Mulanna Updesh, Part 1: The Kaka’s Morning Advice — Small Habits that Build a Solid Life

Introduction

When Samarth Ramdas Swami sat down to write this letter, he was thinking only about his family. His respected elder brother, Shreshtha Gangadhar Swami (affectionately known to everyone simply as ‘Shreshtha’), had passed away. Right after his demise, Shreshtha’s wife also passed away. The two young nephews, Ramji and Shamji, were suddenly left all alone, without their mother and father. Seeing these young boys grieving, their kaka (uncle), Samarth Ramdas Swami, did not write a heavy book of rules. Instead, he wrote “Mulanna Upadesh” as a loving guardian.

He gave them a simple, daily routine for the body and mind—good sanskar and clean habits so that they could grow up strong, self-reliant, and respected by everyone in the town.

1. Always Speak the Truth and Walk Straight

बरे सत्य बोला यथातथ्य चाला । बहु मानिती लोक तेणे तुम्हाला ॥

धरा बुद्धि पोटी विवेकी मुलें हो । बरा गुण तो अंतरामाजि राहो ॥ १ ॥

Bare satya bola yathatathya chala | Bahu maniti loka tene tumhala ||

Dhara buddhi poti viveki mule ho | Bara gun to antaramaji raho || 1 ||

Ramdas Swami begins with the first and most important rule: always speak the truth and walk on the straight path.

When children make a mistake—like breaking a cup at home, doing badly in school tests, or losing something—the first urge is to get scared and tell a lie. But Ramdas Swami tells the boys: never hide behind excuses. When you stand straight and say honestly, “Yes, I made a mistake, and I will fix it,” people will not get angry; they will trust you with their eyes closed. Just getting marks in school without having a good heart is of no use; true intelligence means having vivek—the common sense to know right from wrong and keeping good qualities inside you.

2. Wake Up Fresh and Work Hard

बरे दांत घासोनिया तोंड धोये । कळाहीन कां शूद्रमुखी नसावें ॥

सदा सर्वदा प्रेत्न सांडू नको रे । बहुसाल हा खेळ कामा नये रे ॥ २ ॥

Bare dat ghasoniya tond dhoye | Kalahin ka shudramukhi nasave ||

Sada sarvada pretna sandu nako re | Bahusal ha khel kama naye re || 2 ||

Look at how simple and direct his advice is. He tells the boys to wake up early, brush their teeth properly, wash their face with fresh water, and look bright and energetic! He does not want to see dull, lazy, and gloomy faces sitting in the house.

Then he gives a firm warning about time: playing games all day long will never run a house or build a life. In those days, children wasted hours in street games; nowadays, time easily gets lost in video games, mobile screens, and TV. A little play is good for health, but only steady prayatna—regular, daily hard work—makes a child into a capable, independent person. Do not waste your fresh morning energy in sheer laziness.

3. Read and Write Every Single Day

दिसामाजि कांहि तरी तें ल्याहावें । प्रसंगे अखंडित वाचीत जावे ॥

वये श्रेष्ठ रे दास्य त्यांचे करावे । बरे बोलणे सत्य जीवीं धरावे ॥ ३ ॥

Disamaji kahi tari te lyahave | Prasange akhandit vachit jave ||

Vaye shreshth re dasya tyanche karave | Bare bolane satya jivi dharave || 3 ||

Just as the body needs food every day, the brain also needs daily food. Swami says: write a few lines every single day in a notebook. Build a regular habit of reading good, inspiring books, outside of just school textbooks.

Along with daily studies, always respect elders. When grandparents, older relatives, or senior people are sitting at home, do not ignore them. Go forward, greet them, bring them a glass of water, and listen carefully to their words. Speaking softly and politely does not cost any money, but it brings you the heartfelt blessings of the whole family.

4. Stay Away from Fights and Arguments

बहू खेळ खोटा सदालस्य खोटा । समस्तांसि भांडेल तोचि करंटा ॥

बहुता जनालागि जीवी भजावे । भल्या संगती न्याय तेथे भजावे ॥ ४ ॥

Bahu khel khota sadalasya khota | Samastansi bhandel tochi karanta ||

Bahuta janalagi jivi bhajave (zhijave) | Bhalya sangati nyay tethe bhajave || 4 ||

Samarth Ramdas Swami gives this advice to awaken people who were wasting their lives in idle pastimes, non-stop laziness, and fighting with their own neighbours instead of working together for society. He warned that anyone who stays lazy and constantly argues brings bad luck upon themselves, and urged everyone to work hard, help other people, and follow the wise guidance of good elders.

For today’s times, this simply means reducing too much mobile phone and TV time, getting rid of aalas (sloth), and putting an end to small daily arguments that destroy the home’s peace. Real devotion is not just sitting in front of God during puja; it is going out of our way to help relatives and neighbours in need, keeping company with honest and sensible friends, and always doing the fair, right thing in life.

5. Keep Clean Accounts Down to the Last Paisa

हिशोबी सदा न्याय सांडू नये रे । कदाचित अन्याय होता धका रे ॥

जनी सांडितां न्याय रे दुःख होतें । माहासुख तेही अकस्मात जातें ॥ ५ ॥

Hishobi sada nyaya sandu naye re | Kadachit anyaya hota dhaka re ||

Jani sandita nyaya re dukha hote | Mahasukh tehi akasmat jate || 5 ||

Finally, Swami speaks about money and fairness. Whether you are managing small change for daily vegetables, handling pocket money, or running a big business later in life, your hisaab (accounts) must be clean down to the exact paisa.

Taking extra money unfairly or hiding small change might seem smart today, but cheating brings sudden trouble and disgrace tomorrow. When fairness is lost in a family or in dealings, all peace of mind and happiness vanish in a minute.

Summary of Part 1

A good life is built day by day with small, steady habits. By waking up fresh, telling the truth, reading and writing daily, keeping away from quarrels, and staying completely honest with money, young boys like Ramji and Shamji could make their departed parents proud and build a bright, respected future.

|| Jay Jay Raghuveer Samarth ||