WRITTEN by London Swaminathan
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 30 November 2018
GMT Time uploaded in London – 13-57
Post No. 5717
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Nitisataka 34,35,36
The lion, though young, attacks the mighty elephant The energy of the noble minded man proceeds from his natural disposition, not from his youth. It is the nature of the brave to aspire for the highest even when young. Indeed, age is no criterion for greatness.
सिंहः शिशुरपि निपतति
मदमलिनकपोलभित्तिषु गजेषु ।
प्रकृतिरियं सत्त्ववतां
न खलु वयस्तेजसो हेतुः ॥ 1.34 ॥
Japanese Novelist Abe Kobo started to write at the age of 24. He won a prize when he was 26
Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe published his first novel when he was 28.
English fantasy writer Douglas Adams published when he was 27.
English essayist, poet and playwright Joseph Addison
American poet, novelist, screenwriter James Agee published his first book when he was 25.
Israeli novelist and Nobel laureate SY Agnon published his first book When he was 20.
Ghanian playwright, poet and novelist AMA ATA Aidoo published her famous play when she was 28
American poet, short story writer and b
Novelist Conrad Aiken became famous with his first collection of poems when He was 25
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Wealth is more important than Virtues!
Two great poets emphasize the importance of wealth in their books.
I give below translation of the same couplets by two authors.
Wealth of kindliness is real wealth.
Material wealth is possessed by even the basest— Kural 241
The best of all possessions is the wealth of compassion
For the meanest of men too possess worldly wealth- Kural 241
As those without riches can have no enjoyments in this world so also are those without the grace of compassion denied the blessings of the world above— Kural 247
Even as happiness in the world depends wholly on material possessions
Happiness in the world beyond will surely depend upon compassion-Kural 247
Both Bhartruhari and Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar agree on the point that material possessions account was for happiness on this earth..
Both the poets say that even the basest of men possess wealth.
In another couplet Tiruvalluvar in his Tirukkural say
The demon of poverty, when he overtake s one, the joys of this life
As well as the next one are lost to him -1042
Infernal poverty blasts the joys of the earth and of heaven- 1042
Our noble birth may go to the lower regions; our virtues may perish; our moral character may fall as if from a lofty mountain; our family may be consumed by fire; a thunderbolt may strike our might as it were an enemy; let us keep our money, for without this all the collected virtues are but a heap of grass.
जातिर्यातु रसातलं गुणगणैस्तत्राप्यधो गम्यतां
शीलं शैलतटात्पतत्वभिजनः सन्दह्यतां वह्निना ।
शौर्ये वैरिणि वज्रम् आशु निपतत्वर्थोஉस्तु नः केवलं
येनैकेन विना गुणस्तृणलवप्रायाः समस्ता इमे ॥ 1.35 ॥
If a man be wealthy, he is of good family he is wise, he is learned in scriptures, he is virtuous, eloquent, handsome. All the virtues attach themselves to gold.
यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः
स पण्डितः स श्रुतवान्गुणज्ञः ।
स एव वक्ता स च दर्शनीयः
सर्वे गुणाः काञ्चनम् आश्रयन्ति ॥ 1.36 ॥
The importance given to the rich people has not changed from the ancient times; we see the same state of affairs even today. Money power boosts one to higher positions and higher awards.
TAGS- age no bar, no criterion, Niti sataka 34,35, 36, wealth
–subham–
Tamil and Vedas 
