PANCHA TANTRA-MITRA BHEDAA-47

 SUBHASHITHANI:381

Damanaka mentioned to Sanjivaka (the bull) that there is threat to his life from the lion king and “it is up to you to save yourself, or still ponder about friendship..”
Damanaka then was thinking to himself: “I have sown the seeds of discard; the future depends up on what is ordained by fate.”

पराङ्मुखेऽपि दैवेऽत्र कृत्यं कार्यं विपश्चिता ।
आत्म-दोष-विनाशाय स्व-चित्त-स्तम्भनाय च ॥ ३९१ ॥

parāṅmukhe'pi daive'tra kṛtyaṃ kāryaṃ vipaścitā |
ātma-doṣa-vināśāya sva-citta-stambhanāya ca || 391 ||

A wise man should continue to strive, even when fate is against him, for  keeping off all blame against him, and also for self-satisfaction for having done his duty.

उद्योगिनं पुरुष-सिंहम् उपैति लक्ष्मीर्
दैवेन देयम् इति कापुरुषा वदन्ति ।
दैवं निहत्य कुरु पौरुषम् आत्म-शक्त्या
यत्ने कृते यदि न सिध्यति को ऽत्र दोषः ॥ ३९२ ॥
udyoginaṃ puruṣa-siṃham upaiti lakṣmīr
 daivena deyam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṃ nihatya kuru pauruṣam ātma-śaktyā
 yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko 'tra doṣaḥ || 392 ||
Prosperity always favours men who are brave, and who work diligently. “Whatever happens is due to fate”, so say the lazy and the cowardly. One should leave the reliance on fate, and continue to work sincerely, as per one’s capabilities and talent. Even after working to the best of your ability, if there is no success , what is there to blame?

अविरुद्धं सुख-स्थं यो दुःख-मार्गे नियोजयेत् ।
जन्म-जन्मान्तरे दुःखी स नरः स्याद् असंशयम् ॥ ३९३ ॥

aviruddhaṃ sukha-sthaṃ yo duḥkha-mārge niyojayet |
janma-janmāntare duḥkhī sa naraḥ syād asaṃśayam || 393 ||

That man who leads to the path of misery one who is not his enemy and who is happily situated will undoubtedly be miserable by very existence. ( Karataka to Damanaka)

घातयितुम् एव नीचः पर-कार्यं वेत्ति न प्रसादयितुम् ।
पातयितुम् अस्ति शक्तिर् वायोर् वृक्षं न चोन्नमितुम् ॥ ३९४ ॥
ghātayitum eva nīcaḥ para-kāryaṃ vetti na prasādayitum |
pātayitum asti śaktir vāyor vṛkṣaṃ na connamitum || 394 ||
A wicked person only knows to destroy other people's work, not to help them. Wind can uproot a tree, not to help it grow. 

जात-मात्रं न यः शत्रुं व्याधिं च प्रशमं नयेत् ।
महा-बलो ऽपि तेनैव वृद्धिं प्राप्य स हन्यते ॥ ३९५ ॥

jāta-mātraṃ na yaḥ śatruṃ vyādhiṃ ca praśamaṃ nayet |
mahā-balo 'pi tenaiva vṛddhiṃ prāpya sa hanyate || 395 ||

It is said that if one does not subdue an enemy or a disease the moment they appear, the enemy or the disease will overwhelm them, however powerful they are.( Damanaka to Karataka )

 पितृ-पैतामहं स्थानं यो यस्यात्र जिगीषते ।

स तस्य सहजः शत्रुर् उच्छेद्यो ऽपि प्रिये स्थितः ॥ ३९६ ॥

pitṛ-paitāmahaṃ sthānaṃ yo yasyātra jigīṣate |
sa tasya sahajaḥ śatrur ucchedyo 'pi priye sthitaḥ || 396 ||

He who wishes to seize the post of a person coming to him hereditarily is the natural enemy of that person; he should be extirpated even if he is kindly disposed towards him.

 दद्यात् साधुर् यदि निज-पदे दुर्जनाय प्रवेशं

तन्-नाशाय प्रभवति ततो वाञ्छमानः स्वयं सः ।
तस्माद् देयो विपुल-मतिभिर् नावकाशो ऽधमानां

जारापि स्याद् गृह-पतिर् इति श्रूयते वाक्यतो ऽत्र ॥ ३९७ ॥

dadyāt sādhur yadi nija-pade durjanāya praveśaṃ

tan-nāśāya prabhavati tato vāñchamānaḥ svayaṃ saḥ |
tasmād deyo vipula-matibhir nāvakāśo 'dhamānāṃ

 jārāpi syād gṛha-patir iti śrūyate vākyato 'tra || 397 ||

If a good man gives access to his post to a wicked man, the latter, coveting the same, becomes able to bring about his destruction; for this reason, wise men should not allow access to the man; for the saying goes that even a paramour can become the master of the house.

निस्त्रिंशं हृदयं कृत्वा वाणीम् इक्षु-रसोपामाम् ।
विकल्पो ऽत्र न कर्तव्यो हन्यात् तत्रापकारिणम् ॥ ३९८ ॥

nistriṃśaṃ hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā vāṇīm ikṣu-rasopāmām |
vikalpo 'tra na kartavyo hanyāt tatrāpakāriṇam || 398 ||

Having rendered his heart callous and speech sweet like sugar cane juice one should kill an evil-doer in that case; one should not hesitate in such cases.

परस्य पीडनं कुर्वन् स्वार्थ-सिद्धिं च पण्डितः ।
मूढ-बुद्धिर् न भक्षेत वने चतुरको यथा ॥ ३९९ ॥

parasya pīḍanaṃ kurvan svārtha-siddhiṃ ca paṇḍitaḥ |
mūḍha-buddhir na bhakṣeta vane caturako yathā || 399 ||

Getting another in to difficulty and accomplishing his own goals, a wise man should enjoy its benefits without getting his intellect confused, as did Chaturaka did in the forest.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

 

PANCHA TANTRA-MITRA BHEDAA-46

 SUBHASHITHANI:380
Damanaka concluded, And that is why I said:
“If one starts a fight, without knowing the strength of his enemy, he will surely be defeated. like the mighty ocean was insulted by a small Tittibha bird."

THE STORY OF THE OCEAN AND THE BIRD:

(The ocean took away the eggs of titibha birds and refused to return it to them. The titibha bird complained to bird king Garuda to help. Garuda in turn spoke to Sri Vishnu, who threatened the ocean that he will dry up the ocean if they don't return the eggs. This is how the little bird brought the mighty ocean to its knees )

यो न वेत्ति गुणान् यस्य न तं सेवेत पण्डितः ।
न हि तस्मात् फलं किञ्चित् सुकृष्टाद् ऊषराद् इव ॥ ३८१ ॥
yo na vetti guṇān yasya na taṃ seveta paṇḍitaḥ |
na hi tasmāt phalaṃ kiñcit sukṛṣṭād ūṣarād iva || 381 ||
A scholar should not serve a person who does not recognise his virtues, ploughing a barren land is futile.

भक्तं शक्तं कुलीनं च न भृत्यम् अवमानयेत् ।
पुत्रवल् लालयेन् नित्यं य इच्छेच् छ्रियम् आत्मनः ॥ ३८२ ॥
bhaktaṃ śaktaṃ kulīnaṃ ca na bhṛtyam avamānayet |
putraval lālayen nityaṃ ya icchec chriyam ātmanaḥ || 382 ||
A servant who is loyal and efficient should never be insulted; Instead he should be treated like one’s own son, if he desires peace and prosperity.

राजा तुष्टो ऽपि भृत्यानाम् अर्थ-मात्रं प्रयच्छति ।
ते तु सम्मानितास् तस्य प्राणैर् अप्य् उपकुर्वते ॥ ३८३ ॥
rājā tuṣṭo 'pi bhṛtyānām artha-mātraṃ prayacchati |
te tu sammānitās tasya prāṇair apy upakurvate || 383 ||
A king, if pleased, rewards his servants with only money. But servants who are treated with respect, are willing to even risk their lives for the king.

येन स्याल् लघुता वाथ पीडा चित्ते प्रभोः क्वचित् ।
प्राण-त्यागेऽपि तत् कर्म न कुर्यात् कुल-सेवकः ॥ ३८४ ॥

yena syāl laghutā vātha pīḍā citte prabhoḥ kvacit |
prāṇa-tyāge'pi tat karma na kuryāt kula-sevakaḥ || 384 |

A dedicated servant should not, at any time, do that which would be derogatory to the dignity of his master , even though he has to lose his life.

भृत्यापराधजो दण्डः स्वामिनो जायते यतः ।
तेन लज्जापि तस्योत्था न भृत्यस्य तथा पुनः ॥ ३८५ ॥

bhṛtyāparādhajo daṇḍaḥ svāmino jāyate yataḥ |
tena lajjāpi tasyotthā na bhṛtyasya tathā punaḥ || 385 ||

Since the punishment meted out to a servant for his fault is considered punishment awarded to his master, the shame too, arising therefrom should be considered as his. 

त्यजेद् एकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे स्वात्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥ ३८६ ॥

tyajed ekaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet |
grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe svātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet || 386 ||

One should renounce a person for the sake of the whole family; one should renounce a family for the sake of the village; one should renounce a village for the sake of the country; and one should renounce the earth for the sake of the Self.

आपद्-अर्थे धनं रक्षेद् दारान् रक्षेद् धनैर् अपि ।
आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद् दारैर् अपि धनैर् अपि ॥ ३८७ ॥

āpad-arthe dhanaṃ rakṣed dārān rakṣed dhanair api |
ātmānaṃ satataṃ rakṣed dārair api dhanair api || 387 ||

One should save his money against hard times, save his wife at the sacrifice of his riches, but invariably one should save his soul even at the sacrifice of his wife and riches.

अपि पुत्र-कलत्रैर् वा प्राणान् रक्षेत पण्डितः ।
विद्यमानैर् यतस् तैः स्यात् सर्वं भूयो ऽपि देहिनाम् ॥ ३८८ ॥

api putra-kalatrair vā prāṇān rakṣeta paṇḍitaḥ |
vidyamānair yatas taiḥ syāt sarvaṃ bhūyo 'pi dehinām || 388 ||

A wise man should save his life even at the cost of his son and wife; Once  life is preserved one can bring forth  a family again.

येन केनाप्य् उपायेन शुभेनाप्य् अशुभेन वा ।
उद्धरेद् दीनम् आत्मानं समर्थो धर्मम् आचरेत् ॥ ३८९ ॥

yena kenāpy upāyena śubhenāpy aśubhena vā |
uddhared dīnam ātmānaṃ samartho dharmam ācaret || 389 ||

One should raise oneself from a low state by any means, foul or fair; and when one is in a prosperous condition one should practice virtue ( To wipe off past sins)

यो मायां कुरुते मूढः प्राण-त्यागे धनादिषु ।
तस्य प्राणाः प्रणश्यन्ति तैर् नष्टैर् नष्टम् एव तत् ॥ ३९० ॥
yo māyāṃ kurute mūḍhaḥ prāṇa-tyāge dhanādiṣu |
tasya prāṇāḥ praṇaśyanti tair naṣṭair naṣṭam eva tat || 390 ||
That fool who uses artifices to preserve his wealth even when his life is in danger, loses his life; life being gone wealth is also lost to him.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

GRUHA MEDHINAAM-गृहमेधिनाम्- HOUSEHOLDERS ( Gruhasthas)

 SUBHASHITHANI:379

In Hinduism a human life can be divided into 4 ashrams or stages. These stages are essentially to focus oneself on different areas at different periods of life. They are:

1.Brahmacharya- Celibate, Student stage of life where you are away from your family. 2.Grihastha- Married, social stage of life where pursuit of material, sexual, physical goals in life occurs. 3.Vanaprastha - Retirement time and transition stage from pursuit of worldly pleasures to spiritual liberation as one hands over the reins to next generation. 4.Sanyasa - Total renunciation of world and full time focus on spiritual pursuit, preferably away from family. 

In this blog we will see some beautiful slokas on gruhasta or householder.

त्यागाय संभृतार्थानां सत्याय मितभाषिणाम्।

यशसे विजिगीषूणां प्रजायै गृहमेधिनाम्॥ Raghuvamsam
tyāgāya saṁbhṛtārthānāṁ satyāya mitabhāṣiṇām |
yaśase vijigīṣūṇāṁ prajāyai gṛhamedhinām || 1-7
The kings from Raghu dynasty amassed wealth only for the sake of munificence; reticent only for the sake of truthfulness; only for fame they indulged in conquering; only for the sake of progeny they got married.

 यथा नदीनदा: सर्वे सागरे यान्‍ति संस्‍थितिम्‌ ।
 एवमाश्रमिण: सर्वे गृहस्‍थे यान्‍ति संस्‍थितिम् ।। Mahabharat 12.295.39

Just as all small rivulets and big rivers finally culminate into the sea so also the householder is the support of individuals undergoing all other stages of life.

यथा मातरमाश्रित्‍य सर्वे जीवन्‍ति जन्‍तव: ।
एवं गार्हस्‍थ्‍यमाश्रित्‍य वर्तन्‍त इतराश्रमा: ।। Mahabharat 12.269.6

Just as all living creatures survive with the support of the mother so also people in all other stages of life depend on the stage of the householder.

आश्रमांस्‍तुलया सर्वान्‍धृतानाहुर्मनीषिण: ।
एकतश्च त्रयो राजन्‌ गृहस्‍थाश्रम एकत: ।। Mahabharat 12.12.12

Wise men say that the stage of the householder alone is equivalent to the other three stages put together. 

न गृहं गृहमित्‍याहुर्गृहिणी गृहमुच्‍यते ।
गृहं तु गृहिणीहीनमरण्‍यसदृशं मतम्‌ II Mahabharat 12.144.6
 A house without a housewife is not a real home, in fact it is equivalent to a forest. It is the wife who makes the house a home.

 वृक्षमूलेऽपि दयिता यस्‍य तिष्‍ठति तद्‌गृहम्‌ ।
 प्रासादोऽपि तया हीन: कान्‍तार इति निश्चितम्‌ ।। Mahabharat 12.144.12
 Even the shelter of a tree becomes home to a man if his wife is with him and without her even a palace is doubtlessly akin to a forest.

 चतुर्णामाश्रमाणां हि गार्हस्‍थ्‍यं श्रेष्‍ठमुत्तमम्‌ ।। Ramayan 2.106.22

Of all the four stages, the householder’s stage is the best.

तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्‍चतुर्थी च सूनृता ।
 एतान्‍यपि सतां गेहे नोच्‍छिद्यन्‍ते कदाचन ।। Manusmruti 3.101

If one cannot afford to serve a meal to a guest then he should at least be offered a grass seat. If even that is not available then he should be asked to sit on plain ground and if even that is not feasible then one should inquire about his well-being. At least this should be followed in the homes of righteous people. 

‘दानं तप: गृहस्‍थानां ।’
Daanam tapah gruhastaanaam
means that making offerings is the spiritual practice of those in the stage of the householder, that is of worldly people. The scriptures enlist construction of temples, growing gardens, digging lakes, offering water to people, etc. as religious acts performed with expectation.

अथ संतानसंसिद्धिसमाकुलितचेतसाम्।
तदुत्पत्तिकरं यागं प्रवक्ष्ये गृहमेधिनाम्।।33.1।।Prapancha saarah
Atha santaana samsiddhi samakulitachetasaam I
Tad utpattikaram yaagam pravakshye gruhamedinaam IISri Shankara
Thereafter, for those who are anxious for the birth of a child, let me explain to the householders the yagya to be performed for that to happen.

तासां क्रमेण सर्वासां निष्कृत्यर्थं महर्षिभिः ।
पञ्च कॢप्ता महायज्ञाः प्रत्यहं गृहमेधिनाम् ॥ ६९ ॥
tāsāṃ krameṇa sarvāsāṃ niṣkṛtyarthaṃ maharṣibhiḥ |
pañca kḷptā mahāyajñāḥ pratyahaṃ gṛhamedhinām || 3.69 ||Manusmruti
For the purpose of expiating all these in their course, the five great sacrifices have been ordained by the great sages, for householders (to be performed) daily.

स गोदोहनमात्रं हि गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् ।
अवेक्षते महाभागस्तीर्थीकुर्वंस्तदाश्रमम् ॥SB1.4.8
sa go-dohana-mātraṁ hi gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām
avekṣate mahā-bhāgas tīrthī-kurvaṁs tad āśramam
He [Śukabrahmam] was accustomed to stay at the door of a householder only long enough for a cow to be milked. And he did this just to sanctify the residence.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH