(26)
{NEVER SWERVE FROM THE GOAL}
सन्त्यन्येsपि बृहस्पतिप्रभृतयः संभाविताः पञ्चषाः
तान्प्रत्येष विशेषविक्रमरुची राहुर्न वैरायते
द्वावेव ग्रसते दिवाकरनिशाप्राणेश्वरौ भास्वरौ
भ्रातः पर्वणि पश्य दानवपतिः शीर्षावशेषाकृतिः ॥२६॥
There exist other esteemed planets also
five or six
like Brhaspati (Budha, Shukra etc) and
others.
Raahu does not maintain any enmity
towards them,
though he has a taste for conquering
those of brilliant luster.
Observe brothers!
The king of the demons (Raahu) who is
left alive with just a head
catches only the two ‘Shining lords of the day
and night’ (Sun and Moon),
at the day of opposition and conjunction
(Parva)!
Gods
and demons churned the milk ocean for obtaining the immortalizing nectar. The
demons Raahu and Ketu disguised themselves as Gods to share the nectar which
was getting served to Gods alone by Lord Vishnu. The two Gods Sun and moon
found out the treachery and informed Lord Vishnu. The nectar already had got
sipped by the two demons. Lord Vishnu sliced their heads off with his discus
weapon. Their heads remained eternal without the body. Angry at the Sun and
Moon who were the cause of all this, Raahu and Ketu swallow them up again and
again at ‘Parva’ times; but as there are no ‘bodies’ below their throats, Sun
and Moon come out of their throats unscathed.
Here
the poet is commending the single-minded effort of Raahu, the demon king, who
though would be very happy to overthrow the other esteemed planets by his
prowess, goes only after the Sun and the Moon. The pathetic condition of his
form which has only a ‘live head’ does not deter him from his purpose.
Great
men of enterprise do not easily give up their ventures, whatever hardships they
encounter!
(27)
{WHAT THE NOBLE CANNOT
ACHIEVE?}
वहति भुवनश्रेणिं शेषः फणाफलकस्थितां कमठपतिना मध्ये पृष्ठं सदा स च धार्यते
तमपि कुरुते क्रोडाधीनं पयोधिरनादरादहह महतां निःसीमानश्चरित्रविभूतयः ॥२७॥
Aadi Shesha (the serpent-bed of Lord
Vishnu)
bears the range of (fourteen) worlds
on his countless hoods which are like
planks for them to rest on!
‘Aadi Koorma’ the Lord of tortoises,
bears him always on the center of his
back!
The ocean hands him (tortoise-lord) over
to the ‘Varaaha’ (boar) with ease!
Ahaha! The magnificent acts done by the
great are unpredictable!
According
to Hindu Mythology, Aadi Shesha supports the fourteen worlds on his hoods. He
is supported by the Supreme Lord in the form of a tortoise. When the
dissolution time comes, even this huge tortoise sinks in those waters along
with the ‘Serpent Lord’ and the fourteen worlds. Again Lord Vishnu as the
‘Great Boar’ dives into the ocean and retrieves the worlds by lifting them on
his horn. There is no limit to what the great men can achieve!
Earth
is big for us, little humans. This earth-world is just one universe among the
fourteen worlds which exist in different dimensions. These worlds again are
supported by the huge serpent with countless hoods. This huge serpent with its
thousands of hoods again just rests on the middle point of the back of another
huge tortoise. This huge tortoise sinks down into the ocean which again is
unimaginably huge! The boar again has no problem in entering these waters to
retrieve the fourteen worlds by lifting them all by the edge of its horn! Who
is bigger than whom?
Do
we with our bloated up egos count as anything at all in this great play of
creation?!
(28)
{IS LIFE MORE PRECIOUS
THAN CARING FOR THE PARENT?}
वरं प्राणोच्छेदः
समदमघवन्मुक्तकुलिशप्रहारैरुद्गच्छद्बहुलदहनोद्गारगुरुभिः
तुषाराद्रेः सूनोरहह पितरि क्लेशविवशे न चासौ संपातः
पयसि पयसां पत्युरुचितः ॥२८॥
It would have been better if ‘Mainaaka’
the son of ‘Himavaan’,
had given up his life-forces by the blows
dealt out by the arrogant Indra with his
‘Vajra’ weapon,
when he (Mainaaka) had annoyed Indra
by the loud noises of the fire rising by
the constant collision of mountains
as he jumped about in the sky.
Ah! Ah!
It was not the right thing to do
that he entered the waters of the ‘Ocean-Lord’
to save his own lives,
when his father was withering in pain
(by those blows)!
According to Hindu mythology,
mountains had wings in the past. They flew everywhere without control; sat
anywhere they liked, collided with each other making great noises accompanied
by fire.
Indra annoyed by the mad
behavior of the winged mountains, clipped off their wings with his Vajra
(Thunderbolt) weapon. At that time Mainaaka hid himself in the ocean, who (Lord
of the ocean) was his friend, and thus saved his wings.
When parents suffer, is it
right for their sons and daughters to ignore their suffering and engage in
fulfilling their own desires?!}
(29)
{HOW CAN A MAN OF
SELF-RESPECT BEAR WITH INSULTS?}
यदचेतनोsपि पादैः स्पृष्टः प्रज्वलति सवितुरिनकान्तः
तत्तेजस्वी पुरुषः परकृतनिकृतिं कथं सहते ॥२९॥
Even if inert by nature, the ‘Sun-stone’ blazes red in
hue (with anger)
when the Sun steps on it (sunrays fall on it)!
How then can a man who has the shine of consciousness
(and is established in the Knowledge of Reality)
bear the insult of an enemy?!
(30)
{AGE HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH GREATNESS!}
सिंहः शिशुरपि निपतति मदमलिनकपोलभित्तिषु गजेषु
प्रकृतिरियं सत्त्ववतां न खलु वयस्तेजसां हेतुः ॥३०॥
The lion even if it is just a cub,
when elephants are seen,
pounces on their hard temple region darkened by ichor
immediately.
This is the very nature of the people who are strong.
Age is not a deterring factor for the valorous men.
अथ अर्थपद्धतिः
[WAY
OF THE WEALTH]
(31)
{WEALTH ALONE IS THE MOST
CHERISHED OBJECT FOR A MAN}
जातिर्यातु रसातलं गुणगणस्तत्राप्यधो गच्छतां
शीलं शैलतटात्पतत्वभिजनः संदह्यतां वह्निना
शौर्ये वैरिणि वज्रमाशु निपतत्वर्थो अस्तु नः केवलं
येनैकेन विना गुणास्तृणलवप्रायाः समस्ता इमे ॥३१॥
Let the caste preferences
go to hell (infernal regions)!
Let the collection of
virtues go even down below (to nether worlds)!
Let the good character
fall down from the top of the hill!
Let those born of this
family get burnt by fire!
Let the thunderbolt (of
Indra) strike the valorous enemy!
(We do not want any such
noble qualities.)
Let only wealth belong to
us!
Because, without wealth,
all these virtues are equal to worthless grass!
Birth
in a noble lineage, virtues, good character, kinship, valor; nothing of these
are coveted by men.
Money
or wealth is the only goal they are after; and ignore these qualities in others
also.
(32)
{A MAN OF WEALTH ALONE
GETS PRAISED AS A MAN OF VIRTUES}
यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः
स पण्डितः स श्रुतवान्गुणज्ञः
स एव वक्ता स च दर्शनीयः
सर्वे गुणाः काञ्चनमाश्रयन्ति ॥३२॥
He who has wealth-
he alone is
born of a good family; he alone is a scholar;
he alone is a master of all scriptures;
he alone can recognize the merits of others;
he alone is eloquent; he alone is handsome!
All good qualities take shelter in the ‘gold’!
If a man is wealthy, that is
enough to get adored by the people of the world. Those men who want favors from him will flatter
him as a noble man possessing all the good qualities, which he does not have
actually!
That is the magic of wealth!
(33)
{WHAT NOT TO DO!}
दौर्मन्त्र्यान्ननृपतिर्विनश्यति यतिःसङ्गात्सुतो
लालनात्
विप्रोsनध्ययनात्कुलं कुतनयाच्छीलं खलोपासनात्
ह्रीर्मद्यादनवेक्षणादपि कृषिः स्नेहः
प्रवासाश्रयात्
मैत्री चाप्रणयात्समृद्धिरनयात्त्यागात्प्रमादाद्धनं ॥३३॥
A king perishes by misguided
consultation of a minister;
a recluse, by the company of others (who
have no mind-control);
a son, by pampering (too much);
a Brahmin, by neglecting studies;
a family, by a badly behaved son;
good character, by seeking the company
of the wicked;
demureness, by drinking alcohol;
agriculture, by lack of regular
supervision;
affection in the family, by continuous
tours outside;
friendship, by not maintaining love;
prosperity, by acting against the law;
money, by discarding (and wasting it
off) or through mistakes!
(34)
{CHARITY IS THE EXCELLENT
WAY TO USE UP THE MONEY}
दानं भोगो नाशस्तिस्रो गतयो भवन्ति वित्तस्य
यो न ददाति न भुङ्क्ते तस्य तृतीया गतिर्भवति
॥३४॥
Charity, enjoyment, and destruction
are the three possible ways money can
end up in.
If a man does not give it to others, nor
enjoys himself,
his wealth ends up in only the third
possibility.
Of
course, a man can keep all the money to himself and not give anyone anything!
Even then how much can he spend on himself? Whatever he buys, will belong to
others only when he dies! He cannot buy immortality with his money! He cannot
change the stinking body into something god-like! He cannot prevent diseases!
Even his own kith and kin will wait for opportunities to fleece his wealth! He
cannot ever buy love or affection with his money!
Therefore
the best way to spend the wealth is keep enough for one’s need (not greed) and
give the needy the rest of your earnings! After all, when death is waiting at
every step you walk, in every drop of water you drink, in every morsel of food
you consume, better gain some merits and also the good will of others, through
charity. (धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः/
Dharma when protected protects)
(35)
{LOSE A LITTLE TO GAIN
EVERYTHING}
मणिः शाणोल्लीढ: समरविजयी हेतिदलितो
मदक्षीणो नागः शरदि सरिदाश्यानपुलिना
कलाशेषश्चन्द्रः बालवनिता
तन्निम्ना शोभन्ते गलितविभवाश्चार्थिषु
नराः ॥३५॥
A precious stone polished on a
whet-stone;
a warrior who is wounded by a weapon and
has won the war;
an elephant which is emaciated by the
ichor flow;
a river with dry sand collected on its
banks in the autumn;
a moon with just one crescent left to
become full;
the girl in just the threshold of youth,
exhausted after the copulation act;
and men who have lost their wealth by
offering all of it in charity;
shine well, though with a slight lack of
luster!
A
precious stone when polished shines bright, though it has lost a little part of
it in the polishing process. But it has reached the fulfillment; as it will be
embedded in some gold ornament to be adored by all!
By
giving up something, it has attained its fulfillment!
A
king has returned victorious from a war, appears exhausted, wounded, bleeding
all over, hair crumpled and limbs dusty and tainted; yet he has reached the
fulfillment; he has completed the duty of protecting his people! Being ready to
offer his life for the sake of his people, he has gained the most cherished state
in the world and will adorn the hearts of his citizens like a precious gem.
By
giving up something, he has attained his fulfillment!
Similarly
the musth elephant with its ichor flow is strong enough to lead the other
elephants; the river which has pushed all the sands (collected in the monsoon)
within it, to the outside has become pure; looks beautiful and is sought by
all!
Moon
has sixteen digits. The last digit known as ‘Kalaa’ (Amrtaa/Nectar) is worn by
Shiva! Short of one digit, the moon yet shines in full glory for it has offered
its own digit to the Supreme Lord and attained immortality through that act.
By
giving up something, all these have attained their fulfillment!
A
youthful girl attains her fulfillment by offering all her beauty to her lover!
Though she looks exhausted and crumpled after the act of union, she shines more
beautiful than before by her act of ‘love-offering’.
She
has reached her fulfillment!
Men
attain fulfillment only by offering all their wealth in charity! Or as mentioned
in the earlier verse, all their wealth otherwise, will be plundered or wasted
away being of no use to anyone!
(36)
{THE WEALTHY MAN}
परिक्षीणः कश्चिश्चित्स्पृहयति यवानां
प्रसृतये
स पश्चात्संपूर्णः कलयति धरित्रीं तृणसमां |
अतश्चानेकान्ता गुरुलघुतयार्थेषु
धनिनामवस्था वस्तूनि प्रथयति च संकोचयति
च ॥३६॥
A person who has lost everything wants
to spread off the seeds on the land.
(When he is need, he cares for the
land.)
Later on, when he has everything, he
disregards the land as worthless grass.
(He has no need for the land now.)
That is why, the approach of the wealthy
towards objects,
expands the worth of the objects or
contracts it
giving them valuable or worthless
positions.
The
arrogant and wealthy, when in need, will act kind and cordial. Once their wants
are fulfilled, they will ignore those who helped them when they were in
trouble!
These
wealthy ones decide the value of people and objects through their own selfish
needs.
Ah
the power of wealth!
(37)
{HEY KING! TAKE CARE OF
THE PEOPLE WELL! YOU WILL GET ALL THE PROSPERITY!}
राजन् दुधुक्षसि यदि क्षितिधेनुमेनां
तेनाद्य वत्समिव लोकममुं पुषाण |
तस्मिन्श्च सम्यगनिशं परिपुष्यमाणे
नानाफलं फलति कल्पलतेव भूमिः ॥३७॥
King! If you milk this earth-cow, then nourish the
country like the calf.
If that calf is well-taken care of day
and night,
the earth (kingdom) will give various
fruits
like the (wish-fulfilling)
‘Kalpa-creeper’!
A ruler who extracts wealth from his kingdom, then he
must use that wealth for the welfare of the people only. By this, both he and
his people will stay prosperous at all times.
(38)
{THE UNPREDICTABLE WAYS
सत्यानृता च परुषा प्रियवादिनी च हिंस्रा दयालुरपि
चार्थपरा वदान्या |
नित्यव्यया प्रचुरनित्यधनागमा च वाराङ्गनेव
नृपनीतिरनेकरूपा ॥३८॥
A harlot -
speaks both truth and untruth;
speaks both rudely and pleasantly;
she is both cruel and kind;
she is greedy for money and also is very
charitable;
she spends her money daily wastefully;
she also earns a lot of money daily;
she has various dispositions; so does
the king!
Who can predict the ways of a king? His moods
swing like that of a harlot!
(39)
{THE QUALITIES A KING
SHOULD HAVE}
आज्ञा कीर्तिः पालनं ब्राह्मणानां दानं
भोगो मित्रसंरक्षणं च
येषामेते षड्गुणा न प्रवृत्ताः कोsर्थस्तेषां
पार्थिवोपाश्रयेण ॥३९॥
Commanding disposition; fame; caring for
Brahmins;
charity; enjoyment; and protection of
friends;
if a king does not have these six
qualities,
what purpose is served by taking shelter
in such a king?!
(He cannot be worth the name of a king
at all!)
(40)
{WEALTH}
यद्धात्रा निजभालपट्टलिखितं स्तोकं महद्वा
धनं
तत्प्राप्नोति मरुस्थलेsपि नितरां मेरौ
च नातोsधिकं |
तद्धीरो भव वित्तवत्सु कृपणां वृत्तिं
वृथा मा कृथाः
कूपे पश्य पयोनिधावपि घटो गृह्णाति तुल्यं जलं ॥४०॥
Whatever quantity of money, ‘sparse or
abundant’,
is written on the fore-head by the
Creator,
that alone one will obtain!
Even in a desert he will get the
(limited) wealth that is to be certainly his;
in Meru Mountain
Therefore be of a stable mind.
Do not wastefully act pathetic in the
presence of the wealthy!
A pot will fill only that much water
alone,
whether it is dipped inside a well or
the ocean!
The wealthy will not shower
money on you by recognizing your talent.
You deserve only very little
money whether you are in a desert or in the golden mountain.
That is what Brahmaa has
fixed for you as yours. That alone will be yours.
Who can change the act of
fate! Wealth and poverty are decided by the results of the actions performed in
the past, as ordained by Lord Brahmaa!
Instead of anxiously trying
to amass wealth and waste your life; instead of kneeling down at the feet of
the rich like a dog for the crumbs they throw at you; instead of using the
precious life-span to worry and hanker after money; seek knowledge, the
never-perishing wealth!
अथ दुर्जनपद्धतिः
[WAY
OF THE WICKED]
(41)
{QUALITIES OF THE WICKED
MEN}
अकरुणत्वमकारणविग्रहः परधने परयोषिति च स्पृहा
सुजनबन्धुजनेश्ष्वसहिष्णुता प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदं हि दुरात्मनाम् ॥४१॥
Lack of compassion; dispute without any
reason;
desire for money belonging to others and
women belonging to others;
impatience with the good people and
one’s own relatives too;
these qualities belong to the wicked
souls by nature!
(42)
{AVOID A WICKED MAN EVEN
IF HE IS LEARNED}
दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालन्कृतोsपि
सन्
मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः ॥४ २॥
A wicked man should be avoided even f he
is adorned by education.
Even if a serpent is adorned by a gem,
is he not terrifying?!
(43)
{HOW THE WICKED PRETEND TO
BE GOOD}
जाड्यं ह्रीमति गण्यते व्रतशुचौ दम्भः
शुचौ कैतवं
शूरे निर्घृणता मुनौ विमतिता दैन्यं प्रियालापिनि
तेजस्विन्यवलिप्तता मुखरता वक्तव्यशक्तिः स्थिरे
तत्को नाम गुणो भवेत्स गुणिनां यो दुर्जनैर्नाङ्कितः
॥४३॥
(Do not get fooled by the outward
conduct of the wicked.)
If demureness is there, it appears that
way because of stupidity.
(not because one keeps away from
prohibited acts)
If austerity is observed for purifying
the mind, it is a mere show-off.
(not because of devotion to righteous
acts)
If cleanliness is observed, it is just
for deceiving others.
(not because of pursuing spiritual
goals)
If valor is exhibited, it is just an act
of cruelty (against the weak).
(not a true act of courage)
If silence is observed, it is because of
dullness of the brain.
(not the silence of intelligence)
If pleasant words are spoken, it is
because of their pathetic condition.
(for getting advantage of others)
If shining forth in a crowd, it is
because of the arrogant behavior.
(not by the quality of nobility)
If eloquence is there, it is sheer
nonsense.
(not expertise in a subject)
When such is the case,
which virtue of the virtuous men is
there
that has not been polluted by the wicked
men?!
(44)
{FAME ILL-GOTTEN IS DEATH}
लोभश्चेदगुणेन किं पिशुनता यद्यस्ति किं
पातकैः
सत्यं चेत्तपसा च किं शुचि मनो यद्यस्ति
तीर्थेन किं
सौजन्यं यदि किं जनेन महिमा यद्यस्ति किं
मण्डनैः
सद्विद्या यदि किं धनैरपयशो यद्यस्ति
किं मृत्युना ॥४४॥
If greed is there, which bad quality
needs to be added more?
(Greed itself is enough to drag all the
other bad qualities towards it.)
If back-biting nature is there, what
other sinful act can excel it?
If one has realized the true knowledge,
what more gain can the penance bring
forth?
If the mind is pure (and free of all
wicked qualities),
why one should seek sacred places (to
gain purity of heart)?
If courteousness is there (which makes
you self-sufficient),
what need of servants to serve you?
If noble qualities adorn you (and
enhance your beauty),
what need is there for other
decorations?
If proper learning is there (as the
excellent wealth owned by you)
what need is there for material wealth?
If ill-fame is there (that has killed
you already),
why the need for actual death?!
(45)
{THE SEVEN SPEARS}
शशी दिवसधूसरो गलितयौवना कामिनी
सरो विगतवारिजं मुखमनक्षरं स्वाकृतेः
प्रभुर्धनपरायणः सततदुर्गतिः सज्जनो
नृपाङ्गणगतः खलो मनसि सप्तशल्यानि मे
॥४५॥
The luster-less moon of the day;
the beloved who has lost her youth;
the lake without lotuses;
the uneducated look of the handsome man;
the master who is greedy for money;
a good man suffering continuously;
a cheat who has gained the favor of the
king;
these are the seven spears wounding my
heart!
There
is nothing more hurting than when a king ignores a good man - like the moon of
the day, or a woman who has passed her youthful age, or a lotus less lake;
favors uneducated men who have only good looks to speak off; is always busy
expanding his kingdom and riches; does not encourage scholars and poets; spends
his time with the wicked in seeking pleasures!
(46)
{ANGER OF WICKED KINGS}
न कश्चिच्चण्डकोपानामात्मीयो नाम भूभुजां
होतारमपि जुह्वानं स्पष्टो दहति पावकः
॥४६॥
For the kings who give into extreme
rage, no one becomes close.
The fire burns if even the person
performing the Fire-rite contacts it!
(47)
{THE DIFFICULTY OF SERVING
MASTERS}
मौनान्मूकः प्रवचनपटुर्वाचको जल्पको वा
धृष्टः पार्श्वे भवति च वसन्दूरतरोsप्यप्रगल्भः
क्षान्त्या भीरुर्यदि न सहते प्रायशो
नाभिजातः
सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनाप्यगम्यः ॥४७॥
(A Master is ready to censure his
subordinates at the slightest excuse.)
If silent he is (censured as) dumb.
If he is eloquent or speaks in many
languages
he is (censured as) talking nonsense.
If he stays close by, he is said to be impudent.
If he remains at a distance (and quiet),
(he is censured that) he does not say
anything and is impetuous.
If anger is controlled by remaining
patient, he is said to be frightened.
If not patient, then he is said to
belong to a lowly family (with ill manners).
The profession of serving others is
beyond understanding,
even for the Yogis who know everything!
The
profession of serving is beyond the comprehension of even realized Yogis.
The
Masters never get pleased by the servant’s behavior.
Whatever
the servant does, he is sure to be censured and scolded.
If
he remains silent, he will scolded-“Are you dumb?”
If
he talks eloquently, he will be scolded -“Do you think you know everything?
Stop talking nonsense!”
If
he stays at distance without interfering, then he will be censured as acting
arrogant. If the servant stays very close, he will be scolded as acting impudent.
If he does not talk back when wrongly
censured, he will be thought off as a timid guy acting with fear and will be
scolded more. If the servant answers back, he will be scolded as a mean fellow
coming from a lowly family, who has no manners. Alas, the sad plight of the
servants!}
(48)
{A WICKED KING}
उद्भासिताखिलखलस्य विशृङ्कलस्य
प्रोद्गाढविस्मृतनिजाधमकर्मवृत्तेः
दैवादवाप्तविभवस्य गुणद्विषोsस्य
नीचस्य गोचरगतिः सुखमास्यते कैः ॥४ ८॥
Who can live in a country ruled by a (wicked)
king,
who gives eminent posts to the men of
wicked disposition;
who acts as he pleases without
restraint,
who has completely forgotten his lowly
acts of the past,
who has become prosperous by some freak
luck,
who hates men of good character,
who is very mean!
(49)
{FRIENDSHIP}
आरम्भगुर्वी क्षयिणी क्रमेण
लघ्वी पुरा वृद्धिमती च पश्चात्
दिनस्य पूर्वार्धपरार्धभिन्ना
छायेव मैत्री खलसज्जनानां ॥४९॥
Very strong in the beginning and decreasing
in course of time;
very light in the beginning and becoming
very strong later;
the friendship of the bad and good
people
differ like the shadow of the first half
and second half of the day.
(50)
{WHY HATE THE GOOD MEN?}
मृगमीनसज्जनानां तृणजलसंतोषविहितवृत्तीनां
लुब्धकधीवरपिशुना निष्कारणमेव वैरिणो जगति ॥५०॥
In this world,
the deer remains happy by eating grass.
The hunter hates it for no reason (and
kills it).
The fish remains happy by living inside
the water.
The fisher-man hates it for no reason
(and kills it).
The good man remains happy by
contentment.
The malicious hate him for no reason (and try
to insult him always)!
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