experiences worse than death

 

साधुस्त्रीणां दयितविरहे मानिनो मानभङ्गे

सल्लोकानामपि जनरवे निग्रहे पण्डितानां।

अन्योद्रेके कुटिलमनसां निर्गुणानां विदेशे

भृत्याभावे भवति मरणं किन्तु सम्भावितानां॥

नीतिसूक्तिः भर्तृहरि;

sādhustrīṇāṁ dayitavirahe mānino mānabhaṅge

sallokānāmapi janarave nigrahe paṇḍitānāṁ|

anyodreke kuṭilamanasāṁ nirguṇānāṁ videśe

bhṛtyābhāve bhavati maraṇaṁ kintu sambhāvitānāṁ||

nītisūktiḥ

from Bhartruhari

സാധുസ്ത്രീണാo ദയിതവിരഹേ മാനിനോ മാനഭംഗേ

സല്ലോകാനാമപി ജനരവേ നിഗ്രഹേ പണ്ഡിതാനാം

അന്യോദ്രേകേ കുടിലമനസാം നിര്‍ഗുണാനാം വിദേശേ

ഭൃത്യാഭാവേ ഭവതി മരണം കിന്തു സംഭാവിതാനാം

According to Bharthruhari it is death or a condition worse than that when some people are confronted with pathetic or difficult situations such as:-

For the chaste woman, on separation from her dear husband.

For a dignified and self-respecting person, when his honour is challenged.

For noble persons, when they are scandalized.

For the learned persons, when they are openly defeated in scholarly debates.

For the wicked fellows, when they find others reaching high levels of fortune or welfare.

For the idiots with no knowledge and skill, when they land up in foreign terrains.

For the rich persons who are used to pomp and pelf, when they are deprived of the service of the menials and servants.