‘Subhashita’ for the day #134

Good thoughts for a good day!

Bhartruhari in the Neeti Sathaka makes the point that one must conduct himself and herself in a manner befitting his or her status and dignity. He cites the conduct of the lion.

क्षत्क्षामोऽपि जराकृशोऽपि शिथिलप्राणोऽपि कष्टां दशा-

मापन्नोऽपि विपन्नदीधितिरिति प्राणेषु नश्यत्स्वपि ।

मत्तेभेन्द्रविभिन्नकुम्भपिशितग्रासैकवद्धस्पृहः

किं जीर्णं तृणमत्ति मानमहतामग्रेसर: केसरी ? ॥

Ksutkṣāmoʼpi jarākṛśo'pi śithilaprāṇo'pi kastām,

daśāmāpannoʼpi vipannadidhitiriti prāṇesu naśyatsvapi; Mattebhendravibhinnakumbhapiśitagrāsaikabaddhasprhah,

kim jirnām trņamatti mānamahatāmagresarah kesari?

“A lion, foremost among the animals of a forest, who is accustomed of feeding himself with the flesh of the lobes on the forehead of a drunk elephant, even on being very thin, weak and emaciated due to hunger and old age and may even breathe his last, would he stoop so low as go eat the dry grass to satiate his hunger?”

One must conduct himself and herself in a manner which behoves the position, education and status which one has. Or else that person brings disrepute not only to oneself but also to the position which he or she carries. In other words, carry yourself in a manner which is befitting. This is so even with regard to the age and position of the person in life. A person advanced in age cannot and should not conduct himself in a manner which a youth would conduct. A married person will not and should not behave in a manner as that person did before marriage.

Drawing analogy of the lion, another Shataka says,

स्वल्पस्नायुवसावशेषमलिनं निर्मासं अप्यस्थि गोः

श्वा लब्ध्वा परितोषं एति न तु तत्तस्य क्षुधाशान्तये ।

सिंहो जम्बुकं अङ्क आगतं अपि त्यक्त्वा निहन्ति द्विपं

सर्वः कृच्छ्रगतोऽपि वाञ्छन्ति जनः सत्त्वानुरूपं फलम्||

svalpasnāyuvasāvaśēṣamalinam nirmāmsam apyasthi gõh

śvā labdhvā paritōṣam ēti na tu tattasya kṣudhāśāntayē |

simhō jambukam ankam āgatam api tyaktvā nihanti dvipam

sarvaḥ kṛchChragatō'pi vāñChanti janaḥ sattvānurūpam phalam||

”The dog is satisfied with a piece of bare bone which is dirty with a little blood and fatty substance on it though it is not sufficient to satisfy its hunger. The lion, on the other hand, ignores the jackal within its reach and kills a mighty elephant for his meal, Men of majesty, though passing through a difficult period in life, do not want to compromise their dignity and will accept only something befitting their dignity and strength.”

Yet another of the Shataka draws a comparison between a dog and an elephant as to their behaviour in similar circumstances.

लाङ्गुलचालनमधश्चरणावपातं

भूमौ निपत्य वदनोदरदर्शनं च ।

श्वा पिण्डदस्य कुरुते गजपुङ्गवस्तु

धीरं विलोकयति चाटुशतैश्च भुङ्गे ॥

lāngūlachālanam adhaścharaņāvapātam

bhūmau nipatya vadanōdaradarśanam cha I

śvā pindadasya kurutē gajapungavastu

dhīram vilōkayati chāțuśataiścha bhunktē II

“The dog falls down low before the feet of one who gives him food, wagging his tail and opening his mouth wide; but the elephant, on the otherhand, remains unmoved, and only eats after he is entreated with flattering words.”

(Translation borrowed from Rev.B.Hale Wortham, 1886).

A Rat was traveling along the King's highway. He was a very proud Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats have. As Mr. Rat walked along-he kept mostly to the ditch-he noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came in view. It was the King and his retinue.

The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings. With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession. They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant, that the Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.

"What fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes pop out? Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and"

But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the Rat knew he was not quite so important as an Elephant.

The moral of this story is simply to convey the message loud and clear that an elephant is used for a royal procession and not a rat. An elephant is an elephant and a rat is a rat after all. Each one must know his or her position and conduct suitably.

उत्तुङ्गमत्तमातङ्ङ्ग मस्तकन्यस्तलोचनः |

आसन्नेपि च सारङ्गे न वाञ्छा कुरुते हरिः ||

Uttunga -matta-maatang mastakanyast alochanah.

Asannepi cha saarange na vaanchaam kurute harih.||

”When a Lion sees a tall and boozed up elephant with exposed head and sleepy eyes, the lion does not desire to kill an antelope though nearby.”

The idea behind this allegory of the Lion, the Elephant and the Antelope is that enmity or friendship is proper only between persons of equal status and not between meek and powerful persons.

A characteristic which the reader would have noticed by now of the Subhashitas is the use of similes or metaphors or allegories etc. This is a recommended style of writing to make it attractive, understandable and good to keep the attention of the reader. Even on this there is a Subhashita.

कर्तव्या चार्थसारेऽपि काव्ये शब्दविचित्रता ।

विना घण्टाटणत्कारे गजो गच्छन्न शोभते ||

Kartavyaa chaarthasaarepi kavye shabdaavichitrataa,

Binaa ghantatanatkaaram gajo gacchanna shobhate||

“Just as an elephant moving on a road does not attract people unless a big bell tied to its neck produces loud ringing sound, so too a treatise on some meaningful subject written in poetry does not attract attention unless it contains skillful use of embellishing elements of poetry like metaphors, similes etc to attract the attention of its readers.”

Donkey is normally referred to with contempt. In fact it is used to abuse somebody. But the donkey has its own virtuous message to convey. What is this primary message from the donkey?

अविश्रामं वहेद्धारं शीतोष्णं च न विन्दति ।

ससन्तोषस्तथा नित्यं त्रीणि शिक्षेत गर्दभात् ॥

aviśrāmam vahedbhāram śītosņam ca na vindati |

sasantosastathā nityam trīņi śikṣeta gardabhāt ||

“The donkey carries loads without rest, is not deterred by the heat or cold, is always content; these three things should be learnt from the donkey.”

The key to success is hard work and persistence. And this should be done ungrudgingly. In fact on many occasions it should be without expectation of result or return. This is how a donkey works.

We are all familiar with the adage “Birds of a feather flock together.” Panchatantra has this message.

मृगा मृगैः सङ्‌गमनुव्रजन्ति

गावश्च गोभिस्तुरगास्तुरहगैः ।

मूर्खाश्च मूर्खेः सुधियः सुधीभिः

समानशीलव्यसनेन सख्यम् ॥

Mruga mrugaih sangamanuvrajanti

gavashchagobhisturagasturangaih |

Murkhashcha murkhaih sudhiya sudhibhih

samanashilavyasaneshu sakhyam||

“Deer are accompanied by deer, cows by cows and horses by horses. Similarly, fools befriend fools and wise people enjoy the company of wise people. Friendship is natural among like-minded people with similar hobbies”.

It is therefore said ‘Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.’

Thank you for reading and have a great day!