THE TONGUE-JIHVAA -( जिह्वा )

SUBHASHITHANI:138

लक्ष्मीर्वसति जिह्वाग्रे जिह्वाग्रे मित्रबान्धवाः ।

जिह्वाग्रे बन्धनं प्राप्तं जिह्वाग्रे मरणं ध्रुवम् ॥

lakṣmīrvasati jihvāgre jihvāgre mitrabāndhavāḥ ।
jihvāgre bandhanaṃ prāptaṃ jihvāgre maraṇaṃ dhruvam ॥

Lakṣmī resides at the tip of the tongue; at the tip of the tongue are friends and kin; the slip of the tongue can cause imprisonment; and certainly, the slip of the tongue can bring death!

जिह्वे प्रमाणं जानीहि भाषणे भोजनेऽपि च ।
अत्युक्तिरतिभुक्तिश्च सत्यं प्राणापहारिणी ॥

jihve pramāṇaṃ jānīhi bhāṣaṇe bhojane'pi ca ।

atyuktiratibhuktiśca satyaṃ prāṇāpahāriṇī ॥
Hey! tongue, know thy limitations - in speech as well as in food (taste). Over-indulgence in conversations or in satiating the taste buds (eating) could both prove disastrous.

யாகாவா ராயினும் நாகாக்க காவாக்கால்
சோகாப்பர் சொல்லிழுக்குப் பட்டு. KURAL-127

Whatever besides you leave unguarded, guard your tongue; otherwise errors of speech and the consequent misery will ensue.

ॐ यश्छन्द'सामृषभो विश्वरू'पः | छन्दोभ्योऽध्यमृता''थ्सम्बभूव' | स मेन्द्रो' मेधया'' स्पृणोतु | अमृत'स्य देवधार'णो भूयासम् | शरी'रं मे विच'र्षणम् | जिह्वा मे मधु'मत्तमा | कर्णा''भ्यां भूरिविश्रु'वम् | ब्रह्म'णः कोशो'ऽसि मेधया पि'हितः | श्रुतं मे' गोपाय ||ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः' || MEDHA SUKTAM

May He, the Lord of all, pre-eminent among the Vedas and superior to the nectar contained in them, bless me with wisdom! May I be adorned with the knowledge of Brahman that leads to immortality! May my body become strong and vigorous (to practise meditation)! May my tongue always utter delightful words! May I hear much with my ears! Thou art the scabbard of Brahman hidden by worldly taints (not revealed by impure, puny intellects). May I never forget all that I have learnt! Om peace, peace, peace!

मूर्खस्तु परिहर्तव्यः प्रत्यक्षो द्विपदः पशुः ।
भिनत्ति वाक्यशूलेन अदृष्टः कण्ठको यथा ॥ - चाणक्य नीति

mūrkhastu parihartavyaḥ pratyakṣo dvipadaḥ paśuḥ ।
bhinatti vākyaśūlena adṛṣṭaḥ kaṇṭhako yathā ॥

The foolish should be shunned as a two-legged animal. He pierces with verbal spears, just as an invisible thorn.

ईक्षणं द्विगुणं प्रोक्तां भाषणस्येति वेधसा ।

अक्षिणि द्वे मनुष्याणां जिंव्हा त्वैकेव निर्मिता ॥

Seeing is given twice as much importance as speaking by Brahma. Man has two eyes, however, only one tongue was created.

जिह्वे कीर्तय केशवं मुररिपुं छेतोभज श्रीधरम् ।
पाणिद्वंद्व समर्चय अच्युतकथाः श्रोत्रद्वय त्वं शृणु ।
कृष्णं लोकय लोचनद्वय हरेर्गच्छाङघ्रियुग्मालयम् ।
जिघ्र घ्राण मुकुंदपादतुलसीं मूर्धन्नमाधोक्षजम् ॥ MUKUNDA MALA

Jihve keertaya kesavam muraripum ceto bhaja sridharam
Paani-dvandva samarcayacyuta-kathah srotra-dvaya tvam srinu
Krishnam lokaya locana-dvaya harer gacchanghri-yugmalayam
Jighra ghrana mukunda-pada-tulasim murdhan namadhokshajam

O tongue, praise the glories of Lord Keśava. O mind, worship the enemy of Mura. O hands, serve the Lord of Śrī. O ears, hear the topics of Lord Acyuta. O eyes, gaze upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa. O feet, go to the temple of Lord Hari. O nose, smell the tulasī buds on Lord Mukunda's feet. O head, bow down to Lord Adhokṣaja.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH