Monday, March 30, 2020

GOLD-KANAKAM-HEMNAH-KANCHANAM- कनकं , हेम्नः, काञ्चनम्

SUBHASHITHANI:231

सौवर्णानि सरोजानि निर्मातुं सन्ति शिल्पिनः 
 तत्र सौरभ निर्माणे चतुरः चतुराननः 
Sauvarnaani arojaani nirmaatum santi shilpinah I Tatra saurabha nirmaane chaturah chaturaananah II
The sculptors are there to create golden lotuses. But only the four faced one (Brahma) is clever enough to produce fragrance in them !







பொன்மலர் நாற்றமுடைத்து!
நீதிநெறி விளக்கம் :
எத்துணைய ஆயினும் கல்வி யிடமறிந்து
உ’ய்’த்துணர்வு இல்எனின் இல்லாகும் – உ’ய்’த்துணர்ந்தும்
சொன்வன்மை இன்றெனின் என்ஆகும்? அஃதுண்டேல்
பொன்மலர் நாற்றம் உடைத்து. 5

दातृत्वमेव सर्वेभ्यो गुणेभ्यो भासतेतराम् ।
ज्ञातृत्वसहितं तेच्चेत्सुवर्णस्येव सौरभम् ॥
Daatrutvameva sarvebhyo gunebhyo bhasatetaraam I
Gyaatrutva sahitam techchet suvarnasyasaurabham II
Generosity is the quality that shines the brightest among all other qualities. 

But if knowledge and generosity get together, then it is like adding perfume to gold.
विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यं बालादपि सुभाशितं ।
अमित्रादपि सद्दृत्तं अमेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् ॥
Vishadapyamrutam graahyam balaadapi subhashithamI Amitraadapi saddrutham amedyamapi kaanchanam II
We should be ready to accept good things no matter where they come from. Nectar from poison, a wise saying froma little boy, a good quality from an enemy or gold from garbage.
हेम्नः खेदो न तापेन च्छेदने कर्षणेन वा ।
तदेव हि परं दुःखं यद्गुञ्जासमतोलनम्॥
Hemnah khedo na taapena chchedena karshanena vaa I
Tadeva hi param dukham yadgunjaa samatolanam II
By heating it up and melting in fire, by cutting it, rubbing it etc., gold is not unhappy; but it becomes sorrowful, when it to be weighed against ‘gunja’ (A precatorious small seed used to weigh gold against)
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.
यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः स पण्डितः श्रुतवान् गुणज्ञः ।
स एव वक्ता स च दर्शनीयः सर्वे गुणाः काञ्चनमाश्रयन्ति ॥
- Niti satakam

He who is wealthy is regarded as of noble descent , a pundit, a scholar of the scriptures, a connoisseur of merits, an orator, and a handsome man . All the virtues are sheltered in gold. 
 यश्चेमां वसुधां कृत्स्नां प्रशासेदखिलां नृपः

तुल्याश्मकाञ्चनो यश्च स कृतार्थो न पार्थिवः ॥

 yaścemāṃ vasudhāṃ ktsnāṃ praśāsedakhilāṃ npa
tuly
āśmakāñcano yaśca sa ktārtho na pārthiva
A king who governs the whole earth may not be satisfied. But a hermit is definitely 
content for whom a piece of stone and gold are equal.​
यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते
    निघर्षणच्छेदन तापताडनैः ।
तथा चतुर्भिः पुरुषः परीक्ष्यते
    श्रुतेन शीलेन कुलेन कर्मणा ॥
yathA chaturbhiH kanakam parIkshyate
    nigharShaNa chChedana tApa tADana ।
tathA chaturbhiH puruShaH parIkshyate
    shrutena shIlena kulena karmaNA ॥

The quality of gold is determined by four types of test - scratching against touch stone, cutting, heating and beating. The quality of man should also be tested in four dimensions - education, character, family upbringing  and his actions.
अहो दुर्जनसंसर्गात् मानहानिः पदे पदे ।
पावको लोहसंगेन मुद्रगरैरभिताद्यते ॥


When you are with the unworthy, you get humiliated often. Just like even a piece of gold gets beaten again and again if it is with an iron piece.
न भूतपूर्वं न कदापि वार्ता हेम्नः कुरङ्गो न कदापि दृष्टः।
तथापि तृष्णा रघुनन्दनस्य विनाशकाले विपरीतबुद्धिः॥
na bhūtapūrva na kadāpi vārtā hemna kurago na kadāpi dṛṣṭa|
tath
āpi tṛṣṇā raghunandanasya vināśakāle viparītabuddhi||
"It had neither happened before nor heard; nor had a golden deer ever been seen; Even then, Rama desired it — one's thinking goes amiss in bad times!"
कनकं कुण्डलत्वेन तरङ्गत्वेन वै जलम् ।
विनिर्णीता विमूढेन देहत्वेन तथाऽऽत्मता ॥ ७२॥Aparokshanubhuti
Just as gold is thought of as an ear-ring and water as waves, so is the Atman mistaken for the body.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

Saturday, March 28, 2020

DIFFICULTY- PAIN- KASHTAM- कष्टं

SUBHASHITHANI:230
Difficulties are opportunities to better things , they are stepping stones to greater experience. When one door closes, another always opens, as a natural law it has to be, to balance. -Anon
कस्यात्यन्तं सुखमुपनतं दुःखमेकान्ततो वा |
नीचैर्गच्छत्युपरि दशा चक्रनेमिक्रमेण || Megha dutam-Kalidasa
Who is endowed with unending happiness ?,
Who is laden with only the sorrow ?

States of happiness and sorrow keep turnaround just as the spokes of a wheel keep going up and down

कष्टं खलु मूर्खत्वं कष्टं खलु यौवनेषु दारिद्र्यं ।
कष्टात् कष्टतरं किं परगृहवासः परान्नं च ॥
kaShTam khalu mUrkhatvam  kaShTam khalu yauvaneShu dAridryam ।
kaShTAt kaShTataram kim  paragRuhavAsaH parAnnam cha ॥
It is difficult being stupid and poor while young. But the worst difficulty is when you have to take refuge and eat in someone else's house.






अर्थार्थी  यांनि कष्टानि सहते  कृपणो  जनः |
तान्येव यदि धर्मार्थी न  भूयः क्लेशभाजनं  ||
Arthaarthee yaani kashtaani sahate krupano janah.
Taanyeva yadi dharmaarthee na bhooyo kleshabhaajanam.
The tribulations a miser undergoes while trying to acquire wealth, if he pursues with the same vigour to follow religious austerities , he would never face any hardship in his life.
कष्टा वृत्ति: पराधीना कष्टो वासो निराश्रय:।
निर्धनो व्यवसायश्च सर्वकष्टा दरिद्रता
kashṭā vtti parādhīnā kaṣṭo vāso nirāśraya |
nirdhano vyavasāyaśca sarvakaṣṭā daridratā ||

 Service for livelihood in dependence is difficult. Living without a support is difficult. Undertaking any work without resources is difficult. But, Poverty is the most difficult of all .
हेम्नः संलक्ष्यते ह्यग्नौ विशुद्धि: श्यामिकाऽपि वा ।Raghuvamsa-Kalidasa
Hemnah samlakshyate hyagnau vishuddhih shyaamikaapi va.
The purity or otherwise of gold can be tested only when it is put through the fire.
சுடச்சுடரும் பொன்போல் ஒளிவிடும் துன்பஞ்
சுடச்சுட நோற்கிற் பவர்க்கு
.
Kural-267

The hotter glows the melting fire, the gold the brighter shines;
The  pain of penitence, like fire, the soul of man refines.

शिरसा धार्यमाणोऽपि सोमः सौम्येन शम्भुना |
तथापि कृशतां धत्ते कष्टः खलु पराश्रयः ||
Shirasaa dhaaryamaanopi somah saumyena shambhunaa. Tathapi krusshataam dhatte kashtah khalu paraashrayah.
In spite of being accommodated on the head by Siva’s grace, the moon has to go through waning and waxing. It is always unpleasant if one has to depend on others. 
गात्रं संकुचितं गतिर्विगलिता भ्रष्टा च दन्तावलिः
दृष्टिर्नश्यति वर्धते बधिरता वक्त्रं च लालायते I
वाक्यं नाद्रियते च बांधवजनो भार्या न शुश्रूषते
हा कष्टं पुरुषस्य  जीर्णवयसः पुत्रोऽप्यमित्रायते IIVairagya Satakam
Gaatram samkuchitam gatirvigalitaa bhrashtaa cha dantaavalih
Drishtirnashyati vardhate badhirataa vaktram cha laalaayate
Vaakyam naadriyate cha bandhavajano bhaaryaa na shushrooshate
Ha kashtam purushasya jeernavayasah putropyamitraayate [95]

The body has shrunk, the walk is tottering, the teeth have fallen, the sight has dimmed, hearing is diminished, saliva drips from the mouth, relatives do not heed the words, the wife also does not render service, even the son has become an enemy. O ! the misery of an aged person.
अदृष्टमुखभङ्गस्य युक्तमन्धस्य याचितुम्
अहो बत महत् कष्टं चक्षुमानपि याचते ll 
adruShTamukhabhangasya yuktamandhasya yaachitum l
aho bata mahat kaShTam chakShumaanapi yaachate ll
A blind person does not see the grimace or the disgust on the face of the donor and therefore if a blind person begs for alms, it is not surprising.  But it is unfortunate that even the person who can see this, begs !
अहो दैन्यमहो कष्टं पारक्यैः क्षणभंगुरैः ।
 यन्नोपकुर्यादस्वार्थैर्मर्त्यः स्वज्ञातिविग्रहैः ॥SB 6.10.10
aho dainyam aho kaṣṭa  pārakyai kaa-bhaguraiḥ I
yan nopakuryād asvārthair   martya sva-jñāti-vigrahaiḥ II

This body, which is eatable by jackals and dogs after death, does not actually do any good for me, the spirit soul. It is usable only for a short time and may perish at any moment. The body and its possessions, its riches and relatives, must all be engaged for the benefit of others, or else they will be sources of tribulation and misery. 
अर्थानां अर्जने दुःखम् अर्जितानां च रक्षणे ।
आये दुःखं व्यये दुःखं धिक् अर्थाः कष्टसंश्रयाः ॥Pancha tantra
It is difficult to earn money, and to protect the earnings. Income as well as expenditure give pain - Fie on Money ! - which is the cause of hardship.
SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

Thursday, March 26, 2020

SHADE- SHADOW- CHAAYAA- छाया

SUBHASHITHANI:229
"If you stand straight do not fear a crooked shadow"-Chinese proverb


தெள்ளிய ஆலின் சிறு பழத்து ஒரு விதை
தெண்ணீர் கயத்துச் சிறுமீன் சினையினும்
நுண்ணிதே ஆயினும் அண்ணல் யானை
அணிதேர் புரவி ஆள் பெரும் படையொடு
மன்னர்க்கு இருக்க நிழல் ஆகும்மே 17

வெற்றி  வேற்கை






अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते ।
छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः ॥ १.५९ ॥
Aravapyuchitam kaaryam aatithityam gruhamaagate I
Chettumapyaagate  chaayaam nopasamharate drumah II

Even if your enemy comes to your house , he should be treated as a guest . The tree gives shade even to the man who comes to cut it.
सेवितव्यो महावृक्षः फलच्छायासमन्वितः ।
यदि दैवात् फलं नास्ति छाया केन निवार्यते ।I Hitopadesa
Sevitavyo mahAvRukShaH phalaChAyA samanvitaH ।
yadi daivAt phalam nAsti ChAyA kena nivAryate 
One must always take shelter of a big tree with lots of fruits and shade. In case due to bad luck, there are no fruits - still you will have the shade. Who can take that away from you?
उद्योगान्निवृत्तस्य सुसहायस्य धीमतः |
छायेवानुगता तस्य नित्यः श्रीः सहचारिणी ||

udyogaannivruttasya susahaayasya dheematah l
chaayevaanugataa tasya nityah shreeh sahachaariNee ll
An intelligent man who is persevering and committed to his work ,
Sri Mahalakshmi ,the goddess of wealth, herself favours him and always
 remains with him just like the shadow of a person always accompanying him.
आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती  पश्चात् 
दिनस्य पूर्वार्धपरार्धभिन्ना
छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जनानाम् Niti satakam
Heartfelt in the beginning, but dwindling with time; faint at first, and blossoming over time. Thus differ friendships of the wicked and virtuous, much like a shadow contracts and lengthens during the two halves of a day. ||
 नास्ति मातृसमा छाया नास्ति मातृसमा गति:
नास्ति मातृसमं त्राणं नास्ति मातृसमा प्रपा ।।
 Naasti matrisama chaya naasti matrisama gati
 naasti matrisamam tranam naasti matrisama prapa II
There is no shade better than mother, no resort like a mother, no security greater than mother, no fountain (of love ) superior to mother.
इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव।
प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना।SITA VIVAHA-RAMAYANA
पतिव्रता महाभागा छायेवानुगता सदा।
इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद्राजा मन्त्रपूतं जलं तदा।।1.73.28।।

"This my daughter Sita will be your partner in performing her rightful duty. Accept her. Farewell. Take her hand into your own.  By being a devoted wife this highly fortunate Sita would always follow you like a shadow". Thus spoken, he sprinkled the water sanctified with mantras (on them).
 छायां ददाति शशिचन्दनशीतलां यः
सौगन्धवन्ति सुमनांसि मनोहराणि
स्वादूनि सुन्दरफलानि पादपं तं
छिन्दन्ति जाङ्गलजना अकृतज्ञता हा
A tree gives shade cool like the moon or sandal paste, gives flowers with sweet fragrance and beautiful captivating the mind, and gives very tasty fruits. It is a shame that heartless men cut the trees , exhibiting height of ingratitude.  
छायाम् अन्यस्य कुर्वन्ति तिष्ठन्ति स्वयम् आतपे |
फलन्त्यपि परार्थाय वृक्षा: सत्पुरुषा इव ||
Chhaayaam anyasya kurvanti tiShThanti svayam aatape I
phalantyapi paraarthaaya vrukshaa-haa sat-puruShaa iva II

Trees give shade to others, while standing in the heat themselves. They bear fruits for the benefit of others –Trees are like the virtuous.
शरदम्बुधरच्छाया जत्वर्यो यौवनश्रियः
आपातरम्याः विषयाः पर्यन्तपरितापिनः
Sharadambudharachchhaayaa jatwaryo yauvanashriyah
Aapaataramyaah vishayaah paryanta paritaapinah
Youth is fleeting like the clouds of autumn. The pleasures of the senses are sweet in the beginning but yield bitter results in the end.

 यदेवोपनत दुःखात्सुखं तद्रसवत्तरम्।
निर्वाणाय तरुच्छाया तप्तस्य हि विशेषतः॥  
yadevopanatam dukhAt sukham tadrasavattaram |
nirvANAy taruchhAyA taptasya he visheshatah || Vikramorvasiyam
The pleasure  that follows after a period of grief is more enjoyable. Only the one who has been afflicted by the scorching heat of sun, would truly appreciate the shade given by a tree.
Vikramorvasiyam is the second of the three dramas attributed to Kalidasa.)
छायायां पारिजातस्य हेमसिंहासनोपरि
आसीनमम्बुदश्याममायताक्षमलङ्कृतम् ।
 चन्द्राननं चतुर्बाहुं श्रीवत्साङ्कित वक्षसं
रुक्मिणी सत्यभामाभ्यां सहितं कृष्णमाश्रये ॥ VSN
 I salute and surrender to Lord kriShNA whose complexion is blue like the sky, with wide eyes and four arms, who is well adorned, whose face glows like the moon, whose chest bears the srivatsa mark, who is seated on a golden throne in the shade of the pArijAta tree with his wives rukmiNI and satyabhAmA..
SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

GUNAA AND DOSHA- गुणः,दोष:

SUBHASHITHANI:228
Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more.   Nicola Tesla


गुणदोषानशास्त्रज्ञ: कथं विभजते जनः l 
किमन्धस्याधिकारोस्ति रूपभेदोपलब्धिषु ll 
guNadoShaanashaastrajnah katham vibhajate janah l
kimandhasyaadhikaarosti roopabhedopalabdhiShu ll
Just like a blind person cannot appreciate different forms, how can a person, who is not well informed on the subject decide virtue or defect in another person?
पश्यति परेषु दोषान् असतोऽपि जनः सतोऽपि नैव गुणान् l 
विपरीतमिदं स्वस्मिन् महिमा मोहाञ्जनस्यैष: ll 
pashyati pareShu doShaan asatopi janah satopi naiva guNaan l
vipareetamidam svasmin mahimaa mohaanjanasyaiShah ll
Deluded persons see blemishes in people where non exists, also they fail to acknowledge merit in virtuous people. It is exactly the opposite when it comes to evaluating  themselves.
गुणदोषौ बुधौ गृह्णन्निन्दुक्ष्वेलाविवेश्वरः ।
शिरसा श्लाघ्यते पूर्वं परं कण्ठे नियच्छति ॥
guNadoShau budhau guNhannindukShvelaaviveshvarah l
shirasaa shlaaghyate poorvam param kaNThe niyachchhati ll
A wise man deals with merits and demerits as Lord Shiva dealt with the moon and the poison. He wears the former on his head and keeps the latter in his throat.
குணம்நாடிக் குற்றமும் நாடி அவற்றுள்
மிகைநாடி மிக்க கொளல்.Kural-504

Weigh well the good of each, his failings closely scan,
As these or those prevail, so estimate the man.


अमितगुणोSपि  पदार्थो दोषेणैकेन निन्दितो भवति |
निखिलरसायनमहितो  गन्धेनोग्रेण लशुन  इव ||
amitaguNopi padaartho doSheNaikena ninindito bhavati. I
nikhilarasaayanmahito  gandhenogreNa lashun iva.
.II
Even the presence of a single defect causes disrepute to a thing which may have  many virtues. Garlic which has extraordinary medicinal values is shunned due to its pungent smell.
किं दातुरखिलैर्दोषैः किं लुब्धस्याखिलैर्गुणैः ।
 न लोभादधिको दोषो न दानाधिको गुणः ॥  
kim daaturakhilairdoShaih kim lubdhasyaakhilairguNaih I
na lobhaadadhiko doSho na daanaadhiko guNah  II
It does not matter if a generous person has some defects. It does not matter if a greedy person has all the good qualities. There is no greater vice than greed. There is no greater quality than being generous.   
 षड् गुणाः पुरुषेणेह त्यक्तव्या कदाचनः I
सत्यं दानम् अनालस्यम् अनुसूया क्षमा धृतिः II Pancha tantra
Shad gunaah purusheneha tyaktavyaa na kadaachanh
Satyam daanam anaalasyam anusuya kshmaa dhritih.
A man should never give up these six qualities - Truth, Charity, Promptness, not finding faults in others, Forgiveness and Patience.
षड्  दोषाः पुरुषेणेह  हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता |
निद्रा  तन्द्रा  भयं क्रोधः आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रता |
महाभारत उद्योग
Shad doshaah purushaaneha haatavyaa bhootimicchataa.
Nidra tandra bhayam krodhah aalasyam deerghasootrataa.
A man wishing to prosper in this world, should leave 6 bad qualities - extra sleep, lethargy, fear, anger, laziness and procrastination.
सहजांधदृशः स्वदुर्नये       परदोषेक्षणदिव्यचक्षुषः |
स्वगुणोच्चगिरो मुनिव्रताः  परवर्णग्रहणेष्वसाधवः || shishupaalavadha
Sahajaandhadrushah svadurnaye    ParadoSheNadivyachakShuShah
svagunochchagiro munivrataah   paravarNagraheNeShvasaadhavah   –
Wicked people are blind to their own mistakes. But they have microscopic eyes when it comes to finding faults with others. They blow their trumpet when talking about their own virtues. However, they go dumb when asked to describe other people’s virtues.
दोषम् अपि गुणवति जने दृष्ट्वा गुणरागिणो न खिद्यन्ते ।
प्रीत्या एव शशिनि पतितं पश्यति लोकः कलङ्कम् अपि ॥
Dosham api gunavati jane drushtvaa gunaraagino na khidhyante I
Preetyaa eva shashini patitam pasyati lokah khalankam api II
A person fond of virtues does not get affected  on seeing a defect in a virtuous person just as people watch even the dark spots on the moon with lots of interest. 
एकः क्षमावतां दोषो द्वतीयो नोपपद्यते
 यदेनं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः I
सोऽस्य दोषो मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम्
 क्षमा गुणों ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा Vidura niti
eka kamavatāṁ doo dvitīyo nopalabhyate|
yadena
kamayā yuktamaśakta manyate jana||
So asya dosho na mantavyah kshamaa hi paramam balam I
Kshama guno hyasaktaanaam shaktaanam bhushanam kshamaa II

There is but a single flaw in those who forgive ; They are often mistaken for  weaklings. Forgiveness is not a weakness, it is the greatest strength. It  helps the weak to become strong , and a  decoration when found in the mighty.
उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य को गुणः ।
अपकारिषु यः साधुः स साधुः सद्भिरुच्यते ॥Panchatantra
upakAriShu yaH sAdhuH sAdhutve tasya ko guNaH ।
apakAriShu yaH sAdhuH sa sAdhuH sadbhiH uchyate ॥
To be good to someone who is helpful ,there is nothing unusual. Wise men call him a ‘good man ’ (sadhu)only those  who return good for evil.  
SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH