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Qualities in a Knower of Truth

निराशता निर्भयता नित्यता समता ज्ञता ।
निरीहता निष्क्रियता सौम्यता निर्विकल्पता ।।
धृतिर्मैत्री मतिस्तुष्टिः मृदुता मृदुभाषिता
हेयोपादेयनिर्मुक्ते ज्ञे तिष्ठन्त्यपवासनम् ।।
– योगवसिष्ठरामायणम्, उपशमप्रकरणम् १३.२८,२९

nirāśatā nirbhayatā nityatā samatā jñatā |
nirīhatā niṣkriyatā saumyatā nirvikalpatā ||
dhṛtirmaitrī matistuṣṭiḥ mṛdutā mṛdubhāṣitā |
heyopādeyanirmukte jñe tiṣṭhantyapavāsanam ||
– Yogavāsiṣṭharāmāyaṇam, Upaśamaprakaraṇam 13.28, 29

Translation:

Non-expectation, freedom from fear, given to eternal ways, inward equanimity, knowledge orientation, free of worldliness, free of doership, gentleness, doubt-freeness, resoluteness, genuine friendship with one and all, intelligential clarity, contentment, softness, soft-spokenness – without causing any desire or bondage, these qualities dwell in a Knower of Truth, who has delivered himself from the dual notions of acceptance and rejection.

Points for Introspection:

All our sufferings and miseries in life arise from our desires based on likes and dislikes. We desire to possess or enjoy whatever we like and we desire not to face or interact with whatever we do not like. Because of these inherent likes and dislikes one is always agitated, not contented. Only when one is able to transcend likes and dislikes, one will be contented for ever, having been liberated from the bondage of desire.

A Knower of Truth is one who has transcended likes and dislikes. He remains always contented, full of delight and not bound by any desire.

This śloka enlists some of the qualities that dwell in a Knower of Truth. What are the characteristics in him which make him ever-delightful, ever-contented? Should not a seeker try to cultivate these qualities in himself to reach that tranquility of mind?

Our śāstras say, अध्यात्मशास्त्रे कृतार्थलक्षणानि यानि तान्येव साधनानि (adhyātmaśāstre kṛtārthalakṣaṇāni yāni tānyeva sādhanāni) – in spiritual science, whatever are the qualities of the Knower, become the pursuits for the seekers.

When a seeker yearns zealously, and strives sincerely to cultivate these qualities getting rid of worldly desires, he very naturally evolves to the state of Knowerhood. To cultivate the qualities of a Knower, a sādhaka will have to transcend likes and dislikes. He will have to pursue purity of mind and intelligence and develop dispassion. In the pure mind, the Self reveals itself, just as in a clear mirror one is able to see his face distinctly. A seeker then experiences his own Self as different from his body-mind-intelligence complex and experiences it as the Universal Self – the self in all, one without a second. This is the Supreme Knowledge.

Cultivation of the qualities of a Knower grows hand-in-hand with the Knowledge of the Self. The qualities are indispensable. When a seeker is not able to reach his goal of realizing the Self, even after long period of sādhanā, he must understand that he has not achieved the qualities of a Knower which is absolutely essential for the purification of the mind, which in turn is necessary to attain the Supreme Spiritual Knowledge.

This śloka is one which should be by-hearted and chanted repeatedly. Focusing on the meaning of each word, the essence of the qualities can be glimpsed and grasped. For example, contemplation on the word निर्भयता (nirbhayatā) will adorn the mind with fearlessness instantly. Anybody who is not soft-natured and talks roughly or hurtingly can bring about the qualities by repeated chanting of मृदुता (mṛdutā) and मृदुभाषिता (mṛdubhāṣitā). So on for the other qualities. When one ruminates over the meanings of the words, one should also introspect “how this quality can be brought about, why I am not acquiring them”, etc.

This śloka should be chanted repeatedly throughout the day. It is very useful for one’s active and interactive life, not to speak of quiet moments. As one ruminates over and over each word, the fondness for the quality grows. Simply because of intense fondness, the qualities become part of one’s life, making the mind placid and peaceful.

Word Meaning:

निराशता (nirāśatā) = Non-expectation; निर्भयता (nirbhayatā) = freedom from fear; नित्यता (nityatā) = given to eternal ways; समता (samatā) = inward equanimity; ज्ञता (jnatā) = knowledge orientation; निरीहता (nirīhatā) = freedom from worldliness; निष्क्रियता (niṣkriyatā) = free of doership; सौम्यता (saumyatā) = gentleness; निर्विकल्पता (nirvikalpatā) = doubt-freeness; धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ) = resoluteness; मैत्री (maitrī) = genuine friendship with one and all; मतिः (matiḥ) = intelligential clarity; तुष्टिः (tuṣṭiḥ) = contentment; मृदुता (mṛdutā) = softness; मृदुभाषिता (mṛdubhāṣitā) = soft-spokenness; हेयोपादेयनिर्मुक्ते (heyopādeyanirmukte) = free from the dual notions of acceptance and rejection; ज्ञे (jne) = wise men; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) = remain; अपवासनम् (apavāsanam) = free of desires.

अन्वयः

निराशता निर्भयता नित्यता समता ज्ञता निरीहता निष्क्रियता सौम्यता निर्विकल्पता धृतिः मैत्री मतिः तुष्टिः मृदुता मृदुभाषिता हेयोपादेयनिर्मुक्ते ज्ञे अपवासनम् तिष्ठन्ति ।

nirāśatā nirbhayatā nityatā samatā jnatā nirīhatā niṣkriyatā saumyatā nirvikalpatā dhṛtiḥ maitrī matiḥ tuṣṭiḥ mṛdutā mṛdubhāṣitā heyopādeyanirmukte jne apavāsanam tiṣṭhanti.