PANKHAH- पङ्कः , कर्दमः - MUD, MIRE, CLAY

 SUBHASHITHANI:376

धर्मार्थ यस्य वित्तेहा वरं तस्य निरीहता ।
प्रक्षालनाद्धि पङ्कस्य श्रेयो न स्पर्शनं नृणाम् ॥ ३४॥शौनकगीता
Dharmartham yasya vitteha varam tasya nireehataa I
Prakshalanaddhi pankasya duradasprshanam varam ॥Shaunaka gita
Desire for wealth even if it is for religious duties it is preferable to avoid it; It is better not to touch mud instead of washing it off afterwards.

मन्दोऽप्यमन्दतामेति संसर्गेण विपश्चितः ।
पङ्कच्छिदः फलस्येव निकषेणाविलं पयः ॥ मालविकाग्निमित्रम्
Even a dull person becomes sharp by keeping company with the wise, just like the turbid water which becomes clear when treated with the dust-removing fruit.

(Malavikaagnimitra-Kalidasa )

असतोऽपि भवति गुणवान् सद्भ्योऽपि परं भवन्त्यसद्वृत्ताः।
पङ्कादुदेति कमलं क्रिमयः कमालादपि भवन्ति॥
asato’pi bhavati guṇavān sadbhyo’pi paraṁ bhavantyasadvṛttāḥ|
paṅkādudeti kamalaṁ krimayaḥ kamālādapi bhavanti||
A virtuous person may spring even from a bad source and one of bad conduct even from the virtuous. The (beautiful) lotus springs from (dirty) mud, but worms are seen to spring even from a lotus.

कौशेयं कृमिजं सुवर्णम् उपलाद् दुर्वापि गोरोमतः

पङ्कात् तामरसं शशाङ्क उदधेर् इन्दीवरं गोमयात् ।
काष्ठाद् अग्निर् अहेः फणाद् अपि मणिर् गो-पित्ततो रोचना

प्राकाश्यं स्व-गुणोदयेन गुणिनो गच्छन्ति किं जन्मना ॥ Pancha tantra

kauśeyaṃ kṛmijaṃ suvarṇam upalād durvāpi goromataḥ
 paṅkāt tāmarasaṃ śaśāṅka udadher indīvaraṃ gomayāt |
kāṣṭhād agnir aheḥ phaṇād api maṇir go-pittato rocanā
 prākāśyaṃ sva-guṇodayena guṇino gacchanti kiṃ janmanā || 103 ||

Silk is spun by a [humble] worm; gold is born of a rock; the holy dūrvā grass springs from a cow’s hair; The lotus, from mud; the moon, from ocean; the beetle from dung; Fire flashes out of wood; the emerald, from a serpent’s hood; orpiment, from the bile of cow; A person of merit shines by the light of his own merits; of what consequence is birth?

हा हा पुत्रक नाधीतं सुगतैतासु रात्रिषु  ।
तेन त्वं विदुषां मध्ये पङ्के गौरिव सीदसि  ॥ ३९१
Ha ha putraka naadhitam sugataitaasu raatrishu ।
Tena tvam vidushaam madhye panke gauriva seedasi ॥391
Alas! My son, you did not acquire knowledge in the bygone nights.
Because of that, in the company of learned people, you are like a cow with its legs stuck in clay.-Hitopaesa

duggā uddharath’attānaṃ paṅke sanno’va  kuñjaro. ( Buddhist Proverbs) Pali
Like as the mired elephant sunk in mud pulls himself up, elevate your own mind from the slough (of passions).

A Samasya Pooranam by Kalidasa -‘हुताशनश्चन्दनपङ्कशीतलः’

सुतं पतन्तं सुसमीक्ष्य पावके न बोधयामास पतिं पतिव्रता।
तदाऽभवत् तत्पतिभक्तिगौरवात् हुताशनश्चन्दनपङ्कशीतलः॥

Glory of a chaste woman- Even after seeing her son falling in to the fire, wife didn't wake up her sleeping husband. By the power of her chastity the fire became cool like a sandal paste.

विपक्षमखिलीकृत्य प्रतिष्ठा खलु दुर्लभा ।
अनीत्वा पङ्कतां धूलिमुदकं नावतिष्ठते ॥ 2.34

Vipaksham akhileekrutya pratishtaa khalu durlabhaa I

Aneetva pankataam dhoolim udakam naavaishtate II Shishupala vadam

Without completely getting rid of the enemy fame or stability can not be achieved; Just as in a pond clear water can not be obtained without clearing  the mud and dirt.

अधमे संगता लक्ष्मीर्नोपभोगाय कस्यचित् ।

कर्दमे पतिता छाया सहकारतरोरिव ।।
Adame sangataa lakshmee na upabhogaaya kasyachit I
Kardame patitaa chaayaa sahakaarataroriva II
The wealth of the inferior men is never useful to others; just as the shadow of the tree fallen on slushy ground benefits no one.

विश्वामित्रेच  वार्धक्ये  रात्रौ अप्सु कर्दमे  | 
 अन्धे सर्पेच क्रीडेच दण्डं दशगुणं भवेत् II
"Viswaamitrecha vaardhakye raatrou apsu kardame I
, andhe sarpecha kreedecha dandam dashagunam bhavet"  II

The ten uses of a stick:
1) to drive away the birds "Vihaga",2) to drive away a dog "Shwaana"
3) to fight with an enemy "Amitra"4) for support in Old Age "Vardhakye" 
5) for support in the dark or night time "Ratrou"6) for support while treading a river, "Apsu"
7) for saving a person from a quagmire or quicksand "Kardame"
8) undoubtedly, for a blind person "Andhe" 

9) to drive away or save oneself from a snake "Sarpe"
10) for use in sports "Kride"

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBYAM NAMAH