NEW YEAR GREETINGS

THE GOOD AND EVIL- PUNYA AND PAAPAA-पुण्या, पापा

SUBHASHITHANI:193
अष्टादश पुराणेषु व्यासस्य वचनद्वयम् |

परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम् ||

Ashtaadasha  puraaneshu  Vyaasasya  vachanadvyam.

Paropakaarah punyaaya  paapaaya  parapeedanam.

Sage Vyasa has only two things to say in summary of all his eighteen puranas:

serving others has good merits ('puNyam'), hurting others is sin ('pApam').

पुण्यस्य फलमिछन्ति पुण्यम् नेचन्ति मानवः ।

फलम् पापस्य नेचन्ति पापम् कुरुवन्ति यत्नतः ॥

puNyasya phalamiChanti puNyam nechanti mAnavaH |

phalam pApasya nechanti pApam kuruvanti yatnataH ||

People seek the fruits of 'puNyam' (good deeds), but they don't like to do good deeds; people hate the fruits of 'pApam' (sins), but they are assiduous in their efforts to commit sins.

सतां सद्भिस्संगः क्थमपि हि पुण्येन भवति I Uttararaamacharitam

Satāṃ sadbhissaṃgaḥ kthamapi hi puṇyena bhavati

The meeting between good people happens only by punya  (fruit of meritorious deeds done in the past)

सुशीलो  मातृ  पुण्येन  पितृ  पुण्येन  चातुरः |

औदार्यं वंश पुण्येन आत्मा पुण्येन भाग्यवान्  ||
Sushilo maatru punyena pitru punyena chaaturah.
Audaaryam vamsha punyena aatma punyena bhaagyavaan.

A person inherits good character from his mother, skill and dexterity from father, generosity from family , good fortune from his own merits (punya). 

प्रीणाति यः सुचरितैः पितरं स पुत्रो

यद्भर्तुरेव हितमिच्छति तत्कलत्रम् ।

तन्मित्रमापदि सुखे च समक्रियं यद्

एतत् त्रयं जगति पुण्यकृतो लभन्ते ॥ NIti shataka68

He is a son who pleases his father with good actions; that is a wife who wishes unmixed good to her husband; that is a friend who acts the same in adversity as in happy times. The meritorious (alone) secure this triad in this world.

वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्निमध्ये  महार्णवे पर्वतमस्तके वा ।

सुप्तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा   रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुरा कृतानि ॥NIti shataka, 97

vane raNe shatrujalAgnimadhye   mahArNave parvatamastake vA |

suptaM pramattaM viShamasthitaM vA  rakShanti puNyAni purA kRutAni ||

Good actions done in a former life protect a man in a forest, on a battlefield, in the midst of foes, water and fire, in the vast ocean, or on a mountain-top, whether asleep or careless, or beset with any difficulty.

राजा राष्ट्रकृतं पापं राज्ञः पापं परोहितः ।

भर्ता च स्त्रीकृतं पापं शिष्यपापं गुरूः तथा ॥

राजा राष्ट्रकृतं पापं राज्ञः पापं परोहितः ।

भर्ता च स्त्रीकृतं पापं शिष्यपापं गुरूः तथा ॥

The king has to atone  for the sins committed by his subjects; the minister has to atone  for the sins committed by the king;  Husband and teacher must atone  for any wrong done by the wife or the disciple respectively.

लोभमूलानि पापाहि संकटानि तथैव च ।

लोभात्प्रवर्तते वैरं अतिलोभात्विनश्यति ॥

Greed (lobha) is the root of all sins and adversities; greed gives rise to enmity and extreme greed brings about one’s total destruction.

पापं प्रज्ञा नाशयति क्रियमाणं पुनः पुनः ।

नष्टप्रज्ञः पापमेव नित्यमारभते नरः ॥ MahAbhArata

One loses the discriminating intellect (pragya) by committing errors of judgment (Paapaa) again and again and one who has lost that ability keeps on repeating the same errors.

पुण्यं प्रज्ञा वर्धयति क्रियमाणं पुनः पुनः ।

वृद्धप्रज्ञः पुण्यमेव नित्यमारभते नरः ॥Vidura neeti

One’s store of merit (punya) increases by doing good deeds again and again and one who is blessed with discriminating intellect keeps on doing worthy things.

दारिद्र्यात्पुरुषस्य बांधवजनो वाक्ये न संतिष्ठते

सुस्निग्धाः विमुखीभवन्ति सुहृदः स्फारीभवन्त्यापदः I

सत्त्वं ह्रस्वमुपैति शीलशशिनः कान्ति परिम्लायते

पापम् कर्म च यत्परैरपि कृतं तत्तस्य सम्भाव्यते II

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 sins  committed by others are foisted on to him.

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं

न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।

अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् II Sankara bhagavad padah

Na punyam na papam na saukhyam na dukham

Na mantro na tirtham na veda na yagyaa

Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta

Chidanandarupaa shivoham shivoham

I am not in good deeds or bad deeds, happiness or sorrow. Not in mantras or pilgrimages, in the Vedas or in sacrifices. I am neither the feeling, that which is felt, nor the feeler. I am blissful awareness for I am Shiva, I am shiva.

येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् |

ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रता: ||BG7. 28||

yeṣhāṁ tvanta-gataṁ pāpaṁ janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā bhajante māṁ dṛiḍha-vratāḥ
But persons, whose sins have been destroyed by engaging in pious activities, become free from the illusion of dualities. Such persons worship me with determination.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

THE KING- RAJA-NRUPAH- राजा,नृपः

SUBHASHITHANI:192

These slokas were written during the period our country was ruled by kings. To-day we are ruled by elected representatives of the people. How ever, The ideas enshrined in the slokas are very much relevant to to-day's rulers also.

दुष्टस्य दण्डः सुजनस्य पूजा

न्यायेन कोशस्य च संप्रवृद्धिः |

अपक्षपातोऽर्थिषु राष्ट्ररक्षा

 पञ्चैव यज्ञाः कथिता नृपाणाम् ||- Atri samhita
The following are the five pious duties of a king - punish the guilty, honour the good, collect tax and enhance wealth without troubling the subjects, be impartial while giving judgment,and defence of the state.

न राज्यं न राजाऽसीत् न दण्डयो न च दण्डिकः ।

धर्मेणैव प्रजास्सर्वा रक्षन्ति स्म परस्परम् ॥

na rAjyaM na rAjA&sIt na daNDayo na cha daNDikaH |

dharmeNaiva prajAssarvA rakShanti sma parasparam ||

No state, no king, no judge and no criminal would exist (none would be required) if everybody lived by Dharma; for, then, people would protect each other.
दुर्मन्त्रान्नृपतिर्विनश्यति यतिः सङ्गात् सुतो लालसात्
विप्रोऽनध्ययनात् कुलं कुतनयाच्छीलं खलोपासनात्।
मैत्री चाप्रणयात् समृद्धिरनयात् स्नेहः प्रवासाश्रयात्
स्त्री गर्वादनवेक्षणादपि कृषिस्त्यागात् प्रमादाद्धनम्॥१८०॥

A king is ruined by bad advice; an ascetic, by company; a child by pampering;
A brāhmaṇa by lack of learning; a noble family by evil sons; virtuous conduct by serving the base; Friendship from want of regard; investment by mismanagement; affection from long absence/separation; And a woman by pride; a farm, from neglect; wealth, through misdirected charity.

गुणेषु रागो व्यसनेष्वनादरो

    रतिः सुभृत्येषु च यस्य भूपतेः |

चिरं स भुंक्ते चलचामरांशुकां

    सितातपत्राभरणां नृपश्रियम् ||- Pancha tantra

A king who respects good qualities in people, who stays away from addictions, who appreciates a good servant will for ever enjoy the luxuries of royalty - the constant movement of the fans (with peacock feathers -chaamaram), the ornaments, the royal umbrella and so on.

एकं  विषरसं हन्ति, शस्त्रेण एकश्च वध्यते ।

सराष्ट्रं सप्रजं हन्ति, राजानं मंत्र-विप्लव: ।। चाणक्य नीति

Poison causes death to only one person. The weapon also kills only one person. But due to wrong decision taken by the King, the King himself, the whole Nation and her Citizen may die.

राजा राष्ट्रकृतं पापम् , राज्ञां पापं पुरोहित: ।

भर्ता च स्त्रीकृतं पापम् , शिष्यपापं गुरू: तथा ।।चाणक्य नीति

 If wrong things are done in the Nation, the King should be held responsible. If the King himself commits a sin, his adviser-in-chief should be held responsible. If a woman does a wrong thing, her husband should be held responsible. If a student commits a sin, his teacher should be held responsible. 

अधर्मस्तु महांस्तात भवत्तस्य महीपतेः |

यो हरेद् बलिषड्भागं न च रक्षति पुत्रवत् ||-Ramayana-Aranya
If a king does not protect his subjects like his own sons in spite of taking one sixth of their earnings as tax, then his act shall attract a lot of sin.

अदण्ड्यान् दण्डयन् राजा दंड्यांश्चैवाप्यदण्डयन् |

अयशो महदाप्नोति नरकं चैव गच्छति ||- मनुस्मृति-Manu smruti

If a king punishes the innocent and fails to punish the guilty, he will become very infamous. In addition to that, he will go to hell.

अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम् |

समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च ||-Ramayana-Sundara

If a person who has not overcome his senses, one who believes in sensory pleasures is made the king, then in spite of all the wealth, such nations and cities will get destroyed.

रिक्तपाणीर्नपश्येत राजानं दैवतं गुरुम् I 
दैवज्ञं पुत्रकं मित्रं फलेन फलमादिशेत् I

riktapaaNeernapashyeta raajaanam daivatam gurum
daivaj~nam putrakam mitram phalena phalamaadishet

Do not go empty handed to see a king, God, teacher, a learned person, a child or a friend. Invoke fruitfulness with fruit!

दुर्बलस्य बलं राजा बालानां रोदनं बलम् ।

बलं मूर्खस्य मौनित्वं चौराणामनृतम् बलम् ॥

A king is the strength of the weak. He protects them. Ability to cry is the strength of a baby. Ability to stay silent is the strength of a fool. Likewise, a thief finds his strength in his ability to lie

गोपहीन यथा गावः विलयं यान्त्यपालिताः । प्रतिमानाटक

एवं नृपतिहीना हि विलयं यान्ति वै प्रजाः ॥ - Pratimaa naataka

Without the shepherd, the cows all get dispersed. Their life is threatened by predators. Similarly if there is no king citizens' lives will be put in danger.

राजा मत्तः शिशुश्चैव प्रमादी धनगर्वितः  ।

अप्राप्यमपि वाञ्छन्ति किं पुनर्लभ्यतेऽपि यत्  ॥ १० ॥
raajaa mattah shishushcaiva pramaadii dhanagarvitah  |

apraapyamapi vaanchanti kim punarlabhyate'pi yat  || 10 ||
The king,mad man, child,indifferent, proud rich these people will desire even those that are unattainable; what to speak of those which are attainable?  

परमं यत्नमातिष्ठेत् स्तेनानां निग्रहे नृपः |

स्तेनानां निग्रहादस्य यशो राष्ट्रं च वर्धते ||- मनुस्मृति

It is one of the foremost duties of a king to nab thieves and keep them behind bars. Doing so will spread good word about him and the state. It will also increase the wealth of the state.

पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि महाद्रुममिवांडजाः |

नराः समुपजीवन्ति नृपं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ||

Just like animals depend on the rain, the birds depend on the tree - ordinary subjects depend on the king for achieving anything.

अयुक्तचारं दुर्दर्शनमस्वाधीनं नराधिपम् |

वर्जयन्ति नरा दूरान्नदीपङ्कमिव द्विपाः ||-Ramayan-Aranya
If a king does not have spies, offers ill advice to the subjects, not in control of himself - then his subjects will abandon him just like elephants stay clear of the mire in the river.

नानुतिष्ठति कार्याणि भयेषु च बिभेति च |

क्षिप्तं राज्याच्च्युतो दीनस्तृणैस्तुल्यो भवेदिह ||-Ramayana-Aranya
If a king fails to implement welfare schemes for the people at the appropriate time and is insensitive to troubles facing the nation - he will soon lose his kingdom and respect. He will be as insignificant as a blade of grass.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

THE ENEMY-SHATRU-VAIRINAH-RIPUH- शत्रु:,वैराणि ,रिपु:

SUBHASHITHANI:191

Enemies are of two types: External and internal. External foes are easily recognised; but it is extremely difficult to notice the internal enemies and even more difficult to win them over. The  internal enemies are: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, envy (kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya). These lead to other negative traits like fear, selfishness, insecurity, and the like. We will see in to-day’s blog a few subhashithas on "enemies".

आत्मा जेयः सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्च शत्रवः ।
अजितात्मा नरपतिर्विजयेत कथं रिपून् ॥Maha bharata

aatmaa jeyah sadaa raajnaa tato jeyaashca shatravah |
ajitaatmaa narapatirvijayeta katham ripuun ||

One must win over his own senses first. Then he can think about defeating his enemies. If one cannot defeat his own senses how can he defeat external enemies?

परागसमीरणेरित: क्रमशीर्णाकुलमूलसन्तति: ।

सुकरस्तवत् सहिष्णुना रिपुरुन्मूलयितुं महानपि ॥

An enemy, though powerful can be easily uprooted by a patient person, if he is shaken by the wind of disaffection and if his supporters are gradually estranged, like a tree which, though big, can be easily uprooted shaken by the wind and its mass of roots gradually giving way.

नोपेक्षितव्यो विद्वद्भिः शत्रुरल्पोऽप्यवज्ञया |
वह्निरल्पोऽपि संवृद्धः कुरुते भस्मसाद्वनम् ||

nopekshitavyo vidvadbhih shatruralpo'pyavajnayaa |

Vahniralpo'pi samvrddhah kurute bhasmasaadvanam ||

 A wise man must not ignore his enemies even if they are weak and small. Even if the spark is too small, it can grow into a raging fire and burn down a forest.

शत्रौ सान्त्वं प्रतीकारः सर्वरोगेषु भेषजम् ।

मृत्यौ मृत्युञ्जयध्यानं दारिद्र्ये तु न किञ्चन ॥
The enemy can be over powered by counter attack, diseases can be controlled by taking appropriate medicines, fear of death can be over come by Mrutyunjaya mantra japa, but there is no counter to poverty.

जातमात्रं न यः शत्रुं व्याधिं च प्रशमं नयेत् |

अतिपुष्टाङ्गयुक्तोऽपि स पश्चात्तेन हन्यते || Pancatantra  

jaatamaatram na yah shatrum vyaadhim ca prashamam nayet |

atipushtaangayukto'pi sa pashcaattena hanyate ||

Be it a disease or an enemy - it must be put out when it first notices. If it is not done, even if you have the strongest body (and a strong army) you will be killed by the enemy (or disease)

अग्निः शेषं  ऋणः शेषं  शत्रुः शेषं तथैव च |

पुनः पुनः प्रवर्धेत तस्मात् शेषं न कारयेत् ||

Agni-hi sheSham RuNa-ha sheSham shatru-hu sheSham tathaiva cha

Puna-ha puna-ha pravardheta tasmaat sheSham na kaarayet

Fire (agni), debt (ruNa) and enemy (shatru) —if they remain even in small traces, they will grow again (pravardheta), so they should be finished  completely.

क्षते प्रहारा निपतन्त्यभीक्ष्णं  धनक्षये दीप्यति जठराग्निः ।

आपत्सु वैराणि समुल्लसन्ति  छिद्रेष्वनर्था बहुलीभवन्ति ॥

Kshate prahaaraa nipatyantyabheekshnam dhanakshaye deepyati jaatharaagnih.
Aapatsu vairaani samullasanti cchidreshvanarthaa bahuleebhavanti.

Once you are wounded, it is likely to happen again at the same spot  ; when you are penny-less the hunger increases ; when you are in danger the enemies are delighted; when your life is being torn apart, you commit more blunders.

धनेन किं यो न ददाति नाश्नुते  बलेन किं येन रिपुं न भाधते ।
श्रुतेन किं येन न धर्ममाचरेत्   किमात्मना यो न जितेन्द्रियो भवेत् ॥

dhanena kim yo na dadaati naashnute   balena kim yena ripum na baadhate |

shrutena kim yena na dharmamaacaret   kimaatmanaa yo na jitendriyo bhavet ||

What is the use of wealth that is not spent either in charity or on himself? What is the use of strength that is not used to control enemies? What is the use of reading all the scriptures that does not make you follow Dharma? What is the use of knowing thyself when you can not over come your senses?

दानेन तुल्यो निधिरस्ति नान्योलोभाश्च नान्योऽस्ति रिपुः पृथिव्याम् ।

विभूषणं शीलसमं न चान्यत् संतोषतुल्यं धनमस्ति नान्यत् ॥

daanena tulyo nidhirasti naanyo  lobhaashca naanyo'sti ripuh prthivyaam |

vibhuushanam shiilasamam na caanyat  santoshatulyam dhanamasti naanyat ||

On this earth, there is no better treasure than charity, no worse enemy than the greed/temptation, no better ornament than the beautiful character and nature, no better 
wealth than the contentment.

आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान्रिपु ।

नास्त्युद्यमसमो बन्धुः कृत्वा यं नावसीदति ॥

Alasyam hi manuShyANAm sharIrastho mahAnripu |

nAstyudyamasamo bandhuH kRitvA yam nAvasIdati ||

Lethargy is the greatest enemy that resides in the human body.

There is no relative equal to hard work. One who works hard  does not encounter problems. 
न युक्तं प्राकृतमपि रिपुं अवज्ञातुम्
(Na yuktaṃ prākṛtamapi ripuṃ avajñātum) Mudra rakshasa
It is not proper to disregard or neglect even an ordinary enemy.

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भव: |

महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ||BG3.37

kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ |

mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam ||

The Supreme Lord said: It is desire or lust alone, which is born of contact with the mode of passion, and later transformed into anger. Know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world.

सुलभः सुव्रतः सिद्धः शत्रुजिच्छत्रुतापनः।
न्यग्रोधोऽदुम्बरोऽश्वत्थश्चाणूरान्ध्रनिषूदनः॥८८॥Vishnu Sahasra Nama
sulabhaḥ suvrataḥ siddhaḥ śatrujicchatrutāpanaḥ nyagrōdhōdumbarōśvatthaścāṇūrāndhraniṣūdanaḥ-88
One who is readily available ,One who has taken the most auspicious forms One who is perfection ,One who is ever victorious over His hosts of enemies, The scorcher of enemies ,The one who veils Himself with Maya ,Nourishment of all living creatures ,Tree of life ,The slayer of Chanura.

आदित्य-हृदयं पुण्यं, सर्व-शत्रु-विनाशनम् ।

 जयावहं जपं नित्यमक्षयं परमं शिवम् ।।4  Aditya hrudayam

aditya-hridayam punyam sarva shatru-vinashanam |
jayavaham japen-nityam akshayyam paramam shivam || 4

By Chanting the Aditya-Hridayam (the meditation of Sun in the heart ) which is very auspicious and highly beneficial, you will be victorious in battle. This holy hymn dedicated to the Sun-God will result in destroying all enemies and bring you victory and permanent happiness.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH