The Siksha-Patri of the Svami-Narayana Sect

Journal of the Royal Asiatic society.

Monier Monier-Williams, Charles Eliot

• Publisher: White Press
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781528786911
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Hinduism

This vintage book contains an English translation of the Shikshapatri, a religious text comprising two hundred and twelve Sanskrit verses. The verses were originally written by Lord Swaminarayan (1781 – 1830), a yogi and ascetic whose life and teachings sparked a revival of the Hindu practices of dharma, ahimsa and brahmacharya. The Shikshapatri is an important scripture for those who follow Swaminarayan and constitutes the foundation of the sect's beliefs and traditions Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1819 – 1899) was the second Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University, England. He dedicated his life to the study, documentation, and teaching of Asian languages, in particular Persian, Sanskrit, and Hindustani. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with the original text and artwork. This book was first published in 1882.

THE ŠIKSHÂ-PATRÎ
of the
SVÂMI-NÂRÂYANA SECT

JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY.

By

SIR MONIER MONIER-WILLIAMS

First published in 1882

This edition published by Read Books Ltd.
Copyright © 2019 Read Books Ltd.
This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library

ART. XXIV.--Sanskrit Text of the Šikshâ-Patrî of the Svâmi-Nârâyana Sect. Edited by Professor Monier Williams, C.I.E., D.C.L.

THE text of the Šikshâ-Patrî of the modern Vaishnava Sect, called Svâmi-Nârâyana, was lithographed in Samvat 1928 (A.D. 1872) by order of the Heads of the Sect. It has a Gujarâtî Commentary by Nityânanda-muni. So far as I know, this is the only version of the text that has yet appeared. It was given to me by the Wartâl Mahârâja on the occasion of my first visit to Wartâl in 1875. It is full of mistakes, and in preparing the following edition of the text I have taken as my guide the far more accurate manuscript and Sanskrit commentary written by Pan.dit Šatânanda-muni, and given to me by the Mahârâja on the same occasion.

Translation Of The Foregoing Šikshâ-Patrî.
By Professor Monier Williams.

In making the following translation I have been careful to study the Sanskrit commentary called Artha-dîpikâ, written for me in clear beautiful characters by Pandit Šatânanda-muni (one of the disciples of Svâmi-Nârâyana), by order of the Wartâl Mahârâja, after one of the formal visits to the Wartâl Temple, which were kindly arranged for me by Mr. Frederick Sheppard, C.S., late Collector of Kaira, and now Commissioner. The translation is the first ever made by any European scholar, though it is right I should mention that I have consulted a fairly accurate version (not always perfect either in its renderings or its English) written by Sheth Bhogilâl Prânjîvandâs, of the Bombay Education Society's Institution, Ahmedabad, and given in Mr. H. C. Briggs' work, "The Cities of Gujarâshtra." I have also received assistance from my friend Pan.dit Shyâmajî Krishna-varmâ, of Balliol College, Oxford.

1. I meditate in my heart on that Krishna on whose left side is seated Râdhâ, on whose breast reclines Šrî (Lakshmî), and who enjoyed sport (with them) in V.rindâvana.

2. I, Sahajânandah Svâmî (afterwards called Svâmî-Nârâyana), living at Vrittâlaya, write this Letter of instructions (or Book of directions) to all my followers scattered throughout various countries.

3. Let the two youths named Ayodhyâ-prasâda and Raghu-vîra, the sons of my two brothers, Râma-pratâpa and Iççhâ-râma, who were the children of Dharma (or Hari-prasâda);

4. And let those Naishthika Brahmaçârîs (that is to say, those Brahmans who continue Brahma-çârîs or celibates all their lives), the chief among whom is Mukundânanda, and those Grihasthas (householders), such as Mayârâma-Bhatta, and other of my followers;

5. And let those women, whether wives or widows, who have become my disciples, and the whole number of holy men (Sâdhus), such as Muktânanda and others;

6. Let all these (persons) constantly give heed to my prayers for their perpetual continuance in their own proper duties--(my prayers) offered up with repetition of the name Krishna (Nârâyana), and in accordance with the sacred scriptures. (Literally--Let my benedictory words which keep them in their own duties be always read by all these persons accompanied by repetition of the name of Krishna, and approved by the Šâstras.)

7. Let this Letter of directions, which has important objects (to be hereafter enumerated), and which promotes the welfare of all living beings, be studied with perfect concentration of mind by all these (persons).

8. Those (virtuous) persons who conform to the good usages enjoined by the sacred Šâstras will always enjoy great happiness both in this world and in that which is to come.

9. But those evil-minded persons who wilfully transgress such (good usages) will certainly suffer great misery in this world as well as in the next.

10. Therefore let all of you who are my disciples always remain careful and well-contented in the observance of this (Book of directions).

11. Let no followers of mine ever intentionally kill any living thing whatever--not even a louse, flea, or the most minute insect.

12. The killing of any animal such as a goat, etc., for the purpose of sacrificing to the Gods and Pitris, must not be practised; because it is declared, that abstinence from injury to others is the highest of all duties.

13. The killing of any human being in any way, at any place, for any object, (even) for the sake of acquiring a wife, wealth, or political supremacy, is wholly prohibited.

14. Suicide at a sacred place of pilgrimage, or from passion, either by hanging, or by poison in consequence of the commission of a criminal act [Footnote: A father sometimes kills himself because a criminal act has been committed by a member of his family], is prohibited.

15. Flesh meat should never be eaten, not even that which remains of a sacrifice. Spirituous liquor of any kind should never be drunk, not even that presented to the Gods.

16. If an unlawful act has been committed anywhere by one's self or any other person, no member either of one's own or any other person's body should be on that account mutilated with a weapon of any kind through anger.

17. All theft is prohibited, even that which is committed under pretence of contributing to religious purposes; nor must such things as wood and flowers that have an owner ever be abstracted without his permission.

18. Let no male or female followers of mine ever commit adultery. Let them shun gaming and similar vices, and abstain from all intoxicating liquors and substances such as hemp, etc.

19. Nowhere--except in Jagannâtha-purî--let a man accept water or food which has been cooked by one from whom food is not to be taken (ie. from a person of low caste), even though that food may have formed the Prasâda [Footnote: By Prasâda is meant the remains of food presented as an offering to a god. Here the word must be either prasâdî or prasâdi, from prasâdin] of Krishna (that is, the remains of what has been presented as an offering to Krishna).

20. No calumnious language must be used against any one for the sake of promoting one's own interests. No abusive words must ever be spoken.

21. Never use nor listen to profane language agai...

Table of contents

• Translation Of The Foregoing Šikshâ-Patrî. By Professor Monier Williams.