Madalasa Upadesha: A Lullaby from the Puranas

                                                                                                                    Queen Madalasa

In the annals of history, certain stories stand out as timeless reminders of the depth of human emotion and the enduring power of maternal love. One such poignant tale is that of Madalasa, a revered figure in Indian mythology, singing a lullaby to her beloved son. This touching moment encapsulates the essence of motherhood, wisdom, and the eternal bond between a mother and her child.

Madalasa: A Paragon of Virtue and Wisdom

The story begins in the ancient kingdom of Avanti, where Princess Madalasa was born to King Malayadhvaja and Queen Marisha. Unlike other royal children, Madalasa displayed an exceptional aptitude for wisdom and compassion from her early years. Her parents, recognizing her unique qualities, provided her with a holistic education that encompassed philosophy, ethics, and the arts.

Madalasa’s thirst for spiritual enlightenment and her understanding of life’s deeper purpose grew with time. She renounced her royal status and embarked on a path of asceticism, meditation, and self-discovery. Her journey took her to secluded forests and sacred ashrams, where sages and saints mentored her.

The Meeting of Hearts: Madalasa and Hemachuda

Madalasa’s unwavering dedication to her spiritual quest earned her the admiration of these wise sages. One day, her path intersected with that of a young prince named Hemachuda. His noble character and inner goodness resonated with Madalasa, and despite her renunciation, she recognized the potential for a meaningful partnership built on love, wisdom, and devotion.

Madalasa and Hemachuda married and embarked on a life that harmonized their spiritual and worldly responsibilities. In their union, they bore a son, and it was during these moments of motherhood that Madalasa’s wisdom and love truly shone.

The Timeless Lullaby: Madalasa Upadesha

One night, with the moon casting a soft, silvery glow upon their home, Madalasa cradled her infant son in her arms. As a mother’s heart overflowed with love and tenderness, she sang a lullaby that transcended mere words. Her melody carried not just maternal affection but the profound wisdom she had gleaned from her spiritual journey.

In her lullaby, Madalasa imparted timeless teachings about life, love, and the divine to her son. She sang of compassion, kindness, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Her voice resonated with the purity of her soul, nurturing her child’s spirit with the wisdom she had acquired from the sages and saints.

“When her children wept, queen Madalasa used to sing them this song rather than soothing them with small toys and dolls (which kids often adore), which serves as a warning against becoming addicted to material things. So, here is the lullaby with a purpose.“

 

                                                                                        The Madalasa Upadesha

          Strophe 1:

शुद्धोसि बुद्धोसि निरँजनोऽसि
सँसारमाया परिवर्जितोऽसि
सँसारस्वप्नँ त्यज मोहनिद्राँ
मँदालसोल्लपमुवाच पुत्रम्।

Suddhosi bubbhosi niranjanosi
samsara maya parivarjitosi
samsara svapnam tyaja moha nidra
mandalasollapamuvacha putram

          Meaning:
          Madalasa says to her crying son:
         “You are pure, Enlightened, and spotless.
           Leave the illusion of the world
           and wake up from this deep slumber of delusion”

 

       Strophe 2:

       शुद्धोऽसि रे तात न तेऽस्ति नाम
       कृतँ हि तत्कल्पनयाधुनैव।
       पच्चात्मकँ देहँ इदँ न तेऽस्ति
       नैवास्य त्वँ रोदिषि कस्य हेतो॥

       śuddho’si re tāta na te’sti nāma
       kṛtaɱ hi tatkalpanayādhunaiva|
       paccātmakaɱ dehaɱ idaɱ na te’sti
       naivāsya tvaɱ rodiṣi kasya heto||

       Meaning:
       My Child, you are Ever Pure! You do not have a name. A name is only an imaginary superimposition on you.
       This body made of five elements is not you nor do you belong to it. This being so, what can be a reason for your crying?

 

          Strophe 3:

           न वै भवान् रोदिति विक्ष्वजन्मा
           शब्दोयमायाध्य महीश सूनूम्।
           विकल्पयमानो विविधैर्गुणैस्ते
           गुणाश्च भौताः सकलेन्दियेषु॥

           na vai bhavan roditi vikshvajanma
          shabdoyamayadhya mahisha sunum|
          vikalpayamano vividhairgunaiste
          gunascha bhautah sakalendiyeshu||

          Meaning:
          The essence of the universe does not cry in reality. All is a maya of words, oh Prince! Please understand this. The various qualities you seem to have are just your imagination, they belong to the elements that make the senses (and have nothing to do with you).

          Strophe 4:

भूतनि भूतैः परिदुर्बलानि
वृद्धिँ समायाति यथेह पुँसः।
अन्नाम्बुपानादिभिरेव तस्मात्
न तेस्ति वृद्धिर् न च तेस्ति हानिः॥

bhutani bhutaih paridurbalani
vriddhim samayati yatheha pumsah|
annambupanadibhireva tasmat
na testi vriddhir na cha testi hanih||

Meaning:

The Elements [that make this body] grow with an accumulation of more elements or reduce in size if some elements are taken away. This is what is seen in a body’s growing in size or becoming lean depending upon the consumption of food, water, etc. You do not have growth or decay.

Strophe 5:

त्वम् कँचुके शीर्यमाणे निजोस्मिन्
तस्मिन् देहे मूढताँ मा व्रजेथाः।
शुभाशुभौः कर्मभिर्देहमेतत्
मृदादिभिः कँचुकस्ते पिनद्धः॥

tvam kamchuke shiryamane nijosmin
tasmin dehe mudhatam ma vrajethah|
shubhashubhauh karmabhirdehametat
mridadibhih kamchukaste pinaddhah||

Meaning:
You are in the body which is like a jacket that gets worn out day by day. Do not have the wrong notion that you are the body. This body is like a jacket that you are tied to, for the frutification of the good and bad karmas.

Strophe 6:

तातेति किँचित् तनयेति किँचित्
अँबेति किँचिद्धयितेति किँचित्।
ममेति किँचित् न ममेति किँचित्
त्वम् भूतसँघँ बहु म नयेथाः॥

tateti kimchit tanayeti kimchit
ambeti kimchiddhayiteti kimchit|
mameti kimchit na mameti kimchit
tvam bhutasamgham bahu ma nayethah||

Meaning:
Some may refer to you are Father and some others may refer to you a Son or some may refer to you as Mother and someone else may refer to you as Wife. some say “You are mine” and some others say “You are not mine” These are all references to this “Combination of Physical Elements”, Do not identify with them.

Strophe 7:

सुखानि दुःखोपशमाय भोगान्
सुखाय जानाति विमूढचेताः।
तान्येव दुःखानि पुनः सुखानि
जानाति विद्धनविमूढचेताः॥

sukhani duhkhopashamaya bhogan
sukhaya janati vimudhachetah|
tanyeva duhkhani punah sukhani
janati viddhanavimudhachetah||

Meaning:
The deluded look at objects of enjoyment as giving happiness by removing the unhappiness. The wise see that the same object that gives happiness now will become a source of unhappiness.

Strophe 8:

यानँ चित्तौ तत्र गतश्च देहो
देहोपि चान्यः पुरुषो निविष्ठः।
ममत्वमुरोया न यथ तथास्मिन्
देहेति मात्रँ बत मूढरौष।

yanam chittau tatra gatascha deho
dehopi chanyah purusho nivishthah|
mamatvamuroya na yatha tathasmin
deheti matram bata mudharausha|

Meaning:
The vehicle that moves on the ground is different from the person in it similarly this body is also different from the person who is inside! The owner of the body is different from the body! Ah, how foolish it is to think I am the body!

Legacy of Love and Wisdom

Madalasa’s lullaby became a cherished legacy, passed down through generations. It became a source of solace, a guiding light, and a reminder of the harmonious balance between spiritual and worldly responsibilities. Her story is a testament to the enduring power of a mother’s love and the profound wisdom that transcends generations. Do visit Spiritual Blog Website.

The Madalasa Upadesha continues to inspire and captivate hearts, weaving together the realms of maternal love and spiritual enlightenment. It reminds us that within the cradle of love, profound wisdom can be found, and within the depths of wisdom, boundless love can be nurtured. This lullaby from the Puranas stands as a timeless testament to the beauty of life’s dualities and the eternal bond between mother and child