Eight stages for effective learning
Eight stages essential for gaining new knowledge are referred to in many indian classical literature. These are followed in all the trainings and learning exercises and are referred to in modern management concept. It is astonishing to note that the stages essential for acquiring new skills are well defined in many of our classical literature. What are these stages? Before going to the stages, let me take you through some of the references in Valmiki Ramayan and Mahabharath, two great epics.
Angad, Exponent of eight intellectual skills
Angad was Hanuman’s team leader in their quest to search Sita Mata. Angad lead the team of vanaras that went in the direction of south and Hanuman and Jambavan were part of that team.
When Angad was disheartened at not being able to find Sita Mata before the expiry of the timeline set by Sugreeva, Hanuman gave a motivating speech encouraging Angad. Hanuman convinced his team leader Angad that he possessed eight intelligences and four diplomacy tactics through the sloka
बुद्ध्या हि अष्ट अंगया युक्तम् चतुर् बल समन्वितम् |
चतुर् दश गुणम् मेने हनुमान् वालिनः सुतम् ||
Valmiki Ramayan 4.54.2
hanumaan = Hanuma; vaalinaH sutam = of Vali’s, son; aSTa angayaa buddhyaa yuktam hi = with eight, parts [eightfold,] intelligence, having, indeed; catuH bala sam anvitam = four, capabilities[tactics,] having; catuH dasha guNam = [having] fourteen traits; mene = considered as.
Hanuma considered Vali’s son Angada indeed as having eightfold intelligence, fourfold tactics and fourteen traits.
In a latter reference in the same Valmiki Ramayan, Sita bestows similar recognition, this time for Hanuman, and that comes in Yudha Kand.
Lord Ram sends Hanuman to Sita to break the news of Ravana’s fall in the war in a tactful way. On hearing Hanuman’s words, Sita praises Hanuman’s intelligence in the same manner ie he is possessing eight qualities of intellect,
अतिलक्षणसंपन्नं माधुर्यगुणभुषितम्
बुद्ध्या ह्यष्टाङ्गया युक्तं त्वमेवार्हसि भाषितुम् |
(Valmiki Ramayan 6.113.26)
atilakshaNasampannam mAdhuryabhUShitam buddhayA hyaShThAngayA yuktam tvam eva arhasi bhAShitum
You alone (त्वं एव) are capable (अर्हसि) of speaking such words (भाषितुम् ) that are filled (युक्तं) with eight qualities of intelligence (अष्टाङ्गया बुद्धया), endowed with all good qualities (अतिलक्षणसंपन्नं), and are embellished with pleasant qualities (माधुर्यगुणभुषितम्).
Pandavas are also intellects?
But, what are these eight qualities of intelligence? Valmiki does not describe the list of eight intelligences in both the occasions– apparently because it was pretty well known at that time! Where can the list of ‘Eight qualities of intellect’ be seen?
We can notice another incidence in the second epic, Mahabharath, with reference to eight qualities of intellect.
The Pandavas have been asked to go in exile for 14 years. As they are about to enter the forest, a number of well-wishers, scholars, and priests prepare to accompany them. Seeing their love, Yudhistrar is overcome with grief. Seeing his grief, one of the sages – sunaka – consoles him and provides a summary of sAnkhya yOga,
अष्टाङ्गां बुद्धिमाहुर्यां सर्वाश्रेयोविघातिनीम्
श्रुतिस्मृतिसमायुक्तां सा राजंस्तव्यवस्तिथाashThaangAm buddhim AhuryAm sarva ashreya vighAtinIm
shruti-smruti-samAyuktAm sA rajams tavya avastithA
In you dwells the understanding that is decorated with eight qualities of intelligence from the study of the vedAs is that are considered to protect one against all evils. Such people don’t get dejected by temporary changes in life and weather them without pain or sorrow.
Though the reference to eight qualities of intelligence referred here, the list of much touted eight qualities of intellect does not get listed even here. The search for the list continues. Where else do we get this list?
The Eightfold Intelligence in Kamandaka’s Nītisāra :
Kamandaka gives the answer
Future commentators quote this list from a later book called nItisAra kamandaka (the essence of law by kamandaka), written by kamandaka, a disciple of the famed Chanakya and the list goes like this:
शुश्रूषा श्रवणं चैव ग्रहणं धारणं तथा
उहापोहोऽर्थविज्ञानं तत्त्वज्ञानं च धीगुणः (4.21)
Reordered as a sentence (known as anvaya in Sanskrit poetry), the verse becomes:
धीनाः गुणाः शुश्रूषा श्रवणं ग्रहणं च धारणं (एव) तथा ऊह अपोह अर्थविज्ञानं च तत्त्वज्ञानं
dhInAH guNAH shuShrUSHA ShravaNAm grahaNam ca dhAraNam eva tathA Uha apOha arthavijnAnam ca tattvajnAnam
धीनाः गुणाः शुश्रूषा श्रवणं ग्रहणं च धारणं (एव) तथा ऊह अपोह अर्थविज्ञानं च तत्त्वज्ञानं
dhInAH guNAH shuShrUSHA ShravaNAm grahaNam ca dhAraNam eva tathA Uha apOha arthavijnAnam ca tattvajnAnam
Meaning and the list is:
धीनाः (dhINAH) – Intellectual people (plural form of a person having intellect)
गुणाः (guNAH) – qualities
धीगुणः (dhIguNaH) – qualities (गुणाः) of people having intellect (धीनाः)
धीगुणः (dhIguNaH) – qualities (गुणाः) of people having intellect (धीनाः)
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शुश्रूषा (śuśrūṣā) — Willingness and eagerness to listen (the learner’s attitude).
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श्रवण (śravaṇa) — Actual listening with attention.
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ग्रहण (grahaṇa) — Grasping and understanding what is heard.
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धारण (dhāraṇa) — Retaining and internalizing the knowledge.
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ऊह (ūha) — Reasoning forward: applying inference and drawing conclusions.
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अपोह (apoha) — Reasoning backward: critical thinking, eliminating errors or contradictions.
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अर्थविज्ञान (arthavijñāna) — Understanding the deeper meaning and purpose behind the knowledge.
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तत्त्वज्ञान (tattvajñāna) — Comprehending the essence, truth, or philosophical core of the subject.
In essence, the subhAShita gives a map of how one must take in knowledge and internalize it ie the formula for learning and internalizing the learning. This success formula requires all the eight qualities. The process of knowledge acquisition will not be successful even if one of the qualities is found to be missing
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Jaganathan T
Jaganathan T is the Founder and Managing Director of FutureCalls Technology, IT & Infosec services company headquartered out of Chennai with presence at Mumbai, Delhi & Bengaluru apart from Chennai.
Jaganathan is passionate about Indian and doing extensive research about classical management techniques based on classical literature and grandma stories. Authored and published 2 books 'Management Immemorial - Learnings from Literature' and 'Grandma In the Boardroom'. Publishing articles every Monday as the newsletter 'Monday Musings' in LinkedIn with positive and motivational stories based on classical literature and stories.
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