Shri Dasbodh is a famous treatise written by Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami, It teaches the human being the importance of the human from of life which is very rare. It guides human being to utilise this opportunity to employ his living meaningfully and achieve the mission of human life. It explains multiple facets of this world and variety of creatures, and guides the man follow the path of Devotion to God. It answers the fundamental question, WHO AM I ? by demonstrating the ‘HE IS I’ and advises the man, to enjoy the bliss of Great Joy of experiencing the meeting of ‘human life’ and ‘universal life’, the life force ‘within’ and life force ‘everywhere’. Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami, opens up the revelation, he got by self experience for the benefit of Devotees. It has lead the way to achieve salvation and Liberation. This treatise is a treasure of Philosophy of NonDualism, A concept of Unity of man and God. It shows the way to a human being , for leading the positive life, of undertaking full activities, for the welfare of other human beings, in whom resides, the part and parcel, of God Almighty. The service to humanity is service to God.

The volume consists of questions and answers, between Guru and his disciples. Through this medium, queries of common man replied satis- factorily. . By illustrating every facet of human life, it motivates every man in the society, to take self experience, to know the Devotion; knowledge in true perspective, renounced life and gives tonic of definite success in their life. Besides, it equips man to achieve his mission of success in ‘Worldly life’ as well a ‘Spiritual life’ in his life span itself and kindles the hope in human being accordingly. Advice is given to individual according to his strength and state of mind. It acquaints the man with Truth about life and death. It removes the fear of Death. It instils the confidence in man to live, unattached, but glorious life with ceaseless efforts. The words fall short to explain total philosophy. But instead of words, the road of actual self experience and search for fundamental truth on the basis of scientific enquiries, the search for knowing the TRUE SELF, are the tenets of this philosophy of dynamism. With the help of this brilliant and effective philosophy in 17^th century India, Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami, has motivated, the defeatist, the weak, depressed society, to awaken to its strength and confidence and made it a fearless, brave and glorious to achieve the mission of freedom from tyrant rulers. This useful motivation, is still effective at the end of 20th century. Whatever is preached in ‘Vedas’ has been told by Shri Samarth Ramdas, in vernacular for the benefit of mass of people. By enjoying and experiencing this preaching a man can see for himself, the ultimate truth.

The advise of Dasbodh, is spread over in twenty main chapters. In every chapter there are ‘ten’ subchapters and in every subchapter, there are verses, according to subject matter. Commencing with, ‘phrase prayers’, the subchapters under titles of ‘Signs of Fool’ ‘Analysis of Attributes’ Nine types of Devotion’ ‘Guru’s Guidance’ ‘Search for principal God’ ‘Fourteen Brahmas’ ‘Creation of Illusion’ ‘Attributes and Faces of human body’ ‘Life force of the world’ ‘Politics’ ‘The Signs of spiritual Heads’ ‘Prudence and Renunciation’ ‘The Advice of Ceaseless Efforts’ ‘Excellent man’ ‘Name and Face-human being’s concept of God’ ‘Uniterrupted meditation’ ‘The theory of Creation of Living form’ ‘Prakruti and Purush’ the original form of God’ Importance of rare human form’ ‘Discourse on Intellectual understanding’ ‘Discourse on Pure supreme truth’. The treatise paves the way in chapter after chapter, to quench the thirst of human being for Truth; knowledge, whereby darkness of Ignorance vanishes and dawn of knowledge lights the heart of individual, society and the world around. Samarth Ramdas himself has indicated the result of reading and reflecting over this DASBODH TREATISE, while listening to it intently. In this own words It is said "Ignorance, doubts; unhappiness vanishes.| The true knowledge is gained instantly. | This is the result;| of this king of treatises." | OH ! my brothers and sisters, let us read together and taste the sweetness of this preaching just now. For taking full lunch to our heart’s content, the full volume will follow automatically. Whatever one likes, let him taste.

