Pasaydaan Explained !!

Pasaydaan, one of the most wonderful blessings asked to the Almighty by someone in the world !

Saint Dnyaneshwar (1275-1296 AD), who is regarded as one of the most respected saints in Maharashtra, was a great poet. At the age of mere 15 yrs, he completed the composition of "Bhavarth Deepika" better known as "Dnyaneshwari" (composed in 9000 ovis or stanzas), where he explained the sacred Hindu scripture in layman's language (Prakrit - Marathi) at that time (@1290 A.D.) prevailed in Maharashtra.

Dnyashwari is considered to be a masterpiece in Marathi literature. At the end of which Dnyaneshwar asks for the blessings of the Almighty through this Pasaydaan (9 ovis/stanzas) which is considered as the summary of Dnyaneshwari.

Here, I am just trying to put down what I could understand from this. Hope you might find it useful.

Please provide your inputs to improve on this attempt.

The Pasaydaan narration by 'Ram Shewalkar' in marathi has been hugely helpful for this English translation. This article owes a lot to him !!

1st Stanza

"Aata Vishwatmake Deve, Yene wag-yadne toshave,

Toshoni maj dyave, pasaydaan he."

Meaning

After completing the work of commenting on Bhagavad Gita through Dnyaneshwari, Dyaneshwar appeals to the Almighty, that please be pleased with this Yadna (ritual sacrifice/worship) through this litterature and shower on me your blessings. Let us see now, what he asks for in the following stanzas.

2nd Stanza

"Je khalanchi venkati sando, Taya satkarmee rati vaadho,

Bhoota paraspare pado, maitra jeevanche."

Meaning

In the first stanza itself Dnyaneshwar asks from the Almighty for the bad (khal) guys. You may think, why to ask blessings for the bad guys first, why not for the good people? But here lies the greatness of this saint. He is regarded as mother of all the people. In fact, most of the maharashtrian saints regard the God as their mother (e.g. "Vithu-mauli"). And with this first stanza in Pasaydaan itself, Dnyaneshwar's mother-hood becomes quite apparent. A mother, always cares (and loves) more for her weak (or bad) child than a strong (or good) child because she knows the good ones will definitely prevail in the world, but the bad ones will be hated by one and all; the only place where they can find love and care is their mother's womb. So, Dnyaneshwar asks for the well being of these bad children first. And more over what he asks is "Je khalanchi venkati sando". i.e. the bad or evil thoughts in the minds of these people should get destroyed. Quite interesting to note that, he doesn't ask for the destruction of these bad guys here. Then he asks that these people should get themselves more involved in the good-deeds. Again, note that he doesn't mention that they should start doing good things. He knows that however and how much a person be evil, there is always something good that resides with him. (e.g. Hitler was a good painter). Nobody is completely good or bad. If someone starts liking the good things and doing good deeds his traction towards the evil things will automatically get reduced.

In the next line he says, everyone should become close friends of each others. He involves all the living beings in this and not just the human beings.

Such a Great dream Dnyaneshwar sees for the well being of all the universe.

3rd Stanza

"Duritanche timir jaavo, vishwa-swadharma surye paho,

Jo je vanchil to te laho, pranijaat."

Meaning

Further he asks:

The darkness of all the evils/sins (evil thoughts and evil deeds) should get vanished. And the whole world should see the glowing sun of self-religion. He doesn't mention about 'A' particular religion here, as he knows all religions teach their followers the way to live the life happily for them selves and for the others. If a person follows the rules of his own religion he will do good things, will be nice to others, will be empathetic and always help others to become happy. Following the religion truly gives rise to such a glowing sun which automatically destroys all the darkness created by the evils. 

In the next line, he says that if this happens, each one in this world will get whatever he wants. Even if someone else gets that he will still fell as if he has got that, since everyone will be empathetic to the others.

4th Stanza

"Varshat sakal-mangali, ishwar-nishthanchi mandiyali,

Anwarat bhoo mandali, bhetatu boota."

Meaning

Such people mentioned in the earlier stanzas, will be found 'always' showering good things upon 'everyone'. there will be big crowds of such good people everywhere, who are true to the God/Self. 

(Everywhere, we find people who are true to the temporary or lasting things like money, good clothes, good food, good house and all, which are not permanent. They keep running after these things all their life. But never understand that the permanent thing which is there inside themselves is their being in this world. Their spirit, which is a fraction of the Almighty .. the God himself.)

Streams of such people should flow everywhere on the earth without any disruption and every living being will get benefited from them.

5th Stanza

"Chala kalptarunche aarava, chetana chintamaninche gaav,

Bolate je arnava, peeyushanche."

Meaning

Such kalp-tarus (a tree scripted in Hindu culture which fulfills all your desires) should be moving everywhere, giving people what they want. These people are like Chintamanis (a precious stone as described in Hindu culture which automatically relieves the bearer from all his worries.) and there will be colonies of such people everywhere.

These peoples' talks will be like the oceans of Peeyush or Amrut (elixir of life/immortality). They will be spreading this Amrut everywhere through their teachings and sharing their thoughts in the world. These will be like oceans which will last for ever.

6th Stanza

"Chandrame je a-lanchan, martand je taap-heen,

Te sarvahi sada sajjan, soyare hotu."

Meaning

These people will be cool and pleasant like the Moon, but will be spotless unlike the Moon itself. These people will be like the Sun in the noon, bright and glowing destroying all the darkness of the evils all over. But unlike the Sun in the noon, they will not be exhibiting the burning heat. They will be harmless to one and all. Spreading the brightest list of the Dharma (good deeds and well being) all over. 

In the next line he says, these people will be good to 'everyone' and 'all the time'. It is not like good to some set of people, neutral to some and bad to others. It is also not like, only sometimes being good to others and sometimes not. It is good to 'all' and 'all the time'. Such people would be close friends or relatives of all.

7th Stanza

"Kimbahuna sarva-sukhi, purna houni tinhi loki,

Bhaji-jo aadi-purukhi, a-khandit."

Meaning:

Thus, everyone will be enjoying all the happiness from all the three worlds (According to Hindu cosmology, the universe is divided into the three worlds: Svarga (Heaven: seven upper regions), Prithvi (earth) and Patala - the underworld and netherworld) and will be worshiping the Almighty all the time (following the rules of their self-religion off-course).

8th Stanza

"Aani granth-opjeeviye, visheshi loki iye,

Drushtadrushta vijaye, hovave ji."

Meaning

And in such a special world (which Dnyaneshwar dreams of), the good will always win over the evil.

(This meaning is incomplete, I need help in decoding this stanza further.)

9th Stanza

"Yeth, mhane shri-vishweshwarao, ha hoil daan pasavo,

Yene vari Dnyandeo, sukhiya zaala."

Meaning

On listening to this prayer from Dnaneshwar, his spiritual guru Sain Nivruttinaath (who was also his elder brother), on behalf of the Almighty said "Yes this will really happen.", "Whatever you asked for the mankind, through this Pasaydaan, will untimately come true."

Getting his nod, Dnaneshwar become happy !!

[ Soon after this at the age of 21, Dnyaneshwar entered into a permanent state of Sanjeevan Samadhi, as he felt that the mission of his life was complete.]