FRIENDS-(7)-SLOKAS FROM RAMAYANA

SUBHASHITHANI:259

At Lanka Ravana holds consultations with the ogres on the means of victory in the contingency of a war with the monkeys. Ravana said: 'The city of Lanka has been assailed and penetrated into and Sita found out by Hanuman,a mere monkey.The wise declare victory as dependent on wise counsel'. Ravana's address and advice from Vibhishana contains some of the most beautiful subhashithas on nature of friendship. A few of them are presented in this blog. 

त्रिविधाः पुरुषा लोके उत्तम अधम मध्यमाः I
तेषाम् तु समवेतानाम् गुणदोषम् वदामि अहम्II6.6.6

Thrividhaah purushaa loke uttama adhama madhyamaah I

Tesham tu samavetaanaam gunadosham vadaami aham II

"There are three types of men in the world, namely the foremost the mediocre

and the lowest. I am telling their inherent merits and defects."- ( Ravana to ogres )

 Yuddha kanda

( Trouble with Ravana  was not that he didn't ask for advice from others ,but that he refused to accept advice that was not palatable to him )
मन्त्रिभिर् हित सम्युक्तैः समर्थैर् मन्त्र निर्णये || 6.6.7

मित्रैर् वा अपि समान अर्थैर् बान्धवैर् अपि वा हितैः |
सहितो मन्त्रयित्वा यः कर्म आरम्भान् प्रवर्तयेत् || 6.6.8
दैवे च कुरुते यत्नम् तम् आहुः पुरुष उत्तमम् |
The wise call him as the foremost among men, whose counsel is actually endowed
 with the following three characteristics, and who prosecutes his undertakings after deliberating with his friends who are capable of deciding a point at issue or with
relations having common interests or even with his superiors and exerts himself depending on providence. ( Ravana to rakshasas )

वसेत् सह सपत्नेन क्रुद्धेन आशी विषेण च | 6.16.2
न तु मित्र प्रवादेन सम्वस्च्चत्रुणा सह || ( Ravana to Vibhishana )

"One can stay together with an enemy or even with a furious snake, but one cannot stay together with an adversary yet avowing himself as a friend"

यथा पुष्करपत्रेषु पतितास्तोयबिन्दवः |
न श्लेषमभिगच्चन्ति तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् ||6.16.11

"As drops of water fallen on lotus leaves do not get clung to those leaves, so also a friendship does not cling to ignoble ones."

यथा शरदि मेघानाम् सिञ्चातामपि गर्जताम् |
न भवत्यमुबसम्क्लेदस्तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् ||6.16.12

"As rainy clouds in autumn, even though thundering, cannot get the earth saturated with water, so also friendship does not have tenderness of heart in mean people."

यथा मधुकरस्तर्षाद्रासम् विन्दन्न तिष्ठति |
तथा त्वमपि तत्रैव तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् ||6.16.13

"As a honey bee, even though getting nectar from a flower, does not stick on to that flower due to its eager desire for more, you also belong to that category as friendship does not stick on to ignoble people."

यथा पूर्वम् गजः स्नात्वा गृह्य हस्तेन वै रजः |
दूषयत्यात्मनो देहम् तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् ||6.16.15

"How an elephant abuses its body by helping itself with dust after taking bath earlier with its trunk, friendship gets an abuse in wicked persons in the same manner."

निवार्यमाणस्य मया हित एषिणा | न रोचते ते वचनम् निशा चर |
परीत काला हि गत आयुषो नरा | हितम् न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिर् ईरितम् ||6.16.27

"O, Ravana the ranger of the night! My words are not relishing to you, who are being restrained by me duly desiring your welfare. Persons whose duration of life is to end, 

do not accept the salutary words spoken by their well wishers"-

 ( Vibhishana to Ravana )

मित्र भावेन सम्प्राप्तम् न त्यजेयम् कथंचन | ६-१८-३
दोषो यदि अपि तस्य स्यात् सताम् एतद् अगर्हितम् ||Ramayana -6.18.3

"By any means, I do not desert anyone who arrives with a friendly appearance, even if he has a defect. His acceptance is irreproachable in the eyes of good men"-

(Rama to Sugreeva)

मित्रमौपयिकम् कर्तुम् रामः स्थानम् परीप्सता || ५-२१-१९

वधम् चानिच्छता घोरं त्वयासौ पुरुषर्षभः | Sundara kandam-5.21.19

It is better that this Rama, best among men, is made to be a friend by you , 

if you want to live and not be slain in battle. (Sita to Ravaana )

विदितः स हि धर्मज्ञः शरणागतवत्सलः ||5.21.20

तेन मैत्री भवतु ते यदि जीवितुमिच्चसि |Sundara kandam ( Sita to Ravana )

Rama the righteous one is indeed known as one who loves those who seek protection.  If you desire to live let there be friendship between you and Rama."

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH