HAMSAH- NEERA KSHEERA VIVEKA

SUBHASHITHAM:085

हंसः श्वेतः बकः श्वेतः  को भेदो बकहंसयोः ।

 नीर-क्षीर-विवेके तु  हंसो हंसः बको बकः ।।

Hamsah shvetah bakah shvetah  Ko bedo baka hamsayoh I

Neera-ksheera-viveketu hamso hamsah bako bakah II

A swan is white, a crane is white. What (then) is the difference between a swan and a crane? In distinguishing between water and milk a swan is a swan, a crane is a crane.

हंसासर्वङ्ग शुचयः पद्मेभ्यो बहिरासते I

अन्तर्विशन्ति मधुपाःश्रीमतां गतिरिद्रुशी II

Hamsaasarvanga shuchayah padmebhyo bahiraasate I

Antarvishanti madhupaah srimataam gatiridrushee ii

Swans remain always white, Lotus flowers remain bright and clear, Honey bees silently remain engrossed in collecting honey from flowers. Noble persons are of similar nature.

कस्त्वं लोहितलोचनास्यचरणः हंसः कुतो मानसात् ।

 किं तत्रास्ति सुवर्णपङ्कजवनान्यंभः सुधासन्निभम् ।

रत्नानां निचयाः प्रवालमणयो वैदूर्यरोहाः क्वचित् ।

 शम्बूका अपि सन्ति नेति च बकैराकर्ण्य हीहीकृतम् ।।१२।।
The cranes, usually more in number than swans, were bent upon making fun of the swan, out of their jealousy about the grace of a swan. So, they went on asking questions, until they got “No” as the answer. Having got such answer, they chided at the swan.

1. Eh, you red-eyed one, who are you that has no legs ? I am a swan.

2. Where from you have come ? - From the Manasa

3. What is there ? -There is water,which is pure and like nectar. There are hordes of golden lotuses. There are treasurers of jewels, coral beads,as also trees that grow in Vidura mountains.

4.Are there also conch-shells and snails ? - No

On getting' no' as answer cranes chided at the swan ,hey,hey,hey.
(Moral : अलोक सामान्यमचिन्त्यहेतुकं I  द्विषन्ति मन्दास्चरितं महात्मनां II 
Fools deride the character of great souls whose conduct and behaviour are different from those of ordinary mortals who cannot think of possible reasons for such difference. ) 

एकेन राजहंसेन । या शोभा सरसो भवेत् ।

 न सा बकसहस्रेण । परितस्तीरवासिना ।।२।।

Ekena rajahamsena yaa shobhaa saraso bhavet I Na saa baka sahasrena paritasteera vaasinaa II

What beauty a lake will have due to (but) one swan, that beauty the lake will not have even if it is surrounded all-around the perimeter by thousands of cranes.

यत्रापि कुत्रापि भवन्ति हंसाः I हंसा महीमण्डलमण्डलानि ।

 हानिस्तु तेषां हि सरोवराणाम् । येषां मरालैः सह विप्रयोगः ।।७।।

Wherever the swans be, they adorn the place. If any lake is not congenial to swans, it is a loss only to the lake.

अपसरणमेव शरणं मौनं वा तत्र राजहंसस्य ।

 कटु रटति निकटवर्ती वाचाटष्टिट्टिभो यत्र ।।३।।

Apasaranameva sharanam maunam vaa tatra rajahamsasya I

Katu ratati nikatavartee vaachaatashtittibho yatra II

Where a prattling  Tittibha (टिट्टिभ – A kind of bird ) is making bad noise at close quarters, a swan should either draw away from such place or should keep quiet.

(Moral – One should always keep a discretion about the audience whether to speak or not to speak and also keep a discretion whether the environment is congenial to linger or not.)
புல்லவையுள் பொச்சாந்தும் சொல்லற்க நல்லவையுள்
நன்குசெலச் சொல்லு வார்.Kural-719
In councils of the good, who speak good things with penetrating power,
In councils of the mean, let them say nought, e'en in oblivious hour.
माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी बालो येन न पाठितः । 
न शोभते सभा मध्ये हंसमध्ये बको यथा ॥
Maata shatruh pitaa vairee baalo yena na paatitah I
Na shobate sabha madye hamsa madye bako yathaa II

Both the mother and father are enemies of a child if they do not educate him. He will be a misfit in any gathering - like a duck among swans.

 गाङ्गमम्बु सितमम्बु यामुनं  कज्जलाभमुभयत्र मज्जतः ।

 राजहंस तव सैव शुभ्रता  चीयते न च न चापचीयते ।।

Hey swan, whether you may swim in the fresh, clear water of the Ganges or in blackish water of Yamuna, your whiteness neither grows nor does it diminish.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH