What is the reason behind the name aśvattha for a tree thus extolled in the Veda? Śvaḥ in Saṃskṛt means tomorrow. Śvastha is something that will exist tomorrow just as it exists today. Aśvattha then refers to something that will not be the same tomorrow as it is today. It is something that changes every instant - something constantly changing or fickle.
A brāhmaṇa by name Trijaṭa who belonged to the Gārgya-gotra approached Rāma and told him about his poverty. He had many children and subsisted his family through uñcha-vṛtti. He requested Rāma for help. Rāma promised him, “I have not given away even a thousand cows. Throw your staff to a distance. You will get as many cows as covered by your staff.” Excited, Trijaṭa tied his upper garment to his waist, whirled his stick above his head, and flung it with all his strength. It fell at a great distance.
The master fastens an unbearable load around the camel’s neck! Camels are known to bear huge loads. When there is already a humongous load on its back, if something is fastened around its neck, imagine the plight. When one goes through unbearable difficulties, this is used to describe their fate. This can also be applied when something which is unbearable to a strong man is thrust upon a weakling.
parākṛtanamadbandhaṃ paraṃbrahma narākṛti |
saundaryasārasarvasvaṃ vande nandātmajaṃ mahaḥ ||
I bow to that Supreme Brahma in human form that dispels the bondage of those who bow to it, to the essence of all beauty, to that effulgence that is the joy of Nanda.
- Śrī Madhusūdana Sarasvatī
“ಕವಿಯ ರಸಾನುಭವದ ಅನುಭಾವವೇ ಕಾವ್ಯ”[1] - ಇದು ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರ ಕಾವ್ಯಲಕ್ಷಣ. ಅನುಭಾವಕ್ಕೆ ‘ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನ’ವೆಂದು ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡುವ ಅವರು ಕಾವ್ಯಕ್ರಿಯೆಯ ಕೇಂದ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ರಸವನ್ನಿರಿಸಿರುವುದು ಸಮುಚಿತವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಕಾವ್ಯವಿರುವುದು ಹೃದಯದಾರಿದ್ರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪರಿಹರಿಸಲು ಎಂದು ಕುವೆಂಪು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ:
“ಲೋಕದಲಿ ದುಃಖವಿರೆ
ಆ ದುಃಖದೊಳಗರ್ಧ ಹೃದಯದಾರಿದ್ರ್ಯದಿಂ
ಬಂದಿಹುದು! ಆ ಹೀನ ದೀನ ದಾರಿದ್ರ್ಯಮಂ
ಪರಿಹರಿಸಿ ‘ದರ್ಶನ’ವ ದಯೆಗೈಯೆ ಕಲೆಯಿಹುದು.”[2]
As he entered his residence, he saw Queen Kausalyā, who was clad in white silk and had spent the night observing a vow. She had performed pūjā to Bhagavān Viṣṇu early in the morning and was performing a homa in Agni. Seeing her beloved son, Kausalyā rushed to him out of joy, just as a mare runs to her foal. Rāma, out of his modest nature and respect, told her with his hands joined, “Terrible sorrow awaits you, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa. I shall live in the uninhabited forest for fourteen years subsisting on honey, roots, and fruits like a muni.
A village where wrestling is the main vocation is called mallagrāma. Malla means wrestler. Since the majority of the population consists of wrestlers the name of the village makes sense. People who aren’t wrestlers too might reside in the village. Just like in the mango grove. The grove might contain other trees. But the majority is what decides the name i.e. prādhānyena nirdeśaḥ.
A relevant matter here needs discussion. Bhagavān says that the three guṇas have to be transcended or sublimated. Good. But even to transcend those guṇas, a guṇa or means is needed. Is that way a guṇa? What guṇa is that?