THE REAL ORNAMENTS

SUBHASHITHAM: 050

                                                                         

ऐश्वर्यस्य विभूषणं सुजनता शौर्यस्य वाक्संयमो

ज्ञानस्योपशमः श्रुतस्य विनयो वित्तस्य पात्रे व्ययः ।

अक्रोधस्तपसः क्षमा प्रभवितुर्धर्मस्य निर्वाजता

सर्वेषाम् अपि सर्वकारणम् इदं शीलं परं भूषणम् ॥ Niti satakam

Civility is the ornament of Prosperity, Restrained speech of Valour, Mental tranquillity of knowledge, Humility of studying the scriptures, Charity to the deserving of wealth, Control over anger of austerity, Forgiveness of authority and power, and absence of motive to the performance of religious duties. Spotless character is the root cause all this- and it is the most precious ornament of all.

श्रोत्रं श्रुतेनैव न कुंडलेन,

दानेन पाणिर्न तु कंकणेन,

विभाति कायः करुणापराणां,

परोपकारैर्न तु चन्दनेन ||

The ears shine by listening to the scriptures not with ear-rings, Hands by alms- giving and not by bracelets, and body by benevolence and not with application of sandal-paste.

केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वला

न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालङ्कृता मूर्धजाः ।

वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते

क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥ Niti satakam

Bracelets do not adorn a person, Nor do pearl necklaces shining like the moon, or a cleansing bath; nor anointment of the body, nor flowers, nor decoration for the hair. It is cultured speech alone embellishes a man. All other ornaments lose their glitter, only the jewel of speech (or learning ) ever remains the jewel of jewels.  

हस्तस्य भुषणम् दानम्, सत्यम् कण्टस्य भुषणम् ।

शोत्रस्य भुषणम् शास्थ्रं, भुषणैहि किम् प्रयोजनम् ॥

The ornament for the hand is giving, speaking the truth is the ornament for the neck; the ornament for the ears is (listening to) the scriptures--of what use are the other ornaments?

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBYAM NAMA: