Monday, March 26, 2018

I am a Brahmin


I am a Brahmin

By
P.R.Ramachander



(I am by birth a Brahmin and I introduce myself   to my  Brahmin  elders as  the follower of Yajurveda, who follows the rituals as codified by Apasthamba , belonging to the  Kaundinya Gothra , with Vasishta  , Maithravaruna   and Kanudinya lineage.  I  am by profession a   scientist   and wanted to know  , what is it all about ? I have been reading and searching  and I have adopted  the philosophical method  of  “No this is not it”, and eliminating  it. Here   are my scrambled  thoughts which I have  learnt .)

Once   all the   truths   of Vedas   were  floating in the atmosphere,
And some  great    sages   could   hear  parts  of it  ,
And since   they had still not developed   alphabets  to their language .
Each sage   learned   by heart  what he heard    and  wanted  to teach it  to some one interested

There   were   many  great sages like him who knew   what  they have heard ,
And they   chose    disciplined   intelligent   human beings  ,
Who were  prepared    to give   up all the  pleasures  of the world  ,
To learn  by heart , these  chapters  of That Knowledge( Vedas)  so that  posterity would have it.

Since   these sages chose   to   call   their concept    of godhead “Brahmam”.
They  chose to call  those  intelligent  self sacrificing   students as Brahmanas,
And from reading  the Vedas  it looks    as if they  were nomadic people ,
Whose   only wealth    was   cows and bulls  as no where land is mentioned as wealth.

No one   is clear  whether  all children of Brahmanas   were also called   as Brahmanas.
Because   there are   several instances in Vedas   where this   fact   is not  true ,
But soon they  found that, apart from    study of Vedas  , they could undertake other jobs,
Many of them were engaged in study of stars   and medicinal  properties  of Plants.

Then they    started  living  in permanent homes and so   they needed  to formulate,
Rules  governing   domestic lives  and their sages wrote  Gruhya   suthras    for this purpose,
And though   they had started   using copper , they    had only knives    and not scissors,
And also   needle and  art  of stitching    was    still   not invented  though   weaving was known to them.

Because of this  they never    wore   any stitched   cloths  and they did not cut their hair,
And by this time  very many  seekers of spiritual knowledge   grew  up among   them,
And   these seekers  composed   one  hundred   eight  Upanishads,
Which were  all discussion  on spiritual  matters   among   very wise  people.

It was at this time the first   epic  of the world    was  written about life of Rama,
And interestingly   it was  not written by a  Brahmin   sage but   a hunter   sage.
This great epic also mentions    about a  vysya(merchant)    sage whom a  king killed by mistake.
And it is a matter  of interest   that  most of the characters  of this  epic   were  not Brahmins.

Except for the sages  who were  Gurus   of Royal   families , there  was  a Brahmin called Rishya Sringa ,
The son in law   of a king ,  there  was   the son of Ahalya   and Gauthama  who was minister of Janaka,
And there was   sage Visravas    who married  a Yaksha   lady   and then   a   Rakshasa  lady.
Lord Rama  is mentioned  to have given    his wealth   to citizens   including    Brahmins

Most probably   it looks as if even this epic     was not written down  and it was,
Taught to Lava And Kucha, who sang it in all   places     and made  it popular,
It is interesting to note   that  a monkey called  Vali   did sandhyavandhana ,
And Hanuman    waited   near a river expecting Sita   would come there  to do Sandhyavandana.

The next big epic Mahabharatha   says that  sage Vyasa  who was born to a fisherwoman,
Dictated    it and  Lord   Ganesa  , who  wrote   it down on the   stones  of Himalaya  mountains,
And  this clearly shows    that  people   had started    writing    down what   they composed,
And the fact   that Balarama   carried a plough   goes on to prove   that cultivation has begun.

It is also clear  from the epic     that   Brahmanas   always were  not parents  of Brahmanas,
But   many stories   leads  us to believe   that children of Brahmin  couple   were Brahmins.
Pepople like Kuchela, Daumya , Uthunga  , Akroora   and the Brahmin    messenger  of Rugmani ,
Are  mentioned   as householder  Brahmins   apart    from  Drona, Kripa    and other sages.

Vyasa   also called   as Krishna  Dvaipayana , the black one   born in an island  ,
Who is an important character   as well as   author   of the story  of Maha Bharatha,
Is stated   to have collected   all  the spiritual   knowledge with very many   sages ,
And  it is known that  he codified it and divided  in to four  Vedas, Yajur, Rig, Sama  and Ahrvana.

For some reason    even these  classified   and edited   books    were  not written down,
And was taught  in Guru Kulas  , probably   due  to  importance  in pronunciation,
Which would change   the meaning  and implication  of their great  inheritance ,
Somehow  Atharva Veda dealing with magic  had no followers  and   was almost  neglected.

After   the end of  Mahabharata , the Kali   age started possibly around  5000  years back ,
The major   literature  in Sanskrit  which  were not necessarily  religious  were produced ,
And this was again the period  when great  religious  thought  processes ,
Which did not agree   with Vedic  principles like Budhism  and Jainism   were  established.

It was again the  period when great  Brahmin interpreters of Veds   like  ,
Adhi Sankara  ,Ramanuja  , Madhwa  , Vallabhacharya ,Nayanmars , Azhvars,
And many more   saints  were  born  and  started  vehemently  opposing  ,
The  new  founders of  new religion  and also started  the  Bhakthi marga

It was after   this that   great scientists   , mathematicians  ,
Doctors as   well as  surgons  came in to the   fore India,
And the most   interesting   aspect was that    ,
All  of them without   exceptions    were Brahmins.

This was   followed   by wave of great  intellectuals,
Majority of whom were  Brahmins  but  very many of them,
Were not Brahmins   and at this time  our country  ,
Was conquered  by   rulers from middle  east and west.

They all waned intelligent local people  to help them,
And when they searched   that they could employ Brahmins,
Who would be extremely intelligent  as well as,
Sincere  , truthful   as well   as  very honest,


(From then on   the history of  Brahmin migration   is not at all clear . Adhi SAnkara   born in Kerala   travelled   in the  length and breadth of the country    for reforming and reestablishing  Hindu religion.  Indications are that  he  did not give much importance  of the Non Brahmin   religious thought  which  had reached  its acme  in Tamil Nadu   as well as Kashmir. He is supposed   to have established   four Mutts  in  four corners  of India and  made it a rule that  only a Brahmin Sanyasi can head  .Great religious leaders  like Ramanuja who  felt that  Vedas and religion  can be learnt  by people    who are not Brahmins also  . travelled  throughout India,)


I am a Brahmin , I used  to  tell it loudly ,
Not only    to you  but to the entire  world.
There  were  kings and the rich who   used to ,
Look after  me royally , so that I can continue to learn.

Things changed

To all  those  who are Brahmins , you are telling an axiom,
Then you   give  us  several  great lectures about it.
If we  learn Agama  you say it is  injustice,
If we learn Vedas , you say  I do it  for  selling it.

Suppose I leave  my caste’s profession and become a clerk,
You are introducing  reservation and pushing us  in darkness,
Suppose  we  learn law so that  we can achieve  something,
You  are announcing our caste   and  lashing us   with a whip.

Suppose  we   say  we do not want  anything  and go abroad,
You   term us   as the   slaves   of White men,
Even  though we   study   day   and night ,
All our   efforts   are  needlessly wasted.

The government   which is not bothered  about intelligence,
Is embracing   all others   and saying to them, “bad marks   are enough”
But if we   then decide   that  we  would   ring the  bell in temples,
And fill half our belly  , They  say ,” All castes  can become priests.”

We can accept our fate   but do cancel  your concept of “reservation”,
If we do a crime  the punishment  is seven times   than the  others,
Says   the great Veda , but in spite   of that,I only   tell the name of God ,
I have  forsaken everything , Come and tell me   what more  I can forsake  in this life


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Quo Vadis (where to?) Brahmin priests?


Quo Vadis (where to?)   Brahmin priests?

By
P.R.Ramachander

There  are   two types of priests   among   Brahmins. 







1.Archakas
    These are   the priests    who specialise   in  agama (that  which came down to us ie tradition )   Sastras    and do worship   in temples.  In south india there   are three   type of major  agamas   that are  practiced in our temples    viz Shaiva  Agamas  , Vaishanava  Agamas  and Thanthric Agamas . The  person/society   which maintain   the temples   are   supposed   to pay them for the day  to day rituals  of the temple .  The devotees    who go to the temple    also pay them for performing  personal   worships as well as Abhishekams. Their income thus depends  on how rich the  organisations  which run the temple are  and also on   the number of devotees   who visit the   temple    for personal worship..If  the temple is rarely   visited  by devotees , the archakas   almost starve.  Most  of  village   temple archakas   are like this.

2.Priests (Purohitha)  helping  us to do  Vedic ritual
    They are all   supposed  to be well versed  in Vedas   especially the Gruhya   soothras.They can specialise   in any of the   three  Vedas viz Rig, Yajur and Sama Veda.When we   go through    the puranas    we find that   such priests were  mainly   employed  by kings  who rule the country  But with disappearance of kings  , they were  employed   by agraharams (cluster  of Brahmin houses), With   agraharams not being as rich as   the kings , this class  of priests  became poor, Their  major income was from weddings and after  death ceremonies  of the families  of Agraharams and rarely by participating in Yagams  which were  conducted  by rich Brahmin families.
   With  Brahmins  moving  away to white collared    jobs  with regular   income in to cities , Some of these   priests   also moved to towns  and their income  started  increasing .The poor priests   in the villages starved
  Not all  priests   in urban areas    were able   to get large number of clients   and two classes  of such  priests  came  in to existence  in urban areas.  The chief priests   and the  subordinate  priests .All  the rich Brahmins contacted  only the chief  priests who   deputed  the sub ordinate   priests working under   them for   various rituals .I understand   that  the subordinate  priests have to contribute  a small   amount  of their daily income   to the chief priests.
   Slowly the trained  subordinate   priests   became  lesser   and lesser and so the  main priests   were   forced   to employ  so called priests   who have  not studied  at all   as their assistants.
  Perhaps because   of this we do find   rich chief priests  moving  in their own cars  with their very costly   cell phones  and also  very poor assistant priests who some how  are   managing to make both ends meet
    Most of the villages   do not have priests  and  priests   travel from  small towns    to surrounding    villages.


Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Sivadas Ponnathil- My friend of the past 60 years


Sivadas  Ponnathil- My friend  of the past 60 years

By
P.R.Ramachander



  Among my face book friends , if I do not consider  my brother , sister  and Cousins,
Sivadas Ponnath  has been my friend for the longest time  .I know him  for  the past 60 years as a very very  close friend. In  1958  I shifted to  Annamalai university hostel  and there I met Sri C.K.Nalina Babu , who decided that I am an unfinished sculpture and that  he can make  me   really great.At that time  being very poor and very badly dressed ,I was completly sunk in Inferiority   complex. Babu slowly taught me that  I was a  gem of a person with capacities far more greater  than all   those people   who were making fun of me .It was at this time of my life that  One Day P.Sivadas   who was Babu’s close friend in Cochin came to  our university seeking admission in M.Sc (zoology) .Babu without any difficulty  got him admission  to the course  and needed urgently to fill up a form  where   the Father of Sri Sivadas  had to sign.He simply called me and asked me to put a signature in that  form.When I told him, it is illegal , My Babu told me that it would become illegal only if  father of Sivadas complained that  it was not his signature.I agreed   and Babu started   calling me Guardian of Sivadas. Sivadas   as a child had  acted in a Malayalam film and was a very  good singer of Malayalam  film songs.Within next two years we  both became very close friends. Since I did not have alarm watch, it was a job of my friend Sivadas  to wake me up early morning .Since I used to sleep very soundly, Banu asked him to throw pebbles in to my room  through window to that.  I left the university  and proceeded  to Calcutta and then  to Delhi to specialise in Statistics. Sri Sivadas   continued  in the university  to complete his Ph.D.When I as in Delhi  Sri Sivadas came for a CSIR scholarship interview and stayed with me  in our hostel. I still remember he Brought a bottle of  Nellikkai  picles along with him. After the inter view  I showed him round Delhi . After  one more year , I needed   to get admission for M.Sc Zoology   to my brother  ,I sent him to meet my friend Sivadas at Annamalai university.When my brother   was juust  wandering in Trichy station to catch  train to Chidambaram,Sivadas   who was also there  recognized him as my brother without any difficulty.Sri Sivadas then jointed Bational Ocenographic Lab and I  went to various places   where my job took me .About 15 years back  I again met him in Bangalore  in our Common friend  Chandran;s house.From then on we do have a semblance  of correspondence but from 2008  , we  have  regular  exchange of news as Both of us are  active in Face Book. May God bless  my friend of more than 60 years.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Vemana Satakam (Essence of Dharma according to poet Vemana in Telugu)


 Vemana  Satakam (Essence  of Dharma according  to poet Vemana in Telugu)

Translated  by
P.R.Ramachander






(One of the great books  of “essence of  Dharma”  in Telugu .Since these   are  taught   right  from school, these  are  ever popular. This is as great  as   any other  similar  book in any other  language)

“Vemana satakam was composed by “Kumaragiri Vemareddy” popularly known as
 Yogi Vemana, a 14th century Telugu poet.He used simple colloquial language in his poems with native Idioms. A poet ofthe people, a philosopher of equality and a fighting saint, his poems were a direct comment on the social structure at that time, which are relevant even to contemporary society. His satakas(100 verses)  are known by his name as Vemana Satakam.
Almost  all g his verses   of four lines  end with a makuta(topping) line  “Viswadabhirama Vinura Vema” which is  a refrain .Many   different meanings   /connotations   are given to this line . The most common is  “The beloved of Vishwada, Listen O Vemana!!” But I have chosen  a different meaning “Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema” , which appeared  to me as more appropriate .Though I know spoken telugu  and Sanskrit, I do noy know  how to read Telugu.Due to this though I have been wanting   to bring it to the  notice of those  outside Andhara, I was not able to do it.  Recently I came across a  book by  “K.Srinivasa Sastry  and Usha .K.Srinivas”  called  “Vemana  Sataka” , where  the poems have been typed in english   and there is a commentary in english to each verse .I have  completly depended on this book    and have  translated it in my own words .My acknowledgements to the authors  of that book.


1.One Rama   was born and made clan of sun great,
The lord of Kurus(duryodhana)  was born   and destroyed his clan,
This is the   effect   of sins    and good deeds ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

2.The  musk  secreted  by the musk deer is black,
But its   sweet  scent  spreads  far and wide ,
Just like    good qualities  of is recognized   every where,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

3.The   neem though bitter  cures   diseses,
And gives firmness   to the luster  of the body,
And if eaten regularly it leads to sweet results,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

4.Food   without dhal   is   disliked by the world,
Only the person without debts  is  more stronger,
And only the person without fear is the wise  person
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

5,Even if a mean person practices  knowledge ,
He does not  become important, just  like  a mean animal,
Like  donkey carrying  perfumes  does not become elephant,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

6.A child  is pampered   only when mother  is there,
And if she goes away  , no one  cares   about him,
And like that  only in good times, people get respect,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

7.What is the result in  offering  food  to a  person,
Who is not able to digest   the food he takes,
And what is the result in giving  charity to a rich man ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

8.If we     provide   help   to a person with virtue,
It appears  to him   as big as a mountain  due to his goodness,
But will  the   bad person even  recognize  help as big as mountain,
 Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

9.If we are  fated   to get   God would   definitely give,
And if we are not fated to get it, there  is no result,
And would   God bless  you with Gold , if you are  not fated?
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

10.A river full of water   flows   with great  majesty,
And a turbulent river  flows   fast and slow   and bent,
 Will a noble     person ever behave like a mean person,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

11.A rain drop   falling  in  an oyster  becomes a  pearl,
And a rain drop falling in river , becomes a part of water,
A person fated    to get it   will never  miss to get the chance,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

12.The   outer lappearance   of a fig fruit   is shining and smooth,
And if we cut  it open   , we may see  worms in it,
Such  is the   mind inside  an arrogant  person,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

13,The bubbles   that  form in the waves , breaks  then it self,
And the  wealth   seen in the dream is  not wealth at all,
Please understand   the luck and enjoyment in the world are  bubbles,.
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

14.Though gold   is same different types  of ornaments are  made out of it,
Though there   are various  beings their soul    is the same,
And there are many types of food all meant to satisfy same  hunger,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

.15.Do not claim  your superiority   in places that are  not yours,
Even a small   precious thing has   its own importance  but not its reflection,
Just like   no one   bothers   about reflection of a  mountain in a mirror,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

16.A huge tree  can be destroyed  by a small worm in its root,
And white ants   affecting   a huge tree  can reduce it to nothing,
Just like  by influence   of insignificant evil one can destroy a  person of good conduct,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

17.In every atom the   entire   world  is there.
And that  atom is again within itself ,
And the man who  can control his mind attains liberation,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

18.It is great joy   when our child   grows up,
And becomes  obedient and respectful to elders,
But if he is not like   that , it is a cause  of worry.
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

19.The head of the village knows who is lying,
And God knows about  those   who tell the truth,
And the gluttony of husband  is known to his wife,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

20.Serving   masters who do not  know your worth,
Would only lead   to a    life full of delusion ,
For would  a   barren cow   ever   give   milk?
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

21.There  are men who sell  milk adding water to it
There is a bird  which   can  separate  milk from water,
That swan is indeed   nobler   than that man,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

22,Even if  you grow neem with love, by irrigating  it with milk,
The bitterness   would not reduce  and it would not be sweet,
An evil person would never turn in to   a  good wise person,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

23.A fish can  move long distance  in water,
But it cannot  move even  one and half feet outside,
The  strength of its situation is more important  to it  than its own strength
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema
 
24.Among all charity , charity of food is greatest,
No one   is more superior   than your own mother,
And no one   is better  than our own guru,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

25.Saving money  by avoiding charity,
Saving   food   without   eating it ,
Is like  bee collecting honey for the passerby
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

26.The peppe   appears  black to see ,
But when you  bite it , it tingles  your tastebuds,
And the  good people   have their separate  essence,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

27.Though visible  , he does not recognise  them,
Though    it is heard  , he  does  not understand them,
This is the  state of person     who has   wealth,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

28.What is written in paper  is known to all,
The lines in the hand  can be  deciphered,
But even a learned one cannot recognise , the writing under the skin,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

29.It is possible    to examine   and study many epics,
It is possible to utter   very many words,
But  it is  difficult indeed   to  be patient,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

30.The Ganges   flows   with  peace towards ocean,
The gutter  canal   flows  making   great noise ,
A mean person cannot be peaceful like a  noble person,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

31.Not understanding what comes definitely   goes,
And  death is  a  natual process   that  comes,
If one roams recklessly   around as  per his wish,
It is like an insect jumping and flying and falling in fire , says Vema

32,If you   give shelter   to a   very mean person  ,
You would enter   in to needless   trouble,
As it is like a fly  entering your stomach  and causing discomfort,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

33.Having a stone inside shoe  or  flying insect inside ear,
Or having   a dust  inside the eye  or thorn in the feet,
Or   quarrel in the home  . all cause   great   discomfort,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

34.A mean person  always   brags  about himself,
A good man always   speaks   with composure,
The sound produced by gold is different from that of bronze,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

35.God   dies not    differ from one place to another,
For he is always    within your body,
Riding on your self  and controlling the horses,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

36.Even if you teach   the  bull for a year ,
It would  understand you  and behave  properly,
But   an adamant person will not learn even in thirty years,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

37.Though the body is transient  , the wealth is transient,
It cannot be  easily  realized by any body,
It can be told to others  but   difficult to practice,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 
  
38.What If human   beings   without any  feeling of generosity,
Are    born in this world   or  dead in this world,
They are   termites being born  or dead  in ant hills,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema  
 
39,What is point  in bathing in water, offer  treasures,
And offer   salutations to   the Gods,If they are done
By dishonest people whose mind   is filled with evil?
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema   

40.If  rains are absent   , famine  occurs,
If rains are in plenty flood  occurs,
But please realize that  they occur one after another,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema  
 
41,Though salt and camphor   look alike,
They do taste   very different  and like that ,
Though people look similar , the virtuous are different,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema    

42.All base qualities  in a person would be destroyed,
If he   has conversation  with virtuous  people,
Just like bad smell disappearing   when scent is brought ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema
   
43.However  much one studies and however much one hears good,
A mean individual   can never   become  other than mean,
Would  washing coal with milk , turn it in to white?
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema     

44.The person who admits his ignorance is always appreciated  in this world,
But the one who admits to  be ready  to learn would also be blamed,
But the one  who keeps silent is considered as greatly wise,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema  
 
45.Any one   who keeps   company of undesirable person,
Is also considered  as undesirable in  this world,
It is something like drinking milk below a toddy palm,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema
   
46.Just like   large black faced monkeys  catch hold ,
Small monkeys and dress  it up in new   cloths and respect it,
Worthless  people   flocj around useless  people,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema    

47. If you person  with mental deficiency  is   given power,
He would dismiss  all efficient  people  from position of power,
Just like a  dog which chews  a slipper   does not know   taste of sugarcane,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

   48,If  the bottom  of a wealthy  man gets  sore,
It   would become a news   all over the   world,
But even if a marriage takes place in a poor family no one notices it,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

49.Due to desire   , all their life  humans,
Wander all around  with false  hopes,
Like flies swarming round a dirty pot  ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

50.A loveless feast is wasteful cooking of   special dishes,
A devotionless  worship   is waste  of sacred  leaves,
A charity without knowing  worth of receiver is waste of gold,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

51.Fault   finders   are very many in the world,
While each person has   some fault or other ,
Fault finders   can never  find their own defects,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

52.If an illiterate   associates himself with learned people,
He   can never become a learned  person,
A duck by associating with swans  cannot become a swan,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

53, At the time   of weakness  even  a lion,
Can be   troubled  by  a very  unhealthy dog,
And so when you are not strong  , do not be stubborn,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

54.At the beginning  do not compromise on your principles.,
And till the end do not criticise   the principle  of any other,
And  this is how a poised   person leads his life,
And such a person with joy becomes   the leader

55.A steady  brain   is better  than worship,
Mind is always stronger   than words,
Good qualities   are  better  than  family lineage,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

56.The person seeking alms  is the worst in the world,
The person    who never  asks for anything  is like God,
But the person who does  not give little charity is a bad person,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

57.No person is free   from birth and death,
He is not the one who  acts either in the beginning  or end,
And it is laughable that  he thinks he does it in  the in between period,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

58.Without   practice nothing can be achieved ,
Without teaching  no one can learn,
Please understand this by fixing your mind  ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

  59. If the   son who does not   show affection to parents,
It does not matter  whether he is   born or dead ,
They are like white ants born and dying  in the anthill itself,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema \

60.A noble  person  is the brother of  other ladies,
Does not aspire  for other’s wealth, looks after  interest of of others,
Does  not get  angry when others get angry,
And leads his life for others  , says ,Vema

61.Philosophers   are  plenty  in this world,
Though  one who knows the   truth  is not there  in the world,
And even if he is there, It is not possible to find him,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

62.If a pot is broken a new one can be bought  ,
But in this world   , once  a man is fallen,
It is extremely difficult  for him to recover,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema 

63. Humming again and again  , the melody of singing  increases,
Eating   again and again  even bitter neem  becomes sweet,
And only by constant practice anything becomes possible,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

64.In a house   without lamp,
IN the darkness  people cannot see  their forms,
But  even having  lamp of intelligence .
People are not able to  see sinful ways  says Vema.

65.It looks   as if  it is possible to break a stone,
It is even possible  to powder    all hills 
But it is difficult to melt heart of cruel person,
 Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

66.A person   who  forgets  day and night,
Who is not bothered  about his feelings,
And forgets you and  me   is the great yogi,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

67.Those who  in their mind  wants to ruin others,
Do not understand that  it leads   to their own ruin,
Please understand that God is there who oversees all this,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

68.one   small good act   with a clean mind is sufficient,
For   how does   a tiny   banyan   seed compare ,
With   the tree   that   comes   out of it,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

69.Only the person who knows the secret  ,
Would be able   to know   the  truth  of any action,
For without  entering the water  , we do not know its depth,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

70.When you approach a barren cow   to milk it ,
It  would   kick yoiur  teeth off , similarly,
If you approach a miser  for help , he will only insult you,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

71.What does not come , will not come , even if you request,
And What is destined will come   even without a request,
In spite of our thinking and worrying about it,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

72.If clouds mask the   sun cannot be seen,
If our mind blocks   , we loose  our stability,
If  we forget  the duties of life , the salvation would be  blocked,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

73.If you catch ,. Hold it tight  and do not leave  it,
But saying  I wont catch , you should  not catch,
It is better to die than catching   and then leaving,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

74.There   are people   who  do sins inside  but,
Appear   as good people   outside, others,
May not know it  but God definitely will,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

75.Possesing   a genuine   sapphire   is better than,
Having a basket full of   glittering stones,
To read and understand one good poem is sufficient..
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

76.The world blames   the person  who tells  the truth,
Do not speak   truth in the company  of evil  persons,
But speak only truth  when  you are in company of noble people,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

77.Unity   is  extremely necessary,
One can achieve  anything by its strength,
Just like an elephant can be tied  with a  rope of straw,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

78.We  bathe it with water , examine  it,
Drape  it  with sari   and also   feed it  ,
We do all this to the body which is perishable,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

79.Wealth is the   root of all the world,
Wealth is the root of all Dharmas,
Good nature is root of   all prosperity,
And thought alone is the  basis  of salvation, says Vema

80.Iron breaks  by heating  it twice or thrice ,
But it could be made   to join again,
But when mind breaks  , nothing can be done to heal it,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

81.By having  one  good person in one’s clan,
The  clan can   be made   in to great , it is,
Just like  one sandal wood tree  making the forest great,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

82. By increase  of wealth  one’s pride increases,
By increase  of pride  , bad characters  increase,
And likewise when  wealth decreases  pride decreases.
And by decrease  of pride   good character  increases , says Vema

83.Lord Shiva knows   there  is falsehood in world below,
The water   knows it is flowing to a  lower level,
And the mother knows whether a son is going to be born to her,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

84.A hand works  well due to power of five fingers,
Even if i one finger  is not there , the hand weakens  ,
Similarly by deserting of one person, the   group gets weakened,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

85.Words  over words leads to discussion,
All manthras   are  combination of  precious words,
When one knows    the harmony   of words,
Through these  words , one can get salvation  , says Vema.

86.Anger  reduces  a person’s greatness,
Due to anger  , good character gets    reduced,
And due to anger  even one’s life span  get reduced,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

87.If we get in our hand,an enemy who deserves to be killed,
That enemy    should be  left  unharmed,
Because an appropriate help , will make him not an enemy,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

88. If you bring a bear’s hide , and however much,
We   wash it again and again, it would not become white,
Does   beating  of an wooden doll , ever make it speak,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

89.No work  should be done  with unnecessary delay,
For if we hurry   to finish it early, complications would arise,
Can we pluck a unripe fruit and make it ripe  by just keeping it,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

90.A person who has good conduct can swim across,
A river when the time is proper,
Only a steady mind  can help you to win your objective ,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema.

91.A person   who is obedient   and respectful  to his Guru,
And pleases   him in a proper   manner  , leaving out  self pride,
And communalism , would live focused  as long as he lives,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

 91.One who knows his mother   also knows God,
One who knows the earth   also knows the sky,
And he is also a person  who knows himself well,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

92.People bring   stones and build pretty temples   wth them,
They would then make stone idols and  consecrate  them there with pomp,
And then  would those idol bless them or speak to them,?
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

93.When effect of past Karma increases , there  is no escape,
Did not  king Yudhishtra  the king of Dharma ,
Became a  lowly servant  in the king Viratas  court.
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

94.The great  city of Lanka  , blessed  by Goddess  of wealth,
Was destroyed  by an army  of small  monkeys,
In bad times , the small  and weak person can cause havoc,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

95.Cows   are of different colours   but milk is always white,
The flowers    are of different types but worship is same ,
Appearance  of Gods is different but they are  all one God,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

96.When  there  is no anger , there  is no enmity,
When there  is no enmity, the karma from previous births do not trouble you ,
When you disregard  differences, there  are no quarrels,
When anger  enmity and bias are not there , you would get salvation

 97. The   sense  of fear leads to ignorance,
If   fear can be overcome, we can attain salvation,
This body of ours    would  certainly get destroyed,
Please understand  that  our soul  is  the one who wins.

98.A spoon of good milk from a cow  is  sufficient ,
Rather than getting a pot full of milk from a donkey,
A morsel of food given with love  is sufficient to satisfy hunger,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

99.A swan in manasarovar   swims,
 Without being  affected by water,
A yogi wanders without being affected by pleasures,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

100.Self knowledge   is everything  ,
Practical knowledge  is  for living properly,
With destruction of knowledge of passion you see everything,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema

101Without inner purity rituals are  useless,
It is like   cooking   food in unclean vessels,
Why worship lord  Shiva  without  mental purity,
Oh pretty  one of the world , please  listen  says  Vema