NEVER ADVISE! – IT IS A FUTILE EXERCISE

SUBHASHITHAM: 049

जन्मान्तर सहस्रेषु या बुधिर्भविता नृणां  I

तामेव भजते जन्तु: उपदेशो निरर्तक:  II 

Janmaantara sahasreshu yaa buddhir bhavita nrunaam I

Taameva bhajate jantu: upadesho nirartaka:  II

The habits formed over many births continue in current birth also. It is therefore futile to advise people to change.              

स्वभावो नोपदेशेन शक्यते कर्तुं अन्यथा I

सुतप्तमपि पानीयं पुनर् गच्छति शिततां  II

Svabhavo nopadeshena sakyyate kartum anyatha I

Sutaptamapi paaneeyam punar gacchati shitataam 

 The intrinsic qualities cannot be changed by advice.  Water however hot becomes cold once again .  

उपदेशो हि मूर्खाणां प्रकोपाय न शान्तये  I

पय: पानं भुजङ्गानां केवलं विष वर्धनं  II   

Upadesho hi moorkhaanaam prakopaaya na shantaye I

Paya: paanam bhujangaanaamkevalamvishavardhanam II  

Advice given to fools leads to provocation and not to satisfaction ; To feed serpents on milk is simply to nourish their poison.               

दुर्जन: प्रकृतिं याति सेव्यमानोपि नित्यश: I

स्वेदनाभ्य ञ्जनोपायै: श्वपुच्छमिवनामितं   II

Durjana: prakrutim yaati sevyamaanopi nityasa: I

Svedanabhya anjanopaayai: shvapucchamivanaamitam II         

 A wicked man,even though served everyday,reverts to his natural disposition, like dog’s tail resuming it’s natural bent, notwithstanding such remedies as causing sweat and rubbing it with unguents (for making it straight ). ( நாய் வாலை நிமிர்த்த முடியுமா ? )  

नाद्रव्ये निहिता काचित् क्रिया फलवती भवेत्  I 

न व्यापार शतेनापि शुकवत् पाठ्यते बक :  II

Naa dravye nihita kaachit  kriyaa phalavati bhavet  I

 Na vyaapaara satenaapi shukavat paatyate baka: II                   

No action exercised upon an unfit object can bear fruit; A crane cannot be taught (to speak ) like a parrot even with hundreds of efforts.                                                                                                             Even Bhagavad Gita mentions : 

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि |                                                                  प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति || 33

 sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api   I

 prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati  II                           

 BG 3.33: Even wise people act according to their natures, for all living beings are propelled by their natural tendencies. What will one gain by repression?            

                                                                                                                                         

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBYAM NAMA: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

AS YOU SOW, SO YOU SHALL REAP

 SUBHASHITHAM : 048

सुभक्रुत् सुभमाप्नोति  पापकृत् पापमस्नुते  I 

युधिष्ठिरोप्राप्तवत् राज्य: कुलनाशो सुयोधन:  II

Subhakrut subhamaapnoti Paapakrut paapam asnute I  

Yudhishtira:rajya:  praaptavat  kula naasho Suyodhana: I             

 Those who are involved in doing good, gets punya as a fruit; those who indulge in doing sin , gets ‘papam’ as a consequence. Dharma putra following the  righteous path attained the  kingdom , while Duryodhana following  the unrighteous path was totally annihilated ( himself and his near and dear ).

अग्निदो गरदस्चैव शस्त्र पानिर्धनापह : I    

 क्षेत्र दार हरस्चैव षडेते आतथायिन: II Vashista Smruti       

  Agnido garadaschaiva sastra-paanirdhanaapaha: I Kshetra-daara haraschaiva shad ete aatathayina: II        The Arsonist, one who poisons others, one who attacks with weapons, one who robs wealth, one who grabs property and one who forcibly takes another man’s wife , these six are called ‘aatathayin’.  Manu-smruti says , an aatathayin must be killed without any consideration,and no papam will be incurred. Duryodhana had committed all the six sins mentioned above.

