for the really great, words uttered just make the meaning.

लौकिकानां हि साधूनामर्थं वागनुवर्तने।

ऋषीणां पुनराद्यानां वाचमर्थोऽनुवर्तते॥

भवभूतिप्रणीते उत्तररामचरिते प्रथमे अङ्के

laukikānāṁ hi sādhūnāmarthaṁ vāganuvartane |

ṛṣīṇāṁ punarādyānāṁ vācamartho'nuvartate||

bhavabhūtipraṇīte uttararāmacarite prathame aṅke

This is from the first act of Uttararamacharitam.. 

Uttararamacharitam is a drama by Bhavabhuti, a poet of Sanskrit who is treated as equal to Kalidasa himself by many..

The plot for the Drama is the happenings after the Coronation of Rama.. the history dealt with in Uttarakandam of Ramayanam

In the first Act, the location is Rama's Palace in Ayodhya.. 

Sita is in her pregnancy, and the elders in the family are all away attending a sacrifice being conducted by Sage Rishyasringa, who is also the husband of Ramas elder Sister Shanta..

A set of sages led by Ashtavakra, the disciple of Rishyasringa have arrived in Ayodhya to enquire about the well being of Rama and Sita, and the delegation meets the Royal couple..

The sage conveys Rama the blessing of Rishyasringa and Sage Vasishta too who was away at the sacrifice..yajna

The blessing of the elders that Sita would deliver progeny befitting the valour and glory of the divine couple is conveyed to Rama and Sita..

Happy to hear that Rama exclaims..

"The speech of worldly wise saints follows or narrates the course of events as they have happened or are happening.. But the speech of ancient and venerable saints ( like Vasishta) when uttered just makes thing happen as per what is intended in those speeches.."

Rama is elated at the blessing of his Guru that he is going to beget a worthy progeny as he is convinced that the mere utterance of the great saints would make anything happen.. Ordinary people just use speeches to report what is happening.. and they have only the capacity to report or convey in words what is going on around, or narrate something that has already happened..

But great sages have the capacity to foresee the future.. Not only that, if words are uttered by great souls, nature and the universe just obey those predictions and things just happen.

These words of Bhavavbhuti have to be compared or 

contrasted with Kalidasa's statement about Vaak and Artha.. as pronounced in the opening stanza of Raghuvamsam.. 

वागर्थाविव सम्पृक्तौ वागर्थ प्रतिपत्तये।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ॥ 

Vaagarthaaviva Samprukthau, Vaagartha prathipattaye jagataH pitarau vande paarvathee parameshwarau..

Kalidasa implies that words and meanings are closely connected and function as inseparable twins.. being faithful to one another..

Bhavabhuti improvises on the idea.. For the ordinary people, words uttered just convey the meaning..

But for the really great, words uttered just make the meaning..

Of course this is stuff for academics too..

There has been always a set of people who place Bhavabhuti in the same pedestal with Kalidasa.. and there are those who cannot allow anyone else to be spoken of in equal terms with Kalidasa..

Musings 24

We want divine grace when we are alive.. No doubt.. 

But we have so many others too to support us while life is lingering on.. 

we want divine grace more at the throes of death...

when we die no one can help us.. quite unlike when we are alive.. The supreme being Shankara.. and Narayana .. not only they but they should be with Uma or Laskmi the mothers should be there..

We are born beause of a father and mother.. They will not be alive when we are dying . Or let us hope so 

When we are facing death too, our father and mother should be present..

As Uma and Shankara and Rema and Narayana

waxing and waning..

सम्पदो महतामेव महतामेव चापदः।
वर्धते क्षीयते चन्द्रो ननु तारागणा क्वचित्॥
sampado mahatāmeva mahatāmeva cāpadaḥ|
vardhate kṣīyate candro nanu tārāgaṇāa kvacit||


The subhaashitam or wise saying is given to convey the fact that variations in fortune do happen and such happenings are noticed only in respect of persons worthy of note..

We see great affluence in great people at certain points of time.. We see that such fortunes take a plunge downwards at other times.
. It is just as the moon which is seen prominently in the sky, enjoys increase in brightness and are in its disc for a fortnight and then sees loss of both brightness and area during the following fortnight..
But the variations in fortunes of people who are not so significant are not seen by others at all..
There are thousands of stars in the firmament.. and they just go on twinkling.. but the net brightness for them remains without any variation..

I think the great astronomers and wise people especially is social media will shout that this sloka is irrelevant in the present day scenario..
They will assert that the stars have been proved to be of far greater luminosity than the silly moon..
Yes, the poor scholar of old times just formed his views on what he saw and understood in his own modest way..

do it now...

श्वः कार्यमद्य कुर्वीत पूर्वाह्ने चापराह्निकम्।

नहि प्रतीक्षते मृत्युः कृतम् वास्य न वा कृतम्॥

महाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि २७७ -३

śvaḥ kāryamadya kurvīta pūrvāhne cāparāhnikam|

nahi pratīkṣate mṛtyuḥ kṛtam vāsya na vā kṛtam||

mahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi 277 -3

a great quote from the epic Mahabharatam

नरः man श्वः कार्यं what is to be done tomorrow

अद्य कुर्वीत should do today

आपराह्निकं कार्यं what is to be done in the afternoon

पूर्वाह्ने कुर्वीत च should do it in the forenoon too

यतः because

मृत्युः death

अस्य कार्यं his task

कृतं वा न कृतं इति whether completed or not

न प्रतीक्षते हि. does not wait for.

महाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि २७७ -३

A person should complete today itself a task which he is expected to complete tomorrow

He should complete his task of this afternoon, this forenoon itself.

Because when death comes, it does not wait to see whether a work is completed or not..

greatest among greats

नान्नोदकसमं दानं न तिथिर्द्वादशी समा 

न गायत्र्याः परो मन्त्रो न मातुःदैवतम् परं ।।

No gift is as lofty as gift of food and water

No day is as sacred as the dvaadashi day.. coming as the 12 th day in the phase of moon.. twice a month.. Where people do honour to Lord Vishnu after fasting on Ekadashi day..

There can never be a mantra or prayer more holy than Gayatri

And 

No God or Divinity can be as great as mother..

