Shikshapatri English

Readers should read and re-read this message until it is firmly imprinted upon their minds.  I believe that if people fully understood the message here, they would certainly change their ways.

Shatanand here explains that those who have observed the famed Sadachars from Shastras have derived great happiness in this world and others.  He explains that this happiness is beyond even the likes of Brahma and others.  Sadacharan Sada Teyatra Paratra Cha Mahasukhaha - Observance of Sadachara derives great happiness writes the Lord, but what exactly is Sadachara? Shatanand explains: Sadachars are good qualities or conduct which are famed in Shastras (scriptures) and Loka (society).  Mahabharat’s Mokshdharma says, ‘One should fully understand Dharma and Sadachar.  Sadhus or saints are attributed with Sadachar’, thus Sadachar is Dharma (duty) and one should seek the company of saints to realise and observe what Sadachar is.

Skanda Purana’s Kashi Khanda outlines Sadachar further, ‘Sadachar is that (conduct) which is void of Raag (attachment or passion) and Dvesha (malice).  Such action is displayed by Munis (saints).  Our elders and the wise say that Sadachar is the very essence or root of Dharma (righteousness).  Those who desire Dharma (and thus salvation) should concentrate upon the Yamas (self control) and Niyamas (moral practices) which are stipulated for the derivation of Dharma.’

Shrimad Bhagwad Purana explains these Yamas and Niyamas for the betterment of oneself.  There are twelve of each:

The twelve Yamas (self-controls) are:

1. Ahimsa - Non-violence to all living things, non-cruelty to all.

2. Satyam  - Truth - honesty in action and speech.

3. Asteyam - Refraining from all criminal activity.

4. Asagno - Disassociation, non-attachment.

5. Hrir - Modesty, humbleness or unpretentiousness.

6. Asarchaiyaha - Does not accumulate wealth.

7. Astikyam - Deep faith and belief in God.

8. Brahmcharya - Control of senses or celibacy.

9. Maunam - Vow of silence.

10. Sthairyam - Stability and firmness of oneself.

11. Kshama - Forgiving, not begrudging.

12. Abheyam - Non-fearing.

The twelve Niyamas (moral practices) are:

1. Saucham - Cleanliness and purity of mind, body and action.

2. Japa - Prayer, chanting of God’s name.

3. Tapo - Penance, physical austerities.

4. Homaha - Performance of ceremonial offerings - Yagna.

5. Shraddha - Faith in God.

6. Atithyam - Hospitable, welcoming all.

7. Madarchanam - Devotion and worship of God.

8. Tirthatanam - Performing pilgrimages.

9. Paratheya - Desire for salvation.

10. Tushtira - Satisfaction, contentment.

11. Svadhyaya - Study of Vedas, Shastras.

12. Acharyasevanam - Service to a Guru.

By following these Yamas and Niyamas a person is considered a Sadachari and thus he attains a desirable path to fulfilment.  Prosperity in this life and the next will only occur through righteous conduct outlined by the Shastras.  Through such refined behaviour, a person becomes satisfied and derives happiness.  Only a fool would believe that material wealth is the root of true happiness.

The great Gita explains, ‘Those who reject the teachings of the Shastras and who act as they wish, are never fulfilled in life, never derive happiness and certainly do not propel towards salvation (Moksha).’  Thus those who follow Adharma, disobeying the Shastras are forever in the cycle of births and deaths.

Rishi Yagnavalkya writes, ‘Those who do not obey the Dharmas laid down, following the path of Adharma and who do not keep their senses under control face ruin and downfall.’

So saying, all should bear this eternal message in mind.  We as humans must think beyond this physical plane.  We have a lot to do in this lifetime to ensure a place in the Lord’s Heaven.  We must conform to Vedic Laws and customs if we are ever to be saved.  This mortal frame is restrictive - we have less than a hundred years to work towards banking a place in the Heavens.  We must make the most of it.

Living in the age of Kali (darkness) we may consider ourselves unfortunate, but this is, in actual fact, a blessing in disguise.  The different Yugas (epochs of time) hold different Dharmas and indeed life expectancy differs.  In Satya Yuga, people live for a hundred thousand years, in Treta - ten thousand years, in Dwapura - a thousand years and in Kali a hundred years.  In Satya Yuga, man is expected to perform great austerities and to develop great control of the senses to be promoted to the Heavens.  But in Kali, they need only chant Gods name.

It is said that in Satya, a person faces a thousand years of sickness and a hundred years of fatal illness in the lead up to their death.  With this in mind, consider yourselves lucky that you are not forced to live upon this Earth for more than a hundred years.  Thus you are saved from the misery of a prolonged life and you are able to escape this cycle of births and deaths by simply chanting Gods name!

The blessed Lord, Shree Swaminarayan incarnated upon this Earth to show people the right path and thus offer them a means of escape to eternal bliss.  He created from the numerous Shastras, a concise list of precepts to benefit mankind and in so doing, pave the way to salvation.

He saved us from extensively studying all the Shastras by outlining the Science of Behaviour quite succinctly which is easy to understand.  We may never have this opportunity again and so must ‘snap-up’ this chance.  Never relax saying that there is plenty of time ahead to consider such things as we have wasted enough time already.  We must change our way today!

Lord Swaminarayan has said that each Shloka (verse) of the Shikshapatri has the protective capability of Sudarshan Chakra - the great weapon of Lord Vishnu, therefore we must all take refuge at the protection of this Shikshapatri by observing the precepts laid down therein.