Essence of Yagnyavalkya Smriti
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ESSENCE OF YAGJNYAVALKYA SMRITI Translated and interpreted byV.D.N.Rao, former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organiza tion, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, now at Chennai 1 Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama:a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri;b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata;c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers -Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu - Dharma Bindu - Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana-Essence of Paraashara Smriti- Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ -Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad; Essence of Maitri Upanishad Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata- Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras- Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Essence of Knowledge of Numbers for students-Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika-Essence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities Essence of Manu Smriti- Quintessence of Manu Smriti- Essence of Paramartha Saara; Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskra; Essence of Pratyaksha Chandra Essence of Vidya-Vigjnaana-Vaak Devi; Essence of Bhagya -Bhogya-Yogyata Lakshmi Essence of Soundarya Lahari- Essence of Popular Stotras- Essence of Pancha Maha Bhutas Essence of Taittireeya Aranyaka- Quintessence of Soundarya Lahari- Essence of Gayatri Essence of Ganesha Mahima - Essence of Shiva Raatri Mahima- Essence of Chaturupanishads- Essence of Ashtaadasha Upanishads - Essence of Bhagavad Gita Essence of Valmiki Baala Ramayana- Essence of Valmiki Ayodhya Ramayana- Essence of Aranya Ramayana-Essence of Valmiki Kishkindha Ramayana- Essence of Valmiki Sundara Ramayana- Essence of Valmiki Yuddha Ramayana- Essence of Valmiki Uttara Ramayana- *Quitessecence of Valmiki Ramayana; * Essence of Veda Vyasa Smriti- *Essence of Yagjnyavalkya Smriti Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www. Kamakoti. Org/news as also on Google by the respective references except those marked as of *. 2 Preface Maharshi Yagnyavalkya the glorious and immortal ‘Brahma Vaadi’ has a distinguished place in the Vedic Culture as the symbolic promoter of Vaajasaneeya Shukla Yajur Veda having learnt originally from Guru Vaishampaayana but since the latter forced to vomit out what all he learnt, had relearnt from Surya Deva himself with Devi Sarasvati ‘Kataaksha’ . His wives Katyayani and Gargeyi were too very illustrative for ‘Paraa’ and ‘Apara Jnana’ or of ‘Tatva and ‘Atma Jnaana’ respectively on the highways for Self Realisation. The Introduction pages of this Script are no boubt rather lengthy as these seek to attempt quite a few of features of this spectacular celebrity ,before the text of the Essence of Yagjnyavalkya is attempted. Personalities of everlasting fame like Maharshi Vaishampaayana, King Janaka, Maharshis like Ashvala, Kalola and Uddalaka were referred to herein. Appropriate referencing has been attempted mainly from Brihadaaranyaka, Katha, Maitreyi Upanishads and relevant Puranas.. This Smriti comprises of 1) Upodghaata- Prakaranas on Brahmachaari-Vivaha-Varnajaati viveka- Snaataka dharma-Bhakshyaabhaksha-Dravya Shuddhi-Daana-Shraaddha-Ganapati Kalpaka-Graha Shaanti-Rajadharma 2)Vyavahaadhyaaha prakaranas comprising Saadhaarana vyavahaara bhatruka- Asaadhaarana Vyavahaara maatruka- Runaa daana - Upanidhi-Saakshi - Lekhya - Divya- Daaya Vibhaaga - Seemaa Vivada - Swaami paalaka vivaada- Dutaa pradaaneeka - Kreetaanushya- Abhyupetyaashushrushaa- Samvidhyatikrama- Vetanaadana-Dyutasamhvaya- Vaakya parusha- Dandapaarudhya- Saahasa- Vikreeya saampradaana- Sambhuyasamuthvaana-steya-Stree sangraha- Prakeerna. 3)Prayaschittadhyaaya : prakaranas comprising Ashoucha-Aapadhharma-Vaanaprasta dharma- Yati dharma-prayaschitta- and prakeernaka praayaschittha. The present Script seeks to cover the Aachaara Vyavahaara Khandas yet exclusive of the Prayaschttaadhyaya. This Smriti seeks to cover Brahmachari Kartavyas of dwijas including upanayana, Gayatri Upasana and Agni Karyas, Vivaha Dharmas, Stree Vidhis, Shraadha Dharmas, Graha Shantis, and a detailed coverage of Kingship duties in reference to prajaaparipaalana especially Law and Order, Litigations, Sakshyaas, Dandana Reeti, Videsha Neeti, krayas vikrayas, steya, and so on.Ganesha Mahima and Puja are of special mention. My erstwhile scripts especially Manu Smriti, Paraashara Smriti, Veda Vyasa Smriti, Dharma Sindhu, Essence of Gayatri, Ganesha Mahima, Bhagavad Gita had also been quoted besides Ashtaadasha Puranas and Ashtaadasha Upanishad Series. My earnest and humble pranaams to HH Vijayendra Sarasvati of Kanchi Peetha who has truly inspired me in the cause of Dharma Prachara for a decade and half now. I feel amazed that He has truly enabled me recently script the translation of entire seven Khandas of Valmiki Ramayana of Baala-Ayodhya- Aranya-Kishindha- Sundara-Yuddha and Uttara Khandas with possible vishleshanas as per the situations- characters-and relevant happenings of this Ourstanding Epic. We in the family are earnestly anchored to the Kanchi Acharya Parampara for our lifetimes. VDN Rao and family 3 Contents Page Introduction 5 Upodghaata 16 Prakaranas on Brahmachaari 23 Vivaha 38 Varnajaati viveka 42 Snaataka dharma 47 Bhakshyaabhaksha , Dravya Shuddhi and Daanaas 51 Shraaddhas 54 Ganapati Kalpaka 60 Graha Shaanti 69 Rajadharmas 72 Vyavahaadhyaaha prakaranas comprising Saadhaarana vyavahaara bhatruka- 82 Asaadhaarana Vyavahaara maatruka Runaa daana - Upanidhi 86 Saakshi - Lekhya - Divya- 88 Daaya Vibhaaga 93 Seemaa Vivada 98 Swaami paalaka vivaada- Dutaa pradaaneeka - 99 Kreetaanushya-Abhyupetyaashushrushaa- Samvidhyaatikrama 100 Vetanaadana-Dyutasamhvaya 103 Vaakya parusha-Dandapaarudhya- Saahasa 104 Vikreeya saampradaana- Sambhuyasamuthvaan- 107 Steya prakarana 108 Stree sangrahana prakarana and prakeerna prakarana 109 Annexure: An Ideal Woman [ Ref Pre Page 41] 112 4 ESSENCE OF YAGJNAVALKYA SMTRTI Introduction Stated as the incarnation of Brahma , Yagjnyavalkya the illustrious son of Devarata is famed for Taittiriiya Shukla Yajurveda, and for Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Shatapata Brahmana, Yagjnyavalkya Smriti and so on. His Guru was Vaishampaayana. Once, several Maharshis decided to form an association near the Meru mountain and made a rule that any of them who absented himself at the appointed hour should incur the sin of Brahmahatya for seven days. On that appointed day fell the Shraaddha Karya of Vaishampayana's father. Vaishampayana wondered that somehow he would have to perform my father's ceremony, but reconciled that if the sin of Brahmahatya were to occur to him one his shishyas might observe the needed penance in the place of the Brahma hatya paataka. As such, Vaishampayāna did not attend the meeting of the Ṛishis, and accordingly he incurred the sin of Brahmahatya. Then Vaishampayana on return addresed his disciples, that he incurred the great sin of Brahmahatya which be expiated for his sake from the group of disciples. At once Yajnavalkya stood up and said thart he alone would observe it in extreme peance.Vaishampayana told Yagjnavalkya not to undertake it alone. But Yagjnavalkya persisted. The Guru was offended at this audacious attitude of the disciple and reprimanded him as being proud and arrogant; he shouted on Yagjnyavalkya to give back to him at once to vomit whatever he had learnt from the guru. Upon the order of the Guru, Yagnyavalkya, had to vomit out the collection of the Yajus in the form of food pulled out from his throat . The other disciples ate that food taking the form of the Tittiri birds or patridges as the co shishyas they were very eager to receive the Veda Stanzas and devoured thus henceforth having been called the Taittiriya Yajur Veda being the vomited substance.The disillusioned pupil Yagnavalkya decided not to take up a human Guru and prayed to Surya Deva to accept him as his Guru. Pleased by Yagnavalkya’s penance, Surya descended in the form of a horse and disclosed a new form of Veda immortalised as Shukla Yajurveda Vayajasaneya (‘Vaji’ being a horse) from his manes, as distinguished since portions were not known to Vaishampayana too; this part of Shukla Yajur has the rhythm of a horse gallop! Surya directed Yagnavalkya to worship Saraswati to improve memory and the ‘Stuti’was as follows: ‘Jaganmaata! May you show me mercy as my glow was lost due to my Guru’s curse and eventually my memory power was lost too! I am extremely disheartened as I was misled in my ‘Vidya’. I beseech you Devi to grant me Jnaana, smriti (memory), Vidya (knowledge), Pratishtha (Distinction), Kavitwa Shakti (Power of Poetry), capacity to convince pupils and capability to produce excellent writings of Grandhas. Side by side, provide me competent ‘sishyas’. Mother! Kindly bestow on me the ability to shine in the congregations of learned personalities with my thoughts and expression. Unfortunately, the fund of my knowledge