HITOPADESHA-1-हितोपदेशः- Good Counsels

 SUBHASHITHANI: 501

The Hitopadesha is one of the best-known works of Sanskrit literature. It is a collection of human and animal fables in prose, which have been explained by numerous wise and witty sayings in verse.The objective of this work was to instruct people in worldly wisdom and the principles of statecraft. 

The term ‘Hitopadesha’ is a joint effort of two terms, ‘Hita’ (welfare/ benefit) and ‘Upadesha’ (advice/ counsel). As the term suggests, the Hitopadesha is a collection of tales that counsel and advice for the welfare and benefit of everyone. Imparting morals and knowledge, Hitopadesha is one amongst the most widely read Sanskrit book in India.

The Hitopadesha is arranged in four ‘books’ or parts: the first two books, on how to win friends and how to break friendships, deal with right conduct, while the last two books, on war and peace, are concerned with statecraft. It also follows the traditional Indian story-within-a-story narrative structure, but the storyline is easy to follow. 

प्रस्ताविका ( Introduction)

सिद्धिः साध्ये सतामस्तु प्रसादात्तस्य धूर्जटेः ।
जाह्नवीफेनलेखेव यन्मूर्धनि शशिनः कला ॥ ०-०
siddhIH sAdhye satAm_astu prasAdAt_tasya dhhorjaTe |
jAhnavI-phena-lekheva yan-moordhani shashinaH kalA ||0-0
The deeds of good people bring fruits by the grace of that Lord shiva on whose forehead the crescent moon adorns like the surf of the river Ganga.

श्रुतो हितोपदेशोऽयं पाटवं संस्कृतोक्तिषु ।
वाचां सर्वत्र वैचित्र्यं, नीतिविद्यां ददाति च ॥ ०-१
shruto hitopadesho'yaM pAtavaM saMskRitoktiShu |
vAchAM sarvatra vaichitryaM, nItividyAM dadAti cha ||0-1
This Hitopadesa when studied gives expertise in elegant speeches , variety of expression in every department, and practical knowledge of conduct of human affairs.

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थं च चिन्तयेत् ।
गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ॥ ३ ॥

ajarāmaravat prājño vidyāmarthaṃ ca cintayet |
gṛhīta iva keśeṣu mṛtyunā dharmamācaret || 0-3 ||

Virtuous men go about collecting knowledge and wealth as if they will live for ever. When it comes to following Dharma, they never procrastinate. They perform their duties as if death is holding them by their hair.

सर्व-द्रव्येषु विद्यैव द्रव्यम् आहुर् अनुत्तमम् ।
अहार्यत्वाद् अनर्घत्वाद् अक्षयत्वाच् च सर्वदा ॥ ४ ॥

sarva-dravyeṣu vidyaiva dravyam āhur anuttamam |
ahāryatvād anarghatvād akṣayatvāc ca sarvadā ||0- 4 ||
Learning, of all things, is considered without a superior, because it can never be stolen, precious, and never decaying.

संयोजयति विद्यैव नीचगापि नरं सरित् ।
समुद्रमिव दुर्धर्षं नृपं भाग्यमतः परम् ॥ Hitopadesa
Samyojayati vidhyaiva neechagapi naram sarit I
Samudramiva durdharsham nrupam bhagyamatah param II0-5
Learning, although possessed by a low man, introduces him to the king, who is normally inaccessible, just as a river, although flowing through a low region , takes one to the sea .

विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् ।
पात्रत्वात् धनम् आप्नोति धनाद् धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥ ६ ॥
vidyā dadāti vinayaṃ vinayād yāti pātratām |
pātratvāt dhanam āpnoti dhanād dharmaṃ tataḥ sukham ||0-6 ||
Knowledge (vidyā) gives humility; with humility comes recognition; recognition brings wealth; through wealth (comes) virtue; and then follows happiness.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH