never be able to foresee the consequence of his own rage flaring within himsel

न तथासिस्तथा तीक्ष्ण सर्पो वा दुरधिष्ठितः ।

यथा क्रोधो हि जन्तूनां शरीरस्थो विनाशकः ॥

- आपस्तंबस्मृति

na tathāsistathā tīkṣṇa sarpo vā duradhiṣṭhitaḥ ।

yathā krodho hi jantūnāṃ śarīrastho vināśakaḥ ॥

- āpastaṃbasmṛti

A person may be able to gauge and understand the intensity of the risk involved in and therefore even able to prepare himself for the consequences of his own actions like stepping on an extremely sharp knife or putting his foot on a snake while walking in a dark path. However, he would never be able to foresee the consequence of his own rage flaring within himself, the rage just growing within himself uncontrolled and causing destruction beyond measure.

ന തഥാസിസ്തഥാ തീക്ഷ്ണ സര്‍പോ വാ ദുരധിഷ്ഠിതഃ ।

യഥാ ക്രോധോ ഹി ജന്തൂനാം ശരീരസ്ഥോ വിനാശകഃ ॥

- ആപസ്തംബസ്മൃതി

ഒരാള്‍ക്ക് അയാള്‍ മൂര്‍ച്ചയേറിയ കഠാരകൊണ്ട് വെട്ടേറ്റാല്‍ ഉണ്ടാവുന്ന മുറിവിറെ ആഴത്തെയും അപകടത്തെയും കുറിച്ച് കുറെയൊക്കെ ബോധം ഉണ്ടാവാം. ഇരുട്ടുനിറഞ്ഞ വഴിയില്‍ നടക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഒരു സര്‍പ്പത്തിവിഷനു മുകളില്‍ കാലു വച്ചാല്‍ സംഭവിച്ചേക്കാവുന്ന വിഷബാധ എന്ന അനിഷ്ടത്തേക്കുറിച്ചുപോലും ഏറെക്കുറെ മനസ്സിലാക്കുവാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞു എന്ന് വരാം. ഇത്തരം അപകടങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് അല്‍പ്പമെങ്കിലും അവബോധം ഉള്ളതുകൌണ്ട് അവയുടെ തീക്ഷ്ണഫലങ്ങള്‍ കുറയ്ക്കുവാന്‍ അയാള്‍ക്ക് സാധിച്ചു എന്നും വരാം.

പക്ഷെ ഒരാളുടെ ശരീരത്തിന്‍റെ ഉള്ളില്‍ ജന്മം കൊണ്ട് അതിശക്തമായി വളര്‍ന്നു ബീഭത്സരൂപം പൂണ്ട് എല്ലാം ചുട്ടു ചാമ്പലാകാന്‍ തയാറായി നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ക്രോധം അപ്രകാരം നില്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അതില്‍നിന്ന് സംഭവിക്കാവുന്ന അപകടം കഠാരയെക്കാളും സര്‍പ്പത്തെക്കാളും നാശം വിതയ്ക്കുന്നതും നിയന്ത്രണാതീതവും ആയിരിക്കും.

rules of hospitality.. hindu Shastras

The order in which a householder should distribute food in his household is clearly stated by the ancient lawgivers..

Apastambha says..

अतिथीनेवाग्रे भोजयेत्। बालान् वृद्धान् रोगसम्बद्धान् स्त्रींश्चान्तर्वर्त्नी॥

atithīnevāgre bhojayet| bālān vṛddhān rogasambaddhān strīīṁscāntarvartnī||

The guests should be fed first. Then the children, the elderly people, the people who are laid up with illness, the ladies and then the servants of the house.. ( The householder and his wife are expected to eat only after all these are fed in that order..)

Gautama also reflects the same idea..

भोजयेत् पूर्वमतिथिकुमारव्याधितगर्भिणीसुवासिनीस्थविरान् जघन्यान्श्च।

bhojayet pūrvamatithikumāravyādhitagarbhiṇīsuvāsinīsthavirān jaghanyānśca|

The guest should be fed first and then the boys, person who are ill, the pregnant ladies, the Suvaasinees ( the sisters, and daughters of the house), the elderly persons and the servants too.. ( Of course the man and the lady of the house are expected to take food only after this.)

ഒരു ശ്രേഷ്ടനായ ഗൃഹനാഥന്‍ തന്‍റെ ഗൃഹത്തില്‍ താമസിക്കുന്നവരുമായി ആഹാരം പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുന്നത് എപ്രകാരം ആവണമെന്ന കാര്യം ആര്‍ഷഭാരതത്തിലെ സ്മൃതികര്‍ത്താക്കള്‍ വളരെ സ്പഷ്ടമായി രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു.

ആപസ്തംഭന്‍ പറയുന്നു.

അതിഥീനെവാഗ്രെ ഭോജയേത്. ബാലാന്‍ വൃദ്ധാന്‍ രോഗസംബദ്ധാന്‍ സ്ത്രീന്‍ ചാന്തര്‍ വര്ത്ത്നീ.

ഗൃഹം സന്ദര്‍ശിക്കുന്ന അതിഥികള്‍ക്ക് ആദ്യം ആഹാരം നല്‍കണം. അതിനു പിറകെ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങള്‍, വയോവൃദ്ധന്മാര്‍, രോഗവും ക്ഷീണവും ബാധിച്ച് കിടപ്പിലായവര്‍ ഉണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ അത്തരം വ്യക്തികള്‍, വീട്ടിലെ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ പിന്നെ ഭൃത്യന്മാരും. ( ഗൃഹനാഥനും പത്നിയും ഇവര്‍ക്കെല്ലാം മുകളില്‍ പറഞ്ഞ ക്രമത്തില്‍ ആഹാരം നല്‍കിയശേഷം മാത്രമേ സ്വയം ഭക്ഷിക്കാന്‍ പാടുകയുള്ളൂ എന്നാണ് പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.)

സ്മൃതികര്‍ത്താവായ ഗൌതമനും ഇക്കാര്യം തന്നെ വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു.

ഭോജയേത് പൂര്‍വ്വം അതിഥി കുമാര വ്യാധിത ഗര്‍ഭിണീ സുവാസിനീ സ്ഥവിരാന്‍ ജഘന്യാന്‍ശ്ച

അതിഥിയ്ക്ക് ആദ്യം ഭക്ഷണം. പിന്നെ ബാലന്മാര്‍, പിന്നെ ശരീരത്തിന് വയ്യായ്ക ഉള്ളവര്‍, ഗര്‍ഭിണികള്‍, സുവാസിനികള്‍ (വീട്ടിലെ പെങ്ങന്മാരും പെണ്മക്കളും ), വയോവൃദ്ധന്മാര്‍, പിന്നെ ഭൃത്യന്‍മാരും. ( ഗൃഹനാഥനും പത്നിയും ഇവരെല്ലാം ആഹാരം കഴിച്ച ശേഷം മാത്രം സ്വയം ആഹാരത്തിനു ഇരിക്കണം എന്നാണു ഉദ്ദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.)

mother.. nothing more than that..

A very important quote from Apastambha Dharmasutram..

माता पुत्रत्वस्य भूयांसि कर्माण्यारभते तस्यां शुश्रूषा नित्या पतितायामपि

आपस्तंबधर्मसूत्रे

mātā putratvasya bhūyāṁsi karmāṇyārabhate tasyāṁ śuśrūṣā nityā patitāyāmapi

āpastaṁbadharmasūtra

The mother acts selflessly for the sake of her own son and does so many things for him .. therefore the mother should be served by the son every day... even if that mother is fallen..

Haradattamishra comments on this

The mother considers her child as a part of herself ever and for the sake of the son the mother has done so many things that only a mother can do. Like carrying him in her womb, cleaning his body and looking after his comforts when he is helpless , feeding him with her breast milk, and she prays and prostrates before god every day for the welfare of the son, she observes fasts for the son,.

Therefore when the mother is sick, helpless or fallen, physically or socially, the son should serve her.. every day.. by looking after even her personal things like applying oil over her body, giving her a bath.. and ensuring personally that all her comforts are looked after..

Here, this law should apply to the daughter too with equal force..

In law, usually for common causes covering men and women, the masculine gender is used

(पुत्रत्वस्य स्वार्थिकस्त्वः। यथा देहत्वमेनान्यदिति।  पुत्रस्य कृते माता भूयाम्सि 

दृष्टार्थानि गर्भधारणाशुचिनिर्हरणस्तन्यदानप्रदक्षिणनमस्कारोपवासादीनि 

कर्माणि करोति तस्मात्तस्यां पतितायामपि शुश्रूषा अभ्यङ्गस्नपनादिका। नित्या नित्यमेव कर्तव्या॥

putratvasya svārthikastvaḥ| yathā dehatvamenānyaditi|  putrasya kṛte mātā bhūyāmsi 

dṛṣṭārthāni garbhadhāraṇāśucinirharaṇastanyadānapradakṣiṇanamaskāropavāsādīni 

karmāṇi karoti tasmāttasyāṁ patitāyāmapi śuśrūṣā abhyaṅgasnapanādikā| nityā nityameva kartavyā||)

Depletion of Personal Power of Penance.

Depletion of Personal Power of Penance..

अपमानात्तपोवृद्धिः सन्मानात्तपसः क्षयः।

अर्चितः पूजितो विप्रो दुग्धा गौरिव सीदति॥

आप्यायते यथाहस्तु तृणैरमृतसंभवैः।

एवं जपैश्च होमैश्च पुनराप्याते द्विजः॥

॥आपस्तंबः॥

apamānāttapovṛddhiḥ sanmānāttapasaḥ kṣayaḥ|

arcitaḥ pūjito vipro dugdhā gauriva sīdati||

āpyāyate yathāhastu tṛṇairamṛtasaṁbhavaiḥ|

evaṁ japaiśca homaiśca punarāpyāte dvijaḥ||

|'apastaṁbaḥ||

Some of my friends had raised a query whether a person having divine and spiritual powers will have those powers reduced or depleted if he blesses others and passes his spiritual power in that process.

A quote from the Dharmsastra of Apastambha.

(the text is given above)

If the tapas(or penance) of a person is ignored or not taken note of by others, the power continues to increase..

If the powers are noticed by others and the person is respected and worshiped for that reason the tapas or the power of penance gets depleted..

When a learned man is offered respects, his powers are actually taken away from him like a cow which is milched.

After receiving such worship, the learned man becomes almost powerless..

This is similar to what happens to a cow. When a cow is milched in the morning, it becomes weak.. but during the day the cow eats grass which is like amrutam or elixir for it and she becomes energetic again and her udders are filled with milk..

In the same way, the learned man regenerates his depleted power of penance by meditation, chanting of mantras and offering oblations to fire..

The quote from Apastambha is also seen in Bhaskara Raya's vyakhyanam of Lalitha Sahasranamam.. while explaining the meaning of the name 
"Viprapriyaa" विप्रप्रिया( Saubhagyabhaskara Bhaashyam)

the real law of Aarshabharatham

the real law of Aarshabharatham

श्रदधदानाः शुभां विद्यां आदेयादवरादपि।
अन्त्यादति परां धर्मं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि।।


sradhadhadhaanah shubhaam vidhyaam aadheyaadhavaradaadapi
anthyaadapi param dharmam sthreerathnam dushkulaadhapi

ശ്രദ്ധദാനാഃ ശുഭാം വിദ്യാം ആദേയാദവരദാദപി
അന്ത്യാദപിനപരാംധര്‍മ്മം സ്ത്രീരത്നം ദുഷ്കുലാദപി

we in India have always learned to decry all our old thoughts as conservative, pro-elite, and inflexible.  This edict one from one of the master lawmakers, (I find from my references) 
Aapasthamba.

those who have intense yearning and interest in learning should not hesitate to go and learn from a person with knowledge in the field even if he is not of matching caste, status etc.,  the ultimate dharma of life should be begged and acquired even if the source for such knowledge is the lowest born human being if the latter is capable of imparting it. And one should not consider about the bad name or status of the family while accepting a gem-like girl in marriage

What else can you expect from the most mature civilization in this world?  We have heard only about jathibhedam and mathadwesham but ours was always a country without such discrimination as proclaimed by the greatest Narayana guru.  If the evil souls manipulated the noble thoughts and law to suit their ulterior motives it was only the failure of the system.  
Not the noble preceptors. 
All know the experience of sankara before a chandala  with four dogs who appeared before him in his path and Shankara asked Him to move away from the path because the Chandalas proximity was polluting. Then Chandala asks about who was impure, whether the body of the Chandala or the Atman residing inside him.Shankara is humbled and it so happens that the Chandala was Lord Shankara Himself, and the four dogs he was leading were the four Vedas..

Friends, I would request you to forward this one to every friend of yours who  loves India and I may be given a copy of it.  I am sure such simple bul unadulerated law can arise only in this great sacred land

the real law of Aarshabharatham

श्रदधदानाः शुभां विद्यां आदेयादवरादपि।
अन्त्यादति परें धर्मं स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि।।


sradhadhadhaanah shubhaam vidhyaam aadheyaadhavaradaadapi
anthyaadapi param dharmam sthreerathnam dushkulaadhapi

ശ്രദ്ധദാനാഃ ശുഭാം വിദ്യാം ആദേയാദവരദാദപി
അന്ത്യാദപിനപരാംധര്മംസ്ത്നീരത്നം ദുഷ്കുലാദപി

we have alway learned to decry all out old thoughts as conservative, pro-elite, and inflexible.  this is one from one of the master lawmakers, i think aapasthamba.

those who have intense yearning and interest in learning should not hesitate to go and learn from a person with knowledge in the field even if he is not of matching caste status etc.,  the ultimate dharma of life should be begged and acquired from even the lowest born human being if the latter is capable of imparting it. And one should consider about the bad name or status of the family while accepting a gem like girl in marriage

What else can you expect from the most mature civilization in this world.   We have heard only about jathibhedam and mathadwesham but this was always a country without such discrimination as proclaimed by the greatest Narayana guru.  If the evil souls manipulated the noble thoughts and law to suit their ulterior motives it was only the failure of the system.  Not the noble preceptors. All know the experience of sankara before a chandala

Friends, I would request you to forward this one to every friend of yours who  loves India and I may be given a copy of it.  I am sure such simple bul unaulerated law can arise only in this great sacred land