Viveka Choodamani~ Verse 1

The verse Jantu naam Nara janma …. 

जंतूनां  नरजन्म  दुर्लभमत : पुम्स्त्वं ततो विप्रता: 

तस्माद्वैदिकधर्ममार्गपरता विद्वत्त्वं  अस्मात्परम ।

आत्मानात्मा विवेचनं स्वनुभवो ब्रह्मात्मना संस्थित्ति:

मुक्तिर्नो शतजन्मकोटिसुकृतै:पुण्यैर्विना लभ्यते ।।2।।

         It is the Tradition in Vedic literature that in a nut shell of a verse the complete essence of the subject in hand is expounded.This is the summary verse which is also called as Vastu sangraha Vakya. From the countless creatures in this universe- attaining a human embodiment is considered to be very rare. This human body becomes possible only if there is a fructification of an equal mixture of Punya & papa. This is a rare fortune & difficult to attain. Further rarer is attaining full manhood. One who essentially is an intellect based creature. Pumsthvam–manhood characterised by courage, conviction, balanced thinking,equilibrium in character, Cheerfulness in abundance is rarer still. Every human being at the time of birth is a shudra-He becomes a Vipra or Dvija (Twice born) only by his actions- a Brahmin should have 9 qualities

a.       Shama –control of mind

b.      Dama- control of sense organs

c.       Tapas- austerity

d.      Shoucham- cleanliness

e.      Aarjavam-straight forwardliness

f..      Gnanam- knowledge

g.       Vignaanam- wisdom

h.      Aastikyam- devotion to Guru,Shaastra & Ishwara

i. .      Shanti-patience

With the above inculcated habits a person becomes a dvija

Hereafter rarer is the one who pushes himself to live in the traditional Vedic way of living with Dharma as the guiding principle. Having developed sufficient purity & powers of concentration he approaches the Lotus feet of a Guru and listens to the knowledge of the scriptures. Sravana is indicated in this verse (not mentioned)- Proceeding thereon the sadhak does conscious discrimination of Atman & an-atman–meaning reflection mananam-Vicharana- discriminative analysis of the real from the un-real. Spirit from matter culminating in the Sva-anubhava- Self realization. Clear experience of the Truth as expounded and heard in the sravan stage. 

When the knowledge which is revealed becomes ones own experience and complete cessation of anatma vastu is referred as Brahmatma Samsthihi-Established in Brahman-known as Samadhi- which is Mukthi-liberation from the bondages of Samsaara- which is not possible  without Punya (merits) earned over a hundred crores of lives lived Intelligently. In brief the stages mentioned are

1.       Human birth

2.       Full Manhood

3.       Dvija- sattva pre- ponderance

4.       Vaidika Dharma Marga – expounding the Pravritti & nivritti marg

5.       Guru Upasadana

6.       Manana (reflection) Sravana Included and understood

7.       Niddhidhyasana

8.       Samadhi

In one verse Bhagawan Bhashyakaara has given the complete journey of a sadhak determined to reach the pinnacle of evolution-Moksha