Once upon a time, there resided a remarkable woman, Queen Madalasa. She was a woman of great intellect and spiritual depth, blessed with an unrivaled poetic inclination. Multifaceted and teeming with wisdom, she (probably) often expressed her insights through verses that would captivate every ear that listened.
Her most notable composition that we know of is mentioned in Markandeya Purana under the name of the “Madalasa Upadesh”. The genesis of this song finds its roots in the deep maternal affection she held for her sons. Seeking to offer them not only protection but also wisdom and knowledge as they traverse the inconsistent seas of life, she composed the song as a tender lullaby.
Every-time a young prince cried as babies and children do, Queen Madalasa would hum the soothing melody we know as the Madalasa Upadesh.
But this was no ordinary lullaby. Each verse was elegantly designed to explain a spiritual truth. It was a lullaby that was intended to lull not only their bodies into a peaceful sleep but also their hearts into a serene state of love, courage, and wisdom.
Over time, it was handed down from generation to generation, becoming a significant composition known far and wide for its profound guidance and enduring legacy. Today, it stands as a testament to the relevance of a Sadhavi and Vidushi mother.
शुद्धोसि बुद्धोसि निरँजनोऽसि
सँसारमाया परिवर्जितोऽसि
सँसारस्वप्नँ त्यज मोहनिद्राँ
मँदालसोल्लपमुवाच पुत्रम्।
Shuddhosi Buddhosi 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”
शुद्धोऽसि रे तात न तेऽस्ति नाम
कृतँ हि तत्कल्पनयाधुनैव।
पच्चात्मकँ देहँ इदँ न तेऽस्ति
नैवास्य त्वँ रोदिषि कस्य हेतो॥
Shuddho’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 ?
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 are just your imaginations, they belong to the elements that make the senses (and have nothing to do with you).
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 Taesti Vriddhir Na Cha Testi Hanih||
Meaning:
The Elements [that make this body] grow with 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.
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.
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 some one 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.
सुखानि दुःखोपशमाय भोगान्
सुखाय जानाति विमूढचेताः।
तान्येव दुःखानि पुनः सुखानि
जानाति विद्धनविमूढचेताः॥
Sukhani Duhkhpashamaya Bhogan
Sukhaya Janati Vimudhachetah|
Tanyeva Duhkhani Punah Sukhani
Janati Viddhanavimudhachetah||
Meaning:
The deluded look at objects of enjoyments as giving happiness by removing the unhappiness. The wise clearly see that the same object which gives happiness now will become a source of unhappiness.
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!