स्थाने एव नराः पूज्यन्ते ॥३०९॥
चाणक्यसूत्राद्॥
sthāne eva narāḥ
pūjyante ||309||
cāṇakyasūtrād||
An important
observation by Chaanakya
"People are respected only when they occupy the right position..
It goes without saying
that a person who loses his position loses everything. Invariably the respect and
reputation one enjoys is based on the position he occupies.."
This truth is driven home by the following subhaashitam
स्थानस्थितस्य कमलस्य साहाय्यौ
वारिभास्करौ।
स्थानच्युतस्य तस्यैव
क्लेदशोषकरावुभे॥
sthānasthitasya
kamalasya sāhāyyau vāribhāskarau|
sthānacyutasya tasyaiva
kledaśoṣakarāvubhe||
When the lotus is
blooming with its deep roots entrenched on the firm ground under the water, the Sun and the pond and its water help it to
shine better.. the water supports it to raise up and the Sun helps it to
bloom.. But when the same lotus flower is plucked away the sun and water will
not help it any more.. A lotus plucked away from the pond will be dried up by
the scorching rays of the sun and the flower will decay if it is put in water
again.. Therefore the support and prominence that the lotus enjoyed depended entirely on its former position of advantage.
We human beings are intolerably vain.. We often happen to receive praise, in place or out of place, depending on the position we
occupy and the powers we wield.. However we are deluded by arrogance to assume
that the respect and adulation we enjoy are the result of some supernatural
and intrinsic powers possessed by us.. The bluff will be called when we lose
the position for some reason or other..
Maybe, good education,
good contacts, coupled with humble and considerate behaviour and helping nature exhibited by us while we are occupying
positions of power could be remembered by some and they might give us some solace
even after we are displaced from such power and position.
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