श्लोकोऽयं मह्यं रोचते - 54

छ

छन्दश्शाखि–शिखान्वितै-र्द्विजवरै-स्संसेविते शाश्वते
सौख्यापादिनि खेदभेदिनि सुधासारैः फलैर्दीपिते ।
चेतः पक्षिशिखामणे त्यज वृथा संचार मन्यैरलम्
नित्यं शंकर-पादपद्म-युगली-नीडे विहारं कुरु ॥
chandaśśākhi-śikhānvitair-dvijavarais-saṁsevite śāśvate
saukhyāpādini khedabhedini sudhāsāraiḥ phalairdīpitaḥ|
cetaḥ pakṣiśikhāmaṇe tyaja vṛtha saṁcāra manyairalam
nityaṁ śaṁkara-pādapadma-yugalī-nīḍe vihāraṁ kuru||

The above sloka is from ādi śaṁkara's śivānandalaharī.

Adi Shankara says, ‘Oh mind why do you dwell unnecessarily when you can surrender yourself at the feet of lord Shiva; by whom all your obstacles will be removed and will be blessed with the four पुरुषार्थ’s namely धर्म, अर्थ, काम and मोक्ष.’

In the above verse Adi Shankara compares the mind to a bird.

Let us see how the words are applicable for the mind-

चेतः शिखामणे – Oh mind, शंकर-पादपद्म-युगली-नीडे- under the lotus like feet of lord çiva (who is the antarätmä and is like a nest), नित्यं - always, विहारं कुरु - reside, वृथा- unnecessarily, संचारं- dwelling , त्यज- leave.

Oh mind, छन्दश्शाखि शिखान्वितैः – the branches of the scriptures र्द्विजवरैः – by the best among the Brahmins, संसेविते – followed, The following words are the adjectives for the feet of çiva शाश्वते - eternal, सौख्यापादिनि- that which gives pleasure, खेदभेदिनि – removes the obstacles , सुधासारैः फलैः – by the fruits (धर्म, अर्थ, काम and मोक्ष) , दीपिते- shines, अन्यैः अलम् – it is enough

To the bird

पक्षि-शिखामणे- Oh bird, नीडे- in the nest, नित्यं - always, विहारं कुरु - reside, वृथा- unnecessarily, संचारं- dwelling, त्यज- leave , सुधासारैः फलैः

छन्दश्शाखि शिखान्वितैः- by branches of the tree, र्द्विजवरैः – by the other birds, you will be blessed with the सुधासारैः फलैः – juicy fruits, अन्यैः अलम् – it is enough .

Adi Shankara in his work soundaryalahari describes the feet of the goddess as

सुधाधारासारैः चरणयुगलान्तर्विगलितैः
प्रपञ्चं सिञ्चन्ती पुनरपि रसाम्नाय महसः ।
अवाप्य स्वां भूमिं भुजगनिभमध्युष्टवलयम्
स्वमात्मानं कृत्वा स्वपिषि कुलकुण्डे कुहरिणि ॥

श्लोकोऽयं मह्यं रोचते - 37

गु
गुहायां गेहे वा बहिरपि वने वाद्रिशिखरे
जले वा वह्नौ वा वसतु वसतेः किं वद फलम् ।
सदा यस्यैवान्तःकरणमपि शंभो तव पदे
स्थितं चेद्योगोऽसौ स च परमयोगी स च सुखी ॥ 12

guhäyäm gehe vä bahirapi vane vädriçikhare

jale vä vahnou vä vasatu vasateù kim phalam

sadä yasyaivävantaùkaranamapi çambho tava pade

sthitam cet yogosou sa ca paramayogé sa ca sukhé

The above verse is from Adi sankara’s ‘sivAnanda lahari’.

In the above sloka Adi sankara says that any place would be fine if one has bhakti towards Isvara. One need not search for forests or mountains to show his/her devotion towards the lord. Need not perform severe penance by standing in the water during winter and surrounded by scorching fire during summer. Instead one can meditate upon the supreme power in which ever condition (he lives), this is the very essence of penance & yoga.

गुहायाम् – In the cave, गेहे वा – or in the house,बहिरपि- outside, वने वा – in the forest, अद्रिशिखरे – on the top of the mountain, जले वा – inside the water, वह्नौ वा – or near the fire, वसतु – let a person live, वसतेः- of living , किम्- what is the, फलम् - purpose, वद – tell . सदा - always, यस्य – whose, अन्तःकरणम् – inner- self , अपि- also, शंभो - oh lord siva, तव – at your, पदे - feet, स्थितं चेत् –lie or surrender oneself (involved in meditation), असौ – that is, योगः - yoga , स च – he is, परमयोगी – best among the yogis, स च – He is, सुखी – the happiest person.