T Ram Sewak

VAIRAGYA SANTOSH

After comparing the sublime attributes to a chariot in Vibhishan Gita (Shri Ramcharitmanas 6.79), Shri Ram delineates the other noble qualities, drawing their analogy to the charioteer and the weaponry.

" Isa bhajan sarathi sujana, birati charma santosh kripana."

"Adoration of God is the dexterous charioteer; dispassion the shield, and contentment the sword."

We'll return to the charioteer later.

Birati or Vairagya is also non-attachment, indifference and detachment from the sense objects. The question is why vairagya is essential. Shri Krishna says in Gita 2.62-63 that when a person thinks of sense objects, attachment for them arises; then desire is born, and unfulfilled desire stems anger.

Protection from the attack of attachment, desire and anger is possible only with the shield of vairagya. Left uncontrolled, anger leads to delusion; from delusion comes the loss of memory, which destroys discrimination, and with that, the person perishes. Thus the absence of this shield makes a person vulnerable to derailment from the path of righteousness. Vairagya is also counted as a divine attribute in Gita 16.2.

By comparing santosh to a kripan, Shri Ram exhorts the active usage of its three-way ability to slay the three enemies of attachment, desire and anger. Further, in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.45, He enunciates the path of bhakti and lists the three essentials as; a guileless disposition, a mind free from perversity and absolute contentment. The fulcrum of bhakti yoga is complete surrender to His will, and while santosh leads one to bhakti, it is also its outcome.

Contentment is also part of the five niyamas or religious vows for a sadhak. In Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.30, living with santosh is highlighted as a key characteristic of the citizens of Ram Rajya. Much of the angst, frustration and conflict amongst people at work, in families, and in relationships is because of a lack of contentment. We must practice living in santosh since santosham param sukham (contentment is bliss)! / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-13

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com