To Meet the Spiritual Master

A lwAys E mbr A c E d by K åñë A

Commentary on the above verse:

damanaà daëòaà yasya väì-manaù-käyänäà daëòäù niñiddhäbhidhänäù sat-saìkalpa-pratiñiddha-vyäpära-tyägena buddhäv-avasthitäù sa tridaëòéty-ucyate na tu daëòa-traya-dhäraëa-mätreëa

“The word daëòa means ‘punishment’. One who ‘punishes’ the speech, mind and actions means one who gives up attachment to material sense enjoyment, who accepts what is favourable for the truth and rejects what is unfavourable for perfection. Such a person is called a tridaëòé. It is not that anyone who carries around three sticks can be called a tridaëòé.” 6

Also, in the Manu-saàhitä it is said:

tridaëòam-etan-nikñipya sarva-bhüteñu mänavaù käma-krodhau tu saàyamya tataù siddhià niyacchati

“One who disciplines his mind, speech, and body and controls his lust and anger towards other living beings and thus gives up these bad qualities is a tridaëòé and attains liberation.” 7

In the Skanda Puräëa it is described:

çékhé yajïopavété syät tridaëòé sa-kamanòuluù sa pavitraç ca käñäyé gäyatréï ca japet sadä

“A tridaëòé sannyäsé keeps his çikhä as well as his sacred thread after renunciation. He also carries a kamaëòalu, a type of water pot. He wears saffron cloth,