nice friendships start in a small way and grow strong. showy affairs..?

अणुपूर्वं बृहत् पश्चात् भवत्यार्येषु सङ्गतम्।

विपरीतमनार्येषु यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु॥

चाणक्य राजनीतिशास्त्रे महासुभाषितसङ्ग्रहे ४८५

अतः परीक्ष्य कर्तव्यं विशेषात् सङ्गतं रहः।

अज्ञातहृदयेष्वेव वैरीभवति सौहृदम्॥

अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तले कालिदासः

aṇupūrvaṁ bṛhat paścāt bhavatyāryeṣu saṅgatam|

viparītamanāryeṣu yathecchasi tathā kuru||

cāṇakya rājanītiśāstre mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahe 485

ataḥ parīkṣya kartavyaṁ viśeṣāt saṅgataṁ rahaḥ|

ajñātahṛdayeṣveva vairībhavati sauhṛdam||

abhijñānaśākuntale kālidāsaḥ

The association and friendship with great people start in a very small way. At start the connection would be so small like an atom. However the friendship grows into a big connection in quality and quantity as time progresses.

However the association or friendship with people of mean mind and questionable credential often start with a lot of show, pomp and pretentions. However, such connections get cut off within no time

Therefore, Chanakya advises the reader to choose his connections and act according to his own choice

Kalidasa in Shakuntalam sounds a note of caution against developing connections with a person who is a stranger and whose antecedents are not really known. He advices greater caution when meeting with such person is in secret. He states that if the mind and heart of a person is not properly understood before developing connections, such connection could end up in deep enimity and hatred too..

അണുപൂര്‍വം ബൃഹത് പശ്ചാത് ഭവത്യാര്യേഷു സങ്ഗതം।

വിപരീതമനാര്യേഷു യഥേച്ഛസി തഥാ കുരു॥

ചാണക്യ രാജനീതിശാസ്ത്രേ മഹാസുഭാഷിതസങ്ഗ്രഹേ ൪൮൫

അതഃ പരീക്ഷ്യ കര്‍തവ്യം വിശേഷാത് സങ്ഗതം രഹഃ।

അജ്ഞാതഹൃദയേഷ്വേവ വൈരീഭവതി സൌഹൃദം॥

അഭിജ്ഞാശാകുന്തളേ കാളിദാസഃ

നല്ല മനുഷ്യരുമായുള്ള കൂട്ടുകെട്ടും സൌഹൃദവും ഏറെ ചെറിയ തോതില്‍ മാത്രമേ ആരംഭിക്കുകയുള്ളൂ. തുടക്കത്തില്‍ അത് ഒരു അണുവിന്‍റെയത്രയും ചെറുതായി തോന്നാം. പക്ഷെ കാലം കടന്നു പോകുമ്പോള്‍ ആ സൗഹൃദം അതിന്‍റെ തരത്തിലും വലിപ്പത്തിലും ഏറെ മുന്നേറുന്നു.

ചീത്ത മനസ്സുള്ളവരും ദുരുദ്ദേശത്തോടെ ചങ്ങാത്തവും അടുപ്പവും ഭാവിച്ചു വരുന്നവരുമായുള്ള കൂട്ടുകെട്ട് ഏറെ കെട്ടുകാഴ്ചകളോടും, ആഘോഷത്തോടും ആട്ടവും പാട്ടുമായി തുടങ്ങും. പക്ഷെ ഏറെ താമസിയാതെ അത്തരം കൂട്ടുകെട്ടുകള്‍ നാമാവശേശങ്ങള്‍ ആയിത്തീരും.

ഇത്രയും പറഞ്ഞ് ചാണക്യന്‍ തന്‍റെ വായനക്കാരോട് അവര്‍ക്ക് ഇഷ്ടമുള്ള കൂട്ടുകെട്ടുകള്‍ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാന്‍ ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.

കാളിദാസന്‍ ശാകുന്തളത്തില്‍ ഒരാളുടെ ജീവിതപശ്ചാത്തലവും സ്വഭാവ ഗുണവും പരീക്ഷിച്ച് മനസ്സിലാക്കാതെ അയാളുമായുള്ള സൌഹൃദത്തില്‍ ഏര്‍പ്പെടുന്നതിന്നെതിരെ താക്കീത് നല്‍കുന്നു. അത്തരം മനുഷ്യരുമായി എകാന്തത്തില്‍ രഹസ്യമായി കണ്ടുമുട്ടുന്നത് ഏറെ അപകടകരം ആയിരിക്കും. കാളിദാസന്‍റെ അഭിപ്രായം ഇതാണ് ..ഒരാളുടെ ഹൃദയവും മനസ്സും ശരിക്ക് മനസ്സിലാക്കാതെ അയാളുമായി ചങ്ങാത്തം കൂടിയാല്‍ പിന്നീട് അത് വെറുപ്പിലും ശത്രുതയിലും ചെന്ന് അവസാനിക്കും

the more you climb, the steeper you fall

 

पादन्यासं क्षितिधरगुरोर् मूर्ध्नि कृत्वा सुमेरोः

क्रान्तं येन क्षपिततमसा मद्यमं धाम विष्णोः।

सेऽयं चन्द्रः पतति गगणादल्पशेषैर्मयूखैः

अत्यारूढिर्भवति महतामप्यपभ्रंशनिष्ठा॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे १७५९ अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तलम् कालिदास कृतं शार्ङ्गधरपद्धति

pādanyāsaṁ kṣitidharaguror mūrdhni kṛtvā sumaroḥ

krāntaṁ yena kṣapitatamasā madyamaṁ dhāma viṣṇoḥ|

se'yaṁ candraḥ patati gagaṇādalpaśeṣairmayūkhaiḥ

atyārūḍhirbhavati mahatāmapyapabhraṁśaniṣṭhā||

indiśce sprūce 1759 śākuntala śārṅgadharapaddhati

A beautiful slokam from Abhijnaana Shakuntalam, the magnum opus drama of Great Kalidasa. This description appears in the Fourth Act

It would appear that the full moon all through the bright night traverses the sky. He is shedding its brilliant rays on the surface of the earth. As the night comes to a close and the day is dawning, the moon looks dull as if he has distributed all its bright rays and has very little glow left in him. In addition, the exhausted moon sinks into the southern seas. Kalidasa wonders- when a person, however valorous and powerful he is, if he rises too much upwards is sure to sink into abysmal depths ultimately. The greater the rise, the steeper the slide and fall.

The meaning of the slokam

See, this glorious moon appeared first in all his brilliance, atop the tallest Northern Mountain, Sumeru, placing his feet firmly on the topmost peak of the leader of the mountains, the golden mountain, Mahameru.

He started his journey through the middle world of Lord Vishnu, the sky, covering the air and atmosphere, and in his regal journey he distributed his brilliant rays in profusion and lightest up the earth below, all through the night, all the time proceeding towards the south.

The night is ending and another day is dawning, and the moon has reached near the southern seas. After distributing all his light and energy during his long journey, now the moon looks jaded with very few rays left with him.

In this state, he sinks into the southern seas.

The moon started in glory. Rose to greater glory and distributed almost all he possessed. He reached the peak of his brilliance. Reached dizzy heights. Then the fall started. He became pale and finally sank into the sea.

Even the best among people, who climb up to dizzy heights, can ever expect abysmal falls

The fall too is likely to be steeper when the rise is too high.

Indeed a very beautiful imagery by the greatest poet ever, Kalidasa.

k v a

क्षितिधर of all the great mountains that keep the earth in place गुरोः best, biggest among सुमेरोः of Sumeru, of mountain Sumeru मूर्ध्नि head पादन्यासं placement of feet कृत्वा done क्षपित तमसा after removing darkens by shedding its rays येन by whom विष्णोः मध्यमं धाम the middle abode of Vishunu.. (the sky, air space.. the three worlds of Vishnu are bhuH, bhuvaH and suvaH.. क्रान्तं covered with great enthusiasm and elan सः अयं that same चन्द्रः moon अल्पशेषैः whatever little is left of मयूखैः rays गगनात् from the high skies पतति falls महतां अपि even for the biggest, occupying the highest status अत्यारूढि too much of climb upwards अपभ्रंशनिष्ठा in steep fall भवति happens

merely to hand her over as the prized possession of a suitable groom

 

अर्थो हि कन्या परकीय एव तामद्य संप्रेष्य परिग्रहीतुः।

जातो ममायं विशदः प्रकामं प्रत्यर्पितन्यास इवान्तरात्मा॥

अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तले ४-२३

artho hi kanyā parakīya eva tāmadya saṁpreṣya parigrahītuḥ|

jāto mamāyaṁ viśadaḥ prakāmaṁ pratyarpitanyāsa ivāntarātmā||

abhijñānaśākuntale 4-23

In the fourth Act of Kalidasa’s Shakuntalam, we come across an affectionate father, Sage Kanva, his heart brimming and overflowing with love for his cute daughter Shakuntala. Kanva is grappling with the depressive pangs of separation, and at the same time he has to come to terms with realities of life and therefore he has no option left other than sending the girl to king Dushyantha who has married her. He is bidding her adieu with affection and sense of hour. He makes the following remarks.

“Indeed, we cannot forget the fact that we are bringing up every female child with affection beyond measure merely to hand her over as the prized possession of a suitable groom.

Shakuntala is married and therefore her right place is in the company of her husband. Today I am sending her away with all honour expecting her to join the man who has married her. The core of myself, my conscience is full with huge satisfaction of a fulfilled person who has handed over without blemish a valuable treasure that fate presented to me for temporary safekeeping.”

Everyone can understand that the wizened patriarch is burning within himself with grief. However, he is exhibiting utmost maturity and composure. Every father or male sibling can understand and empathize.

कन्या a female child,परकीय of another, property of another person अर्थः wealth एव indeed is अद्य today तां her परिग्रहीतुः of the man who has accepted her संप्रेष्य having sent with honour अयं this मम my अन्तरात्मा inner self, conscience प्रत्यर्पित returned entirely न्यासः deposited for safe-custody इव like विशदःin detail प्रकामं fully satisfied, greatly fulfilled जातः has become

Throughout this young one’s life, you would always feed him with green tender ears of Shyamaka grass,

यस्य त्वया व्रणविरोपणमिङ्गुदीनां

तैलं न्यषिच्यत मुखे कुशसूचिविद्दे।

श्यामाकमुष्ठिपरिवर्द्धितको जहाति

सोऽयम् न पुत्रकृतकः पदवीं मृगस्ते।

कालिदासमहाकवेः शाकुन्तले चतुर्थात् अङ्गात्

yasya tvayā vraṇavirodpaṇamiṅgudīnāṁ

tailaṁ nyaṣicyata mukhe kuśasūcividde|

śyāmākamuṣṭhiparivarddhitako jahāti

so'yam na putrakṛtakaḥ padavīṁ mṛgaste|

This is a slokam from the Fourth Act of Abhijnaanashaakuntalam, the monumental Drama of Mahakavi Kalidasa

Shakuntala and the hermitage of Kanva are preparing themselves for the inevitable departure of the pregnant Shakuntala to the palace of her husband Dushyanta..

The sage Kanva, the recluse foster father of the young girl could not help shedding tears of separation..

All inmates also silently bid her a tearful farewell..

Even the animals and plants of the hermitage could not brook the idea of this lovely girl leaving them..

A young deer, just stands before her blocking her way..

Kanva says

”You see, this young deer is refusing to move away from your path and blocking your departure..

When this young one got its lips injured through sharp darbha grasses while grazing, you would tend the injuries by smearing oil of ingudi with your soothing hands over the injuries..

Throughout this young one’s life, you would always feed him with green tender ears of Shyamaka grass, and he has grown up eating that alone..

He was just like a son to you.

How can he let you go?”

Kalidasa's poignant depiction of love among all beings.. and especially those who live in the company of pristince nature in all innocence.. should send a great message.

We hardly love anyone to day…

We hardly care for plans and animals..

We can see the plants and animals only as source of food, nothing more..

This is the reason why there is only one Shakuntala,

and there is only one Kalidasa

For Sanskrit lovers

(शकुन्तले ) Oh Shakuntala

यस्य whose

कुशसूचि विद्धे torn by the sharp edges/needles of Kusha grasses

मुखे face

त्वया by you

व्रणविरोपणम् having the capacity to cure sores and wounds

इन्गुदीनां तैलं the oil of Ingudi

न्यषित्यत was applied

यः who

त्वया by you

श्यामाकमुष्टिपरिवर्द्धितकः was nurtured with handful of ears of grains of Syaamaka grass

सः अयं पुत्रकृतकः (मृगशाबकः) That young deer who was treated by you as if he were your own son

ते your

पदवीं न जहाति does not leave your path ( as you start to depart)

Ingudi is a tree from which oil is extracted

Shyamaka is a plant resembling rice... barley etc.. we call it ചാമ malayalam