നാന്നോദക സമം ദാനം 

ന തിഥിര്‍ദ്വാദശീ സമാ

ന ഗായത്ര്യാഃ പരോ മന്ത്രഃ

ന മാതുഃ ദൈവതം പരം

അന്നോദക സമം ദാനം ന അസ്തി 

ദ്വാദശീ സമാ തിഥി ന അസ്തി 

ഗായത്ര്യാ പരോ മന്ത്രഃ ന അസ്തി 
മാതുഃ പരം ദൈവതം ന അസ്തി

അന്നവും ജലവും പോലെ മറ്റൊരു ദാനവുമില്ല

ദ്വാദശിക്കു തുല്യമായ പവിത്രതയുള്ള ഒരു തിഥിയും ഇല്ല 

ഗായത്രിയേക്കാളും മഹത്തായ ഒരു മന്ത്രവുമില്ല 

അമ്മയേക്കാള്‍ വലിയ ദൈവവും ഇല്ല

fall of a ball vs fall of a lump of damp clay

प्रायः कन्दुकपातेनोत्पतत्यार्यः पतन्नपि।

तथा पतन्ननार्यस्तु मृत्पिण्डपतनम् यथा॥

भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतके॥

prāyaḥ kandukapātenotpatatyāryaḥ patannapi|

tathā patannanāryastu mṛtpiṇḍapatanam yathā||

bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatake||

From Bhartruhari's Neetishatakam

A noble and cultured person, even if a fall in fortunes happens to him, would bounce back to normal heights like a ball thrown down.

But an evil and uncultured fellow, when a fall occurs to him , just settles down like a wet lump of clay falling from a height..never to rise again..

For good people setbacks in life are just prefaces to rise to greater heights..

പ്രായഃ കന്ദുകപാതേനോത്പതത്യാര്യഃ പതന്നപി|

തഥാ പതന്നനാര്യസ്തു മൃത്പിണ്ഡപതനം യഥാ||

ഭര്‍തൃഹരേഃ നീതിശതകേ||

തരവും യോഗ്യതയും ഉള്ള മനുഷ്യന് ജീവിതത്തില്‍ ഭാഗ്യദോഷം സംഭവിച്ച് അയാള്‍ കുറെയൊക്കെ വീണുപോയാലും, ആ പ്രതിസന്ധിയെല്ലാം തരണം ചെയ്ത് സാധാരണഗതിയിലേയ്ക്ക് തിരിച്ചു ഉയരും. താഴോട്ട് എറിയപ്പെടുന്ന പന്ത് ഭൂമിയില്‍ തട്ടി വീണ്ടും തനിയെ ഉയര്‍ന്നു വരുന്നത് പോലെ അത് സംഭവിക്കുന്നു.

എന്നാല്‍ ഒരു കഴിവും ഔന്നത്യവും ഇല്ലാത്ത ആള്‍ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ അധഃപതിക്കുന്നത് ഒരു വലിയ കളിമണ്‍ കട്ട താഴോട്ടു വീഴുന്നത് പോലെ തന്നെ ആണ്. ആ വീഴ്ചയ്ക്ക് ശേഷം അയാള്‍ ഒരിക്കലും തിരിച്ക് ഉയരാന്‍ പോകുന്നില്ല.

ഭര്‍തൃഹരിയുടെ നീതി ശതകത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്.

panchaadreeshvari mangalam....

पञ्चाद्रीश्वरि मङ्गळं हरिहरप्रेमाकृते मङ्गळं

पिञ्छ्रालंकृत मङ्गळं त्रिजगतां आद्यप्रभो मङ्गळं।

पञ्चास्यध्वज मङ्गळं प्रणमतां चिन्तामणे मङ्गळं

पञ्चास्त्रोपम मङ्गळं श्रुतिशिरोलङ्कार सन्मङ्गळं॥

pañcādrīśvari maṅgaḻaṁ hariharapremākṛte maṅgaḻaṁ

piñchrālaṁkṛta maṅgaḻaṁ trijagatāṁ ādyaprabho maṅgaḻaṁ|

pañcāsyadhvaja maṅgaḻaṁ praṇamatāṁ cintāmaṇe maṅgaḻaṁ

pañcāstropama maṅgaḻaṁ śrutiśirolaṅkāra sanmaṅgaḻaṁ||
പഞ്ചാദ്രീശ്വരി മംഗളം ഹരിഹര പ്രേമാകൃതെ മംഗളം
പിഞ്ച്രാലംകൃത മംഗളം തൃജഗതാം ആദ്യപ്രഭോ മംഗളം
പഞ്ചാസ്യധ്വജ മംഗളം പ്രണമതാം 

ചിന്താമണേ മംഗളം
പഞ്ചാസ്ത്രോപമ മംഗളം ശ്രുതിശിരോലങ്കാര
സന്‍മംഗളം

Mangalam to the lord of Five hills..

Mangalam to the ultimate consummation of the love between Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva)..

Mangalam to the one who adorns himself with peacock feathers

Mangalam to the one who is the supreme lord of all the three worlds.

Mangalam to the one who has the insignia of lion in his flag

Mangalam to the one who is the precious gem which yields all the desires of people who prostrate before Him

Mangalma to the one who is comparable in beauty to Kamadeva with five 

arrows 

Mangalam to the one who shines as the ornament at the head of Vedas.. representing their sum and substance..

Saranam Ayyappa...

(കുളത്തുപുഴയും, ആര്യങ്കാവും, അച്ഛൻ കോവിലും, അയ്യപ്പൻ കോവിലും, ശബരിമലയുമാണ് പഞ്ച ശാസ്താ ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളെന്ന് അനുമാനിക്കാം)

Musings 23

Of course God is the best by definition.. and I believe in God, and accept that God is the best too

To accept God that way is easy because he does not seem to care whether I accept him or not .

Some people, I do not know whether the impression is right or not, seem to me that they are lacking in a lot of things..

maybe a false idea and a sort of silent arrogance on my part..

Anyway that gives me a feeling that I am very superior, a legend or at least a candidate for sainthood.

But I meet, see, and watch many people, who impress me as far more superior to me in many respects..

Somehow i am not able to accept such superiority.. I am rather intolerant..

I try to dig out some defect in them, real or imaginary, which wold give me an impression that they are either equal to me or inferior to me in some way or other..

If I am not able to find anything in that direction, I become miserable .. in mind and spirit.. 

I know it is a defect in my pshyche..

Yes, every man struggles and fights with himself to accept realities..

Remember the story of a frog.. which was exchanging ideas with another colleague... 

The former resided in a deep well all its life, but the latter had just jumped along to the world around the well too, and had finally landed up in the well presumably for a short visit..

Of the many experiences it had while wandering around, the second frog reported to his friend about the shape and size of an elephant he had seen.. 

An elephant according to the visitor was too huge and its size could not be explained in words or gestures in the frog tongue.. 

The permanent resident of the well, the first frog was very sure that there could not be anything anywhere which could be bigger than him.. 

So he drew a lot of air into his lungs and his whole body swelled.. and asked his friend whether the elephant could be as big as that..

When the friend replied that the elephant was far, far bigger, the frog of the well tried to increase the size of the body more and more by filling himself with a lot of air.. 

This happened half a dozen times.. 

Still the friend and visitor, the frog of the wide earth was not able to agree on any comparison of the size between the elephant and the well -resident and inflated colleague..

The colleague was not ready to give up.. 

He drew in further quantities of air.. and finally it happened.. The well conceited frogs body could not withstand any more intake of air, and the frog and its body just shattered giving a loud noise akin to burst of a cracker.. 

Of course with that burst, the misery of the frog of the well was over once for all..

Sooner of later such things can happen to people like me too..

lust clouds wisdom

सुमहान्त्यपि शास्त्रानि धारयन्तो बहुश्रुतः।

छेत्तारः संशयानाम् च क्लिश्यन्ते लोभमोहिताः॥

sumahāntyapi śāstrāni dhārayanto bahuśrutaḥ|

chettāraḥ saṁśayānām ca kliśyante lobhamohitāḥ||

even the great men who have learned all laws and scriptures

and who have great exposure to worldly wisdom ,

the scholars who are capable of dispelling all our doubts,,

even such great people suffer once feeling of avarice and lust overtakes them..

be in control.. keep eternal vigil

संस्नाप्यापि करी चेन्मुक्तो मलिनः क्षणात् भवेत्।

स्नानान्ते यदि बद्धस्तिष्ठेदमलः तथैव सत्सङ्गात्।

जातम् परमपवित्रम् मनः पुनर्वा विषयिसहवसात्

मलिनम् स्यात्तच्चेशे बद्धम् तिष्ठेत्सुनिर्मलम् नूनम्॥

सूक्तिमुक्तावल्याम्

saṁsnāpyāpi karī cenmukto malinaḥ kṣaṇāt bhavet|

snānānte yadi baddhastiṣṭhedamalaḥ tathaiva satsaṅgāt|

jātam paramapavitram manaḥ punarvā viṣayisahavasāt

malinam syāttacceśe baddham tiṣṭhetsunirmalam nūnam||

sūktimuktāvalyām

If an elephant is given a thorough bath and is allowed to stand free it makes himself dirty by throwing dust and dirt on itself.

However if it is kept under chains and fetters after bath, it would remain clean for quite some time..

In the same manner, ones mind gets purified and sanctified by Satsanga.. contact and interaction with noble sourl.. But if the mind again gets into contact with people who are after worldly pleasures, it gets clouded and contaminated.. But if the same mind is kept fixed on the Supreme Being, surely that would maintain its purity and blessednes gained through satsanga..

There is a saying in Malayalam 

മത്തേഭൻ പാംസുസ്നാനം കൊണ്ടല്ലോ സന്തോഷിപ്പൂ

സ്വഛജലം തന്നിലേ നിത്യവും കുളിച്ചാലും

attributed to Kunchan nambyar if my memory goest right..

This means even if an elephant is bathed in clearn cool water, it will be happy only if it takes a bath in dust..

We have seen this spontaneous act of elephants too often..

Yes, the mind gets elevated or contaminated according to the company it keeps.. With great effort the thought process can be cleansed, but if it is allowed to drift to its own old and vagrant ways, all the benefits gained my lots and lots of mental and physical efforts can go waste..

It is said..

सांसर्गिकाः दोषगुणाः भवन्ति

sāṁsargikāḥ doṣaguṇāḥ bhavanti

good things or bad experiences happen to people because of the company they keep..

സംസ്നാപ്യാപി കരീ ചേന്മുക്തോ മലിനഃ ക്ഷണാത് ഭവേത്।

സ്നാനാന്തേ യദി ബദ്ധസ്തിഷ്ഠേദമലഃ തഥൈവ സത്സങ്ഗാത്।

ജാതം പരമപവിത്രം മനഃ പുനര്വാ വിഷയിസഹവസാത്

മലിനം സ്യാത്തച്ചേശേ ബദ്ധം തിഷ്ഠേത്സുനിര്മലം നൂനം॥

സൂക്തിമുക്താവല്യാം

ഒരു കൊമ്പനെ കുളത്തിലോ പുഴയിലോ ഇറക്കി നല്ലവണ്ണം ഉരച്ചുകുളിപ്പിച്ച ശേഷം അവിടെത്തന്നെ കുറച്ചുനേരം നില്‍ക്കാന്‍ അനുവദിച്ചാല്‍ അവന്‍ വൈകാതേ ചുറ്റും കാണുന്ന പൂഴിയും ചെളിയും എല്ലാം തുമ്പിക്കൈ കൊണ്ട് കോരിയെടുത്ത് സ്വയം തലയില്‍ ഒഴിച്ച് ആ കുളി കൊണ്ടുള്ള ഉപയോഗം മുഴുവന്‍ ഇല്ലാതാക്കും.

പക്ഷെ ആ കൊമ്പനെ അങ്ങനെ നിര്‍ത്തുമ്പോള്‍ അതിനെ കയറും ചങ്ങലയും എല്ലാം ഉപയോഗിച്ചു കെട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ ആ ആന വലിയ വൃത്തികെതോന്നും ശരീരത്തില്‍ വലിച്ചിടാതെ നില്‍ക്കും.

ഇതുപോലെ തന്നെയാണ് ഒരാളുടെ മനസ്സ് സത്സംഗത്താല്‍ പരിശുദ്ധം ആക്കപ്പെട്ടിടിക്കുന്ന വേളയില്‍ ആണെങ്കില്‍ പോലും അതിനു വിഷയപരമായ ചിന്തകളും ആക്രാന്തങ്ങളും നേരിടെണ്ടി ണ്ടി വരുമ്പോള്‍ അത് കലുഷിതവും വൃത്തിഹീനവും ആയിതീരുന്നും.

പക്ഷെ അത്തരം ചിന്തകള്‍ക്ക് വശംവദമാവാതെ സര്‍വശക്തനില്‍ ചിന്ത ഉറപ്പിച്ചു ആ മനസ്സിനെ നിലനിര്‍ത്താന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞു എങ്കില്‍ സത്സംഗം മൂലവും പുണ്യ കര്‍മ്മങ്ങള്‍ മൂലവും സമ്പാദിച്ച വിശുദ്ധി നിലനിര്‍ത്താന്‍ ഒരു പ്രയാസവും ഉണ്ടാവുകയില്ല.

കുഞ്ചന്‍ നമ്പ്യാര്‍ മലയാളത്തില്‍ പറഞ്ഞ ഒരു ചൊല്ലുണ്ട്

മത്തേഭൻ പാംസുസ്നാനം കൊണ്ടല്ലോ സന്തോഷിപ്പൂ

സ്വഛജലം തന്നിലേ നിത്യവും കുളിച്ചാലും

തണുത്ത ശുദ്ധ ജലത്തില്‍ കുളിച്ചാലും കൊമ്പന് സന്തോഷം ചെളി വാരി തലയില്‍ ഒഴിക്കുക എന്നത് തന്നെയാണ്.

പ്രായോഗിക തലത്തിലും ഈ ആനയുടെ സ്വഭാവം നാം പലപ്പോഴും അനുഭവിക്കാറുണ്ട്.

മനസ്സിനെ എത്രയോ പരിശ്രമിച്ചു ഏറെ ഉയര്‍ന്ന തലത്തിലേയ്ക്ക് ചെന്നെത്തിച്ചാലും അത് ചുറ്റും ഉള്ള പ്രചോദനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് വശംവദമായി ഉയര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ നിന്ന് താഴ്ചയിലേയ്ക്ക് കൂപ്പു കുത്തുന്നു.

ശരിയാണ്, ഏറെ പരിശ്രമം കൊണ്ട് മനസ്സിനെ നിലയ്ക്ക് നിര്‍ത്താന്‍ കഴിയും.

പക്ഷെ കുറച്ചു നിമിഷങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പോലും ശ്രദ്ധ പതറിയാല്‍ മനസ്സ് അതിന്‍റെ പഴയ വഴികളിലേയ്ക്ക് തിരിച്ചു ചെല്ലും.

അത് കൊണ്ടാണ് പറയുന്നത്

സാംസര്‍ഗികാ ദോഷഗുനാ ഭവന്തി എന്ന്.

ചുറ്റും നമ്മുടെ കൂടെയുള്ള ആളുകളുടെ സ്വാധീനംകാരണം നമുക്ക് നന്മയും തിന്മയും സംഭവിക്കാം.

the cover of silence....

स्वायत्तमेकान्तगुणम् विधात्रा विनिर्मितम् छादनमज्ञतायाः।

विशेषतः सर्वविदाम् समाजे विभूषणम् मौनमपण्डितानाम्॥

भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकात्॥

svāyattamekāntaguṇam vidhātrā vinirmitam chādanamajñatāyāḥ |

viśeṣataḥ sarvavidām samāje vibhūṣaṇam maunamapaṇḍitānām||

bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakāt||

a down to earth declaration by the Philosopher King Bhartruhari in his Neetishatakam

Silence which is so natural to some people appears to be created by God with a very special design and it acts as an effective cover for ignorance..

This silence is an attractive ornament for ignorant fellows 

( especially those who pretend to be knowledgeable too)

 in the assembly of the learned persons..

Idiots can always be better off if they keep their mouths shut.

मौनं silence स्वायत्तं well earned and natural एकान्तगुणम् with great benefits in the final analysis विधात्रा विनिर्मितं specially made by Brahma the creator अज्ञाताया of ignorance छादनं effective cover च भवति.becomes 

एतद मौनं this silence विशेषतः especially सर्वविदां समाजे in an assembly of respected scholars अपण्डितानं for those who do not have much knowledge विभूषणं भवति च becomes an ornament too..

Our ignorance is kept at bay till we open our mouths.. 

Of course we can open our mouth if it is for eating and not speaking..

This rule applies to our fingers too especially in social media..

good things make other good things better...

पयसा कमलं कमलेन पयः पयसा कमलेन विभाति सरः।

शशिना च निशा निशया च शशी शशिना निशया च विभाति नभः॥

payasā kamalaṁ kamalena payaḥ payasā kamalena vibhāti saraḥ|

śaśinā ca niśā niśayā ca śaśī śaśinā niśayā ca vibhāti nabhaḥ||

Many objects which are nice and beautiful on their own account attain their full glory only when they are in close combination..

The absence of any one or all of the ingredients could destroy the pleasant existence of any one of them or the all..

The combination of water, lotus and a lake, or the combination of the moon, the sky and the sky are great examples..

The lotus can bloom only if it is existing in a collection of water.

The water in fact gains glory by having lotus on its surface.

And the lake which carries the water is full of bliss when it has water in full and lotuses are growing in it..

The night would be glorious only when the moon shines( otherwise it is dark and dreary)

The moon can shine only during night ( we find some parts of the moon on some days even in the day sky, but we do not feel anything good about it)

The sky is at its peak of beauty when the bright full moon shines in the dark sky 

( the glorious moon on the sky of the Fourteenth night.. the night before the full moon has brightened the imagination of many many poets..

चौदहवीं का चाँद हो या अफताब हो

जो भी हो तुम खुद की कसम लाजवाब हो

chaudahvee kaa chaand ho yaa aftaab ho

jo bhee tum khudaa kee kasam laa jawaab ho

the lyric of Shakeel Badayuni sung by the immortal Rafi

പതിനാലാം രാവുദിച്ചത് മാനത്തോ കല്ലായിക്കടവത്തോ 

lyric of Yousafali kecheri.. tune by Devarajan and sung by that one and only Yesudas..)

Analysis 

-----------

पयसा कमलं भाति a lotus shines only in a collection of water 

पयः कमलेन भाति water shines at its best when lotus blooms on its surface 

सरः पयसा कमलेन च विभाति the lake is the most beautiful when it is having a lot of water and a lot of lotus flowers have bloomed over its surface..

शशिना निशा भाति the night attains brightness when the moon rises निशया शशी भाति the moon is bright only when it is night 

शशिना निशया च नभः भाति and the sky brightens up when there is a night which is having a full moon..

പയസാ കമലം കമലേന പയഃ പയസാ കമലേന വിഭാതി സരഃ।

ശശിനാ ച നിശാ നിശയാ ച ശശീ ശശിനാ നിശയാ ച വിഭാതി നഭഃ॥

സുഭാഷിതരത്നഭാണ്ഡാഗാരേ

ഏറെ ഭംഗിയും ആകര്‍ഷണീയതയും നൈസര്‍ഗ്ഗികമായി ലഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള വസ്തുക്കള്‍ പോലും അവയുടെ സൌന്ദര്യത്തിന്‍റെയും തിളക്കത്തിന്‍റെയും എല്ലാം പാരമ്യത്തില്‍ എത്തുന്നത് അവയുടെ നേട്ടങ്ങളുമായി താരതമ്യപ്പെടുത്താവുന്ന മറ്റു ചില വസ്തുക്കളും ആയി അവ കൂടിച്ചേര്‍ന്ന് നില്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ആയിരിക്കും.

അത്തരം ഒത്തുചേരല്‍ ഇല്ലാതിരിക്കുന്ന അവസരങ്ങളില്‍ ഇത്തരം ഓരോ വസ്തുവിനും തന്നെത്താന്‍ എത്ര ഗുണങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നാലും അവ ഒന്നിച്ച് കൂടുമ്പോള്‍ നല്‍കുന്ന ഭംഗിയോടു അവയ്ക്ക് കിടപിടിക്കാന്‍ സാധിച്ചു എന്ന് വരികയില്ല.

ഓരോ വസ്തുവിനും അതിന്റെതായ മെച്ചങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ട് എന്ന കാര്യം ഇവിടെ വിസ്മരിക്കുന്നില്ല പക്ഷെ അവ ഒത്തുചേരുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടാവുന്ന അനുഭവം ഒന്ന് വേറെ തന്നെയാണ്.

അഴകുള്ള തടാകം, തടാകത്തിലെ ശുദ്ധമായ ജലം, ജലത്തില്‍ വിടരുന്ന താമര, വാനവും മുഴുനിലാവും രാത്രിയും.. ഇതെല്ലാം അതിനു ഉദാഹരണങ്ങള്‍ ആണ്.

ജലം നിറഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ തടാകം സുന്ദരമായിരിക്കുന്നു.

അത്തരം തടാകത്തില്‍ വിടര്‍ന്നു നില്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ആണല്ലോ താമരയ്ക്ക് ഏറെ ഭംഗി.

അതെ സമയം ആ ജലത്തിന് താമര വിടര്‍ന്നത് കാരണം കൂടുതല്‍ ആകര്‍ഷണീയത ലഭിക്കുന്നു.

അതെ. ശുദ്ധമായ ജലം നിറഞ്ഞ തടാകത്തില്‍ താമര വിടരുമ്പോള്‍ തടാകത്തിനും ജലത്തിനും താമരയ്ക്കും എല്ലാം അത് കൂടുതല്‍ ഭംഗി പടരുന്നു.

അതുപോലെ ഒരു രാത്രി സുന്ദരം ആവണമെങ്കില്‍ നിലാവ് ഉദിച്ചു ഉയരണം. അല്ലെങ്കില്‍ എല്ലായിടത്തും ഇരുള്‍ മാത്രം.

നിലാവ് ഉദിച്ചുയര്‍ന്നു തിളങ്ങി നില്‍ക്കണം എങ്കില്‍ രാത്രി ഉണ്ടാവണം. പകലില്‍ കാണുന്ന നിലാവിന് എന്ത് ഭംഗി ഉണ്ടാവാനാണ്.

രാത്രി അതിന്‍റെ സൌന്ദര്യത്തിന്‍റെ പൂര്‍ണ്ണതയില്‍ എത്തുന്നത് നിലാവ് മുഴുവനായി ഉദിച്ച് ഉയര്‍ന്നു നില്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ മാത്രമാണ്.

പൌര്‍ണ്ണമിയ്ക്ക് തലേ ദിവസം, പതിനാലാം രാവ് എത്രയോ കവികളുടെ ഭാവനയ്ക്ക് മാധുര്യം പകര്‍ന്നിട്ടുണ്ട്.

ചൌദഹവീം കാ ചാന്ദ് ഹോ യാ അഫ്താബ് ഹോ

ജോ ഭീ ഹോ തും ഖുദാ കീ കസം ലാജവാബ് ഹോ

(മുഹമ്മദ്‌ രാഫീ സാബ് അനശ്വരമാക്കിയ ഷകീല്‍ ബഡായുനിയുടെ വരികള്‍ )

പതിനാലാം രാവുദിച്ചത് മാനത്തോ കല്ലായിക്കടവത്തോ

യേശുദാസ് നമ്മുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളില്‍ മാധുര്യം പകര്‍ന്ന യൂസഫലി കേച്ചേരി യുടെ വരികള്‍

just think yourself..

असंख्याः परदोषज्ञाः 

गुणज्ञा अपि केचन।

स्वयमेव स्वदोषज्ञाः

विद्यते यदि पञ्चषाः॥

asaṁkhyāḥ paradoṣajñāḥ 

guṇajñā api kecana|

svayameva svadoṣajñāḥ

vidyate yadi pañcaṣāḥ||

There are innumerable people who can easily know and spot the shortcomings of others..

There are very few who can appreciate the merit in others, there are such people though number may be lesser..

But those who can understand and even accept their own faults and foibles are indeed rare, just five or six in a huge crowd..

mindless following..

गतानुगतिको लोकः न लोको पारमार्थिकः।

बालुकालिङ्गमात्रेण गतम् मे ताम्रभाजनम्॥

gatānugatiko lokaḥ na loko pāramārthikaḥ|

bālukāliṅgamātreṇa gatam me tāmrabhājanam||

"The world or its average constituents usually follow others blindly.. People have little sense of reality or discretion..

I made a hemisphere of wet sand on the riverbank and my brass vessel with its valuable contents is gone for ever.."

This was the cry of anguish uttered by a scholar who had come for his holy dip in a river frequented by many pilgrims 

It was a busy morning and the scholar who looked distinguished in his carriage, carried a middlesized pot made of brass,, and in fact he was carrying all his money and gold in that pot..

As he was planning to have a bath, he wanted to keep the pot safe away from the reach of robbers and other kindred beings.. 

He hit upon a plan.. and acted on it too..

He dug a fairly deep hole in the sand and placed the pot there. He closed the pit and to identify the location, he heaped a hemisphere of sand in the shape of a linga just above the closed pit.. 

He proceeded to have his bath..

But the other pilgrims who were watching did not remain idle. 

They assumed that placing a lingam of sand on the shore was a holy ritual preceding the ceremonial bath..

And they had no second thoughts about it because an ostensibly distinguished scholar was doing so..

So each pilgrim made a lingam of sand on the shore, and in no time the entire place was covered with hemispheres of sand in the form of lingam.. lingams available in plenty, in all sizes and shapes.

And when the scholar returned, he was aghast to see so many lingams of sand.. and sure it was impossible for him to locate the place where he had kept his pot of money under the sand.. 

His money was lost for ever..

Yes, when people just ape others without any application of mind, even the men with some good ideas face the music..

complete neutrality..

पण्डिते चैव मूर्खे च बलवत्यपि निर्बले।

ईश्वरे च दरिद्रे च मृत्योः सर्वत्र तुल्यता॥

paṇḍite caiva mūrkhe ca balavatyapi nirbale|

īśvare ca daridre ca mṛtyoḥ sarvatra tulyatā||

Death is very impartial and 

it finds its targets with equal intensity on a person 

whether he is a scholar or an idiot, 

whether he is a strong fellow or a wealkilng, 

whether he is very rich or very poor..

His ten forms ...

वेदान् उद्धरते जगन्निवहते भूगोलमुद्बिभ्रते 

दैत्यम् दारयते बलिम् छलयते क्षत्रक्षयम् कुर्वते 

पौलस्त्यम् जयते हलम् कलयते कारुन्यमातन्वते 

म्लेच्छान् मूर्च्छयते दशाकृतिकृते कृष्णाय तुभ्यम् नमः॥

जयदेवकृते गीतगोविन्दे

vedān uddharate jagannivahate bhūgolamudbibhrate 

daityam dārayate balim chalayate kṣatrakṣayam kurvate 

paulastyam jayate halam kalayate kārunyamātanvate 

mlecchān mūrcchayate daśākṛtikṛte kṛṣṇāya tubhyam namaḥ||

jayadevakṛte gītagovinde

Redeems the Vedas as a fish annihilating the demon Hayagriva,

Carries the entire brunt of the universe as a tortoise as Aadikoorma and also as the tortoise during the churning of the milky ocean

, Annihilates the son of Diti the Hirnayaksha as the primordial boar and lifts globe of earth submerged in waters by that demon

and decimated another son of Diti Hiranyakashipu as the Narasimha..to bless that noble devotee Prahlada ..

begs for three tiny feet of land as a child Vamana from Mahabali and then cheats him by growing as Trivikrama, and measured the whole universe in two steps and has to demand Balis head for the third measure

Annihilates twentyfour generations of Kshatriyas in his birth as the axe wielding Parashurama, vanquishes and executes Ravana, the scion of Pulastya clan,, as Rama,

ploughs and even changes the course of water bearing rivers as Balarama, 

Radiates mercy and knowledge as the one and only Krishna,

and finally would be born as the sword bearing Kalki to finish off all mean being..

Pranams to you, that Krishna who takes ten births ... 

Pranams to you that Krishna

the king and the lotus.. what do they have in common?

भूभृतामम्बुजानाम् च पत्रकोशवतामपि।

दोषान्वयाद्व्यसनिनाम् संकुचन्ति ध्रुवम् श्रियः॥

bhūbhṛtāmambujānām ca patrakośavatāmapi|

doṣānvayādvyasaninām saṁkucanti dhruvam śriyaḥ||

A king, even if he has a learned retinue and is having his coffers full, would have his fame and status on the wane if he is facing some infamy..

A lotus even if it having a strong stem and wide leaves would lose its shine and splendour when the sun sets and the darkness of the night sets in

The two statements are very simple.. But the greatness of the slokam lies in its crafting.. The same two adjectives are used to convey the status of the King and the Lotus.. when interpreted differently..

Analysis

-----------

पत्रकोशवतां possessed of great knowledge and an overflowing treasury

अपि even if

दोषान्वयव्यसनिनां when afflicted by debilitating situations

भूभृतां श्रियः the fame and status of the kings

ध्रुवं संकुचन्ति.. surely shrink

पत्रकोशवतां even if possessed of wide leaves and healthy stalk दोषान्वयव्यसनिनां when afflicted by darkness in the absence of sun अम्बुजानां श्रियः the bright and healthy shine of the lotuses

अपि too

ध्रुवं संकुचन्ति surely wane..

Here the words पत्रकोशवतां and दोषान्वयव्यसनिनां are used for the king and the lotus with two meanings.. Patram and Kosham means written words signifying knowledge and power and treasury filled

with money when it denoted the king

Patram is leaf and Kosham is the stem or stalk for the lotus..

Doshanvaya vyasaninaam means suffering from association with bad names or circumstances, for the king..

Doshaanvaya Vyasaninaam for the lotuses mean, afflicted with the dosha of darkness caused by the absence of sun..

The greatness of the slokam lies in the fact that the same adjectives patrakoshavataam and doshaanvayavyasaninaam, when used as adjevtives to the kings and lotuses convey two entirely different meaning but gives the couplet a very sweet dignity..

morality in a nutshell

न तद् परस्य सन्दध्यात् प्रतिकूलम् यद् आत्मनः

एष संक्षेपतो धर्मः कामादन्यः प्रवर्तते॥

na tad parasya sandadhyāt pratikūlam yad ātmanaḥ

eṣa saṁkṣepato dharmaḥ kāmādanyaḥ pravartate||

This is from Manusmriti, the treatise of wisdom and legal precedents and rules of ancient India..

The sum and substance of Dharma or proper conduct is brought out in this simple couplet..

Meaning

One should not wish for others or do for others something which is proved to be of detriment to oneself

This is Dharma in brief... Action apart from this just arises out of lust, avarice and such unwelcome qualities..

If we analyze any literature containing lifestyle principles, the above idea would find its place everywhere though in different words and different languages..

This is the Golden rule..

nothing to be with us for ever

धनानि भूमौ पशवश्च गोष्ठे भार्या गृहद्वारि सुतो श्मशाने।

देहश्चितायां परलोकयाने धर्मानुगो गच्छति जीव एकः॥

dhanāni bhūmau paśavaśca goṣṭhe bhāryā gṛhadvāri suto śmaśāne|

dehaścitāyāṁ paralokayāne dharmānugo gacchati jīva ekaḥ||

Our wealth will be ours only as long as we are alive on the surface of this earth. 

The cattle will cease to be useful for us once they get out of our stables..

The wife takes leave as the body is taken away from the home for the last time..

The sons will bid adieu at the cremation ground..

The lifeless body also gets consumed by the fire lighting the pyre..

But the good deeds, the dharma, keeps company with us for ever and ever..

( the sloka is taken from Subhashita Sataka trayam)

I read somewhere that this sloka is attributed to BhartruHari.. 

But I am not able to find the authentic reference for that..

ധനാനി ഭൂമൌ പശവശ്ച ഗോഷ്ഠേ ഭാര്യാ ഗൃഹദ്വാരി സുതോ ശ്മശാനേ|

ദേഹശ്ചിതായാം പരലോകയാനേ ധർമാനുഗോ ഗച്ഛതി ജീവ ഏകഃ||

നാം ഒട്ടേറെ അദ്ധ്വാനിച്ചു കൂട്ടിവയ്ക്കുന്ന സ്വത്തുക്കൾ നാം ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന കാലത്തോളം മാത്രമേ നമുക്ക് സ്വന്തമായി ഉണ്ടാവുകയുള്ളൂ. നമ്മുടെ തൊഴുത്തുകളിൽ കെട്ടിയിട്ടിരിക്കുന്ന കന്നുകാലികൾ അവ അവിടെ ഉള്ളത് വരെയും നാം അവയുടെ ഉടമസ്ഥരായി ജീവിക്കുന്നത് വരേയും മാത്രം നമുക്ക് സ്വന്തം ആയിരിക്കും. ഭാര്യ ശവശരീരം വീട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തേക്കു എടുക്കുന്നതുവരെ മാത്രം കൂടെ ഉണ്ടാവും. ആണ്മക്കൾ ശ്മശാനത്തിൽ നമ്മുടെ ചിതയ്ക്ക് തീ വയ്ക്കുന്നതുവരെ കൂടെ കാണും. ചേതനയറ്റ ശരീരം പോലും തീയിൽ വെന്തുരുകി ചാരം ആകുന്നതോടെ നമുക്കും പിന്നെ വേറെ ആർക്കും ഇല്ലാതാവും. എന്നാൽ നാം ചെയ്യുന്ന നല്ല കാര്യങ്ങളുടെ പുണ്യഫലങ്ങൾ, നമ്മുടെ ധർമ്മം, എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും, മരണശേഷവും, നമ്മോടൊപ്പം ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കും.

സുഭാഷിത ശതകത്രയം എന്ന ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിൽ നിന്ന്. ഇത് ഭർതൃഹരിയുടേതാണെന്ന് ചിലർ കരുതുന്നു.

imponderables

नृपस्य चित्तम् कृपणस्य वित्तम्
मनोरथाः दुर्जनमानवानाम्।
पुरुषस्य भाग्यम् स्त्रियाः चरित्रम्
देवो न जानाति कुतो मनुष्यः॥
nṛpasya cittam kṛpaṇasya vittam
manorathāḥ durjanamānavānām|
puruṣasya bhāgyam striyāḥ caritram
devo na jānāti kuto manuṣyaḥ|

Some things are beyond prediction..
The mind of a King..
The purpose or use of wealth belonging to a miser
The hopes and expectations of an evil person..
The luck of a male..
And the next action a woman would take..
These cannot be foreseen even by God.. 

Not to talk of ordinary mortals..

Note 
I have seen many variants of the above slokam but they all have common ideas..
I am not after the source..

 I just saw it in some Subhashita compilation.. 

Saw some truth in it.. 

And just posted in with meaning..

sharavanodbhavam eeshasutam bhaje....

कनककुण्डलमण्डितषण्मुखम्

कनकराजिविराजितशोभितम्। 

निशितशस्त्रशरासनधारिणम् 

शरवणोद्भवम् ईशसुतम् भजे॥ 

kanakakuṇḍalamaṇḍitaṣaṇmukham 

kanakarājivirājitaśobhitam| 

niśitaśastraśarāsanadhāriṇam 

śaravaṇodbhavam īśasutam bhaje|| 

കനകകുണ്ഡല മണ്ഡിതഷണ്മുഖം 

കനകരാജി വിരാജിത ശോഭിതം 

നിശിതശസ്ത്ര ശരാസനധാരിണം 

ശരവണോത്ഭവം ഈശസുതം ഭജേ 

With bright gold ear ornaments adorning the six heads (twelve ears) 

a golden thread (yajnpaveetham) worn across the body torso 

holding very sharp arrows and quiver.. 

the son of Eaasha (shiva) who originated in the sharavana lake..of Ganga .. 

I worship that Subramania who blesses us manifesting as above

 

Musings 22

I am recounting a funny story about Ramayana.. Seetha Swayamvaram
The marriage of Sita with Rama was on..after Rama broke the Sivadhanus.
But Ravana was always a suitor for Sita, so being a very crafty actor, he disguised himself as Rama and was moving around in the Palace of Janaka..
At the same time, Soorpanakha, his sister, was eager to marry Rama and so she disguised herself as Sita and was doing the rounds in Mithila too..
Ravana saw this fake Sita and made advances to her..
Thinking that it was real Rama, she also encouraged the fake Rama.. they willingly eloped.. and the fake Rama that is Ravana took the fake Sita that is Soorpanakha to the Pushpaka vimanam, concealed somewhere in a bush..
Realization dawned or Soorpanakha, and she cried.
. Neenkalaa, Annaaa...?.
நீங்களா அண்ணா ?
Was it you my brother...?
This story is quoted by many.. and enjoyed by all as a parody..
No offence to anyone or anything intended..

Musings 21

अर्जुन उवाच-

स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या
जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च।
रक्षाम्सि भीतानि दिशोद्रवन्ति
सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः॥
भगवद्गीता ११- ३६

arjuna uvāca-
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyatyanurajyate ca|
rakṣāmsi bhītāni diśodravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ||
bhagavadgītā 11- 36

11-36 of Bhagavat Gita
arjuna uvāca
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate ca
rakṣāḿsi bhītāni diśo dravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddha-sańghāḥ

Arjuna tells the Blessed Lord after having seen the glorious vishvaroopam

Krishna the Hrisheekesha, as is befitting to your glory, the whole universe is exhilarated by the praise of your greatness and all enjoy that too.. The evil beings like Rakshasas and others are running for escape in various directions. The divine beings like Siddhaas are all offering pranams to you

this sloka is being used as a mantram to ward off evil spirits.. the mantramm is called Gita Thrishtup..
The context of the Sloka is that when the Lord showed his universal form, the evil spirits are bolting.. True..
But Neither Vyasa, nor Krishna or Arjuna or anyone even intendent this statement by Arjuna to be used as a chant by sorcerors to exorcise evil spirit..
Now half a dozen of priests sit around fire and chant this mantram thousands an offer twigs, rice, clarified butter etc to fire and people around are delirious with bhakti and all..

One instance of disuse of the great philosophical text and misuse of the same at the hands of avaricious and showy sorecerors and priests..
This is just one instant..
This mantram now is a very effective tools with Jolsyars and Vadhyars..
Of course it is their profession.. let them earn..
But others have a right to know the facts..

Musings 20

at some stage in life a person should realize the fact that happiness and unhappiness, accomplishment or lack of it, all are just within himself.. 

and even the thought that he can be happy or unhappy because anyone else praises or decries him is meaningless..

We find people around us, people who praise, who heckle, people who praise within sight and who condemn us when we are away.. 

people who will be friendly when we are well off and would kick us when the chips are down..

and if happiness from external things are sought, such pleasures are limited to situations where the external thing can give such pleasure.. example.. a child is happy with his mother and her breast milk because he depends for his existence on them.. 

But when he advnces in age his priorities change.. That is nature..

If we have faith in God and believe that God who is the source of all that is great is residing inside us, then too we can be happy with ourselves.. 

But even for those who have no faith in God, the source of their happiness is just within them alone..

We need not pretend to be happy with others when we are not really so.. Because play acting would exhaust us, drain us out and would lead us to depression, in a small or big way..

But I am learning now one lesson in life.. 

One should Ignore sources of unhappiness.. 

it is not necessary to react and buy more unhappiness. 

Regarding some marriage rituals...

Regarding some marriage rituals...of tamil iyers..

I am sure Janavasam or whatever it is and Kashi yatra are not part of any vedic ritual. 

Mangalya dharamam is also a loukeeka ritual. it is not a vedic ritual.

In the Nambuthiri marriages it is the father of the bride who ties the thali. 

Thali represents just Mangala devata or Pratisara devata. 

And manalyam tandunaanena etc a much touted thali kattu mantram is not from any veda.

The kanyaka us the property of her fathers kulam and the groom has no authority to touch or even see the girl before the father or the representative of his kulam offers the kannyakadhanam. 

Now photos and videos with the groom and bride in compromising positions are made even at the time of betrothal..

But these are boisterous practices over which it is for society and community to ponder over and decide. 

The role of vadhyar as a professional is just to conduct the vedic and dharmic rituaĺs.

Of course any vadhyar is a part of brahmin community and that way he can express his views

Panigrahanam at any stage after kanyakadhanam would make sense but holding hands at the culmination of kasi yatra which precedes the dhanam is anacharam violative of scriptural provisions. .

the hands that touched Him..

अयं मे हस्तो भगवान् अयं मे भगवत्तरः अयं मे विश्वभेषजो अयं शिवाभिमर्शनः

ayam me hasto bhagavAn ayam me bhagavattaraH ayam me vishvbheSaja ayam shivAbhimarshanaH

this hand of mine is the all powerful God itself..

this hand of mine is even more that than the all powerful God .. bhagavan the provider all that is sublime

this hand of mine is the supreme medicine and elixir for all the universe.. 

this hand of mine is the one which has touched the supreme being that is called Shiva..

this is from Shri Rudram.. 

The person who worships the Lord with the supreme hymn of Namakam the Rudram concludes that his hand is blessed with the presence of that All Powerful consolidation of Energy that is named Shiva.. and therefore the hand of his who chants the name of Shiva itself becomes Bhagavan, the healer and protector of the universe.. 

Maybe if a devout chanter of the Name of the Lord Shiva places his hand on something with this solemn statement what he touches should turn sublime..

It is again an article of faith.

അയം മേ ഹസ്തോ ഭഗവാന്‍ അയം മേ ഭഗവത്തരഃ അയം മേ വിശ്വഭേഷജഃ അയം ശിവാഭിമർശനഃ 

എന്റെ ഈ കയ്യ്‌ ശിവന്റെ പൂജയില്‍ അവനെ സ്പര്‍ശിക്കുന്നു. അപ്പോള്‍ അത് അഷ്ടസിദ്ധിയും ഷഡ് ഗുണങ്ങളും എല്ലാം തികഞ്ഞ ഭഗവാന്‍ ആയി തീരുന്നു. ഏറ്റവും വിശിഷ്ടമായ ഭഗവത് ചൈതന്യം അതില്‍ പ്രസരിക്കുന്നു. അത് എല്ലാ രോഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കും വിഷമങ്ങള്‍ക്കും മരുന്നായി മാറുന്നു.. അമൃതനിഷ്യന്തി ആയിത്തീരുന്നു.

Musings 19

it is really very difficult to decide what is right and what is wrong

The decisions can be very subjective..
If I do something, or if someone who is close me does it, my first impression will be that it is right..

When the same thing is done by someone else, especially if that someone else does not have much of a mutual positive vibe with me,
my first impression will be that what he did not right.. not exactly right, or even patently wrong

We start our transactions, conversations, debates, all starting from the first impression... 

If the start itself if not definitely right, where can we find just and right solutions?

But there is one relief.. 

Human mind, be it yours or mine, has a rational side to it..

If one asks himself whether what he did does or will be doing will be right, and seek an answer from the mind and the brain.. keeping away the prejudices, preferences etc and keeping the general order and welfare as the aim, we will get the right answer.

Some may agree with such candid answers coming from inside and openly admit that in public and even make adjustments that could save the interests of all concerned..

But most of us are rather asinine and opinionated.. 

Our ego would force us to stick on to our prejudices even when the rational being within us would be prompting us to see reason

So, even if the process is rather difficult and vexatious,
let us have dialogues with our candid minds once in a while..
That can be the solution for many problems..

Another thing, when we see things and incidents at close proximity we are likely to act very passionately and impulsively..

We may even commit grave errors, get wounded and carry the scars for ever..

But if we look at the situation much later the hollowness and absurdity of our actions would be fully visible..

As boys two friends would have fought for a chocolate candy and in the fight, the candy would have fallen on the dust and both would have cried..

But the same two persons, say after a few decades, if they recalled the incident, would not be of despair, sadness or acrimony.. but they might at best have a good laugh..

I just wanted to mention that priorities in life change and it takes a lot of thinking and evaluation even to decide what really are our priorities.. 

We can even take a few hours or even few days to decide what are our real priorities.. 

and we can have periodical reviews too because nothing in life.. including priorities are static.. 

They are dynamic..

They change with time..

Anyway is it not better to have a clear roadmap when we start a journey?

I have to confess that I could not really understand my priorities and preferences in life even after a life of six decades..
I have blundered on

My resolve (at least I hope so) in the new year would be to understand, what my real priorities in life are, as on this day..

I wish all, including myself, a very happy and balanced new year..

Of course Krishna is there to look after all of us..

Krishnaya Thubyam namaH
कृष्णाय तुभ्यं नमः