Chapter- 19

EDUCATION OF LIFE
(Jeevan-shikhshana)
|| Salutations to Shree gurudeva ||

WHICH CAN BE CALLED AS HIGHER EDUCATION?
Shrotiyaane kela prashna | khede shaharaahooni mahaan |
Aise mhanato aapan jana | pari ek khoon na visaraavee ||1||

One of the listeners expressed a doubt, "Sir! we say that the village is the most superior to the city. But we can't forget one conspicuous feature ||1||
Shaharaat aahe uchcha shikhshana | Te khedyaat paavel kona?
konee aalaa jaree shikona | Tari yethe hoto gaavandhala ||2||

In cities, their are best arrangements to provide higher education. How can such higher education be given in the villages? If anybody gets higher education in big cities and returns to the village, he becomes boorish, dupe and foolish with the association and company of the boorish village folks. ||2||
`Nagaraa maajee naagarachi hoyeeje' | Yaa sathee shaharachi vidyaarthyaa paahije |
khedyaamaajee `naangarachi waahije' | aise hote ||3||

The native of the city becomes excellently cultural. So the learning students must reside in big cities. The boy, living in the village becomes perfect only in carrying his work with the plough. ||3||
Aikaa aisee jayaanchee bhaavana | Lakhsha dyaave tyaannee yaa vachana |
Yethe shikhshanaachee mool kalpana | Teech chukalee aapulee ||4||

(Vandaniya maharaj replies) O listeners! Those who hold such misunderstanding firmly should pay full attention to what I am going to tell now. Basically, the concept of these people about education is totally wrong. ||4||
Dikhaaoo kapade, koradee aita | nokarpeshee thaat maat |
Hey shikhshanaache nawhe uddishta | dhyaanee ghyaave neet hey aadhee ||5||

First of all, people, having such wrong concept should take it into careful consideration that the aim and object of education is not merely to have gaudy uniforms, knowledgeless showiness and the display of pomp and show of clerical white colloared employment. ||5||

Ajab aisee shikhshanaachee prathaa | Jethe kaamee na ye bapaachee santhaa |
Baap karee sheteechee vyawasthaa | Mulagaa maage nokaree ||6||

Is it a good education where the learning given by father becomes useless to the son? This is a very queer and surprising manner of education. Father toils in cultivation of the land while the son wanders in a city in search of some employment. ||6||
Whaave mothe baabusaaheb | kaam jujabee, paisaa khoop |
Mothee padavee, dikhaaoo dhab | Hee uchchataa mhanochi na ye ||7||

Seeking a good job, strutting as some eminant boss; working with least labour and earning a fabulous salary; obtaining higher degree in education and making showy pomp- all these should not be considered as the characterestics of superiority of a man. ||7||
Hey sarva maageel visaron | Mulaa-muleenna dyaave shikhshana |
Jene gaavaache waadhel bhushana | sarvatoparee ||8||

All these ideas of earlier generation should now be forgotten. Today, the boys and girls in the family should be provided such education as will grow the glory and adornment of the village in all respects. ||8||
Nusate nako uchcha shikhshana | Hey to gele maageel yugee lapona |
Aataa whaavaa kashtik, balawaan | suputra Bharataachaa ||9||

All these were the absurd ideas and concepts of earlier generation. Today mere higher education is not a must. The best son of Bharat in this present era must be hard working, labourious, strong and powerful. ||9||
Shikhshanaatachi jeevanaache kaam | donhninchee saangad whaavee uttama |
chintaa nasaavee bhojanaasathee daama | Maaganyaachee bheek jaisee ||10||

Life and education should be firmly co-related. Educated One should have no worries to go on begging from door to door to earn his livelihood. ||10||
Mulaat ekhaadaa taree asaavaa guna | jyaane pota bharel tyaat nipuna |
Na ye sansaaraa maajee adachana | konotyaahi paree ||11||

The boy should be perfectly expert in some art or workmanship so that he can feed his wife and children. He should not face any hardship or dearth in his householder's life. ||11||
Jeevnaachyaa garajaa sampoorna | nirwaahaache ekek saadhana |
sambandhit vishayaanche samagra dnyaan | yaachaa antarbhaava shikhshanee ||12||

Today's educational curriculum must contain the following objectives. Education must be useful and capable of fulfilling the entire needs of life. It should provide at least one means to earn livelihood. It should impart scientific and complete practical knowledge in regard to the other related aspects of the subjects. ||12||
Nadee, talaav aani vihiree | yaat pohane naanaa paree |
Aapatti yetaa dhaavoni taaree | aise shikhsana asaave.||13||

In education, the student should be taught and trained perfectly in swimming in rivers, tanks and wells. If anybody is drowning, he must rush to him and save his life from drowning. such education is really needed. ||13||
Gaavee bhojanaache asatee prasanga | swayampaak karataa yaavaa yathaa saanga |
Hey hi kala shikawaavee saprayoga | mulaa-muleensi ||14||

On many occasions the whole village dinners are arrenged. For those collective dinings, the boys and girls should be able to cook various food items. This practical training and knowledge should be given through actual demonstrations and experiments to both boys and girls. ||14||
Asale shikhshana waatate saadhaarana | Pari yaache jeevanaat agrasthaana |
Naaheetari jagaave janaavaraasamaan | hoyeel swayampaak na yetaa ||15||

Outwordly and superficially, such education and training seem to be very ordinary. But in life, it carries a great importance. Otherwise, if the boy or girl can't cook well, they will have to live like animals. ||15||
Mulagee bahu shikalee shaale maazaaree |pari swayampaak karataa na ye gharee |
kaaya karaavee vidyaa chaaturee? kaamaaveena langadee tee ||16||

The girl might have acquired much education in school & college. But if she fails to cook well at home, how can we admire her higher education? In household duties, such girl proves to be useless, lame and most ignorant. ||16||
Ashikhshit swayampaak karoni khaayee |Sushikhit chane phaakat raahee |
doraas ghaalataa na ye wandhaa hi | jethe tethe paraadheen ||17||

If it need be, the uneducated one can cook well and satisfy his hunger. But the educated one (not knowing how to cook) will have to consume soaked and parched grams. He can't tie a knot to the rope. He has to depend upon help from others every now and then. ||17||
Mulaalaa pangat waadhataa na ye | gharache paanee bharataa na ye |
Aaapulyaach toryaamadhe raahe | Tari te vyartha dnyaan tyaache ||18||

If the learned boy can't serve food properly in dining rows, if he can't store water for his home and if he always behave struttingly and showily, his education is fruitless and valueless. ||18||
Gharee jyaachee uneeva pade | Mulagaa dhaavoni puravee kode |
Dhadaadine karma karanyaa dhadapade | Tareech shikhshana kamaache ||19||

If some difficulties come before the family, the boy should be able to solve them. If he comes forward to enact with vigour and dashing enthusiasm, then only the education and training, that he has taken should be considered as useful. ||19||
Vidye angee whaava vinaya | vidyaa karee swatantra,nirbhaya |
shikhshanaane waadhaavaa nishchaya | jeevan-jay karaavayaa ||20||

For making life the most successfully accomplished, the education must create humility and politeness, self-reliance, straight forwardness and ability to take firm decisions in the learner. ||20||
yaach saathee shikhshan ghene | kee jeevan jagataa yaave sundarpane |
dubalepan ghetale aandane | shikhshan tyaasi mhano na ye ||21||

Therefore such education should be taken which can make the life of man happy and beutiful. That which creates constant feebleness, inabilities, helplessness cannot be called as real education. ||21||
Gaavaavar aalee gundaanchi dhaad | vidyaarthee daare laavitee dhadaadhada |
waad wadilaanchyaa abruchee dhind | kaaya shikhshan kaamaache? ||22||

The ruffians and gundas have attacked upon the village. If the young students quickly shut the doors and windows through great fear ( inspite of facing those guandas boldly & bravely) while the guandas are molesting and disgracing the elders; what is then the use of the education which they have been taking? Such education, which makes the younger generation weak and coward is useless. ||22||
Mhanoni paahijet balawaan muley | kustee, malkhamb khelanaare bhale |
Dhadaadine pratikaaraartha dhajale | Tareech shikhan upayogee ||23||

When the boys become physically strong and vigourous, when they regularly exercise on the `Malakhaamb' (a wooden piller in gymnasiam) and get ready to face boldly, daringly and dauntlessly, then the education and training, they are taking, can be called as the useful education. ||23||
Rishikaleen aisee prathaa | shikhshanaat hotee jeevan santhaa |
yaakaritaa aashramaanchee vyawasthaa | hotee poorvee ||24||

In the ancient period of the sages, hermits & seers, knowledge, useful for house life was imparted along with the intellectual education of different sciences, vedas etc. The Gurukul ashram arrangements were established with this intention that the student should be given traditional education of sciences and practical learning of all activities useful in daily routine and behaviour in life. ||24||
Dhanurvidya, mallavidyaa | Aayurved aani shastraastra vidya, |
uttamottam choudaa vidyaa | shikaveet hote aacharya ||25||

In that ancient vedic age, The acharyaas of such Gurukul ashramas used to impart knowledge of all sciences alongwith the training in uses of different weapons, skill in bow & arrow; wrestling, Ayurved, the most excellent 14 sciences and arts etc. (Thus, they used to make their diciples well trained in bookish knowledge of all sciences as well as practical knowledge of all excellent arts and manners of good living etc. ||25||
Chitrakala, charmakala | Raangolyancheehi uttam kalaa |
Bharatkaam, kumbhaar kaamaadi sakalaa | chousashta kalaa naanaparee ||26||

Sangeetshaastra | swyampaakshaastra | Gruha sthaapaneche sundar tantra |
Ashwapareekhsha, ratna pareekhshaadi samagra | Jeevan vidya shikhshanee ||27||

(In the above two stanzaas, vandaneeya maharaj is giving the details about the type of education given for a good life In Gurukul ashram system) The learners were given the knowledge of sciences and alongwith that traditional learning, the students were given practical knowledge of sixtyfour different arts such as - drawing & painting, making leather footwears and other articles, rangolee designs & patterns, basket making and art of making different beautiful decorative things from bamboo; pot making etc. ||26||

(Alongwith these arts & skills) the students were given scientific & practical knowledge of Music, cooking, house building and construction, science of examining the horses, valuable diamonds & gems etc. It means,very useful practical knowledge of life was necessarily provided to the youngers alongwith the knowledge of different arts and sciences. ||27||
Aisee prathaa poorvee hotee | Aataa oochcha dnyaan ghevonee yetee |
paree gaavachee na sudhaarave shetee |Gaavachyaa upalabdha saadhanaannee ||28||

Such was the method of imparting all sided knowledge in twelve years in Gurukul ashramas. Today, the boy takes higher eeucation in agriculture. But he can't improve the agriculture in villages by making the best use of the traditional or other means, tools, equipments that are availabe in the villages ||28||
Shikhshan zaale vaibhavasthaanee |Maga gaavache jeevan na basey manee |
Uchcha dnyaan aanaave saadhyaa jeevanee |kaise te hee kalena ||29||

The education (particularly higher college education) today has become luxurious and an enjoyment of pleasures of city life. So the student (learning in cities) doesn't like the life in village. He can't understand how to bring his acquired higher knowledge, know-how and skill in his routine simple life. ||29||
Tyaapekhshaa oochcha dnyaanaachee vidyaalaye | Gaaveech aanaavee nishchaye |
Tee graamjeevan sajaviteel chaaturye |shikawonee janaa ||30||

So, now it will be better to bring those institutions, imparting higher knowledge and education from cities into villages. These colleges and institutions when function in the villages, they can provide higher knowledge of arts, sciences, scientific know how and can definitely bring glory and adornment to the rural life. ||30||
Mulaannaa shikawaavyaa naana kalaa |chaapalya, dhyeyanishthaadi sakala |
Gaavachi saambhaaloo shakel aapulaa |aise dyaave shikhshana ||31||

This institutions (functioning in villages) will educate and train the male & female pupils in the villages, in different arts, swiftness in enactments, and they will imbibe in pupils firm faith and loyalty towards their aims & objects in life. Through such institutions, the village boys and girls should be given such knowledge and training which will enable them to maintain the village business properly. ||31||
Gaavaasi kaise aadarsha karaave | yaachechi shikhshana praamukhye dyaave |
sakreeyatene karaavayaasi laavaave | vidyaarjanee ||32||

The village pupils should preferably be taught and trained in how to make their village an ideal one. While imparting such education & training, they should actually enact using their practical knowledge and skills and make the village ideal. ||32||
Sahakaaryaachi prabal bhaavana | Heychi shikhshanaache mukhya sootra jaanaa |
Sahakaaryaawaachoni shikhshanaa | Mahatwa naahee ||33||

The main principle of education should be to develop forcefully the consciousness of extending mutual co-operation among people. Education without intence feel of co-operation carries no importance. ||33||
Whaave parasparaanshi poorak | Heychi aahe shikhshanaache koutuk |
vyaktinishthatene bhyaan dukkha | Maanava jeevanee ||34||

When education makes people to co-operate each other and brings a habit of mutual co-operation then it can be admired and marvelled. If the nationals become loyal and fully devoted to some great person and if they handover him all powers and full freedom to govern the country or society etc. it has always adversely resulted and the human life had to suffer greatest sorrows, agonies, tormentations etc. ||34||
Janaseveche pramaanpatra | Tyaasee mahatwa yaave sarvatra |
udyaache raashtra, aajache kanyaa-putra | samajoni tyaannaa sudharaave ||35||

The individual, who can produce the certificate about his creative and practical participation in social and public service, should be given top priority and importance in every field. The tomorrow's nation will come into concrete form and shape from among the child generation of today. So they must be improved (by providing education & training as described above) and made capable and worthy of holding the reins of their future nation. ||35||

CHERISHING AND TENDING THE WEALTH IN THE FORM OF SONS : ACTIVITIES OF CHILD CARING
Gaavache sarvaat mukhya putradhana | Tyaache sarankhshaave charitra dhana |
Tene gaavache waadhel mahimaan | chaaritryaaparee ujjwala ||36||

The sons of the villagers are the main and the most valuable treasure of the village. So it is the duty of one and all to protect the virtueousness, truthfulness, auspiciousness of their character. Alike their excellent and brilliant characters, the importance and prestige of the village will also grow more and more ||36||
Apanaasi wate jaise gaava whaave | Taisechee balakaannaa shikawaave |
shahaane karoni sodaave | vidyaa shikhshane sarvachi ||37||

You should provide the children in the village that knowledge & training by which they will bring your future village of dream and imagination in reality. All villagers should be given education so that all in the village will become wise. ||37||
Baalpaneech shikhshan hoyee | vaya zaaliya traas jaayee |
Valavilyaahi na walatee kaahee | Indriye tyaachee ||38||

It is very easy and convenient to educate a person in his early childhood. When he grows older and older, it becomes more and more tedious and difficult for him to learn, and for others to teach him because the impressions in early childhood get firmly fixed and imbibed. They can't be so easily turned and diverted. ||38||
Mag to raahee aangathaa chhap | koneehi tyaas dyaavee thaap |
Aayushyabharee kashta-santaap | bhogeetase aandhalyaaparee ||39||

He grows older in age but remains illiterate (can't read and write, can't sign, so always puts thumb impressions). Anybody can make him fool and deceive him. Like the blind, he has to endure great hardships; laborious enactments, disappointment and violent anger, distress etc. ||39||
Tyaasi banda unnatichee dwaare | Aayushya jaaya hamaaleet saare |
kisan, pari kalena gojire | sheteechehi nave dnyaan ||40||

His doors to glory & prosperity becomes permanently closed for him. He has to waste his whole precious life in doing laborious activities to earn his livelihood. If he is a peasant, he toils hard in cultivation and enacting all necessary agricultural activities. But being ignorant, he can't earn & use the new know-how in the agricultural field. ||40||
Naahee awajaaraat sudhaarana | sudhaaru na shake pike naana |
Ghaanyaachyaa bailaa pari dhingaana | Jeevanaacha tyaachyaa ||41||

Being illiterate and ignorant, he doesn't know the newly invented and improved agricultural implements, improved medicines, seeds etc. So he can't improve his crop and increase the quality and quantity of agricultural procurements. His whole life becomes wasted in enacting tiresome, disinteresting circumambulations like the bullock going round and round in oil mill. ||41||
Wadilaane mulagaa naahee shikavilaa | Tohi paapaanchaa bhagidar zaalaa |
Jaise janma dene kartavya tyaalaa | taisechi shikhshan dene agatyaache ||42||

Father, who doesn't provide proper education to his son is accountable for the sins committed by his son. As to produce the child is the duty of an individual, it is also the most indespensible duty of that individul to provide proper education to his son. ||42||
Jari aapulyaane vyawasthaa nawhe | Tari deshoddharak sansthesi sopawaave |
Pari mulaas patit na thewaave | ashikhshit pane kadheehi ||43||

If (due to his inabilities) he can't provide good and proper education to his son, he should hand over the son to some institution devoted for national development and improvement activities. But under any circumstances, he should not keep his son illelerate and make his life wretched and miserable. ||43||
Aayee-baapaannee angaavaree | Muley thewoo nayet nirantaree |
sopawaavee baalakaanchyaa vidyaamandiree |rakhshak asateel je tyaannaa ||44||

The parents should never insist upon keeping their children with them through attachment and affection for them. When they attain four or five years of their age, they should be admitted in kindergarden (preprimary) schools; and they should be handed over to the directors of such institutions. ||44||
Janma denyaache kaam maataa pityaanche |shikhshanaache kaam vidyaaguruche |
Tethe aasaktine putradhan deshaa che | bighadawoo naye laadawoni ||45||

To produce child is the duty of the parents. Teacher's duty is to provide proper knowledge and education to the child. So, parents should not spoil the life of their child through attachment and affection for it; and should not waste and spoil the further new generation for want of good education. ||45||
Ayee-baapaanchaa premal chaalaa | puravee lahan mulaanchaa aalaa |
Mulagaa hoto thombyaa-bhopalaa | ati laadaane nikaamee ||46||

The parents of the child gratify the fond of fancies of their child through their intense love and affection. They provide every demand of their children. Such over coaxing and fondling of children always spoils their life. It makes those children ignorant, and foolish inactive. ||46||
Hey to vidyaaguru saahena | Athawaa shikhshikaa chaaloo deyeenaa |
Mulaas walawaave kaise tyaannaa | maheet asate maanas shaastra ||47||

The teachers (male & female) never allow such over coaxing of children. They know well the psychology of children. They can understand the liking, dislikes, traits and properties of the children and can give a proper turn to their life. ||47||
Mhanoni sarva gaavaane miloon | kaadhaave shishu sangopana |
Bai-buwaas shikhshan dewoon | nemaave tyaa kaaryaasi ||48||

Therefore, a good child care centre should be started in the village. The grown up aged males and females should be appointed in such child care centres by providing them proper training and education in child development. ||48||
Asaave gaaveech vidyaabhawan | baalodyaan, shishusangopan |
Muley baalpaneech tyaat thewon | valan dyaave saajese ||49||

Through the child care centere, a pre-primary school, children's park, child care home should be set up and run in village itself. The children should be admitted in these institutions in their early childhood and should be given proper disciplined well formed shape and training. ||49||
Ayee-baapaas phurasat naahee | kaamaas jaataa adachan yeyee |
Mulaa ballaanchi abaal hoyee | hey sarva mite vidyaashrame ||50||

The parents belonging to working class have to attend their duties and work. So they can't provide enough time to pay good attention to their children. They can't take their smaller children alongwith them on their working places. It brings inconviniences to the children and makes the parents worried for the children. The child care centeres in the villages can ward off the worries of such parents through the good ecucational institutions. ||50||

TEACHERS, EDUCATION AND THE PUPILS
Yaachechi tyaannaa asaave shikhshana | kaise karaave baal sangopana |
Aapule kaam dyaave nemoona | Mulaa-mulinna kaishyaaparee ||51||

The teachers (male and female), working in `Baal-waadee' (child care centres or kindergartan schools) should be given proper training of how to treat, tend and develop the infants. They should know, how to distribute proper activities to the male and female children according to their inclinations and abilities. ||51||
Kothehi mulaannaa lahaanpanee | vyasane laagoo na dyaavee konee |
Laagataachi ghyaavee zaadanee | shikhshakaa-paalakaanchi ||52||

A great careful attention should be given in preventing children from forming any bad habits or from falling prey to addictions. If any child is found, having any bad habit or addiction, its parents and teachers should immediately be called for the thorough enquiry and they should be strictly taken to task and handled for their negligenece. ||52||
Naaheetari ekakallee | shikhshan ghewoni vrutti kelee |
Aapan phasoni dusaryaanchee phasavilee | Muley-baale, aise na ho ||53||

If, after taking such education which had made the teacher stubborn and obstinately adherent, the teacher now imparts the same kind of education. it will mean that the teacher had been cheated and deceived in his learning and now he is cheating and deceiving the innocent children of others. This must not be happened in case of the teachers now. ||53||
Mhane mee shikhshan kaaryee laagalo | Pavitra gurujee mulaanchaa zaalo |
Pari vyasanaanchaa awataar banalo | Mhanoni manaa dhikkaareena ||54||

(If somebody thinks), I have devoted myself to the cause of education. I have become a respectable teacher of the children. But I have got myself fully addicted and yet, I feel no shame for this. ||54||
Mulaas mhane sadwartanee raahaa | Aapan bidi pinyaat waajavee dahaa |
Maga ushnatene bolato pahaa | saajaraa rail gaadee paree ||55||

Such addicted teacher advises the children to develop moral conduct. However, he himself wastes his time till Ten o'clock in smoking bidis. Then through the smoking heat he speaks like a steaming and roaring railway engine. This should not happen in case of teachers. ||55||
Olakhoni gaavaachi jabaabdaaree | shikhshak jiwhaalyaane kaam karee |
Tareech gaava hote swargaparee | na pade jaruree konaachee ||56||

If the teacher realises his responsibilities and duties towards his village and renders his duty through sincerity and honesty, his village will become divine and pleasant as a heaven. Then the village will suffer no dearths and wants of anybody or anything. ||56||
Gharee, daaree uttam paath miley | Je je paahije te te kale |
Tareech gurujanaanchaa ashirvaad phale | kaam kelyaa vikaasaache ||57||

If the children could seek virtueous, good and moral knowledge and learning lessons at home and outside in the village; if they could seek required learning and training; the teachers will also seek a credit for sharing the development activities of the village. ||57||
Jeevan-vikaasaache shikhshana | Gaaveech asaave sarva sampanna |
Aapulyaachi graam rachaneche aayojan | shobhwaaya shikawaave ||58||

The village itself should have its own arrangements for providing proper learning and education to develop the village and village life. The children should be provided such training and education, such know-how that they can design the best structure of their village and develop it. ||58||
Paathshaalaa asaavee sundara | Jethe mulee-muley hotee saakhshara |
Kaam karaavayaisee tatpara | shikatee jethe pratyakhsha ||59||

The school in the village, imparting knowledge to the children of the village should be pleasant & beautiful. There, in that school, the children should be trained and made so dutiful that they should quickly obey and rush to enact any activity they are asked to do. ||59||
Sundar gaane, bolane, waagane | Taaptipeene gharee raahane |
Aapale kaam aapan karane | shikawaave tayaa ||60||

In that village school, children should be taught and trained in singing beautifully and melodiously. They should be taught to converse in sweet speech, they should follow the manners of polite and model behaviour; the good manners and rules of conduct at home and in public. They should be made self - relient. ||60||
Aise karitaa hoyeel pragatee | Muley uttam vidyaarthee banatee
Thora Thora udyog dhandehi shikatee | pudhe pudhe ||61||

In this proper order of imparting education and good training in the village schools and institutions, the village will be improved. The children can become good and ideal students. In the course of time, they will become well skilled, well trained and highly educated to run and establish big industries. ||61||
Vidyaarthee kaaryaane suruwaat karee |Tyaatahi ganit shaastraadi saawaree |
Naahitari waachan pathanachi paroparee |kaahee karavenaa angaane ||62||

The students will acquire practical knowledge by actually experimenting and enacting. They will have enough active practice in subjects like mathematices and different sciences. Otherwise they will go on only memorising and reciting but never seek active and practical, experimental knowledge through their physical and personal participation in the educational activities. ||62||
Mhanoni abhyaasaa barobaree | sakriya karoo dyaavee tayaaaree |
Mulagaa sarva kaame karee | jeevanaachee aapulyaa ||63||

Therefore, alongwith his bookish study, the boy should be made to prepare him well skilled by actually participating in creative and experimental, practical activities. He must be able to perform all activities and duties which are essential for successful maintenance of his own life as well as for the village life. ||63||
To pudhe jyaat dise nishnaat | Tyaa vidyechaa ghewoo dyaava anta |
Howoo dyaave abhyaase sanshodhanaat | gark tyaalaa ||64||

In future, when he is found greatly interested and well developed in particular subject or a faculty of knowledge, he should be provided the highest education in that subject and faculty by making all facilities available to him. He should form a mind and hobby to do researches in that subject or faculty through his intense and profound self study. ||64||
Aise jeevan aani shikhshana | yaache saadhaave gatha bandhana |
prathampasoonachi sarvaangeen | shikhshan dyaave taar tamye ||65||

In this way life and education should be firmly correlated. The child should be provided such education with full discretion to help him for all sided development and that too from his early childhood. ||65||
Jeevanaache pratyek anga | shikawaavaa mahatwpoorna udyoga |
kaam karaavayachee chaang | laaj nasaavee vidyaarthyaa ||66||

He should be helped to seek knowledge of each and every side and aspect of human life. By the by, he should be taught and trained in some important trade, profession and industrial art. The pupil should not feel shame and awkwardness in doing any excellent work or activity. ||66||
Mulagyaa varoni dise shikhshita | kaam kartaahi dise nishnaata |
kaamaachi laajachi naahee jyaat | janmaas aalee ||67||

In appearance, the boy should be seemed to have been well educated. He should be seemed to be very skilful in enacting any work. No shame or awkwardness should develop in him in doing his duties. ||67||
Karito shetaache nindana | upanane, utaaree, naangarana |
shen kaadhaavayaashi utsuk mana | dise jayaache ||68||

The boy should be able to enact all activities in agricultural work such as uprooting weeds, winnowing, ploughing the field etc, Even he should be readily eager to collect the cow dung & and other animal's dung. ||68||
Sarva tarhechaa udyog dhandaa | karaayaa laagala mulagaa chhandaa |
waadhalaa abhimaan gaavachaa bandaa | Tayaar zaalaa mhanoniyaa ||69||

If in this way, The boy forms liking for enacting all activities in fields and in village, then a good worker and a real human has been produced in that village. The village should be proud of him. ||69||
Aisee ghyaavee gaave kaalajee | Mulaanchyaa adnyaan panaa maajee |
Tareech gaavaachaa utkarsha sahajee | hoyeel tene ||70||

Thus, the children should be taken well care since their early childhood. Then it will be very easy for the village to seek its glories and prosperities. ||70||
Awadhee dharalaa atharaa varshaanchaa | paang phedeel hajaaro pidhyaanchaa |
Namuna banel uttam gaavaachaa | vidyaarjane ||71||

If the period of the stage of studentship is considered as consisting of early eighteen years and the boy acquires proper learning and training in this manner, he will be able to pay off the debt of a thousand earlier generations and will become an ideal example of a good citizen. ||71||
Jeevanaache ujjwal anga | muley shikateel howoni dang |
waadhel gaavaachaa raag ranga | mhanaal taisaa ||72||

If all children learn the brilliant aspects of human life, forgetting their physical consciousness then we can make our village well accomplished as we want it to be. ||72||
Aajache saan saan baal | udyaa taroon kaaryakarte hoteel |
Gaavaachaa paang phedateel | uttamotam gunaannee ||73||

The tiny children of today will grow up as energetic workers of tomorrow. They will return the debt of the village with their excellent virtues, adroits and skills. ||73||
Mhanoni mhanato baal dhana | Thewaa gaavakaryaanno ! japoona |
kon saangel, nighateel ratna | kitee gaavee ||74||

Therefore (says Shree Tukadojee maharaj) O village Folks! Please preserve and take care of this great treasure in the form of today's children. Who can foretell how many and what kind of the greatest and the most excellent personalities may emerge from them ! ||74||
Eeshwaraache janma dene | Ayee-baapaasi nimitta karane |
vidyaa guruche shikawane | bhaagy bane gaavaache ||75||

It is the will of the Great God to bring the being into existence by giving it birth in this world. The parents are only for reason's sake But much depends upon the teachers of the child The fair or unfair fortune of the village depends upon what kind of education and training does the teacher provide the child and brings him up. ||75||
Yaa kowalyaa kalyaanmaajee | Laple Dnyaneshwar Ravindra, Shivaji |
Vikasitaa prakataeel samaajee | shekado mahaa purusha ||76||

These tiny children of today are just like the tender and delicate unopened buds of flowers. If they grow and develop through proper way of tending, it is possible that hundreds of greatest and the most excellent personalities like Dnyaneshwar, Ravindranath and Shivaji may emerge from and out of them. (This is the ideal of Parampoojya Shri. Saney Gurujee for this chapter) ||76||
Kiteek hoyeel sevaabhaavee| kityek chatur kalaa viabhavee|
udyog dhandyaannee rangavee | graamasi aapulyaa ||77||

From among these tiny children of toady some may vow themselves for the cause of their dutiful services to the world & humanity. Some may attain par excellence & mastery in some arts and dazzle the vision of the world with their brilliance. Some may develop the industries in the villages and bring an excellent prosperity and glories to the villages. ||77||

(continued from 78 to 81 stanzas)
Kityek nirmiteel yantraagaara | kityek hoteel itihaaskaar |
Kityek hoteel salla chatura | gaavee aapulyaa ||78||

Kityek hoteel nyaayaadheesh | kityek kaavaya srushteeche eesh |
kityek pikaviteel shetees | navanavyaa shodhaannee ||79||

Kityek hoteel raaj kaaranee | kityek hoteel tatwadnyaanee |
kityek deteel bhooshan milawoni | kreedaanganee gaavasaathee ||80||

Kityek sant-upadeshak | kityek veer samrakhshaka |
Kityek vyaapaarnipoon, sevak | hara kaamee aise ||81||

FROM AMONG TODAYS CHILD GENERATION

Some may develop as excellent engineers. Some may become the researchers in history. Some may become great diplomats. ||78||

Some may become the impartial judges, several may become the most talented poets and produce excellent odes, epics & verses. Some of them may help to grow the agricultural production using their new inventions and researches ||79||

Several from them may emerge as the most accomplished politicians. Some may become great philosophers. Several from them will become the most excellent players & athletes and may bring great honors and fame to their villages. ||80||

Some may turn to spiritual practices, become great, pious and auspicious holymen and saints and give spiritual precepts. Some bold children may become strong and brave heroes and take the responsibility to protect their villages. Several from them may achieve tremendous progress in industries and different professions ||81||
Aisaa haa sajel Gaava-sancha | sarva gunaanchaa aadarsha uchcha |
konee na disel jeeva neech | Aapulyaa gaavee sanskaare ||82||

In this way a very ideal set of workers will be formed in the villages. This organisation of the village will consist of all highest and the most excellent talents, ideal qualities, skills, arts and knowledge. Then no individual with low and mean impressions will be found in the village. ||82||
Gaavache raajya gaava karee | konaacheech na chaale husharee |
Aamuche aamheech sarvatoparee | naandu gaavee ||83||

The villagers themselves will then govern the village and look after the maintenance of the village life. No cunning person will cheat and deceive anybody by his sly & wicked tricks. We, all villagers shall enjoy every pleasure and all kinds of happiness in our own villages. ||83||
Preme sarvachi karoo sewaa | Jene sarva gaavaasi laabh barawaa |
Mag aisaa kon urel thewaa | jo na laabhe khedyaa maajee? ||84||

All of us will serve each other with love and affection. Such loving co-operation will benefit the village itself. (If all this becomes true) what least thing will be there which is not abailable in our villages? ||84||
Khedyaat upajale Dnyaaneshwaraadi | kaaya unee tyaanchee balabuddhi?
Shrikrishna aani Mahatma Gandhi | haalavee sootre khedyaatuni ||85||

Saint Dnyaaneshwar was born in a small village. Did he fall short in excellent talent & powerful intellect? Lord Krishna & Mahatma Gandhi held the reins of the national organisations living in the villages. ||85||
Mhanoni mitraho! aikaa nischitee | Gaaveech mulaanche shikhshana ghyaa haatee |
paang phite janmajaatee | sukhee hoteel sakal jana ||86||

(Shri sant Tukadoji Maharaj says) Friends, therefore listen very attentively. Provide children all types of education & knowledge in your own villges. You can then get rid of the debt of your villages and all the villagers will become happy. ||86||

GAINS OF DIVINE MERIT FROM PROVIDING KNOWEDGE TO THE BACKWARDS
Konee mhanatee jatachi murkha | Muley kaisee nighateel chalaakha?
kaahee jaatee mulaatachi chokha | hushaar asatee shikhshanee ||87||

Some may raise a doubt- "This particular caste has remained backward and ignorant (stupid) from generations to generations. How can their children become clever and educated? Some species (castes) of human are basically very intelligent and highly talented. So their children are naturally talented and clever in acquiring knowledge. ||87||
Hee kalpanaahi chook ase | Bhed mulaamaajee nase |
To parampara gune bhase | waataavarnaachyaa yoge ||88||

This concept is also totally and basically wrong. There exists no such discrimination in the children in different castes. The difference seems superficially in the children only due to the different conditions and atmosphere in which the families belonging to those castes had been living in from past so many generations. ||88||
Ekaachaa baap nyaayaadhikaree | kaka karato professary |
Mama katha keertan karee | maga to hushaar ka nohe? ||89||

Suppose, the father of some child is a good judge. His uncle is a learned professor. His maternal uncle is a spiritually devoted man and enacts keertanaas. Then why can't that boy become and grow up more and more clever and talented? ||89||
Bhowatee buddhivantaanchaa melaavaa | khawayaa satwasheel mewaa |
Gharee, daaree sahawaas barawaa | Tyaachi unnati sahajchi ||90||

The boy has all relativs & people around him who are very talented and highly educated. He is always provided with nutriments and pure-pious dry fruits. He has very good companions at home and outside. Why can't the boy then become wiser & acquire great success and prosperity? ||90||
Baap guraakhee, aanato molee | chulataa vikatoo bangadyaa-cholee |
Mama sarakaree nokaree saambhalee | pari to shipayee-chaparasee ||91||

(Now in this another case) Father of this another boy is a cow-keeper. He brings a fagot of firewood and sells from door to door. His uncle is a petty howker selling bangles and blouses of the females. His maternal uncle is a government servant but serves as a peon. ||91||
Khaavayaasi kalana kondaa | sangatees dhoraancha toandaa |
pari to abhyaase pudhe jaya thoda | Taree koutak kaa na karaave? ||92||

At home, this boy has fragments of some pulses and bran (kalana konda) to eat as his food. He has company of cows & cattles. Though he is in such atmosphere, he shows some progress in education. Why then should he not be admired and encouraged? ||92||
Tyaala sahawas uttam dyaavaa | Darjaa jeevanaachaa waadhawaavaa |
Tyaane samaaj hoyeel navaa | dnyaan vantaanchaa nirmaana ||93||

Provide him the association of good and excellent virtues and adroits, improve the arrangements of living and catering for him and see how the whole society of new generation alike him will become novel, talented and accomplished. ||93||
Hey honyaas paahije shikhshana | shikhshanaa shivaay vyarthachi bhaashana |
Hey kalel temvhaachi jana | sushikhshit hoteel ||94||

This dream and imagination (of improved new generation and the society in future) will come in concrete reality only when the knowledge and education are imparted in a very systematic manner, otherwise all empty discussions and idle talks will become fruitless. All folks must realise this. If they are fully convinced about the need of education, they all will insistantly resolve to become educated. ||94||
Naahitari poorvajaannee moorkhapana kele |Te mulaa baalas bhogane aale |
Loukaree sudhaarenaa ekadaa chukale | dosh chaale kulee saaryaa ||95||

Our earlier generations of fathers and forefathers didn't care to provide proper education and knowledge as they themselves were completely ignorant about the need and importance of the education. Their sons and daughters had to suffer the bitter consequences of their negligence and ignorance. The mistakes committed can't be repaired immediately and quickly, and the faulty traditions continue in those families from generations. ||95||
Gharaanyaat ekaane paap karaave | pidhijaat pudhehi techi bhove |
Aise chaaloo aahe hey swabhaave | lokaanmaajee ||96||

It is a practice of our human society. If somebody in the family commits some sinful wrong enactments, the whole family alongwith him and even the further generations of that family are considered sinful and wrong doers and so the poor miserable family has to face sufferings continueously in every successive generation. ||96||
Maageel kalank dhunyaasaathee | pudhe ghadaave punya gaathee |
Tareech sutate badnaamee paathee | laagalelee saaree ||97||

The subsiquent new generation has to earn divine merits by enacting virtueous and noble, sublime deeds. then only the family can wash out the tarnished and impaired image because of somebody's sinful enactments. Then only the defamation of the family can come to an end and prevented. ||97||
Ekaane sadgun aacharile | Naava tyaache digantaree gele |
pudhe putra waandhaal zaale | tari keerti murenaa ||98||

If somebody in the earlier generation of fathers or forefathers had enacted very virtueous noble enactments and benevolent services, his name, alongwith his family's title became glorious. He and the family had been held in high esteem in the society. Then, though any individual of the further generations of the family enacts any wrong deed, it does not affect the family adversely nor it can tarnish the honourable glorious image of the family. ||98||
Kapatee saare maageel naave | Jo to mhane wadilaas baghaave |
Kirtivant zaale poorvaj barave | gharaanyaa maajee ||99||

All folks are well benefitted in the name and fame of their fathers and forefathers in earlier generations. Everybody goes on bosting and exprexssing pride about his earlier elder ancestors. People also say, "See, what great personalities had been born in his family!" ||99||
Pari tyaahooni ghadale paap adhik | Naavaachaa waaja zalaa aanika |
Mag na vichaaree maageel koutuk | `kaaya zaale'koneehi ||100||

But some individuals in the present generation of that renouned glorious family committed the most wretched and sinful, vile enactments. Their notoriety has been exposed and resounded everywhere. Now nobody speaks with honour and adrotion about the virtueous ancestors of the previous generations of that family. ||100||
Chaale teech parampara | jowari vishesh na ghade putra, poutraa |
Aiseech aahe naam yaatra | ihalokeechee ||101||

Unless any son, grandson or the individual in subsiquent generation of that defamed family performs some remarkable and exceptional enactments, the old, traditionally coninued fame or notoriety of the family can't get a turning point. This is the natural and ever running custom and tradition about the glory, name and fame in this mortal world. ||101||
Ek ekvees kule uddharito | ek bechaalees kule badnaam karito |
Saraansh, vishesh ghadalyaa vareech hoto | paalat naavaa ||102||

Viruteous and excellent enactments of some individual in the family make the name of the family glorious and his earlier twenty one generations seek upliftment. Some another individual enacts very omenious and wicked enactments. His forty two past generations get defamed. ||102||
Ravan pavitra brahmakuleechaa | Rukhshas thare wanshachi tyaachaa |
Vishwaamitra raajarshichaa | brahmarshi hoya visheshatwe ||103||

Ravan was born in a very virtueous, pious brahman family. But due to his wicked and evil enactments, he and all his successive generations had been defamed as demons. Vishwaamitra enacted an extraordinary and most remarkable austerity so, though originally he belonged to khshatriya lineage, he was considered and respected as Brahmarshi. ||103||
Aisaa vishesh krutichaa mahimaa |janoni karaave parishrama |
uddharaave aapulyaa kula; graama | shikhshan dewoni netaane ||104||

This is the exceptional importance of some especial, extra-ordinary enactment. All should recognise it and provide proper, good, and useful knowledge and higher education to their children. By this, they should bring good name, fame and glory to their family, as well as to their village also. ||104||
Goragaribaanchee muley asatee | jyaasi naahee shikhshanaachee shakti |
Tyaasi sarkaar waa janapadaa haatee |dewoni shikhshan purawaave ||105||

The poor and lowest earning families can't provide good education to their children because they can't afford to spend on their children's learning from their meagre income. So either the government or the village panchayat should make all the necessary arrangement, free of charge to provide the best and essential education to the children of those poor villagers. ||105||
Asateel bhikaaryaanchi mule | shikhshan dewoni karaave changale |
Punya laabhel, paang phedale | tyaanche mhanoni gaavaasi ||106||

The village should make necessary arrangements to provide all educational fascilities to the children of beggars also. they should be made well educated so that their worst condition will be improved and the village will earn divine merit for uplifting them. ||106||
Asot gareeb kimwaa dhanik | Mulaas vidyaa shikawaavya aneka |
Gaawaane sampatti purawaavee adhik | yaach maargee ||107||

The children may come from the rich or the poor families. The village must make all necessary provisions to impart them all the most excellent, essential and highest knowledge and education. The village should provide maximum funds for child education, even by enduring great losses and hardships. ||107||
Yaatachi vechaave khoop dhan | karaave poorvajaanchiyaa naave daan |
vidyaalaye zaaliyaa pavitra, sampanna | Gaava hoyeel swarga paree ||108||

Maximum amount should be spent over education. So the rich should donate huge amounts in the name of their fathers & forefathers. When the village schools become so rich and auspicious, the village will become as a divine heavely place in no time. ||108||
Aadarsha hoteel vidyaartheegana | Gaavache paalatel jeevana |
Kothech na urel gaandhalpana | Tikaaoo parivartan yaa marge ||109||

The pupils will become the most ideal. The whole village life will become brilliant and pleasant. Ignorance and boorishness will seem nowhere in the village. This will be a permanent and everlasting change in village life. ||109||
Vidyaa moly aise chadhataa | yeyeel bhaagya gaavaache haataa |
Tukadyadaas mhane tatwataa | visaru nakaa haa mool mantra ||110||

The status and worthiness of all villagers will be heightened through higher education. It will become the most fortunate village. (Vandaniya maharaj says) providing free learning (vidyaa daan) is the most sacred and superior basic incantation of the best fortune of the village & the villagers. ||110||
Iti Shree Graamgeeta grantha | Guru-shaastra-swaanubhava sammat |
kathilaa sarvonnateecha vidyaarjan patha | Ekonavisaavaa adhyaaya smpoorna ||111||

This scripture, the Graamgeeta has proved to the test of the Guru, the sciences and the self experiences. This nineteenth chapter `directing Education & Learning as the essentional & perfect way for the prosperity of all ` is here by concluded. ||111||

|| Sadgurunaath Maharaj kee jai ||

VOLITION

1) The education means to make the child the best son of Bharat who becomes labourious, hard working and powerful. I shall send my son there, where such education & training is imparted.

2) Life and education must be interrelated. The child should not go on begging to feed himself. He should be self reliant through his own hard labour. This kind of education is started in the settlement on Adyaal Tekadi. We shall set up the same structure of education in our village and create a Gurukul system of child education.

3) Education and learning can be properly provided in early childhood. It becomes harder when the child grows up. A good turn and shape to organs becomes impossible. A boy is considered as the child during his age span of 5 to 16 years. So when the child attains Fifth year, we shall send him to seek good education.

4) Offering one's life in the service to the multitudes and offering services for the welfare & upliftment of the village is the most important and precious certificate in itself for that individual. Through best education we shall prepare our children to render their best services to the masses and we shall consider it as their most important and precious certificate.

5) The beginning of the education should be through the actual participation in the activities for service to the human society. All subjects like maths etc. should be taught through such practical activities. Such creative participation will make the students to do their own duties by themselves. I shall arrange to provide such active & creative education to my sons and daughters.

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