SCRIPTURES-SHASTRAM- शास्त्रं

SUBHASHITHANI:176

शमार्थं सर्वशास्त्राणि विहितानि मनीषिभिः ।

स एव सर्वशास्त्रज्ञः यस्य शान्तं मनः सदा ॥   – महाभारत

shamaarthaM sarvashaastraaNi vihitaani manIShibhiH |

sa eva sarvashaastraj~naH yasya shaantaM manaH sadaa ||   – mahaabhaarata

The learned contrived all the shaastras (Scriptures) to quieten the mind.  He alone is cognizant of all shaastraas, whose mind is calm at all times.

शास्त्राण्यधीत्यापि भवन्ति मूर्खाः 

यस्तु क्रियावान् पुरुषः स विद्वान् ।

सुचिन्तितं औषधमातुराणां

 न नाममात्रेण करोत्यरोगम् ॥   – हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ

shAstrANi adhItyApi bhavanti mUrkhAH  yastu kriyAvAn puruShaH sa vidvAn ।

suchintitam auShadha mAturANAm  na nAmamAtreNa karoti arogam ॥   – hitopadesha

It is not enough to know what is written in the scriptures. Only he will be called wise who puts those learnings into action. Even a very well thought out medicine will not cure the illness by just uttering its name.   – Hitopadesha, Mitralabha

अलसो मन्द भुद्दिस्च सुखीवा व्याधि पीडितः I

निद्रालुः कामुकस्चैव षडेते शास्त्र वर्जिताः II

Alaso mandabhuddisca  sukheevaa vyadi peeditah I

Nidraaluh kaamukaschaiva shadete shaastra varjitah II

These are the people who are deprived of the teachings of the scriptures:

Lazy, dull witted, happy-go-lucky, sick, sleepy, and lustful.

यस्य नास्ति स्वयं प्रज्ञा शास्त्रं तस्य करोति किम् ।

लोच्नाभ्यां विहीनस्य दर्पणः किं करिष्यति ॥

Yasya naasti svayam pragnyaa shaastam tasya karoti kim

Lochnaabhyaam vihinasya darpaNah kim kiriShyati

How will the shastras/ scriptures help him who does not have  wisdom/intelligence of his own? How will a mirror help a person who is blind ?

अधीत्य चतुरो वेदान् सर्वशास्त्राण्यनेकश: |

ब्रम्ह्मतत्वं न जानाति दर्वी सूपरसं यथा ||

Mere reading of the four vedas and all the shastras number of times, is not enough for obtaining the real knowledge of Brahman (Realisation of the supreme being), Just as a ladle  in a vessel used for serving, does not get the taste of the thing served from that pot. 

अनेकसंशयोच्छेदि, परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम् । 

सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं, यस्य नास्ति अन्धैव सः ॥
aneka-saMshayo_chchhedi, paroksh_Arthasya darshakam |
sarvasya lochanam shAstram, yasya nAsti andhaiva saH ||  
It dispels  many doubts, foresees what is not obvious .
It dispels  many doubts, foresees what is not obvious .Scripture  is the eye of everyone, one who hasn't got it, is like blind .

यथास्त्ररहिते पुंसि वृथा शौर्यपरिग्रहः ।

तथोपन्यासहीनस्य वृथा शास्त्रपरिग्रहः ॥

yathA astra rahite pumsi vRuthA shaurya parigrahaH ।

tathA upanyAsa hInasya vRuthA shAstra parigrahaH ॥

A soldier may be very brave and courageous. His courage is useless if he does not have any weapons. Just like that, having lot of knowledge is useless if you can not articulate it well so that other people can understand.

भारोऽविवेकिनः शास्त्रं भारो ज्ञानं च रागिणः ।

अशान्तस्य मनो भारः भारोऽनात्मविदो वपुः ॥

 bhaaro'vivekinah shaastram bhaaro jnaanam raaginah |

ashaantasya mano bhaarah bhaaro'naatmavido vapuh || Yoga vasishta

An idiot would find the scriptures a burden . A person who enjoys worldly pleasures finds knowledge an obstacle. A restless man finds his mind unbearable. If one does not know his self, he will find his body a heavy load.

बुद्धिवृद्धिकराण्याशु धन्यानि च हितानि च ।
नित्यं शास्त्राण्यवेक्षेत निगमांश्चैव वैदिकान् ॥ १९ ॥
buddhivṛddhikarāṇyāśu dhanyāni ca hitāni ca |
nityaṃ śāstrāṇyavekṣeta nigamāṃścaiva vaidikān || Manusmrti
 One must read the scriptures that increase one's intelligence, wealth, and well-being. Such practice should be in  accordance with the Vedas and agamas .

प्राणाघातान्निवृत्तिः परधनहरणे संयमः सत्यवाक्यम्
काले शक्त्या प्रदेयं युवतिजनकथामूकभावः परेषाम् ।
तृष्णास्रोतोविबंधो गुरुषु च विनतिः सर्वभूतानुकंपा
सामान्यं सर्वशास्त्रेष्वनुपहतविधिः श्रेयसामेषमार्गः ॥

praanaaghaataannivrttih paradhanaharane samyamah satyavaakyam

kaale shaktyaa pradeyam yuvatijanakathaamuukabhaavah pareshaam |

trshnaasrotovibandho gurushu ca vinatih sarvabhuutaanukampaa

saamaanyam sarvashaastreshvanupahatavidhih shreyasaameshamaargahII

The following are generally accepted in all scriptures as the way to lead a successful life: stay away from hurting animals, do not steal from others, be honest, keep donating what ever is in your reach , keep silent when people talk  about a young girl ( to defame her ), keep a check on your desires, be humble with your teachers, compassion towards all beings.

दृष्टिपूतं न्यासेत्पादं वस्त्रपूतं पिबेज्जलम्
शास्त्रपूतं वदेद्वाक्यं मनः पूतं समाचरेत्   – चाणक्य नीति
dRuShTipUtaM nyaasetpaadaM vastrapUtaM pibejjalam
shaastrapUtaM vadedvaakyaM manaH pUtaM samaacharet   – chaaNakya nIti
Clear the path through sight; filter drinking water through a cloth; purify speech through knowledge of scriptures; cleanse actions through thought.

मदोपशमनं शास्त्रं खलानां कुरुते मदम् l
चक्षुः प्रकाशकं तेज उलॊकानामिवान्धताम् ll

madopahamanam shaastram khalaanaam kurute madam l

chakShuh prakaashakam teja ulokaanaamivaandhataam ll

Scriptures help one to overcome pride (and to inculcate humility). But the wicked persons develop pride (of their knowledge of Scripture). It is like an Owl, who runs away from the very light, which is supposed to illumine the way, and hides in a dark place.

अध्यापयन्ति शास्त्राणि तृणीकुर्वन्ति पण्डितान् ।
विस्मारयन्ति जातिं स्वां वराटाः पञ्चषाः करे ॥

Adhyaapayanti shaastraani truneekurvanti panditaan I

Vismaarayanti jaatim svaam varaataah panjashah kare II

One who is proud of his wealth, forgets his real worth and thinks he knows the vedas and can teach them to others, and  disrespects scholars. 

अणुभ्यश्च महद्भ्यश्च शास्त्रेभ्य: कुशलो नर: |

सर्वत: सारमादद्यात् पुष्पेभ्य इव षट्पद: ||

aNubhyashcha mahadbhyashcha shaastrebhyah kushalo narah

sarvatah saaramaadadyaat puShpebhya iva ShaTpadah

A wise person should gather only important parts (gist) of knowledge from all ‘shaastras’ (because they are many and time is short) – juts as a bee gathers (only) honey from all types of flowers (and does not collect flowers).

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH