A LITTLE-SVALPAM-स्वल्पं ,अल्प:

SUBHASHITHANI:217

अल्पानामपि वस्तूनां संहति: कार्यसाधिका I

तॄणैर्गुणत्वमापन्नैर् बध्यन्ते मत्तदन्तिन: II

Alpaanaamapi vastoonaam samhatih kaarasaadhikaa I

Trunair gunatvamaapannair badhyante mattadantinah II

Even small-small (insignificant) things, when put together, can do a great work. A rope made up of hay sticks can control a powerful elephant. Unity is power.

उपकर्तुं यथा स्वल्पः समर्थो न तथा महान् ।
प्रायः कूपस्तृषां हन्ति न कदापि तु वारिधिः ॥

upakartum yathA svalpaH samartho na tathA mahAn ।
prAyaH kUpaH tRuShAm hanti na kadApi tu vAridhiH ॥

A wealthy person may not be able to help the same way as small person can do. When you are thirsty, a well can help you - not an ocean.

आलस्योपहता विद्या परहस्तगताः स्त्रियः । 

अल्पबीजं हतं क्षेत्रं हन्ति सैन्यमनायकम् ॥

 Knowledge is lost by laziness; women are lost when they are in the custody of others; cultivation fails when the quantity of seeds sown is very less; an army without a commander is lost too.

अनेकशास्त्रं बहुवेदितव्यम्

अल्पश्च कालो बहवश्च विघ्ना: I

यत् सारभूतं तदुपासितव्यं

 हंसो यथा क्षीरमिवाम्भुमध्यात् II

Shaastras  are many and there is lot to be learnt. However, life is short and there are many obstacles to gaining knowledge. It is therefore necessary for one to focus on the essence and skip the others , as swan extracts milk from a mixture of milk and water.

संहतिः श्रेयसी पुंसां स्वकुलैर् अल्पकैर् अपि।

तुषेणापि परित्यक्ता न प्ररोहंति तंडुलाः॥हित्_१.३६॥- Hitopadesha,

samhatih shreyasee pumsaam svakulairalpkairapi l

tuSheNaapi parityaktaa na prarohanti taNDulaah ll

Success comes to only those people who stick by their fellow beings even if they are weak. A seed of rice cannot grow into a plant if it abandons the husk.

न स्वल्पस्य कृते भूरि नाशयेन् मतिमान् नरः ।
एतद् एवात्र पाण्डित्यं यत् स्वल्पाद् भूरि-रक्षणम् ॥ १९ ॥Pancha tantra

na svalpasya kṛte bhūri nāśayen matimān naraḥ |
etad evātra pāṇḍityaṃ yat svalpād bhūri-rakṣaṇam || 19 ||

A prudent man won't trade a big gain for the sake of a small one. It is prudence here, to give up the smaller for the protection of the bigger interest. 

अपराधं सहेताल्पं तुष्येदल्पेऽपि चोदये ।
महोपकारांश्चाध्यक्षान् प्रग्रहेणाभिपूजयेत् ॥Kautilya

aparAdhaM sahetAlpaM tuShyedalpepi chodaye ।
mahopakArAMshcadhyakShAn pragraheNa abhipUjayet ॥
Minor offences must be overlooked. One must rejoice at even small successes. When one helps you explicitly, he must be respected.

व्यसनानंतरं सौख्यं स्वल्पमप्यधिकं भवेत् ।
काषायरसमास्वाद्य स्वाद्वतीवांबु विंदते ॥

vyasanAntaram saukhyam svalpam api adhikam bhavet ।
kAShAya rasam aasvAdya svAdu atIva ambu vondate ॥

That sweetness that follows misery will look like a lot even when it is little. After drinking a bitter medicine, even plain water seems sweet.

अर्थेन हि विहीनस्य पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसः।

क्रियाः सर्वा विनश्यंति ग्रीष्मे कुसरितो यथा॥

Of a person who has no money and a little intellect,
all his actions get destroyed like a small river in summer.

अभ्रच्छाया खलप्रीति: समुद्रान्ते च मेेदिनी।

अल्पेनैव विनश्यन्ति यौवनानि धनानि च॥

Shadow of clouds, friendship with a wicked person, ground near the ocean indeed disappear shortly, similarly as youth and wealth.

अल्पकार्यकराः सन्ति ये नरा बहु भाषिणः |

शरत्कालिनमेघास्ते नूनं गर्जन्ति केवलम् ||
Alpakaaryakaraah santi ye naraah bahu bhaashiNah.
Sharatkaalinameghaaste noonam garjanti kevalam.
Those persons who are very talkative, do very little work and are just like the clouds during autumn season, which merely make rumbling sound and do not produce any rain.

अकृत्वा परसंतापमगत्वा खलनम्रताम् |
अनुसृत्य सतां वर्त्म यत्स्वल्पमपि तद् बहु ||

Akrutvaa parasamtaapam agatvaa khalanamrataam I

Anusrutya sataam vartma yatsvalpamapi tad bahoo II

Without doing trouble to others, without bowing in front of the others, by following saint's path, whatever small (is achieved) that is enough.

दारिद्र्यान्मरणाद्वा मरणं संरोचते न दारिद्र्यम् |
अल्पक्लेशं मरणं दारिद्र्यमनन्तकं दुःखम् ||
daaridryaanmaraNaadvaa maraNam samrochate na daaridryam l
alpaklesham maraNam daaridryamanantakam duhkham ll
Between poverty and death, death is always preferable and not the poverty, because death causes less suffering (and that too only once) whereas poverty causes endless suffering.

महानप्यल्पतां याति निर्गुणे गुणविस्तरः ।
आधाराधेयभावेन गजेंद्र इव दर्पणे ॥

mahAnapi alpatAm yAti nirguNe guNavistaraH ।
aadhAra adheya bhAvena gajendra iva darpaNa ॥

Even a thing with great qualities will look common if viewed from a narrow/lowly point of view. The object inherits the property of the medium. When seen in a mirror, even an elephant looks small.

अल्पज्ञः पूज्यते ग्रामे विशेषज्ञविवर्जिते ।
देशे वृक्षविनाभूतेऽप्येरण्डो हि वनस्पति: ॥

In a place devoid of trees the castor plant is treated as"King of tree'. Even a man of  half-baked knowledge is considered as a scholar where there are no real scholars available.

अनुगन्तुं सतां वर्त्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यनुगन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति ॥

If following the righteous path of the noble is difficult and seems impossible, in spite, if one follows - even a little bit, he does not perish.

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते |

स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् || BG2.40||

nehābhikrama-nāśho ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate
svalpam apyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

Working in this state of consciousness, there is no loss or adverse result, and even a little effort saves one from great danger.
SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

FAR OFF-DISTANT-DOORAM-दूरं

SUBHASHITHANI:216
को हि भारः समर्थानां किम् दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्।

को विदेशः सविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम्॥

ko hi bhāraḥ samarthānāṁ kim dūraṁ vyavasāyinām
ko videśaḥ savidyānāṁ kaḥ paraḥ priyavādinām

What is too difficult for the competent; what is too far for the hardworking. What place is foreign for one who is educated; who is an alien or foe of the one who speaks pleasantly?

गुणाः कुर्वन्ति दूतत्वं दूरेऽपि वसतां सताम्।
केतकीगन्धमाघ्राय स्वयमायान्ति षट्पदाः॥१॥

Gunaah kurvanti  dootatvam  doorepi  vasataam  sataam.
Ketakee-gancdhamaaghraaya   svyam  gacchanti shatpadaah.

Virtues act as a messenger of the saints even if they live far away. The bees go themselves to ‘Ketaki’ flower to get its fragrance. Even if the saints live far away, the people get to know of their virtues and approach the saints putting their own effort.

 अरण्ये पुष्पिता वृक्षा: दूरस्थाने  च बान्धवाः |

समृद्धेनापि किं तेन  यः काले  नोपतिष्ठति ||
Aranye pushpitaa vrukshaah doorasthaane cha baandhavaah .
Samruddhenaapai kim ten yah kaale nopatishthati.
Trees blooming with flowers  in a remote forest, and close relatives living at far away places, even if they may be prosperous, are of no use ,as they are not available at a time when they are most needed.

दद्याद् दयानुपवनो द्रविणाम्बुधाराम्_
अस्मिन्नकिञ्चनविहङ्गशिशौ विषण्णे ।
दुष्कर्मघर्ममपनीय चिराय दूरं
नारायणप्रणयिनीनयनाम्बुवाहः ॥९॥Kanaka dhaaraa stothram

Dhadyaddhayanupavanopi dravinambhudaraam,

Asminna kinchina vihanga sisou vishanne,
Dhushkaramagarmmapaneeya chiraya dhooram,
Narayana pranayinee nayanambhuvaha.

Please send your mercy which is like wind,
And shower the rain of wealth on this parched land,,
And quench the thirst of this little chataka bird,
And likewise ,drive away afar my load of sins,
Oh, darling of Narayana,
By the glance from your cloud-like dark eyes.

क्व दूरं क्व समीपं वा बाह्यं क्वाभ्यन्तरं क्व वा।

क्व स्थूलं क्व च वा सूक्ष्मं स्वमहिम्नि स्थितस्य मे॥१९- ६॥ Ashtavakra Gita

Kva dooram kva sameepam vaa baahyam kvaabhyantaram kva vaa I

Kva stoolam kva cha vaa sookshmam svamahimni sthitasya me II

There is nothing distant or near, nothing within or without, nothing large or subtle for me, who is established in Self.

तदेजति तन्नैजति तद्दूरे तद्वन्तिके ।
दन्तरस्य सर्वस्य तदु सर्वस्यास्य बाह्यतः ।। 1.1.5 ।।

tadejati tannaijati taddure tadvantike |

tadantarasya sarvasya tadu sarvasya bahyatah -Isavaasyam

The Atman moves and It moves not ; It is far and It is near ; It is within all this, and It is also outside all this. [Verse 5]

दूरस्थोऽपि न दूरस्थो यो यस्य मनसि स्थित: |
यो यस्य हॄदये नास्ति समीपस्थोऽपि दूरत: ||  चाणक्यनीति

The one who resides in your mind, is not far away even if one is staying far away. (However) The one who doesn’t have place in your heart, is distant even if one is close to you.

दूरागतं पथि श्रान्तं वृथा च गृहमागतम् ।

अनर्चयित्वा यो भुङ्क्ते स वै चाण्डाल उच्यते ॥ Chanakya niti

A guest who comes to your house in a tired condition from a far off place  must be treated with affection and respect. One does not feed such a guest is considered an outcast.

दूरादर्थे घटयति नवं दूरतश्चापशब्दं
त्यक्त्वा भूयो भवति तिरतः सत्सभारञ्जनेषु ।
मन्दं मन्दं रच्यति पदं लोकचित्तानुवृत्त्या
कामं मन्त्री कवीरिव सदा खेदभारैरमुक्तः ॥
dUrAdarthe ghaTayati navaM dUratashchApashabdaM
tyaktvA bhUyo bhavati tirataH satsabhAra~jjaneShu |
mandaM mandaM rachyati padaM lokachittAnuvRuttyA
kAmaM mantrI kavIriva sadA khedabhArairamuktaH ||Bharthruhari

Verily, a statesman, like a poet, is never free from the burden of anxiety, inasmuch as he (statesman) brings in new wealth from afar, and leaving the sound of bows at a distance again becomes engrossed in pleasing the assembly of the wise and takes his steps slowly and slowly agreeably to the heart of the subjects.  In the same way, the poet brings out fresh meaning (from words which are) far apart, leaves at a distance unsuitable words, and again becomes engrossed in pleasing the assembly of the wise, and composes verses sweetly according to popular taste. 

अत्यासन्ना विनाशाय दूरस्था न फलप्रदा ।
सेव्यन्तां मध्यभागेन राजा वह्णिर्गुरु स्त्रयः ॥Chanakya niti
atyAsannA vinAshAya dUrasthA na phalapradA |
sevyantAM madhyabhAgena rAjA vahNirguru strayaH ||
Moving closely with the king (or boss) might get us into trouble. But then staying farther from him also would not get the desired fruits. It is the same with burning fire and the teacher. Therefore, with the king (or boss), the fire and the teacher, the wise will keep at a mid-distance and get the desired fruits.

दूरस्था: पर्वता: रम्या: वेश्या: च मुखमण्डने |
युध्यस्य तु कथा रम्या त्रीणि रम्याणि दूरत: ||

Mountain look very spectacular from distance. Actors  look very beautiful when they make-up. War stories are very interesting. All these three things are interesting from distance (Better be away from them).

धर्मार्थं यस्य वित्तेहा तस्यापि न शुभावहा।
प्रक्षालनाद् हि पंकस्य दूराद् अस्पर्शनं वरम्॥Panchatantra

If one wants wealth only so that he can spend it on Dharma (charity and other noble deeds), then it is better to give up the longing. It is better keep your feet clean by staying away from mud than clean it after getting dirty.

शरीरस्य गुणानां च दूरमत्यन्तमन्तरम् ।

शरीरं क्षणविध्वंसि कल्पान्तस्थायिनो गुणाः ॥

Shareerasya gunaanaam cha dooramatyantamantaram I

Shareeram kshanavidhvamsi kalpaantasthaayino gunaah II

Between one’s  body and fame there is a huge difference. Body perishes in a flash ,while one’s fame lasts for ever.

दूरस्थो ज्ञायते सर्वः पर्वते ज्वलनादिवत् ।

चूडामणिः शिरस्थोऽपि दृश्यते न स्वचक्षुषा ॥ Ramayana

Everything faraway can be known, like the fire on the mountain. But crest-jewel cannot be seen by one’s own eyes.

जनितारमपि त्यक्त्वा निःस्वं गच्छति दूरतः॥१॥

 लक्षीवन्तो न जानन्ति प्रायेण परवेदनाम्।

Janitaaramapi tyaktvaa nihsvam gacchati dooratah I

Lakshmivanto na jaananti praayena paravedanam II

Poor parents are discarded even by their own children; As a rule the rich do not understand the pain of others .

अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते।
त्यक्त्वा जनयितारं स्वं निःस्वं यच्छति दूरतः॥Panchatantra

arthārthī jīva-loko 'yaṃ śmaśānam api sevate |
tyaktvā janayitāraṃ svaṃ niḥsvaṃ yacchati dūrataḥ || 

There are a few greedy sons (or daughters) in this world who choose to live and earn in a graveyard for the sake of money even if it means to abandon their poor and old parents.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

UPPERMOST, HIGHEST- UTTAMAM- उत्तमं

SUBHASHITHANI:215

न प्रहॄष्यति सन्माने नापमाने च कुप्यति |

न क्रुद्ध: परूषं ब्रूयात् स वै साधूत्तम: स्मॄत: || मनुस्मॄति

na prahruShyati sanmaane naapamaane cha kupyati

na kruddhah puruSham bruyaat sa vai saadhuttamah smrutah    (manusmruti)

(Those, who) do not get carried away by honour and do not become angry because of dishonour, do not use harsh words, even when angry, are known as great saints.

उत्तमो नातिवक्ता स्यात् अधमो बहुभाषते |
न काञ्चने ध्वनिस्तादृक् यादृक् कांस्ये प्रजायते ||

Uttamo naativaktaa syaat adhamo bahu bhaashate I

Na kaanchane dhavanistaadruk yaadruk kaamsye prajaayate II

Great men rarely speak more than necessary  , but the uninformed are prone to speak at length without substance.  There is very little sound from gold, whereas bronze makes loud noise.
उत्तमं कुशलं विद्द्या मध्यमं कृषिवाणिभम् ।

अधमं सेवया वृत्तिर्विषमं भारजीवनम् ॥

Uttamam kushalam vidya  maddyamam krushivaaNibham

Adhamam sevayaa vruttirviShamam bhaarajeevanam

To be proficient in science is considered the best human endeavour ; that of agriculture and trade is considered average; that to be at the service of others is lower; and that of a porter is considered the lowest.( For a prosperous society all jobs are important and respectful.)

उत्तमोऽप्यधमस्य स्याद्याज्ञानम्रकरः क्वचित् ।
कौस्तुभादीनि रत्नानि ययाचे हरिरंभुधिम् ॥

uttamaH api adhamasya syAt yAjnA namrakaraH kvachit ।
kausthubhAdIni ratnAni yayAche hariH ambhudhim ॥

Sometimes even the virtuous people will have spread their hands asking for favours from lowly persons. Didn't Lord Vishnu have to ask the Lord of Seas for gems like Kaustubha?

उत्तमैः सह  सांगत्यं पण्डितैः सह संकथा  |
अलुब्धैः सह मित्रत्वं  कुर्वाणो नावसीदति  ||

Uttmaih saha saamgatyam panditaih saha samkathaa.
Alubdhaih saha mitratvam kurvaano naavaseedati..
  If a person keeps the company of honourable and righteous  men, or engages himself in conversation or interaction  with knowledgeable persons,  or makes friendship with  persons who are not greedy, he will never be let down or get frustrated. 

उत्तमोS प्रार्थितो दत्ते मध्यमः प्रार्थितः पुनः |
याचकैर्याच्यमानोSपि  दत्ते  न  त्वधमाधमः  ||

Uttamopraarthito datte madhyamah praarthitah punah.
Yaachakairyaachyamaanopi datte na tvadhamaadhamh.
Righteous and noble persons provide help to others on being requested , whereas moderately noble persons do so on being requested again.  On the other hand persons worst among the inferior  persons never help even on being repeatedly requested by a petitioner or a beggar.

उत्तमस्य क्षणं कोपो मध्यमस्य प्रहरद्वयं |
अधमस्य  अहोरात्रं  पापिष्ठो  नैव  मुच्यते  ||

Uttamasya kshanam kopo madhyamasya praharadvyam.
Adhamasya ahoraatram paapishtho naiva muchyate.

 The anger among righteous remains momentarily, whereas in persons of average  intelligence it remains for a few hours .   Among persons of lowest category anger remains for a whole day .But in case of wicked and sinful persons it stays for ever..

उत्तमं  स्वार्जितं वित्तं मध्यमं पितुरर्जितं  |
अधमं भ्रातृवित्तं  च  स्त्रीवित्तमधमाधमं   ||

Uttamam svaarjitam vittasm madhyamam piturarjitam.
Adhamam bhraatruvittam cha streevittamadhamadhamam
The best form of wealth is the self-acquired wealth, and wealth inherited from one's father is just moderate, and that  acquired from a brother is of lowest category, whereas the wealth acquired from one's wife or a woman is of  the worst type.

सन्तप्‍ताऽयसि संस्तितस्य पयसो नामापि न श्रूयते
मुक्ताकारतया तदेव नलिनीपत्रस्थितं दृष्यते ।
स्वात्यां सागरशुक्तिमध्यपतितं सन्मौक्तिकं जायते
प्रायेणाधममध्यमोत्तमगुणाः संसर्गतो जायते ॥Niti satakam

Water placed on a hot iron disappears without a sign. The same water droplet, when placed on the leaf of a lotus will shine as if it were a pearl. (However,) if the same water falls into a pearl shell during the svātī rains, it will turn into a good pearl! In general, the lowest, the mediocre, and the highest degree of excellence is imparted (to a thing) by association.

गुणैरुत्तमतांयाति नोच्चैरासनसंस्थित: |
प्रासादशिखरस्थोपि काक: किं गरुडायते ||

guNairuttamataamyaati nochchairaasanasamsthitah

prasaadashikharasthopi kaakah kim garudaayate

Worth of a person is not determined by his seat (position), but by his qualities. Just by sitting on top of a tower  , a crow cannot become an eagle.

उत्तमश्चिन्तितं कुर्यात् प्रोक्तकारी तु मध्यम: ।
अधमोऽश्रद्धया कुर्यादकर्तोच्चरितं पितु: ॥ SB 9.18.44

uttamaś cintitaṁ kuryāt prokta-kārī tu madhyamaḥ
adhamo ’śraddhayā kuryād akartoccaritaṁ pituḥ

A son who acts by anticipating what his father wants him to do is first class, one who acts upon receiving his father’s order is second class, and one who executes his father’s order irreverently is third class. But a son who refuses his father’s order is a despicable person.

घृष्टं घृष्टं पुनरपि पुनश्चन्दनं चारुगन्धम्

छिन्नं छिन्नं पुनरपि पुनः स्वादु चैवेक्षुकाण्डम् |

दग्धं दग्धं पुनरपि पुनः काञ्चनं कान्तवर्णम्

प्राणान्तेऽपि प्रकृतिविकृतिर्जायते नोत्तमानाम् ||

Even if you rub the sandalwood piece again and again, it will still spread its pleasant smell. Even if cut the sugarcane into smaller and smaller pieces, it will still be as sweet. Even if you heat gold again and again, I will still have its characteristic glow. Even in the most trying and difficult situations, virtuous people do not change their innate qualities (of doing good to others).

सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्येद्भगवद्भावमात्मनः ।
भूतानि भगवत्यात्मन्येष भागवतोत्तमः ॥   भागवत

sarvabhUteShu yaH pashyet bhagavat bhAvamAtmanaH।
bhUtAni bhagavati AtmanyeSha bhAgavatottamaH ॥ Srimad bhAgavata

He is the best devotee who is capable of seeing God in all beings and seeing all beings in God.

 SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH