FOREST-VANAM-ARANYAM-वनं ,अरण्यं

SUBHASHITHANI:233

“The woods are lovely dark and deep. But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost

वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्निमध्ये   महार्णवे पर्वतमस्तके वा ।

प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं वा  रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुरा कृतानि ॥  Niti Satakam

Vane rane shatru jalaagnimadhye, mahaarnave parvatamastake vaa I

Suptam pramattam vishamasthitam vaa rakshanti punaayni puraakritaani II

Whether one is lost in a forest or in a battle field;or facing enemies,engulfed by water or fire; in the sea or on a mountain peak; in slumber or inadvertent-in whatever difficult situations a man may be, it is his past meritorious deeds that really protect him.

Niti Satakam

वनानि दहतो वह्नेः सखा भवति मारुतः ।

स एव दीपनाशाय कृशे कस्यास्ति सौहृदम् ॥
vanAni dahato vahneH sakhA bhavati mArutaH |
sa eva dIpanAshAya kRushe kasyAsti sauhRudam ||

When the forest burns, the wind is there to assist it. The same wind extinguishes

 a small lamp or flame. Who holds friendship with the weak?

वरं  वनं   वरं भैक्ष्यं   वरं भारोपजीवनं  |

पुंसां विवेकहीनानां सेवया न धनाSर्जनम् II
Varam vanam varam bhaikshyam varam bhaaropajeevanam.
Pumsaam vivekaheenaanaam sevayaa na dhanaarjanam.

 During the course of acquiring wealth one should better live in a forest or

become a beggar or become a porter, but he should never become a servant 

of a person without any wisdom and discretion.

कामक्रोधवनिर्जित्य किमारण्ये करिष्यति ।
अथ व निर्जितवेतौ किमारण्ये करिष्यति ॥
kAmakrodhavanirjitya kimAraNye kariShyati |
atha va nirjitavetau kimAraNye kariShyati ||
What will a person do in a forest if he has not controlled his passion and anger? 

And if he has already controlled his passion and anger then what has he to do

 in a forest?

एकेनापि सुवृक्षेण पुष्पितेन सुगन्धिना ।

वासितं स्यात् वनं सर्वं सुपुतेण कुलं तथा ॥
  Ekenaapi suvrikshena pushpitena sugandhinaa
Vaasitam syaat vanam sarvam suputrena kulam tathaa

Even as a single good tree with fragrant flowers can spread the fragrance 

in the entire forest, so also the entire family (or clan) shines by a son

possessing good qualities.

एकेन शुष्कवृक्षेण दह्यमानेन वह्निना ।
दह्यते हि वनं सर्वं कुपुत्रेण कुलं तथा ॥
  Ekena shushka vrikshena dahyamaanena vahninaa
Dahyate hi vanam sarvam kuputrena kulam tathaa
  Even as a single dry tree on fire will destroy the whole forest, so also the entire family (or clan) will be destroyed by a son of evil character or tendencies.

भीमं वनं भवति यस्य पुरं प्रधानं

सर्वो जनस्स्वजनतामुपयान्ति तस्य ।

कृत्स्ना च भूर्भवति सन्निधिरत्नपूर्णा

यस्यास्ति पूर्वसुकृतं विपुलं नरस्य ॥ Bhartruhari

Bheemam vanam bhavati yasya puram pradhaanam

Sarvo janah swajanataamupayaati tasya

Kritsnaa cha bhoorbhavati sannidhiratnapoorna

Yasyaasti poorvasukritam vipulam narasya . 

A dense forest becomes the capital city, all people become friends and 

the whole world becomes full of valuable treasures for the one who has

 accumulated in previous births fruits of meritorious actions (punya). 

शैले शैले न माणिक्यम् मौक्तिकम् न गजे गजे ।
सधवो न हि सर्वत्र चन्दनम् न वने वने ॥
shaile shaile na mANikyam mauktikam na gaje gaje |
sadhavo na hi sarvatra chandanam na vane vane ||
Not every mountain contains jewels, or every elephant pearls
Saintly people are not ubiquitous, or there is sandalwood in every forest.

न अभिषेको न सम्स्कारः सिंहस्य कियते वने ।
विक्रमार्जितसत्वस्य स्वयमेव मृगेंद्रता ॥
na abhiSheko na samskAraH siMhasya kiyate vane |
vikramArjitasatvasya svayameva mRugeMdratA ||
There is no official coronation ceremony held to declare the lion

 as the king of the jungle. He becomes king by his own attributes

and heroic actions.

वनेऽपि सिंहा मॄगमांसभक्षिणो

 बुभुक्षिता नैव तॄणं चरन्ति |
एवं कुलीना व्यसनाभिभूता 

न नीचकर्माणि समाचरन्ति ||
vanepi simhaa mrugamaamsabhakShiNo bubhukShitaa naiva truNam charanti I
evam kuleenaa vyasanaabhibhootaa na neechkarmaaNi samaacharanti II
Lions in forest, who eat flesh of other animals – will not eat grass even if they are very hungry. Similarly, persons born in good families will not perform any misconduct even in extreme adversities 

.वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्निमध्ये 

यदृच्छयापत्सु महा भयेषु ।

इदं पठन् स्तोत्रमनाकुलात्मा

सुखी भवेत् तत्कृत सर्वरक्षः ॥ ७ ॥Panchaayudha stotram

In the middle of forest or war or among enemies,

Or when surrounded by water or fire,
Or unexpected dangers or during great fears,
If the worried man reads this prayer,
He would be happy as this provides all round protection. Adi Sankara

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH