Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – May 23, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Naṣṭam caiva mŗtaṃ caiva nānusocanti panḍītāh
Panḍitānām jadānām cā viśōṣō yamataḥ smŗtaḥ ǁ
Those who are of ripened wisdom and who have obtained the real knowledge do not grieve when the object most-dear to them is damaged, or when their dearest relatives pass away. Fools, who do not understand the truth about this worldly existence, recollect the sorrow time and again, and grieve. This is the difference between a pandit and a fool.
Panda means ‘intellect’ (buddhi). Panda asya jāyate iti panda- A wise man is called a pandit. When we travel to North India, the priest is addressed as Panda. This is the respect they give to priests. In South India, they are called Pandits. Pandit means wise man. Anyone who has the wisdom is Pandit.
A pandit has pratibha. Nava navonmesha shālinī buddhiḥ pratibha- said Jagannath Pandit. What is pratibha? When a new problem arises or when faced with a new difficulty, the intelligence/ wisdom by which the solution instantly flashes like lightning is called pratibha.
The human race always faces problems one after another endlessly. The pandit finds the solution for those problems and thus exits from those problems. On the contrary, a fool lives with difficulties and suffers due to them.
In this journey called life, there are many objects extremely dear to us. Don’t we love the house, gold, wealth, and other assets that we own? But at times, due to natural causes, due to burglars, or some unforeseen circumstances they may be lost. They could deplete. What we have earned with our efforts, someone may steal away. Our hard work may be lost.
The intelligent, wise man tries to obtain them back by resorting to the legal route. He obtains them back and rejoices. On the contrary, a fool laments night and day for that which is lost. Grieving for them, he leads a pitiable life wherein he is unable to even enjoy the love showered by his family members.
‘Health’ is the best wealth. For some reason, the health may be spoiled. Understand that lamenting over ill-health is not a remedy. The wise man approaches the right doctor, heals himself and lives happily. In order to dispel negative energies and the influence of malefic planets, he consults learned scholars, and under their guidance performs the rituals necessary to set right these defects.
A fool however continues to search for the cause behind the disease. Lamenting at this misfortune, holding his family members, friends or others responsible for his sickness he abuses them constantly. In the process he invites new mental illnesses, faces rebuke from everyone and distances even from his own blood relations.
Similarly, when his dearest wife, children or other close relatives die, the Pandit, who has the knowledge that this life is transient and that everyone has to go away one day or the other, uses his remaining life fruitfully. On the contrary, fools continue to lament about their deceased relatives even after a very long time. Unable to understand that they too are impermanent, mentally they shrink, suffer with diseases and lose their mental balance.
This sookti explains how pandits and fools react differently to happiness and sorrows.