is freely available to all, similarly, we should also take up works not only for ourselves, but for as much of humanity as we can.

3. The Sanskrit word 'Sakhaa' means 'friend' at a superficial level, but the real meaning is - 'having a similar description'. When we copy God's characteristics, like honesty, righteousness, fairness in transactions, kindness, magnanimity, devoid of hatred and fear, etc., we would be described by the same adjectives as Him. This would elevate us closer and closer to His position, till He finally condescends to give us a peep at Himself! This is our Ultimate Goal.

4. Our tasks are referred to as 'Vrata' here, i.e., bounden duties that are never easy to do! These are the duties that are mentioned in Yogadarshanam as the Yamas and the Niyamas, as also our everyday duties.

The Ideal Married Life

इहैव स्तं मा वियौष्टं विश्वमायुर्व्यश्नुतम् ।

क्रीळन्तौ पुत्रैर्नप्तृभिर्मोदमानौ स्वे गृहे ॥ ऋग्वेद मं०१० । सू०८५ । मन्त्र ४२ ॥

Meaning - This mantra talks about an ideal married life, or grhastha-ashrama. It says - O Husband and Wife! Remain here only - do not separate. Attain your full ages. While playing with your children and grandchildren, be happy in your own home.

Thus, the mantra pictures an ideal married life as follows -

1. The marriage should be between a husband and a wife. The mantra uses Dual Number signifying this. Thus, the Vedas do not propound many husbands or many wives.

2. The husband and wife should live together. Divorce is not a happy situation, nor is living separately.

3. The parents should spend time with their children, not leave them to Ayyas. They should even spend time with their grandchildren. Recent Western studies have shown that the grandparents instil values in their grandchildren, and make them happy.

4. A joint family where all stay together is advised.

Conditioning of the Mind

परोऽपेहि मनस्पाप किमशस्तानि शंससि ।

परेहि न त्वा कामये वृक्षान् वनानि सं चर गृहेषु गोषु मे मनः ॥ अथर्ववेद कां० ६ । सू०४५ । मन्त्र १ ॥

Meaning - This Vedic mantra gives a conversation between the Individual Soul and the Personified Mind. The Mind being beset with unholy thoughts, the Soul chastises - O Mind filled with evil thoughts! Get away from me! Why are you praising that which is unworthy?! Get away, I do not want you! Go far away into forests and trees! The mind I want will be occupied with homely matters and looking after my wealth (represented by cows).

Beautifully, the mantra describes how we should never let bad thoughts occupy our mind. It also tells us that, as worldly beings, we should bother about our family and our work that gives us wealth. There are those who preach that renunciation is the only path for humans, but the Vedas differentiate between the ordinary humans for whom there are three goals - Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), and Kama (material desires); while the fourth goal of Moksha is meant for the renunciates, the ones for whom the world no longer holds any charm. This mantra is for the ordinary humans who are struggling with their desires, some of which are not honorable.

Fervent Appeal for a Face-to-face Chat

उत स्वया तन्वा सं वदे तत्

कदा न्वन्तर्वरुणे भुवानि ।

किं मे हव्यमहृणानो जुषेत

कदा मृडीकं सुमना अभि ख्यम् ॥ ऋग्वेद ७।८६।२ ॥

Meaning - A devotee appeals to God in his/her prayer - O God! Will I keep talking to you through my body only? (You have taught me that I am different from my body, yet I am not able to see myself without it.) When will I find myself inside you (when will I have a direct conversation with you, without the mediation of my body)? Losing His displeasure with me, will the Supreme consider my offering or call to Him (through all the meditation and prayer that I have done all these days)? When will I see the Divine, who gives divine joy by His presence, and thus, become joyful myself?