Instruction 31
vaishNavAnAm cha janmAni nidhrAlasyAni yAni cha |
dhrushtvA thAni prakASyASu janEbhyO na vadhEth kvachith |
thEshAm dhOshAn vihAyASu guNASchaiva prakIrthayEth ||
Simple explanation: When we are aware of defects of SrIvaishNavas such as their laziness, sleepiness and so on, we should not go and tell that to others. Rather, we should speak about their good qualities to others. This is a very important instruction. In general it is not good for us to speak about the bad qualities of one person to others, we should only speak about the good qualities of a person to others. That is what dignified people do. Only people with inferior mentality will talk about the defects and bad aspects of one person to others. If at all we are concerned about a person, we should go directly and tell that person in a humble way that we observe these bad qualities in them and suggest them to try and improve. Advise them to seek guidance from elders and improve themselves. Even that, we should not be telling those who are not under our control or not taking guidance from us. If there is an elder, or if there is another person whom we cannot go and instruct towards such persons, then we should not go and give such suggestions. But if there are people who listen to us, then we can give suggestions in a humble way with the intention that they get reformed, and it is good for them. It should not be with an attitude being superior or greater than them. Thus, the important aspect is we should not talk about the bad qualities of a person to another person. That is very important for SrIvaishNavas. We should only focus on good qualities of others and discuss about that to others.
Video link: https://youtu.be/kSkquyz5ADE?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mppMuO-AfXKofuYspsreUUb
Instruction 32:
vishNu pAdhOdhakam chaiva bhaktha pAdhOdhakam thu vA |
prAkruthEshu cha paSyathsu na pibEththOyam uththamam ||
Simple explanation: We should not consume bhagavAn’s or bhAgavathas SrIpAdha thIrtham in front of materialistic people. In our sampradhAyam, it is a standard practice to accept the SrIpAdha thIrtham, that is the sacred water which becomes sacred due to being used to wash the lotus feet of bhagavAn or bhAgavathas. Water becomes sacred when it comes in contact with bhagavAn’s lotus feet or bhAgavathas’ lotus feet. Hence this water is considered as very sacred. When we consume this in front of materialistic people two things will happen. One, they don’t understand the greatness of bhagavAn or bhAgavathas. Hence, they will not give respect to the sacred water which is used to wash their divine feet. That is the worst thing and that itself is an offense because we have to consider the sacred water to be very great and give respect to that. Second is even worse. They will actually think inferior or bad about that. They’ll think “What is this? These people are washing someone’s feet and taking that water”. So that will be considered as an even bigger insult because not only do they not understand the greatness of the sacred water which washed the lotus feet of bhagavAn or bhAgavathas, they are also considering that to be inferior and not giving the adequate respect and further insulting it. Hence it will add to more sins for them. Also, as per vaidhika traditions eating or drinking something is a private activity. We should not eat or drink anything in front of anyone. We should do it privately except for prasAdham when it is distributed in the temple or when thadhIyArAdhanam is done at that time we eat in front of others. But in general we should be doing it in a private manner. So considering all of this we should not be drinking the SrIpAdha thIrtham in front of materialistic people.
Video link: https://youtu.be/pQse12RAofo?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mppMuO-AfXKofuYspsreUUb
Instruction 33
thathva thrayasya gyAnEna rahasyathrithayasya cha |
rahithasyAngrijam thOyam grAhayEnna kadhAchana ||
Simple explanation: We should not accept water that washed the feet of those who don’t have clear knowledge about thathva thrayam and rahasya thrayam. thathva thraya means chith, achith and ISvaran. jIvAthmAs are chit (sentient AthmAs), achith is matter (insentient entities) and bhagavAn is ISvara who is the controller of AthmAs and achEthanam. It is very important for SrIvaishNavas to understand these three concepts. Every SrIvaishNava must have clear idea about these three things. Similarly, rahasya thrayam – thirumanthram, that is ashtAkshara manthram (nArAyaNa manthram), dhvaya mahA manthram and charama SlOkam. These three rahasyas are very important for SrIvaishNavas to understand. They are instructed during pancha samskAram and subsequently one must learn through kAlakSEpam/lectures. One has to listen to lectures and understand the detailed meanings of thathva thrayam and rahasya thrayam. If a SrIvaishNava does not clearly know rahasya thrayam and thathva thrayam then that person’s SrIpAdha thIrtham, that is the water which washed his feet should not be accepted.
We see the practice of accepting SrIpAdha thIrtham. Usually, AchArya’s SrIpAdha thIrtham is accepted. Often we go to sannidhi, we get thIrtham, that is SrIpAdha thIrtham of bhagavAn. AchArya’s SrIpAdha thIrtham is also accepted. Similarly, we also have to accept the SrIpAdha thIrtham of uththama bhAgavathas. But those bhAgavathas who do not have clear understanding of thathva thrayam and rahasya thrayam, from such persons we should not accept the water which washed their feet because they themselves are not clear about sampradhAya principles because of lack of understanding in thathva thrayam and rahasya thrayam. Without that foundational knowledge, without the deep understanding of thathva thrayam and rahasya thrayam they do not qualify to be celebrated in this grand manner. Accepting SrIpAdha thIrtham of someone is a glorification of that person, celebration of that person. Those who do not have thathva thraya and rahasya thraya knowledge do not deserve to be glorified in that manner.
Video link: https://youtu.be/s84ajcoqhmA?list=PLcJLpGJlP9mppMuO-AfXKofuYspsreUUb
adiyEn vidhyA rAmAnuja dhAsi
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