Random Thoughts 73

 Ambitions are high!

So are the road blocks!

Somewhere in between lie

The human capabilities

And means to perform!

The one who finds a harmonious way

To balance all this

Leads a happy and successful life!

षड्भाव ध्यानम् - (“Meditation on the Six Orders of Existence”)

 Based on Chandogya Upanishad chapter 2, section 22, Shlok 2

हिन्दी भजन

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।

देवों का जब ध्यान करो तुम

गीत गाओ अमर्त के।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

पितरों का जब ध्यान करो तुम 

गाओ गीत स्वधा के।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

बन्धु जनों को मन में रख कर

आशा के तुम गीत सुनाओ ।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

पशुओं का जब ध्यान करो तुम 

गीत सुनाओ तृण-जल के ।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

यजमानों का ध्यान करो जब 

गीत सुनाओ लोकान्दं के।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

आत्मन-मन का ध्यान करो जब 

गीत सुनाओ अन्नम के।

ओ मनुआ रे! गीत गाओ प्रभु के।।

ईश्वर का जब ध्यान करो तुम 

रखना सब को मन में

ओ मनुआ रे! रखना सबको मन में।।

गीत गाओ प्रभु के ।।

Note: Chandogya Upanishad forms the last eight chapters of Chandogya Brahmana of Sàmveda.  The Shlok creates a musical rhythm for the Universal harmony and takes into account the welfare of six beings of Universal order. I have tried to translate it in a Bhajan with my crude knowledge of language and music, keeping the true meditative spirit of Shlok alive. The thought that it pays homage to our ancestors has really touched my heart. 

Savita Tyagi

5.22.2026

Chandogya Upanishad chapter II, section 22, verse 2.

Part- 1

Sanskrit Verse

अमृतत्वं देवेभ्य आगायानीत्यागायेत् स्वधां पितृभ्य आशां मनुष्येभ्यस्तृणोदकं पशुभ्यः स्वर्गं लोकं यजमानायान्नमात्मन आगायानीत्येतानि मनसा ध्यायन्नप्रमत्तः स्तुवीत ॥ २.२२.२ ॥  

पदविच्छेद (Padaviccheda)

अमृतत्वम् । देवेभ्यः । आगायानि । इति । आगायेत् । स्वधाम् । पितृभ्यः । आशाम् । मनुष्येभ्यः । तृण-उदकम् । पशुभ्यः । स्वर्गम् । लोकम् । यजमानाय । अन्नम् । आत्मने । आगायानि । इति । एतानि । मनसा । ध्यायन् । अप्रमतः । स्तुवीत ॥

Word-by-word - Sanskrit Meaning

अमृतत्वम् - immortality, देवेभ्यः - for the gods, आगायानि- “ may I obtain by singing”, इति-thus, आगायेत्- one should sing, स्वधाम् - oblation / offering पितृभ्य:- for forefathers, आशाम्- hope, मनुष्येभ्य:- for human beings, तृण-उदकम् - grass and water, पशुभ्यः- for animals, स्वर्गम् लोकम् -the heavenly world, यजमानाय - for the sacrificer / yajamāna, अन्नम् - food , आत्मने -for oneself , आगायानि - “may I obtain by singing”, इति - thus, एतानि- these things, मनसा- in the mind, ध्यायन्- contemplating, अप्रमतः- attentive, without carelessness, स्तुवीत- one should chant / praise.

Simple Running Meaning

“One should sing with the thought: ‘May I obtain immortality for the gods, offerings for the ancestors, hope for humans, grass and water for animals, heaven for the yajamāna, and food for myself through this chant.’ Meditating on these in the mind, one should chant attentively.”  

Note: I came across this beautiful prayer of Chandogya Upanishad. Besides being comprehensive in its Universal nature it offers prayers for our beloved departed souls too. This really touched my heart. I read it many times with translation and world by word meaning. Each reading is a step in its appreciation. It inspired me to translate it in a Hindi Bhajan form. With my crude translation and music training it still caries the complete essence of the Sanskrit prayer. It makes the part II of this post.

Savita Tyagi

5.31.2026

Random Thought 72

 Mind a big scrolling pad!

Thoughts scrolling in,

Thoughts scrolling out!

Catching a single thought 

And staying with it…..

Like pausing to scroll

On an electronic device

And actually paying attention 

On something worthwhile!

Make Your Mind A Safe Place To Venture II

Earthbound View!

My senses hold the world for me.
Mind is not a safe place to venture!
Beyond senses mind gravitates
In the scary world of its own making.
That world still perturbs me.

Evil thoughts are my companions
To fuel mental fire like fallen dead leave.

Good thoughts and good deeds are
Not earthshine to illuminate my journey
Through rough terrains of mind.

All the mysterious inner curves and bends
Don't open new vistas for me to experience.
Fear shakes my mind in tremulous jolts.
Still to climb the trek for better life with my
Worn out senses till I die is my best choice!

Savita Tyagi

Thursday, November 9, 2017

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM

Thought for this poem came as I was posting my first poem ‘ make your mind a safe place to venture'. These thoughts are equally valid and hold truth for me in same way as the thoughts of my first poem. Please read both poems together. 

Make Your Mind A Safe Place To Venture I

Our senses hold the world for us.
Beyond senses mind gravitates
In the world of its own making.
Let senses perturb you not. Make
Your mind a safe place to venture.

Evil thoughts are ominous companions
To fuel mental fire like fallen dead leave.
Keep good thoughts and do good deeds.
It works like earthshine to illuminate your
Journey through rough terrains of mind.

All the mysterious inner curves and bends
Can open new vistas for you to experience.
Fear not mind's tremulous peace shaking jolts.
Climb the trek for stable center in your highest
Quest for what lies beyond thought and senses.

Savita Tyagi

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Note:

This is the first of two poems. These take two conflicting views in account. None the less both hold valid and truthful views. Please read them together.

Taking Delight In Learning

Last evening in our study group we read the last Shlok of Bhagavad Geeta chapter two. Two words that Bhagwan Krishna uses drew my attention. ब्राह्मी स्थितिः Brāhmī sthitih ( firm standing in the Brahman) and ब्रह्मनिर्वाणम् ( extinction in the Brahman).

As the  words are little different in their meaning, I wondered if Krishna was talking about two different states. ब्राह्मी स्थितिः Brāhmī sthitih that is achieved in life while the other ब्रह्मनिर्वाणम् realized after life. Our fellow reader had the better understanding than I did, citing that our scriptures assert that though difficult, this state can be reached while alive.

This morning I read the Shlok again, and realized what Krishna was actually stressing is the benefit of the ब्राह्मी स्थितिः Brāhmī sthitih even if it is realized at the time when life is about to end- ‘अन्तकाले’.

Every time I read Geeta I not only improve my understanding of it but also of Sanskrit words that I pay attention to.

Note:

The word Nirvana originates from Sanskrit word निर्वान् (Nirvàn). Literally it means. ‘Blown out’ or ‘extinguished’.

It is derived from the prefix nis- ("out") + vā ("to blow") + -āna (past participle suffix), describing the extinguishing of a flame. Metaphorically it is used for the cessation of suffering by quieting the mind and extinguishing the flames of our vices and having a more balanced and objective view of life.

The term is also recognized in English usage since 1830–1840, representing a state of perfect peace and tranquility.

Savita Tyagi

5.2.2026

In The Garden Of Eden All Are Cursed

Terror is the brutal force of war in disarray 

Like a carnivorous tree that bears no fruit,

It extends its poisonous arms around its prey.

Humanity is victimized by its ruthless,

Demonic heart and foul intelligence.

Its fatal, vicious and violent  energy

Shatters lives in unsuspecting ways. 

It transforms city streets in war zones

Spreads like fire from nation to nation,

From continent to continent to inflict

Horrific pain and suffering on innocent.

No place, no land, no man immune 

Or spared from it, all bets are off

Against it, all laws are broken by it

Just chaos and screams prevail.

Savage terrorists know no bounds

Some kill with smart bombs, others

Use cars, planes and computers.

Tools that are to benefit society have

Become scepter of death in their hands.

Passionate and ruthless!

Coward or fearless!

Praised or condemned as they are!

Depends on, who writes the history!

For now Jungle is getting vicious 

Tree of righteousness licks dust

In the Garden of Eden all are cursed.

Let us rid ourself from its savage curse

O! Pomona! O! Bacchus! O! Aryanika!

Help us instill peace in our precious forest.

Savita Tyagi 

July 26. 2017

Note:

Pomona and Bacchus in Roman culture and Aryanika in Vedic Hindu culture are protectors and nurturers of forest and plains and all its dwellers and habitat.

The above poem was published in 2017 in The Anthology:  POETRY AGAINST TERROR: A tribute to the victims of terrorism. It is a collective work published by Fabrizio Frosini under the banner ‘Poets Unite Worldwide’. The group was created in response to global terrorism, particularly after the Nov 2017 Paris attack. It brings together poems from 43 countries as a “poetry of witness” to condemn violence and promote peace. I am a member of this group and was privileged to contribute many of my poems for it’s publication.

Savita Tyagi

4. 30. 2026

A Stringless Kite

 An hour of news! 

Don’t know if I should

Laugh! Cry or be annoyed!

Striking is the vision 

Of a stringless kite in blue sky!

Savita Tyagi

4.21.2026

Was Lord Krishna against Vedic Yagna rituals?

In Bhagavad Geeta chapter II verse 42 and 43 Bhagwan Krishna speaks as if belittling the Vedic rituals associated with Yagna.

Yagna was an important part of Vedic way of life. Why would Krishna speak so harshly against it? I wondered! All of a sudden another question came to mind; did Krishna ever performed a Yagna? 

As I turned to internet for my research I was surprised to find some fact.

Elaborate Yagna were mostly performed by kings. 

Krishna was never a king. He was a king maker!

He killed Kansa and reinstated his Grandfather Ugrasane as king of Mathura, and remained there as a counselor.

Despite being called Dwarkadheesh, he was not king of Dwarka. Dwarka was run by a council, Krishna being the most influential among the many counselors.

He was not against Yagna either. Took part in many Yagna as an influential guest. 

When Yudhister wanted to do the Yagna to relieve himself from his pain and suffering due to Mahabharata war, Krishna helped him organize the Yagna. 

In Bhagvad Geeta chapter 18.3 Krishna say himself- ‘Yagna, Daan and Tapah should never be abandoned.’

Knowing all this I realized his reason of being critical in Ch.II was only to lead Arjuna in understanding the difference between work done with desire and attachment versus doing it without being attached to fruits of work.

Savita Tyagi

3.22.2026