Durga Saptashati : 34 to 44 Verses explanation from chapter 1 – Written by Madhavi Yadavalli

Markandeya said:

Then together they approach the sage. The merchant named Samadhi and King Suratha ( the best of the kings) having paid their respects to the sages (like saluting the sage and) falling at the sage’s feet, they sat down next to the sage to tell their story.

When the sage, merchant and king meet, we have to recognise that they represent 3 different societies they belong to. One is the King Suratha- he is the ruler, as per the varna’s he is a Kshatriya. Second,  Samadhi is a Vaishiya(a merchant). And Medha is a learned scholar. So we have all 3 sections of the society here. 

The word “Medha” is – please don’t just consider him as  a person sage. It’s a character created to represent a concept. All the characters in Durga Saptashati are a concept of a particular thing.  Please understand this.

Medha is a concept – insight, intelligence. One who has got insight into himself and who is also intelligent. Medha is a sanskrit word, the meaning in english ‘intelligence’ is not the right word to say. Medha is beyond that. The right thing is to say, “ one who has insight into himself is a medha”. The word meaning medha as is used in Shri Dakshinamurthy Mantra, is the right reference here. “Medham pragnam bhayachi”- Pragna is already there. Intelligent and everything. Medha meaning in Dakshinamurthy stotram is “ let me look inside, let me look into myself” that is the concept of medha referred here. Suratha means a good chariot, that is, his body has un invincible conduct. Wonderful body that means it’s a good chariot, a good car, very good model with no defects. And Samadhi signifies a ‘union with the divine’. So we have 3 characters- concepts.

 Firstly- Samadhi who is in union with the divine, Suratha a wonderful chariot, and lastly Medha is a person who is insightful. 

King said: 

 “ Sage, I wish to ask you something, please reply. Without control of my thoughts, my mind is coming to grief. I remain possessive towards my lost kingdom and all parts of reality. As if unaware of the fact that they are no longer mine. Venerable sage, how can that be?

And this person (referring to samadhi), has been humiliated by his wife and children, deserted by his servants. Still he feels exceeding affection for them.The same with me also. My dear sir! We both are distressed to the utmost. Held by attachment to things. Even though we see their faults, we know that this attachment is false and we have fallen to them. Still we attach to that. Ho! My dear sir, how is it that we should know better but can be so deluded? Ours is ( for simplicity of saying) like  those who are  blind, we are really blind for the right understanding. 

The king’s appeal to Medha makes the first step towards spiritual journey. The same questions all of us have, the moment these questions come to our mind, what ever now Suratha told Medha, if those questions come to us and pose these questions before our guru, that is the first step towards spiritual journey. Suratha confesses the feelings of possessiveness towards his lost kingdom. How can the two of them who should know and better think are yet so illogical. Both are not ignorant. One is Suratha, a very well built car, wonderful car, he has that mind and the other person (Samadhi )is already in unison with universal consciousness. With all that, they react so illogically.

 He assumes that samadhi has a better knowledge than him, he understands that. Suratha understands that. “This Samadhi has gone little far than me, in that spiritual path. But he questions himself, Ho! He is also vulnerable to the same pitfalls as those who are less wise like me.”

 Now, Medha’s stand will be to show the king and the merchant how very wrong they are. 

This pratham adhyay beginning is very clear. These are the inquiries we have to make in ourselves, if you want to go on a spiritual path, these questions should haunt us. Then Medha ( or our Guru ) comes to our rescue.

Note: The article is based on the Jnana Yajna sessio