In Markandeya Purana.there is a story of a Princess , Madalasa,singing a lullaby for her child. It is in Sanskrit, eight verses of profound Self-Knowledge,
One can read the story on the internet but, more importantly, one should hear the lullaby on Youtube, sung in chaste Sanskrit, by a lady, a British singer, Gabriella Burnel, known as Gaiea. A mesmerising song glistening with the profound Self-Knowledge imparted by the eight verses.
The song, in Raag kafi (kapi?), was a commission for the School of Practical Philosophy in Australia..(Music lovers may confirm the Raga)
About Gaiea herself, one will be amazed to read about her passion for Sanskrit and her proficiency in that language, acquired from early childhood and vigorously pursued in life,enabling her to effortlessly deal with Hindu scriptures.. She says she was born with Sanskrit.She and her family have visited India several times, .One can read all about her in the Internet.
There are a variety of translations of the lullaby from Sanskrit to English. For simplicity’s sake here is the translation appearing in the video.
“You are pure, conscious and taintless.
You are not subject to the illusoriness of the world. Give up this sleep of delusion, this dream which confounds the mind.
Why are You crying?
You are pure.
The name You have acquired is not yours.
Merely a mind-created fiction applied to You.
This body is not You, nor You of it.
The Lord of the Universe does not cry either !
This sound is an illusion attributed to you.
The qualities imagined as Yours are inherent in all the senses.
The insignificant elements within the man acquire the condition of growth….. through the addition of food, and water..
It is not a growth or diminution of You. within the body shell. You remain constant.. Do not become confounded by the body which has been fastened upon You.
“Father”
“Son”
“Mother”
“Wife”
“Mine”
“Not Mine”
Do not assign much significance to what is only an aggregation of elements.
The deluded man thinks enjoyment of pleasures gives happiness.
The intelligent man, whose mind is free from confusion, knows pleasures and sorrows are alike.
The carriage goes upon the earth.
The body is seated in the carriage.
The Self resides in the body.
The deluded Jiva thinks “I am this body”.
Foolish is such ignorance !
You are pure, conscious and taintless.”
Tune in to the YouTube Video: Madalasa’s Lullaby, Song in Sanskrit, sung by Gaiea
I am indebted to Sri Radhakrishnan Iyengar, because it was he who introduced me- in his unassuming manner- to this wonderful piece– as also a few other pieces– all of them on Self-knowledge, during my interactions with him 3 or 4 years ago.
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