I (Sahajanand Swami) meditate in my heart upon Lord Krishna, on whose left stands Radha, on whose bosom resides Laxmiji and who plays (with his Bhaktas) in Vrindavan
Explanation
Like a cyclone uprooting cotton fibers from the shells
and weeding it off to the deep sky, One who has uprooted and thrown off from the earth that pretentious religion in which dominates drinking wine and eating flesh, and has nourished axiomatic religion by expanding divine grace and concentrating mind and soul of the people in Supreme God in the form of Shri Hari, that divine consort of Goddess Lakshmi or Supreme Lord of everybody the greatest gracious Lord Sahajanand Swami is ever victorious.
One who loves religion or one who is loved by religion, one who has refuge in religion or one who has emerged from religion, one who rests in religion, one who strengthens religion, one who discards anti religious elements like the sun discarding darkness, to that Lord Shri
Krishna, I offer my candid prayer.
With the grace of that Lord and well supported by the
references of the scriptures, I write this Arthadeepika
treatise I write under the shelter of religion and devotion to illuminate the deep meaning of Shikshapatri.
Though, Lord Sahajanand preaches personal religion
and Bhagwat religion to the devotees under his refuge by beginning the teaching of Shikshapatri, Shri Hari begins the sacred book with the auspicious opening prayer as laid down by great sages like Vyas in their times and offers meditational prayer to Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. one who has Radha on his left side. 'Radha' word means - one who fulfils the aims of the devotees or say by whom the devotees accomplish better achievements. Radha means the daughter of Vrishbhanu. Meaning of the word Radha stands as under in the chapter of Shri Krishnajanma given in Brahm Vaivart Puran : 'R' destroys the sins of all past births and of the acts of present life; 'A' destroys death during the conceptual period; 'D' destroys diseases; 'H' destroys the loss incurred on the length of life; 'A' thereafter, destroys the shackles of worldly attachments on listening to its utterance. There is no doubt in regard to that. Again, it says that by 'Ra' comes the subordination and devotion of a devotee at lotus feet of Lord Shri Krishna and everybody attains desired one, all blissful and all splendorous achievements. And 'Dh' provides blissful company, time and splendour of Lord Shri Krishna - along with beauty, philosophy and happiness like Shri Hari and the 'A' provides plentiful of luminosity, generosity, power of yoga, intelligence of yoga and memory of Shri Hari. Therefore, the controversies, false memories, efforts, illusions, sins, diseases, sorrows, death and inflicted pains of Vama etc diminishes. There is no doubt in regard to this. These are taken as the attributes of the word 'Radha'. Now, being on the left side implies the servitude and is indicative of holding in the hand the accessories like garlands, sandal paste etcetera required for worshipful services to Lord.
In whose heart resides Shree. Shree means Goddess of Wealth - Lakshmi - Prosperity. One, who takes the refuge in Lord, is called Shree. Herein, Lakshmiji - Goddess of Prosperity - resides in the form of golden line- means others cannot see her from outside, but she resides very much there - ready to serve Lord as like Radhikaji. Bhagwatamrit says that - Lakshmiji was attracted by the divine charm of Lord Shri Krishna and was performing penance due to that. When Shri Krishna asked her about the cause of the
penance, She said, 'I do desire your companionship and divine sports as like the Gopis who had it in total privacy'. (In reply) Lord said that this was not possible to grant. Then Lakshmiji expressed her desire to dwell in His heart in form of a golden line. Lord Shri Krishna granted her wish. Like this, She resides in the heart of Lord. Also it is said, "The creator of all three Loka allowed the mother of all the three Lokas - Lakshmi - to live in his hearts."
Now, the divine sports in Vrindavan. Vrindavan means
a garden by that name, which is situated in the region of
Vraj. Now, if you doubt that the Lord Shri Krishna - who
can be described as God - in his human form is popularly
known to be with Radhikaji in Vrindavan but not known
to be there with Lakshmiji. As says also Vishnupuran, "Sita
incarnated in the age of Rama and Rukmini incarnated in
the age of Lord Shri Krishna. "Means, it is known with
Dwarika. Your doubt that Lakshmiji in the human form of
Rukmini stayed with Shri Krishna in Dwarika is very much
true, but the Goddess Bhagawati Lakshmiji, stayed with
Lord Shri Krishna at Vrandavan too, by staying invisible
from the human eyes, as she is the divine consort of
Supreme God. Bhagwat also says "Oh King ! Since then
(means since Shri Krishna came to Vraj) and the stay of
God there and with the divine attributes of God, that Vraj
became the place of divine sports of Lakshmiji. Further,"
by your manifestation here, the hand of Vraj becomes more glorious and Lakshmiji graces everybody forever." And,
we by seeing those lands of yours which bless the devotees
and the bossom which is the only place for Lakshmiji for
her divine sports, take refuge in you." Further in Bhramar
Geet (bumble-bee songs), while addressing Bhramar-the
bumble bee), says, "How you take us to such God, in whose
side there is the pair which can not be separated even with the pains. Oh! Considerate one ! In his heart always stay the woman in the form of Lakshmi". Further, it is said, "Lakshmi, leaves other people and with the cause of touching the lotus feet of the Lord, worships him devoutly; Such Lord by destroying all the ills of the soul what He appeals is most atturing to the people." And it is said in Bhramar-Geet "Then why are you serving the lotus feet of such God? (then in reply says) most sorrowful fact is that Lakshmi too looses her heart on the words of that Lord."
Shri Krishnam - In this, word 'Shri' has been placed
before the first name. He explains it: All dignitaries carry
'Shri' prefixed to their first name. Or-this word is used for
Lakshmi (prosperity), apparel and dresses, grace, wisdom,
knowledge and trees. Also the word is meant for prosperity
along with religion, wealth and fulfilment of worldly
desires, different means of bodily decoration and intellect.
It means that the word 'Shri' is to be taken here as 'most
beauteous'. Now, the meaning of word 'Krishna'. Krishna
means one who is blissful, pleasant and uproots the sorrows
of the people who are in his refuge Krishna means
Parabrahm (Ultimate reality - Supreme God) in human
form. In Guru Shishya (teacher and disciple) Samvad (dialogue) of Mokshadharma (a sacred scripture by that
name) it is said that, "One who is born in Vrushni dynasty
and is Parabrahm. "Varshneya, means one who is born in
Vrushni dynasty" - that is the definition given by
Chaturdhar Neelkanth. Shrimad Bhagwat also says "Oh
God Vishnu ! The form which Vedas describe as
everexistent, Brahmjyoti (Ultimate reality), formless,
changeless, real entity, whole and disinterested is you. Oh
! Illuminator of heart and senses". Further it is said, "On
this earth, you are the most fortunate as the Munis (saints)
who are capable of sanctifying whole of the world are
coming to you and at whose dwelling resides Parabrahm
with all human attributes." Also it is said that, "Listening
Krishna as Parabrahm Arjuna amazed at the extreme." In
continuation to that, "Those residents of Vraj-Nand, and
Gops (shepherds) are very fortunate as their friend is the
source of all pleasures, ever existent and ultimate reality
(Parabrahm). Now, in the name 'Krishna'. the letter 'Krish'
stand for land - earth, and 'Na' is the exponent of happiness
- putting both together, becomes Parabrahm name Krishna.
This is the attribute of the name. Moreover, Bhagwat itself
says, "Krishna himself is Supreme God." This is why
Gopis while worshiping Vrindavan - Vihari, Natavar
Swaroop Shri Krishna, used word 'Shri Kar Grah' (One
who holds the hand of Lakshmiji) and by that used the
adjective of right - hand. In Bhramar Geet also while
making mockery of the mercilessness of God, they put him
as one who incarnated himself on the earth through
different incarnations and said "As a warrior (Ramavatar)
you killed Vali like a hunter. And though you won one woman (Seeta) cut the nose - and ears of that Shurpankha
who came to you with sensual desire. As Vaman you availed
offering like a crow and there after crushed Bali to Patal
(lower lokas). Friendship of such Lord Shrikrishna is the
highest one. Such is the story of Shri Krishna that one can
not leave aside. In Geet Govinda, Poet Jaidev says, "The
saviour of Vedas, transporter of universe, rescuer of the
earth sunken in the seas, destroyer of Hiranyakshipu,
cheater of Bali, slayer of all Kshatriyas, defeater of Ravan,
holder of plough, sprinkler of mercy as Buddha and the
suppressor of sinners through ten incarnations, Oh Lord
Shri Krishna, I worship you with folded hands."
Lotus of heart. Why the lotus of heart? So explains
this, "This Brahmpur is called Dahar. Dahar means
Pundarik or Veshma etc, the sky which is beyond that, is
to be explored and is to be studied. That is in this Atma -
Soul. The heart is the attribute of the person with such
soul. That is what the scriptures say. Yoga scriptures have
described it as much more than a thing worth meditation.
Bhagwat also says that - "The yogis who have destroyed
Karmas by the power of Yoga, and whom (God) they see
in their hearts, to such Yogeshwar (Lord Shri Krishna) I
bow my head. Also, "One who is respected deeply in the
hearts of redeemed souls".
The Meditator of Lord Shri Krishna, with Radhaji on
the left side with all her divine powers and Goddess
Lakshmiji residing in the heart, never lacks any of the
wealth or powers. Therefore for the fruits of all our deeds,
Shri Krishna is the real shelter. This is what intended to be
conveyed.
This auspicious beginning is not only for the removal
of obstacles. As author Himself is God, there is no room
for any obstacle in the decision and its fulfilment, for which
it may require auspicious opening. His speech is always
auspicious, His smile is always auspicious, His eyes always
give auspicity and the acts by his hands are always
auspicious - redeem the human beings. The God, whose
face is always auspicious and foot steps always grace
everybody, such Greet God writes this auspicious
beginning. This is a sign of his acts as human being. "This
auspicious beginning is for educating the people.
Therefore, the doubt about the propriety of auspicious
beginning ends herewith. Rhyme used in this couplet and
in most of the couplets in the book is Anushtubh. In this
rhyme, the fifth letter is short in all the steps and the seventh
letter in both the fourth parts are short. And in all the eight
parts of the couplet the sixth letter is long. That is the
structure of this rhyme.
