greatness of a tree in its spontaneous eagerness to be of service to one and all

व्याकुर्महे बहु किमत्र तरो सदैव नैसर्गिको यदुपकाररसः परेषु।

उन्मूलितोऽपि मरुता बत वारिदुर्गे मार्गे यदन्यजनसंक्रमतामुपेतः॥

सदुक्ति कर्णामृते १८८४

vyākurmahe bahu kimatra taro sadaiva naisargiko yadupakārarasaḥ pareṣu|

unmūlito'pi marutā bata vāridurge mārge yadanyajanasaṁkramatāmupetaḥ||

sadukti karṇāmṛte 1884

It is not surprising, it is not exaggeration, if we are praising the greatness exhibited by a tree in its spontaneous eagerness to be of service to one and all.. See, even when the tree is uprooted and brought down by a wind, the tree falls across the flooded water-logged ares and streams and serves as a bridge which enable all the pedestrians to walk along to their desired destination.

तरोः of the tree परेषु in respect of others यद् what नैसर्गिकः spontaneous उपकाररसः eagerness to be of service तद् that बहुः in great quantity, व्याकुर्महे spread, praise, describe with approval किं अत्र what is there to be surprised about that

बत indeed तरु the tree मरुता by the wind उन्मूलितः uprooted अपि too वारि दुर्गे made impossible to cross due to flooding by water मार्गे path अन्यजन other people संक्रमतां उपैतः function as bridge,

വ്യാകുര്‍മഹേ ബഹു കിമത്ര തരോ സദൈവ 

നൈസര്ഗികോ യദുപകാരരസഃ പരേഷു|

ഉന്മൂലിതോഽപി മരുതാ ബത വാരിദുര്‍ഗേ 

മാര്‍ഗേ യദന്യജനസംക്രമതാമുപേതഃ||

സദുക്തി കര്‍ണ്ണാമൃതേ ൧൮൮൪

ഒരു മരത്തെക്കുറിച്ചു പുകഴ്ത്തിപ്പറയുന്നതിലും അത് എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും ഏതു അവസ്ഥയിലും മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് ഉപകാരം ചെയ്യുവാൻ സ്വയം സന്നദ്ധത എന്ന നൈസർഗ്ഗികമായ ഗുണം നിറഞ്ഞു നിൽക്കുന്നതാണെന്നു സമ്മതിക്കുന്നതിൽ എന്ത് തെറ്റാണുള്ളത് ? കാറ്റിൽ കടപുഴകി നിലത്ത് വീണാൽ പോലും അത് വെള്ളം നിറഞ്ഞ ചതുപ്പുകളുടെയും അരുവികളുടെയും തോടുകളുടെയും ഇരു കരകൾക്കും കുറുകെ കിടന്ന് മനുഷ്യർക്കു നടക്കാനും അക്കരെ പറ്റാനും കഴിയാത്ത വഴികളിൽ പാലങ്ങളായി സ്വയം അർപ്പിച്ചു സേവനം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നു.

The most blessed among all living beings on this earth are the trees

अहो एषां वरं जन्म सर्वेषां पर्युपजीविनां।धन्या महिरुहा येभ्यो निराशा यन्ति नार्थिनः।पत्र पुष्प फल च्छाया मूलवल्कलदारुभिः।गन्ध निर्यास भस्मास्थि तोक्मैश्च सर्वान् कामान् वितन्वते॥ श्रीमद् भागवते।

aho eṣāṃ varaṃ janma sarveṣāṃ paryupajīvināṃ।dhanyā mahiruhā yebhyo nirāśā yanti nārthinaḥ।patra puṣpa phala cchāyā mūlavalkaldārubhiḥ।gandha niryāsa bhasmāsthi tokmaiśca sarvāṇ kāmān vitanvate॥ śrīmad bhāgavate।

The most blessed among all living beings on this earth are the trees.Their lives are worthy beyond description. No one approaching them would go disappointed. They fulfil the desires of all through their leaves, flowers, fruits, shadow, roots, bark, timber, and provided aroma, gum, cloth, food and nourishment, ashes, and sticks and supports with branches like bones

അഹോ ഏഷാം വരം ജന്മ സര്‍വേഷാം പര്യുപജീവിനാം।ധന്യാ മഹിരുഹാ യേഭ്യോ നിരാശാ യന്തി നാര്‍ഥിനഃ।പത്ര പുഷ്പ ഫല ച്ഛായാ മൂലവല്കലദാരുഭിഃ।ഗന്ധ നിര്യാസ ഭസ്മാസ്ഥി തോക്മൈശ്ച സര്‍വാന്‍ കാമാന്‍ വിതന്വതേ॥ ശ്രീമദ് ഭാഗവതേ।

ഈ വൃക്ഷങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതം ഭൂമുഖത്ത് വസിക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ ജീവജാലങ്ങളിലും വച്ച് ഏറെ ശ്രേഷ്ടമാണ്. അവയുടെ ജീവിതം തികച്ചും ധന്യമാണ്. എന്തെങ്കിലും ആവശ്യത്തിനായി ഈ വൃക്ഷങ്ങളെ സമീപിക്കുന്നവര്‍ ഒരിക്കലും നിരാശരായി തിരിഞ്ഞു പോകേണ്ട സന്ദര്‍ഭം ഉണ്ടാവുകയില്ല.

വൃക്ഷങ്ങള്‍ സ്വന്തം ഇലകള്‍, പൂവുകള്‍, പഴങ്ങള്‍, തണല്‍, വേരുകള്‍, തോല്, തടി എന്നിവ മൂലം സുഗന്ധം, അരക്കും പശയും, ആഹാരം, വസ്ത്രം(മരവുരി) ഭസ്മം, എല്ലുകള്‍ പോലെ കടുപ്പമുള്ള തടി മുതലായ പലേ ഉപയോഗപ്രദങ്ങളായ കാര്യങ്ങളും വസ്തുക്കളും അവയെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് ഒട്ടും മടിയില്ലാതെ ധാരാളമായി നല്കിക്കൊണ്ടേയിരിക്കുന്നു.

A deserving tribute to the trees.

धत्ते भरं कुसुमपत्रफलावलीनां 

घर्मव्यथां वहति शीतभवां रुजं च। 

यो देहमर्पयति चान्यसुखस्य हेतोः 

तस्मै वदान्यगुरवे तरवे नमस्ते॥ 

भामिनीविलासे १-९४/89 

dhatte bharaṁ kusumapatraphalāvalīnāṁ 

gharmavyathāṁ vahati śītabhavāṁ rujaṁ ca| 

yo dehamarpayati cānyasukhasya hetoḥ 

tasmai vadānyagurave tarave namaste|| 

bhāminīvilāse 1-94/89 

A deserving tribute to the trees.

The trees as the role models or gurus for all the generous people.

They carry the huge weight of leaves, flowers, and fruits too. They suffer the scorching heat of the summer and all the maladies that would afflict them during the cold season. They just sacrifice their bodies for the sake of other. 

the leaves, flowers and fruits carried by the trees are not for their own benefit but are used by many others. The trees stand in the scorching sunlight and the cold without having any benefits for themselves by that eternal vigil.. They only suffer difficulties in the process. And finally, they sacrifice their body as timber, firewood, logs etc that would go for the use of others.. Thus the trees are the ultimate in generosity.. the gurus for the persons who would care to be taught a few lessons on generosity..

Humble pranams to those trees. 

ധത്തേ ഭരം കുസുമപത്രഫലാവലീനാം 

ഘര്‍മവ്യഥാം വഹതി ശീതഭവാം രുജം ച। 

യോ ദേഹമര്‍പയതി ചാന്യസുഖസ്യ ഹേതോഃ 

തസ്മൈ വദാന്യഗുരവേ തരവേ നമസ്തേ॥ 

ഭാമിനീവിലാസം 1-94/89

ഉദാരതയിലും പരോപകാരവ്യഗ്രതയിലും വൃക്ഷങ്ങള്‍ എല്ലാവര്ക്കും ഗുരുസ്ഥാനീയരായ മാതൃകാ വ്യക്തികളാണ് 

മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് വേണ്ടി വളരുന്ന പൂക്കളുടെയും, കായകളുടെയും ഇലകളുടെയും കഠിനമായ ഭാരം പരാതിയോന്നുമില്ലാത് എപ്പോഴും ചുമക്കുന്നു. കൊടും വെയിലില്‍ ചുട്ടുനീറിനില്‍ക്കുന്നു. തണുപ്പില്‍ വിറങ്ങലിച്ചു കഴിയുന്നു. പിന്നെ സ്വന്ത ശരീരവും അവസാനം മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്കായി നല്‍കുന്നു 

മരങ്ങളുടെ ഇലയും, പൂവും, കായും അവസാനം തടിയും എല്ലാം മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് വേണ്ടി മാത്രമാണ്.

ആ മഹത്തുക്കള്‍ക്ക്‌ പ്രണാമം.

plant trees and be blessed...

अश्वत्थमेकं पिचुमन्दमेकं

न्यग्रोधमेकं दशतिन्त्रिणीश्च।

कपित्थविल्वामलकत्रयं च

पञ्चाम्रनाळी नरकं न याति॥

नीतिसारे

aśvatthamekaṁ picumandamekaṁ

nyagrodhamekaṁ daśatintriṇīśca|

kapitthavilvāmalakatrayaṁ ca

pañcāmranāḻī narakaṁ na yāti||

nītisāre

A person who has grown a peepul tree, a margosa ree, a banyan tree, ten tamarind trees, three vilaa trees(Limonia acidissima wood apple), three bilva trees, three gooseberry trees, five mango trees and a five coconut trees, will never be a candidate for life in hell.

അശ്വത്ഥമേകം പിചുമന്ദമേകം

ന്യഗ്രോധമേകം ദശതിന്ത്രിണീശ്ച।

കപിത്ഥവില്വാമലകത്രയം ച 

പഞ്ചാമ്രനാളീ നരകം ന യാതി॥

നീതിസാരേ

ഒരു അരയാല്‍ 

ഒരു വേപ്പ്

ഒരു പേരാല്‍ 

പത്ത് പുളിമരങ്ങള്‍

വിളാവ്, വില്വം, നെല്ലി എന്നീ മരങ്ങള്‍ മൂന്നുവീതം

പിന്നെ

അഞ്ചു മാവുകളും

അഞ്ചു തെങ്ങുകളും

നട്ടുവളര്‍ത്തിയ ഒരാള്‍ക്ക്‌ ഒരിക്കലും നരകത്തില്‍ സ്ഥാനമില്ല

അതേ, ഇത്രയും മരങ്ങളെ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നവന്‍ തീര്‍ച്ചയായും ഭൂമീദേവിക്കും സര്‍വ്വേശ്വരനും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടവനാണ്. അവന്‍ എങ്ങിനെ നരകത്തില്‍ എത്തും?

Our eyes become blind when fate is ready to strike its blow

Our eyes become blind when fate is ready to strike its blow.

A story from Panchatantra of Vishnu Sharma

There was a city named Mahilaaropya in the Southern Region. Not far away from the centre of the city there grew a huge banyan tree and the grand old tree was a virtual city by itself for various kinds of birds who built their comfortable nests in the various branches. The fruits of the tree and the worms that hid in the holes between branches provided sumptuous food for the birds. 

It is wisely stated. "A tree is worth its existence only if worms live in their crevices, birds built their nests in the foliage, the wayfarers and animals rested in their shadows, monkeys jumped from branch to branch and beetles drank honey from its flowers. Other trees are only waste loads for the mother earth." 

A crow by name Laghupatanaka stayed in the tree. Once when he was on his foray for food, he saw the fearful figure of a fowler with hair tied up, pitch dark in colour with flat feet, holding a trap for the birds in his huge hand and walking along the jungle path. He feared that the fellow was making a beeline towards their tree and immediately flew home, called a conference of the birds and informed them that there was a Fowler on the prowl, and the inhabitants should not get hoodwinked by the antics of the fellow. It was warned that the fowler would come near the tree, spread his invisible net with many catches on the ground and spread fulsome grains of rice and corn in plenty to attract and ensnare the birds. 

" My dear friends, even if you see the entire ground filled with rice and other grains, you should not move from your nests. Stay close to your kin and confine yourself to the safety of your nests." The crow warned. 

The birds who had heard this from the wise crow obeyed his advise in letter and spirit. The fowler spread the net and the grains and waited in vain.

As luck would have it, the king of doves, Chitragreeva with his subjects numbering one thousand flew that way. All of them had been in flight for quite some time and were tired. They saw the grains spread over the ground but could not see the net spread with so much of cunning by the fowler. Laghupatanaka sitting in the banyan tree was shouting warning words to the doves not to come to ground to eat the grains. But greedy were the doves, and they were tired too. They suspected that the crow was trying to drive them away because he wanted to have all the grain for himself. And hunger took the upper hand.

Even otherwise who can answer the questions like, why did Ravana who knew that it was a sin to steal the wife of someone else commit the sin? Why did the most knowledgeable Rama believe that there could be a deer made of gold? How did Dharmaputra, fully knowing the dangers and evil consequences of playing dice, perform so many bids opposed even to dharma and got defeated and went to forest in disgrace? The only answer could be that when one is about to fall prey to the wiles of cruel fate, his good senses will take leave of him, and he will do silly and foolhardy things. Once bound by the rope of fate even the greatest of people will lose their good sense. Such fate befell Chitragreeva and his team. 

With competitive avarice and greed the descended upon the ground to gobble up all the grain and the wily fowler released the catch of his net and every dove was trapped with iron fetters. The fowler was quick on his heels running towards the trapped birds with a huge stick to beat them all to death. The ingenuity in Chitragreeva started working. He told his colleagues."We are trapped, and that man is going to beat us to death. Let us all work together and fly in unison carrying the net along with us." The doves flew away with carrying the net along in their flight. The fowler cursed his fate. 

Chirtagreeva was telling his friends.

" Let us fly as far away from the fowler as we could. We can land in some safe ground and try to untie the traps on our legs and fly to liberty. When our destruction is almost sure, we should not lose our heart. We should do our best in us to survive. If we die meekly, we will have no peace even in the netherworld." 

Once out of the eye-range of the fowler, Chitragreeva said.. "Friends, in the town of Mahilaropya, I have a dear friend, a rat named Hiranyaka. He is very wise. He will definitely find some method to release us.” So the doves flew toward Mahilaropya and landed before the wide living hole of Hiranyaka the wise rat.

Hiranyaka was always extremely 

conscious of his own safety. He would take extra care to avoid cats and snakes. So his hole was a virtual fortress with hundred doors for exit. He could escape through any one of the holes if there was sign of any danger. 

He lived upto the dictum, " A snake without its poison fangs, an elephant without rut, and a leader without a fortress can be defeated by anyone." So he was careful. 

Chritrgreevaa knocked at one of the doors of the fortress and shouted, " My friend, come out and help us. Hiranyaka, this is your friend Chitragreeva the king of doves facing utter danger". 

Hiranyaka recognized his friend through his voice, and came out eager to help. He said. " A dear friend is always welcome to my house. My existence has found its meaning by the visit of my bosom friend and his companions." Chitragreeva explained to his friend his predicament. 

The rat came out and started to cut the knot at the feet of Chitragreeva first with his sharp teeth. Chitragreeva did not agree. " If you are a true friend, you should release all my dependents first and then alone I will think of my liberty. If you start cutting my trap and your teeth get broken, then the fate of all who are dependent on me would be miserable". 

Hiranyaka was pleased beyond measure. " You are a real king and a real friend. The welfare of others are more important to you than that of your own. An ideal king should be like that."

Saying this, he gradually cut the traps of all the doves and gave them a sumptuous feast in honour of his friend. 

However, the rat could not help wondering to himself, " A bird sees its food from hundreds of feet away but does see the trap which is very near it. The sun and moon get eclipsed. The cunning elephants, snakes and other animals fall into traps. How does it happen?'

Chitragreeva replied, "It is fate that is at work. Our eyes become blind when fate is ready to 

strike its blow."