Maya's Household Sends Fever, Wind, Serpent, and Termite into the Heart
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 69
Doha 72 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi unveils maya's household through a procession of afflictions. Pride in one's qualities becomes a fever. Youth burns with its own heat. Possessiveness destroys good name, envy stains it, and the wind of grief shakes whatever appeared firmly rooted.
Anxiety comes as a serpent. Desires enter the wooden body like termites and hollow it from within. The three longings for children, wealth, and worldly recognition cloud the intelligence even when outward conduct remains composed.
All these belong to maya's immense and powerful family. Their reach cannot be fully described. Shiva and Brahma themselves regard this power with awe, so what confidence can lesser embodied beings place in personal strength? The imagery moves from fever to storm, venom to hidden gnawing, because bondage does not use one door. It attacks through heat, shaking, fear, appetite, and the slow erosion no one sees until the structure gives way.
Maya does not approach in one costume; she comes as fever, wind, serpent, and the silent termite inside the beam.
Read the passage from the Manas
गुन कृत सन्यपात नहिं केही। कोउ न मान मद तजेउ निबेही।। जोबन ज्वर केहि नहिं बलकावा। ममता केहि कर जस न नसावा।। मच्छर काहि कलंक न लावा। काहि न सोक समीर डोलावा।। चिंता साँपिनि को नहिं खाया। को जग जाहि न ब्यापी माया।। कीट मनोरथ दारु सरीरा। जेहि न लाग घुन को अस धीरा।। सुत बित लोक ईषना तीनी। केहि के मति इन्ह कृत न मलीनी।। यह सब माया कर परिवारा। प्रबल अमिति को बरनै पारा।। सिव चतुरानन जाहि डेराहीं। अपर जीव केहि लेखे माहीं।।
Whom has the fever of guna (meritorious qualities) not afflicted? Who has truly renounced mana (pride) to the very end? Whom has the fever of youth not tormented? Whose fame has mamata (possessiveness) not destroyed? Whom has matsara (envy) not brought into disgrace? Whom has the wind of shoka (grief) not shaken? The serpent of chinta (anxiety) has devoured whom? Who in this world has Maya not pervaded? Desires are like termites and the body is like wood. Who is so steadfast that these worms have not consumed him? Sons, wealth, and worldly reputation: these three desires (eeshanas). Whose mind have they not made impure? All of these are the family of Maya, immensely powerful. Who can describe their extent? When even Shiva and Chaturaanana (Brahma) are afraid of them, what account do other jivas have?