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is one who helps unasked even others to cross the shores of delusions and sorrows; and therefore, to surrender to such a one, requesting him to save us from our misunderstandings, is to assure for us a sure liberation-almost a luxuryboat of Truth.
अयं स्वभावः स्वतः एव यत्परः
श्रमापनोदप्रवणं महात्मनाम् । सुधांशुरेष स्वयमर्ककर्कश
प्रभाभितप्तामवति क्षितिं किल ॥३८॥ ayam svabhāvah svata eva yatparah
śramāpanodapravanam mahātmanām . sudhāmśureșa svayamarkakarkasa
prabhābhitaptāmavati kșitim kila 38. अयम् - This, स्वभावः . nature, खतः - natural, एव - indeed, यत् - which, परश्रमापनोदप्रवणं - inclination to remove the troubles of others, महात्मनाम् - of the magnanimous, सुधांशुः - moon, एषः - this, स्वयम् - by itself, अर्ककर्कशः प्रभाभितप्तम् - scorched by the flaming rays of the sun, feay - the earth, 39a - saves (cools), FAT - does it not ? .
It is but the nature of Mahatmas to stir about in their magnanimity in removing, of their own accord, all the troubles of others. Thus, moon, for instance, voluntarily saves (cools), as everybody knows, the earth scorched by the flaming rays of the sun.
To emphasize that the noble qualities of magnanimity, cheer, etc., noticed in a perfect master are but natural with him and are not the product of his self-tutored habit, Sankara is giving another mellifluous stanza. In painting fully the irresistible nature of the Mahātmās which is, to serve others in sheer love, he compares a seer with the moon. He directs our attention to the fact that moon is the one who alone can, and with effortless ease does cool the parched earth when it gets roasted itself under the burning rays of the sun. Here, it also indicates that nothing else can cool the earth so satisfactorily as the moon-light, and also that