Vaat 2.1
Swamini Vato Prakaran 2 Vaat 1 · 2 · Verse 1
Sanskrit Original
Sarva sādhan karatā sang baḷavān chhe. Kem je, sang thakī ja sarva vāt thāy chhe, paṇ sang vinā koī kām thātu nathī. Māṭe sarvamā pratham sang mukhya chhe. Ne mokṣhano mārg paṇ sang thakī samajāy ne vyavahārmārg paṇ sang thakī āvaḍe chhe. Māṭe sangnī barobar koī sādhan nathī. Desh-kāḷādik āṭh1 kahevāy chhe, temā paṇ sangne mukhya kahe chhe, tathā nav prakārnī bhaktimā paṇ shravaṇ-bhaktine mukhya kahī chhe, te paṇ sang thakī āve chhe. Ane Shikṣhāpatrīmā paṇ ‘Nitya pratye sādhuno samāgam karavo’ em kahyu chhe ne Vachanāmṛutmā paṇ sangnu adhikpaṇu bahu ṭhekāṇe kahyu chhe. Māṭe sarva shāstra satpuruṣhno sang karavānu pratipādan kare chhe. Te sang karavo, temā paṇ jevā puruṣhno sang thāy te thakī tevo samās thāy chhe; ne sarvadeshī puruṣhno sang thāy to sarvadeshī gnān prāpt thāy chhe; ne ekdeshī sang thakī sarva gnān pamāy nahi. Kem je, dharma, gnān, vairāgya, bhakti, mahimā ādikmāthī jene je ang mukhya hoy tenā sang thakī te vāt samajāy ane sarve ange sampūrṇa hoy tenā sangthī sarve vāt samajāy chhe. Māṭe sarvadeshī sang maḷavo bahu darlabh chhe. Ane sang karavo temā gurunī shuddhi traṇ prakārnī jovī. Tenī vikti je, ek to tenu panḍnu vartan hoy teno tapās karavo. Bīju teṇe jene sevyā hoy tenu sāmarthya jovu ne trīju tenā sang thakī je thayā hoy tene jāṇavā, em tapās karavo. Footnotes: 1. 1. Desh, kāḷ, kriyā, sang, mantra, shāstra, dīkṣhā ne dhyān.
Of all endeavours for moksha, close association with the great Sadhu is the most powerful. It is through such company that all things happen and without such company nothing happens. Thus, in everything, company is the main thing. It is through such company that we progress both on the path of moksha and worldly activity. So, nothing equals good company. Of the eight factors which influence, i.e. place, time, etc., company is described as the main. Among the nine forms of devotion, listening is said to be the main. That, too, can only be attained through company. In the Shikshapatri, too, it is said, “Daily, keep the company of sadhus!” In the Vachanamrut, also, the superiority of company has been described in many places. Thus, all scriptures advocate keeping the company of the Satpurush. So, keep that company, since one benefits according to the type of person whose company one gets. If one obtains the company of an all-knowing person, one attains all knowledge. Such knowledge cannot be attained from the company of one with partial knowledge. Since, from dharma, spiritual knowledge, detachment, devotion, glory of God, etc., whichever aspect is predominant in a person, through his contact only that aspect can be understood. And from the company of one who is complete in all aspects, all aspects can be understood. Thus, to attain the company of one who has all knowledge is rare. So, before keeping his company, check the guru’s purity in three ways. The details: first, check his own behaviour; second, check the capability of the one he has served (i.e. his guru); and third, know those who have attained (knowledge) through his company (i.e. his disciples). Inspect in this way.