Life of Shrimad Rajchandra

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 15

composed in different popular rhymes. The first section contains lyrics relating to prayers, devotion, gratitude, transitory nature of the body, mother's advice to a daughter, avoiding the waste of time, industriousness etc.
The second section contains those relating to learning, benefits of education, contempt for ignorance, reading good books, wholesome advices etc. The third section contains those dealing with introduction of reforms, adopting of virtues, truth, averting illicit sex etc. The last section mainly consists of 100 lyrical verses of good advice.
The style of the book presents a beautiful blend of the zeal of poet Narmadäshankar and the moral approach of poet Dalpaträm. The very first lyric prays to the compassionate Lord to prompt towards the interest of the country and to lead to the pleasure of mind. The sixteenth lyric points out the harm and the consequent fall of the country by virtue of indulgence in wrong traditions and then appeals to the females for being united and for introducing the reforms. The twenty-second lyric points out the tremendous harm caused by the sensuous songs relating to the life of Krishna and the illicit sex resulting from that.
Having a good command over the language even at the age of fifteen, there does not seem any undue effort on the part of the author for maintaining the rhythm. The language flows as required by the rhymes like a smooth current of water.
The last section consisting of 100 verses is more like a moral code for women. It covers a great variety of subjects like unity, morality, patience, courage, truth, non-deception, devotion, patriotism, reforms, industriousness, learning, pity, affection for religion, writing, economizing, forgiving, meritorious deeds, humbleness, wholesome company, pondering over death, seeking the path of knowledge, loyalty to the husband, charity to those, who deserve, love for benevolence etc. It also urges for giving up of bad company, extramarital sex, arrogance, atheism and gambling. They are given in Dhrol, a lyrical composition, which can help memorizing at ease.
This book is presently out of print. A short description thereof has been given in order to give an idea of the composition, which was very valuable at that time. If reprinted, it would be highly useful to the senior women, who may like to undertake the study.
The language of this book and its emphasis on morality would be more helpful to females than the lyrical compositions of Pundit Navalräm, which are in vogue in the field of female education. The book is worth being given as a gift from parents to the daughter, from a brother to the sister and from a husband to his wife. It is also worth giving to the brides at the time of wedding and to other girls on other social occasions.
The remaining two parts of the book do not seem to have been written. From the perusal of this part, however, it appears that had the remaining parts been composed, they could have been very valuable books pertaining to females written by Shrimad.
There is an advertisement at the end of the book, which states, "I have composed a book on morality named 'Kävyamälä' (collection of poems), which contains 108 poems. It is divided in four sections covering about 200 pages and will cost 0.625 rupee to those, who enroll themselves as customers in advance. The publicity of books on morality rests on the interests of people." It is not known whether the book was published or not, nor is there available a manuscript copy thereof.
One may question, 'what was the necessity for this great man to write the books on morality? Why did he not start writing about experience of soul or about the explanation of religious fundamentals at length?' The reply is available in the following extract from his letter written in the middle of 1896.