Sadhana Panchakam, Fourth Verse

Translation and Commentary by Jayaram V

Fourth Verse

kshud-vyaadhischa cikitsyathaam prathidinam bhikshaushadham bhujyathaam
svaadvannam na thu yaacyathaam vidhivashaat praapthena santhushyathaam
sheethoshnaadi vishahyathaam na thu vrithaa vaakyam samuccaaryathaam
audaaseenyam abheepsyathaam janakripaa-naishthuryam uthsrijyathaam

Translation

kshud-vyaadhischa = hunger which is indeed like a disease; cikitsyathaam= shall be cured or remedied; prathidinam = every day; bhiksh = alms; aushadham = medicine; bhujyathaam = be eaten; svaadvannam = tasty food; na = not; thu = do; yaacyathaam = beg for or plead; vidhivashaat = by chance or fatefully; praapthena = obtained; santhushyathaam = be happy or contended; sheethoshnaadi = cold; ushna= heat; aadi = and the like; vishah = worldly; yathaam = be tolerated or endured with effort; na = not; thu = do; vrithaa = wasteful, unnecessary; vaakyam = words or statements; samuccaaryathaam = be spoken; audaaseenyam = indifference; abheepsyathaam = be intensely sought or desired; jana = people; kripaa = kindness, mercy or compassion; naishthuryam = harshness, severity or cruelty; utsrijyathaam = abandoned, ignored, given up.

Meaning

The disease of hunger shall be cured. Every day, the medicine of alms shall be taken. Tasty food shall not be begged. Be contended with what is obtained by chance or fate. The cold, the heat and such worldly things shall be endured. Wasteful words or statements shall not be spoken. Indifference shall be intensely sought. The kindness and harshness of people shall be set aside.

Explanation

This verse is about the rules which the renunciants are expected to follow while begging for food or interacting with the world as a part of their spiritual practice and self-purification. A yogi needs food to survive. Since he cannot cook food for himself, he has to seek it from others but while doing so shall neither desire it nor be desperate about it. For the renunciants it is a great opportunity to practice equanimity, tolerance, humility and indifference, cultivating right attitude, character and conduct towards the impermanence, worldliness and the dualities of the world.

Renunciation is not a license to live irresponsibly. There are vows to maintain and rules to follow which ensure that even sadhus and sannyasis take part in the orderly progression of the world and fulfill the aims of creation. Although a yogi renounces the world and leads a secluded life, he cannot avoid contact with it or with the people, or abandon eating. It is his obligatory duty to nourish his body and stay alive to keep the breaths flowing. He shall do it not only for himself but also help others engage in obligatory duties, by which they can accumulate good karma and secure a good life or liberation in future.

An ascetic or a renouncer may give up attachments and relationships, but he still needs to maintain a tenuous relationship with the world and the people who perform daily sacrifices and offer him food as a part of their householder duties. When he goes out to beg for food, he has to go about it nonchalantly and keep his calm in all situations and climatic conditions, setting aside his choice of food or desire for it or how others may treat him.

1. Cure the disease of hunger

2. Every day take the medicine of alms

3. Do not beg for tasty food

4. Be content with whatever is obtained by fate

5. Endure the dualities such as heat and cold

6. Avoid speaking wasteful words

7. Practice indifference

8. Ignore the kindness and severity of people