Tattva Bodha

Hari Aum

Prostrations to Guru. Prostrations to All.

Vaasudevandra Yogindram nathva Gnaanam Pradham Gurum
Mumukshunaam Hitharthaaya TattvaBodhobhidhiyathae

Having prostrated Vaasudevandra Yogindram who is the embodiment of Knowledge, this work of Self-knowledge (TattvaBodha) is expounded to the seekers.

This is the invocation sloka for this text Tattvabodha, where Shankara offers his prostrations and also gives the Anubandha Chatushthayam. Here Shankara is offering his prostrations to his Guru Govindapada, Vasudeva is another name of Govinda. He praises his Guru as Yogindram which means king of Yogis and also tells as the embodiment of Knowledge. It can also be taken that Shankara is prostrating to Jagadguru Lord Krishna who is also called as Vasudeva.

After offering prostrations Shankara gives the anubandha chathushthayam of this work. There are four things which will be explained in the beginning of any vedantic work. They are adhikaari, vishayam, prayojanam and sambhandham.

Adhikaari: Adhikaari is the person who is eligible to take up this learning. Here Shankara mentions Mumukshu as the adhikaari who can take up this learning. Mumukshu is one who has burning desire to get liberated from this Samsaara.

Vishayam: Vishayam is the subject matter of any work. Here vishaya is Tattvabodha or Knowledge about Self.

prayojanam: Phalam is the fruit of learning this. Here the Phalam is Self-Knowledge, which will help him to overcome the Samsaara.

Sambhandham: Sambhandham is the relation between vishayam and prayojanam. When the Vishayam is known, one gets the prayojanam, that is one gets liberated from the samsaara.

Prostrations to All.

Hari Aum

Thanks,
Rajesh