 Duryodhana in his own words claims :

“ जानामि धर्मं न च मे प्रवृत्ति: I  जानामि   अधर्मं न च मे निवृत्ति: II  “  Janami dharmam na cha me pravrttih  I  janamyadharmam na cha me nivrttih  II                               

"It is not that I Don’t know what is dharma  and what is adharma . Only that my nature( svabhava ) is such I have no inclination to be righteous and overwhelming attraction to doing the unrighteous.”

In contrast, Yudhishtira was an embodiment of Sathya and Dharma. He possessed all the characteristics mentioned as Dharma lakshanam in sasthraas:                                                               

 धृतिः क्षमा दमोऽस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः ।   

धीर्विद्या सत्यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम् ॥

Firm resolve, forgiveness, controlled mind, never stealing, cleanliness, control over senses ,sharp  intellect, education, honesty and freedom from anger are the ten facets of Dharma.        Dharma putra also eminently qualifies to the definition of ‘GYANI BHAKTA’ mentioned by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयो: |   

 शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु सम: सङ्गविवर्जित: || 18||

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् | 

अनिकेत: स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नर: || 19||

samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ I  śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ  II  tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit I  aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥII                                                                                                          BG 12.18-19: Those, who are alike to friend and foe, equipoised in honor and dishonor, cold and heat, joy and sorrow, and are free from all unfavorable association; those who take praise and reproach alike, who are given to silent contemplation, content with what comes their way, without attachment to the place of residence, whose intellect is firmly fixed in Me, and who are full of devotion to Me, such persons are very dear to Me.     No wonder Yudhishtira was called an AJATA SATRU  and success and failure made no difference to him.

Sri Krishnaya Thubyam Nama:                                                                                             

VASUDAIVA KUTUMBAKAM-वसु्धैव कुटुंबकम्

SUBHASHITHAM : 047

The noblest of thoughts about universal brotherhood are widely mentioned in our sastras. One such famous often quoted verse is as follows:

अयं निजः परो वेत्ति गणना लघुचेतसाम् ।      

उदारचरितानां तु वसु्धैव कुटुंबकम् ॥                               

Ayam  nija: parovethi gananaa lagu chethasaam I 

 Udhara charithanam tu Vasudaiva kutumbakam II

 This person is mine and the other person is a stranger is the mentality of the petty minded. The noble minded people, however, consider the whole world as their family. 

The Maha Bharatha contains many gems about an ideal family. Two slokas attributed to Dharma Putra are quoted below:                                                                          

सत्यं माता पिता ज्ञानं धर्मो भ्राता दया सखा  I  

 शान्ति: पत्नी क्षमा पुत्र: षडेते मम भान्धवा:  II

Satyam maata pitaa gyaanam dharmo bhraataa dayaa sakhaa I                                                           Shaanti: patnii kshamaa putra: shadete mama bhandhavaa:  II

Truth is my mother , Knowledge my father, Dharma is my brother , compassion is my friend, Peace is my  wife, forbearance is my son, these six constitute  my family. ( Dharma putra in Mahabharata )

धैर्य यस्य पिता क्षमा च जननी शान्ति: चिरं गेहिनी  I

 सत्यं सूनु: अयं दया च भगिनी भ्राता मन:संयम: |

शय्या भूमितलं दिश: अपि वसनं ज्ञानामॄतं भोजनम् I  

एते यस्य कुटुम्बिन: वद सखे कस्माद् भयं योगिन: ||

dhairya yasya pita kshamaa cha jananee shaantih chiram gehinee I  satyam soonuh ayam dayaa cha bhaginee bhraataa manahsaMyamah  I  shayyaa bhoomitalam dishah api vasanam jnyaanaamrutam bhojanam  I   ete yasya kuTumbinah vada sakhe kasmaad bhayam yoginah  II

A person for whom courage is his father, forgiveness (KshmA) is his mother, calmful mind is his wife, Truth is his son, compassion his sister and control of mind is his brother. And for whom this earth is a bed, the directions (dishA) like the clothes and  knowledge is his food. When all these make up his family, such a person  has nothing to worry in the whole world.

 Very strong views have also been expressed about the responsibility of parents to provide proper education to their children during their formative years:

माता शत्रु: पिता वैरी येन बालो न पाटित: I   

न शोभते सभामद्ये  हंस मद्ये बको यता  II

 Mata satru: pita vairee yena balo na paatita: I Na shobhate sabhamadye hamsamadye bako yataa II

That mother is an enemy and that father is a foe of the son by whom one has not been schooled properly during his early life; for he shines not in a learned assembly just as a crane doesn’t in the midst of swans.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

LUST AND ANGER-THE DEADLY TWINS

SUBHASHITHAM: 046

दस काम समुत्थानि तथा अष्टौ क्रोधजानि च I  

 व्यसनानि दुरन्तानि प्रयत्नेन विवर्जयेत्  II

कामजेषु प्रसक्तो  हि व्यसनेषु महीपति: I 

वियुज्यते अर्थ धर्माभ्यां क्रोधजेश्वात्मनैव तु II                          

 Dasa kaama samutthani  tatha astou krodhjaani cha I   

Vyasanani durantani prayatnena vivarjayet II  

Kaamajeshu prasakto hi vysaneshu maheepati: I 

 Viyujyate artha dharmaabhyaam krodhajesvaathmanaiva tu  II                                                                                            

One must put efforts  to get rid of the ten bad effects arising out of Lust , eight defects arising out of Anger with all his might. One who is not able to control desire will lose nobility and wealth; one who succumbs to anger destroys himself totally. (Not able obtain details of the ten and eight defects mentioned in the sloka . Any one   who can help is welcome.)  

Now, the Bhagavad Gita describes beautifully, the process of how man  gets totally destroyed from just an apparently harmless   initial attraction to an object of desire:

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |

सङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते || 62||

dhyāyato viṣhayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣhūpajāyate  I    saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ’bhijāyate II

BG 2.62: While musing  on the objects of the senses, one develops attachment to them. Attachment leads to Desire, and from Desire arises Anger.

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम: |

स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 63||

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ

smṛiti-bhranśhād buddhi-nāśho buddhi-nāśhāt praṇaśhyati

BG 2.63: Anger leads to delusion, which results in confusion of  memory. When the memory is confused, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined

Gita also goes on to say what should be done to get out of the clutches of the deadly twins:

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ |

पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् || 41||

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣhabha

pāpmānaṁ prajahi hyenaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśhanam

BG 3.41: Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning bring the senses under control and slay this enemy called desire, which is the embodiment of sin and destroys knowledge and realization.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

IT IS NO PLACE TO LIVE

SUBHASHITHAM: 045

तत्र मित्र , न वस्तव्यं यत्र नास्ति चतुष्टयं I                                                                                             ऋणदाता च वैद्यच श्रोत्रिय: सजला नदी II

Tatra mitra, na vastvayam yatra naasti chatushtayam I                                                                              Runa daata cha vaidyascha srothriya: sajalaa nadi II                                                                          Oh! Friend, don’t live where these four are not available: 1.Money lender,2.Doctor,3.Vedic scholar  and 4.River with plenty of water.

यस्मिन् देशे न संमानो न प्रीतिर्न च बान्धवा : I

न विद्या नास्ति धनिको न तत्र दिवसं वसेत्  II

Yasmin dese na sammaana:  na preetir na cha bandhavaa:  I                                                                     Na vidyaa naasti dhaniko na tatra divasam vaset II

Where there are no rewards; no satisfaction; no relatives; No facility for education; No rich man to help during distress, don’t stay in such a place for even a day.

