All posts in category Quotations

CHANAKYA’S WARNING: DON’T DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS! (Post No.4589)

CHANAKYA’S WARNING: DON’T DO THE FOLLOWING THINGS! (Post No.4589)

 

Written by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 6 JANUARY 2018

 

Time uploaded in London-13-31

 

 

 

Post No. 4589

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

Chanakya was a great genius. He was a great statesman, astute politician, an author and an economist. But some of his ‘Dos and Donts’ look very strange. Probably there was a reason for it 2300 years ago. He lived during the days of Alexander. Following slokas (verses) are from his book Chanakya Niti.

1.Nails and Women

One should never trust those with nails and horns and those with arms in hand, (as also), the rivers, the women and the members of the royal households.

Chanakya Niti, Chapter 1, Sloka 15

nakhinaam ca nadiinaancha srunginaam sastrapaaninaam

visvaaso naiva kartavyah striishu rajakuleshu ca

 

xxx

2.Don’t live if there is no civility

One should not live there which does not have the following five:–

the means of livelihood, fear (about rules, regulations) , modesty, civility and charity (the nature to give or relinquish)

lokayaatraa bhayam lajjaa daakshinyam tyaagasiilataa

panca yatra na vidyante na kuryaat tatra samsthatim

Chapter 1, Sloka 10

xxx

3.Dont live in the country…………..

One should keep away from that country where there is no respect, no means of livelihood, no relatives, no acquisition of knowledge or skill.

Yasmin dese na sammaano na vruttirna ca bhandhavaah

na ca vidyaagamah kasichattam desam parivarjayet

Chapter 1, Sloka 8

xxx

4.Don’t live in a town if there is no Doctor

A place which does not have these five:- rich person, a Vedic scholar, a king, a river, and a doctor (Physician) – one should not stay even for a day!

dhanikah srotriyo raajaa nadii vaidhyastu pancamah

panca yatra na vidhyante na tatra divasam vaset

Verse 6 of Chapter 1

 

xxx

 

  1. Beware of Friends

One should not trust a bad friend, nor should repose too much of trust (even in good) friend lest the friend in a fit of rage were to lay bare all the secrets.

Chapter 2, Verse 6

na visvaset kumitre ca mitre caatiwa visvaset

kadaacit kupitamitram sarvam guhyaam prakaasayet

xxx

6.Never reveal Your Plans/ Ideas

One should not reveal through words (talk about) an action one has in mind. One should keep it secret in his counsel and apply it to one’s mission.

Chapter 2, verse 7

manasaa chintitam kaaryam vachasaa na prakaasayet

mantrena rakshayet guudam kaarye chaapi niyojayet.

 

Some of his instructions are valid even today.

Source for slokas: Chanakya Niti, translated by Satya Vrat Shastri, Kolkata.

–subham-

 

 

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on January 6, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in Quotations, Sanskrit Literature
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on January 6, 2018

https://tamilandvedas.com/2018/01/06/chanakyas-warning-dont-do-the-following-things-post-no-4589/

31 Golden Sayings from Tamil Poetess Avvaiyar (Post No.4543)

Compiled by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 25 DECEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London- 7-06 am

 

 

Post No. 4543

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks

 

January 2018 Good Thoughts Calendar

Festival Days :-  January 1 New Year, 2 Arudra Darsanam, 13-Bogi Pandikai, 14 -Makara Sankaranti/Pongal, 24- Ratha Sapthami, 26- Republic Day, 30 -Gandhi’s death anniversary, 31- Thai Pusam, LUNAR ECLIPSE (Chandra Grahanam)

31 Golden Sayings from Tamil Poetess Avvaiyar’s books Muthurai and Nalvazi are given in this month’s calendar.

New Moon/Amavasai –16

Full Moon/Purnima– 2, 31+Lunar Eclipse

Ekadasi Fasting Days– 12, 27/28

 

January 1 Monday

Coconut tree sucks water from the ground and gives sweet water (at top) in tender coconut (fruit). If one does good to another, he would get in return something good – Muthurai 1

January 2 Tuesday

Gift given to good will be like a carving on a stone; Good done to ungrateful will vanish like writing on the water – Muthurai verse 2

January 3 Wednesday

Painful is adversity in youth and painful is prosperity in old age like the tree blossoming out of season and beautiful woman without a partner- Muthurai 3

 

January 4 Thursday

Though the conch shell is burnt, it remains white; though the milk is boiled it is tasty; Even when good people have difficulties they remain noble. verse 4

January 5 Friday

All the towering trees do not bear fruits but in due season; One’s tireless efforts won’t be successful until the time of fortune arrives- Verse 5

 

January 6 Saturday

Water lily grows as long as the water level is; one’s intelligence is up to the level of their studies. One’s accession of wealth depends upon the good deeds one did in previous births – verse 7

January 7 Sunday

To see good people is good; to listen to good words is good; to speak the virtues of good people is good; to associate with them is also good- verse 8

 

January 8 Monday

To see the bad people is bad; to listen to the rude words is wicked; to speak about the bad people is evil; to associate with them is sinful- verse 9

January 9 Tuesday

The water fed to the paddy fields benefits the grass in those fields as well; In the same way even if one person is on earth it rains benefitting all- verse 10

 

January 10 Wednesday

The screw pine has large leaves and has no scent; the Mahila has small petals but has got good smell; the sea is large but the water is not usable; though a spring is small it serves all- verse 12

 

 

January 11 Thursday

Good trees are not that grow in the forest; men who stand in the assembly and unable to read or interpret are the trees (wooden logs)- verse 13

