pachai maamalai pol mene

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

दातुर्जिता कीर्तिरयाचकेन



मान्यः कुलीनः कुलजात्कलावान्
विद्वान् कलाज्ञात् विदुषः सुशीलः।
धनी सुशीलाद्धनिनोऽपि धाता
दातुर्जिता कीर्तिरयाचकेन॥
सुभाषितसाहस्री॥
mānyaḥ kulīnaḥ kulajātkalāvān
vidvān kalājñāt viduṣaḥ suśīlaḥ|
dhanī suśīlāddhanino'pi dhātā
dāturjitā kīrtirayācakena||
subhāṣitasāhasrī||
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Of men, the one born in a good family is considered better
An artist is reckoned as even better than a high born person
A learned scholar may find greater respect even more than on who knows the arts.
A person with sterling character and sweet demeanour may be preferred even to just a scholar
A person blessed with great wealth and resources may get even greater acceptability that a scholar
A person who is ready to share his wealth by giving it to all is even more praised that a mere rich person
However, a person who refuse to ask for anything, refuses to beg with anyone at any cost, takes away the glory even of the best of the philanthropists..
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yes, one becomes inferior to another when and only when he receieves something without adequate payment.. or through request, entreaties or even begging
if a person is satisfied with what he has and does not care to receive any favours, then he is a peron without any comparison..
regards
k v ananthanarayanan

यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यश्रूणि राघव



यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यश्रूणि राघव।
तानि पुत्रपशून् घ्नन्ति प्रीत्यर्थमनुशासतः॥
वाल्मीकिरामायणे २-१००-५९
yāni mithyābhiśastānāṁ patantyaśrūṇi rāghava|
tāni putrapaśūn ghnanti prītyarthamanuśāsataḥ||
vālmīkirāmāyaṇe 2-100-59
Valmikiramayana.. Ayodhayakandam.. Chapter 100 sloka 59
( the sloka number is 60 in some editions.)
Rama adjourns for a life in exile in the forest for fourteen years, in obedience to the desires of his father Dasaratha.
Rama had abdicated temporarily in favour of his younger brother Bharatha.
Bharatha was not aware of this as he was away in his maternal uncles palace when Rama took the decision..
Bharatha, after losing his father too as a result of Rama's departure, proceeds to the forest to meet Rama with a request for Rama's return as the King of Ayodhya.
Rama was not inclined to return, but received his younger brother with all affection and the brothers were discussing the nuances of statecraft.
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Rama tells Bharatha..
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My dear brother and the eminent son of Raghu Clan (Bharatha)
always keep in mind the fact that if a ruler metes out punishment to any of his subjects just prodded by his whims and fancies and not according to the eternal laws of dharma and without verifying whether they were really guilty
,
then sure, the tears of grief that flow from the eyes of the helpless victims would destroy the clan of the king with all the children and would also destroy all his wealth in the shape of cattle and other animals
===============
Monarchy or democracy, the traditions in India was that the ruler or the administration should look after the interests of the subjects or citizen with all fairness and impartiality, with strict adherence to law and precedents..
Whimsical actions were never permitted.
regards
k v ananthanarayanan

पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिद्ध्यति



यथा ह्येकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर्भवेत्।
तथा पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिद्ध्यति॥
हितोपदेशे॥
yathā hyekena cakreṇa na rathasya gatirbhavet|
tathā puruṣakāreṇa vinā daivaṁ na siddhyati||
hitopadeśe||
A very useful reminder from Hitopadesham.
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Just as a chariot cannot move around in its proper direction with a single wheel the endeavours and projects embarked upon through human efforts alone would not bear fruit.. unless such actions are supported by luck or serendipity..
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Of course, the first prerequisite for the success of any project is the sincere human effort..
And such effort can come from the one who starts the project..
But the parameters that could clinch the issue in our favour are too many and too varied..
And except for hard work and application of our own resources, we have practically no control over the external factors..
Even an apparently insignificant glitch somewhere can just turn the tables against us..
And in many attempts, there is a stiff contest among many who try in the same direction..
And the winner takes everything,, and the runner up has nothing..
We see that happening in elections, recruitment for job, in sports.. and so on..
So at least in the last lap of success, we need some support.. from luck or God.. or whatever one can call that X factor..
It is not to say that if one is lucky, he can achieve anything without any effort..
Fortune would favour only the people who are ready to toil..
Of course, some say fortune favours the fools.. but that must be a short time phenomenon..
We can be sure about the first wheel..that we have to be.. and we have just to be optimistic about the other wheel..
Regards, Have a nice day
K v ananthanarayanan

यशस्विनो रणाश्वमेधे पशुतामुपागताः



तपस्विभिर्या सुचिरेण लभ्यते प्रयत्नतः सत्रिभिरिष्यते च या।
 प्रयान्ति तामाशुगतिं यशस्विनो रणाश्वमेधे पशुतामुपागताः॥ 
काव्यप्रकाशे॥ इन्द् स्प्रुचे २४९४
tapasvibhiryā sucireṇa labhyate prayatnataḥ satribhiriṣyate ca yā|
 prayānti tāmāśugatiṁ yaśasvino raṇāśvamedhe paśutāmupāgatāḥ|| kāvyaprakāśe||
 ind spruce 2494
A person who meets honourable death and martyrdom, just by being the participant offering in the great sacrifice of war or armed combat in defence of his own state attains eternal glory and divine merits so easily far more than what a saint undergoing long drawn out penance and austerities or persons who perform huge yajnas and sacrifice in pursuit of glory.

Monday, March 18, 2024

musings 266



When we read a beautiful piece of literary accomplishment , a sweet song, a captivating painting or for that matter discover anything that is beautiful, we almost start feeling that we have become one with the author or the artist and we shower accolades.
For a moment let us sit back and think," Can I write something like that..can I sing like that ?
If we are honest the answer will be a "no". At lest in most cases.
I have got intoxicated by many scripts and songs and wiith a lot of jealousy I have asked the queston to myself and invariably I found that the answer is "no".
God makes the ink of beauty gush forth from selected fingers, and even without the help of bees, stores honey in the lips He chooses.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.and God shifts his residence to places where He has stored beauty.
Let us enjoy the beauty and love and praise the genuine sources and the Creator of the beauty too.
But it is silly to steal the words and art.
One can be a real artist or just can be an ordinary reader or a rasika.
Donkeys cannot become lions just by covering their face and torso with the skins of dead lions.
Their braying will betray them sooner than later

The three Charamaslokas in Vaishnavism



The three Charamaslokas in Vaishnavism..
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When we talk of Charama Slokam, we tend to think of some mantrams we utter in the ears of a person who is on the throes of death.. Of course, the word is used that way too..
But Vaishnavism... of Vishista Advaitam school, envisaged complete Surrender to Narayana.. and to be a Vaishnava, many qualities are considered bindingly essential..
In this context the complete faith in three Slokas variously contained in Bhagavat Gita ( Mahabharatham) Valmiki Ramayanam and Varahapuranam is considered to be one of the cardinal tenets.. These three Slokas actually signify the ultimate essence of Surrender to God.. or Sharanaagathi.. and are called the three Charma Slokas..
They are..
1,Charamsloka in Bagavat Gita
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सर्वधर्मान् परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
sarvadharmān parityajya māmekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja|
ahaṁ tvā sarvapāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ||
"After discarding all your worldly duties you come to Me treating me as the sole refuge.. I shall deliver you from all your worldly sind.. Do not Grieve..
The Blessed Lord promised Arjuna.."
Comple surrender to God is not mere running away from ones duties.. The word parityajya says a lot.. One can give up something he already possesses and practices.. If a person was not aware of his dharmas, and he did not ever care to know about it and to follow those dharmas, he cannot give up those Dharmas.. The Lord implies that one should live a life in this world obeying all the rules of propriety, but a clean life by itself cannot lead to final union with the Supreme. If that union is to occur, the Lord has to accept.. The best way to gain His acceptance is to declare with utter humility that I have lived my life in the worldly way following all the rules prescribed, but still my existence would have some meaning only if I finally unite with you, My Krishna.. and I am unconditionally surrendering myself at your lotus feet after giving up all my worldly desires and connections.. Please accept me..
Then the Lord will definitely accept us and deliver us of all our bondages and, sure, he will assure us and ensure that we have no reason to grieve..
2. Charama Sloka in Valmiki Ramayanam..
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सकृतेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते | अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद् व्रतं मम ||
sakruteva prapannaaya tavaasmeeti cha yaachate abhayam sarvabhootebhyah dadaamyetad vratam mama
സകൃത് ഏവ പ്രപന്നായ തവാസ്മീതി ച യാചതെ അഭയം സര്വ ഭൂതേഭ്യഃ ദധാമ്യേതദ് വ്രതം മമ
This is the Charamasloka of Rama Avataram found in Valmiki Ramayanam..
Charamasloka as per Vaishnava Sampradayam..
Charama sloka does not mean sloka about death.. It only means that the sloka of ultimate importance as pronounced by the Lord Himself in that Avataram'
Here, Vibheeshana, being driven away by his elder brother Ravana for having spoken in favour of release of Sita honourably to Rama, had to flee from the wrath of the mighty Rakshasa and has landed up near the abode of Rama where Rama is finalizing his strategies of the war against Ravana to redeem Sita
Vibheeshana is seeking protection and his entreaties to the aides of the Lord is.
raaghavam sharanam gataH .sarvalokasharanyaaya raaghavaaya mahaatmane nivedayata maam praaptam vibheshanam upasthitam
राघवं शरणं गतः. सर्वलोकशरण्याय राघवाय महात्मने निवेदयत मां प्राप्तं विभीषणं उपस्थितं
I have come to surrender myself to lord Raghava.. Please convey to the Lord that I am here seeking the protection who is the ultimate source of succour to the whole world ,,
Rama is surrounded by all his advisers and kinsmen like Lakshmana, Sugriva, Aanjaneyaswamy, Jambavaan, Angada etc..
When the question of giving shelter to Vibheeshana is taken up for discussion, all the aides, with the exception of Anjaneyaswamy are suspicious of the Intentions of the younger brother of the Demon King and they suggest that Vibhishana should be driven away and at any cost he should not be granted refuge..
The Lord of Lords, the Majestic Emeperor Sri Ramachandra makes the following declaration..
"For the one who has come to me just once for refuge and who is entreating and begging before me that he is mine, I have to grant succour and protection..
The sole vow of my life is that I shall grant protection and relief from fear to all beings."
That precisely is our Emperor Lord Ramachandra for us
3.Charama Sloka in Varaha Puranam
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स्थिते मनसि सुस्वस्थे शरीरे सति यो नरः धातुसाम्ये स्थिते स्मर्ता विश्वरूपं च मामजम्॥१॥
ततस्तं म्रियमाणं तु काष्ठापाषाणसन्निभं अहं स्मरामि मद्भक्तं नयामि परमां गतिम्॥२॥
sthite manasi susvasthe śarīre sati yo naraḥ dhātusāmye sthite smarthā viśvarūpaṁ ca māmajam||1||
tatastaṁ mriyamāṇaṁ tu kāṣṭhāpāṣāṇasannibhaṁ ahaṁ smarāmi madbhaktaṁ nayāmi paramāṁgatim||2||
The solemn promise of Narayana... so sacred for every Vaishnava.
when a devotee is in good health with all his faculties in good shape..
thinks of My Cosmic form and realize that I am the One with no birth or death,
then when he is on the door of death with his body made immobile like a stone or a wooden log( and He is not capable of remembering Me,)
at that time I SHALL REMEMBER HIM AND LEAD HIM TO THE ETERNAL STATE

ॐ आपोहिष्ठा मयोभुवः। तान ऊर्जेदधातन



ॐ आपोहिष्ठा मयोभुवः। तान ऊर्जेदधातन। महेरणाय चक्षसे। योवश्शिवतमो रसः। तस्य भाजयतेह नः। उशतिरिव मातरः। तस्मा अरं गमामवः। यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ। आपोजनयथा च नः॥
om āpohiṣṭhā mayobhuvaḥ | tāna ūrjedadhātana| maheraṇāya cakṣase| yovaśśivatamo rasaḥ| tasya bhājayateha naḥ| uśatiriva mātaraḥ| tasmā araṁ gamāmavaḥ| yasya kṣayāya jinvatha| āpojanayathā ca naḥ||
This is the prayer we make to waters during the worship of Sandhya when we sprinkle the waters on our body and limbs..
From Pavamana Sooktham.. found in Rig and Yajur vedas.
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Oh waters, may you be the bestowers of great welfare and comfort on us
May those waters provide us with food or Annam or the energy which would maintain us in good shape and with limbs which are beautiful and attractive
May the most sacred ingredients contained in you be shared and distributed to us and may we partake in them as if you are doing that with the affection of a mother to her children
We are eager for the beneficial things you are ready to bless us with and about with you are pleased
we praise you and depend on you for those benefits
Oh waters, may you pleased to keep us alive and healthy.
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हे आपः यूयं मयोभवः स्थाहि Oh waters, may you be the bestowers of great welfare and comfort on us
ता नः महे रणाय चक्षसे ऊर्जे दधातनः May those waters provide us with food or Annam which would maintain us in good shape and with limbs which are beautiful and attractive
यो वः शिवतमो रसः इह नः उशतीः मातर इव भाजयत May the most sacred ingredients contained in you be shared and distributed to us and may we partake in them as if you are doing that with the affection of a mother to her children
यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ for the beneficial things you are ready to bless us with and about with you are pleased
तस्मै वः अरं गमाम we praise you and depend on you for those benefit
हे आपः नः जनयथ Oh waters, may you pleased to keep us alive and healthy.
regards
k v ananthanarayanan

पलायनैर्नापयाति निश्चला भविव्यता



पलायनैर्नापयाति निश्चला भविव्यता।
देहिनः पुच्छसंलीना वह्निज्वालेव पक्षिणाम्॥
राजतरङ्गिणी ७-२२२
palāyanairnāpayāti niścalā bhavivyatā|
dehinaḥ pucchasaṁlīnā vahnijvāleva pakṣiṇām||
rājataraṅgiṇī 7-222
A very significant statement found in Kalhanas Rajatarangini
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The fate which is adamant and unchangeable, will not move away from us just because we try to run away.. The fate just remains with us like fire that had ignited the tail of a bird..
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The fate, what is ordained for us will land us up in situations which may not give us peace and comforts.. By instinct we would try to run away from such situation..
But what is happening for us is a reality.. a play of fate.. We cannot run away from it.. and the unhappy incidents would not be undone or wiped off just because we run away, or pretend that nothing bad is happening or we just close our eyes..
The dictates of fate are just like the fire which has ignited the hind feathers of a bird.. The fire would not be put off just because the bird takes flight.. In fact, the fire would burn with greater intensity.
If we try to face the vagaries of fate with some courage instead of just running away from realities of life, the situation might stabilize and the clouds that marred our life might move away, and we may become normal once again..
But if we run away from situations, we would lose all the advantages, and we would lose our self confidence, and we would be branded as cowards and escapists even if we survive with some injuries..
But if we stand firm, take the trouble by the collars and fight with it .. we would feel great.. if we succeed to ward off the trouble.. and even if we go down succumbing to fate after a courageous fight, we would leave great glory behind us..
The heroes.. who died fighting are looked up with equal respect that is given to the winners.. The one who ran away unable to face a situation is always considered as a second rate one..
In Bhagavat Gita the Lord tells Arjuna the same thing..
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् ।
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥ ३४ ॥
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ।।३५।
bhagavat gita Chapter 2 Sankhya Yoga
akeertim chaapi bhUtaani kathayishyanti te avyayaam
sambhaavitasya cha akeertir maranaadatiruchyate..
Bhayaad ranaaduparatam mamsyante twaam mahaarathaaH
yeshaam cha tvam bahumato bhootvaa yaasyasi laaghavam..
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Arjuna, when you take flight like a coward because you are afraid to execute your duty as a warrior, all the people around will talk about you in scandalous and sarcastic terms. Your fame will take an abysmal plunge downwards. And for an honourable person such scandal and infamy is worse than death itself..34
Arjuna, If you run away from the battle ( battle of Mahabharata or battle of life) the respected personages and heroes all would look at you with insulting eyes.. You would appear puny and insignificant in the eyes of people who all rightly looked up at you as a valiant hero..35
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So, what is to happen will happen.. We can try to fight back and try to survive.. Alternately we can perish in all glory and honour..
But to run away from situations is utter cowardice.. and it is unbecoming of any person with some honour left in him,
regards..
have a nice day
k v ananthanarayanan

गन्धद्वाराम् दुराधर्षाम् नित्यपुष्टाम् करीषिणीम्



गन्धद्वाराम् दुराधर्षाम् नित्यपुष्टाम् करीषिणीम्
ईश्वरीम् सर्वभूतानाम् तामिहोपह्यये श्रियम्॥
ऋग्वेदकिले श्रीसूक्ते॥
gandhadvārām durādharṣām nityapuṣṭām karīṣiṇīm
īśvarīm sarvabhūtānām tāmihopahyaye śriyam||
ṛgvedakile śrīsūkte||
This is a mantram of prayer from the Sacred Shree Sooktham which is addressed to Mother Lakshmi the Consort of Lord Narayana, the attractive lady who ever lives in the heart of the Lord, and is the source of all wealth and prosperity..
While performing poojas it is the practice that we chant this mantram while offering Sandal paste of fragrance to the Gods after their Abhishekam..
What attracted me in this mantram is that Laksmi is praised as living with great happiness in the Cowdung
The meaning is
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I invoke and invite Mother Lakshmi the Shree who is the lordess of all that is present in the universe
She can be identified by the fragrance that emanates from her presence
She is unassailable, she knows no defeat
She is manifesting ever in plentitude, wherever She is present, there is only progress and everything grows from progress to greater progress if she is pleased.
She is present with great pleasure and desire in the dung of the cow and the dirt in the green fields tilled by the farmer
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The Vedic man trusted that all his wealth depended on his cow and his tilling ground..
word analysis
गन्धद्वाराम् known or identified by the smell fragrance..
दुराधर्षाम् unassailable, who cannot be defeated
नित्यपुष्टाम् prosperous in perpetuity, rich and thriving eternally
करीषिणीम् Present in cowdung.. very richly manifest in cowdung and tilled by the peasants
सर्वभूतानाम् of all creatures, of all beings found in universe
ईश्वरीम् the mistres, the overlord, having absolute control over all things
श्रियम् prosperity. Shree.. the mother Lakshmi who is manifest as prosperity
इह here, in this act of worship
उपह्वये I address, I invite with utmost reverence
ഗന്ധദ്വാരാം ദുരാധര്‍ഷാം നിത്യപുഷ്ടാം കരീഷിണീം
ഈശ്വരീം സര്‍വഭൂതാനാം താമിഹോപഹ്യയേ ശ്രിയം॥
ഋഗ്വേദകിലേ ശ്രീസൂക്തേ॥
ഈ മന്ത്രം ഏറെ പരിപാവനമായ ശ്രീ സൂക്തത്തില്‍ നിന്നുള്ളതാണ്. ഭഗവാന്‍ നാരായണന്‍റെ പ്രിയതമയായ മാതാവ് ലക്ഷ്മിയെ ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഒരു മഹാമന്ത്രം ആണിത്. അതി സുന്ദരിയും ഭാഗ്യത്തിന്‍റെ ഉറവിടവും ആയ, എല്ലാ സമ്പത്തിന്‍റെയും സമൃദ്ധിയുടെയും ഉടയോളായ അമ്മ എന്നും കുടികൊള്ളുന്നത് ഭഗവാന്‍റെ ഹൃദയത്തില്‍ മാത്രമാണ്.
ദേവപൂജ ചെയ്യുമ്പോള്‍ ദേവന്മാര്‍ക്ക് അഭിഷേകം കഴിഞ്ഞ ശേഷം സുഗന്ധം നിറഞ്ഞ ചന്ദനക്കൂട്ട് സമര്‍പ്പിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഈ മന്ത്രം ഉരുവിടുന്നത് ഒരു സദാചാരം ആണ്.
ഈ മന്ത്രത്തില്‍ ഏറെ ഹൃദ്യമായി അനുവാചകന് അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു കാര്യം ദേവി ലക്ഷ്മി ഏറെ പ്രീതിയോടും ആഹ്ളാദത്തോടും കൂടി ഗോമയത്തില്‍ (പശുവിന്‍റെ ചാണകത്തില്‍) വസിക്കുന്നു എന്ന പ്രസ്താവനയാണ്.
ഈ മന്ത്രത്തിന്‍റെ അര്‍ത്ഥം.
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ഈ പ്രപഞ്ചത്തില്‍ കാണുന്ന എല്ലാ ചരാചരങ്ങളുടെയും വസ്തുക്കളുടെയും ഉടയോളായ മാതാവ് ലക്ഷ്മിയെ ഞാന്‍ ഇവിടെ ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു. അവളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം ഇവിടെ ഉണ്ടാവുമാറാകട്ടെ.
അവള്‍ നിറഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ഇടത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് വരുന്ന ദിവ്യ സുഗന്ധം കൊണ്ട് അവളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം തിരിച്ചറിയാം.
അവള്‍ അജയ്യയാണ്, അവള്‍ ഒരിക്കലും പരാജയം അറിയാത്തവള്‍ ആണ്.
എവിടെയെല്ലാം സമൃദ്ധി ഉണ്ടോ അവിടെയെല്ലാം അവള്‍ ഉണ്ടെന്നു വ്യക്തമാണ്. അവള്‍ കുടികൊല്ലുണ്ണ്‍ ഇടങ്ങളില്‍ പുരോഗതിയും സമ്പത്തും മാത്രമേ ഉണ്ടാവുകയുള്ളൂ. ഉയര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ നിന്നും കൂടുതല്‍ ഉയര്‍ച്ചയിലേയ്ക്ക്‌, സമ്പന്നതയില്‍ നിന്ന് കൂടുതല്‍ സമ്പന്നതയിലേയ്ക്ക്‌ അവളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യവും, അവളുടെ പ്രീതിയും നമ്മെ കൈപിടിച്ച് ഉയര്‍ത്തുന്നു.
ഏറെ ഇഷ്ടത്തോടും താല്പര്യത്തോടും അവള്‍ ഗോമാതാവിന്‍റെ ചാണകത്തിലും ഉഴുതുമറിച്ച കൃഷിഭൂമിയില്‍ നിറഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ചെളിയിലും അവള്‍ സന്നിഹിതയായിരിക്കുന്നു.
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അതെ, വേദകാലത്തെ നിഷ്കപടനായ മനുഷ്യന്‍ തന്‍റെ സമ്പത്തും സമൃദ്ധിയും എല്ലാം കൃഷിയിതത്തിലും ലും പിന്നെ തന്‍റെ പശുക്കളിലും ആണ് നിലകൊള്ളുന്നത് എന്ന് വിശ്വസിച്ചിരുന്നു.

यस्मिन्यथा वर्तते यो मनुष्य

 



यस्मिन्यथा वर्तते यो मनुष्यस्तस्मिन्स्तथा वर्तितव्यं स धर्मः।
मायाचारो मायया बाधितव्यः साध्वाचारः साधुना प्रत्युपेयः॥
महाभारते

yasminyathā vartate yo manuṣyastasminstathā vartitavyaṃ sa dharmaḥ।māyācāro māyayā bādhitavyaḥ sādhvācāraḥ sādhunā pratyupeyaḥ॥ mahābhārate

It is right and proper law or dharma that one should treat a person in the same way being teated in return. If one is prone to deception and treachery, he should be treated in the same manner. If the party to the transaction is honest and righteous, then he should be extended the same courtesy.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

whether karadayan nombu is karva chouth



Some friend asked whether karadayan nombu is karva chouth
My clarification
This is a function celebrated by Tamil speaking people..everywhere.
The migrants from Tamilnadu too celebrate this.
It is celebrated by all ladies by tying cotton threads around their necks praying for long and uninterrupted married life with soumangalyam.
The moment of celebration is when the Meenam or Panguni month is born..that is sun enters meenam.
The ladies observe fast on that day..except for one single ada made if rice flour and jaggery..and a little butter. The day is celebrated in honour of Savitri.
I know karva chouth too is observed with this idea. But how can you say karva chouth and Karadayan nolumbu are the same?
The culture and tradition across India vary.
And even the Tiruvatira is observed in Kerala with the same idea.

musings 265



Saying that there should no pride in anything does not mean that one should let all and sundry to ride rough over his head.
We can give respect,
empathy,
affection,
show concern,
listen to our peers and subordinates
and all.
But we need not clown or play to the crowd and make our dignity a tradeable commodity.
Of course we might get the highest price if we sell our dignity.
But the price we get in the bargain will not be of any use to us.

चतुर्थोपाय साध्ये तु रिपौ सान्त्वमपक्रिया



चतुर्थोपाय साध्ये तु रिपौ सान्त्वमपक्रिया।
स्वेद्यमामज्वरं प्राज्ञः कोऽम्भसा परिषिञ्चति॥२२२९८९० पञ्चतन्त्रे
caturthopāya sādhye tu ripau sāntvamapakriyā|
svedyamāmajvaraṁ prājñaḥ ko'mbhasā pariṣiñcati||2229(890) pañcatantre
If the right and expedient strategy to defeat the enemy is the fourth one..that is attack and destruction, then trying peace and reconciliation is just an aberration and wrong action. If a patient is suffering from fever which could be controlled only through sweating, pouring water on the patient to cool him and check the fever would be counter productive.
The four established strategies to be used against enemies in that order are.. 1.. Saama.. or attempt at reconciliation 2.. Daana..Offering incentives to prevent pitched battle 3. Bheda.. trying to cause confusion and difference of opinion in the enemy groups and 4. Danda..Decisive war with clear aim to decimate the enemies.

real planning and strategization



अतीतलाभस्य सुरक्षणार्थं भविष्यलाभस्य च संगमार्थम्।
आपत्प्रपन्नस्य च मोक्षणार्थं यन्मत्र्यतेऽसौ परमो हि मन्त्रः॥ईन्द् स्प्रुचे ६२ शार्ङ्गधरपद्धति
atītalābhasya surakṣaṇārthaṁ bhaviṣyalābhasya ca saṁgamārtham|
āpatprapannasya ca mokṣaṇārthaṁ yanmatryate'sau paramo hi mantraḥ||īnd spruce 62 śārṅgadharapaddhati
Proper planning and preparation of strategy and planning in the following matters are indeed termed as real and most utiliatarian planning and strategy.
1. To keep in place without any damage what benefits or profits have been gained already
2. To accumulate, co-oradinate and maintain at optimal levels the profits, benefits and advantages that are expected to arise in the course of activities.
3. If some person involved in the process of if some activities engaged in furthering the strategy are likely to be or are in the process of facing some risk or danger, finding ways and means to mitigate and overcome such risks and dangers.
This according to Sharngdhara paddhati is real planning and strategization.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

अतथ्यान्यपि तथ्यानि दर्शयन्त्यति पेशलाः



अतथ्यान्यपि तथ्यानि दर्शयन्त्यति पेशलाः। 
समे निम्नोन्नतानीव चित्रकर्मविदो जनाः॥
 हितोपदेशे ईन्दिस्च् ष्प्रुचे ४८
atathyānyapi tathyāni darśayantyati peśalāḥ| same nimnonnatānīva citrakarmavido janāḥ|| hitopadeśe īndisc ṣpruce 48
Clever and artful people adepts in deception would easily present before people total untruths as truths and invariably convince them too. See, an expert painter creates his picture on an entirely even and plain surface but he could easily given the impressions of depths and heghts in his picture.

अतो हास्यतरं लोके किञ्चिदन्यत्र विद्यते



अतो हास्यतरं लोके किञ्चिदन्यत्र विद्यते।
यत्र दुर्जन इत्याह दुर्जनः सज्जनं स्वयम्॥
 महाभारते।
ato hāsyataraṁ loke kiñcidanyatra vidyate|yatra durjana ityāha durjanaḥ sajjanaṁ svayam|| mahābhārate|
Can you find anything more ridiculous and funny in this world that when the evil minded fellows flock together and assert with lot of vehemence that the good people around are the really bad fellows.?
The question arose in Mahabharatham millenniums ago. But does it not sound so conemporaneous?


दुर्जनः wicked people स्वयं themselves सज्जनं good people    दुर्जन इति आह  tell, accuse, portray   हास्य तरं subject of ridicule, miserable  tragi comedy  लोके in this world विद्यते किञ्चित्  is there ?

कोशव्यसनमुच्यते



अतिव्ययोऽनपेक्षा च तथार्जनमधर्मतः।
घोषणं दूरसंस्थानं कोशव्यसनमुच्यते॥
हितोपदेशे इन्दिश्चे स्प्रुचे ५९
ativyayo'napekṣā ca tathārjanamadharmataḥ|
ghoṣaṇaṁ dūrasaṁsthānaṁ kośavyasanamucyate||
hitopadeśe indisce spruce 59

The causes for depletion and damage to the treasury as listed in Hitopadesham 
1 Reckless spending 
2 Lack of proper accounting and monitoring 
3 Tendency to earn and accumulate through unrighteous means 4.Too much Publicity about affluence 
 5 Location of assets in distant places

अति व्ययः excessive, reckless spending  अनपेक्षा  no proper application of mind, no budgeting, monitoring  कोशस्य of the treasuryअधर्मतः आर्जनं earning and accumulating through  unrighteous means  घोषणं  giving unwanted publicity,  unwanted claims  दूर संस्थानं   location far apart.. the owner and the treasure located in different places located  at great distance  कोश व्यसनं  damage, depletion of treasury उच्यते  it is said.

Friday, March 15, 2024

In kerala, we are exposed to Sanskrit first through Malayalam



In kerala, we are exposed to Sanskrit first through Malayalam.. and even now the chaste Malayalam is almost sixty to seventy percent Sanskrit- oriented. Most of the poetic works in Malayalam including even cinema lyrics of today are extremely Sanskrit-oriented..
Even Malayalee names have mostly Sanskrit origin.. You will find many Pushpangadhans and Rajeevaakshans in Malayalam...
And basically we read Gita, or Ramayanam or Bhagavatham through Malayalam... and learned the nuances through exponents of such texts in Sanskrit-malayalam or Sanskrit-tamil, by great people like Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshitar or Vazhakunnu Thiruveni... 
We started learning Sanskrit grammar through malayalam verses like Baalaprabhodhanam.."അതെന്നു പ്രഥമക്കര്‍ത്ഥം ദ്വിതീയക്കതിനെ പുനഃ തൃതീയാ ഹേതുവായിക്കൊണ്ട് ....this was our start in Sanskrit..
Of course I have had occasions to read oriental Scholars like Radhakrisnan and Hirayanna and others in English, and added to that Max Muller and other western scholars in their own presentations.. 
But the Sanskrit Kavyas were commented upon by great scholars like Mallinatha Soori, Vedas were explained by Sayana and Bhattabhaskara in Sanksrit, and the Grammatical texts were later on explained by greats like Appayya Deeskhita, Kuppuswamy Sastrigal, and in kerala by many malayalam writers.. 
Rajaraja Varma was called the Kerala Panini. It was nice that the weseterners tried to rediscover Sanskrit, but Indian Languages and particularly Sanskrit, grew in the Indian Style also.. The kerala School, The Adayar School, The Maharstra..Poona school, The Varanasi School, The Kolkotta School,, The Kashmiri line ...The Lahore Dhaka  schools.. the branches go on.
 I have tried to approach Sanskrit from Malayalam, Sanskrit itself, Tamil, a little Telugu, and also from English.. And a little German too..
 Indian approach appears to be more realistic and revealing.. I love to read Shakespeare or Sheldon in English, but I would prefer to enjoy my Valmiki and Kalidasa through Sanskrit,  and also through Indian tongues like Malayalam , Tamil etc...

we live and thrive more on ego rather than reality especially in personal relationships



All do plan. I agree.
But planning is of no practical use when the micro as well as the macro peripheries are hazy. I am sorry to say..we live and thrive more on ego rather than reality especially in personal relationships.
And from the posts appearing in Facebook as well as from the general behaviour it is clear that we tend to play drama..live in drama..and when we get audience we tend to sing and dance too much to our own detriment.
A generation before me actually played safe and underplayed...
But now we are a bunch of ആളേക്കണ്ട സമുദ്രം aalekkanda samudram...the sea showing too many waves when there is a crowd in the beach.
In my view that should suit monkeys more than us .
If a boy or girl of is in US then he pretends that he is Obama and Trump put together..why?
One should measure something that is existing. One need not try to measure waving his arms just in air and make imaginary counts..of course unless he is a lunatic.
Puffing up like a balloon is the in thing among us..
I agree I too am guilty of such delusion..

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

मन्निन्दया यदि जनाः परितोषमेति



मन्निन्दया यदि जनाः परितोषमेति नन्वप्रयत्नसुलभोऽयमनुग्रहो मे।
श्रेयोऽर्थिनो हि पुरुषाः परतुष्टिहेतोर्दुःखार्जितानपि धनानि परित्यजन्ति॥
 जीवन्मुक्तिविवेके
mannindayā yadi janāḥ paritoṣameti nanvaprayatnasulabho'yamanugraho me|
śreyo'rthino hi puruṣāḥ paratuṣṭihetorduḥkhārjitānapi dhanāni parityajanti|| jīvanmuktiviveke
If some people can derive a lot of happiness by insulting me or by spreading scandals or calumnies against me is it not a great blessing and windfall that has come by me even without my seeking it? Actually people often give up pr spend even their hard earned wealth and benefits just to gain some merit and virtue, and offering merriment and entertainment to people starved for it is the greatest virtue and source of grace one can have. So I am getting that virtue by giving an opportunity to all people around by just giving a chance to insult me and for that I am not spending anything. That way is it not like a lottery or windfall?

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

The best thing I know is that I know very little.. very little quite close to nothing ..



And maybe I cannot understand that but when people just pat on the back of one another about their vast reading and knowledge and familiarity with books and I find that all of them or at least most of them are just at kindergarten stage and in comparison I feel that I am atleast in the first standard or more.
And many expect me to praise them as if they hold PhD.
If I cannot bring up myself to do that they think I am arrogant and I lose friendships. Are such connections really worth the bother?
I am not arrogant... I am trying to be honest . The best thing I know is that I know very little.. very little quite close to nothing ..

musings 264



while gathering flowers for pooja(worship of God) in the morning, some strange thoughts passed through the mind
While performing pooja, I pray for so many things, for so many people..
But do I ever pray God to bless the plants which gave the beautiful flowers?
Perhaps the plants have already worshiped God by giving out the beautiful flowers, and in fact I am offering something to God ..
which have already been offered and accepted by Him
Our forefathers had strict rules about disturbing plants even if the action was in furtherance of their daily routines and for the purpose of service to God
Before cutting a twig or plucking a flower of an oushadi (a plant with medicinal qualities.. and with flowers ) or a Vanaspathi ( usually a bigger plant which might not have manifest flowers but would bear lots of fruits.. a fruit yielding tree) they praised the plant, and they sought the permission of the plants for removing their parts for the service of God..
And special prayers and a lot of respect and reverence was shown while collecting leaves of Tulasi or Bilvam.. the two plants without whose service worship of God is simply not possible in our way of life..
True, the plants are so generous, God is also so generous, that they will not perhaps mind our thanking them or not..
But are we good people if we are not grateful?
Permission to mother earth and elements was sought by our forefathers when they broke pieces of rock to create idols or took clay or soil to clean themselves or to use it for religious purposes.
That grace seems to have disappeared in our generations.. most of us are not even aware that such niceties were there..
Another funny thought.. While plucking flowers, I leave some flowers in the plant itself.. The flowers collected reach the feet of God in the form of some idol or symbol which is consecrated as God.
But the flowers left behind.. are they lucky or unlucky..?
They just remain in the plant and fade the next day but their companions have reached the feet of God..
There are many things in life about which the mind can raise questions.. but could hardly get any answers..

रहितो न किञ्चित्



नयेन नेता विनयेन शिष्यः शीलेन लिङ्गी प्रशमेन साधुः।
जीवेन देहः सुकृतेन देही वित्तेन गेही रहितो न किञ्चित्॥ सम्यक्त्वकौमुदी
nayena netā vinayena śiṣyaḥ śīlena liṅgī praśamena sādhuḥ|
jīvena dehaḥ sukṛtena dehī vittena gehī rahito na kiñcit|| samyaktvakaumudī
Each type of class of people could remain afloat and active only if they are endowed with or are supported by certain qualities, attributes or resources . No person alive would survive unless he is driven or guided by certain purposes or objectives.
A leader of people cannot survive without clear policy for the upliftment of his followers.
A disciple can earn knowledge and education from various sources, especially from his preceptor, only if he is humble and accommodative.
For a follower of religious order, especially those signified by strict codes of dress and rituals, unswerving character that would never permit him to deviated from his chosen style of life alone would keep him in the right track.
Absolute self control and stoic resilience at any cost is the hallmark of a saint or a saintly person
Obviously a living being cannot survive without the life energy within it.
And every living being can survive in reasonable comfort and welfare only if it has accumulated virtues through good deeds.
Above all, a householder can survice in a decent manner only if he has sufficient resources to look after his family and also to fulfil his social responsibilites.