સંત કૃપાથી છૂટે માયા

નાદબ્રહ્મ પદ - ૫૯
Nādbrahma pada 059

સંત કૃપાથી છૂટે માયા, કાયા નિર્મળ થાય જોને;
શ્વાસોશ્વાસે સ્મરણ કરતાં, પાંચે પાતક જાય જોને ... ટેક
saňt krupā-thi chhoote māyā, kāyā nirmal thāy jone
shvāso-shvāse smaran kartā, pāňche pātak jāy jone … 0

કેસરી કેરે નાદે નાસે, કોટિ કુંજર જૂથ જોને;
હિંમત હોય તો પોતે પામે, સઘળી વાતે સુખ જોને ... ૧
kesari kere nāde nāse, koti kuňjar jooth jone
himmat hoy to pote pāme, saghali vāte sukh jone … 1

અગ્નિને ઉધેઈ ન લાગે, મહામણિને મેલ જોને;
અપાર સિંધુ મહાજળ ઊંડા, મરમીને મન સહેલ જોને ... ૨
agnine udhe-ii na lāge, mahā-mani-ne mel jone
apār siňdhu mahājal undā, marami-ne man sahel jone … 2

બાજીગરની બાજી તે તો, જંબુરો સૌ જાણે જોને;
હરિની માયા બહુ બળવંતી, સંત નજરમાં નાણે જોને ... ૩
Bājigar-ni bāji te to, jamburo sa-u jāne jone
hari-ni māyā bahu balvaňti, saňt najar-māň nāne jone … 3

સંત સેવતાં સુકૃત વાધે, સહેજે સીધા કાજ જોને;
પ્રીતમના સ્વામીને ભજતાં, આવે અખંડરાજ જોને ... ૪
saňt sevatā sukrut vādhe, saheje sidhā kāj jone
pritam-nā svāmi-ne bhajatā, āve akhaňd-rāj jone … 4

English translation (by AI):
This bhajan by the 18th-century Gujarati poet Pritamdas emphasizes that the grace of saints purifies the soul, washes away sins, and aids in overcoming the powerful illusions of Maya. The verses describe how, through unwavering courage and the spiritual guidance of saints, one can navigate the complexities of life and attain eternal joy and spiritual victory.

Poetic Translation:

By a saint’s pure grace, the illusions fade,
And this mortal frame is spotless made.
With every breath, as the holy name is sung,
The five great sins are instantly undone.   ... 0

As a lion's roar makes a thousand elephants flee,
So does fear vanish when the soul is set free.
With unwavering courage in your own chest,
You shall find absolute peace and eternal rest.   ... 1

No termite can ever consume a burning fire,
No speck of dirt can stain a gem's desire.
Though the ocean is endless and deep as the night,
The mystic crosses it with ease and delight.   ... 2

The magician’s tricks are known to his aide,
They see through the grand illusions he made.
Though the Lord’s divine Maya is fierce and blind,
The saint sees through it with a clear, calm mind.   ... 3

By serving the saints, your virtues will grow,
And all your tasks will effortlessly flow.
By singing praise to Pritam’s divine Lord,
Inherit the eternal kingdom as your reward.   ... 4

…
This bhajan by Saint Pritamdas is a deep allegorical text on Advaita (non-duality) and Bhakti (devotion). It outlines the roadmap of the soul's journey from worldly bondage to ultimate spiritual liberation.

1. The Necessity of the Satguru (Refrain)

In Indic philosophy, Maya (the grand cosmic illusion) is impossible to break by individual ego alone. The bhajan begins by establishing that only the grace of a Saint (Sant Krupa) can shatter this illusion.

• • The Purification: Maya clouds the intellect. When the Saint removes this cloud, the Kaya (body and mind instrument) becomes Nirmal (pure, unblemished), making it a fit vessel for the divine.
  • Constant Awareness: Shwasoshwase (with every breath) signifies Ajapa-Japa—unbroken, spontaneous remembrance of the Divine. This continuous state of mindfulness burns away the Panch Patak (the five foundational sins/impurities of the ego: lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride).

2. Awakening the Inner Warrior (Stanza 1)

Spiritual life is not for the faint-hearted; it demands absolute inner strength.

• • The Lion's Roar: The "Kesari" (lion) represents Atma-Gyan (Self-Knowledge) or the word of the Guru. The "herd of elephants" represents the endless, chaotic thoughts, doubts, and desires of the mind. Just as a single roar scatters a massive herd, a flash of spiritual awakening instantly scatters lifetimes of mental conditioning.
  • Courage as a Prerequisite: Himmat (courage) is essential. The path requires the courage to die to one's small ego to gain the infinite Self (Saghali Vāte Sukh).

3. The Untouchable Nature of the Soul (Stanza 2)

Pritamdas uses brilliant physical paradoxes to describe the transcendental nature of the true Self (Atman).

• • Immutability: Termites can destroy wood, but they cannot touch fire. Dirt can cover an ordinary stone, but it cannot penetrate a flawless diamond (Maha-mani). Similarly, the dualities of the world (pleasure-pain, life-death) can affect the physical body, but they can never corrupt or touch the pristine Soul.
  • The Mystic’s Ease: The worldly ocean (Samsara) is deep and terrifying to an ordinary person. However, to the Marmi (the mystic who knows the inner secret), navigating this world becomes effortless ("s साहस" or "sahal") because they know the world is just a play of consciousness.

4. Decoding the Cosmic Illusion (Stanza 3)

• • The Magician and the Assistant: The universe is compared to a magic show hosted by the Divine Puppeteer (Bajigar). The ordinary crowd is completely fooled by the tricks. However, the magician's assistant (Jamburo) stands right next to the master and knows exactly how the illusion is created.
  • The Saint's Vision: The Saint is the Jamburo. While Hari's Maya is incredibly powerful and binds all living beings, the Saint looks directly at the source, sees through the illusion, and remains completely unattached.

5. Effortless Union and Eternal Sovereignty (Stanza 4)

• • Law of Righteous Action: Serving the saints naturally enhances one's Sukrut (merit/good karma). When the ego is surrendered to a saint, the universe aligns, and one's worldly duties and spiritual tasks are resolved effortlessly (Saheje Sidha Kāj).
  • The Supreme Reward: The bhajan concludes with Pritam's signature. True devotion to the Supreme Lord does not yield a temporary heavenly abode, but rather Akhandraj—the eternal, unbroken, and indestructible kingdom of Self-Realisation. 

…
Here are the practical takebacks from this bhajan that you can apply to daily life and modern spiritual practice:

1. Guard Your Subconscious Mind

• The Takeback: Build a practice of unbroken positive focus.
• In Action: The bhajan emphasizes Shwasoshwase Smaran (remembering with every breath). Translate this into your day by anchoring your mind with a mantra, deep breaths, or a gratitude phrase during transitions (e.g., waiting in line, commuting) to stop negative thoughts from taking root.

2. Silence the Noise with One Powerful Truth

• The Takeback: Do not fight a hundred small worries one by one; crush them at the source with higher wisdom.
• In Action: Just as the lion’s single roar scatters a whole herd of elephants, you don't need to overthink every anxiety. Remind yourself of your core strength, or a singular truth like "This too shall pass," to instantly silence a chaotic mind.

3. Build Inner Resilience

• The Takeback: Become spiritually and mentally untouchable.
• In Action: Aim to be like the fire that termites cannot eat, or the gem that dirt cannot stain. When people criticize you or situations go wrong, realize they can only affect your external circumstances—they cannot corrupt your inner character, peace, or true self unless you let them.

4. Step Back and See the "Magic Show"

• The Takeback: Do not take the dramas of life too seriously.
• In Action: When life feels overwhelming, adopt the mindset of the magician’s assistant (Jamburo). Recognize that everyday stress, corporate politics, and societal expectations are just a massive, temporary play. Detaching slightly allows you to navigate the world with ease (sahāl) rather than panic.

5. Cultivate Courage Over Comfort

• The Takeback: Absolute peace belongs only to the brave.
• In Action: The text states that only those with Himmat (courage) find total happiness. True peace requires the bravery to let go of old grudges, face your own flaws honestly, and walk away from toxic habits that no longer serve your growth.

6. Seek Right Association (Satsang)

• The Takeback: Surround yourself with people who elevate your energy.
• In Action: Sant Krupa (the grace of saints) means aligning yourself with individuals who embody wisdom, calmness, and virtue. Your environment dictates your thoughts; choosing mentors and friends who challenge you to be better makes your own life path run effortlessly (Saheje Sidha Kāj).