2023-05-31 04:00:38 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
Next, as to sālambana upaya, the means depending on
aids such as the things or articles used for worship like
mantras to be repeated, flowers, incense (as also auspicious.
objects of meditation like the idol or the figure of God).
Of these, the question relates to the oral basis of japa (the
mantra to be recited) by the words, kim japam. Japa is
repetitive recitation of a mantra, accompanied by prescribed
rites, etc. Manu (II. 87) says: "A Brahmin can attain
anything only by japa. There is no doubt about it. Whether
he does anything else or not does not matter.
For a person
doing japa is friendly to all (but a person performing a
sacrifice has to do cruel acts, such, as killing a goat, horse,
etc.). Hence, he is the real Brahmin". Again, he says (II. 85):
"Japa-yajia is ten times more effective than dravya-yajña,
(sacrifice by spending money)". In the Gita (X. 25) also, Śri
Krishna says: "Of all yajnus I am the japa-yajña". Thus,
among the actions of three kinds done by the mind, speech
and body, japa is more acceptable than the others, and the
question here is only about the japa which is to be done by
word of mouth-not about others which are to be performed
either by the mind or by the body.
Man (jantu): any one who has the characteristic of being
born. (Man is born only for the worship of the Lord).
Bonds of birth and samsāra :-By birth is denoted all the
sufferings of old age, death, the womb and hell etc. Samsāra
denotes Ignorance, the impressed tendencies from the sins or
merits of one's actions, inclinations, desires and the contact
wich prakriti (matter): all these form the reasons or causes
for the bondage (in the form of birth). Bonds (bandhana):-
These are obstructions to the attainment of salvation.
Released (Muchyate): Here the reference is only to
moksha, the ultimate release; but from the trend of answers
given, that the japa is the sadhana for all kinds of
benefits, it must be taken that the question relates to all kinds
of phalas (benefits). From the use of the words, loke
(scripture), aseshena (in entirety), sarvasah (in full), and
mānavāḥ (persons), it is clear that Yudhishthira has heard all
things relating to dharmas, such as the seasons for perform-
ance, the competency of the performer, the divisions and
subsidiaries of actions and the benefits. So also, he wants
17
Next, as to sālambana upaya, the means depending on
aids such as the things or articles used for worship like
mantras to be repeated, flowers, incense (as also auspicious.
objects of meditation like the idol or the figure of God).
Of these, the question relates to the oral basis of japa (the
mantra to be recited) by the words, kim japam. Japa is
repetitive recitation of a mantra, accompanied by prescribed
rites, etc. Manu (II. 87) says: "A Brahmin can attain
anything only by japa. There is no doubt about it. Whether
he does anything else or not does not matter.
For a person
doing japa is friendly to all (but a person performing a
sacrifice has to do cruel acts, such, as killing a goat, horse,
etc.). Hence, he is the real Brahmin". Again, he says (II. 85):
"Japa-yajia is ten times more effective than dravya-yajña,
(sacrifice by spending money)". In the Gita (X. 25) also, Śri
Krishna says: "Of all yajnus I am the japa-yajña". Thus,
among the actions of three kinds done by the mind, speech
and body, japa is more acceptable than the others, and the
question here is only about the japa which is to be done by
word of mouth-not about others which are to be performed
either by the mind or by the body.
Man (jantu): any one who has the characteristic of being
born. (Man is born only for the worship of the Lord).
Bonds of birth and samsāra :-By birth is denoted all the
sufferings of old age, death, the womb and hell etc. Samsāra
denotes Ignorance, the impressed tendencies from the sins or
merits of one's actions, inclinations, desires and the contact
wich prakriti (matter): all these form the reasons or causes
for the bondage (in the form of birth). Bonds (bandhana):-
These are obstructions to the attainment of salvation.
Released (Muchyate): Here the reference is only to
moksha, the ultimate release; but from the trend of answers
given, that the japa is the sadhana for all kinds of
benefits, it must be taken that the question relates to all kinds
of phalas (benefits). From the use of the words, loke
(scripture), aseshena (in entirety), sarvasah (in full), and
mānavāḥ (persons), it is clear that Yudhishthira has heard all
things relating to dharmas, such as the seasons for perform-
ance, the competency of the performer, the divisions and
subsidiaries of actions and the benefits. So also, he wants
17