All your wealth cannot bribe death away - mantrA 176

srigurubhyO namahA |
Extending the remit of this short section detailing the transience of wealth, the sage gives the disciple the instruction to begin his spiritual quest 'right now'. There is no better time, and it is a matter of great urgency. One must wake up to truth!

உடம்போடு உயிரிடை விட்டோ டும் போது
அடும்பரிசு ஒன்றில்லை அண்ணலை எண்ணும்
விடும்பரி சாய்நின்ற மெய்ந்நமன் தூதர்
சுடும்பரி சத்தையுஞ் சூழகி லாரே. I.3.9.176

When the vital spark leaves this mortal mould,
Bribe be none to lure it back; think, think of the Lord;
Death's loyal servants on restless mission bent,
Do nothing consider that with hot breath you pulse. I.3.9.176

Com - When the vital spark leaves this mortal mould, when it is time for the life force to take leave of this mortal body Bribe be none to lure it back; there is nothing to be done that can avoid or overcome death. think, think of the Lord; (at the time of death) think, contemplate and recite the name of the Lord. Death's loyal servants on restless mission bent, For the true and loyal messengers of Death are fixed on only one prize – that of separating the soul and the body. Do nothing consider that with hot breath you pulse. Hence they are not intent on the prize of tormenting or causing anguish and pain.

*In the last mantra of this sub section, the sage gives us some last resort instructions! When it is time for one to die, there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. One’s wealth and power etc or learning, one’s family and children etc are not capable of stopping the messengers of death from carrying out their mission – which is separating the soul from the body. If one has been ignorant of the supreme reality all through life and has spent it in the pursuit of riches and sensory pleasures, then it is too late (at the time of death) for commencing yOgic sAdhanA to defeat death. Thus for the ‘average’ layperson with no spiritual path, his advice is to face death with the name of the Lord on his lips and His thoughts fixed in the mind. The last line of the verse suggests that it is only the contemplation of siva at the time of death that will help one overcome at least the pain and trauma of death. This is perhaps the next best thing to overcoming death. At least this will enable the jIvA to die with dignity and the focus of the mind on the supreme principle will orient the passing soul to a future life which might be more conducive to realising the supreme.

thirucchitrambalam |

Worldly desires are never ending - mantrA 175

srigurubhyO namahA |
The 175th mantrA reveals more on the topic in discussion while speaking of the many ways through which the life force can be destroyed the sage reminds us that there is but one path to reverse this tide.

வேட்கை மிகுத்தது மெய்கொள்வார் இங்கிலை
பூட்டுந் தறியொன்று போம்வழி ஒன்பது
நாட்டிய தாய்தமர் வந்து வணங்கிப்பின்
காட்டிக் கொடுத்தவர் கைவிட்ட வாறே. I.3.8.175

Our desires grow, but none the truth to find;
There's one stake to hold but nine exits to leave;
The old familiar faces come smiling to greet and bow;
Deceivers ever, they abandon us without a reprieve. I.3.8.175

Com - Our desires grow, Caught in the worldly life our desires and needs keep constantly increasing but none the truth to find; while (being so enamoured by the world) there are none here who can realise the supreme truth, the one eternal principle. There's one stake to hold in order to preserve this otherwise mortal body, there is but the one path of sushumnA but nine exits to leave;while there are nine paths through which this body can meet its ruin (i.e. death). The old familiar faces come smiling to greet and bow; One’s mother and relatives who have together created the framework of attachment and relationships will come and pay their respects (at death) Deceivers ever, they abandon us without a reprieve. After which they take one to the cremation ground and leave to get back to their own lives.

*The term ‘pUttum thari’ or central stake refers to the sushumnA nAdi. As mentioned before, the aim of the yOgi is to conduct the life force or prAnA through this central channel instead of it continuing its natural flow through the solar and lunar nAdis (idA and pingalA). When the prAnA is made to flow through the sushumnA it is possible to keep this physical body alive for an extraordinary length of time – this is what is indicated by the words there is only one stake to ‘hold’ the life force in the body, i.e. to preserve it here. The nine exits through which it leaves are the nine openings (described in a previous mantrA) or the nava dwArAs through which the life force leaves this body during death. Thus it transpires that there are plenty of methods or paths through which this life is destroyed but only one path through which it’s natural tendency to perish can be reversed. Through the last two lines of the verse the sage opines that one’s devotion to the supreme truth is definitely more capable of delivering one to the state of unbroken happiness than reliance one’s relatives and family. 

thirucchitrambalam |