Thursday, April 16, 2020

A Sloka, which is Equivalent to the exalted Gayatri Mantra, in the Srimad Bhagavatham

The below slokam in the Srimad Bhagavatham struck me as closely resembling the exalted Gayatri mantra in words and spirit. The context of the slokam is King Bharata worshipping the rising Sun.

Later I casually enquired about this slokam in a Yahoo discussion group. Then Sri KV Gopalakrishna, a great scholar (unfortunately no more) responded with the below details (synonyms and translation).

paro-rajaḥ savitur jāta-vedo
devasya bhargo manasedaḿ jajāna
suretasādaḥ punar āviśya caṣṭe
haḿsaḿ gṛdhrāṇaḿ nṛṣad-rińgirām imaḥ (Bhagvatam 5.7.14)

SYNONYMS
paraḥ-rajaḥ — beyond the mode of passion (situated in the pure mode of goodness); savituḥ — of the one who illuminates the whole universe; jāta-vedaḥ — from which all the devotee's desires are fulfilled; devasya — of the Lord; bhargaḥ — the self-effulgence; manasā — simply by contemplating; idam — this universe; jajāna — created; su-retasā — by spiritual potency; adaḥ — this created world; punaḥ — again; āviśya — entering; caṣṭe — sees or maintains; haḿsam — the living entity; gṛdhrāṇam — desiring for material enjoyment; nṛṣat — to the intelligence; rińgirām — to one who gives motion; imaḥ — let me offer my obeisances

[That light, (constituting the very essence) of the Sun-god, which lies beyond the material plane (is made of Sattva, unmixed with Rajas and Tamas), dispenses the fruit of our actions, it is the same Light that evolved this (phenomenal universe) by its mere thought and again, entering it (as its Inner Controller), protects the Jiva, seeking its protection, with its power of consciousness. We resort to that Light, which propels our intellect.]

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