IT IS BETTER ( VARAM-वरं ) TO WANDER IN THE MOUNTAIN AND CAVES

SUBHAHITHANI:175

अजातमृतमूर्खाणां वरमाद्यौ न चान्तिमः ।

सकृद्दुःखकरावाद्यावन्तिमस्तु पदे पदे ॥ ०.१३ ॥

Of sons, not born, (born and ) dead, and foolish , the first two are to be preferred and not the last: for the first two causes pain but once; the last  at every step.
वरं पर्वतदुर्गेषु भ्रान्तं वनचरैः सह ।

न मूर्खजनसंपर्कः सुरेन्द्रभवनेष्वपि ॥- नीतिशतक, भर्तृहरि

varaṃ parvatadurgeṣu bhrāntaṃ vanacaraiḥ saha ।

na mūrkhajanasaṃparkaḥ surendrabhavaneṣvapi ॥- nītiśataka, bhartṛhari

It is rather a blessing to wander in the mountains and caves with wild animals than keeping the company of the foolish even if it is in the palatial quarters of Indra (the king of Gods)!

एकः पुत्रो वरं विद्वान्बहुभिर्निर्गुणैस्तु  किं  |

एकस्तारयते वंशं  अन्ये संतापकारकाः      ||

Ekah putro varam vidvaanbahubhirnirgunaistu  kim.
Ekastaarayate vansham anye santaapakaarakaah.

It is better to have only one son who is learned, rather than having many sons without any virtues.   The one and only learned son will be able to preserve and carry forward the family tradition., whereas having many sons without any virtues simply causes grief.

काक आह्वयते काकान्  याचको न तु याचकान् ।

काक याचकयोर्मध्ये   वरं काको न याचकः ॥

 Whenever it finds some food, a crow calls other crows so that they can enjoy it together. But, a beggar never does so. That's why, crows are superior to beggars.

वरं  मौनं  कार्यं  न  च वचनमुक्तं  यदनृतं

 वरं क्लैव्यं पुंसां न च परकलत्राSभिगमनम्         |

वरं प्राणात्यागो न च पिषुनवाक्यैष्वभिरुचि -

वरं भिक्षाSSशित्वं न च परधनाSSस्वादनसुखम्   ||

Varam maunam kaaryam na cha vachanamuktam yadanrutam

Varam klaivyam pumsaam na cha parakalatraabhigamanam.

Varam praanatyaago na cha pishunavaakyaishwabhiruchi -

Vaream bhikshaashitvam na cha paradhanaaswaadanasukham.

It is better to do work silently  rather than  break a promise and be called untruthful .  It is better to be  impotent  or a person of neuter gender rather than having sexual relations with other person's wife. One should prefer to sacrifice his life  rather than having a liking or belief in the utterances of wicked persons, and better make a living by begging than grabbing and enjoying other peoples' wealth.

वरं  शून्या शाला न च खलु वरो दुष्ट वृषभो |    

 वरं  वेश्या पत्नी न पुनरविनीता कुलवधूः   ||

वरं  वासोSरण्ये न पुनरविवेकाSधिपपुरे.    |  

   वरं प्राणत्यागो न पुनरधमानामामुपगमः      ||

Varam shoonyaa shaalaa na cha khalu varo dushta vrushabho,  

Varam veshyaa patnee na punaravineetaa kulavadhooh.

Varam vaasoranye naz punarvivekaadhipapure.

Varam praanatyaago na punaradhamaanaamupagataa.

It is better to keep the cow shed empty rather than keep a wicked and offensive bull.    It is also preferable to have a woman of ill repute as a wife  rather than have an immodest and shameless daughter-in-law.  Similarly,it is  better to live in a forest but not in a city ruled by an imprudent ruler, and it is better to face death rather than keep the company of vilest of persons.

वरं वनं व्याघ्रगजेन्द्रसेवितं

द्रुमालयः पत्रफलाम्बु सेवनम्।

तृणेशु शय्या शतजीर्णवल्कलं

न बन्धुमध्ये धनहीनजीवनम्।।

It is better to live under a tree in a jungle inhabited by tigers and elephants, to maintain oneself in such a place with ripe fruits and spring water, to lie down on grass and to wear the ragged barks of trees than to live amongst one's relations when reduced to poverty.

वरमेको गुणी पुत्रो न च मूर्खशतैरपि ।

एकश्चन्द्रमस्तमो हन्ति न च तारागणैरपि ॥ ०.१८ ॥

It is better to have one son with all good qualities than have a hundred of them who are stupid. Just like it is one moon that lights up the night and not the entire constellations of stars put together.

न भार्यया समं मित्रं न च धर्मो दयासमः ।\

न स्वातन्त्र्यसमं सौख्यं गार्हस्थ्यान्नाश्रमो वरः ॥

There is no friend equal to the wife; there is no dharma (ordinance) that equates to compassion; there is no comfort parallel to freedom; there is no āśrama (stage of life) more blessed than that of a householder.

को धन्यो बहुभिः पुत्रैः कुशूलापूरणाढकैः ।

वरमेकः कुलालम्बी यत्र विश्रूयते पिता ॥ २१ ॥

Ko dhanyo bahubhih putraih kushoolaapooranaatakaih I

Varamekah kulaalambhee yatra vishrooyate pita II

What use is it to have many children if they are incapable of keeping the granary full? It is better to have a single child who spreads the family name and fame and enhances the respect for his father.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

MISER-KRUPANAH-( कृपणाः )

SUBHASHITHANI:174
न देवाय न विप्राय न बंधुभ्यो न चात्मने ।

कृपणस्य धनं याति वह्नितस्करपार्थिवैः ॥

na devAya na viprAya na bandhubhyo na cha aatmane ।

kRupaNasya dhanam yAti vahni taskara pArthivaiH ॥

The wealth that a miser accumulates is not used for Gods, not vedic scholars, not his relatives – not even for himself. It will most likely be consumed by fire, or a thief or confiscated by the king.

सुजनाः परोपकारं शूराः शस्त्रं धनं कृपणाः  |

कुलवत्यो मन्दाक्षं प्राणात्यय एव मुञ्चति  ||

Sujanaah paropakaaram shooraah shastram dhanam krupanaah.

Kulavatyo mandaaksham praanaatyaya eva munchati.

Even on the face of a threat to life, noble and righteous persons do not give up their spirit of charity and helping others,  warriors their weapons, misers their wealth and persons belonging to a noble family their bashfulness.

सेवक: स्वामिनं द्वेष्टि कॄपणं परुषाक्षरम्

आत्मानं किं स न द्वेष्टि सेव्यासेव्यं न वेत्ति य:

A servant hates his master if the master is miser and rough in talking. Why doesn't he hate himself as he can not judge who is worthy of serving and who is not? Normally people tend to blame the surroundings for their sufferings. Most of the times the cause of trouble is oneself and not his surroundings. 

कॄपणेन समो दाता न भूतो न भविष्यति |

अस्पॄशन्नेव वित्तानि य: परेभ्य: प्रयच्छति ||

No one was or will be ever as generous as a stingy person. He gives his wealth to others without even touching it.

ईशप्रेम कथं स्यात्? स्वपतौ सत्याः सुनिर्मलं यथा प्रेम ।

कृपणस्य व धने स्यत् तद्वत् विश्वेश्वरे दृढप्रेम ॥

iisha prema katham syAt? sva patau sunirmalam yathA prema ।
kRupaNasya vA dhane syAt tadvat vishveshvare dRuDhaprema ॥

How strong is the devotion of real devotees of God? As pure as the love of a chaste wife towards her husband and as lasting as a misers love towards his wealth.

उपभोक्तुं  न  जानाति  कदापि  कृपणो  जनः |

आकंठ जलमग्नोSपि  कुक्कुरो लेढि जिह्वया ||

Upabhoktam na jaanaati kadaapi krupano janah.

Aakantham jalamagnopi kukkuro ledhi jihvayaa.

A miser , who lives poorly in order to store up  wealth, does not know how to consume his wealth; just like a dog immersed in water up to its neck drinking water by licking it with its tongue.

लुब्धस्य नश्यति यशः पिशुनस्य मैत्री

नष्ट-क्रियस्य कुल अर्थ-परस्य धर्मः ।

विद्या-फलं व्यसनिनः कृपणस्य सौख्यं

 राज्यं प्रमत्त-सचिवस्य नराधिपस्य ॥ २३६ ॥Pancha tantra

lubdhasya nashyati yashah pishunasya maitrii

nashtakriyasya kulamarthaparasya dharmah |

vidyaaphalam vyasasinah krpanasya saukhyam

raajyam pramattasacivasya naraadhipasya ||

A greedy person soon loses any scope for fame. A rumour monger loses his friends. A perpetual wrong-doer loses his family. A person whose only aim is to earn money strays from the path of dharma - the moral code of life. An addict loses any chance at getting good education. A miser loses piece of mind. A king with a bad (mad) minister loses his kingdom.

उभयोर्नास्ति भोगेच्छा परार्थं धनसंचयः ।

कृपणोदारयोः पश्य तथापि महदन्तरं ॥

ubhayornaasti bhogecchaa paraartham dhanasamcayah |

krpanodaarayoh pashya tathaapi mahadantaram ||

Both the miser and the generous do not accumulate wealth with the idea of enjoying it themselves. They always leave it for others. But what a difference between them.

दाता लघुरपि सेव्यो भवति न कृपणो महानपि समृद्ध्या ।

कूपोऽतः स्वादुजलः प्रीत्यै लोकस्य न समुद्रः ॥

daataa laghurapi sevyo bhavati na krpano mahaanapi samrddhyaa |

kuupo'tah svaadujalah priityai lokasya na samudrah ||

Even if a generous person is poor, he is to be treated with respect. A miser deserves no respect even if he is rich and prosperous. People like water from a small well but not from the mighty ocean.

असंभोगेन  सामान्यं  कृपणस्य धनं  परेः  |

अस्येदमिति संबन्धो  हानौ दुःखेन गम्यते ||  -

Asambhogena saamanyam krupanasya dhanam pareh

Asyedamiti sambandho haanau duhkhena gamyate.

 Generally the wealth left by a miser due to its non-enjoyment by him during his life time, causes miseries afterwards (among its inheritors) and is ultimately gets destroyed.

प्राप्तानपि  नो लभते भोगन्भोक्तुं स्वकर्मभिः कृपणः |

द्राक्षाप्रपाक  समये  मुखपाको  भवति   काकानाम्      || -

Praaptaanapi no labhate bhogaanbhoktum svakarmabhih krupanah .

Draakshaaprapaak samaye mukhapaako bhavati kaakaanaam.

  A miser in spite of possessing immense wealth is not able to enjoy  it by conspicuous consumption due to his  miserly bent of mind and  inaction, just like the crows who develop inflammation of their beaks  at the time of ripening of grapes in a vine yard.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

POOR-POVERTY-DARIDRAH- (दरिद्र:)-DARIDRATAA-(दरिद्रता)

SUBHASHITHANI:173
दुःखं दुःखमिति ब्रूयात्  मानवो नरकं प्रति ।
दारिद्र्यादधिकं दुःखम्  न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥

It is said that hell is the place of intense pain and severe torture. But in reality, there is no pain (or torture) as intense as that of poverty, neither was there in past, nor will be in future.

अपुत्रस्य गृहं शून्यम्  सन्मित्ररहितस्य च ।
मूर्खस्य च दिशः शून्याः  सर्वशून्या दरिद्रता ॥  - हितोपदेशः

Empty is a house for a childless person, and also for the one without any good friends. All the directions are empty for a fool. Importantly, everything is empty wherever there is poverty.

अप्रदाता समृद्धोऽसौ दरिद्रश्च महामना:।

अश्रुतश्च समुन्नद्धस्तमाहुर्मूढचेतसम्॥

Foolish is he, who though prosperous does not help others; who though poor is generous; and who though ignorant is proud and swollen.

दारिद्र्यान्मरणाद्वा मरणं मे रोचते न दारिद्र्यं ।

अल्पक्लेशं मरणं दारिद्र्यं त्वनन्तकं दुःखम् ॥

Daaridraan maranaadvaa maranam me rochate na daaridrayam I

Alpaklesham maranam daaridrayam tvanantakam dukham II

I prefer death if I have to choose between poverty and death. Death causes pain for a short period while poverty is unending pain.

कष्टं खलु मूर्खत्वं कष्टं खलु यौवनेषु दारिद्र्यं ।

कष्टात् कष्टतरं किं परगृहवासः परान्नं च ॥

It is difficult being stupid and poor while young. But the most difficulty is when you have to take refuge in someone else's house and eat his food.

मूर्खो न हि ददाति अर्थ नरो दरिद्रयशङ्कया ।

प्राज्ञः तु वितरति अर्थ नरो दरिद्रयशङ्कया ॥

The fear of becoming poor in future prevents a fool from giving [away wealth in charity]; haunted by the same fear the wise donates [generously now].

दारिद्र्यात्पुरुषस्य बांधवजनो वाक्ये न संतिष्ठते

सुस्निग्धाः विमुखीभवन्ति सुहृदः स्फारीभवन्त्यापदः

सत्त्वं ह्रस्वमुपैति शीलशशिनः कान्ति परिम्लायते

पापम् कर्म च यत्परैरपि कृतं तत्तस्य सम्भाव्यते

Daaridryaatpurushasya baandhavajano vaakye na santishthate

Susnigdhaah vimukheebhavanti suhridah sphaareebhavantyaapadah

Sattwam hraasamupaiti sheelashashinah kaantih parimlaayate

Paapam karma cha yatparairapi kritam tattasya sambhaavyate

If one is poor, his relatives don’t heed his words, even loving friends neglect him, his misfortunes spread out, his physical and mental strength shrinks, the moon of his good conduct becomes pale and even the wrongs committed by others are foisted on to him.

शत्रौ सांत्वं प्रतीकारः सर्वरोगेषु भेषजम् ।

मृत्योर्मृत्युंजयध्यानं दारिद्र्ये तु न किंचन ॥

shatrau sAntvam pratIkAraH sarvarogeShu bheShajam ।

mRutyoH mRutyunjaya dhyAnam dAridrye tu na kinchana ॥

Even the enemy can be made to drop the hatred by adept diplomacy. Every disease has a medicine. Even death can be put away (temporarily) by chanting the Mrityunjaya mantra. But poverty has no solution.

परीक्ष्य सत्कुलं विद्याम्  शीलं शौर्यं सुरूपताम् ।

विधिर्ददाति निपुणः  कन्यामिव दरिद्रताम् ॥

The fate wisely attributes poverty to a person only after thoroughly studying his family background (cultural background), knowledge, conduct, courage and his beauty, just like what the caring parents do before arranging their daughter's marriage.

भो दारिद्र्यं नमस्तुभ्यं सिद्धोऽहं तत्प्रसादातः ।

पश्याम्यहं जगत् सर्वं न मां पश्यति कश्चन ॥

bho dAridryaM namastubhyaM siddho&haM tatprasAdAtaH |

pashyAmyahaM jagat sarvaM na mAM pashyati kashchana ||

O poverty, homage to you; by your grace I have obtained magical powers.

I see the whole world, and nobody sees me!

आदित्यस्य नमस्कारं ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने ।

जन्मान्तरसहस्रेषु दारिद्रयं नोपजायते ॥

Adityasya namaskAraM ye kurvanti dine dine |

janmAntarasahasreShu dAridrayaM nopajAyate ||

Those who adore and worship the sun everyday will not inherit poverty over thousands of births. People who are punctual in their duties like the sun will never be poor.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH