श्रीभर्तृहरियोगीन्द्रविरचितासुभाषितत्रिशती
THREE
HUNDRED VERSES OF GOOD SAYINGS
of
SHREE BHARTRHARI YOGEENDRA
PART
ONE
नीतिशतकम्
VERSES
ON GOOD CONDUCT
INTRODUCTION
We do not have
much information about Bhartrhari’s life.
Maybe he was a
great scholar, or a king, or a romantic lover, or a dispassionate Sage- we do
not know for certain; but we have the three great gems in our possession which
he has left back as a treasure of knowledge, namely the ‘Subhaashita Trishatee’
(Three hundred verses of ‘Good-Sayings’)!
However there
is a slight trace of sadness that can be seen in the first ‘Shataka’!
The poet seems
to lament about the kings who do not recognize the scholars; the pathetic state
of the good men in the society; the disappointments that lie in store for the
talented and so on.
He goes to such
an extent to even deny the value of human effort, and talks about destiny or
fate destroying all the efforts of talented men.
Whereas we find
that in the great scripture composed by Vaalmiki, the JnaanaVaasishtam, Sage
Vasishta completely denies the existence of destiny and states that any man at
any time of his life-span can achieve the greatest state of the Self (Knowledge
of Reality) by sheer effort and sincere practice.
Anyhow,
Bhartrhari might have personally had many bad experiences in his life to blame
all his sufferings on the cruel destiny. But later he again reverts back to the
‘Karma’ theory and states that all that happens is the result of his own past
actions of previous lives.
Whatever be the
trend exhibited, fatalistic or sad, this collection of hundred verses on
Ethics, is a storehouse of precious gems of knowledge presented by the great poet
and is one of the invaluable treasures of Sanskrit Literature.
If we could
enjoy the beautiful poetry, the amazing analogies, and the ‘blemish-less
truths’ contained in it, there is nothing more the author would want, whoever
he be!
Salutations to
the noble Sage!
This work of
translation is an offering at his feet!
अथ मङ्गलं
SALUTATION TO THE AATMAN
दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्नानन्तचिन्मात्रमूर्तये
स्वानुभूत्येकमानाय नमः शान्ताय तेजसे
॥
Salutation to the ‘Quiescent Luster’
which is proved by personal experience,
which is undivided by space, time and
other divisions,
which is the dense state of
Consciousness!
In this first verse, the poet
offers salutation to the Aatman, the state of Para Brahman, the reality-state
behind all these apparent world produced by sense perceptions.
This state is undivided by
the lines of place and time demarcations and time; for it is a state of pure
awareness which is aware of time and place; but is not limited by space and
time.
It is nowhere and is at no
time; but is at all times and everywhere as all. It is complete.
It has no beginning and end.
It is a state of pure essence of knowledge alone.
It is the formless form of
the world.
It shines as the awareness in
all as Aatman, the understanding state.
It is the ‘I’ in all; and is
experienced by all as the ‘I’.
Yet everyone is under the
mistaken knowledge that this ‘I’ is the inert body made of elements.
When one understands the true
‘I’ in him, and stays as the Reality-state that transcends the name and form;
then he is said to be a JeevanMukta, a person who is liberated while living.
Moksha is not any new empty
heaven to be attained after death; but is the realization of the Knowledge of
the Reality which is referred to by the term Brahman.
(1)
{ALAS! NO ONE WILL APPRECIATE MY GOOD WORDS!}
बोद्धारो मत्सरग्रस्ताः प्रभवः स्मयदूषिताः
अबोधोपताश्चान्ये जीर्णमङ्गे सुभाषितं
॥१॥
The intellectuals are caught by envy.
The wealthy lords are unreceptive with their
arrogant smiles.
Others are stuck in ignorance.
The good sayings are wasting away within
(my mind)!
A truly wise man is ignored
always when he is alive.
This is the sad fate of the
world. (It has not changed much now also.)
It is too cruel to the men of
wisdom.
Bhartrhari is no exception.
His words of wisdom, his
instructions are ignored by all.
The intellectual of his days
are filled with envy and see to it that his works are not valued much.
The wealthy lords are happy
with the idiots who flatter them; and ignore the truly wise.
The ordinary people cannot
grasp the wisdom of his words, since they are not up to his intellectual level.
Whatever Knowledge he has
acquired are going waste with no one to receive them.
He is like a precious gem
buried under a heap of ordinary stones.
No one is able to realize his
greatness and offer him his due honour.
{ANYHOW I WLL STILL PROCEED WITH MY WORK}
अथ मूर्खपद्दतिः
[WAY
OF THE FOOLS]
(2)
{THE FOOL WHO DOES NOT
KNOW THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW}
अज्ञः सुखमाराध्यः सुखतरमाराध्यते विशेषज्ञः
ज्ञानलवदुर्विदग्धं ब्रह्मापि नरं न रञ्जयति
॥२॥
An ignorant man can be easily
entertained.
A man specialized in some talent can be
entertained more easily.
But even Lord Brahma cannot satisfy a
person
who has very little knowledge yet acts
arrogant and intelligent.
There are three types of
listeners.
A] I DO NOT KNOW: (An empty
cup with no lid; so can be filled)
One who does not know
anything, yet humble, can be taught something. There is a remote chance that he
will try to grasp what is said.
B] I KNOW A LITTLE: (A cup
which is filled slightly; but still empty; with lid open.)
One who has mastered some
knowledge in some subject, yet humble, can also be taught. He will produce his
own view-points and there might be a chance of a healthy debate.
C] I ALREADY KNOW: (An empty
cup which has a tight lid over it; so nothing can fill it)
But if the person does not
know anything, yet thinks he knows all, then such a fool who has blocked his
mind from all knowledge can never be taught even by the Creator of the world.
Arrogance never allows any
knowledge to enter within.
Such people, who hold on to
misguided theories and viewpoints, will never accept the true knowledge from
even Brahmaa also. There is no cure for foolishness which is held aloft as
intelligence by these idiots.
These arrogant fools, who
have not even an iota of knowledge, usually judge a man of true wisdom by their
own standard of false beliefs and theories and humiliate him and his knowledge.
Fie on such self-conceited fools!
(3)
{THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE FEAT
IN THE WORLD}
Even
the most difficult thing can be accomplished if one is brave and courageous!
There is nothing a man cannot achieve if he makes an effort.
However
there is one thing that has been proved as impossibility from time immemorial.
If
a man thinks what he believes is the right thing and does not bend down before
reason or logic, then there is never a chance of convincing him.
That
‘perverse stubborn obstinate fool’ is beyond redemption!
प्रसह्य मणिमुद्धरेन्मकरवक्त्रदंष्ट्रान्तरात्
समुद्रमपि सन्तरेत्प्रचलदूर्मिमालाकुलम्
भुजङ्गमपि कोपितं शिरसि पुष्पवद्धारयेत्
न तु प्रतिनिविष्ठमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥३॥
One can forcibly remove
the precious gem
caught in the sharp teeth
inside the mouth of a crocodile!
One can easily cross over
the ocean turbulent with waves!
One can wear the hissing
serpent on the head like a flower garland!
But one can never satisfy
the mind of an obstinate blockhead!
Who is to be branded as a fool? Let us analyze.
The world is a continuous fountain head of
information only.
Senses bring in information about objects, mind
co-relates such information and makes a theory of its own; the intellect
analyzes it as good or bad; and the man acts based on these conclusions.
How much of the information received by the brain
is true?
None! The world is a heap of wrong information
produced by the mind.
He is branded as a fool whose actions are based on
this heap of wrong-information only.
As long as you believe in the reality of the sense-produced
world, you are to be branded as a fool only.
You are as foolish as a person running towards the
mirage lake carrying a pot to fill waters.
Can you ever convince that fool who believes in the
mirage, that the water is not real? Will he ever listen to the words of advice
offered by a wise man, who already knows the mirage-water as non-existent?
Talk sense to any fanatic of religion or Guru; you
will be lucky if you are still left alive.
(4)
लभेत सिकतासु तैलमपि यत्नतः पीडयन्
पिबेत मृगतृष्णिकासु सलिलं पिपासार्दितः
कदाचिदपि पर्यटन्शशविषाणमासादयेत्
न तु
प्रतिनिविष्ठमूर्खजनचित्तमाराधयेत् ॥४॥
One
can extract oil from the sand particles by effort if need be!
A
thirsty man can drink the water from a mirage-river also!
At
some time or other, wandering here and there,
one
may chance to get a hare’s horn!
But one can never satisfy
the mind of an obstinate blockhead!
(5)
{DO NOT EVER EXPECT A FOOL
TO APPRECIATE THIS WORK,
WHICH ABOUNDS IN
GOOD-SAYINGS!}
The
beauty of a poetry can be understood only by a very few.
Not
all can feel the taste for it!
Any
scripture, any literary piece, any good saying cannot be appreciated by the
ignorant fool who is soaked in the base experiences of the world!
व्यालं बालमृणालतन्तुभिरसौ रोद्धुं समुज्जृम्भते
भेत्तुं वज्रमणिं शिरीषकुसुमप्रान्तेन
सन्नह्यति
माधुर्यं मधुबिन्दुना रचयितुं क्षाराम्बुधेरीहते
मूर्खान्यः प्रतिनेतुमिच्छति बलात्सूक्तैः
सुधास्यन्दिभिः ॥५॥
If one desires to forcibly
attract the idiots
with ‘Good-sayings’ oozing
nectar,
he is trying to bring
under control a mad rogue elephant
with the tender stems of a
lotus;
he is trying to break the
diamond with a petal of the soft Shireesha flower;
he is trying to sweeten
the salt ocean with a drop of honey!
Poetry
in metered verses, with wonderful analogies explaining some great truths is a
Subhaashita/Sookti or Good Saying (apophthegm/ wise words/ apposite quotes)!
It
is like the tender lotus stalk holding up the flower of truth! How can it ever
get the attention of a man who is arrogant about his wealth (like a rogue
elephant) without an iota of intelligence!
It
is soft and tender like the Shireesha flower, making the heart melt in the
‘Rasa’ (taste) it contains within it as the honey! How can it ever soften the
hardened heart (diamond-like) of a man who has turned into a stone-like
personality with no reaction to others’ sufferings!
It
oozes honey in each and every verse! How can this little drop of honey please
the mind of an idiot which is like a huge ocean of salt with its ever rising
waves of desires, anxieties and attachments!
No
one can ever get the attention of the fool who does not have the capacity to
taste the nectar in the ‘Good-Sayings’.
(6)
{IT IS BETTER THAT A FOOL
DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH
AND REVEAL HIS IGNORANCE
IN A SCHOLARS’ MEET!}
स्वायत्तमेकान्तहितं विधात्रा विनिर्मितं
च्छादनमज्ञतायाः
विशेषतः सर्वविदां समाजे विभूषणं मौनमपण्डितानाम्
॥६॥
A shield to mask one’s
ignorance has been created by Lord Brahmaa
which is under the control of the fool
himself!
Especially in a gathering of great scholars,
silence alone adorns those
fools who do not know anything!
(7)
{COMPANY OF THE WISE IS
THE CURE FOR THE ARROGANT FOOL!}
Nobody
is cursed to be a fool! Once the arrogance is got rid of in the company of the
wise, any man can strive and attain true knowledge.
यदा किन्चिज्ज्ञोऽहं गज इव मदान्धः समभवं
तदा सर्वज्ञोsस्मीत्यभवदवलिप्तं मम मनः
यदा किन्चित्किन्चिद्विबुधजनसकाशादवगतं
तदा मूर्खोsस्मीति ज्वर इव मदो मे व्यपगतः
॥७॥
When I knew very little, I
had become blind with arrogance
like the musth elephant
with its ichor-flow!
At that time my mind was
haughty with the idea that ‘I knew everything’!
When
I started having the company of the wise now and then,
I
understood that ‘I was truly a fool’;
and
my pride was gone like the fever (by the intake of the correct medicine)!
(8)
{THE GREEDY NATURE OF THE
IGNORANT}
कृमिकुलचितं लालाक्लिन्नं जुगुप्सितं
निरुपमरसप्रीत्या खादन्खरास्थि निरामिषं
सुरपतिमपि श्वा पार्श्वस्थं विलोक्य न
शङ्कते
न हि गणयति क्षुद्रो जन्तुः परिग्रहफल्गुतां
॥८॥
With incomparable greed,
the dog, as he bites
through the stinking, disgusting, fleshless
‘bone-piece of the donkey’
which is filled with
countless crawling worms,
and moist by the oozing
saliva,
he does not feel discomfited
even if he sees Indra, the
king of Gods standing near him!
The ‘lowly being’ does not
understand
the worthless nature of the object obtained
by ‘it’.
A
man who is uncultured, uneducated, and animal-like in behavior has no thought
for any higher things in his life. Like a dog which is satisfied by the
momentary enjoyment of any stinking bone piece that it finds in the drain-hole,
a fool is happy with the temporary enjoyments of his desired objects. He has no
thoughts of the future; nor does he understand the lowly life he is leading. He
never will aspire for the intellectual pleasures or spiritual achievements
sought by the noble.
What
can a street dog understand about the greatness of Indra, the ruler of the
tri-world?!
What
can the man of ignorance understand about the bliss of dispassion and
non-attachment?
(9)
{DESTRUCTION IS
UNAVOIDABLE IF REASON IS LOST}
[FALL OF GANGAA]
शिरः शार्वं स्वर्गात्पशुपति शिरस्तः
क्षितिधरं
महीध्रादुत्तुङ्गादवनिमवनेश्चापि जलधिं
अथो गङ्गा सेयं पदमुपगता स्तोकमथ वा
विवेकभ्रष्टानां भवति विनिपातः शत मुखः
॥९॥
From the heaven, to the head of Shiva;
from the head of the Lord
to the Mountain (Himalaya );
from the top of the
Mountain to the earth;
from the earth to the
ocean;
thus this River Gangaa attained the lowly
state!
For those who have lost
their reasoning power,
the fall occurs in hundred
ways!
Once
a man loses his control and indulges in any lowly activity even for once, there
is no stopping later!
The
fall is very fast and in no time he will end up losing all that he had
cherished, like health, wealth, family, name, fame etc! King Yudhishtira is one
standing example for this fact where he lost everything pursuing his one vice,
namely gambling!
Gangaa
by nature is pure. She is a heavenly resident adored by even Gods! But she was
slightly tainted by her arrogance! When she fell from the heaven to Shiva’s
head (at the request of king Bhageeratha), there was no stopping her. She went
down and down; and at last entered the ocean; and disappeared into its salty
waters to be seen no more!
Even
a great man can experience the worst state in his life, if he even once swerves
from the noble path he is pursuing!
(10)
{ALAS! FOOLISHNESS IS
INCURABLE!}
शक्यो वारयितुं जलेन हुतभुक् शूर्पेण
सूर्यातपो
नागेन्द्रो निहितान्कुशेन समदो दण्डेन
गौगर्दभः
व्याधिर्भेषजसंग्रहैश्च विविधैर्मन्त्रैः
प्रयोगैर्विषं
सर्वस्यौषधमस्ति शास्त्रविहितं मूर्खस्य
नास्त्यौषधम् ॥१०॥
Fire can be put out by
water.
Hot sun can be warded off by a winnowing
basket even.
A rogue elephant chief can
be subdued by attacking it with a goad.
A cow or a donkey can be
controlled by a stick.
Illness can be cured by various medicines.
Poison can be removed by
special treatments and magical chants.
There is a treatment as
prescribed by the scriptures
for everything in this
world.
But there is no medicine to cure a foolish
man!
अथ विद्वत्पद्धतिः
[WAY OF THE
LEARNED]
(11)
{HEY KINGS! IF YOU DO NOT VALUE MY KNOWLEDGE, LOSS IS
YOURS FOR SURE!
I DO NOT LOSE MY WORTH!}
शास्त्रोपस्कृतशब्दसुन्दरगिरः शिष्यप्रदेयागमा
विख्याताः कवयो वसन्ति विषये यस्य प्रभोर्निर्धनाः
तज्जाड्यं वसुधाधिपस्य सुधियस्त्वर्थं
विनापीश्वराः
कुत्स्याः स्युः कुपरीक्षकैर्न मणयो यैरर्घतः
पातिताः ॥११॥
If the celebrated poets
who are eloquent
with the usage of
beautiful words refined by the knowledge of the scriptures;
who have mastered enough
knowledge to be passed through disciples;
live without any wealth in
a king’s place,
then it is the apathy of
the ruler!
The men of wisdom are rich
even without the material wealth!
Precious gems get despised
by those
who do not have the
expertise to appraise them, and appear less in value;
but gems never ever lose
their real worth!
If
truly learned men remain unrecognized in a country, it is the fault of the
people around them who do not understand their value; for, any amount of wealth,
fame or name have no meaning for these Knowers. Their value is not lessened in
any way because the fools around them do not understand their worth!
(12)
{HEY KINGS! WHOM ARE YOU COMPETING WITH AND GLARING
AT?
I AM WEALTHIER THAN YOU ALL! KNOWLEDGE ALONE IS MY
WEALTH!
YOU CAN NEVER ACQUIRE IT EVER!}
हर्तुर्याति न गोचरं किमपि शं पुष्णाति
यत्सर्वदापि
अर्थिभ्यः प्रतिपाद्यमानमनिशं प्राप्नोति
वृद्धिं परां
कल्पान्तेष्वपि न प्रयाति निधनं विद्याख्यमन्तर्धनं
येषां तान्प्रति मानमुञ्झत नृपाः कस्तैः
सह स्पर्धते ॥१२॥
It remains invisible to the thief.
It continuously augments some unique
happiness.
When offered to others without a break,
it attains more Excellency.
Even after Brahmaa’s time is over, it
does not perish.
This is the wealth of knowledge within
oneself!
Hey Kings! Do not feel contempt towards
those who have this wealth!
Who can ever compete with them!
Material wealth has to be
safeguarded; it keeps nagging the brain with greed and anxiety; wastes away as
you keep spending it; decreases when you give it to others; with your death you
lose it all!
Knowledge is an amazing
wealth that belongs only to the men of wisdom. It cannot be stolen; it gives
continuous unique happiness; when you explain anything to others, you gain more
insights into the subject; after the death of the body, it carries over (even
after death) and the journey of knowledge-seeking continues forever to
eternity; it belongs to oneself; it becomes the Ataman (essence of the person),
one’s unique identity!
A man is defined as what he
knows.
A Knower is the supreme
essence of Brahman itself because of his Knowledge level.
An ignorant man who jumps
from one objet of desire to another, without ever acquiring any true knowledge
is a ‘nobody’ actually. He is the poorest man, even if possesses the entire
wealth of the tri-world even. A man of wisdom, even if he lacks material wealth
is the riches of all.
Even if a man owns the whole
of earth, he cannot compete with a man of knowledge!
(13)
{HEY KINGS! DO NOT DARE INSULT US
YOU WEALTH IS NOTHING BUT EQUAL TO THE ROAD-SIDE
GRASS!
DO NOT DARE TELL US WHAT TO DO OR WHAT NOT TO DO!
WE ARE AS STRONG AS THE YOUNG ROGUE ELEPHANTS!
DO NOT THINK THAT YOU CAN EVER OVERPOWER US
WITH YOUR POMPOUS SHOW OF RICHES!}
अधिगतपरमार्थान्पण्डितान्मावमंस्थाः
तृणमिव लघु लक्ष्मीर्नैव तान्संरुणद्धि
अभिनवमदरेखाश्यामगण्डस्थलानां
न भवति बिसतन्तुर्वारणं वारणानां ॥१३॥
Do not insult those men of wisdom
who have attained the Supreme Knowledge!
The material wealth is as worthless as a
piece of grass!
Do not ever restrain them.
A lotus stalk cannot hold back the
elephants
whose temple-regions are darkened by the
lines
made by the oozing ichor freshly pouring
out!
A man of wisdom cannot become
a slave to the wealthy lords!
(14)
{HEY KING!
EVEN THE CREATOR CANNOT REMOVE THE INNATE TALENT OF
HIS OWN SWAN!
WHAT CAN AN IDIOT LIKE YOU DO TO US KNOWERS?
YOU CAN HARM OUR BODIES; BUT CANNOT TAKE AWAY OUR
KNOWLEDGE.}
अम्भोजिनीवनविहारविलासमेव
हंसस्य हन्ति नितरां कुपितो विधाता
न त्वस्य दुग्धजलभेदविधौ प्रसिद्धां
वैदग्ध्यकीर्तिमपहर्तुमसौ समर्थः ॥१४॥
Even the Creator of the world,
even if extremely angry,
can only stop the swan from sporting
among the clusters of the lotus plants!
Even he cannot take away its well-known famed
talent
of separating the milk and the water!
Some higher breed of swans
have the talent of sucking milk alone as separated from water, from a bowl of
water-mixed milk. The realized men also see only Self or Brahman in the
perceived phenomenon of the world. Such Knowers are called ‘PARAMA-HAMSAS’ (Excellent
Swans).
A king can punish a man of
wisdom in various ways and harass him; but he can never ever remove the
‘Supreme Knowledge’ from him ever! }
(15)
{HEY RICH MEN!
