maintaining restraint and sensibility while using words is the most difficult activity

वाक्संयमो हि नृपते सुदुष्करतमो मतः।

अर्थवश्च विचित्रं च न शक्यं बहु भाषितुम्॥

महाभारते ५-३४-७३

vāksaṁyamo hi nṛpate suduṣkaratamo mataḥ|

arthavaśca vicitraṁ ca na śakyaṁ bahu bhāṣitum||

mahābhārate 5-34-73

The great thinker and statesman Vidura tells the king Dhritarashtra

Oh King, maintaining restraint and sensibility while using words is the most difficult activity for anyone. It is indeed very difficult to produce in abundance words and express ideas that carry sense and at the same time they are attractive or captivating.

വാക്സംയമോ ഹി നൃപതേ സുദുഷ്കരതമോ മതഃ।

അര്ഥവശ്ച വിചിത്രം ച ന ശക്യം ബഹു ഭാഷിതും॥

മഹാഭാരതേ ൫-൩൪-൭൩

ധിഷണാശാലികളില്‍ പ്രമുഖനും മഹാനായ രാഷ്ട്ര തന്ത്രജ്ഞനും ആയ വിദുരന്‍ രാജാവായ ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രനോടു പറയുന്നു,

രാജാവേ, വാക്കുകള്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ സ്വയം നിയന്ത്രണവും സംയമനവും പാലിക്കുക എന്നത് ഏതൊരു വ്യക്തിക്കും ഏറെ ആവശ്യം ആയ, പക്ഷെ ഏറെ ദുഷ്കരമായ ഒരു കാര്യമാണ്. എല്ലാവരെയും രസിപ്പിക്കുന്നതും, വൈചിത്ര്യം നിറഞ്ഞതും അതെ സമയം അര്‍ത്ഥപൂര്‍ണ്ണവും എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും നന്മമാത്രം നല്‍കുന്നതും ആയ വാക്കുകള്‍ പറയുക, അത്തരം വാക്കുകള്‍ എപ്പോഴും ധാരാളമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുക എന്നത് ഏറെ പ്രയാസമുള്ള ഒരു പ്രവൃത്തി തന്നെ ആണ്.

INADEQUATE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE

 

असम्यगुपयुक्तं हि ज्ञानं सुकुशलैरपि ।

उपलभ्यं चाविदितं विदितं चाननुष्ठितम् ।।

- विदुरनीतिः

asamyagupayuktaṃ hi jñānaṃ sukuśalairapi ।

upalabhyaṃ cāviditaṃ viditaṃ cānanuṣṭhitam ।।

- viduranītiḥ

Even those who are masters or great experts in some strain of knowledge fail to put to use such knowledge and expertise adequately.

Moreover, most people are pathetically unaware of the wealth of knowledge that is at their disposal, that too without any restriction.

Added to this they never act positively and decisively either to acquire such knowledge or to apply such knowledge optimally even when they are well aware of the wealth of resources placed at their easy disposal.

patience is always great

 

क्षमेदशक्तः सर्वस्य शक्तिमान्धर्मकारणात्।

अर्थानर्थौ समौ यस्य तस्य नित्यं क्षमा हिता॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ३९९४ महाभारते

kṣamedaśaktaḥ sarvasya śaktimāndharmakāraṇāt|

arthānarthau samau yasya tsya nityaṁ kṣamā hitā||

indiśce sprūce 3994 mahābhārate

A very sensible statement in Vidura neeti of Mahabharatham

When a person is weak, when he is having no advantages or bargaining power, he has to be patient with everyone. For sheer existence, he has to tolerate everything. He has little choice in the matter

The person who is privileged, who is in control, who has all the advantages, would still show patience and tolerance because the Dharma or laws of propriety expect him to show such forbearance.

For persons who are just floating along in society with advantages and disadvantages delicately balanced, for whom advantage may turn into disadvantage or vice versa in a short span of time, the best policy is to show patience. Show of patience, tolerance and forbearance are the best behavioural patterns for them.

See how realistic Vidura is..

k v a

अशक्तःthe weak person, the person who is downtrodden सर्वस्य क्षमेत् should and would forgive or tolerate the actions of all धर्मकारणात् for the sake of the rules of propriety and social niceties शक्तिमान् the strong person क्षमेत् too may show forbearance, tolerance यस्य whose अर्थ advantages अनर्थौ disadvantages समौ equal, eqully blanced भवतः are नित्यं daily तस्य for him क्षमा showing patience हिता is best to his advantage.

𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬

 

यं प्रशंसन्ति कितवाः यं प्रशंसन्ति चारणाः

यं प्रशंसन्ति बन्धक्यो न स जीवति मानवः॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ५३१५ ४८३८ महाभारते

yaṁ praśaṁsanti kitavāḥ yaṁ praśaṁsanti cāraṇāḥ|

yaṁ praśaṁsanti bandhakyo na sa jīvati mānavaḥ||

indiśce sprūce 5315 4838 mahābhārate

A very serious reminder from Vidura, in Mahabharatham

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐈𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬

𝐈𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫.

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐝. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐤𝐯𝐚

यं whom कितवाः rogues, liars, tricksters, gamblers प्रशंसन्ति praise यं whom चारणाः wandering dancers, merrymakders प्रशंसन्ति praise यं whom बान्धक्यः females of free morals प्रशंसन्ति praise स that मानवःman चिरं for longन जीवति will not live, will not flourish

𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭

 

यस्तात न कुप्यति सर्वकालं भृत्यस्य भक्तस्य हिते रतस्य।

तस्मिन्भृत्या भर्तरि विश्वसन्ति न चैनमापत्सु परित्यजन्ति॥

इन्दिस्चे स्प्रूचे ५३३० ४८३९ महाभारते 5-37-20-२२

yastāta na kupyati sarvakālaṁ bhṛtyasya bhaktasya hite ratasya|

tasminbhṛtyā bhartari viśvasanti na cainamāpatsu parityajanti||

indisce sprūce 5330 4839 mahābhārate 5-37-20

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙖 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝘿𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙩𝙧𝙖, 𝙑𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙖. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙤

𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐬, “𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭… 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.”

𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦

𝐤𝐯𝐚

तात my beloved and respected elder borother यः whoever सर्वकालं all the time न कुप्यति is not angry भक्तस्य devoted भृत्यस्य servant हिते रतस्य interested in the welfare तस्मिन् that भर्तरि boss, employer भृत्याः servant विश्वसन्ति repose complete faith एनं him आपत्सु in times of danger न परित्यजन्ति do not abandon, do not desert च too

the five to be revered

 

पञ्चैव पूजयन् लोके यशः प्राप्नोति केवलम्।

देवान्पितृन्मनुष्यांश्च भिक्षूनतिथिपञ्चमान्॥

इन्दिस्चे स्प्रुचे १६७४ महाभारते

pañcaiva pūjayan loke yaśaḥ prāpnoti kevalam|

devānpitṛnmanuṣyāṁsca bhikṣūnatithipañcamān||

indisce spruce 1674 mahābhārate

𝐀 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 listed below

𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐬

𝟐, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬,

𝟑. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐞𝐬

𝟒. 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥.

𝟓. 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦

kva

लोके in this world नराः people देवान् gods पितृन् departed should मनुष्यान् men of high stature भिक्षून् mendicants, sannyasins, wandering monks अतिथि पञ्चमान् guest who deserve utmost importance and reverence पञ्च एव all these five पूजयन् by offering worship, by showing respect केवलं in absolute terms यशः fame, personal and spiritual merits प्राप्नोति attain

does not show off wear gaudy dresses just to flaunt his importance

 

यो नोद्धतं कुरुते जातु वेषं न पौरुषेणापि विकत्थतेऽन्यान्।

न मूर्च्छितः कटुकान्याह किञ्चित्प्रियं सदा तं कुरुते जनो हि॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ४९०७ महाभारते ( विदुरनीत्यां)

yo noddhataṁ kurute jātu veṣaṁ na pauruṣeṇāpi vikatthate'nyān|

na mūrcchitaḥ kaṭukānyāha kiñcitpriyaṁ sadā taṁ kurute jano hi||

indiśce sprūce 4907 mahābhārate

If a leader, if an eminent personage in society, or for that matter any person worth his salt,

does not, as a matter of show off wear gaudy dresses just to flaunt his importance among others,

does not indulge in humiliating others with his power and pelf even when he may have some advantages over others, 

and

does not utter cruel and unpleasant words, even when he is incensed and is at the peak of his anger and excitement,

then people around him would always love him and ever be eager to be of service and assistance to him.

This is the view of the great Statesman Vidura,as expressed in his discourse to Dharmaputra, in the legendary Vidura Vakayam, a part of the epic Mahabharatham

K V ANANTHANARAYANAN

यः who न जातु not ever, never उद्धतं arrogantly showy वेषं कुरुते wear dresses पौरुषेण own excessive show of power अन्यान् others न विकत्थते does not humiliate मूर्च्छितः even when at the peak of anger, excitement and irritability अपि too किञ्चित् कटुकानि little unpleasant harsh words न आह does not speak जनः people तं that person सदा always प्रियं कुरुते हि indeed love him, are eager to do good to him.

the dynamics of maintenance of the right and balanced control and deployment

यः प्रमाणं न जानाति स्थाने वृद्धौ तथा क्षये। कोशे जनपदे दण्डे न स राज्येऽवतिष्ठते॥ यस्त्वेतानि प्रमाणानि यथोक्तान्यनुपश्यति। युक्तो धर्मार्थयोर्ज्ञाने स राज्यमधिगच्छति॥ इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ५०१५ ५०१६ महाभारते विदुरनीत्यां

yaḥ pramāṇaṁ na jānāti sthāne vṛddhau thathā kṣaye| kośe janapade daṇḍe na sa rājye'vatiṣṭhate|| yastvetāni pramāṇāni yathoktānyanupaśyati| yukto dharmārthayojñāne sa rājyamadhigacchati|| indiśce sprūce 5015 5016 mahābhārate viduraneetyam

The great statesman Vidura sums up in two crisp statements the entire sum and substance of effective administration

If the ruler is not aware of, not having the right control, not having the right conception or understanding about

the dynamics of maintenance of the right and balanced control and deployment, the process of the progress happening as also the possible drains and depletion in

General Administration, in the State Exchequer and treasury, in the geographic and demographic territory, in the matter of armed forces, law and order, and policing, then sure, he is not going to last long as the ruler of the State.

On the other hand, if the ruler is ever meticulous in paying constant attention in the areas as mentioned above, with the right understanding as to the matters of justice, administration and finance too he remains successful as a king

K V ANANTHANARAYANAN

यः the ruler स्थाने proper maintenance and keeping the right and balanced order वृद्धौ in the matter of progress तथा क्षये and depletion, regression too कोशे in the treasury जनपदे in the state of the country, terrain दण्डे in the puntitive measures, the punitive hand of the state.. police and military प्रमाणं proper understanding, न जानाति does not know सः he राज्ये न अवतिष्ठते will not last long as the ruler of the kingdom

यः तु who indeedएतानि these प्रमाणानि essential points, essential matters for consideration यथोक्तं as stated above अनुपश्यति pays attention and proceeds, धर्म अर्थयोः ज्ञाने युक्तः with the right understanding as to the matters of justice, administration and finance too सः राज्यं अधिगच्छति he remains successful as a king

focus the mind on good and your desires will be fulfilled

यथा यथा हि पुरुषः कल्याणे रमते मनः।

तथा तथास्य सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वार्था नात्र संशयः॥

महाभारते विदुरनीत्यां ५-३५-३४

yathā yathā hi puruṣaḥ kalyāṇe ramate manaḥ|

thathā tathāsya siddhyanti sarvārthā nātra saṁśayaḥ||

mahābhārate viduranītyāṁ 5-35-34

If a person always focuses his mind and thoughts on subjects and aims that are nice and auspicious, especially when such thoughts are meant for the welfare of all, all his fond desires gets fulfilled, there is no doubt about it.

യഥാ യഥാ ഹി പുരുഷഃ കല്യാണേ രമതേ മനഃ।

തഥാ തഥാസ്യ സിദ്ധ്യന്തി സര്‍വാര്‍ഥാ നാത്ര സംശയഃ॥

മഹാഭാരതേ വിദുരനീത്യാം ൫-൩൫-൩൪

ഒരു വ്യക്തി നന്മ നിറഞ്ഞതും പുണ്യകരങ്ങളും ആയ ചിന്തകളും ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങളും മാത്രമാണ് സ്വന്തം മനസ്സില്‍ ഏകാഗ്രതയോടെ കൊണ്ടുനടക്കുന്നത് എങ്കില്‍, പ്രത്യേകിച്ചും അത്തരം ചിന്തകള്‍ എല്ലാവരുടെയും, പ്രപഞ്ചത്തിന്‍റെ തന്നെയും, നന്മയെ കരുതി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നവ ആണെങ്കില്‍, അത്തരം വ്യക്തിയുടെ ചിന്തകളും ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങളും തീര്‍ച്ചയായും ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്ന നല്ല ഫലങ്ങളില്‍ എത്തിച്ചേരുക തന്നെ ചെയ്യും അതില്‍ ഒരു സംശയവും ഇല്ല.

take great care to maintain his character

वृत्तं यत्नेन संरक्षेद्वित्तमायाति याति च।

अक्षीणो वित्ततः क्षीणः वृत्ततस्तु हतो हतः॥

महाभारते उद्योगपर्वे

vṛttaṁ yatnena saṁrakṣedvittamāyāti yāti ca|

akṣīṇo vittataḥ kṣīṇaḥ vṛttatastu hato hataḥ||

mahābhārate udyogaparve

A person should take great care to maintain his character and to ensure that he conducts himself in life without any flaw. It is possible that he may come by huge wealth and later he may lose the wealth too.

The depletion in wealth is not at all fall that should cause serious concern. With some attempt he may be able to make good all the material loss he incurred. But if a person deviates from the path of rectitude and suffers a fall in character, he is finished once for all.

വൃത്തം യത്നേന സംരക്ഷേദ്വിത്തമായാതി യാതി ച।

അക്ഷീണോ വിത്തതഃ ക്ഷീണഃ വൃത്തതസ്തു ഹതോ ഹതഃ॥

മഹാഭാരതേ ഉദ്യോഗപര്‍വേ

എത്ര പാടുപെട്ടായാലും ഒരു വ്യക്തി തന്‍റെ സത്സ്വഭാവവും സദാചാരവും കോട്ടം തട്ടാതെ നിലനിര്‍ത്തണം. കളങ്കമറ്റ ഒരു ജീവിതചര്യ എന്നും പിന്തുടരണം. ജീവിതത്തിലൂടെ കടന്നുപോകുമ്പോള്‍ ചില ഘട്ടങ്ങളില്‍ ധാരാളം സ്വത്തും സുഖസൌകര്യങ്ങളും അനുഭവിക്കാന്‍ സാധിച്ചു എന്ന് വരാം. പിന്നീട് സമ്പാദിച്ചതെല്ലാം നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു എന്നും വരാം.

പക്ഷെ സ്വത്ത് നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു എന്നത് യഥാര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ ഒരു നഷ്ടമേ അല്ല. വീണ്ടും പരിശ്രമിച്ചാല്‍ അയാള്‍ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടതെല്ലാം തിരിച്ചു പിടിക്കാം.

പക്ഷേ ഒരിക്കലാണെങ്കില്‍ പോലും നേരിന്‍റെയും നെറിയുടെയും വഴിയില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒരാള്‍ മാറി സഞ്ചരിച്ചാല്‍ അയാള്‍ക്ക് സംഭവിക്കുന്ന അധഃപതനത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് അയാള്‍ക്ക് ഒരിക്കലും തിരിച്ചു കയറാന്‍ പറ്റുകയില്ല. അയാള്‍ എന്നെന്നേയ്ക്കുമായി വീണുപോവുകയായിരിക്കും.

if a person has no control over sense organs, if he does not care to exercise discipline in life,, he would face a fall

अर्थानामीश्वरो यः स्यादिन्द्रियाणामनीश्वरः।

इन्द्रियाणामनैश्वर्यादैश्वर्याद् भ्रम्श्यते हि सः॥

विदुरनीत्यां

arthānāmīśvaro yaḥ syādindriyāṇāmanīśvaraḥ|

indriyāṇāmanaisvaryādasiśvaryād bhramśyate hi saḥ||

viduranītyāṁ

By fortuitous circumstances a person could have become immensely wealthy. But if that person has no control over his sense organs, if he does not care to exercise discipline in life, then for the very reason of lack of control over his senses, he would face a fall from such state of cozy comfort.

This is from Vidura neeti.. in Mahabharatham.

അര്‍ഥാനാമീശ്വരോ യഃ സ്യാദിന്ദ്രിയാണാമനീശ്വരഃ।

ഇന്ദ്രിയാണാമനൈശ്വര്യാദൈശ്വര്യാദ് ഭ്രംശ്യതേ ഹി സഃ॥

വിദുരനീത്യാം

ഭാഗ്യം കൊണ്ടോ മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും തരത്തിലോ ഒരാള്‍ക്ക് ഏറെ സ്വത്തും സമ്പന്നതയും എല്ലാം വന്നു ചേര്‍ന്നാലും അയാള്‍ക്ക് സ്വന്തം പെരുമാറ്റത്തില്‍, സ്വന്തം ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളിലും മനസ്സിലും എല്ലാം, വേണ്ടത്ര നിയന്ത്രണം വച്ച് പുലര്‍ത്താന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞില്ലെങ്കില്‍, ഏറെ കരുതലും അച്ചടക്കവും ഉള്ള ജീവിതരീതി പിന്തുടര്‍ന്നില്ല എന്നുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍, ആ കുത്തഴിഞ്ഞ മനോഭാവം ഒന്ന് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ അയാള്‍ക്ക് ഉള്ളതെല്ലാം നഷ്ടപ്പെടും, അയാള്‍ ഐശ്വര്യത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് ദാരിട്ര്യത്തിലെയ്ക്ക് കൂപ്പു കുത്തും.

വിദുര നീതിയില്‍ നിന്ന്

यः who अर्थानां ईश्वरः भूत्वा being the controller of huge wealth अपि too इन्द्रियाणां अनीश्वरः वर्तते is not in control of his senses सः he इन्द्रियाणां अनैश्वर्याद् because of the lack of steady control over sense organs ऐश्वर्याद् भ्रंश्यते हि faces fall from a state of being wealthy

strategy of levy and collection of taxes

यथा मधु समाधत्ते रक्षन् पुष्पाणि षट्पदः ।

तद्वदर्थान् मनुष्येभ्यः आदद्यादविहिंसया ॥

--सुभाषितसुधानिधिः ८५.३ from Vidura neeti

yathā madhu samādhatte rakṣan puṣpāṇi ṣaṭpadaḥ ।

tadvadarthān manuṣyebhyaḥ ādadyādavihiṃsayā ॥

--subhāṣitasudhānidhiḥ 85.3

A very wise advice on the strategy of levy and collection of taxes from the people

the idea occurs in Mahabharatham, Vidura Neeti

A honey bee collects honey from flowers gently and unobtrusively, protecting the source with great care. In the same way the ruler should impose levies and taxes on the subjects paying great attention to ensure that there is no excessive coercion and that too much of suffering is not caused for the taxpayer.

യഥാ മധു സമാധത്തേ രക്ഷന്‍ പുഷ്പാണി ഷട്പദഃ ।

തദ്വദര്‍ത്ഥാന്‍ മനുഷ്യേഭ്യഃ ആദദ്യാദവിഹിംസയാ ॥

--സുഭാഷിതസുധാനിധിഃ ൮൫.൩ വിദുരനീതി

ജനങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് നികുതിയും മറ്റും ഈടാക്കുന്ന അവസരങ്ങളില്‍ ഭരണാധികാരി പിന്തുടരേണ്ട നയത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് മഹാഭാരതത്തിലെ വിടുരനീതിയില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള ഉപദേശം

ഒരു തേനീച്ച പൂക്കളില്‍ നിന്ന് തേന്‍ ശേഖരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ആ പൂക്കള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു കോട്ടമോ അസൌകര്യമോ ഉണ്ടാക്കാതെ അവയെ രക്ഷിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മാത്രം സ്വന്തം പ്രവൃത്തി ചെയ്യുന്നു. അതുപോലെ ഒരു ഭരണാധികാരി നികുതിയോ ചുങ്കമോ പിരിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ അത്തരം പിരിവ് ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് വേണ്ടതിലേറെ വിഷമങ്ങളും അലോസരങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടാക്കുകയില്ല എന്ന് ഉറപ്പുവരുത്തണം

असूयैकपदं मृत्युः अतिवादः श्रियो वधः

असूयैकपदं मृत्युः अतिवादः श्रियो वधः।

अशुश्रूषा त्वरा श्लाघा विद्यायाः शत्रवस्त्रयः॥

महाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि ५-४०-४ विदुरवाक्ये॥

asūyaikapadaṁ mṛtyuḥ ativādaḥ śriyo vadhaḥ|

aśuśrūṣā tvarā ślāghā vidyāyāḥ śatravastrayaḥ||

mahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi 5-40-4 viduravākye||

A quote from Viduravakyam of Mahabharatham... The minister of Kauravas and the younger brother of the King Dhritarashra, the wise Vidura is discussing various aspects of statecraft and lifestyle management with his elder brother the King..

Here in this sloka, he is pointing out the adverse effects of certain base human qualities..

Meaning of the sloka

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

**The one word synonymous with jealousy and intolerance is death itself..

**Excessive and unwanted argument with someone is just as bad as getting killed..

**And the three enemies of acquiring knowledge and getting educated are

1. Not giving respect to the preceptor who is imparting knowledge, and also not giving due respect to the subject by constant practice

2. Too much of haste, too much eagerness, too much of avariciousness

3. Too much of self praise.. boasting about ones own knowledge.. receiving too much of praise from others on a person's learning and knowledge..

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

So many murders do happen due to jealousy and intolerance.. Even otherwise, jealousy and intolerance burns away all that is good in a man... and he is dying a gradual death..

Unnecessary argument would carry us nowhere.. But that can cause distress to the one who argues as well as the one who listens.. And dry arguments often provoke anger in others.. and that can result in strife and even death.. More than that an argumentative person would be shunned by all.. and that could mean social rationalization and virtual death. And above all, arguments, in excess can bore one to death..

Education would progress in the proper manner only if the student is in a receptive mood.. If the student has no respect for the knowledge of the teacher, and if he is not having much devotion to the subject of study how can there be any progress?

Human mind has its limitations.. Things can be imbibed only through assiduous practice.. Education and training are time bound.. Shortcuts and haste would never help.. never.. Often we forget this when preparing for competitive examinations. The apparent success in the short term perspective would only generate incompetent and least equipped work force.. and human beings..

And we are all basically vain.. We succumb to praise.. When we are praised even for small achievements, we tend to believe that we are super heroes.. And that would spell doom for our further pursuit in acquisition of knowledge.. And when a person just starts boasting and bragging about his own knowledge, that is the end of his education.. Some people brag by telling belittling things about themselves.. expecting others to contradict them and praise them.. That too is just bragging bottled in a slightly different manner..

These points are worth a lot of consideration..

अप्राप्तकालं वचनं बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन्।

अप्राप्तकालं वचनं बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन्।

लभते बुद्ध्यवज्ञानमवमानं च भारत॥

महभारते उध्योगपर्वणि ३९-२

aprāptakālaṁ vacanaṁ bṛhaspatirapi bruvan |

labhate buddhyavajñānamavamānaṁ ca bhārata||

mahabhārate udhyogaparvaṇi 39-2

The above quote is from Viduraneeti of Mahabharatham

The King Dhritarashtra is blind, and blinder with his unfair bias towards his son Duryodhana.. And because of this bias he has abandoned all proprieties, and had permitted the unfair usurping of the rightful kingdom of Dharmaputra by Duryodhana..

No option is left with Dharmaputra but to was a war and gain back the kingdom.. However in a bid for peaceful settlement of the issue , the exiled king sends the great Statesman and a mutual relative Lord Krishna as an emissary to the court of Duryodhana..

Dhritarashtra knows that justice is on the side of his nephew Dharmapurta,, but he is not able to act in any way prejudicial to the interests of his son Duryodhana.

The blind king knows that if the peace talks initiated by Krishna fail the war and the consequent defeat of Duryodhana are writ large on the walls.

But Dhritarashtra also knows that Krishna who is visiting Hastinapura would not be welcomed, but the Lord may even face insult.. And that was a dangerous game..

Disturbed and frightened to the bones, Dhritarashtra is stressed and sleepless. He summons his younger brother, the great Minister and Statesman, the wise Vidura for some advice and solace.

The astute minister discussed statescraft with the King and the elder brother..

In the course of discussions, many aspects covering good administration and right lifestyle management are covered..

The slokam quoted above too appears in that discussion.

-----------------

Meaning

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

Oh, King, the scion of the Bharatha race, If something is spoken, some idea or opinion is given, not at the right time and the correct occasion, even if it is Lord Brihaspati who is making that point, would be riduculed that he is ignorant and redundant and in general would face insult in public

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

Brihaspati, the preceptor of the Devas is considered to be the repository of all knowledge and wisdom.. Normally his words would never go wrong.. Still when he gives an opinion in the wrong forum, he may face ridicule..

Ultimately, the proper time, space, and occasion matters more than anything else..

--------------------

word analysis.

भारत O scion of Bharatha races, (King Dhritarashtra)

बृहस्पतिः अपि even Brihaspati

अप्राप्तकालं when appropriate time or occasion has not come वचनम् ब्रुवन् uttering words, opinions

बुद्ध्यवज्ञानं charge of ignorance

अवमानं insult

च लभते too face, too incur, too get..

न स्वे सुखे कुरुते वै प्रहर्षं नान्यस्य दुःखे भवति प्रतीतः

न स्वे सुखे कुरुते वै प्रहर्षं नान्यस्य दुःखे भवति प्रतीतः।
दत्वा न पश्चात् कुरुतेऽनुतापं न कथ्यते पुरुषार्थशीलः॥
महाभारते उद्योगपर्वनि ३३-९४ विदुरवाक्ये

na sve sukhe kurute vai praharṣaṁ nānyasya duḥkhe bhavati pratītaḥ|

datvā na paścāt kurute'nutāpaṁ na kathyate puruṣarthaśīlaḥ||

mahābhārate udyogaparvani 33-94 viduravākye

A noble person would never go overboard with happiness when he is comfortable, and would not feel pleased when anyone else is unhappy. A noble person would never regret about what he has given as help to others and he would never praise his own actions performed by himself in the right and successful pursuit of virtue and other lofty targets

ന സ്വേ സുഖേ കുരുതേ വൈ പ്രഹര്‍ഷം നാന്യസ്യ ദുഃഖേ ഭവതി പ്രതീതഃ।ദത്വാ ന പശ്ചാത് കുരുതേഽനുതാപം ന കഥ്യതേ പുരുഷാര്‍ഥശീലഃ॥മഹാഭാരതേ ഉദ്യോഗപര്‍വണി ൩൩-൯൪ വിദുരവാക്യേ

ഒരു നല്ല മനുഷ്യന്‍ തനിക്ക് ജീവിതത്തില്‍ ഏറെ സന്തോഷം ഉണ്ടാവുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങള്‍ സംഭവിച്ചാല്‍ അളവിലേറെ സന്തോഷിക്കുകയും വിജയം ആഘോഷിക്കുകയും ഒന്നും ചെയ്യില്ല. അതുപോലെ മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് കഷ്ടതയും ദുഃഖവും ഉണ്ടാവുന്നത് കാണു ഒരിക്കലും സന്തോഷിക്കുകയും ഇല്ല. മറ്റുള്ളവരെ സഹായിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടി അയാള്‍ എന്തെങ്കിലും കാര്യമായി ചെയ്യുന്ന അവസരത്തില്‍ അതുകൊണ്ട് വല്ല നഷ്ടം ഉണ്ടായാല്‍ പോലും അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് വേവലാതിയോ പശ്ചാത്താപമോ അയാളുടെ മനസ്സില്‍ ഒരിക്കലും ഉണ്ടാവുകയില്ല. തരമുള്ള മനുഷ്യന്‍ മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് നന്മ ചെയ്യുന്ന വിധത്തില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിച്ച് അതില്‍ വിജയം കണ്ടെത്തിയാല്‍ അതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ഒരിക്കലും സ്വയം പ്രശംസിക്കുകയോ വീരവാദം മുഴക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുകയില്ല.

धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः

इज्याध्ययन दानानि तपः सत्यं क्षमा घृणा।

अलोभ इति मार्गोऽयं धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः॥

विदुरनीत्याम्॥

ijyādhyayana dānāni tapaḥ satyaṁ kṣamā ghṛṇā|

alobha iti mārgo'yaṁ dharmasyāṣṭavidhaḥ smṛtaḥ||

viduranītyām||

The Dharma or the righteous path in a nutshell according to the Sanatana perspective

Methodical rituals

Study of scriptures and sciences

Offering gifts and ceremonial presents on appropriate occasions

Penance, orderly living

Truthfulness

Patience

Warmness, tenderness, bashfulness in doing wrong

Lack of avariciousness, lack of selfishness.

eternally dissatsified and inadequate

ईर्ष्यी घृणी त्वसन्तुष्टः क्रोधनो नित्यशङ्कितः।

परभाग्योपजीवी च षडेते दुःखभागिनः॥

सुभाषितशतके १-९०

īrṣyī ghṛṇī tvasantuṣṭaḥ krodhano nityaśaṅkitaḥ|

parabhāgyopajīvī ca ṣaḍete duḥkhabhāginaḥ||

subhāṣitaśatake 1-90

The above sloka is attributed to Vidura neeti of Mahabharatahm too.

The following six categories of persons are always miserable..

1. Those who always harbour envy for others in their minds.

2 Those who tend to hate other people and other things as a

matter of habit of character.

3, Those who do not find happiness in anything

4.. Those who are given to uncontrollable anger

5.. Those who are obsessively doubtful or skeptical.

6.. Those who live and survive just consuming the wealth and

income of others..

It need not be the case that those who live a decent life would not face challenges.. Of course, that will happen.. But then that is life.. Life is beautiful if there are reasonable more happy things to think of..

But the categories listed about are sureshot insurance for misery.. unmitigated, undiluted misery..

regards

k v ananthanarayanan.

अर्थं महान्तमासाद्य

अर्थं महान्तमासाद्य विद्यामैश्वर्यमेव वा।

विचरत्यसमुन्नद्धो यः स पण्डित उच्यते॥

महाभारते उध्योगपर्वे ३३-४०

arthaṁ mahāntamāsādya vidyāmaiśvaryameva vā|

vicaratyasamunnaddho yaḥ sa paṇḍita ucyate||

mahābhārate udhyogaparve 33-40

An interesting quote from the Indian epic Mahabharatham

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

Meaning

A person can be called as truly learned and resourceful only if

even after attaining immense wealth and education and even after being posted in a position of authority, remains humble and conducts himself without any trace of arrogance..

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

The arrogance of the affluent is monumental

The self assurance and propensity to parade ones knowledge and thus insult others by words and action is the hallmark of almost any scholar.. even if he is half baked..

and

If a fellow is placed in power and authority, his vanity, and contempt for others soars up as he goes up in his positon..

When these three attributes combine in a person he would forget himself..

The epic Mahabhratham advises us that a fellow can retain his standing in society as a respected person only if he is humble and helpful to others..

==========

word meaning

यः नरः which man

महान्तं अर्थं huge wealth

विद्यां education

ऐश्वर्यं poisition of authority and command

वा either

आसाध्य after attaining

असमुन्नद्धः not arrogant

विचरति moves around, conduct oneself

सः एव he alone

पण्डितः learned and resourceful

उच्यते is described as

---------------

k v ananthanarayan

hunger, the best appetizer

संपन्नतरमेवान्नं दरिद्रा भुंजते सदा । 

क्षुत् स्वादुतां जनयति सा चाढ्येषु सुदुर्लभा ॥

– महाभारत, उद्योग अ.३४ 

saṃpannataramevānnaṃ daridrā bhuṃjate sadā । 

kṣut svādutāṃ janayati sā cāḍhyeṣu sudurlabhā ॥ 

– mahābhārata, udyoga a.34 

The poor people, the people who have to struggle hard to find ways and mens to find a mouthful of food to eat, actually eat very nice food which would satisfy them in all ways.. Hunger adds the real taste to food.. Such satisfaction and contentment cannot be found in the rich and affluent persons 

This is from Vidura neeti of Mahabharatham 

സംപന്നതരമേവാന്നം ദരിദ്രാ ഭുംജതേ സദാ । 

ക്ഷുത് സ്വാദുതാം ജനയതി സാ ചാഢ്യേഷു സുദുര്‍ല്ലഭാ ॥ 

– മഹാഭാരതം, ഉദ്യോഗപര്‍വ്വം അ.൩൪ 

ദാരിദ്ര്യം അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവന്‍, 

അടുത്ത നേരത്തേക്ക് വയറുനിറയ്ക്കാനുള്ള ആഹാരത്തിനു വേണ്ടി നെട്ടോട്ടം ഓടുന്നവന്‍, കിട്ടുന്ന ആഹാരം എന്തായാലും അത് വിഭവസമൃദ്ധമായ സദ്യപോലെ രസിച്ചു കഴിക്കുന്നു. 

വിശപ്പ്‌ എന്തിനും പ്രത്യേക സ്വാദ് നല്‍കുന്നു.

ഈ അനുഭവം പണക്കാരില്‍ കാണാറില്ല.. (അവര്‍ എന്തിലും കുറ്റവും കുറവും കാണും. പരാതി പറയുവാന്‍ അവര്‍ക്ക് ധാരാളം സമയമുണ്ട് )

മഹാഭാരതത്തിലെ വിദുരനീതിയില്‍ നിന്ന്

give up ill gotten wealth..

महान्तमप्यधर्मयुक्तं य सन्त्यजत्यनुपाकृष्ट एव।

सुखं स दुःखानवमुच्य शेते जीर्णां त्वचं सर्प इवावमुच्य॥

श्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि प्रजागरणपर्वणि विदुरनीतिवाक्ये॥४०-२॥

mahāntamapyadharmayuktaṁ ya santyajatyanupākṛṣṭa eva|

sukham sa duḥkhānavamucya śete jīrṇāṁ tvacaṁ sarpa ivāvamucya||

śrīmahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi prajāgaraṇaparvani viduranītivākye ||40-2||

This is from Vidura neeti of Mahabharatham

Vidura's parting advice to his vacillating elder brother Dhritarashtra who is maniacally holding on to the wealth that is the rightful share of the Pandavas.

"A person, if he has to live with a peaceful mind should be able to give up even immense wealth which he knows has come to his possession through unfair means, and this should be done without any regret.

If such complete surrender of illegally earned riches is effected the man can live with great ease like a snake who was struggling with its slough for some time but had ultimately managed to wriggle out of it".

We have seen and heard about many voluntary disclosure schemes of Unaccounted Income and Wealth by Income-taxmen as also by the law enforcers of other wings of the government to give up booty illegally earned.

Yes, if one is rid of the ill gotten booties he can live peacefully.

One has to really watch in person how a snake struggles to just wriggle out of its slough but then glow with a new shiny outer skin