Shadbhavas of Living Beings Explained

Now Bhishma answers his fourth question, which was:
'Kam archathaha manusyahashubham prapnoth?'
'Tameva charchayan nithyam, tam purusham avyayam eva nithyam bhaktya archayan.'

Avyayaha – One who does not have an end, the imperishable.

How should he be worshipped? Nityam – every day, always, with devotion (bhaktya). Also, by dhayan, meditating upon him; stuvann, praising him; and namasyan, offering namaskaras to him.

By doing all this, the yajamana (worshipper) attains liberation from all sorrows (sarva dhukatigo bhaveth).

Now Bhishma answers Yudhisthira’s third question:
'Kam sthuvanthaha manusyaya sugham prapneth?'
Anathi nithanam Vishnum… अनादि निधनं षड्भाव विकार शून्यम्

There are six aspects present in all living beings, called shad bhavas:

1. Living beings take birth – They are born at some point in time; they come into existence.
2. They exist – They remain over a certain period. A living being is not like a lightning flash; they exist for hours, days, or years.
3. They grow – A baby weighing about 3 kg grows into an adult weighing 20 to 30 times that weight. Plants grow, and animals grow.
4. They transform themselves – A delicate child transforms into an adult with muscles and a moustache. A person can be fat today and slim tomorrow. Living beings are capable of transformation.
5. They decay – With age, beings start decaying. Weight is lost, the body shrinks, wrinkles appear, and skin sags. Decay is the opposite of growth.
6. They die – Finally, they leave the earth.

These are the six bhavas inherent in all living beings.

He, however, is beyond them:

• He doesn’t take birth – He is eternal, always existing.
• He doesn’t grow – He has encompassed everything. Why would he grow?
• He doesn’t exist in a limited sense – His existence is infinite.

We might ask, 'Is your father at home?' This question inherently implies a time frame – now, today, or these days. All are finite and limited. In contrast, he exists beyond such limitations.

• He doesn’t transform – Transformation implies being something now and something else later, like a student becoming a teacher. When he himself is both the student and the teacher, there is no transformation.
• He doesn’t decay, perish, or diminish.
• He doesn’t die.

अनादि निधनं षड्भाव विकार शून्यम् – Devoid of the six bhavas.

Vishnum vyapannsheelam – He has pervaded everything, is in everything, and is spread across all.
Sarva loka maheswaram – The lord of all lokas and devas; the Maheswara of all Iswaras.
Lokadyaksham – He oversees and supervises the lokas, hence called Lokadyakshaka.

By nithyam sthuvann, praising him always, one becomes free from all sorrows (sarva dhukhatigo bhaveth).

Knowledge Bank

What is Dakshina?

Dakshina is a traditional gift or offering given to a priest, teacher, or guru as a sign of respect and thanks. This can be money, goods, or something valuable. People give dakshina voluntarily to support those who dedicate their lives to religious and spiritual work. It is given for honoring and supporting those who provide spiritual knowledge and guidance.

How do you get Brahman?

We perceive the world as many objects and beings different from each other. In Brahman, there is no duality. Brahman is achieved when all dualistic thoughts and perceptions disappear from the mind. This can be attained through the paths of bhakti, jnana, or karma.