Mantra: Yajur Veda 33.68
yajnO dEvaanaam pratyEti sumnam
The yajna conveys happiness towards the noble/scholarly (dEvaaha)
Most of the time we go in search of happiness. Happiness will be brought to you provided you lead a life of yajna
Synopsis:
sumnam iti sukha naama
pratyEti = prati + yEti
yEti =
Root: iNu (gatou) = move
dEvO hi vidwaamsaH = scholarly people
yajnaH =
Root: yaju (dEva pUja sangati karaNa daanEshu)
Most of the time we go in search of happiness. Happiness will be brought to you provided you lead a life of yajna.
yajna
This concept of yajna is unique to Vedas.
Root: yaju (dEva pUja sangati karaNa daanEshu)
dEva puuja = doing things in its best way possible (yajnO vai shrEshta tamam karma). Making use of whatever sacchidaananda has given to us in the proper way.
sangati karaNa = to move together
daana = to share
If I make proper use of my resources I will be happy. If I exploit the resources for my commercial goals, I will be in trouble.
brahma yajna =
improvising our knowledge day by day. A person who learns every step can never be at a loss. Because, in anything we have something to learn. That is my goal. To always learn.
dravya yajna
To maintain the purity of the environment we live. The whole environment gets cleansed. It adds to my health. It adds to the comfort of the whole globe.
pitru yajna
Gratitude to our elders who raised us. If I am ungrateful, I cannot be happy. When I acknolwedge whatever I have received, my burden will be reduced.
atiti yajna
Respecting scholars and the wise people. They guide us. Showing respect to them is a yajna.
bali vaishwadEva yajna
Sharing and caring with other creatures and the less fortunate
A society that follows these 5 yajnas will be a welfare society. Yajna takes happiness to the doors of every person.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 33.92
jOtisha badhatE tamaH
Light gets of darkness
Knowledge gets rid of ignorance
Synopsis:
tamaH = darkness, ignorance.
badhatE = gets rid of
jOtisha = light / knowledge
Root: dyu (dyutou) = light, brightness, luminescence
Mantra: Yajur VEda 33.95
dEvaasta indra sakhyaaya yEmirE
O sacchidaananda! To be in in touch with you, the knowledgeable practice rigorous disciplined activities (yama + niyama)
Synopsis:
indra = O Indra! = O sacchidaananda!
dEvaasta = dEvaaH + tE
tE sakhyaaya = for your friendship, to be in communion with you
dEvaaH yEmirE = the knowledgeable practice saiyama (yama + niyama) or rigorous disciplined things.
Though sacchidaananda is in us, we are not in touch with sacchidaananda. When that is removed, we come in contact with that source of aananda. To overcome those resistances, to overcome that non-conductivity of peace and bliss, we are supposed to follow certain rigorous disciplined routines.
Patanjali has outlined these routines as yama and niyama. These are called vratas
Yamas
ahimsa, satya, astEya, brahmacharya, aparigraha
niyamas
shoucha , santOsha, tapas, swaadyaaya, iishwara pranidhaana
saiiyama = to have these 10 in focus always in whatever we think, talk, do.
When we do this, the non-conductivity will be overcome. The peace and bliss can be experienced always.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 34.1
mE manaH shiva sankalpamastu
Let my thoughts (my path), be with the right decisions.
I shall never rest until my goal (of following the right path) is reached
Synopsis:
mE manaH shiva sankalpamastu
As long as we live, we will be making decisions. We will tread one of another path. Let my thoughts (my path), be with the right decisions (so I shall be benefited by welfare).
sankalpa
I have to will for it. I have to determine. I have to put my effort. It won’t automatically happen. I have to decide to follow the right path. I have to will it first. Then I have to make the effort to follow it. Will comes first.
If we don’t will deliberately will all force, things will not work out. If my decision is half hearted or if I am fickle, I may stop at the sight of the first obstacle.
If my determination is strong, whatever happens, I’ll reach the goal and be successful no matter what problems come my way. For this, the strong will is needed.
Path
There is only one path. The path of being humane. Only that can give us peace. There is no alternative. There are no shortcuts.
Swami Vivekananda’s famous quote
उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत
क्षुरासन्न धारा निशिता दुरत्यद्दुर्गम पथ: तत् कवयो वदन्ति |
Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn. Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, so the wise say−hard to tread and difficult to cross.
The root of Swami Vivekananda’s teaching is in this Veda Mantra.