PANCHA TANTRA-MITRA BHEDAA-38

 SUBHASHITHANI:365

“Oh Damanaka! It is true – a king never has true friends. Living in a forest is better, begging is better, facing difficulties in life is better – than trying to make a living by serving. “- Sanjeevaka ( The bull )

भक्तानामुपकारिणां परहितव्यापारयुक्तात्मनां
सेवासंव्यवहारतत्त्वविदुषां द्रोहच्युतानामपि ।
व्यापत्तिः स्खलितान्तरेषु नियता सिद्धिर्भवेद्वा न वा
तस्मादम्बुपतेरिवावनिपतेः सेवा सदा शङ्किनी ॥१.३०७॥

bhaktānām upakāriṇāṃ para-hita-vyāpāra-yuktātmanāṃ
sevā-saṃvyavahāra-tattva-viduṣāṃ droha-cyutānām api |
vyāpattiḥ skhalitāntareṣu niyatā siddhir bhaved vā na vā
tasmād ambupater ivāvani-pateḥ sevā sadā śaṅkinī || 307 ||

Of Servants who are devoted to their master and his good, interested always in helping others, who know the principles of faithful service and who are far from being disloyal, destruction is certain when they commit mistakes; as to rewards for their hard work they may or may not get it; therefore, service of the lord of the earth, as of the lord of waters is always attended with uncertainty.

भावस्निग्धैरुपकृतमपि द्वेष्यतां याति लोके
साक्षादन्यैरपकृतमपि प्रीतये चोपयाति ।
दुर्ग्राह्यत्वान्नृपतिमनसां नैकभावाश्रयाणां
सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनामप्यगम्यः ॥१.३०८॥

bhāva-snigdhair upakṛtam api dveṣyatāṃ yāti loke
sākṣād anyair apakṛtam api prītaye copayāti |
durgrāhyatvān nṛpati-manasāṃ naika-bhāvāśrayāṇāṃ
sevā-dharmaḥ parama-gahano yoginām apy agamyaḥ || 308 ||

In this world even a service by some is looked upon with displeasure, while direct injury done by others, is appreciated. Due to the vagaries of the minds of kings, it is extremely difficult to understand the duties of a servant and it is beyond the comprehension of even wise sages.

We have very similar sentiment expressed in Bhartruhari's Niti satakam:

मौनान्मूकः प्रवचनपटुश्चाटुलो जल्पको वा
धृष्टः पार्श्वे भवति च वसन्दूरतोप्यप्रगल्भः ।
क्षान्त्या भीरुर्यदि न सहते प्रायशो नाभिजातः
सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनामप्यगम्यः ।। 58 ।।

maunAnmUkaH pravacanapaTuScATulO jalpakO vA
dhRshTaH pArSvE bhavati ca vasandUratOpyapragalbhaH |
kshAntyA bhIruryadi na sahatE prAyaSO nAbhijAtaH
sEvAdharmaH paramagahanO yOginAmapyagamyaH || 58 ||Niti satakam

The norms of serving are complex, incomprehensible even to sages. If silent the servant is labelled dumb, if quick to reply, flippant and loquacious. If he stays close, he is called audacious, and if he maintains a distance, he is shy. If he is tolerant, then he is timid, and if he is unable to bear indignities, then he is ill-bred.

प्रभोः प्रसादमन्यस्य न सहन्तीह सेवकाः ।
सपत्न्य इव सङ्क्रुद्धाः सपत्न्याः सुकृतैरपि ॥१.३०९॥
prabhoḥ prasādam anyasya na sahantīha sevakāḥ |
sapatnya iva saṅkruddhāḥ sapatnyāḥ sukṛtair api || 309 ||
Servants do not like their master showing favours to others, just like co-wives do not bear the favours shown by their husbands to their fellow wife although very charming.

गुणवत्तरपात्रेण छाद्यन्ते गुणिनां गुणाः ।
रात्रौ दीपशिखाकान्तिर्न भानावुदिते सति ॥१.३१०॥
guṇavattara-pātreṇa chādyante guṇināṃ guṇāḥ |
rātrau dīpa-śikhā-kāntir na bhānāv udite sati || 310 ||
The merits of great people are eclipsed by one possessed of superior merits; the flame of a lamp sheds its light at night but not after the sun has risen.

बहवः पण्डिताः क्षुद्राः सर्वे मायोपजीविनः ।
कुर्युः कृत्यमकृत्यं वा उष्ट्रे काकादयो यथा ॥१.३११॥

bahavaḥ paṇḍitāḥ kṣudrāḥ sarve māyopajīvinaḥ |
kuryuḥ kṛtyam akṛtyaṃ vā uṣṭre kākādayo yathā || 311 ||

When those who scheme, who are mean, and who cheat, all get together, they are capable of anything, however proper or improper it may be. Much like the crow and the others who cheated the camel.

गृहं शत्रुमपि प्राप्तं विश्वस्तमकुतोभयम् ।
यो हन्यात्तस्य पापं स्याच्छतब्राह्मणघातजम् ॥१.३१२॥
Gruham shatrumapi praaptam vishvastamakutobhayam I
Yo hanyaattasya paapam syaachchata brahmanagaatajam II312
He, who kills even an enemy coming to his house, confident of safety, will be guilty of sin arising from the murder of a hundred brahmanas.

न गोप्रदानं न महीप्रदानं
न चान्नदानं हि तथा प्रधानम् ।
 यथा वदन्तीह बुधाः प्रधानं
सर्वप्रदानेष्वभयप्रदानम् ॥१.३१३॥

Na gopradaanam na maheepradaanam
 na cha annadaanam hi tatha pradaanam I
Yatha vadanteeha budhaah pradaanam
sarvapradhaneshvabhaya pradaanam II1.313

Not the giving away of cows, not the giving away of land, not even the giving of food is such an important thing, since, they (wise) say here, the truly great gift among all gifts is the gift of assurance of protection.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

PANCHA TANTRA-MITRA BHEDAA-37

 SUBHASHITHANI:364

विश्रम्भाद्यस्य यो मृत्युमवाप्नोति कथञ्चन ।
तस्य हत्या तदुत्था सा प्राहेदं वचनं मनुः ॥१.२९७॥
viśrambhād yasya yo mṛtyum avāpnoti kathañcana |
tasya hatyā tad-utthā sā prāhedaṃ vacanaṃ manuḥ || 297 ||
When a man meets with death in some way or other, owing to his having placed confidence in another, the latter incur the sin of that murder. It is declared by Manu.

अपि ब्रह्मवधं कृत्वा प्रायश्चित्तेन शुध्यति ।
तदर्थेन विचीर्णेन न कथञ्चित्सुहृद्द्रुहः ॥१.२९८॥
api brahma-vadhaṃ kṛtvā prāyaścittena śudhyati |
tad-arthena vicīrṇena na kathañcit suhṛd-druhaḥ || 298 ||
If one commits the sin of killing a man, he can be redeemed by serving a sentence as punishment; but a person who cheats his friend has no redemption at all.

உள்ளற்க உள்ளம் சிறுகுவ கொள்ளற்க
அல்லற்கண் ஆற்றறுப்பார் நட்பு.- Thirukkural 798

Do not think of things that discourage your mind, nor contract friendship with those who would forsake you in adversity.

दत्त्वापि कन्यकां वैरी निहन्तव्यो विपश्चिता ।
अन्योपायैरशक्यो यो हते दोषो न विद्यते ॥१.२९९॥
dattvāpi kanyakāṃ vairī nihantavyo vipaścitā |
anyopāyair aśakyo yo hate doṣo na vidyate || 299 ||
A wise man should kill an enemy whom it is not possible to overcome by any other means, even though he might have given his daughter in marriage to him; no sin is incurred in killing such an enemy.

कृत्याकृत्यं न मन्येत क्षत्रियो युधि सङ्गतः ।
प्रसुप्तो द्रोणपुत्रेण धृष्टद्युम्नः पुरा हतः ॥१.३००॥
kṛtyākṛtyaṃ na manyeta kṣatriyo yudhi saṅgataḥ |
prasupto droṇa-putreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ purā hataḥ || 300 ||
When engaged in battle, a man should not pause to consider what is fit and what is not fit to be done; for, formerly AshvattHaaman killed Drushtadyumnan while he was asleep (as tit for tat).

दुर्जनगम्या नार्यः प्रायेणास्नेहवान् भवति राजा ।
कृपणानुसारि च धनं मेघो गिरिदुर्गवर्षी च ॥१.३०१॥
durjana-gamyā nāryaḥ prāyeṇāsnehavān bhavati rājā |
kṛpaṇānusāri ca dhanaṃ megho giri-durga-varṣī ca || 301 ||

Women are often tricked by scamps, kings make friendship with rascals, wealth seeks a miser, and rain falls on mountains and inaccessible places.

अहं हि संमतो राज्ञो य एवं मन्यते कुधीः ।
बलीवर्दः स विज्ञेयो विषाणपरिवर्जितः ॥१.३०२॥

ahaṃ hi saṃmato rājño ya evaṃ manyate kudhīḥ |
balīvardaḥ sa vijñeyo viṣāṇa-parivarjitaḥ || 302 || 

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 वरं वनं वरं भैक्षं वरं भारोपजीवनम् ।
वरं व्याधिर्मनुष्याणां नाधिकारेण सम्पदः ॥१.३०३॥

varaṃ vanaṃ varaṃ bhaikṣaṃ varaṃ bhāropajīvanam |
varaṃ vyādhir manuṣyāṇāṃ nādhikāreṇa sampadaḥ || 303 ||
During the course of acquiring wealth, one should better live in a forest or
become a beggar or become a porter or afflicted by chronic diseases but he should never live by serving a king .

ययोरेव समं वित्तं ययोरेव समं कुलम् ।
तयोर्मैत्री विवाहश्च न तु पुष्टविपुष्टयोः ॥१.३०४॥
yayor eva samaṃ vittaṃ yayor eva samaṃ kulam |
tayor maitrī vivāhaś ca na tu puṣṭa-vipuṣṭayoḥ || 304 ||
Those who are equal in wealth, and those who are equal in lineage.
Between them does friendship and marriage occur, not between opposites (strong and the weak?)

मृगा मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति
गावश्च गोभिस्तुरगास्तुरगैः ।
मूर्खाश्च मूर्खैः सुधियः
सुधीभिः समानशीलव्यसनेन सख्यम् ॥१.३०५॥
mṛgā mṛgaiḥ saṅgam anuvrajanti
gāvaś ca gobhis turagās turagaiḥ |
mūrkhāś ca mūrkhaiḥ sudhiyaḥ
sudhībhiḥ samāna-śīla-vyasanena sakhyam || 305 ||
Deer are accompanied by deer, cows by cows and horses by horses. Similarly, fools befriend fools and wise people enjoy the company of wise. Friendship is natural among like-minded people with similar habits and character.

निमित्तम् उद्दिश्य हि यः प्रकुप्यति

ध्रुवं स तस्यापगमे प्रशाम्यति ।
अकारण-द्वेष-परो हि यो भवेत्

कथं नरस् तं परितोषयति ॥ ३०६ ॥

nimittam uddiśya hi yaḥ prakupyati

 dhruvaṃ sa tasyāpagame praśāmyati |
akāraṇa-dveṣa-paro hi yo bhavet

kathaṃ naras taṃ paritoṣayati || 306 ||

One who is angry due to a reason, will calm down once that reason is addressed. But if someone is angry without any reason, how can he be conciliated?

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

FIRE-A PURIFIER- (3)- अग्नि:,पावकः,वह्नि:

 SUBHASHITHANI:363

संरोहति अग्निना दग्धं वनं परशुना हतं ।
वाचा दुरुक्तं बीभत्सं न संरोहति वाक् क्षतम् ॥
Samrohati agninaa dagdham vanam parashunaa hatam I
Vaachaa duruktam beebhatsam na samrohati vak shatam II
A forest burnt down by fire, or cut down by axe will eventually grow back. But wounds caused by harsh, inappropriate words will never heal.

தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும் ஆறாதே
நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு.-Thirukkural 129

The wound which has been burnt in by fire may heal, but a wound burnt in by the tongue will never heal.

अत्यासन्ना विनाशाय दूरस्था न फलप्रदा ।
सेव्यन्तां मध्यभागेन राजा वह्णिर्गुरु स्त्रयः ॥
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.

அகலாது அணுகாது தீக்காய்வார் போல்க
இகல்வேந்தர்ச் சேர்ந்தொழுகு வார்.-Thirukkural 691

Whoever desires to move with kings, let him be like unto men that warm themselves at a fire; let him not approach too near nor stand too far away.

अग्नि: आप: स्त्री: मूर्खाः सर्पा: राजकुलानि च ।
नित्यं यत्नेन सेव्यानि सद्यः प्राणहराणि षट् ।
Agniraapah  striyo  moorkhaah  sarpo  raajakulaani  Cha.
Nityam  yatnena  sevyaani  sadyah  praanaharaani shat.
One should handle or deal with fire, water, women, foolish persons, snakes and
Royal families with special care, because all these six are capable of instantly taking
away or threatening life.

आदित्यचन्द्रावनिलोऽनलश्चद्यौर्भूमिरापो हृदयं यमश्च ।
अहश्च रात्रिश्च उभे च सन्ध्ये धर्मेऽपि जानाति नरस्य वृत्तम् ॥
The Sun, Moon, Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, Conscience, Death, Day, Night, Dawn, Dusk and the Dharma devata stand witness to a man's actions.

(This sloka points out that we are never alone and that many forces are constantly monitoring our actions )

अग्निशेषम् ऋणशेषम् शत्रुशेषम् तथैव च |
पुन: पुन: प्रवर्धेत तस्मात् शेषम् न कारयेत् ||

If a fire, a loan, or an enemy continues to exist even to a small extent, it will grow again and again; so, do not let any one of it continue to exist even to a small extent.

अत्यम्बुपानान्न विपच्यतेऽन्नम् 

अनम्बुपानाच्च स एव दोष: ।

तस्मान्नरो वह्निविवर्धनार्थं 

मुहुर्मुहुर्वारि पिबेदभूरि ।।

atyambupānānna vipacyate’nnam 

anambupānācca sa eva doṣa: ।
tasmānnaro vahnivivardhanārthaṃ 

muhurmuhurvāri pibedabhūri ।।  
Food eaten is not properly digested due to excessive intake of water; the same is the defect if no water is drunk. Therefore, a man should drink water again and again, but in moderate quantity, in order to kindle the fire of digestion.

कान्ता वियोगः स्वजनापमानि ।
ऋणस्य शेषं कुनृपस्य सेवा ।।
दरिद्रभावो विषमा सभा च ।
विनाग्निना ते प्रदहन्ति कायम् ।।१४।।

kāntā-viyogaḥ svajanāpamāni
ṛṇasya śeṣaṁ kunṛpasya sevā |
dāridrya-bhāvād vimukhaṁ ca
mitraṁ vināgninā pañca dahanti kāyam ||14||
The following five situations in life scorch one's body even without fire.  (1) Loss of one's wife (2) Insult from one's own kinsmen (3) the constant nagging of indebtedness (4) service under a wicked king or government (5) the lack of attachment exhibited by a dear friend when one is in poverty.

कुग्रामवासः कुलहीन सेवा
कुभोजनं क्रोधमुखि च भार्या ।
पुत्रश्च मूर्खो विध्वा च कन्या
विनाग्निना षट् प्रदहन्ति कायम् ॥
kugrAmavAsaH kulahIna sevA
kubhojanaM krodhamukhi cha bhAryA |
putrashcha mUrkho vidhvA cha kanyA
vinAgninA ShaT pradahanti kAyam ||
 Living in a village having no proper facilities, being in the service
of a person of a low pedigree, unavailability of  good and nourishing
food,  having a wife who always remains angry, having a foolish son
and a widowed young daughter, all these six situations are like burning
of the body without any fire.

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च |
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् || BG3.38||
dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha
yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam
Just as a fire is covered by smoke, a mirror is masked by dust, and an embryo is concealed by the womb, similarly one’s knowledge gets shrouded by desire.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH