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The Four Stages in Life’s Pilgrimage

This profound and elevating text is one of Adi Sankara’s last compositions and gifts to posterity.

Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada, an incarnation of Lord Siva, received initiation from Sri Govinda Bhagavadpada and wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras and the Upanishads, thus spreading the message of Advaita Vedanta.

The span of Sankara’s life on earth was at an end, and it was time for him to depart for the divine abode of Kailasa. Sankara’s disciples importuned him to compose an easily understandable text that would show the path of sreyas (welfare) even to those uninitiated in the mysteries of the Brahma Sutras.

It was then that the Upadesa Panchaka was composed. It is also known as Pancharatna, and is one of the few exalted teachings of Sankara. This text gradually leads an aspirant from the study of Vedic texts to the stage of absorption in Brahman. Every verse of this poem has eight mystic teachings. Thus, this small work has a total of 40 mystic teachings, eight in each of the constituents of the pentad. These 40 instructions constitute 40 steps in the ladder to divinity.

Ascent to Bliss

A student can study the Vedas only after the sacred thread ceremony is performed. Starting from upanayana, as aspirant is gradually led to the abode of unalloyed bliss and this mystic journey is traced in this text through stages of Vedic study, Karma Yoga, dispassion, devotion, meditation, jivanmukti and videhamukti.

The first constituent of the pentad describes the duties of a student, a householder, a person who practices meditation and a monk. These are the successive stages of life through which every individual has to pass.

The First Step

Of the eight teachings in the first constituent of the pentad, the advice is that the Vedas have to be studied every day. This has to be commenced after the student is invested with the sacred thread. Prior to that stage, he is not enjoined by the scriptures to follow the strict canons of morality. He could travel anywhere. There were no restrictions in speech, and the restrictions in food were fewer. However, after the sacred thread-ceremony, a student is bound by the injunctions of the sastras.

The first quarter of one’s life is brahmacharya, and the Vedas are studied in this period. This first advice is thus for the celebrate. The practice of righteousness is possible only when the scriptures are studied, and thus evil can be eschewed.

Only when the true import of the Vedas is imbibed, realization of one’s obligations to society occurs. Therefore, it is imperative that these teachings are interpreted properly. Among the pramanas or sources of valid knowledge, only the Vedas help a person discriminate between good and evil.

Contemplate on Brahman

One should read the Upanishads and contemplate upon Brahman. The six Vedangas should also be studied along with the Vedas to understand the true nature of Brahman. Even after one becomes a householder one should not give up the performance of Vedic sacrifices which he learnt when he was a student.

After entering the stage of grihastasrama (married life), one should execute the commands laid down by the Vedas in accordance with his svadharma or innate inclinations. The chitta or the mindstuff must be purified, as this is the seat of the intellect. Such a purification is possible only if the imprints of sins committed in the past are wiped out by repentance or tapas.

To achieve this, the householder should discharge assiduously those duties that are enjoined by his svadharma. The performance of all kamya-karmas or desire motivated actions should be avoided. However, the nitya karmas or daily obligatory duties and naimittika karmas, such as those rituals performed on birth and death, should be performed—without any expectation of the fruits. Just as a farmer weeds out thorns from his field, mental impurities, such as desire, should be weeded out.

Isvara should be worshipped by a householder by the proper discharge of the duties dictated by his svadharma. This teaching is similar to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. We should indulge in prayers, and also serve and respect elders. The fruits of one’s actions should be dedicated to Isvara.

One incurs the wrath of Isvara when one deviates from one’s svadharma and acts willfully due to ignorance. When one gets the grace of Isvara or personal God, one can proceed further in the path of knowledge and realize the impersonal Brahman.

Do’s and Dont’s

Those actions that confer material enjoyments and possessions are called as kamya karmas.

The results that accrue from such acts are temporary and not free of pain. No reward for any sacrifice is permanent. When desires are multiplied, the yearning for more increases. When even the performance of Vedic sacrifices for obtaining rewards is not recommended, the performance of worldly actions with an eye on the fruits is strictly prohibited for a mumukshu or an aspirant for liberation.

© "Tattvaloka" (September, 2003) published by Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust, Abhinav Centre, # 4 (Old # 19), Co-operative Colony, Chennai 600 018. Website: www.tattvaloka.com. Reprinted with permission.

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