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