Shukla Yajurveda Chapter 4

1. Act on the teachings of the Rig, Sam and Yajur vedas to end all miseries. (I feel this is one of the important statements. People have to learn and then act on the learning. Result will come only after action is taken. Behaviour only gives results)

 

2. Pure water removes all external physical imperfections.

 

3. Good habits in the form of adequate food and adequate control over indulgences (not exceeding the limits prescribed by learned people, we can now interpret as doctors) will give beautiful, comfortable, healthy and strong body.

 

4. In the yajna, laws of Dharma are propounded, austerity is practiced, teaching and learning takes place, and philanthropy is practiced.

 

5. Fire provides help to us in many ways. When we are awake it helps us. When we are sleeping it helps us. We should use fire properly. (We should able to start it when we want and we should be able stop it when we want).

 

6. O man, this body of yours is made and reared for the service of God and service of his creation. By being energetic in your service, gain splendour and lustre. Be active through knowledge (This is another very important statement. Knowledge and action. Action that is based on knowledge is yajna).

 

7. Speech is friend of learned. Mother, father, brother, friends and society should help people in learning.

 

8. O speech, the learned person uses you for being happy and creating happiness among people.

 

9. In the yajna, the performer gains his wishes, becomes wealthy and from that wealth he has to offer the priests cash and kind.

 

10. Kings are invited for yajnas. He is informed, “all these subjects assembled in this yajna work under your direction and protect the prosperity of the kingdom. The yajna is also for the prosperity of the kingdom. You have to protect them from the enemies of the kingdom.”

 

11. Let man and woman learn household duties to become fit bear the burden of domestic life, live together and be united in their married life. They should visit the houses of religious (knowledgeable) persons, make them happy and learn more from them frequently.

 

12. O learned man, go all over the world and learn more from sages situated in different parts of the world.

 

13. Even though you are learning from sages, do not forget that the ultimate almighty is God. Pray to God, the Friend of all.

 

14. O God, learned persons use the things created by you as oblations and create more things. (We have to interpret oblations as similar to the seed we put into the ground. The seed disappears, but the plant comes and we get more than we what we sown. All oblations that offer have a similar effect).

 

15. We have to use the knowledge of learned persons and create more useful things.

 

16. yajnas benefit our houses, wealth, remove idleness among us, make us strong and remove cowardice among us, and thus give us happiness in manifold ways. O learned persons! Perform yajnas and live happily in your houses with your family members.

 

 

For simple meaning of each hymn in the chapter visit

 

http://nrao-vedas.blogspot.com/2007/11/simplified-sukla-yajurveda-chapter-iv.html

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