(76)
{COURAGE CANNOT BE
DESTROYED BY DIFFICULTIES}
कदर्थितस्यापि च धैर्यवृत्तेः न शक्यते धैर्यगुणः प्रमार्ष्टुम्
अधोमुखस्यापि कृतस्य
वह्नेः नाधः शिखा यान्ति कदाचिदेव ॥७६॥
The quality of courage cannot be
completely erased
in man of courageous disposition,
even if he is in the worst of
circumstances.
Even if the fire is made to face
downwards,
the flames never burn downwards.
(77)
{GOOD CHARACTER}
वरं शृङ्गोत्सङ्गाद्गुरुशिखरिणः क्वापि
विषमे
पतित्वायं कायः कठिनदृषदन्ते विगलितः
वरं न्यस्तो हस्तः
फणिपतिमुखे तीक्ष्णदशने
वरं वह्नौ पातस्तदपि
न कृतः शीलविलयः ॥७७॥
It is better that this body falls
from the topmost point of the tallest
mountain into the hard rocky chambers
and gets shattered to pieces!
It is better that the hand is
placed inside the mouth of a snake with
sharp fangs!
It is even better to fall inside a
blazing fire;
but never the loss of good character!
(78)
{GOOD CHARACTER}
वह्निस्तस्य जलायते
जलनिधिः कुल्यायते तत्क्षणात्
मेरुः स्वल्पशिलायते
मृगपतिः सद्यः कुरङ्गायते
व्यालो माल्यगुणायते विषरसः पीयूषवर्षायते
यस्याङ्गेsखिललोकवल्लभतरं शीलं
समुन्मीलति ॥७८॥
In the presence of a man,
in whose personality shines forth
the ‘good character’ which attracts the
entire world -
fire behaves like water;
ocean behaves like a stream the next
moment!
lion behaves like a pet deer immediately!
Even
the serpent gets the qualities of a flower garland!
Poisonous liquid pours down like the life-giving nectar!
A
man of good character can easily achieve his goals.
(79)
{WHAT IF EVERYONE DISCARDS
ME, I WILL RISE UP AGAIN!}
च्छिन्नोsपि रोहति तरुः क्षीणोsप्युपचीयते पुनश्चन्द्रः
इति विमृशन्तः सन्तः
संतप्यन्ते न विश्लथेषु लोकेषु ॥७९॥
Even if cut off, the tree grows back
again.
The moon grows back again to become
complete,
even if he wanes for the first half of
the month.
Understanding this factor,
the noble ones do not become anxious
(and give up their ambition)
if people turn away from them (and oppose
their noble ventures).
(80)
{BEST OF ALL ORNAMENTS}
ऐश्वर्यस्य विभूषणं
सुजनता शौर्यस्य वाक्संयमो
ज्ञानस्योपशमः श्रुतस्य
विनयो वित्तस्य पात्रे व्ययः
अक्रोधस्तपसः क्षमा
प्रभवितुर्धर्मस्य निर्व्याजता
सर्वेषामपि सर्वकारणमिदं
शीलं परम् भूषणं ॥८०॥
The ornament of prosperity is generosity
;( helpful nature)
of valor is controlled speech ;( no
self-glorification)
of knowledge, quiescent nature ;( no
arrogance of superiority)
for the learned, humility ;( no
arrogance of learning)
of wealth, giving it away to those who
deserve it ;( charity to the needy)
of penance, not giving into anger ;(
mind-control)
of efficiency, forbearance; (patience
and no anxiety)
of righteousness, non-pretense. (no
fakeness to impress others)
For all, in all ways, good character is
the best ornament.
(This includes all other virtues by
itself.)
अथ दैवपद्धतिः
[WAY OF DESTINY]
(81)
{WHAT
USE IS EFFORT?}
नेता यस्य बृहस्पतिः
प्रहरणं वज्रं सुराः सैनिकाः
स्वर्गो दुर्गमनुग्रहः
खलु हरेरैरावणो रावणः
इत्याश्चर्यबलान्वितोsपि बलभिद्भग्नः परैः
संगरे
तद्व्यक्तं ननु दैवमेव
शरणं धिग्धिग्वृथा पौरुषम् ॥८१॥
His (Indra’s) counselor was Brhaspati
himself.
His weapon was (unfailing) ‘Thunderbolt’.
His army contained the powerful gods
(with divine powers).
The fort was the heaven. (No one could
enter it.)
Lord Vishnu (the great god) was in his
favor.
The main vehicle was Aeiraavata (white
powerful elephant).
Such were his amazing accessories in
war.
Even then, Indra, the slayer of the
demon called Bala,
was defeated by his enemies.
It is very well becomes clear that
‘destiny’ alone is powerful.
Fie fie on the wasteful effort!
(82)
{WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE, IF
FATE ALONE IS FAVBORABLE?!}
भग्नाशस्य करण्डपिण्डिततनोर्म्लानेन्द्रियस्य
क्षुधा
कृत्वाखुर्विवरं निपतितो
मुखे भोगिनः
तृप्तस्तत्पिशितेन
सत्वरमसौ तेनैव यातः पथा
स्वस्थास्तिष्ठत दैवमेव
हि परं वृद्धौ क्षये कारणम् ॥८२॥
The rat at night, makes a hole (in the
basket) (searching for food),
and falls by himself into the mouth of
the serpent
who was forced to remain coiled inside a
small basket,
who had no hope of any food, and whose
limbs were weak by starvation.
Satiated by the rat-flesh,
the serpent escapes through that very
hole made by the rat.
Remain without apprehension, O Good men!
‘Divine destiny’ is the powerful cause
for a man’s fall or rise.
(83)
{WISE FALL, ONLY TO RISE
AGAIN}
यथा कन्दुकपातेनोत्पतत्यार्यः
पतन्नपि
तथा त्वनार्यः पतति
मृत्पिण्डपतनं यथा ॥८३॥
A noble man rises up again, like a ball
falling down (bouncing back again).
But an ignoble man falls like a mud-ball
(and shatters to pieces).
(84)
{WHERE
CAN YOU RUN AWAY FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE CRUEL FATE?}
खल्वाटो दिवसेश्वरस्य किरणैः
संतापिते मस्तके
गच्छन्देशमनातपं द्रुतगतिस्तालस्य
मूले स्थितः
तत्राप्यस्य महाफलेन
पतता भग्नं सशब्दं शिरः
प्रायो गच्छति यत्र
दैवहतकस्तत्रैव यान्त्यापदः ॥८४॥
A man who has no hair left on his head (because
of an illness called IndraLupta),
tormented by the heat of the Sun burning
his head,
searches for a place free of sun’s heat;
runs quickly to the shade of a Taala
tree, and stands under it.
Even there, the huge fruit of the tree
fell on his head
and his skull shattered off with a great
noise.
It is a common fact that
wherever a man un-favored by destiny
goes, the difficulties follow him.
(85)
{ALAS!
WHY GOOD MEN SUFFER?}
गजभुजङ्गविहङ्गमबन्धनं शशी
दिवाकरयोर्ग्रहपीडनम्
मतिमतां च निरीक्ष्य
दरिद्रतां विधिरहो बलवानिति मे मतिः ॥८५॥
Observing the elephant, snake, and birds
getting trapped
(for no fault of theirs);
the moon and the sun getting harassed by
the vicious planets;
(for no reason)
and the men of wisdom living in poverty;(ignored
by the society)
alas, I think that this destiny (Brahmaa’s
rule) alone
is the most powerful thing.
He must have made a rule that
the talented noble men should never be prosperous and rich.
(86)
{WHY SHOULD
BRAHMAA CREATE AGOOD MAN AND DESTROY HIM ALSO?}
सृजति तावदशेषगुणाकरं
पुरुषरत्नमलङ्करणं भुवः
तदपि तत्क्षणभङ्गि करोति चेदहह कष्टमपण्डितता विधेः ॥८६॥
The Creator (destiny) creates a gem of a
man,
who is a mine of virtues, thus decorating
the earth!
Even then, if within a second it (he) destroys
him,
(by not giving him the honour he
deserves)
ahaha, what a mockery!
Brahmaa is indeed not wise!
(87)
{ALAS
THE CRUEL FATE; ONLY ONE PIECE OF CLOTH FOR THE TWO GREAT GODS!}
येनैवाम्बरखण्डेन संवीतो
निशि चन्द्रमाः
तेनैव च दिवा भानुरहो
दौर्गत्यमेतयोः ॥८७॥
The very piece of sky (Ambara) (piece of
cloth)
which covers the moon and others (stars
and planets) at night,
that very sky-piece covers the Sun also
in the morning!
Ah! The pathetic state of these two!
{अम्बर- Sky, cloth}
(88)
{ATTACK OF SICKNESS, THOUGH FILLED WITH MEDICINES}
अयममृतनिधानं नायकोsप्योषधीनां
शतभिषगनुयातः शंभुमूर्ध्नोsवतंसः
विरहयति न चैनं राजयक्ष्मा शशाङ्कं
हतविधिपरिपाकः केन
वा लङ्गनीयः ॥८८॥
He (Moon) is the store-house of (cool) nectar.
He is the lord of all medicinal plants.
He is followed by hundreds of medicine
men (stars).
He adorns the head of Shankara (creator
of the quiescent state).
Still the moon with the taint of the
rabbit,
is not freed of the ‘consumption’
disease.
(He waxes and wanes.)
Who can escape the work of this evil
destiny!
{ओषधीशो निशापतिः –Moon is the Lord of the herbs}
{राजयक्ष्मा- Consumption disease is said
to be the king of all diseases - रोगराट्}
(89)
{WHY AM I SUFFERING LIKE A
BALL OF WET CLAY MANHANDLED BY THE POTTER?}
प्रियसख विपद्दण्डाघातप्रपातपरम्परापरिचयबले
चिन्ताचक्रे निधाय
विधिः खलः
मृदमिव बलात्पिण्डीकृत्य
प्रगल्भकुलालवत्
भ्रमयति मनो नो जानीमः
किमत्र विधास्यति ॥८९॥
My dear friend!
The wicked destiny, like an expert
potter,
is rotating my mind,
by making a ball of it forcefully like
clay;
having placed it on the wheel of
worries;
beating it with the stick of
difficulties
and continuously hitting it in many ways
known only to him.
I do not know what he is trying to make!
(90)
{THE
NOBLE NEVER BEND DOWN IN FRONT OF DIFFICULTIES}
विरम विरमायासादस्माद्दुरध्यवसायतो
विपदि महतां धैर्यध्वंसं
यदीक्षितुमीहसे
अयि जडविधे कल्पापायेsप्यपेतनिजक्रमाः
कुलशिखरिणः क्षुद्रा
नैते न वा जलराशयः ॥९०॥
Hey dumb destiny!
Take rest; take rest from exhausting
yourself
in this impossible task,
if you are interested in seeing the
destruction of courage in the noble!
(The noble will not break down when
faced with adversities.)
Even at the time of dissolution
that will happen at the end of the Kalpa
(Brahmaa’s creation-span),
they do not swerve from their principles.
The Kula Mountains
or the ocean waters are not such lowly characters
(as you deem them to be).
(They
never cross their limits.)
(91)
{EXTRA VERSE}
{WHAT
IS YOURS IS FIXED BY DESTINY! WHO CAN CHANGE IT?}
दैवेन प्रभुणा स्वयं
जगति यद्यस्य प्रमाणीकृतं
तत्तस्योपनमेन्मनागपि
महान्नैवाश्रयः कारणं
सर्वाशापरिपूरके वर्षत्यपि
प्रत्यहं
सूक्ष्मा एव पतन्ति
चातकमुखे द्वित्राः पयोबिन्दवः ॥९१॥
Whatever the divine destiny has fixed
for every man in this world,
by his very will,
that alone he will get.
Even the shelter of the great is not
going to change it in the least.
When the clouds which fill all the
quarters pour down as rains,
only two or three drops fall very
lightly
into the (waiting) mouth of the chaataka bird.
Can one change his fate by
taking shelter with the rich or royal? No! Nothing much happens by that!
The clouds fill the whole sky
and pour downs tons and tons of water.
But the ‘Chaataka bird’ which
waits for the rain water only, thirsty and eager, gets only a few drops into
its open mouth! What is destined, that alone is its lot.
The Chaataka is well-known
for its quality of not drinking water from any collected source; but the direct
rain water falling from the sky.
{This one extra verse is
given in the Sanskrit original text.}
अथ कर्मपद्धतिः
[WAY OF KARMA
(ACTION)]
(91)
The rules ordained by Brahmaa at the beginning of the
Creation process, cannot be transgressed by even Brahmaa himself. Since he has
ordained that each action will have an equivalent result, our lives are
controlled by the actions we perform. Even Brahmaa cannot change his own rules.
All the denizens of the fourteen worlds, including Gods and Trinities are bound
by this rule and have to act in a proper manner.
Nobody can escape the ‘Rule of Karma’.
नमस्यामो देवान्ननु
तविधेस्तेsपि वशगा
विधिर्वन्द्यः सोsपि प्रतिनियतकमैकफलदः
फलं कर्मायत्तं यदि
किमपरैः किञ्च विधिना
नमस्तत्कर्मेभ्यो विधिरपि
न येभ्यः प्रभवति ॥९१॥
We salute the Gods (Indra and others)
(as if they can solve our problems)!
But Gods are also under the control of
the terrible rules ordained by Brahmaa.
(Therefore)Brahmaa alone is to be revered;
but he is bound to give everyone the
fruit of their own actions.
If fruit is the result of an action,
then why salute the others (gods and
deities)?
Why even bother about Brahmaa also?
Salutation to the ‘Actions bound to
results’ which,
even Brahmaa cannot control!
{Karma- Action which is
endowed with a result.}
(92)
{EVEN GREAT GODS ARE UNDER THE POWER OF KARMA}
Gods are also bound by the
various functions which they have to perform as their allotted duties.
ब्रह्मा येन कुलालवन्नियमितो
ब्रह्माण्डभाण्ड़ोदरे
विष्णुर्येन दशावतारगहने
क्षिप्तो महासंकटे
रुद्रो येन कपालपाणिपुटके भिक्षाटनं सेवते
सूर्यो भ्राम्यति नित्यमेव
गगने तस्मै नमः कर्मणे ॥९२॥
Brahmaa (the Lord of Creation) has been
designated the job of
filling the belly of the cosmic egg-pot, like
a potter!
Vishnu (who pervades all)
has been thrown into the deep terrible forest
of ‘ten incarnations’!
Rudra (who makes all beings cry through
dissolution-work)
holds the begging bowl (Brahmaa’s skull)
in his hand
and wanders as a beggar.
The sun goes round the sky every day
(without rest).
Salutation to that ‘Karma’, who is the
cause of these sufferings!
{बृम्हणशीलः ब्रह्मा (बृह वृद्धौ)
(Brahma- one who expands)
व्यापकशीलः विष्णुः
(one who pervades is Vishnu)
यदरोदीत्तद्रुद्रस्य रुद्रत्वं (Rudra is the one who makes all beings cry)}
(93)
{WORSHIP
THIS GREAT GODDESS}
या साधून्श्च खलान्करोति
विदुषो मूर्खान्हितान्द्वेषिणः
प्रत्यक्षं कुरुते परोक्षममृतं हालाहलं तत्क्षणात्
तामाराधय सत्क्रियां
भगवतीं भोक्तुं फलं वान्च्छितं
हे साधो व्यसनैर्गुणेषु
विपुलेष्वास्थां वृथा मा कृथाः ॥९३॥
She (SatKriyaa) changes the wicked into
saints.
She changes the fools into intelligent.
She changes the enemies into friends.
She makes that which is unseen to be
seen.
She turns poison into nectar instantly.
Hey good man! Adore that Goddess, the
‘Good act’
if you want to enjoy the fruit you
desire.
Do not wastefully chase the countless
pleasures of the senses
which surely end up in problems!
{प्रतिगतं अक्षं- प्रत्यक्षं - इन्द्रियगोचरं – perceived by senses directly
साधुः - समर्थे निपुणे – Saadhu
means- talented, efficient
व्यसनं - विपदि भ्रंशे- Vyasana
means danger, destruction, problem}
(94)
{WHEN
MERITS GET OVER WITH…!}
शुभ्रं सद्म सविभ्रमा
युवतयः श्वेतातपत्रोज्ज्वला
लक्ष्मीरित्यनुभूयते
चिरमनुस्यूते शुभे कर्मणि
विच्छिन्ने नितरामनङ्गकलहक्रीडात्रुटत्तन्तुकं
मुक्ताजालमिव प्रयाति
झटिति भ्रश्यद्दिशो दृश्यताम् ॥९४॥
A
shining mansion; lovely girls who are experts in amorous sports;
prosperity
accompanied by the ‘white umbrella’ (ruler ship of a kingdom);
all
such things get experienced for long
if good actions bestowing merits continue.
If it
completely gets over with, then observe (that),
all
such things get shattered in all directions instantly,
like
a pearl necklace,
whose
string gets broken in an amorous sport!
(unexpectedly, without warning)
(95)
{HASTE
MAKES WASTE}
गुणवदगुणवद्वा कुर्वता
कार्यजालं
परिणतिरवधार्या यत्नतः
पण्डितेन
अतिरभसकृतानां कर्मणामाविपत्तेः
भवति हृदयदाही शल्यतुल्यो
विपाकः ॥९५॥
A man
of wisdom
should keep in mind with effort,
the (perfect)
end-result (after completion)
of
the net-work of actions, whether specialized or ordinary.
(He
should pay attention to the minute details of the process also.)
The
actions done with extreme haste to reach the end only as the goal,
(without
proper attention to the small details involved)
result
in (failure) burning the heart like a sharp spear.
(96)
{WHAT A WASTE OF GOOD THINGS!}
When a man uses expensive objects for very ordinary
matters, he indeed looks silly and stupid. What are we then, when we waste away
our precious life-span in pursuing the pleasures of sense objects, instead of
performing penance to attain the Supreme state of Brahman?!
स्थाल्यां वैङूर्यमय्यां
पचति तिलखलं चान्दनैरिन्धनौघै:
सौवर्णैर्लाङ्गलाग्रैर्विलिखति वसुधामर्कतूलस्य
हेतोः
च्छित्त्वा कर्पूरखण्डान्वृतिमिह कुरुते कोद्रवाणां
समन्तात्
प्राप्येमां कर्मभूमिं
न भजति मनुजो यस्तपो मन्दभाग्यः ॥९६॥
(The
idiot) cooks the (ordinary) gingili paste
in a
pot studded with lapis lazuli,
using
hosts of sandalwood as fuel;
ploughs the land using a plough, made of gold
at the tail end,
to sow the seeds of (ordinary) Arka Toola;
cuts
the camphor tree into pieces and makes a fence all around
to
protect the (worthless) Kodrava plants;
Having
attained this land
of Karma ,
a man
does not perform penance (to gain knowledge)
(but
wastes his precious life away in ordinary pursuits.)
(He
is engaged in amassing wealth and producing children.)
Indeed
he is stuck by misfortune.
{Vaidoorya- produced in Vidoora hill
Arka Toola – cotton from a tree named Arka
Kodrava- grains of this plant are eaten by the poor}
(97)
Acts bestowing merits act as seeds and will fructify in a
future time, like a seed sown grows into a tree and gives fruits.
नैवाकृतिः फलति नैव
कुलं न शीलं
विद्यापि नैव न च यत्नकृतापि
सेवा
भाग्यानि पूर्वतपसा
खलु सञ्चितानि
काले फलन्ति पुरुषस्य
यथैव वृक्षाः ॥९७॥
Not
the good looks, nor the family, nor the character,
nor
the learning, nor the service done with effort
bestow
the appropriate results.
Only
the fortunes collected by the penance of the past
give
fruits a man in time, like the trees (which give fruit after a long time.)
(98)
मज्जत्वंभसि यातु मेरुशिखरं
शत्रूञ्जयत्वाहवे
वाणिज्यं कृषिसेवने च सकला
विद्याः कलाः शिक्षतु
आकाशं विपुलं प्रयातु
खगवत्कृत्वा प्रयत्नं परम्
नाभाव्यं भवतीह कर्मवशतो भाव्यस्य नाशः कुतः ॥९८॥
(To
escape the result of Karma)
Let
one dive into the ocean; ascend the Meru mount;
win
over the enemies in a war!
Let him master all learning like business,
agriculture, and others!
(all
the sixty four arts even)
Let
him float all over the sky like a bird doing extreme effort.
That
which cannot happen cannot happen,
as
everything is a result of the past action.
How
can one even prevent what is going to happen?!
(99)
{DO
GOOD ACTIONS ONLY]
वने रणे शत्रुजलाग्निमध्ये
महार्णवे पर्वतमस्तके वा
सुप्तं प्रमत्तं विषमस्थितं
वा रक्षन्ति पुण्यानि पुराकृतानि ॥९९॥
In
the forest, in the battle-field, in the midst of enemies, or waters, or fire,
in
the great ocean or on the top of the mountain,
whether
one is sleeping, or intoxicated, or in any danger,
the
meritorious actions of the past alone protect a man.
(100)
भीमं वनं भवति तस्य
पुरं प्रधानं
सर्वो जनः स्वजनतामुपयाति तस्य
कृत्स्ना च भूर्भवति
संनिधिरत्नपूर्णा
यस्यास्ति पूर्वसुकृतं
विपुलं नरस्य ॥१००॥
If a man has the merits of the past,
the terrifying forest becomes his capital city;
all the people of the world become his citizens;
the entire earth with its aggregate treasures of gems
and diamonds
becomes his.
For a man of merits, even a
terrifying forest filled with wild animals can provide the luxuries of a city;
all the people will obey his words; the entire earth will bestow what he wants
like a Kalpa tree, like a Chintaamani gem, like a KaamaDhenu cow.
Therefore always one should
perform noble deeds which bestow merits.
इति
श्रीभर्तृहरिमहायोगीश्वरस्य कृतौ सुभाषितत्रिशत्यां नीतिशतकं संपूर्णम्॥
Brilliant work. DhanyavaadaH
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