do not go empty handed....

do not go empty handed....

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च त्रितयं योऽभिकाङ्क्षति।

रिक्तपाणिर्न्नपश्येत राजानं दैवतं गुरुम्॥

महाभारते॥

dharmamarthaṁ ca kāmaṁ ca tritayaṁ yo'bhikāṅkṣati|

riktapāṇirnnapaśyeta rājānaṁ daivataṁ gurum||

( mahābhārate||)

If one wants proper carriage of justice and order

If one wants prosperity and safety for his belongings

and

If he wants all his fond desires to be fulfilled

He should not approach

A king

A Deity

or

A preceptor

empty handed..

Our elders were very realistic.. They knew that some present or tips always will get things done .. and speed up proceedings..

They were very innocent too. They prescribed that when we go to have an audience with the King..read Government and its functionaries of the present day too..

A God.. in temple, or any of the variants or of any religion

And a preceptror or Guru... here guru can mean almost anyone from whom we expect any favour..

one should invariably carry some presents..

True, even the best of the people would be happier to get "something"

This is a practical code of life..

We need not call it bribe.. or gratification..

And if things are to happen in our favour, most of the time we will have to please others.. whether we call it as by giving presents or bribes