THE LION- SIMHAH-( सिंहा,केसरी )

SUBHASHITHANI:142

वनेऽपि सिंहा मॄगमांसभक्षिणो बुभुक्षिता नैव तॄणं चरन्ति |
एवं कुलीना व्यसनाभिभूता न नीचकर्माणि समाचरन्ति ||
vanepi simhaa mrugamaamsabhakShiNo bubhukShitaa naiva truNam charanti 
Ievam kuleenaa vyasanaabhibhootaa na neechkarmaaNi samaacharanti II
Lions in forest, who eat flesh of other animals – will not eat grass even if they are very hungry. Similarly, persons born in good families will not perform any misconduct even in extreme adversities .

क्षुत्क्षामोSपि जराकृशोSपि शिथिलप्रायोSपि कष्टां दशा
मापन्नोSपि विपन्नदीधितिरपि प्राणेषु गच्छत्स्वपि |
मत्तेभेन्द्रविभिन्नकुम्भदलनग्रासैकबद्धस्प्रहः
किं जीर्णं तृणमत्ति मानमहतामग्रेसरः केसरी ||

Even though weakened by hunger, old age, caught in a difficult situation, having lost all his glory, will a Lion, who is foremost of all proud animals, who desires for the flesh on the forehead of a mighty elephant, would ever settle for dry grass despite an imminent death?

एकैका गौस्त्रयः सिंहाः पञ्च व्याघ्राः प्रसूतिभिः I
अधर्मो नष्ट संतानो धर्मः संतान वर्धनः II
The lioness delivers in threes; while the tigress in fives. But their progeny doesn’t grow adequately because of their nature ( adharmic ! ) .The cow delivers only one at a time , still they grow adequately because of their good nature.

एकेन अपि सुपुत्रेण सिंही स्वपिति निर्भयम् |
सह एव दशभि: पुत्रै: भारं वहति गर्दभी ||

A lioness having only one cub is relaxed as she is sure that her cub will eventually bring her the hunt. But the donkey even after having ten children (foals), will have to carry her load herself.

विश्वासो संपदां मूलं तेन युतपतिर्गजः I
सिंहो मृगदिपत्येव मृगैर्न परिवार्यते II
The elephant by its friendly nature attracts all animals closer to it. On the other hand, the lion even though claimed the ‘king of the forest’, no animal will flock near it.

नाभिषेको न सम्स्कारह सिम्हस्य क्रियते वने I

 विक्रमार्जितसत्वस्य स्वयमेव म्र्गेन्द्रता।

For the lion, nobody need place him on the throne by performing certain 'samskAras.' By the power of his self won might alone, he has become the lord of the animal kingdom. This position has come naturally to the lion.

यस्य बुद्धिर्बलं तस्य निर्बुद्धेस्तु कुतो बलम्? ।

 वने सिंहो मदोन्मत्तः शशकेन निपातितः ॥Pancha tantra

When a person has intellect, he is powerful. Where is the power of a person who does not have an intellect?

The lion in the forest, proud of his power, was killed by a helpless rabbit.

गुणी गुणं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्गुणो बली बलं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्बल: |
पिको वसन्तस्य गुणं न वायस: करी च सिंहस्य बलं न मूषक: ||
GuNee guNam vetti na vetti nirguNo balee balam vetti na vetti nirbalah Ipiko vasantasya guNam na vaayasah karee cha simhasya balam na mooShakah II

Only a person with high qualities appreciate good qualities of another, not a person devoid of any qualities. Only a strong person knows strength of another strong person, not a weak person. As a cuckoo appreciates spring, not a crow. Elephant knows strength of Lion and not a mouse.

प्रभूतं कार्यमल्पं वा यन्नरः कर्तुमिच्छति ।
सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते ॥ Chanakya niti
Prabhutam karyam,alpam va yannaraH karturmicchatisarvarambeNa tatkaryam simhad ekam prachakshate.
Be the task significant or trivial that one intends to do – he should execute it with total dedication from start (to finish), like a lion.

उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः ।
न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः ।।
udyamena hi sidhyanti kAryANi na manorathaiH |
na hi suptasya siMhasya pravishanti mukhe mRigAH II
work gets accomplished by effort, industry, not merely by wishing. The animals don't enter a sleeping lion's mouth.

सिंहः शिशुरपि निपतति मद मलिन कपोल भित्तिषु गजेषु ।

प्रकृतिरियं सत्त्ववतां तेजसां हि न वयः समीक्ष्यते ॥ Niti satakam

 The lion, even when a cub, attacks a frenzied elephant. Valour is inherent in the nature of the powerful, and age , as such , is of no consequence to the prowess.

 श्रुतीनाम्  उत्तरं  भागं  वेगवत्याश्च  दक्षिणम् I

कामाद् अधिवसन् जीयात्  कश्चिद् अद्भुत  केसरी II Kaamaasikaashtakam

.Srutheenaam utharam bhagam Vega vathyascha dakshinam,
Kamad adivasan jeeyath Kaschid Adbhutha Kesari
The wonderful lion who is found in the later part of the Vedas,
Is living in the southern part of the river Veghavathi as per his wish.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH