SILENCE IS GOLDEN – (मौनं-Maunam)

SUBHASHITHAM: 061

स्वायत्तमेकान्तगुणं विधात्रा

विनिर्मितं छादानमज्ञतायाः ।

विशेषतः सर्वविदां समाजे 

विभूषणं मौनमपण्डितानाम् ॥[7 ]

svāyattam ekāntaguṇaṃ vidhātrā   vinirmitaṃ chādanam aṅñatāyāḥ |

viśeṣā–ataḥ sarvavidāṃ samāje   vibhūṣaṇaṃ maunam apaṇḍitānām || 1.7 ||

The creator has produced for ignorance, a cover which is within one's own control and which is certain in its efficacy. In the assembly of the well-versed, silence specially   becomes the ornament of the ignorant.

मूर्खोऽपि शोभते तावत्सभायां वस्त्र वेष्टित: I

तावत्च शोभते मूर्खो यावत् किञ्चित् न भाषते II

Moorkhopi shobate taavat sabhayaam vastra veshtita: I Taavatcha shobate moorkho yaavat na kinchit bhashate II

Even a fool, dressed in fine garments, shines in an assembly; but only as long as he doesn’t open his mouth.

கல்லா தவரும் நனிநல்லர் கற்றார்முன் 

சொல்லா திருக்கப் பெறின்.

403 The blockheads, too, may men of worth appear, If they can keep from speaking where the learned are present!

आत्मनो मुखदोषेण बध्यन्ते शुकसारिकाः ।

बकास्तत्र न बध्यन्ते मौनं सर्वार्थसाधनम् ॥

Atmano mukha doSheNa badhyante shuka sArikAH ।   bakaH tatra na badhyante maunaM sarvArtha sAdhanam ॥

Chirpy birds like the parrot get caught in the net because of their words. (because people like to have them as pet). A crane  never gets caught because it does not speak a word. Hence, silence is extremely helpful in achieving various things.

वरं मौनं कार्यं न च वचनमुक्तम् यदनृतं I

वरं क्लैब्यं पुंसां न च पर कलत्राभिगमनं II

Varam maunam kaaryam na cha vachanam uktam anrutam I Vram klaibyam pumsaam na cha parakalatraabhigamanam  II

Better is silence observed than untrue word spoken, better is impotency for men than indulging in adultery.

मन: प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: |

भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते || 16||

manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

bhāva-sanśhuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate

BG 17.16: Serenity of thought, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of purpose—all these are declared as the austerity of the mind.

चित्रं वटतरोर्मूले वृद्धाः शिष्या गुरुर्युवा ।

गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तुच्छिन्नसंशयाः ॥३॥

Citram Vatta-Taror-Muule Vrddhaah Shissyaa Gurur-Yuvaa |

Guros-Tu Maunam Vyaakhyaanam Shissyaas-Tuc-Chinna-Samshayaah ||3||

3.1: It is indeed a strange picture to behold; At the root (i.e. base) of a Banyan Tree (Vata) are seated old Disciples (i.e. aged Disciples) in front of an Young Guru,

3.2: The Guru is Silent, and Silence is His exposition (of the Highest Knowledge); and that (Silence) is severing the doubts (automatically) from the minds of the Disciples.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBYAM NAMA: