one year package versus green channel of three days.

नरकाय मतिस्ते चेत्पौरोहित्यम् समाचर।
वर्ष यावत्किमन्येन माठापत्यम् दिनत्रयं॥७०
विष्णुशर्मणः पञ्चतनत्रे मित्रभेदात्।
narakāya matiste cetpaurohityam samācara|
varṣa yāvatkimanyena māṭhapatyaṁ dinatrayaṁ||70
viṣṇuśarmaṇaḥ pañcatanatre mitrabhedāt|

This ia a very thought provoking career guidance, from panchatantram.. 
If you want to get entry into hell within a year, you start practising priesthood. 
 If you want a faster shortcut to reach  hell just in  three days, you take up the presidency of a monastery.

Purohitaas or priests, should become role models in the society for the marality and high value they preach. 

 But the dicturm that the picture of a  gourd drawn on a paper will not be good for a side dish, is most appropriate in the lives of most presets, of whatever hue they are. 

Simply they assume the role of the representative of the God and in time no sin is taboo for them. 

So the path to hell within say a year is assured for them.. 
But the priests have to depend on the tythe or daskhina they get from consumers(devotees)  and they start their atrocities in a phased manner judy waiting till  reasonable stability is attained.  

But in the case of a person who becomes a Madaathipathy or head of monastery the means for corruptions are right under their noses from the word go.  So their journey to hell can be assured just in a dizzy pace...

This is not to say that all priests and heads of monasteries are corrupt and insincere to their ordained duties. 

 This is rather a  warning to the aspirants to such hallowed seats to be very sensible and conscientious.

--

NamaH Sivaaya

NamaH Sivaaya

मानो महान्तमुत मानो अर्भकं
मा न उक्षन्तमुतमान उक्षितं।
मा नो वधीः पितरं मोत मातरं
प्रिया मा नस्तनुवो रुद्र रीरिषः॥५२-१॥
मा नस्तोकेतनये मा न आयुषि
मा नो गोषु मा नो अश्वेषु रीरिषः।
वीरान्मानो रुद्र भामितो वधीर्
हविष्मन्तो नमसा विधेम ते॥ ५३-१॥
महानारायणोपनिषद्॥
māno mahāntamuta māno arbhakaṁ
mā na ukṣantamutamāna ukṣitaṁ|
mā no vadhīḥ pitaraṁ mota mātaraṁ
priyā mā nastanuvo rudra rīriṣaḥ||52-1||
mā nastoketanaye mā na āyuṣi
mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ|
vīrānmāno rudra bhāmito vadhīr
haviṣmanto namasā vidhema te|| 53-1||
mahānārāyaṇopaniṣad||
māno mahāntamuta māno arbhakaṁ
mā na ukṣantamutamāna ukṣitaṁ|
mā no vadhīḥ pitaraṁ mota mātaraṁ
priyā mā nastanuvo rudra rīriṣaḥ||52-1||
mā nastoketanaye mā na āyuṣi
mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ|
vīrānmāno rudra bhāmito vadhīr
haviṣmanto namasā vidhema te|| 53-1||
mahānārayaṇopaniṣad||

This is a prayer to Sri  Rudra, the Lord Shiva the Destructor among the  triumvirate ..this is found in Mahanarayanaopnishat,  Taiittareeya aranyaka of Krishna yajurveda. It is also chanted as part of Sri Rudram 

the free translation is
Oh, bhagavan Rudra..
 please do not injure or punish  the elders, nor the infants, 
Do not hurt the adults  who are endowed with the capacity to procreate 
nor the foetus lying in the female wombs. 

Do not injure our dear fathers or mothers. 
 Do not destroy our  bodies.
Oh Rudra we offer oblations to you through havis (cooked grain) 
and we offer you utmost reverence.. 
Be pleased not to hurt us through harm to our children, 
to our grandchildren.
 Be pleased not to hurt other persons belonging to us, 
our cows and cattle, and our horses. 
 Be pleased not to annihilate our heroes..who protect us from attacks.

In the nomadic life in the Vedic period man feared the natural forces and the destructive hands of the Rudra terrified them.  
So they offered praise and oblation to the angry God with a prayer that  all that is near and dear to them should be left unharmed. 
The Sreerudraprashnam in yajurvedam  also called Shatarudreeyam and Namkam is also  a prayer to Lord Shiva who has manifested in the fierce form of Rudra..

and the Chamakam following it is the recital of a long list addressed to the same lord,  of things we woud be bestowed with , 
when the  Lord has abandoned  his anger
and is in a pleasant and blessing mood.  

It is no wonder that Lord Shiva is called Aashuthosha...who become calm and happy very easily.  
The Lord's anger is towards evil and when his children cry in supplication before the primordial father, like all nice fathers, his anger subsides in a jiffy and he is prepared to do anything for his children

NamaH Sivaaya

Can't we try to reverse the trend?

व्याघ्रीव तिष्ठति जरा परितर्ज्जयन्ती
रोगाश्च  शत्रव इव प्रहरन्ति देहं।
आयुः परिस्रवति भिन्न्घटादिवांभो
लोकस्तदाप्यहितमाचरतीति चित्रं॥३८॥
भर्त्तृहारेः वैराग्यशतकाद्
vyāghrīva tiṣṭhati jarā paritarjjayantī
rogāśca  śatrava iva praharanti dehaṁ|
āyuḥ parisravati bhinnghaṭādivāṁbho
lokastadāpyahitamācaratīti citraṁ||38||
bharttṛhāreḥ vairāgyaśatakād
yet another quote from Vairagyasatakam of Bharthruhari
" The old age is hovering around us with threatening noises like an enraged tiger,  diseases are hitting the body as if they are our worst enemies,  the lifespan is just draining out like water filled in a broken earthen-pot,  but still people follow the path of evil alone, how strange it is."
The life is short..and as our sojourn on terra firma extends, we get debilitated by old age which is only  a preface to our going back to where we came from, and the diseases are the bosom friends of the old age.  Our lifetime on this earth is depleting fast like water stored in a porous pot.  The belief is that we have strayed on to this earth to do something good and leave it as a better place compared to what it was when we came in. But we always pollute the earth and its environs with our evil actions and thought.. and ultimately we succumb to the inevitable.   Can't we  try to reverse the trend?. Sometimes doing nothing is better than doing something bad.

--

।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

draw the last drop of blood and then kick him out

सुदुष्करं कर्म कारयित्वा कर्तारमवमन्यते नीचः॥४३८॥
चाणक्यनीतिसूत्राद्
suduṣkaraṁ karma kārayitvā kartāramavamanyate nīcaḥ||438||
cāṇakyanītisūtrād



this is another terse aphorism credited to Chanakya
"An evil-minded boss drives a servant to perform the most impossible tasks, and even if  he achieves the target , never care to give the servant any credit for the hard work but takes sadist pleasure in insulting him."

This is a historical tradition handed over by every selfish boss from generation to generation of his successors. The person down below in hierarchy acquires this evil tendency as he climbs up the managerial ladder.
Mutual distrust between an efficient subordinate and not so efficient boss is monumental.  The boss has always a gut feeling that the man below is going to stage a coup d'etat which may cost the boss his job.  Hence the boss is always mean enough to bleed the best out of the subordinate and then condemn him to the dustbin.  But this will not work to the favour of the boss.. His bluff will be called at any moment.
Feeling of insecurity and lack of self-confidence is germane in some persons..such persons see danger signals in anything performed well around them, if such performance is not  justly or unjustly credited to their own account.  Many cranky persons who deserve to be confined to lunatic asylums are, by some quirk of fate, placed in positions of great authority.  Human society commits such mistake repeatedly. They never learn from the bitter experiences of the past.

--

।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

The indomitable spirit of man alone keeps him aloft

The indomitable spirit of man alone keeps him aloft

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

परदेशभयाद्भीताः बहुमायाः नपुम्सकाः

स्वदेशे निधनं यान्ति काकाः कापुरुषा मृगाः।३५०

यस्यास्ति सर्वत्र गतिः स कस्मात्स्वदेशरागेण हि याति नाशं।

तातस्य कूपोऽयमिति ब्रुवाणाः क्षारं जलं कापुरुषाः पिबन्ति॥३५१

विष्णुशर्मकृते पञ्चतन्त्रे मित्रभेदात्

paradeśabhayādbhītāḥ bahumāyāḥ napumsakāḥ

svadeśe nidhanaṁ yānti kākāḥ kāpuruṣā mṛgāḥ|350

yasyāsti sarvatra gatiḥ sa kasmātsvadeśarāgeṇa hi yāti nāśaṁ|

tātasya kūpo'yamiti bruvāṇāḥ kṣāraṁ jalaṁ kāpuruṣāḥ pibanti||351

viṣṇuśarmakṛte pañcatantre mitrabhedāt

പരദേശഭയാത് ഭീതാ ബഹുമായാ നപുംസകാ

സ്വദേശേ നിധനം യാന്തി കാകാ കാപുരുഷാ മൃഗാ

യസ്യാസ്തിസര്‍വത്ര ഗതിഃ സ കസ്മാത് സ്വദേശരാഗേണ ഹി യാതി നാശം

താതസ്യ കൂപോയമിതിബ്രുവാണ ക്ഷാരം ജലം കാപുരുഷാ പിബന്തി

വിഷ്ണുശര്മാവിന്റെ പഞ്ചതന്ത്രം മിത്രഭേദം

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The advise for an enterprising person is that he should travel far and wide and amass wealth and knowledge.

The basic courage of a person lies in his travel and getting established in foreign territories. 

This idea was popular for millenia in India.

And historically there was heavy inflow of foreigners to India and Indians have travelled extensively and set up settlements in many places.

It is even said jocularly that when Armstrong landed up in the Moon, he could see a Nair from Kerala running a teashop.

It is only a joke but all these geographical discoveries and bonding of the whole earth happened through people travelling extensively disregarding personal risks and discomforts. 

This idea is underlined in the mitrabedha section of panchatantram.

____________________________________________

"The artful eunuchs,, crows some animals and idiotic people shun travel outside their birthplaces out of timidity and perish there after leading an insipid life. 

If one has the energy and resources, why should he stick to a little area of land just because of meaningless attachment? 

They are, in the grip of nostalgia and are drinking alkaline and polluted water from a well dug by their forefathers thinking that "this is my father's well and I should drink from here alone even if the water is alkaline and polluted." "

_____________________________________________

The idea given here should not be interpreted as lack of love for the motherland or fatherland. 

Trade, Commerce, exchange of knowledge, culture, all happens only when there is inter border flow of populace between nations.

Tamilians were very enthusiastic about trading even by covering long distances through sea voyage. 

============================================

வெள்ளிப்பனிமலைதன்மீதுலாவுவோம் அந்த மேலைக்கடல்கடந்து கப்பல்விடுவோம் ...

எங்கள் பாரததேசமேன்று தோள்கொட்டுவோம்..

மகாகவி பாரதியார்

vellippanimalaithanmeethulaavuvom antha 

melaikkatal katandur kappal vituvoom..

engal bharatha desamenru thol kottuvom.

said Mahakavi Bharathiyaar..." 

"let us wander over snowy mountains and let us ply ships travelling all over the western sea....

and wherever we go, we will raise our shoulder aloft and pat ourselves that the place we come is the Bharatha Desam.. our lovely India." 

============================================

The indomitable spirit of man alone keeps him aloft.

Do not let that black treasure who is also called Krishna leave your heart even for a split second

Do not let that black treasure who is also called Krishna leave your heart even for a split second 

अस्ति स्वस्तरुणीकराग्रविगलत्कल्पप्रसूनाप्ळुतं
वस्तु प्रस्तुतवेणुनादलहरीनिर्वाणनिर्व्याकुलं।
स्रस्त स्रस्त निरुद्धनीविविलसद्गोपीसहस्रावृतं
हस्तन्यस्तनतापवर्गमखिलोदारं किशोरकृतिः॥१-२॥
श्रीकृष्णकर्णामृतं   लीलाशुककृतं
asti svastaruṇīkarāgravigalatkalpaprasūnāpḻutaṁ
vastu prastutaveṇunādalaharīnirvāṇanirvyākulaṁ|
srasta srasta niruddhanīvivilasadgopīsahasrāvṛtaṁ
hastanyastanatāpavargamakhilodāraṁ kiśorakṛtiḥ||1-2||
śrīkṛṣṇakarṇāmṛtaṁ   līlāśukakṛtaṁ

There shines forth the supreme object manifest in the shape of an adolescent youth holding in His hands all the benevolence, Grace  and  path to heavenly abode  to be  granted to all who just bow before Him. 

He is filling the universe with ecstasy in the form of divine music  flowing from the flute held on his lips uplifting all to the state of Nirvana and absence of any worldly woes.  

He is surrounded by thousand  beautiful girls of cowherd clan (Gopis)  whose upper clothes are repeatedly sliding  down from the places they are supposed to cover  and are repeatedly held back by the girls with their tender hands  

 He is deluged with the flowers being showered on him by the celestial Kalpaka tree through the hands of the daughters of heaven, the Apsaraas.


The infinite being that is Krishna is seen in His  earthly form  by one of His fervent devotees,  Bilvamangala or Leelashuka. 
This is the enigma of Krishna.  
His staunchest devotees know that 
He is, and nothing else is, the Supreme being ..formless, infinite,  the Parabrahma   But still they love to portray Him in an earthly form.  
Sadasiva Brahmendra, a recluse who simply walked all along the  banks of Kaveri river,  without covering his body with even  scant clothing and always in delirious contemplation of the Supreme Soul, requests his own mind to dwell upon the Parabrahama which Graces the earth with its hair adorning the feather of an intoxicated peacock, its cheeks challenging the newly sprouted leaf with its nascent hue,  whose eyes hover with desire around the ample bosom of the goddess of wealth, and who is growing as the divine tree in the humble abodes of his devout servants.
( मदशिखिपिञ्चालंकृतचिकुरे महनीयकपोलविजितमुकुरे श्रीरमणीकुचदुर्गविहारे सेवकजनमन्दिरमन्दारे मानस सञ्चर रे ब्रह्मणि मानस सञ्चर रे madaśikhipiñcālaṁkṛtacikure mahanīyakapolavijitamukure śrīramaṇīkucadurgavihāre sevakajanamandiramandāre mānasa sañcara re brahmaṇi mānasa sañcara re)

May Krishna bless us

Sadasiva Brahmendra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

\

No appeals and reviews here

च्छिन्नोऽपि रोहति तरुः क्षीणोऽप्युपचीयते पुनश्चन्द्रः।
इति विमृशन्तः सन्तः सन्तप्यन्ते न दुःखेषु॥७९॥
भर्तृहरेः नीतिशतकात्
cchinno'pi rohati taruḥ kṣīṇoo'pyupacīyate punaścandraḥ|
iti vimṛśantaḥ santaḥ santapyante na duḥkheṣu||79||
bhartṛhareḥ nītiśatakāt

Another very soothing aphorism from Bhartruhari...in his neetishatakam
" Even when a tree is mutilated by cutting off its branches, it grows new branches in time and regains its original grandeur.  Similarly even though the moon goes into vitual nothinness by every new moon day, he picks up his pieces of crescents and grows into fullness gradually once again.  Taking these as their role models in life noble people never grieve too much when misfortune strike them hard.

The simple but elegant expostulation of the nature of things in the universe is really worth pondering over  repeatedly .  The cycle of life is like a cartwheel.  Often, one part of it rubs with hard earth but while the wheel rolls on, that part reaches the uppermost and comfortable part in its journey. These ups and downs repeat with periodic precison.  However, if the wheel stops at any point, its fate is doomed. It will be completed grounded.  Pundits of lifestyle management may say that proper planning and execution can make life bright all the time.. Such projection of life as an everlasting honeymoon journey is completely wrong.  No one can plan for ascendancy at every twist and turn of life.  Windfalls as well as misfortunes like thunderbolt, visit and strike us at the most unexpected moment. The statistical parameters may add up to infinity and so no prediction is possible.  The ideal policy is to grin and bear it.  An optimist can always see a sheet of sunlight at the farthest end of the tunnel.  And time and fate are very tough taskmasters. Quite unlike our bosse who at worst would threaten or  record some adverse remarks in our annual performance appraisal,  nature simply delivers its punishments and bounties with dizzying speed and strength.  No appeals and reviews here.  However, remember that no one can break the human spirit.  If one refuses to become desolate come whatever may,  all forces will stand stupefied before him.
--

।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

important incometax notificaton

NOTIFICATION NO
36/2011, Dated : June 23, 2011
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1C) of section 139 of the Income-tax
Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby exempts the following class of
persons, subject to the conditions specified hereinafter, from the requirement of furnishing
a return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 for the assessment year 2011-12,
namely : -
Class of Persons
1. An Individual whose total income for the relevant assessment year does not exceed five
lakh rupees and consists of only income chargeable to income-tax under the following head,
-
(A) "Salaries";
(B) "Income from other sources", by way of interest from a savings account in a bank, not
exceeding ten thousand rupees.
Conditions
2. The individual referred to in para 1, -
(i) has reported to his employer his Permanent Account Number (PAN);
(ii) has reported to his employer, the incomes mentioned in sub-para (B) of para 1 and the
employer has deducted the tax thereon;
(iii) has received a certificate of tax deduction in Form 16 from his employer which
mentions the PAN, details of income and the tax deducted at source and deposited to the
credit of the Central Government;
(iv) has discharged his total tax liability for the assessment year through tax deduction at
source and its deposit by the employer to the Central Government;
(v) has no claim of refund of taxes due to him for the income of the assessment year; and
(vi) has received salary from only one employer for the assessment year.
3. The exemption from the requirement of furnishing a return of income-tax shall not be
available where a notice under section 142(1) or section 148 or section 153A or section
153C of the Income-tax Act has been issued for filing a return of income for the relevant
assessment year.
4. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official
Gazette.
F. NO. 142/09/2011 (TPL)

be near the centre of power

आसन्नमेवे नृपतिर्भजते मनुष्यं
विद्याविहीनमकुलीननमसम्स्कृतं वा।
प्रायेण भूमिपतयः प्रमदाः लताश्च
यत्पार्शतो भवति तत्परिवेष्टयन्ति॥३६॥
विष्णुशर्मणः पञ्चतन्त्रे मित्रभेदात्॥
āsannameve nṛpatirbhajate manuṣyaṁ
vidyāvihīnamakulīnanamasamskṛtaṁ vā|
prāyeṇa bhūmipatayaḥ pramadāḥ latāśca
yatpārśato bhavati tatpariveṣṭayanti||36||
viṣṇuśarmaṇaḥ pañcatantre mitrabhedāt||

This is from a narration of a story in Panchatantram in the mitrabhedha section. 
Some very important persons always are influenced by the immediate presence, and advise of subordinates in close proximity .. this sort of advice can come from persons among the personal servants of a king or a top bureaucrat, maybe, a household servant or a personal launderer or a barber or a gatekeeper or an arrogant wife or an imbecile progeny. However uneducated and unsuitable they are they  influence him with some remarks or advice.   As a generalization,the poet says, the kings, ladies and the creepers always simply grow their tendrils and climb up the things which are very near them.

The working of kitchen cabinets in the centres of power are landmarks in the history and growth of any civilization.  The great Prince Rama was denied the kingship by Dasartaha sitting in the harem of Kaikeyi, his favourite wife  Duryodhana went by the advice of his maternal uncle and ubiquitous companion Sakuni. These are all stories.  What happened during contemporary landmarks in history  and who wielded the real power are  well known...the coterie or kitchen cabinet.  Many a times the king or boss signs papers presented to him at home virtually ensuring that he is hanging himself and his image and often the kingdom or organisation he heads  is taking an abysmal dip.  Instead of being born as a bureaucrat at middle manager lever, it would be more comfortable if one is born as the pet dog of the top boss.
Strangely enough the middle chap when he climbs up the ladder creates his own coterie and old friends and well-wishers are relegated to the dustbin.

--

please have your baths quite often in the day.

गुणा दश स्नानशीलं भजन्ते बलं रूपं स्वरवर्णप्रशुद्धिः
स्पर्शश्च गन्धश्च विशुद्धता च श्रीः सौकुमार्यं प्रवराश्च नार्यः॥२९॥
श्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि प्रजागरणपर्वणि विदुरनीतिवाक्ये अध्यायः ३७
guṇā daśa snānaśīlaṁ bhajante balaṁ rūpaṁ svaravarṇapraśuddhiḥ
sparśaśca gandhaśca viśuddhatā ca śrīḥ saukumāryaṁ pravarāśca nāryaḥ||29||
śrīmahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi prajāgaraṇaparvaṇi viduranītivākye adhyāyaḥ 37

The advice of Vidhura to his elder brother and King Dhritarashtra covered a large area of  dos and dont's in human activities. 
 Here he is extolling the benefits of regular bath. 

Ten benefits visit a person who makes it a habit to take bath every day. 
(1) Strength. 
(2)  Physical beauty. 
(3) clarity of tone 
(4) clarity in pronounciation 
(4) softness and suppleness for touch
 (6) sweet aroma as the body odour is driven away
 (7) self-purity  
 (8) continuing youth,
 (9) immense wealth 
and last but not at all least 
(10)  company of beautiful ladies.

This would appear to be an excellent advertisement for some toilet soap..

I wonder why the soap giants do not look up such free and catch publicity matter.. 
they can make some fellow with long beard and saffron cloth  chant this advice of Vidura and push their soaps in the market.

Seriously, Indians were always votaries of constant baths and ablutions and toilet papers did not attract their fancy in any way.  
A nice bath makes one healthy mentally and physically. 
The clean body repels germs and parasites.  
The organs are cleaned and so they function effectively.  
It would be difficult for one's wife and children to keep company with a person if he has not taken bath for a few days and is carrying with him the consequent stench.  
People who are romantically oriented should keep in mind that the cleanliness gained through a good bath will play an important role in acquiring romnatic contacts and retaining them.. 
The strength, clarity, intelligence etc., kept  in place through personal hygiene (here bath is the most important recipe) 
 make one blessed with good income and wealth. 

So everyone please have your baths quite often in the day.

--

right connections take one to dizzy heights..

Right connections take one to dizzy heights..

गुणवदाश्रयान्निर्गुणोऽपि गुणी भवति॥१७६॥

चाणक्यनीतिसूत्राद्

गुणवद्वस्तुसंसर्गात् याति स्वल्पोऽपि गौरवं।

पुष्पमालानुषङ्गेन सूत्रं शिरसि धार्यते

guṇavadāśrayānnirguṇo'pi guṇī bhavati||176||

cāṇakyanītisūtrād

guṇavadvastusaṁsargāt yāti svalpo'pi gauravaṁ|

puṣpamālānuṣaṅgena sūtraṁ śirasi dhāryate

Many of the aphorisms of Chanakya may look very ordinary .. but we have to remember that the advice, even though apparently very commonplace acquires immense value when it comes from a great master. 

Chanakya says.. " A person bereft of any virtues or accomplishments would be able to acquire virtues and gain attainments by keeping constant contact with virtuous and accomplished people'

A supporting subhashitam is

" By constant contact with an object of great utility, silly and insignificant things also will gain importance. A string also gets placed in the beautiful hair of a damsel because it ties together flowers of immense beauty and fragrance."

In real life we find that this idea finds its full manifestation in the way the secretaries or even peons or sweepers attached to the office or the household of an important personality behaves. 

It is like telling that the large lumps of droppings of an elephant are also assuming identical importance as the elephant itself. 

But it is a stark reality of life. 

Our lives can be put in jeopardy by the silly but deliberate action of a tailpiece of a VIP.

Often, even if the God is prepared to grant you a boon one has to please the puujari (the priest) if things are to move in the proper direction. 

We see such subordinate deities in huge numbers in any mega organization..at the middle management level.. 

Their influence will be obvious at the crunch situation. 

If the big boss is taking a decision on the annual placement of staff at various levels, he will, in all probability, spell out the general policy and the subordinate deity fills up the real columns in the order with names, places and posts..

Here he can play havoc if he is not placated adequately.

In Hindu way of life we are very conscious of the influence of the satellite and subordinate deities. 

Any person entering the temple will pay obeisance to the deities guarding the entrance. 

Maybe one set of sages like the Sanalkumara brothers could overrule the gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya guarding Vaikuntam and barge into the presence of Lord Vishnu, even after cursing the gatekeepers,

 but that is only a case of exception proving the rule.

--

on ganapathi homam

While on ganapthy homam I  would like to quote a story from Aithihyamala of Kottarathil Sankunni. In a ganapthy temple of limited resources, the priest was not having enough time to light two sources of fire, the oven for preparing naivedyam, and the kundam for ganapathy homam . So he would just chant the moolamanthra of Lord Ganapathy  and offer the homadravyam in the oven which is lighted in the thidapally(kitchen) . Envious people reported this to the king. The priest was the last word in  devotion, although. The king visited the temple unannounced to see the mischief of the priest. Even after seeing the king the priest was unperturbed. He said that he has offered the cocanut and sarkara( unrefined  sugar candy)  to Ganapathi and He was happily eating it. 

He told the king that he could see it himself but he should peep into the oven with at least one eye closed. The king looked in and saw the Lord Ganesha sitting in the fire and happily receiving the offerings. 

However the one eye that saw this could not see anything else in this world after that. He lost the sight of that eye. 

Ganapthy is not a stickler on procedures. He will receive whatever we give with love, and return the love N to the power of million times.

water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink

water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink

धनिनोऽप्यदानविभवाः गण्यन्ते धुरि महादरिद्राणां।
हन्ति न य न पिपासामतः समुद्रोऽपि मरुरेव॥११६॥
बल्ललदेवस्य भोजप्रबन्धात्
dhanino'pyadānavibhavāḥ gaṇyante dhuri mahādaridrāṇāṁ|
hanti na ya na pipāsāmataḥ samudro'pi marureva||116||
ballaladevasya bhojaprabandhāt

an interesting quote from the Bhojaprabandham of Ballaladeva 

 Even if people  are immensely rich they are actually very poor    if they  do not have the mind to help others and share the benefit of their wealth  collectively.  
The great ocean though full of water, could be equated to desert  because the water possessed by it could not quench the thirst of anybody because of its salinity.

This  simple but straightforward statement  brings out with clarity the fact that individual merits will be recognized in the society only if it has  a utility content for all. 
 If a man has somehow managed to earn a lot of money and keeps it all for himself without helping others, neither such person nor his money will have any relevance for the society as a whole.  
Perhaps the exception will be the Income-tax people who may forcibly  try to reduce the wealth through various levies.  
This fact would apply with equal force to the wealth of knowledge, skill and experience one has acquired.   
If, after studying a lot if one keeps aloof without sharing the knowledge with others, he will be lacking in lustre like a bright lamp placed inside a closed earthen pot. 

The appropriate comparison for this is the water of the ocean saturated with salt.  

Nobody can drink and the existence will be similar to living in a desert, where again water is scarce..   
One may remember  Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, who cried caught in a ship in rough seas, 
"water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink"

To tell the truth or keep quiet?

अव्याहतं व्याहृतात्छ्रेय आहु सत्यं वदेत् व्याहृतं तद्द्वितीयं।
प्रियम् वदेत् व्याहृतं तत्तृतीयम् धर्म्यम् वदेत् व्याहृतं तत्चतुर्थं॥१२॥
श्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि प्रजागरण पर्वणि विदुरनीतिवाक्ये अध्यायः ३६
avyāhataṁ vyāhṛtātchreya āhu satyaṁ vadet vyāhṛtaṁ taddvitīyaṁ|
priyam vadet vyāhṛtaṁ tattṛtīyam dharmyam vadet vyāhṛtaṁ tatcaturthaṁ||12||
srīmahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi prajāgaraṇa parvaṇi viduranītivākye adhyāyaḥ 36

To tell the truth or keep quiet? 
This dilemma haunted all sensible persons through the ages.  
This is dealt with by Vidura in this treasure of an advice.

Silence is the best things, says Vidura, and  if you have no chance other than speaking our always tell the truth. 
And even while telling the truth, it is better to take care that the words spoken are agreeable to others.  
And we should desist from speaking even agreeable words if they do not conform to approved social and moral norms.

Bharavi explained it in another way.. 
हितं मनोहारि च दुर्लभं वचः 
hitham manohari cha durlabham vachaH....
words which are sweet to the ears and at the same time contributing to our own welfare are really rare.. In Ramayanam  Mareecha tells Ravana his nephew....

O king the world abounds in people who speak sweet words to you always.  But it is rare to find a speaker or listener of words which are inconvenient but meant for the ultimate benefit of the listener. 
(Sulabhaah purushaa raajan santhatam priyavaadinaH  apriyasya cha pathyasya vakthaa shrotaa cha durlabhaaH  
सुलभाः पुरुषाः राजन् संततं प्रियवादिनः अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य  वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभाः )..

But the basic rules should be in place.. 
Just to please the listener, one should not speak untrue words.  
Of course even unpalatable facts can be presented with some sugarcoat.
 It is good  management.  
And sometimes if  truth is spoken all of a sudden, it can either kill the speaker or the listener. 
There are so many possibilities.  
The words may be received with violence, 
the words can cause physical shock or mental insanity. 

In these days of right to information  and exalted freedom of media all concerned have to  understand that many things, even when they are stark truths should not be made known in public.. 
if a truth can only do harm to the interests of all, 
if it will ruin the reasonably cordial relationship among people, nations, and other groups
 and if there is nothing to happen as value addition for  the benefit of anyone other than scandalmongers,
 why should such truths be dished out? 
The age old wisdom  speaks...
SILENCE IS GOLDEN

--

Strife has become second nature to all

अत्तुं वाञ्छति शांभवो गणपतेराखुम् क्षुदार्तो फणी
तम् च क्रौञ्चरिपोः शिखी गिरिसुतासिंहोऽपि नागाऽशनं।
इत्थं यत्र परिग्रहस्य घटना शंभोरपि स्यत्गृहे
तत्रान्यत्र कथं न भाविजगतो यस्मात्स्वरूपं हि तत्॥१८०॥
विष्णुशर्मणः पञ्चतन्त्रात्
attuṁ vāñchati śāṁbhavo gaṇapaterākhum kṣudārto phaṇī
tam ca krauñcaripoḥ śikhī girisutāsiṁho'pi nāgā'śanaṁ|
itthaṁ yatra parigrahasya ghaṭanā śaṁbhorapi syatgṛhe
tatrānyatra kathaṁ na bhāvijagato yasmātsvarūpaṁ hi tat||180||
viṣṇuśarmaṇaḥ pañcatantrāt

The situation of cold war as perceived in the house of Lord Shiva is described vividly in the Panchatantram of Visnusharma.

The snake tied around the neck of Lord Shiva is very hungry and it is eyeing for the rat the mount of Shivas first son Ganapati for a quick breakfast.  
The snake is under strong reckoning  for the planned dinner of the Peacock which is the chariot of Shivas second son Subramania.  

The lion  available in the abode of Shiva as the  mount of the First Lady Devi Gauri has already reserved in mind the flesh of the peacock for its supper.  

Thus even in the first family of the world there is supreme strife among the servants and this has inevitably led to friction among the masters.  

So what else can we expect in the ordinary households of the earth which are all designed and managed keeping the Kailash as the role model.

When each member of the household employ staff or vehicles which are not compatible to the taste of others it is absolute bedlam in a joint family.  

Usually the cold war never manifests openly but it is only a truce on the surface.  

The snake of Shiva, the rat of Ganesh the peacock of Kumarji and Maataajis lion all survive only because the masters do not want to come out openly an hit out at one another. 


The funny situation is  painfully manifest in all its vividness  in all the walks of life.  

Take the case of secretaries of various executives in a big corporation or a Government office.  
Or take the  case of the followers of political parties who join in opportunistic alliance to share power.
Strife has become second nature to all.

--

never get carried away by the lustre of the gem.

दुर्ज्जनः परिहर्तव्यः विद्ययालङ्कृतोऽपि सन्।
मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः॥४३॥
भर्त्तृहरेः नीतिशतकं
durjjanaḥ parihartavyaḥ vidyayālaṅkṛto'pi san|
maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ||43||
bharttṛhareḥ nītiśatakaṁ

Another nugget from bharttruhari

"A characterless rogue, even if he is endowed with a lot of knowledge  should always be avoided as a friend or companion. Can a venomous serpent become less terrible just because he has a precious gem on his forehead? "

When it comes to a choice between character and learnedness, character should be the priority.  The inherent evil nature of some people will never leave them just because they have acquired a lot of knowledge.. This fact is observed by us too frequently.. many  of the stalwarts wearing  the mantles of   great  writers administrators and statesmen
all in one bundle are seen lacking only in integrity and genuine concern for the society which placed infinite trust on them.  Can such persons be encouraged just on account of their learnedness and capacity to wag their tongues to advantage?  Of course, the masses behave sometimes in an asinine way 
However, even if a venomous snake acquires its maanikkyam ( a priceless gem), it never can abandon its evil instinct to inject venom on whoever that goes near it.  One should never get  carried away by the lustre of the gem.

--

ദുര്‍ജ്ജനഃ പരിഹര്‍തവ്യഃ വിദ്യയാലങ്കൃതോഽപി സന്‍। 

മണിനാ ഭൂഷിതഃ സര്‍പ്പഃ കിമസൌ ന ഭയങ്കരഃ॥൪൩॥ 

ഭര്‍ത്തൃഹരേഃ നീതിശതകം 

വിദ്യാഭ്യാസവും മറ്റു പ്രമാണിത്വവും എല്ലാം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഒരാള്‍ മനസുകൊണ്ടും സ്വഭാവം കൊണ്ടും ചീത്തയാണെങ്കില്‍ അയാളെ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ നിന്നും ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നതാണ് നല്ലത്. 

സര്‍പ്പത്തിന്‍റെ തലയില്‍ രത്നം ഉണ്ടെന്നത് കൊണ്ടുമാത്രം അതിന്റെ വിഷവും മാരകത്വവും ഒട്ടും കുരയുകയില്ലല്ലോ 

വിദ്യാഭ്യാസവും തറവാടിത്തവും ഒക്കെ നല്ലതാണ്.. പക്ഷെ മനസ്സില്‍ നന്മയും സ്വഭാവശുദ്ധിയും ഇല്ലാത്ത വ്യക്തി എപ്പോഴും അപകടകാരിയാണ്. പുറംപൂച്ചില്‍ മയങ്ങി അയാളെ വിശ്വസിച്ചാല്‍ ഫലം നല്ലതാവില്ല.

the essential five

अनुपद्रवम् देशमावसेत्॥३६९॥
चाणक्यसूत्रं
धनिकः श्रोत्रियो राजा नदी वैद्यस्तु पञ्चमः।
पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न कुर्यात् तत्र संस्थितिं॥
anupadravam deśamāvaset||369||
cāṇakyasūtraṁ
dhanikaḥ śrotriyo rājā nadī vaidyastu pañcamaḥ|
pañca yatra na vidyante na kuryāt tatra saṁsthitiṁ||

When it comes to prescribe rules for good life, the Master Chankaya has repeated many ideas many a times. Maybe, his idea would have been that at least a little piece of his advise reaches somebody and makes someone's life better. My mailbox is cluttered with about 150 mails on an average day and ninety percent of it would be junk for me. But I never complain..because the heap may contain some unexpected gems also.
I am underlining this because I know I am contributing to the junk mail of many friends, almost daily with assiduous precision..And I have met my friends who remark immediately on seeing me, every morning I am really jittery to open my mailbox because there will be something from you.. Okey, with my apologies to those. let me continue to fill up my basket of junk.

Chankya"s dictum is that  " One should in habit a terrain which is free from major hazards to peaceful inhabitation"  
To supplement the idea,  a couplet is also provided.  A person should never choose as permanent residence a place where  these five are not present (1)  Rich people (2) Learned people (3) a King (4) a fast flowing river and (5) a doctor.

A terrain will be inhabited by rich people only if the living conditions are comfortable and there is further scope for investment. And for the poor inhabitant, the rich persons can provide job opportunities, and at the worst, loans for an emergency even if the interest rate may surpass Shylock.  Learned persons are necessary so that there can be schools, law, enlightenment, fine arts.. Moreover all require somebody whom they can freely ridicule.   There should be a local administration to ensure law and order.   For any living being to survive and have a healthy living, a flowing river as source of water is the minimum guarantee.  Moreover such rivers can be source for navigation and even unobtrusive flight when things are not all well.  And last but least there should be a doctor .  If he is good enough he can treat you and restore you to good health. If he is so inclined he can also pack you up to eternity.
There is a  proverb in Kerala which listed  a different set of things, the absence of which will make Kerala beautiful.
എലി പന്നി പെരുച്ചാഴി പട്ടരും വാനരം തഥാ ഇവര്‍ ഐവരും ഇല്ലെങ്കില്‍ മലയാളം മനോഹരം   
Kerala would be very beautiful if it does not have rats,pigs, bandicoots, monkeya and pattars ( or the Iyers who have come from across the ghats to inhabit kerala) .  It is really curious that the great poet equated the pattars with the other four.

--

tenacity is the watchword

विपदि धैर्यमभ्युदये क्षमा
सदसि वाक्यपटुता युधि विक्रमः।
यशसि चाभिरतिर् व्यसनं श्रुतौ
प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदम् महात्मनां॥५२॥
भर्त्तृहरेः नीतिशतकात्
vipadi dhairyamabhyudaye kṣamā
sadasi vākyapaṭutā yudhi vikramaḥ|
yaśasi cābhiratir vyasanaṁ śrutau
prakṛtisiddhamidam mahātmanāṁ||52||
bharttṛhareḥ nītiśatakāt

this is a very famous quote from Bharthruhari..too famous to be repeated but too good not to record. This sloka deals with the distinguishing  qualities of a noble person.
Absolute boldness and presence of mind while facing danger,  extreme humility and patience while in affluence,  exemplary eloquence while presenting important issues in an assembly of the learned men, unconquerable valour and leadership in war,  abiding interest in keeping ones own good name and deep involvement in learning scriptures and sciences ---these are inborn characteristics of the noble men.

Life is a saga of ups and downs.  No one can avoid bad times.  When one is in dire straits only the tenacity of spirit can keep him afloat.  There is a sunrise at the end of the darkest night... but the wait is too tough.   When one is in affluence, the usual subordinate evil in the shape of arrogance runs the roost. If the wealth is properly used and shared generously, such wealth will become good insurance for a bad day.  Knowledge without skills of presentation will never get recognition.. Physical prowess and leadership qualities should compliment such knowledge.  And if one is not careful not to blot his copybook  he will sink into oblivion.  And all good qualities can come only through assiduous learning process.

--

officer-like qualities

अभिप्रायं यो विदित्वा तु भर्त्रुः कार्याणि करोत्यतन्द्री।
वक्ता हितानुरक्त आर्यः शक्तिज्ञ आत्मेव सोऽनुकम्प्यः॥२३॥
श्रीमहाभारते उध्योगपर्वणि प्रजागरणपर्वणि विदुरनीतिवाक्ये अध्यायः ३७
abhiprāyaṁ yo viditvā tu bhartruḥ kāryāṇi karotyatandrī|
vaktā hitānurakta āryaḥ śaktijña ātmeva so'nukampyaḥ||23||
śrīmahābhārate udhyogaparvaṇi prajāgaraṇaparvaṇi viduranītivākye adhyāyaḥ 37

The great statesman Vidura, while elucidating the proper   code of conduct for the king through a detailed dialogue with his elder brother and the king of Kurus Dhritarashtra underlines the importance of extending proper respect to the employees of the Crown.
A king ( or  the government representing him )  should treat his officer with the following qualities as if the latter is his own second self.
(1) The officer is capable of evaluating the possible viewpoints of the boss well in  advance and acts accordingly.
(2)  The officer is persistent and tireless in discharging his duties 
(3) The officer is very articulate..capable of explaining  the policies and action-plan of the administration in the most convincing manner. 
(4)  He is absolutely devoted to the welfare of his employer.
 (5) He is having excellent manners and is graceful.
(6) He is capable of evaluating the strengths and foibles of himself and others.

Today a large number of youngsters in India are appearing for a fresh examination for recruitment to the Civil Services.  While wishing them all success this would be an appropriate reminder as to what the veteran statesman  Vidura expected from an efficient bureaucrat..  And most appropriately the modern management  experts also would expect the same.
The basic quality that is  expected  is that the officer should be executing the policies of the administration with unadulterated devotion..The personal likes and dislikes of the employee should never interfere in the discharge of his official duties.  The officer should have the right vision about what is expected of him by his employer.  The officer should never try to match his pecuniary returns with the efforts he puts in.. He should be sincere and tireless. Personal accolades will come naturally if he really deserves it.  He should be clear in his understanding of his duties and the procedures, and also should have the capacity to showcase the policies of the employer most effectively. Loyalty to the interests of the administration should never be compromised.   He should be suave and graceful in his conduct..always remembering that he is representing a very important authority and he should not bungle with the  interests of the administration through his bad manners. 
One can put up a brave face under any adversities but full understanding of one's own strong and weak points vis-a-vis the rest of the dramatis personae should always rule his judgment.

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intellect is Her bounty

मेधा म इन्द्रो ददातु मेधां देवी सरस्वतीः
मेधां मे अश्विनावुभावाधत्तां पुष्करस्रजौ॥१॥
अप्सरासु च या मेधा गन्धर्वेषु च यन्मनः
देवी मेधा सरस्वती स मां मेधा सुरभिर्जुषताग्ँ स्वाहा॥२॥
महानारयणोपनिषद्॥ ४२॥
आ मां मेधा सुरभिर्विश्वरूपा हिरण्यवर्णा जगती जगम्या।
ऊर्जस्वती पयसा पिन्वमाना स मां मेधा सुप्रतीका जुषताम्॥१॥
महानारयणोपनिषद्॥ ४३॥
medhā ma indro dadātu medhāṁ devī sarasvatīḥ
medhāṁ me aśvināvubhāvādhattāṁ puṣkarasrajau||1||
apsarāsu ca yā medhā gandharveṣu ca yanmanaḥ
devī medhā sarasvatī sa māṁ medhā surabhirjuṣatāg svāhā||2||
mahānārayaṇopaniṣad|| 42||
ā māṁ medhā surabhirviśvarūpā hiraṇyavarṇā jagatī jagamyā|
ūrjasvatī payasā pinvamānā sa māṁ medhā supratīkā juṣatām||1||
mahānārayaṇopaniṣad|| 43||

This is a prayer found in Mahanarayanopanisat, Taittariiyaaranyakam and partilally in a slightly modified form in Rgvedakhila.  This is also chanted as part of Medhaasooktham, prayer to the Universal Mother  for kindling our intellect.

"May the leader of Gods Indra bestow on me the greatest Intellect.  May the Goddess Saraswathi grant us intellect. May the divine twin master physicians Ashwins wearing beautiful garlands, enhance our intellect.
I hail the sacred divinities.May the intellect that is present in the dancers of heaven the Apsaraas,  visit me.  May the intellect that is present as discretion and stability of mind in the divine singers called  gandharvaas, visit me. May the Goddess Saraswathi  who is fragrant and pure, be with me in the form of the sacred scriptures,

May that goddess of muses Saraswathi come me with Her most pleasant demeanour and bless me with success,.  That Goddess of intelligence pervades the entire universe like fragrance. She is the one who is possessing the  letters(sripts) resplendent in golden colours, Her vision covers the entire realm of knowledge.,She is   the  dispenser of all that a man can desire...dharma, artha, kama and moksha and  she is waited upon always by the seekers. She is the origin of all positive energy.  She nourishes me with all elixirs like milk. and makes my life eminently pleasant  for me with  wealth and prosperity. "

All that is great in our lives  ultimately comes to us through  Divine favour alone . The greatest faculty that contributes to our  wholesome existence is  our intellect which is kindled in us by the mother of Muses  Devi Saraswathi, who is also addressed as Devi Medhaa or intellect personified. The faculty of fine arts are manifested in the Apsaras and gandharvas and in the divine manifestation of intelligence in  golden scripts (through which we communicate).  That beloved mother's blessings are sought throught these vedic mantras
We are praising the mother only with the faculty of intellect that is bestowed upon us  by Her through her most benign will.  Without her motherly nourishment neither our individual intellect or the collective intellect of the universe can function. 
Let us pray  the most benign mother to  be with all of us for ever.
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।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

Decadence is the precursor of destruction.

प्रजानामेव भूत्यर्थं स ताभ्यो बलिमग्रहीत्
सहस्रगुणमुत्स्रष्टुमादत्ते हि रसम् रविः॥
कलिदासविरचिते रघुवम्शमहाकाव्ये १ -- २८
prajānāmeva bhūtyarthaṁ sa tābhyo balimagrahīt
sahasraguṇamutsraṣṭumādatte hi rasam raviḥ||
kalidāsaviracite raghuvamśamahākāvye 1 -- 28

The philosophy behind taxation is described by Kalidasa in the first Canto of Raghuvamsamahaakavya.  He is describing the benevolent rule of King Dileepa, the father of Raghu, with whom the poet starts the geneological saga of the solar dyanasty.
" He (Dileepa) collected taxes from his subjects  (mallinathasuri says in his commentary that the rate of tax was one sixth of the earnings)  keeping in view the welfare of the sujects in view.  The glorious sun absorbs water from the earth only to form clouds and give back the life's elixir thousandfold through rains.

It is always heartening to read about the welfare policies of our ancient kings.  Wherever we study, it leads only to the conclusion that the kings were always bound by dharma and they existed for the welfare of the people.  This is in quixotic contrast with the democracy we face today, where the citizens are supposed to have elected their own choicest representatives to rule them and getting cheated and bled to white in the process..
Wherever there is  life, there is taxation also.  Now we murmur about thirty percent of our earnings being deducted at source by way of tax.  But  the philosophy of taxation is that we pay the taxes because we are supposed to have the guaranteed protection for our life and welfare.   Happiness is the birthright of every human being and it is the duty of the man or the group of men who have taken oath to uphold the unity and integrity of the nation as well as the citizens to provide such welfare.

"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence and considered by some as part of one of the most well crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language. These three aspects are listed among the "unalienable rights" or sovereign rights of man.

The callousness of the administrators led to various riots and revolutions.  "No taxation without representation" was a war cry that rang out loudly in Europe  during the era of French Revolution.
In our times, our tax administration waxes eloquently about a regime of exemplary service providers.  The service is not to be confined to facilitation for the taxpayers to pay their taxes without any hassles and without the threat of a visitation by the tax-collector, but it should extend to the proper application of funds raised through tax for the genuine welfare of the countrymen in general and the definition of countrymen cannot be confined to a handful of  people sitting in legislative fora, cabinets and secretariats and government offices.
It was the fond belief of the ruler and ruled that if the king ruled with justice, the nature, the gods and all benevolent powers would shower their bounties on the nation.
But when the rulers and ruled go wayward, what can we expect from the natural forces.. Decadence is the precursor of destruction.

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prayer for knowledge

prayer for knowledge

ॐ यश्च्छन्दसामृषभो विश्वरूपाः।
छन्दोभ्योऽद्यमृतात् संबभूव।
समेन्द्रो मेधया स्पृणोतु।
अमृतस्य देवधारणो भूयासं।
शरीरं मे विचर्षणं।
जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा।
कर्णाभ्यां भूरिविश्रुवं।
ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः।
श्रुतं मे गोपाय।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः।
तैत्तरीय आरण्यकं  ७-४
om yaścchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpāḥ|
chandobhyo'dyamṛtāt saṁbabhūva|
samendro medayā spṛṇotu|
amṛtasya devadhāraṇo bhūyāsaṁ|
śarīraṁ me vicarṣaṇaṁ|
jihvā me madhumattamā|
karṇābhyāṁ bhūriviśruvaṁ|
brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ|
śrutaṁ me gopāya|
om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ|
taittarīya āraṇyakaṁ  7-4
"That Pranava ( Omkara) (1) which  is verily called as Indra,(2) which is the most revered among metres (chandas), (3)  which spreads the entire universe in the form of sound (Naada brahman), (4) which is foremost in importance above all  other vedic metres,  may enlighten me with the power of  intellect to fully understand all the vedas and related scriptures. Oh Divinity in the form of pranava, please kindle my faculties for  grasping the vedas which are immortal. Render my body capable of acquiring such splendid knowledge. May my tongue be the source of the sweetest of the sweet words from  the scriptures . May my two ears be blessed with the opportunity  and capability of hearing and understanding the sublime meaning of various scriptures. You are the source of the eternal Brahman. You have spread yourself all over the universe through the supreme intellect. Oh pranava, who is Brahman itself, may you protect me who has learned the scriptures from the mouth of my guru( preceptor) through my ears blessed by you.  Om Peace, peace, peace

This is a prayer to the Pranava, the source of supreme intellect (though addressed  in this mantra as Indra also, we have to consider this prayer as addressed only to the supreme brahman.   There are various metres used  in rendering vedas  but the pranavam is in the metre Gayatri and it is supreme.  It is the supreme sound which  became the cause for everything in the universe. 
The mantra is a prayer by the student that he may be blessed with the physical and intellectual faculties to enable him to learn and understand the sublime vedas  and  in general all great knowledge.  For a student, healthy body, sweetness in words and speech, and  unimpaired capacity to hear and grasp the meaning of what he hears are essential. 
The holy word is here described as the treasure-house  from which the entire universe and its knowledge sprang up.
The tradition that the knowledge should spring from the mouth of the Guru and should be grasped through the attentive  hearing of the disciple is highlighted in this prayer.

This mantra is chanted as the first part of Medhaa Sooktham by the initiates,   and it is considered to be a potent  vedic  prayer which should be chanted by all seekers and also by students who are in pursuit of any knowledge.

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