जात्यैवेते परहितविधौ साधवो बद्धकक्षाः

कस्यादेशात्क्षपयति तमः सप्तसप्तिः प्रजानां

छायाहेतोः पथिविटपिनामञ्जलिः केन बद्धः।

अभ्यर्च्यन्ते जललवमुचः केन वा वृष्टिहेतोर्

जात्यैवेते परहितविधौ साधवो बद्धकक्षाः॥

चाणक्य नीति महासुभाषित संग्रहे ९२५६

kasyādeśātkṣapayati tamaḥ saptasaptiḥ prajānāṁ

chāyāhetoḥ pathiviṭapināmañjaliḥ kena baddhaḥ|

abhyarcyante jalalavamucaḥ kena vā vṛṣṭihetor

jātyaivete parahitavidhau sādhavo baddhakakṣāḥ||

Chanakya niti Mahasubhashita Samgraja 9256

No one has directed the Sun who travels along the sky from morning to evening demolishing the darkness encompassing the earth.. He does it on his on volition.

No one has submitted any request with folded hands to the trees standing on the highway to provide cool shadow for the people who travel along. The service is just voluntary

The clouds, spreading themselves widely, release life sustaining raining waters slowly and steadily to wide areas of land on earth, that too without any request or entreaty from anyone. No one made any petition to the clouds to produce the rains.

Yes, the inherent nature of noble persons is that they would ever be eager and anxious to provide benefits for one and all.

सकाराः सप्त दुर्लभाः

संपत् सरस्वती सत्यं संतानं सदनुग्रहः।

सत्ता सुकृतसंभारः सकाराः सप्त दुर्लभाः॥

saṁpat sarasvatī satyaṁ saṁtānaṁ sadanugrahaḥ|

sattā sukṛtasaṁbhāraḥ sakārāḥ sapta durlabhāḥ||

The following seven things whose names start with Sa are indeed very difficult to attain, and equally difficult to maintain in their full splendour

1. SAmpath.. The wealth and affluence

2. SArasvwathi… Good education and knowledge that comes to us through the sweet grace of the Goddess of Muses

3. SAthyam Honesty, Truthfulness… to tell truth, to act with truth, to face life with truth, and to face truth itself can be a daunting task

4. SAnthaanam.. Children.. One has to be very lucky to have a set of nice children and to ensure their growth and development is a lifelong challenge

5. SAdanugrahaH.. The blessing of great souls…

6. SAttaa-- Position of authority.. to attain and maintain such positons one has to be diligent and anxious for ever

7. SUkrita sambhaaraH.. Accumulation of virtue or Punya.. one has to act positively to obtain punyam.. its antithesis papam accumulates voluntarily and comes uninvited.

दशमातृहरीतकी

दशवैद्यसमा पत्नी दशपत्नीसमो रविः।

दशसूर्यतमा माता दशमातृहरीतकी॥५१

नीतिसारे॥॥

daśavaidyasamā patnī daśapatnīsamo raviḥ|

daśasūryatamā mātā daśamātṛharītakī ||51

nītisāre||||

पत्नी दशवैद्यसमा वर्तते An affectionate and caring wife will be as good as ten doctors..

रविः दशपत्नीसमो वर्तते Exposure to sun can be as effective as the tender care of ten wives.

माता दशसूर्यतमा वर्तते The care and love that a mother can bestow on a person is as beneficial as that of ten suns

हरीतकी दशमातृ समा वर्तते And a single pod of Kadukka (കടുക്ക) as a medicine is ten times as great as a mothers love and care

An affectionate and caring wife will be as good as ten doctors..

Exposure to sun can be as effective as the tender care of ten wives.

The care and love that a mother can bestow on a person is as beneficial as that of ten suns

And a single pod of Kadukka (കടുക്ക) as a medicine is ten times as great as a mothers love and care

This is quoted in neetisaaram... It is said that it is according to the views of the great ayurvedic masters like Sushruta etc..

Kadukka is Harad in Hindi, botanical name Terminalia chebula

musings 234

Yes, it is quite possible that my perspective or interpretation on an issue may not be the same or is in agreement with the interpretation or stand taken by anyone else including the reader of this.

I follow my mind, my logic, my experience and my knowledge, however sketchy these might be.

I cannot claim that my words are the final or decisive verdict on anything.

But that does not mean I am entirely wrong,

In fact no one is entirely right, nor is anyone entirely long.

The boundaries of right and wrong are very hazy.. and abounding in grey areas.

musings 233

I have complete faith in the nobility of human mind and its warmer instincts..

When things are just normal,

we feel minor jealousies,

we indulge in comparisons,

we try to assert our own superiority even in very silly ways.

But when we learn that our brother or sister, our dear friend is in some difficulty or distress, we just forget all those minor bickering and jump up in love and compassion and empathy..

Then our eagerness is just to ensure that the person in distress gets the best help..

Once the situation returns to normal, the old shadow fight shows its nasty (or is it funny ?)face once again..

That shows we are just human beings..

वाक्यं ब्रूयाद्रसज्ञः परिषदि समये सप्रमेयाप्रमत्तम्

तथ्यं पथ्यं सहेतु प्रियमितमृदुलं सारवद्दैन्यहीनं

साभिप्रायं दुरापं सविनयमशठं चित्रमल्पाक्षरं च।

भह्वर्थं कोपशून्यं स्मितयुतघनदाक्षिण्यसंदेहहीनं

वाक्यं ब्रूयाद्रसज्ञः परिषदि समये सप्रमेयाप्रमत्तम्॥

tathyaṁ pathyaṁ sahetu priyamitamṛdulaṁ sāravaddainyahīnaṁ

sābhiprāyaṁ durāpaṁ savinayamaśaṭhaṁ citramalpākṣaraṁ ca|

bhavarthaṁ kopaśūnyaṁ smitayutaghanadākṣiṇyasaṁdehahīnaṁ

vākyaṁ brūyādrasajñaḥ pariṣadi samaye saprameyāpramattam||

A diligent and learned participant in an assembly should always understand the taste and preferences of the audience ahd should speak words at the right time, without any arrogance or show-off, and the subject matter should be amply supported by supporting evidences and materials.

The speech should be truthful

The speech should not be jarring but mostly agreeable

The speech should be made for some valid reason

The speech should be sweet and soft as best as possible

The speech should contain valid arguments

The speech should not portray the speaker as weak, miserable or cringing

The viewpoints and the preferences of the speaker should be crystal clear

The speech should kindle the sensibilities of the audience

The wordings and demeanour of the speaker should be humble

The views and the speech should not be dogmatic or opinionated

The speech should be vivid and figurative so as to catch the imagination of the listeners.

The speech should be brief and to the point as much as possible.

The speech should be capable of conveying all the possible ideas and meanings involved in the subject matter

The speech should be devoid of anger or impatience

The speaker should try to maintain a smiling face

The speaker should be unbiased while presenting the subjects, he should neither be lenient nor tough with any side.

And the speaker should ensure that he is presenting the matter on hand without entertaining any doubts or uncertainties about the subject.

rituals might change.. yes, they must change

rituals might change.. yes, they must change

scope for such change is provided in abundance in Shastras and in most religious practices allow such variations too..

It has to be accepted that remarks, observations and even facts in general recorded at some particular period, relying on the resources and situations prevailing then, might require either validation periodically and would call for minor or major corrections on the basis of facilities and circumstances available in a different slot of time..

This applies to all phenomena in the universe,

and not only to social, religious or spiritual matters..

Even research in the field of Science this scope for such variations and seasonal validation.

The uncertainty principle and the theory of relativity all arose from this basic precept ..

Things would look clear upto a certain level.. but uncertainty creeps in beyond that limit..

मानसेनैव दुःखेन शरीरमुपतप्यते

मानसेनैव दुःखेन शरीरमुपतप्यते

अयःपिण्डेन तप्तेन कुम्भसंस्थमिवोदकम्

मानसं शमयेत्तस्मात् ज्ञानेनाग्निमिवाम्बुना।

प्रशान्ते मानसे दुःखे शरीरमुपशाम्यति॥

महाभारते

mānasenaiva duḥkhena śarīramupatapyate

ayaḥpiṇḍena taptena kumbhasaṁstavividākam|

mānasaṁ śamayettsmāt jñānenāgnimivāmbunā|

praśānte mānase duḥkhe śarīramupaśāmyati||

When the mind is filled with sorrow, the human body too burns in agony. It is similar to the fact that when a piece of white-hot piece of iron is placed near a pot filled with water, the water too gets heated to boiling point.

Therefore, one should take all care to pacify the mind and to maintain its calmness and to bring it to balance when it is disturbed. This can be achieved by applying the knowledge one has gained. Just as the water douses the burning fire, knowledge would destroy the effects of mental agony. And once the mind is calmed down, the body too would remain in peace.

न द्वौ लोकावपि तनुभृतां राजसेवापराणाम्

नेषां सन्ध्याविधिरविकलो नाच्युतार्चार्पि साङ्गा।

न स्वे काले हवननियमो नापि वेदार्थचिन्ता॥

न क्षुद्वेला नियतमशनं नापि निद्रावकाशो

न द्वौ लोकावपि तनुभृतां राजसेवापराणाम्॥

neṣāṁ sandhyāvidhiravikalo nācyutārcārpi sāṅgā|

na sve kāle havananiyamo nāpi vedārthacintā||

na kṣudvelā niyatamaśanaṁ nāpi nidrāvakāśo

na dvau lokāvapi tanubhṛtāṁ rājasevāparāṇām||

They cannot adhere to the daily oblations to God in the dawn and dusk and midday, they can never think of performing a full and thorough ritualistic worship of Lord Achyuta, they cannot ever performs the fire rituals in time, and they cannot contemplate even in the remotest dreams about analysing the contents of scriptures like vedas

And they cannot think of a fixed time even to feel hungry or to take sufficient food. They have hardly any rights or opportunity to have sufficient sleep.

Thus poor human beings who landed up as servants of the King ( presently sincere government Servants) have forsaken all rights to live either in this world or in the world after death.

This slokam was written perhaps when the daily routines in worship and spirituality meant a lot for ordinary human beings too. People might not be spiritually inclined these days.

However the fact remains that the life in this world is lost for a sincere and duty conscious government servant.

अत्मारामतया हिताहितसमः स्वस्थो हरः पातु वः

भीतिर्नास्ति भुजङ्गपुङ्गवविषात्प्रीतिर्न चन्द्रामृतात्

नाशौचं हि कपालदामलुलनात् शौचं च गङ्गाजलात्।

नोद्वेगस्चितिभस्मना न सुखं गौरीस्तनालिङ्गनात्

अत्मारामतया हिताहितसमः स्वस्थो हरः पातु वः॥

bhītirnāsti bhujaṅgapuṅgavaviṣātprītirna candrāmṛtāt

nāśaucaṁ hi kapāladāmalulanāt śaucaṁ ca gaṅgājalāt|

nodvegascitibhasmanā na sukhaṁ gaurīstanāliṅganāt

atmārāmatayā hitāhitasamaḥ svastho haraḥ pātu vaḥ||

He is not having any fear for the potent venom that is spewed by Vasuki, the serpent encircling His neck

At the same time He is not having and special preference for the ambrosia that fills the moon occupying his matted hair

He is not bothered about the pollution that might be caused by contact with the human skull that he wields in his hands

However he is not overly conscious of the purity that is inherent in the holy waters of Ganga that He holds in his locks

He is not ashamed or excessively embarrassed about the ashes from funeral pyres that covers His whole body

But he is not given to any special feeling of ecstasy for being contacting the breasts of that damsel Gauri

Yes, He is atmaaraama, he is the epitome of equanimity. Pleasures do not excite Him, Adversities do not affect Him in any way. He is ever immersed in the thoughts of Supreme Brahman… that is none other than Himself.

May that Hara, the Shankara protect you.

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो जपहोमपरायणः

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो जपहोमपरायणः।

आशीर्वादपरो नित्यमेष राजपुरोहितः॥

आयुर्वेदकृताभ्यासः सर्वेषां प्रियदर्शनः।

आर्यशीलगुणोपेतः एष वैद्य विधीयते॥

vedavedāṅgatattvajño japahomaparāyaṇaḥ|

āśīrvādaparo nityameṣa rājapurohitaḥ||

āyurvedakṛtābhyāsaḥ sarveṣāṁ priyadarśanaḥ|

āryaśīlaguṇopetaḥ eṣa vaidya vidhīyate||

The Royal purohita or preceptor should be

A person who has mastered the intricacies of Vedas and Vedangas and related scriptures too

He should adhere strictly to the prescribed and ordained rituals like chanting the hymns, fire oblations and connected offerings to the Divinity

He should ever be spiritually of high state where he is capable of blessing others and he should be ever disposed to offer blessings to one and all

The Royal physician and Doctor should be well trained in the Science of life or Ayurveds

The physician should ever havean appearance and a demeanour that would be pleasing to all people around

The physician should be endowed with exemplary character and conduct befitting a man of class

न स्वे सुखे कुरुते वै प्रहर्षं नान्यस्य दुःखे भवति प्रतीतः

न स्वे सुखे कुरुते वै प्रहर्षं नान्यस्य दुःखे भवति प्रतीतः।
दत्वा न पश्चात् कुरुतेऽनुतापं न कथ्यते पुरुषार्थशीलः॥
महाभारते उद्योगपर्वनि ३३-९४ विदुरवाक्ये

na sve sukhe kurute vai praharṣaṁ nānyasya duḥkhe bhavati pratītaḥ|

datvā na paścāt kurute'nutāpaṁ na kathyate puruṣarthaśīlaḥ||

mahābhārate udyogaparvani 33-94 viduravākye

A noble person would never go overboard with happiness when he is comfortable, and would not feel pleased when anyone else is unhappy. A noble person would never regret about what he has given as help to others and he would never praise his own actions performed by himself in the right and successful pursuit of virtue and other lofty targets

ന സ്വേ സുഖേ കുരുതേ വൈ പ്രഹര്‍ഷം നാന്യസ്യ ദുഃഖേ ഭവതി പ്രതീതഃ।ദത്വാ ന പശ്ചാത് കുരുതേഽനുതാപം ന കഥ്യതേ പുരുഷാര്‍ഥശീലഃ॥മഹാഭാരതേ ഉദ്യോഗപര്‍വണി ൩൩-൯൪ വിദുരവാക്യേ

ഒരു നല്ല മനുഷ്യന്‍ തനിക്ക് ജീവിതത്തില്‍ ഏറെ സന്തോഷം ഉണ്ടാവുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ സംഭവിച്ചാല്‍ അളവിലേറെ സന്തോഷിക്കുകയും വിജയം ആഘോഷിക്കുകയും ഒന്നും ചെയ്യില്ല. അതുപോലെ മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് കഷ്ടതയും ദുഃഖവും ഉണ്ടാവുന്നത് കാണു ഒരിക്കലും സന്തോഷിക്കുകയും ഇല്ല. മറ്റുള്ളവരെ സഹായിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടി അയാള്‍ എന്തെങ്കിലും കാര്യമായി ചെയ്യുന്ന അവസരത്തില്‍ അതുകൊണ്ട് വല്ല നഷ്ടം ഉണ്ടായാല്‍ പോലും അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് വേവലാതിയോ പശ്ചാത്താപമോ അയാളുടെ മനസ്സില്‍ ഒരിക്കലും ഉണ്ടാവുകയില്ല. തരമുള്ള മനുഷ്യന്‍ മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് നന്മ ചെയ്യുന്ന വിധത്തില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ച് അതില്‍ വിജയം കണ്ടെത്തിയാല്‍ അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ഒരിക്കലും സ്വയം പ്രശംസിക്കുകയോ വീരവാദം മുഴക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുകയില്ല.

musings 232

the problem with an epic like Mahabharatham is that it is a mixture of facts and fiction..

neither of the warring factions were epitomes of virtue or completely evil either..

There can be victory for one side, and later chroniclers had to attempt to give an impression that the good won over the bad..

sort of tinkering with facts and words would have occurred..

But human conduct is normally predictable..

The core is made of selfishness and eagerness for perpetuation of what one did have rightly or wrongly..

adherence to dharma, principles etc were just sugarcoats..

and everyone including Krishna and Vidura.. not to speak of others stretched ethics and morality too much to window dress things..

Let us forget the story but if we can try to draw conclusions about the risks and merits involved in a realistic manner, it would do us a lot of good..

प्रयत्ने समस्ते केचिदेव स्युः फलभागिनः

प्रयत्ने समस्ते केचिदेव स्युः फलभागिनः।

क्षीरोदमथनाद्देवैरमृतं प्रापि नासुरैः॥

कुसुमदेव् दृष्टान्तशतकम्॥

prayatne samaste kecideva syuḥ phalabhāginaḥ|

kṣīrodanmathanāddevairamṛtaṁ prāpi nāsuraiḥ||

kusumadev dṛṣṭāntaśatakam||

Most of the time a huge group of people toil hard, day and day out, to realize some goal. However, when the mission is completed successfully, only some people derive and enjoy the results of such achievement.

We know that story of churning of the Milky ocean to win the life-giving amrita or ambrosia. Thirty three crores of Devas and Sixty six crores of Asuras worked on the project for ages. But when the results came in the shape of the pot of ambrosia, the Devas, with the active support of Vishnu, just stole away the whole quantity, leaving not even some drops of the nectar for the consumption of the Asuras.

This is a tragi-comic reality that most of us face in life.

Sometimes we may be the part of the team that got sometimes. And often we would be left empty handed in spite of all the toil.

लोके ख्यातिकरः सतां बहुमतो विद्यागुणः प्राप्यते

नानुद्योगवता न च प्रवसता मानं न चोत्कर्षता

नालस्योपहतेन नालसमनसा नाचार्यविद्वेषिणा।

न भ्रूभंगकटाक्षसुन्दरमुखीं सीमन्तिनीं ध्यायता

लोके ख्यातिकरः सतां बहुमतो विद्यागुणः प्राप्यते॥

nānudyogavatā na ca pravasatā mānaṁ na cotkarṣatā

nālasyopahatena nālasamanasā nācāryavidveṣiṇā|

na bhrūbhaṁgakaṭākṣasundaramukhīṁ sīmantinīṁ dhyāyatā

loke khyātikaraḥ satāṁ bahumato vidyāguṇaḥ prāpyate||

A person will not ever reap the benefits of good education, good education which would fetch him great name and fame in this world, the education which will make him honoured by great men,

Unless he is basically enterprising and industrious too

Unless he is prepared to travel far and wide and live in distant lands

Unless he is ever keen to maintain his uprightness and respectability and is ever engaged in activities that would further his high moral status

If he is bitten by the bug of laziness

If he is often given to feeling pulled down or depressed mentally and intellectually

If he is disrespectful to the preceptors and the masters

and

If he is in the habit of harbouring romantic thoughts about the arched eyebrows and comely glances and the beautiful faces of attractive girls

From Utharadhyayan Sutra.. a Jain Scriptural Text

अपठाः पण्डिताः केचित् केचित्पठितपण्डिताः

अपठाः पण्डिताः केचित् केचित्पठितपण्डिताः।

अपठाः मूर्खका केचित् केचित् पठितमूर्खकाः॥

apaṭhāḥ paṇḍitāḥ kecit kecitpaṭhitapaṇḍitāḥ|

apaṭhāḥ mūrkhakā kecit kecit paṭhitamūrkhakāḥ||

There are many people who have no formal education but are having sufficient knowledge to be termed as scholars. Of course there are well-read scholars too

Similarly there are many blockheads who have no education too and there are others who are educated but are simply stupid.

But then without Krishna, Mahabharatham would not have been what it is

But then without Krishna, Mahabharatham would not have been what it is..

His direct or indirect involvement on each major issue.. especially after the Princes are all grown up.. simply steered the incidents..

This one can say for sure, even without assigning any divinity to Krishna..

Krishna was responsible for the construction of the Palace at Indraprastha by Maya,

Krishna was present when poor Duryodhana jumped into water thinking that he was walking on even grounds..

. Krishna was present when people including ladies laughed at that incident...

Krishna was instrumental in the death of Jarasandha..

Krishna finished Shishupala..

The situations are too many.. We will have to narrate the entire Bharatham to cite examples

Krishna was not only the charioteer of Arjuna, but He was the charioteer who steered the epic Mahabharatham.

And to understand Mahabharatham we have to read the texts or at least authentic translations, word by word by the greats like Kisari Mohan Ganguly ( text and translation are both available in sites like sacred texts)

and I am not one who would go by the interpretation by some other author, who would have commented after applying his own subjective considerations and preferences and prejudices..

The greatness of Krishna in fact is that He could have been the most interesting character of Bharatham.. even without his Divinity, Bhagavat Gita, Anugita etc..

Such a character would appear in literature of Humankind perhaps only once..

musings 231

we grow....

from good company we get promoted or graduate to a state where we can live all alone in glorious solitude.

from there we proceed to withdrawal of all desires..

when desires are abandoned or they withdraw and part company with us,

we start getting the taste of that unwavering and unshakeable Supreme spirit.

And that taste of the supreme leads us to liberation in absolute terms..

from all wants and woes,

desires and hatred,

there is no other way..

Society, family and Social media can only give either good or bad company..

If the company is bad, at least in the long run we will know what is really bad..

And from there we might try to seek good too..

But seeking good company and even attaining it is not good enough..

It is just the start of a journey..

The sprouting from the seed is just a start.. We have to grow, grow sturdy trunk,

grow and fix up deep roots,

foliage, branches,

flowers and fruits

Yes, we have to grow..

Maybe in many lives..

We face challenges

We are cut up

We are burned and berated..

Still we have to raise up and proceed.

From weakness to strngth

From strength to strength

From strength to glory

Perhaps finally to land up in the lap of Krishna..

My findings are not entirely mine.. Shankara is supposed to have taken similar view

( Of course not about social media.. Shankara must have found himself in a very awkward situation if he reads posts about him in social media)

सत्सङ्गत्वे निःस्सङ्गत्वं

निःस्सङ्गत्वे निर्म्मोहत्वं

निर्म्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्व्वम्

निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः

and

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान् निबोधत

arise, awake and approach the blessed ones and learn from them..

And the Shikshavalli of Taittireeya upanishad has said it all.

सत्यं वद । tell truth (alone)

धर्मं चर । tread the path of dharma.. vituousness

स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । never deviate from or neglect your own field of study

आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य

प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः । be grateful to the teacher, and offer to him whatever he likes, do not neglect to maintain and nurture your lineage of progenies and clan

सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । there shall be no deviation from truth

धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । there shall be no deviation from the parth of dharma

कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । there shall be no deviation from the path of welfare for all

भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् । there should not be aversion torichness in material and mental prowess

स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् and there shall be no deviation from a way of life based on deep learning of ones own chosen path of activity and also from concerted action in teaching effectively what one has learnt..

If we follow the way of Upansishads we would evolve .. evolve to glory and sublimity..

अज्ञाननाशिनी प्रज्ञा भावना भवनाशिनी

दारिद्र्यनाशनं दानं शीलं दुर्गतिनाशनम्।

अज्ञाननाशिनी प्रज्ञा भावना भवनाशिनी॥

dāridryanāśanaṁ dānaṁ śīlaṁ durgatināśanam|

ajñānanāśinī prajñā bhāvanā bhavanāśinī||

A mind to help others with gifts and others would surely destroy one’s poverty

A pure and straightforward character and conduct would ensure that a person does not face wretchedness in life

Acquisition of true enlightenment and genuine wisdom would tear off the shroud of delusion and ignorance

Utter sincerity and mindfulness while performing any divine duties would divest one of all worldly woes.

अल्पकार्यकराः सन्ति ये नराः बहुभाषिणः

अल्पकार्यकराः सन्ति ये नराः बहुभाषिणः।

शरत्कालिनमेघास्ते नूनं गर्जन्ति केवलम्॥

alpakāryakarāḥ santi ye narāḥ bahubhāṣiṇaḥ|

śaratkālinameghāste nūnaṁ garjanti kevalam||

Fellows who do very little seem to compensate inaction with too much of useless talk. They talk and talk, would never do anything productive. The clouds gathering in profusion in autumn season make a lot of noise.. but they never pour rains.

प्रभूतवयसः पुंसो धियः पाकः प्रवर्तते

प्रभूतवयसः पुंसो धियः पाकः प्रवर्तते।

जीर्णस्य चन्दनतरोरामोदः उपजायते॥

कुसुमदेवकृते दृष्टान्तशतके॥

prabhūtavayasaḥ puṁso dhiyaḥ pākaḥ pravartate|

jīrṇasya candanatarorāmodaḥ upajāyate||

kusumadevakṛte dṛṣṭāntaśatake||

The mind and thought process of people who have grown substantially in age usually work in a very mature way that would be of great benefit to one and all. See the old dried up sandal log. It gives a lot of happiness and fragrance till the end

Kusumadeva in favour of senior citizens.

Happy Sankranti.. Happy Pongal..

We are entering the daytime of the Divine beings once again..

From Karkidakam to Dhanu.. the Gods were having a long night..

The men were expected more to study and brush up their skills in the best way during that six month period..

Now the Gods have woken up and they are happily smiling on us..

That is the spirit of Uttarayanam.. the Makara Sankranti, the Pongal.

The advent of warmth, giving way to chillness..

May the bright light of the divine dawn visit the heart of everyone of my sweet friends..

May Krishna lead us from brightness to brightness.

Krishna bless.. Happy Pongal..

musings 231

Often natural writers and intrinsically fair minded persons view the world from their angle and evaluate the situations from a fair man's perspective.

You are right from your angle and you are a nice person.

But the majority and the general rule is not like that.

You can always maintain your soft and gentle approach at heart but you have to be tough to survive in this unfair world.

Even the greatest lifestyle experts today would not advice you to apologize even if you are wrong.

Values have taken a somersault

यथा यथा न हीयेरन् तथा कुर्यात् महीमतिः॥

उच्चावचकराः न्याय्याः पूर्वराज्ञां युधिष्टिर।

यथा यथा न हीयेरन् तथा कुर्यात् महीमतिः॥

महाभारते॥१२-८८-१३ महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ६३१९

uccāvacakarāḥ nyāyyāḥ pūrvarājñāṁ yudhiṣṭira|

yathā yathā na hīyeran tathā kuryāt mahīmatiḥ||

mahābhārate||12-88-13 mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 6319

This is what the master Political Scientist and Administrator Bheeshmacharya tells the emperor YudhiStira about taxation laws which existed in India as early as in Mahabharatha Times.

‘My son Yudhistira, the laws, precedents and procedures for levy and collection of taxes have been established and practiced by many kings and rulers who preceded you and the methodology is already in place. Whatever laws and precedents that have been established and which are not opposed to equity and fairness should be followed meticulously.

You must take care to ensure that the levy, enforcement and collection of taxes would in no way weaken the well being and financial stability of the people on whom such tax is levied. “

Yes, these principles are relevant irrespective of the system of administration and the time period. Respect for precedents and continuity and sense of fairness should form the foundation of any legislation in a state and this is all the more relevant in the matters of taxation.

musings 230

Conflict appears to be the natural choice.. co-operation or consensus come only through some sort of discipline or even application of mild forces like persuasion and in most cases applying greater pressures..

if we are shedding blood physically in some places, symbolically we are causing bleeding injuries to one another by words and deeds meant to hurt,, with sadistic precision in all places and on almost all occasions

.. maybe the most perceptible cause for this conflict lies in the bid to show others our superiority in some form or other..

but to what avail?

musings 229

Clever people insult and harm us in silence..

They do that to us in silence or

in a very veiled manner, but ensure that the harm done is effective both in letter and spirit..

But we the poor victims often react openly and spontaneously.. Our reactions would be blamed as rude, intolerant, and even indecent

the the public, who love watching fight between others would have a very grand time accusing the one who reacted,.

and we become doubly injured..

So the best thing is to avoid the

Cats wearing rudraksham or rosaries..

Some people pretend to be pious ..like a cat waiting for the rat to arrive.. and in a single move do the damage ..

and then resume their old pose of pretended tranquility too..

व्रते विवादं विमतिं विवेके

व्रते विवादं विमतिं विवेके सत्येऽतिशङ्खा विनये विकारम्।

गुणेऽवमानं कुशले निषेधं धर्मे विरोधं न करोति साधुः॥

vrate vivādaṁ vimatiṁ viveke satye'tiśaṅkhā vinaye vikāram|

guṇe'vamānaṁ kuśale niṣedhaṁ dharme virodhaṁ na karoti sādhuḥ||

A person of quality and class would never indulge in the following things (This is the traditional idea about quality of people)

1. Creating controversies and expressing obscurantist views in the matter of well-established vows and rituals.

2. Presenting counter-arguments for arguments sake offering showy dissent when some plans are to be discussed with a lot of maturity and discreteness

3. Being skeptic.. exhibiting excessive uncertainty about the bona fides of even normally honest people

4. Making a show of humility, being sarcastic when someone behaves with restraint

5. Tendency to underplay the genuine merits seen in others, trying to indicate such tendency directly or obliquely

6. Refusal of friendly gestures, when some heartiness and warmth is extended,

7. Opposition and open challenges to the established rules of propriety and good conduct, showing disrespect to Dharma.

Note.. We see only these things in social media and most of our social transactions these days. Maybe to talk nonsense is the best way to become viral..

धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः

इज्याध्ययन दानानि तपः सत्यं क्षमा घृणा।

अलोभ इति मार्गोऽयं धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः॥

विदुरनीत्याम्॥

ijyādhyayana dānāni tapaḥ satyaṁ kṣamā ghṛṇā|

alobha iti mārgo'yaṁ dharmasyāṣṭavidhaḥ smṛtaḥ||

viduranītyām||

The Dharma or the righteous path in a nutshell according to the Sanatana perspective

Methodical rituals

Study of scriptures and sciences

Offering gifts and ceremonial presents on appropriate occasions

Penance, orderly living

Truthfulness

Patience

Warmness, tenderness, bashfulness in doing wrong

Lack of avariciousness, lack of selfishness.

अनुहुंकुरुते घनध्वनिं न हि गोमायुरुतानि केसरी

 प्रतिवादमदत्त केशवः शपमानाय न चेदिभूभुज।

अनुहुंकुरुते घनध्वनिं न हि गोमायुरुतानि केसरी॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे १८४४ माघकृते शिशुपालवधे॥

prativādamadatta keśavaḥ śapamānāya na cedibhūbhujae| anuhuṁkurute ghanadhvaniṁ na hi gomāyurutāni kesarī|| indiśce sprūce 1844 māghakṛte śiśupālavadhe||

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐢 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐮𝐝𝐡𝐢𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐥..

हास्यादृते किमन्यत्स्यात् अति लौल्यवतां फलम्

 

हास्यादृते किमन्यत्स्यात् अति लौल्यवतां फलम्॥

hāsyādṛte kimanyatsyāt ati laulyavatāṁ phalam||

What on earth can be achieved through loose talk,unsteady demeanour and a fickle mind, other than becoming the butt of ridicule and contempt by one and all ?

आवृणुध्वमतो दोषान्विवृणुध्वं गुणाण्

दृष्टं किमपि लोकेऽस्मिन्न निर्दोषं न निर्णगुम्।

आवृणुध्वमतो दोषान्विवृणुध्वं गुणाण् बुधाः॥

dṛṣṭaṁ kimapi loke'sminna nirdoṣaṁ na nirgūṇam|

āvṛṇudhvamato doṣānvivṛṇudhvaṁ guṇāṇ budhāḥ||

Oh men of wisdom, please take not

In this world we could find nothing that is entirely without defects

Similarly there can be nothing that is without any positive qualities

Therefore do all that is in your capacity to reduce, cover up or repair whatever defects found in good things and at the same time work hard to remove the defects that are noticed in things which are predominantly bad.

कथमहो न विषीदतु पण्डितः

उचितकर्म तनोति न संपदं इतरदप्यसदेव विवेकिनाम्।

इति निरस्तसमस्तसुखान्वयः कथमहो न विषीदतु पण्डितः॥

महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ६३०८ विद्याकर सुभाषितरत्नकोश

ucitakarma tanoti na saṁpadaṁ itaradapyasadeva vivekinām|

iti nirastasamastasukhānvayaḥ kathamaho na viṣīdatu paṇḍitaḥ||

mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 6308 vidyākara subhāṣitaratnakośa

The scholar who has spent the cream of his life in learning and learning alone is facing this misery

The profession or avocation at hand that follows the prolonged and devoted learning for years does not enable him to earn and enjoy much wealth. And, for the diligent and upright person he is, he can think of no other work to pursue and no additional means to earn some further income. Therefore all sources of income have dried up for him, all doors are almost closed before him. How can a scholar by profession help being utterly miserable?

respects to the nine planets

शूरः शूरपदं रुचिं हिमरुचिः सन्मंगलं मङ्गलो।

बोधं बोधन आतनोतु ललितावाचश्च वाचस्पतिः।

काव्यः काव्यकलापनिरतिं मन्दो द्विषन्मन्दतां

दुर्वृत्तेषु तमस्तामो जयकरीं केतुश्च केतुश्रियम्॥

विद्वन्मोदतरङ्गिणी

śūraḥ śūrapadaṁ ruciṁ himaruciḥ sanmaṁgalaṁ maṅgalo|

bodhaṁ bodhana ātanotu lalitāvācaśca vācaspatiḥ|

kāvyaḥ kāvyakalāpaniratiṁ mando dviṣanmandatāṁ

durvṛtteṣu tamastāmo jyakarīṁ ketuśca ketuśriyam||

vidvanmodataraṅgiṇī

The embodiment of strength, and valour Lord Surya would bless us with great valour and glory

The Moon, who shines with the pure glow of Ice, would endow us with great physical becauty

The lord of Auspiciousness Mangala the Mars would provide us with all welfare and grace

The lord of Enlightenment, Budha, would ensure that knowledge in profusion flows into our intellect

The lord of Word, Guru the Brihaspati would bless us with extraordinarya powers of oratory

The lord of fine Arts, Kavya the Shukra would provide us with the everlasting enjoyment in the loftiest of arts

The powerful Lord Shanaichara whose hallmark is slow movement, would ensure that our enemies are slow or are incapacitated when they intend to attack us

The planet of Darkness, Rahu would ensure that all dark forces in our lives vanish and victory visits us

The planet in the shape of a flag of victory, Kethu would ensure that we would be blessed with immense wealth befitting the monarch who marches ahead with flags held high.

धर्मार्थिनं तथाल्पोऽपि रागदोषो विनाशयेत्

कोटराग्निर् यथाशेषं समूलं पादपं दहेत्।

धर्मार्थिनं तथाल्पोऽपि रागदोषो विनाशयेत्॥

महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ११५१६ महाभारते

koṭarāgnir yathāśeṣaṁ samūlaṁ pādapaṁ dahet|

dharmārthinaṁ tathālpo'pi rāgadoṣo vināśayet||

mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 11516 mahābhārate

In a huge tree, many hollows in trunks are formed over the years. Birds and other creatures often occupy those hollows for shelter and breeding too. Some birds build nests there and for this purposes they bring in dry leaves, dry branches etc and place them too in such hollows. It would so happen that due to heat or rubbing of branches sparks may develop and some such sparks could ignite fire inside such hollows. The start of such fire would be very slow and unobtrusive. But the fire would burn steadily and in time it will ensure that the branch, leaves and the tree as a whole along with its roots is completely gutted.

In a similar manner a person may be growing in stature and comforts through good and righteous living. But some deviation or slip from the path of righteousness through excessive sensual attachment or other desires might affect him. Initially the effects of such misconduct might be completely invisible. However the malady, once started would spread over his entire life like a cancer, like a steady fire, and would destroy him too in toto.

बलाद्धि विवृणोत्येव भावमन्तर्गर्तं नृणाम्

 

आकाराच्छाद्यमानोऽपि न शक्यो परिगूहितुम्।

बलाद्धि विवृणोत्येव भावमन्तर्गर्तं नृणाम्॥

वाल्मीकिरामायणे महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ४२६४

ākārācchādyamāno'pi na śakyo parigūhitum|

balāddhi vivṛṇotyeva bhāvamantargartaṁ nṛṇām||

vālmīkirāmāyaṇe mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 4264

It would be virtually impossible to cover up or conceal one’s true physical features and shape even if a person tries his level best to do so. The true colours of men reveal themselves forcibly in spite of all attempts at deception or camouflague

सति मित्रे धनाध्यक्षे चर्मप्रावरणो हरः

न केवलं मनुष्येषु दैवं देवेष्वपि प्रभुः।

सति मित्रे धनाध्यक्षे चर्मप्रावरणो हरः॥

na kevalaṁ manuṣyeṣu daivaṁ deveṣvapi prahhūḥ|

sati mitre dhanādhyakṣe carmaprāvaraṇo haraḥ||

The enigmatic play of luck and fate affects not only human beings. Luck play tricks even with Gods.

See the fate of Lord Shiva. He is the closes friend of the master and controller of treasures, Kubera Himself. But he has to spend his days wearing clothes pried out of the skin of an animal.

अशरणशरणं यमभयहरणं देहि जनार्द्दन मम हृदि चरणम्

हर परमेश्वर मम गुरुपापं दीनदयापर खण्डय तापम्।

अशरणशरणं यमभयहरणं देहि जनार्द्दन मम हृदि चरणम्॥

कृष्णभक्तिरसामृतम्॥

hara parameśvara mama gurupāpaṁ dīnadayāpara khaṇḍaya tāpam|

aśaraṇaśaraṇaṁ yamabhayaharaṇaṁ dehi janārddana mama hṛdi caranam||

kṛṣṇabhaktirasāmṛtam||

Janardhana, Krishna , you are merciful to us, you are the supreme being,

may your sweet grace be pleased to shatter entirely my accumulations of heavy sins and may you be pleased to remove all my miseries

May your lotus feet be ever present in the core of my heart..

your lotus feet which alone can offer protection to those who are helpless,

your lotus feet which alone can remove the fear of Yama the god of death.

दूरात्प्राज्ञो विवर्जयेत्

अप्रियं पुरुषं चापि परद्रोहं परस्त्रियम्।

अधर्ममनृतं चैव दूरात्प्राज्ञो विवर्जयेत्॥ महाभारते

apriyaṁ puruṣaṁ cāpi paradrohaṁ parastriyam|

adharmamanṛtaṁ caiva dūrātprājño vivarjayet||

A person with sense and sensibility should ensure that he just throws away to very great distances the following things

Company with a fellow who is toxic and who would never speak or do things in his favour.

Thoughts of doing damage to others

Desire especially on the romantic side about ladies of others

Path of Adharma, deviation from the proper path of propriety

Lack of truthfulness

पात्रानुरूपं फलम्

इच्छादानपरोपकारकरणं पात्रानुरूपं फलम्॥

icchādānaparopakārakaraṇaṁ pātrānurūpaṁ phalam||

Desires, gifts, help rendered .. these three yield result entirely based on the target

If one’s desires are lofty, he would get matching benefits. If his desires are ulterior, he would be led to ruin

If one makes gifts to a noble person or a noble cause, such gifts would yield happiness and welfare. If the gifts are made to an undeserving person or for an undesirable cause, the results would be destruction and chaos

If one helps a good person or a good cause there to results would be for the good of all. If lone helps someone with destructive intent, obviously he is adding to disorder and misery

luminaries in Indian Astronaomy

सूर्यः पितामहो व्यासो वसिष्ठोऽत्रिः पराशरः।

कश्यपो नारदो गर्गो मारीचिर्मनुरङ्गिराः॥

लोमशः पुलिशश्चैव च्यवनो यवनो भृगुः।

शौनकोऽष्टादशश्चैते ज्योतिःशास्त्रप्रवर्त्तकाः॥

sūryaḥ pitāmaho vyāso vasiṣṭho'triḥ parāśaraḥ।

kaśyapo nārado gargo mārīcirmanuraṅgirāḥ॥

lomaśaḥ puliśaścaiva cyavano yavano bhṛguḥ।

śaunako'ṣṭādaśaścaite jyotiḥśāstrapravarttakāḥ॥

The eighteen preceptors or pioneers in the science of JyothiH Shastra.. Astrology.. are

1 Surya 2. Pitamaha (Brahma) 3. Vyasa 4. Vasishta 5. Atri 6.Parashara 7.Kashyapa

8 Narada 9 Garga 10- Mareechi 11 Manu 12 Angiras 13Lomasha

14 Pulisa 15chyavana 16 yavana 17 Bhrugu 18 Shaunaka

musings 228

My dear friends, especially those who read, or like my posts..

I am just creating my posts our of my own brain and mind..

I would expect people to read them only if my posts are useful for the reader, and are really enjoyable for them and useful too

Of course the original sources and quotes from which the ideas germinate have to be borrowed from masters.. and I acknowledge such help without fail..

Often pictures of Gods or on some materials for illustration would have to be borrowed from someone else or from the web..There too I acknowledge

And I would like any post only if it is worthy according to my judgment, and when such post is just a cut and paste of a link, then again I would not mark a like..

The real masters, the real authors, are neither alive or even when alive, they are not seeing my appreciation..

Why should I mark a like for something which is just borrowed and shared.. with the original author having no role to play.?.

If anyone marks a like for me just expecting a like from me for any of his posts of inadequate standards(in my opinion) he is bound to meet with disappointment..

I have seen some persons just slipping away and disappearing from my timeline because they were craving returns for likes they gave in my favour and wanted the investment returned with interest..

No this is not any barter business..

Like some malayalathaan (person from the land of Malayalam) visiting Pazhani every day with a Kavadi, even without anyone requiring it someone will be there to visit my posts for whatever it is worth.. at least once in a while..

That is good enough for me..

This is a reminder to me too...

First I should post quality stuff..

Second I should stop even some polite likes I mark to certain posts..

Third.. My likes have to be confined to real quality posts, congratulations and commiserations for personal landmarks and achievement and that is all.

विद्या शुभकरी किन्तु स्वल्पा विद्या भयङ्करी

विद्यया पूज्यते लोके विद्यया सुखमश्नुते।

विद्या शुभकरी किन्तु स्वल्पा विद्या भयङ्करी॥

vidyayā pūjyate loke vidyayā sukhamaśnute|

vidyā śubhakarī kintu svalpā vidyā bhayaṅkarī||

A person who is having great knowledge, who is well educated is respected or even worshipped by all people around.

With good education and knowledge a person would acquire and enjoy all comforts and happiness

Education is the cause and source for the overall well being and wholesome existence of any person who is fortunate to have the benefits of acquisition of such knowledge.

However, improper, inadequate, half-baked knowledge can be the eternal source of fear, strife and other difficulties.

Half backed knowledge is indeed a great threat to one and all.

न च सुखान्यविघ्नानि

चन्दनतरुषु भुजङ्गाः जलेषु कमलाः तत्र च ग्राहाः।

गुणघातिनश्च भोगे खलाः नचसुखान्यविघ्नानि॥

हितोपदेशे॥

candanataruṣu bhujaṅgāḥ jaleṣu kamalāḥ tatra ca grāhāḥ|

guṇaghātinaśca bhoge khalāḥ nacasukhānyavighnāni||

hitopadeśe||

Even if one discovers that there are objects that could give him a lot of happiness, it is very clear that he could never enjoy such comforts without roadblocks and impediments created by others

The fragrance and cold nature of sandal paste is highly enjoyable, but if one sets out to collect logs of sandalwood, he would be confronted by venomous snakes encircling the trees

The lotus flowers might be the last words in beauty but they grow in water, and the waterfront is infested by crocodiles. So a person who wants to collect lotus flowers would have to content with the presence of the killer crocodiles for sure.

And in society wherever something good and nice are about to happen, there would be toxic, venomous people who would do whatever they could manage to prevent such things happening. And if something is open for all to enjoy there would be exploiters who would interfere do all they could to destroy such happiness.

कामेऽनुरक्तिर्नरकार्थिपथा मार्गोऽपवर्गस्य च कृष्णभक्तिः

कामेऽनुरक्तिर्नरकार्थिपथा मार्गोऽपवर्गस्य च कृष्णभक्तिः।

येनेष्टसिद्धिर्व्रज तेन जीव द्वावेव मार्गौ पुरतस्तवैव॥

कृष्णभक्तिरसामृते

kāme'nuraktirnarakārthipathā mārgo'pavargasya ca kṛṣṇabhaktiḥ|

yeneṣtasiddhirvraja tena jīva dvāveva mārgau puratastavaiva||

kṛṣṇabhaktirasāmṛte

If your deep desire is in pursuing the path of sensual pleasures, that route is going to take you to hell

If your yearning is to reach eternal heaven, the route you must take is simply Devotion for Krishna

You living being, you have only two routes open before you. You can choose either of the two as you desire. Of course the destination you reach would depend on the route you adopt.

लब्दविद्यो गुरुं द्वेष्टि लब्धभार्यस्तु मातरम्।

लब्दविद्यो गुरुं द्वेष्टि लब्धभार्यस्तु मातरम्।

लब्दपुत्रा पतिं नारी लब्दारोग्यश्चिकित्सकम्॥७७

नीतिसारे॥।

labdavidyo guruṁ dveṣṭi labdhabhāryastu mātaram|

labdaputrā patiṁ nārī labdārogyaścikitsakam||77

nītisāre|||

लब्दविद्यः गुरुं द्वेष्टि

a person who had been given adequate education does not care for the teacher anymore..

लब्दभार्यः तु मातरं द्वेष्टि

A person who has got married starts neglecting his mother.

लब्दपुत्रा नारी पतिं द्वेष्टि

Once a son is born, a lady loses her fancy for her husband.

लब्दारोग्यःचिकिल्सकं द्वेष्टि

a person who is cured of his disease, never thinks of the doctor who nursed him back to health..

the word द्वेष्टि means hates or becomes an enemy.. we need not take that word literally.. dwesham here is just lack of interest..

At least during our days of training we would care for the mentor with a lot of respect .. But once we have drained out of him all that we could know, he becomes superfluous to us.. and we do not care for the teacher.. the show of respect at best would be cosmetic.

Once a fellow marries, his mother loses her significance for him..This is known instinctively by every mother in law.. and that is the cause for the fireworks between MIL and DIL..

Once a child is born, and especially if the offspring is a boy, the mother's world undergoes a sea change.. Her husband or anyone else for that matter become objects of secondary importance..

And while the sick person and his attendants will be running around the doctor during the period of treatment, they would be conspicuous by their absence, once reasonable cure is effected.. Some bolt without settling the bills too..

This view is from Neetisaaram.. It reflects the general behaviour of people and their response to some changed circumstances..

There will be exceptions.. Out of decency and social compulsions, many actors would perform the balancing act..

The bottomline alone is portrayed in this slokam..

अमा पूर्णा गुरुं हन्ति प्रतिपदं पाठनाशिनी

अमा पूर्णा गुरुं हन्ति प्रतिपदं पाठनाशिनी।उभयोरष्टमी हन्ति शिष्यं हन्ति चतुर्दशी॥समयोचितपद्यमालिका

amā pūrṇā guruṃ hanti pratipadaṃ pāṭhanāśinī।ubhayoraṣṭamī hanti śiṣyaṃ hanti caturdaśī॥samayocitapadyamālikā

अमा the Amavasya, new moon day पूर्णा the paurnami or full moon day च too गुरुं the teacher हन्ति causes damage प्रतिपदं the first day after either full moon or new moon.. Prathama thithi पाठनाशिनी भवति destroys or obliterates the lessons learned अष्टमी the tithi of Ashtami coming after full moon and new moon too उभयोः both teacher and student हन्ति cause damage चतुर्दशी the fourteenth day after full moon or new moon the Chaturdashi शिष्यं हन्ति causes damage to the disciple, pupil .

(The above statement is given with reference to the non teaching or anadhyayana days to be observed under the Indian Traditions)

If lessons are given on full moon or new moon day, it is inauspicious to the teacher. Teaching on the Prathama tithi destroys the lessons themselves. Teaching on Ashtami damages the teacher and the lessons too. And classes on chaturdashi are not good forthe student

അമാ പൂര്‍ണ്ണാ ഗുരും ഹന്തി പ്രതിപദം പാഠനാശിനീ।ഉഭയോരഷ്ടമീ ഹന്തി ശിഷ്യം ഹന്തി ചതുര്‍ദശീ॥സമയോചിതപദ്യമാലികാ

ഭാരതീയ പാരമ്പര്യത്തില്‍ ഗുരുകുലത്തിലെ അനാധ്യയന ദിനങ്ങള്‍.. അതായത് വേദാഭ്യാസം മുതലായവ നടത്താന്‍ പാടില്ലാത്ത ദിവസങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചു ഇവിടെ പറയുന്നു.

കറുത്ത വാവും വെളുത്ത വാവും ഗുരുവിനു ഹാനികരമാവും. കറുത്ത പ്രഥമയും വെളുത്ത പ്രഥമയും പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വിഷയത്തെ ബാധിക്കും. രണ്ട്ട് അഷ്ടമി കളും ഗുരുവിനും ശിഷ്യനും നല്ലതല്ല . രണ്ടു ചതുര്‍ദ്ദശികളും ശിഷ്യന് ഗുണം ചെയ്യില്ല.

निर्वाणदीपे किमु तैलदानं चौरे गते वा किमु सावधानम्

निर्वाणदीपे किमु तैलदानं चौरे गते वा किमु सावधानम्।वयोऽतिगे किं वनिताविलासः पयोगते किं खलु सेतुबन्धः॥

nirvāṇadīpe kimu tailadānaṃ caure gate vā kimu sāvadhānam।vayo'tige kiṃ vanitāvilāsaḥ payogate kiṃ khalu setubandhaḥ॥

निर्वाण burnt out दीपे wick lamp तैलदानम् adding, providing oil किमु why, for what चौरे the burglar गते having gon सावधानं precautions, care किमु for what वयो age अतिगे having advanced वनिताविलासः romance with ladies किं for what पयो water गते having gone, lhaving flown out सेतुबन्धः storing, keeping in check by building dam किमु for what purpose खलु indeed

There is no use in adding oil to the lamp after the flame is extinguished. No use in being alert after all you possess are already robbed. No use in being romantic when you are very aged. And there is no meaning in building a dam after all water has flown out

നിര്‍വാണദീപേ കിമു തൈലദാനം ചൌരേ ഗതേ വാ കിമു സാവധാനം।
വയോഽതിഗേ കിം വനിതാവിലാസഃ പയോഗതേ കിം ഖലു സേതുബന്ധഃ॥

വിളക്ക് കത്തിയെരിഞ്ഞ്‌ അണയുകയും ചെയ്ത ശേഷം വിളക്കില്‍ എന്ന ഒഴിച്ചത് കൊണ്ട് വലിയ പ്രയോജനം ഉണ്ടോ? കവര്‍ച്ചക്കാരന്‍ വീട്ടില്‍ കയറി വിലപ്പെട്ടതെല്ലാം എടുത്ത് സ്ഥലം വിട്ട ശേഷം കാവല്‍ ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തിയിട്ടു എന്ത് കാര്യം. പടുകിഴവന്‍ ആയ ശേഷം അനുരാഗവും ശ്രുംഗാരവും ആയി പെണ്‍കുട്ടികളുടെ പിറകെ നടക്കുന്നത പരിഹാസ്യം മാത്രമാണ്. കുത്തൊഴുക്കില്‍ വെള്ളം എല്ലാം കടന്നു പോയ ശേഷം അണകെട്ടി ജലസേചനം നടത്തുവാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത് പമ്പര വിഡ്ഢിത്തം അല്ലെ

स जीवन्नपि मृत एव

 

स जीवन्नपि मृत एव यो न विक्रमति प्रतिकूलेषु॥ नीतिवाक्यामृते

sa jīvannapi mṛta eva yo na vikramati pratikūleṣu|| nītivākyāmṛte

A person who cannot show grit, valour and would not fight back even in adversities, is a person who is dead, even though he might be physically alive.

दुर्जनः प्रकृतिं याति सेव्यमानोऽपि नित्यशः

 

दुर्जनः प्रकृतिं याति सेव्यमानोऽपि नित्यशः।स्वेदनेनाभ्यञ्जनोपायैः श्वपुच्छमिव नामितम्॥इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ११८१ पञ्चतन्त्रे

durjanaḥ prakṛtiṁ yāti sevyamāno'pi nityaśaḥ|svedanenābhyañjanopāyaiḥ śvapucchamiva nāmitam||indiśce sprūce 1181 pañcatantre

Even if you treat a wicked man with kindness and dignity, he would revert back to his wicked way very soon. It is like steaming and anointing or oiling the crooked tail of a dog. The tail of the dog and the nasty fellow both would resume their crooked ways in no time.

ദുര്‍ജനഃ പ്രകൃതിം യാതി സേവ്യമാനോഽപി നിത്യശഃ| സ്വേദനേനാഭ്യഞ്ജനോപായൈഃ ശ്വപുച്ഛമിവ നാമിതം||ഇന്ദിശ്ചേ സ്പ്രൂചെ ൧൧൮൧ പഞ്ചതന്ത്രെ

തല തിരിഞ്ഞ മനുഷ്യനെ , ഒരു ദുഷ്ടനെ എതയേറെ കരുതലോടും ബഹുമാനത്തോടും കരുതി ആദരിച്ചാലും അയാള്‍ ഏറെ വൈകാതെ തന്‍റെ സ്വന്തം വൃത്തികെട്ട സ്വഭാവവും അതിനോത്തുള്ള വിക്രിയകളും പുറത്തെടുക്കും. ഒരു പട്ടിയുടെ വളഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന വാല്‍ ആവി കയറ്റിയും, എണ്ണ തേച്ചു പിടിപ്പിച്ചു ഉഴിഞ്ഞു കൊടുത്തും ഒരുപാടു നേരം പതുക്കെ തടവി കൊടുത്തും ഒക്കെ നിവര്‍ത്താന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ചാലും അത് പെട്ടെന്ന് വീണ്ടും തന്‍റെ വളഞ്ഞ രൂപത്തിലേയ്ക്ക് ഉടന്‍ തന്നെ തിരിച്ചെത്തും. അതെ നായിന്‍റെ വാലും ദുഷ്ടന്‍റെ സ്വഭാവവും ഒരിക്കലും നേരെ ആവില്ല.

अश्वश्चेद् धावने वीरः भारस्य वहने खरः

 

विचित्रे खलु संसारे नास्ति किञ्चिन्निरथकः। 

अश्वश्चेद् धावने वीरः भारस्य वहने खरः॥

vicitre khalu saṁsāre nāsti kiñcinnirathakaḥ| aśvaśced dhāvane vīraḥ bhārasya vahane kharaḥ||

In this universe of great variety and vividity, nothing is meaningless of purposeless. If a horse is effective in racing, a donkey is efficient in carrying loads.

musings 227

the fact is, people with physical challenges and malfunctions of organs would recognize their challenges mostly well in time..

They will either fail to adjust and perish

or would adapt themselves in the best way possible and survive and even win..

But most of us suffer from serious unmanifest malfunctions in a minor or major way...

Arrogance, Vaniity, Deceit, Impulsiveness, Impetuosity, Gossip .. the list can fill a huge volume..

but we are usually not aware of our own shortcomings and therefore nothing can be remedids because the diesease is not detected..

It is really a wonder that most of us survive..

True, the battle against shortcomings and limitations.. when described in beautiful words would make good read.. and can even inspire many...

Helen Keller is an example..

Garudas brother Aruna is an example..

Dhritarashtra is an example..

But it is just good read..

If such situation comes to me, I have to fight for myself and survive..

Keeping a book written by Helen Keller and even reading it from dawn to dusk and again during nights is not going to save the situation..

In writing, hyperbole and exaggeration will sound appealing..

But the challenge of life can be met only by living and living till of course the final victor called death embraces us..

Life is not a best selling book or a facebook post...

I try to remind me so often but still delude myself to think otherwise