First of all let us all pray God Ganapati, a Destroyer of difficulties and a Donor of all skill, will and knowledge and get his blessings. Samarth Ramdas prays the God Ganpati. "OH ! my Lord Ganesh! Bestow your blessings on me. | Reside in my heart and become radar of my vessel of this human life" His pictursque presentation of Lord Ganesh, is transmitted to Television of one’s heart and a feeling surges ahead in the heart and assures one, "Once your blessings are given to me; | the dangers start trembling; | and by the effect of chanting your name; | the dangers and difficulties are driven away outside the frontiers." After Praising God Ganesh; prayer is focussed on the mother of Vedas; Shrisharda, the daughter of God Brahma, the origin or words; ‘Power of Life Force’. With the help of this power, man is guided to cross this sea of entangled worldy affairs. This Goddess of Words, is the source of your speeches ‘[Para’ ‘Pasyanti ‘Madhyama’ ‘Vaikhari’] in human being. Let us pray this Goddess. Now let us remember and praise the Great-Guide, Preceptor. ‘Oh! Superior man! You are the flag of liberator; | the brother of poor and wretched. | By your protective hands, uncontrolled illusion fades away. | By sun-shine, the darkness vanishes? The Great-Good-spiritual Guide post is permanent. It cannot be described. It cannot be compared with anybody else. The blessing of Great-spiritual Head, shows the true path in life, to all seekers in the world.

Now let us remember the saints and know the magical effect of company of saints. It, makes easy, the way of human being, to perceive, understand and experience the Truth; Which is normally extremely difficult. The abode of saints is blissful for all. | Saints are the homes of Joy, | the root of Happiness, | the home of Salvation and oneness with God; | and what more!! | it is necessary to salute the listeners. They appreciate the qualities. They like, to understand the true meaning. They are the great absorbers of discourses. They are the replica of God; they are very pious. Because of their presence, the meeting becomes meaningful. In their heart there is the manifestation of pith and substance of vedas. In their mouth stays Goddess Saraswati. They are like the spiritual teachers of Gods; Excellent, Appreciative and Intent on listening. By responding positively, to discourse, the listener enhances the quality of discourse, the level of meeting is upgraded. All experience tremendous joy. Shri Samarth Ramdas, requests the listeners "You are all the Idols of God; | My knowing is not comparable with you; | I am dull, and unintelligent; | I am clinging to you | You are saints and good people; | You are the parents of this world; | After knowing what I have to say; | Please do whatever you think fit.’ || Thereafter let us pay regards to, the Poet, who is the God, of words-surrounding, the incarnation of Ve das; the home of Goddess Saraswati, the living of arts. Shri Samarth Ramdas has aptly described about ‘Poet’ this way. ‘Poet is the medicine, of seeker of salvation, | Poet is the instrument of aspirant; | Poet is the satisfaction of Accomplished persons, definitely. | He praises poet, again and again. ‘Poet is the ornament of nature; | If the work of poet does not take place; | How will the world will be uplifted? | Therefore the Poet, is the support base of all world.’ How can one proceed further without saluting the presence of God in the meeting to get every thing that is desired. For listening the discourse of stories of God Hari, different types of listeners attend. They grace the meeting, according to their individual thinking. All these are the men of God. Humble submission towards them gives total satisfaction.

The song of praise of ‘Highest Meaning’ is absolutely necessary. One should fully understand the ‘True Meaning’ of knowledge. Persons, turn their eyes on listening the word ‘TRUE MEANING’ and say that, it was not their work, and that they will see when they become old. The search for absolute truth is considered to be very difficult. So almost all, ingnore the search for ‘supreme truth’. To understand the true meaning of each living, the ‘supreme truth’, ‘I am the Brahma’ is the visual manifestation of the ‘Absolute Truth .’ The study of pursuit of Absolute truth, bestows on the man the skill and ability to reach, the highest pedestal, in his own life. ‘The search of true meaning, is the support of Hermits. | It is the foundation store of seekers. | True meaning once imbibed, takes one across the sea of mundane matters. | The Revealed man is the king; | without true perception one is simply beggar | Nothing can be compared with the bliss of joy of Truth .

At the end, most important hymn is about ‘Human form of life. To get this form of life is most difficult. Different types of persons, come in the medium of ‘human form’. Through this medium only one can make progress. To make continuous efforts, is possible only in the ‘Human form’. One can attain the unity of ‘man’ and ‘god’ in this body only. When one is fortunate in getting un-handicapped body, one will get confused and entangled trapped in the net of Illusion surrounding the human form. ‘One has a pride, that this is one’s home. This is one’s body. If one sees through, this home belongs to so many.’ The animals, birds, insects, ants, all think that the house is their’s. the guests and the friends think it is their own home. The thief thinks it is his home. The fire thinks, its home, why not burn it? Many houses have collapsed. The villages and dilapidated. Man had to leave the home. The body suffers from disease. The body is the prey of the Beasts. This is the state of your body. This body also does not belong to you, it belongs to all. To call it your own is foolishness. Such body should be employed meaningfully by following the path of ultimate truth. Otherwise the man will get trapped in the ‘birth-death’ cycle and pith and substance of mission of life will be forgotton.

Shri Samarth calls such family men as fools. By showing the signs of ‘the fools’ he appeals everybody to give them up. By close observation in the society, he has described different types of people. One can visualise here, the fools, learned but fools, the persons of excellent qualities. The fool bitterly opposes his parents, who have given birth to him and brought him up. He behaves on the advice of the wife only by ignoring all other relatives. He is arrogant in front of powerful men. He rules without strength in his side. He boasts, not on self strength but on the cumulative goodwill generated by his ancestors. He laughs without reason. He keeps his own people at arm’s length. He is addicted to vices. He is lazy and shameless. He turns away his face in front of good guidance. He enjoys the difficulties of others. He is overwise before elders. He is not content with the present status and aim in life. There are many such indications of foolish behaviour. He goes only where the praise is showered on him. He is permanently evil minded, miser, abusing type, a man without education, earning, respects a greedy, frequently getting irritated with the family, but ashamed to talk in the meeting. He does not take medicine, even he is ill. He is coward, false and takes too much sleep. He irritates affectionate persons. He salutes mean people. He is ill mannered. He always depend upon money. He cares for his own family only and forgets kind God. He betrays god, guru, mother and father. He is happy when others are unhappy. He by his acts lowers down his status considerably. He puts many difficult conditions for doing anything. Always he talks without work. He does not know anything. He is not able to convey in his talk to others. He expects the place of superior, wise person, even though he does not deserve the same. He gets angry and harms his interest. He abuses the God because of unhappiness in family life. He always deceives others. He loses favours of powerful persons. He breaks the joy. He removes old confidential servants. He accumulates wealth immorally. He gives up the Religion and morality. He irritates the companions. Even if at home, there is beautiful wife, he runs after other women. He always thinks of sensual pleasures. After becoming rich, he forgets old acquaintance. He arrogantly rules over Gods and Brahmins. He never helps others. He does not read books. Several such signs of fool are narrated by Shri Samarth Ramdas, as specimen. If for a moment, one ponders over these symptoms, one realises that lot of them are stuck with one and it is necessary to abdicate them with conscious efforts.

We have seen the signs of the fools. Now let us see Ideal excellent virtues; due to which man becomes expert and wise. Everyone should try his best to inculcate the excellent in him. See for yourself the sample of good virtues. While analysing these virtues, Shri Samarth Ramdas has given the detailed list of ‘DONT’, for man of good virtues. eg. "Do not walk on the road without enquiring where it leads | Do not eat any fruit without knowing it. | Do not pick up anything found on the way suddenly. | Do not talk without thinking. | Do not go ahead without making proper enquiries | . Do not hurt the love and affection of people. | Do not earn the money by sins and misdeeds. | Do not give up the pious path. | Do not forget the commitments made. | Do not tell your valour without actually doing the brave deeds. | Do not forget your strength at the nick of time | Do not lose courage, purity of mind, search for absolute truth while engrossed in family affairs. | Do not assume arrogance with little Wealth and do not be ashamed of devotion of God Hari. | Do not frightened by seeing the audience. | Do not forget give apt reply. | Give up notoriety. | Increase reputation and be firm on the path of TRUTH.
After knowing good qualities one must also know the signs of mal education, the passions of sexual pleasure, the anger, the arrogance, the temptation and malice. Six enemies of man have taken firm roots in his body. People get attracted by sensual pleasures, so one is able to find those evil signs, always around. He is such an unfortunate that he does not make efforts. He does not study. He is not humble. He has no friendship with pure and pious persons. He spoils his invaluable life. He leads alongwith him, all others, towards path of destruction. When in the society there is majority of such ill-mannered evil persons, the downfall follows instantly. There is no delay in that downfall at all.
True, we have understood the sign. Now let us know one thing correctly. One gets this human form after doing many good deeds. If you are fortunate then only you will be attracted towards Truth and pious path. By your previous good deeds, good feelings, singing songs of God, the company of devotees and saints flower your life. One must make special efforts, to meaningfully, utilise this human form. When one comes across a man with whom there is no education, no wealth, no intelligence, no art, no skill, no peace of mind, no mercy, no initiation, no sacrifice, no virtues, no happiness in helping others, no devotion towards God Hari in mind and heart, one should surely conclude that such men though alive, are as good as dead corpses.

The whole mankind consists of three attributes. One sees the effect of ‘Purity-Satva’ ‘Self-centered-Rajas’ and ‘Mean-Tamas selfish and destructive’ mentality, of variety of people. According to high or low content of this mentality, one’s character gets an identity associated with the physical body. This package of body and attitude shapes the man’s behaviour in the world during his life time. One does not find any one with whole of any one attribute. The presence of purity of attitude leads one to devotion of God. The presence of self centerd and concious attitude leads one to move in birth-death cycle. The presence of selfish and destructive attitude leads to one’s downfall.

As a sample, please see the characteristics of persons having self centered-body, conscious attitudes. They always think , "my house, my family, my parents, my son my daughter, daughter-in-law" and take care of them.
To eat good, to wear good, to desire good things is the reflection of selfcentered attitude. What are you talking about religion? What offering? | Why meditation? | What is the sin and pious deed? Which is this pilgrimage? | Mind thinking of wrong behaviour! Mind full of greed for money! Mind full of pride! | All this is the impact of selfcentered charactristics of man. | Let others be poor, I must get everything and good thing. | Whatever one sees, one gets tempted. One desires to enjoy music, arts, facets of performing arts, good jokes and laughter, the drama etc. the reflection of self centered attitude. He does not know the god. Compulsorily he has to take birth again. Because of his becoming prisoner of six sensual pleasures, he cannot escape the birth and death cycle. The bondage of family affairs is not broken. This is the fact and reality. When influence is so deep, then the only remedy is to pray God and sing his song according to one’s ability. Offer your body, speech, mind, leaf, flower, fruit, water towards God. Then only this human life will be meaningful.

Now after selfcentered specimen, let us see, the selfish and destructive characteristics in man. He is very much pained by incidents of sorrow of family life and as a result he gets angry. He does not recognise his mother, father, brother and sister. He listens to anybody and everybody. He behaves like a Ghost. No medicine cures him. He betrays confidence of others. He desires to kill wife, children, cow. He gets red with malice and temper and wants to drink the poison. He rushes to kill others. In height of pride his arrogant behaviour actually manifest, destructive nature in him. He takes interest in destroying temples, instead of engrossing in devotion. He instigates people to fight and watches the fun. He eats without earning. He is useless. He does not recognise anybody’s goodwill. Hanging, burning in the fire, cutting the man with weapons, pushing one from the top of fort down, so many such inhuman punishments, is the influence of destructive mentality. He is a man who blames God. He does not like the company of saints. As a result the downfall of such man is definite. The presence of purity of nature is necessary to avoid, recurrence of the birth and death of this human body.

It is difficult to meet the man of pure virtues. He supports songs of God. He picks up the root cause of unhappiness of worldly affairs and destroyes the same. It leads a man to get excellent direction. He is able to enjoy the bliss of achieving the absolute truth. It is the speciality of pure man that he is prudent, pious in dealing with others and he is eager to help others. He himself performs rituals and kindles sacred fire. He is his own priest of ceremony. He is a student as well as his teacher. He distributes charities. Such pious man performs the work without expecting any selfish gain. He constructs, pilgrim spots, charity homes, residences, godowns and temples. He maintains their administration perfect as service to God. He is always eager to listen to the episodes of God Shri Hari as well as to attend to the noble cause of God’s work. He gives up the pride. He increases renunciation of sensual pleasures. He does his duties of worldly affairs very well but he does not get entangled in the net of mundane affairs. He practises his devotion to God with firm faith. He employes his body for good cause always. He is always industrious. He respects the guest. He distributes according to his capacity. He has conquered his tounge. His emotions are fully satisfied. He takes all with humility. He leads a life in limits. He pleases all. He spends his life in helping others. This is the beginning of purity in human life. While doing his own work he thinks of others’ work also. His reputation makes him immortal. He teaches knowledge to ignorant. He takes people on the virtuous path. He enhances the faith of individual towards singing the songs of God Hari. Due to this purity of mind, one definitely achieves the True knowledge and unity with God and liberation.

We have seen the virtue of purity. Now let us see the signs of True, permanent learning. Such man of good education is faithful, pious, loving person. He practises peace, kindness and mercy. He is extremely beautiful, clever, powerful, courageous, orator but without any greed. He is great but humble. He is philosopher but dispassionate. He is versatile but good gentleman. He is loyal to this work. He is religious, alert, shrewd, logical and perceiver of truth, attentive, industrious, knowing the Vedas and scriptures, resolute devotee. A man possessing many disciplines of education is powerful brave, friend of people, remover of doubts, the knowledgeable listener, the man of action. Such man is successful, famous, strong, brave, speaker of truth, of good deeds. He is a man of excellent virtues. The face and its beauty are natural gifts to man. It is difficult to make change in this gift. But in cases of other virtues, there can be an improvement by conscious efforts. Therefore everybody should make honest attempt to make deep study and try to improve his behaviour and inculcate good virtues.
The man of true perception, the excellent person should be an Ascetic by nature due to which incessant efforts can be continued to achieve the objective before him. Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami has introduced this Ascetic person in greater detail Due to disaffection, man’s body becomes strong. His fame grows. His life becomes meaningful. The happiness increases. The things that are in mind get accomplished. The Ascetic should be prudent with spiritual mind, the true seeker, courageous in respect of sensual actions. He has to canvass the devotion of God. He has to maintain peace. He has to give prominence to good deeds. He has to establish the true religion. Such Ascetic should be prompt always engrossed in study and good activity. He should possess the virtue of self confidence. Shir Samarth delegates a special assgnment to such Ascetic persons. His work is to organise festivals of God to motivate the devotees and search of pursuit of truth, to make total efforts to increase the worship. By campaign of increasing devotion, he should make wicked and crooked to become shameful. He should firmly preceive God in Aim and come out to uplift the people in this world. By employing his body in helpful activities he should live meaningfully and increase the reputation. He should make friendship with gentlemen. The unaffected, ascetics should understand the prevailing time, appreciate the situation show the ability and intelligence in all circumstances.
Such Ascetic person should be versatile. He should have high qualities. He should awaken the bonded persons. He should try to benefit all and sundry with the help of prudence. Shri Samarth urges the listeners not to misunderstand him for all this talk, But all should remember that without these virtues learned-fools are seen around. It destroys everything and harms self interest.

We have seen the special points of each type of virtues. But one class of people is seen everywhere, that is the class of ‘learned-but-fool.’ He thinks that he is very clever, but actually he is great fool. He is well read, literary giant. But he has false pride and hope, making him the fool. He teaches the selfish attitude. He blames everybody. He destroys devotion of God in form and attributes. He looks for defects in the people. He acts in such a way that his disciples disrespect him. His talk hurts people. He does not like good habits. Even if he recognises other person to be mischievous, contriver, he praises him simply because such person is rich. Without reading complete volume, he criticises the contents. He is deliberately obstinate. He does not control his anger. He is actionless man. He is talkative, educated person but he is not able to reply to queries of people. Such is a ‘Learned-fool’. He accepts undesirable things. He has lot of attraction towards physical beauty. Because of false prestige, he consider others as triflings. He preaches the knowledge of Brahma without supporting demonstration from him. He talks one thing and does another. He has special love for ‘family welfare’. He has disrespect for pursuit of truth. Deliberately he shows ignorance. His life is dependent. Even though it is harmful to his interest, he moves ahead. There are many vices in such ‘Learned fools’. He follows spiritual path for getting wealth. He is dependent hermit. He neither succeeds in mundane affairs nor does he gain anything in spiritual advancement: He has to suffer again and again the tormentation of birth and death cycle. All this is narrated as a sample, In this world we meet many different types of people. When it is compared with oneself, we find it reflected everywhere. So you know it, yourself and start the efforts for self advancement.