HOWEVER YOU DECORATE YOUR BODY WITH,
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPEAK PROPERLY,
YOU DO LOOK UGLY AND UNATTRACTIVE!}
केयूराणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्वला
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कुसुमं नालंकृता मूर्धजाः
वाण्येका समलङ्करोति पुरुषं या संस्कृता धार्यते
क्षीयन्तेsखिलभूषणानि सततं वाग्भूषणं भूषणम् ॥१५॥
Armlets do not adorn a man; or the garlands
shining bright like the moon;
nor bathing in fragrant waters; nor
anointment with fragrant pastes;
nor the flowers; nor the decorated hairs
on the head.
Speech alone adorns a man which is
well-refined!
All other ornaments will diminish as
time goes by!
But the ornament of speech is the best
ornament!
The word ‘Purusha’ here refers
to both men and women, as the word means ‘an embodied one, who lives in the
city of nine gates (holes)’.
If you want to be attractive
and popular, do not waste your money on clothes and cosmetics. Learn to speak
kindly, properly, eloquently and sincerely. A person with refined speech alone
can be liked by one and all; and that type of refined speech is possible only
through proper education and acquirement of knowledge. The wealth of the entire
world cannot equal the ornament of refined speech.
All other decorations have to
be redone again and again; not so the intellect ornamented with knowledge.
(16)
{VALUE OF KNOWLEDGE}
विद्या नाम नरस्य रूपमधिकं प्रच्छन्नगुप्तं धनं
विद्या भोगकरी यशः सुखकरी विद्या गुरूणां गुरुः
विद्या बन्धुजनो विदेशगमने विद्या परा देवता
विद्या राजसु पूज्यते न हि धनं विद्याविहीनः पशुः ॥१६॥
Knowledge enhances the beauty of a man.
It is a treasure well-hidden.
Knowledge brings about enjoyments, the
happiness of fame.
Knowledge is the teacher of teachers.
Knowledge is the relative when visiting
foreign countries.
Knowledge is the Supreme divinity.
Knowledge is respected even among kings;
not so the material wealth.
A man without knowledge is an
(brainless) animal!
A man of knowledge need not
search for other tools to enhance his beauty. His knowledge adorns him. Sage
Vyaasa was supposed to be black in hue and ugly; yet even Trinities worship him
as he is the greatest among Knowers.
A man of knowledge need not
hide his learning like the ignorant do with their wealth. As much as he gives
it to others, he shines more with luster.
Wealth, fame and other
material benefits fall at his feet, if only he cares to own them.
His capacity to understand
any topic makes him a master of any learning.
Wherever he travels, he
survives because of his knowledge.
He need not seek gods to
protect him. Gods are at his behest taking care of all his needs; for he owns
the Supreme God of all, the Knowledge!
Even if he is sparsely
clothed or devoid of expensive ornaments, he is respected and revered by kings
even; not so the wealthy man, since there is always a man wealthier than the
other.
A man with Self-knowledge
alone is a complete person; all the others are just surviving gene-machines, no
better than the cow or the donkey.
The word ‘Pashu’ means an
animal which sees the world without any understanding.
(17)
क्षान्तिश्चेचत्कवचेन किं किमरिभिः क्रोधोस्ति चेद्देहिनां
ज्ञातिश्चेदनलेन किं यदि सुहृद्दिव्यौषधैः
किं फलं
किं सर्पैर्यदि दुर्जनाः किमु धनैर्विद्यानवद्या यदि
व्रीडा चेत्किमु भूषणैः सुकविता यद्यस्ति राज्येन किं ॥१७॥
If there is forbearance then who needs an
armor (for protection)?
Nothing can affect a man of
forbearance who has the quality of equanimity.
If
the embodied beings are prone to get anger,
then why do they need any other enemy?
Anger is the reaction for an
unfulfilled desire. A man who is angry loses discrimination; forgets all his
learning; acts as if insane and destroys himself and others around him.
If there are kinsmen,
what need of a fire (to burn off you and
your possessions)?
The relatives who are always
trying to extract wealth and possessions from you are like the slow burning
fire which consumes you slowly.
If there are (true) friends, of what use
are the magically powered medicines?
A true friend supports and
helps you when met with any problem; no need of seeking magical potions to
solve your problems.
If there are wicked men (around), why
have anxiety about mere serpents?
Wicked men are more vicious
than snakes. Snakes carry poison in the mouth only; but the wicked carry honey
in their mouths and burning poison in their hearts. You will never even know of
their bites before it Is too late.
If there is blemish-less (correct)
knowledge (of the Reality),
why one will need riches ever?
If one understands the unreal
nature of the perceived world, why will he want the wealth of this world ever?
If there is the quality of modesty,
why one needs to wear ornaments (to make
himself handsome?)
A man with modesty and
humbleness shines more handsome than the arrogant man decorated with rich
ornaments.
If there is a good poem (that you can
read and understand),
why the need for a kingdom even (to
bestow joy)?
The bliss that arises out of
reading a good composition of poetry can never be had by owning any property or
wealth. Blessed are those who are evolved enough to read and understand poetry
and enjoy its nine Rasas (tastes/emotions)). Brahmaa’s world has only six
tastes and is less joy-giving than a poet’s world.
(18)
{HOW SHOULD A WISE MAN CONDUCT HIMSELF IN THIS WORLD?}
दाक्षिण्यं स्वजने दया परिजने शाट्यं सदा दुर्जने
प्रीतिः साधुजने नयो नृपजने विद्वज्जने चार्जवं
शौर्यं शत्रुजने क्षमा गुरुजने कान्ताजने धृष्टता
ये चैवं पुरुषाः कलासु कुशलास्तेष्वेव लोकस्थितिः ॥१८॥
Obligation towards relatives ;(
otherwise they will blame you.)
Kindness towards servants ;( otherwise
they will leave you.)
Cunningness towards the wicked at all
times;
(otherwise they will cheat you.)
Affection for the good men; (they will
bless you.)
Obedience towards the kings ;( otherwise
they will punish you.)
Straightforward sincerity towards the
learned;
(you will learn more from them.)
Exhibition of valor towards the enemies;
(otherwise they will defeat you.)
Patience towards elders; (otherwise they
will curse you.)
Firmness towards women-folk; (otherwise
they will control you.)
Those men who have mastered these arts
alone keep the world stable!
(19)
{THE VALUE OF GOOD COMPANY}
जाड्यं धियो हरति सिञ्चति वाचि सत्यं
मानोन्नतिं दिशति पापमपाकरोति
चेतः प्रसादयति दिक्षु तनोति कीर्तिं
सत्सङ्गतिः कथय किं न करोति पुंसां ॥१९॥
It steals away the dullness of the
intellect.
It sprinkles truth in the spoken words.
It leads towards a position of honour.
It destroys the sins.
It pleases the mind.
It spreads one’s fame in all directions.
Tell! What good does the company of the
wise not do to men?
(20)
{THOSE GREAT KNOWERS KNOW NO DEATH}
जयन्ति ते सुकृतिनो रससिद्धाः कवीश्वराः
नास्ति तेषां यशःकाये जरामरणजं भयं ॥२०॥
For those meritorious ones who have
attained the excellent state of the Self;
for those who have realized the state of
Brahman;
for those who see beyond the perceived
world;
for their fame-bodies, there is never
the fear of old age and death!
RasaSiddha means a poet who
has mastered the ‘Nine Rasas’ like Shringaara etc. and uses them in his
compositions. RasaSiddha also means a Siddha who has mastered Siddhis and can
prepare many magical potions. RasaSiddha
also means a person who has attained the state of Brahman, as ‘Rasa’ means
Brahman. (रसो वै सः -Shrutis) Kaveeshvara
means - one who sees beyond; beyond the three modes of time (a person who has
realized the knowledge of the Self).
Since only realized Knowers
lose their identity with the physical bodies, and as Bhartrhari himself was a
realized Sage, we must surmise that he refers to those who have attained the
state of Brahman, by the words ‘RasaSiddha’ and ‘Kaveeshvara’.
Whatever special knowledge
pertaining to the world is gained by men, it dies along with the death of their
bodies. Only those who have realized the Self, live without the fear of old age
and death, even when they live in the world with physical bodies.
They are JeevanMuktas.
Ordinary fame of ordinary
knowledge lasts not long; as men always excel each other in such learning and
no one gets permanent fame.
‘Yashas’ or ‘renowned state’
which lasts beyond the life-span of the Creator himself is the ‘Knowledge of
Brahman /Self’ alone. Self is ‘well-known’ to all as their very essence. A
realized man who has realized his essence as the Reality of Brahman has no
connection with the physical body at all, which alone undergoes the pains of
old age and death.
As the concluding verse of
VidvatPaddati, Bhartrhari extols here those great men who have strived for and
attained the ‘Self-state of true Knowledge’.
अथ मानशौर्यपद्दतिः
[WAY
OF THE VALOROUS MEN WITH SELF-RESPECT]
(21)
{A MAN WITH ‘SELF –RESPECT’ NEVER GIVES UP HIS
PRINCIPLES}
क्षुत्कामोsपि जराकृशोsपि शिथिलप्रायोsपि
कष्टां दशामापन्नोsपि विपन्नदीधितिरपि प्राणेषु नश्यत्स्वपि
मत्तेभेन्द्रविभिन्नकुम्भपिशितग्रासैकबद्धस्पृहः
किं जीर्णं तृणमत्ति मानमहतामग्रेसरः केसरी ॥२१॥
Though emaciated by hunger; though
shrunken by old age;
though limbs are drooping; though stuck
in a difficult situation;
though the luster of the face is lost; though
the five vital forces are leaving;
will the lion -
who is adorned by the mane,
who stands foremost among beings with
self-respect,
who desires only the flesh of the broken
head of the ‘musth’ elephant,
- ever eat the dried up grass?!
A man with self-respect never
will bend down before the tragic events of life and give up his noble virtues.
Even an ordinary animal like a lion will only want to hunt its prey and eat the
flesh than consume any rotten animal on the roadside. Hunger cannot make ‘the
king of the forest’ munch dry grass and lose his self-respect.
(22)
{DOG WILL EAT ANYTHING:
NOT THE LION}
स्वल्पस्नायुवसावसेकमलिनं निर्मांसमप्यस्थि गोः
श्वा लब्ध्वा परितोषमेति न च तत्तस्य क्षुधाशान्तये
सिंहो जम्बुकमङ्कमागतमपि त्यक्त्वा निहन्ति द्विपं
सर्वः कृच्छ्रगतोsपि वान्छति जनः सत्त्वानुरूपं फलं ॥२२॥
The dog gets a small bone-piece of a
dead cow,
which is dirty, with the sinews and
marrow sticking on it;
eats it though it has no flesh in it;
and is completely satisfied,
though that bone-piece does not satiate
its hunger qualms.
(Whereas) the lion rejects the fox which
is on his lap even,
and attacks only the elephant
(and kills it by his valor and consumes its
well-earned food.).
A man who is perfect in his character,
though in the worst circumstance,
desires only the fruits that his talents
deserve!
(He will never beg from the stupid
rich.)
(23)
{DOG WILL DO ANYTHING TO
PLEASE THE MASTER; NOT SO THE ELEPHANT}
लाङ्गूलचालनमधश्चरणावघातं
भूमौ निपत्य वदनोदरदर्शनं च
श्वा पिण्डदस्य कुरुते गजपुङ्गवस्तु
धीरं विलोकयति चाटुशतैश्च भुङ्क्ते ॥२३॥
Wagging the tail;
hitting the ground with the feet;
falling on the ground and exposing the
face and the belly;
all these acts are done by the dog in
front of the person who offers it food.
But the bull-elephant looks at the
food-giver with defiance.
He eats only after a lot of cajoling is
done.
(24)
{MAKE YOUR LIFE
WORTHWHILE}
परिवर्तिनि संसारे मृतः को वा न जायते
स जातो येन जातेन याति वंशः समुन्नतिं
॥२४॥
In this worldly existence which keeps
rotating continuously,
who does not get born when he dies!
But
he alone is ‘truly born’ by whose birth his family attains Excellency!
Look
around! The world is overflowing with human species.
True,
people keep dying also! Yet those who die also will get reborn dominated by
their latent tendencies, as stated in the Bhagavad-Gita.
But
according to poet Bhartrhari, all those that take birth are not really born.
They just appear and disappear like some worthless patterns of flesh. But a
person who brings name and fame to his family through his nobility and
achievements alone is truly born.
Not
only his family, but the entire world itself benefits because of his birth.
(25)
{A MAN OF TALENT EXPECTS
DUE RESPECT FROM THE WORLD}
कुसुमस्तबकस्येव द्वयी वृत्तिर्मनस्विनः
मूर्ध्नि वा सर्वलोकस्य शीर्यते वन एव
वा ॥२५॥
A man of courage has only two courses to
be followed,
like the bunch of flowers.
Either he will shine atop the entire
world;
or waste away in a forest (unknown to
any one)!
A person with self-respect
will expect his talents to be recognized properly and will want to be treated
with proper esteem. But if that does not happen, he would rather live alone in
a forest not bothering about the world which did not offer him the due value.
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