नाधर्मिके वसेद्ग्रामे न व्याधि बहुलेब्रुशं I

नैक: प्रपद्येताध्वानं न चिरं पर्वते वसेत् II

 Naa dharmike vasedgraame na vyaadi bahulebrusham I

Naika: prapadyetaavaanam na chiram parvate vaset II

Don’t live in a village where noble men are absent, nor live in a place of epidemic. Don’t go on a long trip   alone. Never stay for long in mountainous regions.

यत्र विध्यागमो नास्ति  यत्र नास्ति धनागम: I

यत्र च आत्मसुखं नास्ति न तत्र दिवसं वसेत् II

Yatra vidyaagamo naasti yatra naasti dhanaagamo I                                                                                   Yatra cha aatma sukham naasti na tatra divasam   vaset II

Where there is no place for education, no opportunities for earning a livelihood, where peaceful living is at a premium, it is no place to stay even for a day.

 वरं वनं व्याघ्र गजादि सेवितं द्रुमालयं पत्र फलांबु भोजनं I

तृणानि शय्या वसनं च वल्कलं न भन्धु मध्ये धन हीन जीवनं II                                                                     varam vanam vyagra gajaadi sevitam drumaalayam patra phalaambu bhojanam I                   Trunaani shayya vasanam cha valkalam na bhandu madye dhanaheenajeevanamII                                                             

You can stay in a forest infested with tigers and elephants ; you can eat the leaves and fruits in a forest; sleep in a bed of grass; wear dress made of leaves; but it is most painful to live in penury amongst one’s own  relatives.

 Sri KrishnayaThubyam Nama:                                                                                                                                                                                                          

TIME-SERVERS - कार्यार्थी -KAARYAARTHI

TIME-SERVERS ( KAARYAARTHI )

SUBHASHITHAM: 044

कार्यार्थी भजते लोकं यावत् कार्यं न सिध्यति I

उत्तीर्णे च परे पारे नौकायां किं प्रयोजनम्  ॥

kaaryaarthii bhajate lokam yaavatkaarya na sidhyati  |uttiirne ca pare paare naukaayaam kim prayojanam  ||

The help-seeker is nice to others only till his job is not complete. People have no use for the boat once they have reached the shore.

गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां विप्रा: त्यजन्ति यजमानकम् I

प्राप्त विध्या गुरुं शिष्या, दग्धारण्यं मृगास्तथा II

Gruheetva dakshinaam vipraa: tyajanthi yajamaanakam I

Praapta vidyaa gurum sishyaa, dagdhaaranyam mrugastatha II

The purohits leave the yajamaana once they have received the Dakshinaa.I  Once the teaching is over the students leave the guru, Animals leave the  forest that is barren . II

कृथार्था: स्वामिनं द्वेष्टि, कृतदारास्च मातरं I

जातापत्या पतिं द्वेष्टि , गतरोगास्चिकित्सकं II

Kruthartha: swaaminam dveshti, krutadharaastu maataram I

Jaataapatyaa patim dveshti, gatarogaaschikisakam II

Employees hate the employer no sooner they are paid their dues, Son forgets the mother after marriage, Wife’s love for the husband diminishes once she conceives a child, the patient dislikes the doctor once he is cured of the disease.

उपाध्यायस्च, वैध्यस्च, ऋतु काले वराङ्गना I

दूतिका, सूतिका चैव कार्यान्ते तृणवत्समा:  II

Upaadhyaayascha, Vaidhyascha, rutukaale varaanganaa I

Dutikaa, sootikaa chaiva kaaryaante trunavath samaa: II

The teacher, doctor,a female messenger, midwife all of them are treated like dust (  lit-grass ) once their work is completed.

Against this background let us see what the people of Ayodhya thought of Sri Rama :

  कथंचित् उपकारेण कृतं  एकेनैव तुष्यति I     न स्मरेत् अपकाराणां सतं अपि आत्मवत्तया II

Kathamchit upakaarena krutam ekenaiva tushyai I Na smareth apakaaraanam satamapi aatmavattaya II

Sri Rama would feel indebted for life time for even a simple help by others. But, will forget instantly even hundred bad deeds done to him. ( Valmiki Ramayana )

Sri Krishnaaya Thubyam Nama:  

TWENTY VIRTUES FOR SUCCESS – Chankya Niti

SUBHASHITHAM: 043

सिंहादेकं बकादेकं शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात्।  

 वायसात्पञ्च शिक्षेच्च षट् शुनस्त्रीणि गर्दभात्॥

Simhadekam, bhakaadekam, shiksheth chatvaari kukkutaat I 

Vaayasaat pancha shikshecha shat shunas threeni gardabhaat II

One should learn one lesson each from lion and crane, four lessons from fowl, five lessons from crow, six from dog and three from donkey.

प्रवृत्तं कार्यमल्पं वा यो नर: कर्तुमिच्छति I  

 सर्वारम्भेण तत्कार्यं सिंहादेकं प्रचक्षते॥

Pravruttam kaaryamalpam vaa yo nar: kartumichati I 

Sarvaarambhena tatkaaryam simhadekam prachakshate II

One ought to learn the following virtue from Lion: Once a work is begun , one must put maximum effort to complete it whether the work is small or big.

इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य बकवत्पण्डितो नरः। 

देशकालः बलं ज्ञात्वा सर्वकार्याणि साधयेत्॥

Indriyaani cha samyamya Bhakavath pandito nara: I

 Desa kala: balam gyathva sarvakarmaani saadhayet II

A wise man, having controlled his senses like crane , ought to perform his duties knowing the Time, Place and Strength.

सुश्रान्तोऽपि वहेद् भारं शीतोष्णं न पश्यति।

सन्तुष्टश्चरतो नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेच्च गर्दभात्॥

Sushraantopi vahed bharam seethoshnam na pasyati I 

Santushtascharati nityam thrini siksheth gardabhat. II

One ought to learn from a Donkey the virtues of carrying load even when one is tired, not caring about heat and cold and always being contented.

प्रत्युत्थानं च युद्धं च संविभागश्च बन्धुषु।   

 स्वयमाक्रम्य भोक्तं च शिक्षेच्चत्वारि कुक्कुटात्॥

Pratyutthanam cha yuddham cha samvibhagascha bandushu I 

Svayamaakramya bhoktham cha siksheth chattvaari Kukkutaat. II

One ought to learn from a domestic fowl the virtues of getting up early in the morning, fighting, sharing food with near and dear ones and toiling for one’s livelihood.

गूढ मैथुनकारित्वं काले काले च संग्रहम्।    

अप्रमत्तवचनमविश्वासं पञ्च शिक्षेच्च वायसात्॥

Goota maithunakaarithvam kaale kaale cha samgraham I 

Appramattha vachanam avisvaasam pancha siksheth vaayasaat II

Five things have to be learnt from a crow : Copulating secretly, alertness, Stocking food etc for bad times. I  Making noise to gather people around and not trusting anyone. II

वह्वशी स्वल्पसन्तुष्टः सुनिद्रो लघुचेतनः।   

 स्वामिभक्तश्च शूरश्च षडेते श्वानतो गुणाः॥

Bhahvaasi svalpasantushta: sunidro laghu chetana: I  

Swami bhakthischa soorascha shadethe svaanato gunaa: II

Six virtues have to be learnt from a Dog: To eat large quantities when food is available, to be content with very little food, to have deep sleep, to awaken easily, devotion to master and valour.

स एतान् विंशति गुणान्आचरिष्यति मानव: I   

कार्यावस्थाषु सर्वासु विजयी संभविष्यति  II

Sa ethan vimsati gunaan aacharishyati maanava: I  

Kaaryaavasthashu sarvaasu vijayee sambhavishyati II

That person who cultivates these twenty virtues , will attain success in all his ventures.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH