Thought for the day-Life in humiliation..

Varam praNa parityago maana bhangena jeevanat;
PraNa tyagam kshaNa dukhe maanabhange din~e,din~e [chanakya neeti]

Chankaya says that its better to die than suffer in humiliation for if you die once you’re to suffer momentarily but by living in humiliation you’ll suffer for ever.
This quote discloses a very important aspect of his own life. chankya before being known as chankya or Kautilya was known through his original name ‘Vishnu-gupt’ and he suffered great humiliation from the ruler of Magadha- Dhanananda the despot ruler and last of Nanda dynasty to rule, it is on then onwards he decides to avenge his humiliation and restore a righteous rule in Bharat-varsha through Chandra-gupt Maurya. For Chanakya the mission becomes more of a personal one rather than a social one.

Isn’t it interesting to see that the one who wrote that ‘death is better than life in humiliation’ had to live a large part of his life remembering that humiliation!!

Importance of Education

Here are shubhashitas in Sanskrit that stress on the importance of education and how the power of knowledge out-weighs everything else.

“Maataa Shatroo Pitaa Vairi Yen Balo Na Paathitaa Na Shobhate Sabhaa Madhye Hansa Madhye kako Yathaa.”

Mother and Father who do not encourage their child’s education are his enemies indeed ; an illiterate among educated one is the same as,in a group of Swans the Crow is neither wanted nor admired.

“Na Gyanen Sadrusham Pavitram Iha Vidyate.”

Nothing is more sacred than the education (knowledge).

“Na Chora Haaryam Na Cha Raja Haaryam,
Na Bhraturbhajyam Na Cha Bhaarakaari
Vyaye Krute Vardhta Eva Nityam,
Vidyaa Dhanam Sarva Dhanam Pradhaanam.”

Knowledge is such that a thief can not steal, king or government can not snatch, siblings can not ask for a share,Its never a burden(you don’t have to carry it as a burden) and it only increases after spending it; therefore the wealth of knowledge is the foremost of all other wealthy possessions.

“Vidya naam narasya roopam-adhikam prachchanna gupta dhanam
Vidya bhogakari yasha sukhakari Vidya guruNam guru:
Vidya bandhujano videshagamane Vidya para daivataa
Vidya rajashu Poojitaa na tu dhanam Vidya vihina pashu.”

Education beautifies man-A hidden treasure of wealth,Cause of fame, happiness and fulfillment of all worldly desires,Master of all masters;Appreciated among the family members as well as in foreign countries, a cause of highest bliss;Honored by the King where wealth is not honored
A person without education is an animal indeed.

“Saahitya Sangeet Kalaa Vihina sakshat pashu puchchhavishaan heena trunam Na Khadanapi jevaman stadbhagyadheyam paramam naranam.”

A person who is not having( even little) knowledge of literature, music and art is like an animal without horns and tail, It is the highest fortune of the animals that he lives without eating grass.

“Vidyaa Vivaadaaya Dhanam Madaaya Shakti Pareshaam Paripeedanaay Khalsya Sadhorviparitametad Gnyaayaay Daanaaya Cha Rakshanaaya.”

In case of a wicked, Knowledge is for arguments, wealth is for ego and power or strength is for causing distress and subduing others; Whereas it is reverse in case of the noble, where knowledge is for educating others, wealth is for donating and power is for protecting others.

“Prathame naarjitaa Vidyaa dvitiye Narjitam Dhanam Tritiye Narjitam Poonyam Chaturthe Kim Karishyasi.”

If you have no education in first twenty five years, No wealth in second( twenty five years )and,if you don’t do any noble work in the next twenty five years then what you will do in the remaining twenty five years?

“Vidyaa Vinayena Shobhate.”

Education (Knowledge) combined with humility is appreciated.

Knowledge is like an unfathomable ocean, even if we gain a drop of it,we shouldn’t conclude of knowing everything and boast about one’s power of knowledge, the above shubashita conveys the same meaning.

Na-asti vidya sama chakshu, na-asti satya sama tapa:
Na-asti raag sama dukham, na-asti tyaga sama sukham

No vision as as powerful as the vision of knowledge; abiding by truth is the foremost of all other austerities; There’s no pain than the pain caused by desire, Happiness gained by sacrifice (of desires) is the ultimate one.
In my college days I had this funny habit of looking onto a college prospectus and finding a quote which usually is made on ‘learning’, ‘knowledge’ etc on the logo; I’m quoting some of them below:

Vidya sarvatra vandite. alternatively; Vidya sarvatra poojite which means knowledge is worshipped everywhere.

Amrutam tu vidya-Knowledge is eternal.

“Sa Vidyaa Yaa Vimuktaye.”

Education is that which uplifts the Soul.

This quote talks more about virtues of having a good character, but I have listed it because,its through Knowledge only that we’re able to build a good character for ourselves
videsheshu dhanam vidyaa
vyasaneshu dhanam matihi
parloke dhanam dharmaha
sheelam sarvatra vaidhanam

In foreign land, your education is your wealth.
In bad times, your wisdom is your wealth.
In heaven (other world where the soul goes after death), your dharma (duty, sprituality) is your wealth.
Your character is your wealth everywhere.

(courtesy: Kanan)
for the above quote.

Another shubhashita,which has a profound meaning:

Vidya vinayam dadhati, vinayam yaati patrataam
Patrataam dhanamapnoti dhanat dharmam tata: sukham

with knowledge you get humility, humility makes you worthy and worth helps you get wealth;wealth when invested in charity and utilized for doing good/righteous deeds will lead to salvation(you’ll obtain eternal bliss)

A wonderful message!

Thought for the day-this world is one big family(?)

I heard this shubhashita in my childhood on TV during some international summit and after hearing it being quoted I developed a liking to learn shubhashitas;I heard from my parents that there were many such good quotes in Sanskrit, but this one is my all time favorite

Here it goes:

Ayam nijaH paro veti GaNa naam laghu chetasam
Udaar charitaNaam tu Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

This is ours, that isn’t; those are our people these aren’t- such thoughts occur only in the minds of prejudiced,narrow minded people; for liberals,broad minded intellectuals, This world is ONE big family.

What a profound message conveyed! Let us shed our personal prejudices and make this shubhashita a reality…….Isn’t it the need of the hour?

A jewel called time-today’s musing

This post of mine is again taken from Chankaya neeti,where chanakya is emphasizing the value of time through his quotes; here it goes:

Adha: pashyasi kim baale patitah tam bhuvi

Re re murkha na jaanasi gatam taruNya mauktikam

Chanakya asks an old lady: What have you dropped down on the earth,that you’re searching so intently like a young girl? the old lady answers: O’ fool I’m searching for a pearl named ‘youthfulness’ that I dropped here years ago (not knowing its value)

Of lessons from animals….

Many times we learn lessons of life from animals around us,even though they do not speak our language,they convey powerful messages full of symbolism.
There are a few shubhashitas in Chanakya neeti also which describe the teachings of different birds and animals and what is to be learnt from them.
Chanakya neeti chapter six,verse 15 -22 describes the characteristics of different animals and birds which is to be learnt and practiced by us humans.

Simhadekam,bakadekam shikshecchatvari kukkuTaat,
Vaayastpaccha shiksheccha shaT-shunastrNi garbhadat
One lesson is to be learnt from lion,one from crane,five lessons from crow,six from dog and three lessons from donkey,these are described in next six verses.

Prabhutam karyam,alpam va yannaraH karturmicchati
sarvarambeNa tatkaryam simhad ekam prachakshate.

Whether the prey is small or a big one (in size) the lion has a same approach towards them by attacking its prey with full force and killing its prey to effect.
This lesson from lion teaches us to be unbiased towards the different kinds of work we do in our daily life and that we should give 100% to each task we undertake no matter whether its small or a big one.

IndriyaNi cha sa(n)yamya bakavat pandito naraH deshakalambalam gyatva sarvakaryaNi sadhyet.

What the wise men have learnt from a crane is have senses under control. A Crane is known to stay perfrctly still in water till it spots and gets hold of fishes which swim towards it since it is standing so still and at the same time Crane(always) has full knowledge of the happenings in its surroundings.One hint of presence of its predators (like crocodiles) the crane makes no haste in taking off into the sky. this lesson of Crane teaches us to be in control of ourselves as well as of whats happening around us-It applies to individuals and business undertakings as well.

Pratyutthanam cha yuddhaam cha sanvibhagam cha bandhushu swaymatramya bhutam cha shikshecchatvari KukkuTat.

Waking up early (every-day) and having immense fighting spirit,giving due share of meals to its peers and also fighting with a lot of courage for its own share of food or defending itself from enemies,thus a Hen teaches us four vital lessons which are to be learnt by an individual and business undertakings.

Gudha-maithunacharitvam kaalE kaalE sangraham apramattam-vishvasam pancha shikshEccha vaayasaat.

Making love inconspicuously,abstaining from eating lavishly,saving (food) for adverse times and not wasting time wandering or acting foolishly( a crow is never found loitering unnecessarily) and never having trust in someone completely rather blindly. These are the five lessons to be learnt and practiced by everyone.
There are many stories in Panchatantra narrating the intelligence of crows also Vishnu-Puran narrates the story of ‘Kag-bushunDi’ a crow which is an ardent devotee of Shri Rama , and the intelligence of crow is well acknowledged by lord Vishnu himself.
Some-time back a documentary was shown on earth’s most intelligent creatures by National geographic in which crow occupies a prominent place.
Also read: This article

Bahyavashi,swalpsantushTaH sanidro laghuchetanaH , Swamibhaktashcha shoorashcha ShaDEtE shwanato guNaHa.

Eating to content when food is available and ability to go hungry when in scarcity or non availability, being fiercely loyal to its master and courageous alike. Being able to sleep anywhere and being alert even in sleep are the six qualities of a dog to be adopted by human beings.

Sushranto-Api vahed bharam shito-ushNa na cha pashya ti SantushTcharitE nityam triNi shikshEccha gardabhat.

Carrying (unbearable) burden even when tired, working hard indifferent of seasons(surroundings) and being contented with whatever provided are the three things to be learnt from a Donkey.

Ya etana vashati guNana aacharishyati manavaH
KaryavastHatasu ajeyaH sa bhavishyati

Anybody learning the above six verses and applying it in their lives,such human beings will emerge victorious in all undertakings.

Thus completes Chanakya’s take on lessons from animals.

Today’s quote-a riddle!!

VrikshagRa vaasi na cha pakshi raja:
Tri-netradhari na cha shoola paNi:
Tvagvastra dhari na cha siddha yogi
Jalan-cha vibranno ghaTa na cha megha:

This is a riddle which says….
It lives on top of a tree but isn’t an eagle (pakshiraja-king of birds), has three eyes but is not lord Shiva,the holder of trident;wears fibres as clothes but is not a sage/sanyasi, holds water in it but is neither a pot nor a cloud.

What is it?? Read the answer here

After you’ve clicked for the answer, you’ll know that this riddle attempts to tell the importance of this thing.

Illusion of Wealth

Following below is a collection of quotes which describes the illusion of wealth that prevails in this world…
I found a very interesting quote on Wealth and the illusion it creates on the minds of people, here it goes:

Yasyasti vittam sa naraH kulinaH
Sa panditaH Sa shrutavanguNjnaH (1)
Sa evam vaktaH San guNajna;
Sarve guNaha kanchanmashratye (2)

[ Neeti Shataka-artha paddhati]
A wealthy person is considered as to belonging toa civilized family; Is eloquent; is all nobility personified and good looking , such is the illusion of wealth for everything is controlled by it.

The wealthy people in this world rule this society, whatever they say is true and however cruel are considered as noble. Don’t we see the illusion of wealth? Its applied universally; the oil producing countries are richest because of their oil resources they literally rule the world-even though they are embodiment of cruelty for the cruelty on human beings is very well known and violation of human rights is just a casual thing.No other country dare even lift a finger to them obviously for the reason of getting access to oil.

For centuries together we see that its a clash of ‘economic status’ among individuals and among societies as such. A wealthy society is considered as civilized where as a society which has intellectuals but is not very wealthy is not so civilized Wealth is more valued than intellectuals. Such is the illusion of wealth.

Kuchaileenam dantmalopadhariNim Bahyashinam nishThurabhashiNim cha
suryodaye chastmeetE shayanam Vimuchchati Shreeyardi ChakrapaNiHi

One who wears unclean clothes, has his mouth unclean/doesn’t keep his teeth clean.Speaks harshly,abusively,sleeps at Sunrise and/or at Sunset respectively;Lakshmi,the goddess of wealth will leave him regardless of who he is(She will leave him,even if he is her husband-Vishnu-ChakrapaNi,holder of Chakra/disc)
This quote tells that Lakshmi the goddess of wealth is unbiased of gender,caste,creed etc and will bless according to their ‘Karma’. Even if her husband-Vishnu is at fault,she will not spare him.

Udyoginam purushasimham upayiti LakshmiH
Daivam pradhanam ithi kaapurushaah vadanti,
Daivam vihaya kuru paurusham atmasaktya
Yatney kritey yadi na sidhyanti kotra doshaha.

Lakshmi,the goddess of wealth blesses only those who are courageous and industrious,those who strive forward and believe in action and not those who solely depend on things to happen by themselves or by assuming that things will happen as they’re predestined by fate,which alone they say that Fate is more important than Actions.

It is only the daring and the adventurous that succeed in life.Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth goes to such person and favors him with, wealth and prosperity.Only the weak-minded people take cover on ” fate”and take an excuse for not starting a work.The writer of the Shubhashita here asks a question generally raised by the weakminded: “What is the guarantee that the work started, if at all, will win ?”. The writer says that even if it does not succeed,what is the fault here?It is better to try and lose,rather than not to try at all.