गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं
ध्येयं श्रीपति रूपमजस्रम् .
नेयं सज्जन सङ्गे चित्तं
देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम् .. २७..
Geyam geetaa naama sahastram
Dhyaeyam shripati roopamajastram
Neyam sajjana saNyge chittam
Deyam deenajanaaya cha vittam
The Bhagavad Geeta and the (Vishnu) sahasranama are to be chanted; always the form of the Lord of Lakshmi is to be meditated upon; the mind is to be led towards the company of the good; wealth is to be distributed (shared with) the needy.
Stanza attributed to Sri Sumati.
This stanza is the concluding verse among the fourteen beautiful verses given out by the different disciples of Sri Shankarachary who accompanied him to his famous Kashi pilgrimage during which the adorable bouquet of the thirty-one verses named Bhaja Govindam was composed. This stanza is a fitting last stanza as it prescribes a spiritual program for any spiritual seeker who has realized the necessity of realizing the Highest. It lists the four “Musts” in the daily program of a sincere spiritual seeker: 1) Study of the Bhagavad Geeta, 2) Worship of Narayana the consort of Lakshmi, 3) the company of good people (satsanga), and 4) Serving the needy.
The Bhagavad Geeta is a summary of the Upanishadic Truths which are presented in a lucid form for the seeker to understand and implement in his day to day life. Studying the Geeta sincerely bring about a reorientation in our intellectual outlook towards the beings and happenings of the world around us. It gives us the goal, path and the techniques to live religion in our everyday life. Although study of the scriptures and their intellectual appreciation of the ideas given there in (through constant contemplation), is absolutely essential for a seeker yet unless the ideas are actually lived by him they cannot bring about the desired progress on the spiritual path. All the practical methods by which philosophical ideas are woven into our everyday life, together in their entirety constitute the essence of all true religions.
Parayanam while remembering the significance of each of the thousand names of Narayana in the Vishnu Sahasranamam is recommended as one such sadhana which will integrate the inner personality of the seeker and lift his mind high above the ordinary fields of Self-polluting agitations. Learning to surrender ourselves at His altar and get ourself attuned to Him is true worship!
Mind being like a monkey and the desires in the bosom of man being very powerful can in a moment of weakness snatch away all the wisdom he has gained through study and worship. In order to protect ourself from such tornadoes of the heart Satsanga (the company of Good like-minded people) is
recommended. Satsanga not only keeps the flame of enthusiasm to live up to our ideals burning brightly, but it also makes our understanding of the scriptures clearer and our devotion deep and firm.
The Lord of my heart is the same in everybody, the same illumining light, the same Truth expressing in and through all. If I fail to revere and love Him in everyone and only worship Him with elaborate rituals, flowers and bells, mantras and yagnas only in the inert metal or wooden idols or stone statues, I am certainly not a sincere and true devotee of the Lord. Charity born out of a feeling of abundance, for the less privileged that come in contact with us is an essential step towards spiritual progress. The spirit of giving expands and brings into the ambit of my life all others around me and keeps me away from suffocating selfishness and the throttling grip of my body consciousness.