TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF DHARMA

SUBHASHITHAM: 081

मीनाकृते कमठ कोल नृसिंह वर्णिन्

स्वामिन् परश्वथतपोधन रामचन्द्र।

शेषांशराम यदुनन्दन कल्किरूप

श्रीवेङ्कटाचलपते तव सुप्रभातम् ॥२४॥ Sri Venkatesa suprabatham

Miina-[A]akrte Kamattha Kola Nrsimha Varnnin

Svaamin Parashv[u]-Atha-Tapodhana Raamacandra|

Shessa-Amsha-Raama Yadu-Nandana Kalki-Ruupa

Shrii-Vengkattaacala-Pate Tava Suprabhaatam ||24||

(Salutations to Sri Govinda) In this Beautiful Dawn Your Devotees are contemplating on Your Divine Incarnations - Sri Matsa Avatara ( Form of Fish ), Sri Kurma Avatara ( Form of Tortoise ), Sri Varaha Avatara ( Form of Boar ), Sri Nrisimha Avatara ( Form of Man-Lion ) ...

24.2: ... Your Form O Lord of Sri Parashurama Avatara ( Wielder of Axe ), Sri Vamana Avatara ( Rich in Austerities ), Sri Ramachandra Avatara ... 24.3: ... Sri Balarama Avatara ( Rama who was Part of Adisesha ), Sri Krishna Avatara ( Son born in Yadu Dynasty ) and the form of Sri Kalki Avatara.

24.4: (The Devotees are Singing) Salutations to You, O Govinda, the Lord of the Venkatachala Hill;

Salutations to You in this Beautiful Dawn of Yours.

धृतिः क्षमा दमोऽस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः ।"

धीर्विद्या सत्यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम् ॥ मनुस्मृतिः ६।९२ ॥

Drutih kshamaa dama astheyam saucham indriyanigrahah I

Dheer vidyaa satyam akrodho dasakam dharma lakshanam II

Courage (धृतिः), patience (forgiveness) (क्षमा),control of senses (दमः),non-stealing (अस्तेयं),purity, control of organs(इन्द्रियनिग्रहः), intellect (धिः), knowledge (विद्या), truthfulness (सत्यम्), free from anger(अक्रोधः) are the ten characteristics of virtue.

अक्रोधो वैराग्यो जितेन्द्रियश्च क्षमा दया सर्वजनप्रियश्च।

निर्लोभो मदभयशोकरहितो ज्ञानस्य एतत् दश लक्षणानि॥

Akrodo vairagyo jitendriyascha kshamaa dayaa sarva janapriyascha I

Nirlobho mada bhaya shoka rahito gyanasya etat dasa lakshanaani II

Absence of anger, detachment, sense-control, forgiveness, kindness, love for all I Absence of greed, pride,fear,and sorrow,these are ten constituents of knowledge.

विश्वामित्रेच  वार्धक्ये  रात्रौ अप्सु कर्दमे  |  अन्धे सर्पेच क्रीडेच दण्डं दशगुणं भवेत् II

"Viswaamitrecha vaardhakye raatrou apsu kardame I , andhe sarpecha kreedecha dandam dashagunam bhavet"  II

Here the shloka means that the Stick has ten different uses:

1) to drive away the birds "Vihaga",    2) to drive away a dog "Shwaana"

3) to fight with an enemy "Amitra"     4) for support in Old Age "Vardhakye"

5) for support in the dark or night time "Ratrou"    6) for support while treading a river "Apsu",   7) for saving a person from a  quicksand "Kardame"   8) undoubtedly, for a blind person "Andhe"   9) to drive away or save oneself from a snake "Sarpe"    10) for use in sports "Kride" 
(NOTE:  Viswamitra  - It is a combination of  Vi, Swa and Amitra.  Vi stands for Vihaga or bird.  Swa means Swaana or Dog.  Amitra means not a friend or an enemy.)

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH