The Essence of a Yogi

(1)

सन्ततं दैवसान्निध्यं देहे मे वर्धतां हृदि ।
तवास्यां देहयात्रायां येन स्यान्निर्भयो जयः ॥

Let the constant Presence, the Guide, grow fuller and fuller in my body, in the heart, more and more vivid.
Thus may the soul’s victory in Thy movement be fearlessly achieved.

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

(2)

उल्लासयन् कुवलयं धवलस्मितेन निघ्नन् तमांसि महसा तपनेक्षितेन ।
आगामि चित्रबहुलं कुशलं दधानः श्रीमान् विभाति भगवानरविन्दनाथः॥

His smile, moon-white, joys the earth into blossoming; his flaming eye of Light destroys the darknesses; the weal of the Future picturesque he holds in his palm; resplendant shines forth the Lord, Sri Aurobindo.

(3)

दुर्दर्शसारमपि दृष्टिपथं नयन्तीं वाचां विदूरमपि वाग्भुवमानयन्तीम्।
शुष्कं जनुश्च रसभूरि समुन्नयन्र्तां कल्पान्तमल्पमपि वस्तु विधारयन्तीम्॥

काञ्चद् विचित्रविभवामुपलालयन्तः शक्तिं निरोश्वरगुणामिव चालयन्तः ।
दिव्यारविन्दनयनप्रभवाः सुवर्णास्तेऽमी जयन्ति जयिनो भगवत्कटाक्षाः ॥

Leading to the path of vision the Essence though difficult to perceive, bringing to the domain of Speech even That which is far remote for words; drawing up from the dry being the flow of the sap of life; sustaining things, however trivial, to the end of the ages, is some Force indefinable, of marvellous plentitude dallying with which, moving it with an agnostic quality, as it were, – here, these bright-hued golden glances of the Lord, issuing from the divine lotus-eye, reign supreme ever victorious.

(4)

निस्तरङ्गपावनान्तरङ्गमानवान्तरं भावनातिगप्रभावशक्तियोगभास्वरम्।
सुन्दरातिसुन्दरं महोऽरविन्दमन्दिरं सूरिवृन्दवन्दनीयमद्भुतं विचिन्त्यताम्॥

आदिशन् धियं ददौ वधाय बन्धुसन्ततेर्यः पुरा पृथासुताय कर्मयोगदीक्षया।
पूर्णयोगदेशिकः पुरेव धीरसूरिभिः सोऽधुना निषेव्यते पुरो नयन् वसुन्धराम्॥

Let that Light, beautiful and yet more beautiful, whose home is Sri Aurobindo, be meditated upon the Light that is the waveless sacred deep, the inmost of man, but which is radiant in union with the Power, the Shakti whose splendour outreaches conception, the Light, the Wonder worshipped by the Wise.

He who of old, ordaining the son of Pritha through initiation into the Yoga of Action conferred on him the thought and will to kill the kinsmen, He as the Teacher of the Fuller Yoga leading the Earth ahead is today, as before, adored by the steadfast Wise.

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

Refer to Note

(5)

उत्तुङ्गशृङ्गनिलयोऽप्यवरोहशाली नीचैर्धरातलशयोऽप्यधिरोहशूरः।
योगोऽरविन्दभगवत्करुणाकटाक्षजन्मा जयत्यमृतशक्तिविलासभूमा ॥

Though abiding in the high pinnacles, it is capable of coming down; though lying on the terrestrial plane below, it is daring and persistent in its climb up – this Yoga⁵⁶ born of the gracious side-long glances of Bhagavan Sri Aurobindo reigns victorious as the Vastness charged with the Play of the Force Immortal.

Refer to Note

(6)

केवलं न भारतं चिरादबोधनिद्रितं भूमिगोलमेव यस्य जन्मना विबोधितम्।
पूज्यलोकपूजितस्य तस्य पूरुषस्य तां ब्रूमहे कथं कथामनन्तविस्तराद्भुताम् ॥१॥

वरेण्यमात्मीयवपुर्विशेषं महोमयं बिभ्रदसौ पुराणः।
स्वीकृत्य पिण्डं पुरुषोऽत्र भौमं सिद्धं विधित्सन्नवनिं विवेश ॥२॥

हिरण्यवर्णां परमस्य धाम्नः संज्ञापयित्रीमरविन्दनाथः।
प्रभां कटाक्षे प्रणिधाय मतुः शक्तेरुपास्ते महसाऽद्य देही ॥३॥

तदत्र शान्तिः परमाऽत्र शक्तिः कटाक्षपातेन पराऽत्र सिद्धिः।
तं भ्रातरायासहरं नराणा- मीहस्व याचस्व भजस्व जोषम् ॥४॥

1. The Earth herself rose to wakefulness, and not Bharat alone from her long slumber of self-oblivion, this by his birth, who is adored in the world of adorables. How then, to speak of his story that is rich with countless details of wonder ?

2. That Ancient Man wearing his own body of Light assumed a lump of earth for its perfection. He entered the Earth.

3. The Splendour of aureate hue that contacts in Knowledge the Light Sublime, that Sri Aurobindo the Master set firm in the Mother’s glance of Grace, and lives, now bodied in Light, close by the Shakti’s side.

4. Hence, here is the Peace, here the Power Supreme, here again the success that hangs on that side-long glance. Beg, brother, beg for that Glance that robs men of fatigue, aspire for it and seek it for your lot.

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

(7) सम्पत्ति-सप्तकम्

नमः सन्निधये तस्मै महसां निधये नमः।
नमोऽस्मज्जीवजीवाय देवाय गुरवे नमः ॥१ ॥

निजपादाब्जनित्येषु निक्षिप्तनिजतेजसे ।
अरविन्दबृहन्नाम बिभ्रते परमौजसे ॥२॥

वीक्षया दधते दीक्षां रक्षां संकल्पमात्रतः।
शक्तेर्मातुः प्रसादेन शिक्षां वितरतेऽद्भुताम् ॥ ३॥

हिरण्यज्योतिषो लक्ष्म साक्ष्याय धरणीतले।
निधाय पार्थिवे देहे महोदेहेन जीवते ॥४॥

अभितोऽस्मान् समादृत्य भुवमावृत्य पश्यते।
आ दिव्यसम्पदो ज्योतिरध्वनिर्माणवेधसे ॥५॥

तादृशाय पुराणाय पुरुषाय नमोऽस्तु ते।
शाधि नः शाधि नो यावद् भवत्कार्यसमापनम्॥६॥

राजस्व दैवसाम्राज्यप्रतिष्ठायै धरातले।
नमोऽस्तु भवते राजन् सम्पन्नाय नमो नमः ॥७॥

(7) FULFILMENT

1. Salutation to the Presence! To that treasure of lights salutation. Salutation to the Deva, the Life of our life, salutation to the Guru.

2. In those steadfast at Thy lotus feet Thou hast deposited Thy glory, Thou, sublime Strength that bears the vast Name Aurobindo.

3. Thy glance initiates. Thy thought protects, Thy Shakti the Mother’s grace instructs, a marvel.

4. On the earth-plane to witness, Thy emblem the aureate splendour Thou didst keep on Thy body of earth, in the body of Light Thou liveth.

5. Tending us all around, enveloping the earth Thou lookest; Thou art the dispenser, the builder of the fulgent Road reaching to the divine fulfilment.

6. Such art Thou. We bow to Thee the Ancient Man. Guide us, until Thy work is accomplished, guide us.

7. For the firm establishment of the Divine’s empire reign supreme on earth; we bow to Thee, O King, we bow and bow to Thee in FULFILMENT.

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

(8)

सदारविन्दसद्‌गुरोः पदारविन्दभूमिकाः।
भजेऽहमानतश्रियो जयप्रदाः सुरक्षिकाः ॥

Constantly I wait upon the Planes of the lotus feet of Sri Aurobindo, the Master, which bring down the plentitude, give victory and afford happy protection.

(9)

नरकुलश्क्तिं नवयुगयुक्ताम् अबलामतिकृतबन्धनमुक्ताम् ।
आदधते गुरुमहसे लसते नम नम नारीवरवेषभृते ॥

सेयं जननी जयति मिराम्बा जगदुज्जीवनरुचिनिकुरुम्बा ।
सोऽयं भगवानरविन्दगुरुर्जयति सह श्रीमात्रा जयति ॥

Bow, bow to the resplendent Light of the Guru, the Light that wears the excellent guise of a woman, the Light that liberates the imprisoned Power of hu-manity from the bonds of weakness and ignorance and welds it to suit the New Age.

Glory to that Mother Mira, Configuration of world-rejuvenating radiances, glory to that Lord, the Guru, Sri Aurobindo who reigns supreme with the Mother benign.

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

Refer to Note

(10) मातृमहिमा

सर्वसर्गभूपतेरनन्तभागकल्पनाकल्पविच्चरेऽचरेऽपि जागरूकचिन्तना।
आदिशक्तिरीक्षितेन बिभ्रती जगत्त्रयं जीवभावलासिनीह सेऽयमम्बिका मिरा ॥

मानुषीं तनुं गता प्रभा दिवौकसां प्रसूः आर्तिजालकालनाय पालनाय भूजुषाम्।
शीतशीतलोकितैः सहायहासभासितैः तापशान्तिसाधिका विराजते मिराम्बिका ॥

भव्यजन्मवर्धनाय बाल्यधर्मधायिनी युक्तलोकसेवनाय युक्तरूपधारिणी।
साधनाय नव्यदेहशिल्पशिक्षणार्थिना- मुल्लसन्नवागमा विराजते मिराम्बिका ॥

(10) HYMN TO THE MOTHER

She--who from the King of All Creations takes and forms countless portions and knows the process, whose Thought is wakeful in the mobile and the im-mobile, who is the Primal Force, Shakti holding the three worlds in her gaze, She here as a separate Soul shines, Mother MIRA.

The Splendour that gave birth to the Sons of Heaven accepted the human body to give succour to the sons of earth and end the lot of miseries. By the glances, cool and ever cool with smiles of glow for mate, She drives out distress and chases gloom. Resplendent in glory the Mother MIRA!

For the increase and growth of happy (new) births, She upholds youth’s nature and law for ever. For the worship of those who are yoked (to the Divine) suitable form She wears. For the practice and success of those who seek to learn the new physique’s sculpture She keeps aloft the new Knowledge at play. Resplendent in glory the Mother MIRA !

Translated in English by Shri Kapali

(11)

बुद्धिरुच्चविशालभूर्बलमुद्भटं विजयोन्नतं विश्वसुन्दरसम्मदा हृदयङ्गमा रसवाहिनी।
सर्वतन्त्राविचक्षणी सकलार्थसिद्धिकलात्मिका देवतात्मचतुष्टयी भुवनाधिराज्यविलासिनी ॥

Wisdom issued out of the lofty Vast; mighty Strength holding aloft in Victory; Delight of cosmic Beauty captivating the heart, aflow with the sap of life; Skill in all arts finding successful accomplishment in all things — in these Her Four Divine Forms, the Mother is the Empress of the world.

(12)

धीरुच्चा बलमुद्भटं सरसता सर्वान्तरस्यन्दिनी योगक्षेमनिधिश्च सिद्धिरिह यत्पादाम्बुजे शेरते।
तामम्बामरन्दिलोचनसुधाम् आधारधात्रीं सतां धुतान्तस्तिमिरां मिरामतिमिराम् उर्वं दधानां नुमः।१।

आवासः परमं नभस्तव वपुः सावित्रमूर्जस्वलम् ब्रह्माण्डं सकलं प्रभावकलया जातः प्रतीकोऽम्ब ते।
नाकस्तत्र शिरोऽन्तरिक्षभुवनं मध्यं च मध्यं महीलोकः पादतलं तथाऽपि विभवात् प्रत्येकमूर्तीयसे ॥२॥

शक्तिः कर्तुमकर्तुमन्यविधया कर्तुं स्वतन्त्राऽपि ते वृत्तिर्भीमजडान्तरन्धतमसप्रध्वंसनोल्लासिनी।
तत्त्वं ते गहनं मिराम्ब मनुजक्षेमाय वामायसे माहात्म्यं तव मातुमत्र यततां को वा मनीषी जनः ॥३॥

1. To Her in whose lotus feet repose the lofty intellect, the mighty strength, the sap of delight that drips from the heart of all and the accomplishment that holds in store the Yoga-welfare, to the Mother, the ambrosia of the eyes of Sri Aurobindo, to the upholder of the support of all existences, to Mira, the luminous, dispeller of the inner darkness, to the one who upholds the wide earth - to Her we bow.

2. The supreme Sky is Thy abode, the resplendent Sun Thy body. Mother, the whole cosmos has come into being through a part of Thy greatness as Thy limb. Yonder Heaven is the head, the Mid-world is the middle portion, the Earth is the foot. Even so Thou appearest as with form to each one of the beings.

3. Thy force has freedom to do, undo or otherwise do. Thy action delights in destroying the blind darkness in the heart of inert physical matter. Difficult to grasp is Thy Truth. Thou appearest as a lovely woman for the welfare of man. Which man, however endowed with intellect, can hope to measure Thy Glory!

(13)

मिरा मिरेति मातरम् समाह्वयन् मदन्तरम्।
सुधातिशायि सद्रुचिं दधात्वखण्डजीविकाम्॥

Calling forth the Mother, “Mira, Mira”, may my heart hold the infinite life-giving element whose taste far excels that of the immortal nectar.

(14)

तदनादि बृहन्महः परस्ता न्महसां वा तमसां त्रिलोकभाजाम्।
भुवनत्रयराज्यकारिणां यद् बलविज्ञाननिधिं विदो विदन्ति ॥१॥

सकलं परिपच्यते तमःस्थं जडतायामपि चेतना निलीना।
बधिरोऽपि हृदि श्रुतिं निधत्ते जननान्धोऽपि यतोऽन्तरेऽक्षिशाली ॥२॥

विधिनापि विधानवैभवेन प्रणिधायात्मनि मानमुज्झता यत्।
जगदभ्युदयोत्तराः कृतीनां सरणीः प्राप्तुमुपास्यते नियन्त्र॥३॥

तुरगांशुसहस्रभासुरस्य प्रविभागं कुरुतां द्विधेह को वा।
अविभक्तमपि स्थितं द्विरूपं जगते तत्परमं परः परेति ॥४॥

वसुधां यदि सा जडत्वगर्ते विनिमग्नां न विशण्कते स्म गन्तुम्।
ननु सोऽपि परस्तदन्यरूपः स्वयमम्बामनुगच्छति स्वयम्भूः ॥५॥

रमते पृथगालयोऽपि लोके सकलात्मा सकलेषु यो महस्वान्।
परयाऽपि महश्शरीर भासा तनुगात्र्याऽस्यत एव नात्र चित्रम् ॥६॥

रुचये परमस्य देवि पुंसो महते दैत्यनिषूदिनां महाय।
धृतये धरणेश्च भूमिधात्र्या परया रूपमिहाश्रितं भवत्या ॥७॥

परमां निवहं रुचां विदुस्त्वां महनीयास्तनुबन्धमेत्य भान्तम्।
अपि तु प्रभुरम्ब कस्तवाक्ष्णोरनुगन्तुं पदवीर्नरः सुरो वा ॥८॥

तदिह भवतीं याचे नो चेत् पराङ्मुखता भवेत् प्रथममिह तं प्रत्नं तावत् प्रचोदय पूरुषम्।
ज्वलतु भगवान् दृष्ट्या पूर्णो निशाटकुलान्तको जयतु भवती भूमिक्षेमङ्करोह सरस्वती ॥९॥

मधुविजयिनं काले प्रबोधयति स्म या महिषहतकं सा त्वं लक्ष्मीर्निषूदितव त्यसि।
धवलजलजा शुम्भं सभ्रातरं च तथाऽकरोः किमिह भुवने दैत्यांक्रान्तेऽधुना तु विलम्बसे ॥१०॥

जयतु स भगवान् नः पूर्णभागोऽरविन्दो जयतु धवलशोभा लोकधात्री मिराम्बा।
जयतु लसतु भूमावेतयोः पूर्णयोगो जयतु तदनुगामी भाग्यवान् भ्रातृवर्गः ॥११॥

श्रीप्रभोररविन्दस्य श्रीमातुश्च कपालिना।
सन्निधावर्ण्यते पद्यपटली भक्तिगुम्फिता॥
पञ्चशवर्षस्य ममेयं जन्मवासरे।
तत्प्रसादवहा वाणी तत्प्रसादाय कल्पताम्॥

(14) HYMN TO SRI AUROBINDO AND THE MOTHER

1. Without a beginning is That, the Vast Light, beyond all lights and darknesses of the three worlds -which the knowing ones know as the store of Strength and Knowledge for those in the governance of the three worlds.

2. Because of which, all that lies in Inconscience is matured; even in the Inert is consciousness concealed; even the deaf has hearing in the heart; even the born blind has an eye within.

3. Which (Light) is worshipped even by Brahma, the Ordainer glorious in his workings, to get at the paths of works which uplift the universe to more and more prosperity, by submitting to It abandoning all pride of self.

4. Who indeed can here divide into two the One resplendent with His thousand steeds of rays ? Though indivisible, That Supreme has stood out for the universe in Two Forms as Para and Parā.

5. If She did not hestitate to go to the Earth plunged in the deep of Inconscience, certainly He too, the Supreme, Self-born, Her other Form, follows the Mother of His own accord.

6. The Supramental Person, though He has a distinct abode, sports here in the world, the All-Self in All. Thou art with the One who though supreme has taken a slender feminine body with the lustre of em-bodied Light. Therefore there is no wonder.

7. O Shining One, for the delectation of the Supreme Person, for the great rejoicing of the destroyers of the demons and for the upholding of the Earth, by Thee a form has been taken, here, Supreme, Sustainer of Earth.

8. The adorables know Thee as the Supreme, a mass of lights, shining in the encasement of a body. But Mother, who, mortal or immortal, is able to follow the courses of Thy eyes ?

9. So, I beg of Thee, otherwise there will be turning away. First in this instance just urge that Ancient Person to action. Let the Lord with full gaze blaze forth Ender of the Demon race. And Thou, the Glowing One hail victorious in the weal of the Earth.

10. She who as Kali, awakened the conqueror of Madhu at the right time, is Thou who again as Laksmi destroyed the wretch Mahisha. In the same way, as the White Lotus Mother, Thou didst away with Shumbha along with his brother. Then why, why on, this earth beseiged by demons, dost Thou, O Mother tarry?

11. Victory to Him, our Lord Sri Aurobindo, of entire parts! Victory to the Sustainer of the worlds, the Mother Mira of white radiance! To their Integral Yoga all victory — may it manifest fully on earth! Victory too to its following, the fortunate spiritual bortherhood!

In the Presence of the Lord Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, is offered by Kapali, this bunch of verses strung with devotion. On this day of birth of my fiftyfifth year, may this speech flowing by their Grace be pleasing to Them.

Refer to Notes

(15)

निजे हृदम्बुजे सदा निधाय नाम पावनम्।
भजामि मातुरुज्ज्वलं तथारविन्दसद्गुरोः ॥

I adore, always treasuring in my heart-lotus the resplendent sacred Name of the Mother as well as that of Sri Aurobindo, the Master.

भजनपद्यम्

मिरा मिराम्बिकेति वाक् सुधायते हृदन्तरे ।
शिरस्तु पादपीठिकां बिभर्तु सन्ततं परे ।।
शरीरतो गिरा हृदा नतोऽहमम्बिकां मुदा ।
भजेतरां परात्परां त्रिलोकमातरं मिराम् ।।

Sweet in the heart streams the Speech Mira, Mother Mira!
Ever may the crown carry Her footstool on High!
In joy have I bowed to the Mother with body, word and heart,
I adore and adore Mira, the Mother of three worlds, transcendent Supreme.