January 12 Friday

The turkey, on seeing the peacock spreading its wings and dance, is spreading its ugly wings thinking it can do it; it is like men of ignorance showing off- verse 14

January 13 Saturday

A healer fell a victim to the tiger he tried to save; so is the help rendered to the ignoble; it breaks like a pot that fell on a rock – verse 15

January 14 Sunday

Don’t think that the patient people are ignoramuses; they are like the stork which waits for the right fish to come and fall in the trap- verse 16

January 15 Monday

Those who forsake you in crises are not relations; they are like the water birds that desert when the tank is dry; relations are the ones who stick to you even at the time of distress like the edible root and flowering plants that stick to the tank in dry season. – verse 17

 

January 16 Tuesday

Though a gold pot breaks it is still gold; what would be the worth of a mud pot that breaks? Great people are like the gold pots even when they are fallen – verse 18

January 17 Wednesday

Though you dip a measure in the deep sea water, it wont take four measures; though you get riches and husband , the happiness depends on destiny or fate – verse 19

 

January 18 Thursday

congenital diseases can kill though they are born with you; but herbs growing in far off mountains can heal the sick; don’t depend on people who are born with you; there are people like the medicinal plants somewhere- verse 20

January 19 Friday

When there is a good wife, the house has everything; if the wife is not good it’s like a tiger infested forest- verse 21

January 20 Saturday

Action follows fate or pre -written; Nothing happens as one wish for. Even Kalpaka tress will give you bitter nox vomica due to past karma- verse 22

 

January 21 Sunday

The wrathful vulgar are un weldable like the split or broken stones; but the good ones join like broken golden pots; the anger of righteous people disappear like the cut in water made by an arrow- verse 23

 

January 22 Monday

The learned are enamoured by the society of scholars. They are like the swans that swim together in a tank; the illiterates are like the crow that feasts on the dead bodies in the cremation ground- verse 24

January 23 Tuesday

Poisonous cobras hide in the holes fearing human beings; non-poisonous water snakes lie in the open field; they don’t fear an attack from humans. Those who are cunning at heart keep themselves aloof; those with open heart will never skulk- verse 25

 

January 24 Wednesday

A king is respected in his own country only; a learned man is respected wherever he goes; so, a scholar commands more respect than a monarch- Muthurai verse 26

January 25 Thursday

To a plantain tree, its own baby plant does harm; the woman who does not behave is a yama/god of death to her own husband- verse 27

 

January 26 Friday

With the Lady of Fortune comes wealth, great beauty and noble birth to us; they will vanish when she goes out- Muthurai verse 29

January 27 Saturday

Shun evil, Do good- all religions preach- Nalvazi verse 1

January 28 Sunday

There only two castes in the world; those who give are great; those who don’t give are base born- Nalvazi verse 2

January 29 Monday

This body is a bag of miseries; don’t take this false body as real; if you do charity you attain liberation- Nalvazi verse 3

January 30 Tuesday

It is hard to do anything good unless the past merits favour it; it is like a blind man using his walking stick to get down fruits from a mango tree; unless the right time comes it is a futile action- Nalvazi verse 4.

 

January 31 Wednesday

The life of sages is like water on lotus leaf. water is on the leaf but aloof, never wets it; the sages are in the world and out of it at once – Nalvazi verse 7

–subham–

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on December 25, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture, History, Quotations
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on December 25, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/12/25/31-golden-sayings-from-tamil-poetess-avvaiyar-post-no-4543/

Opera and Concerts Anecdotes (Post No.4485)

Compiled by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 12 DECEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London-  19-24

 

 

Post No. 4485

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

 

Mouths wide open; eyes staring!

Walking with a friend one day, Fritz Kreisler passed a large fish shop where a fine catch of codfish, with mouths open and eyes staring, were arranged in a row. Kreisler suddenly stopped, looked at them, and clutching his friend by the arm exclaimed,

“Heavens! That reminds me — I should be playing at a concert!”

 

Xxx

Hired Audience!

So dependent on the adulation of the audiences was Franz Litsz that he is said to have paid women 25 Franks to faint at the concerts. The swoon was always timed to occur just before the climax of his most popular run. Litsz would stoop from his piano stool , pick up the swooner and leave the rest of the audience impressed by his brilliance and dismayed by their own stolidity. Once, however, the hired fainter forgot to faint. Liszt s fingers flew up the keys — but he could not finish the run. So, he fainted himself!

 

XxX

No Taste for Music

 

Joseph Choate, the lawyer, had no taste for music. Once he was persuaded by his daughter to accompany her to the opera. He looked at the libretto helplessly and said,

Helen, expound to me this record lest I dilate with the wrong emotion.

 

Xxx

True Listeners!

 

After his concert at a Midwestern town, Paderewski was found backstage in a silent, preoccupied mood. One of his aides asked if he were ill.

No, no, the great musician replied, but some friends were missing. The grey hired couple. They were not in their usual seats in the fourth row.

The aide was surprised. I didn’t know you had friends in this town. Did you know them well?

I knew them very well, explained Penderecki, but I never met them. I liked the way they listened. Every time I have played here for 20 years I have always played for them. He shook his head gravely. I hope there is nothing seriously wrong.

 

Xxx

Lower Classes like Music more

According to C R W Nevinson , it was a privilege to paint Mark Hambourg , a dear friend. Never have I met a man with such a gift for penetrating to the heart of things and by the use of a few vivid phrases he will lift any conversation out of the ordinary. I remember sitting beside him in an after dinner concert, when Moiseivitch was playing. The audience, all men and women of culture were anything but attentive, smoking, drinking, coughing, picking wriggling, but the waiters and waitresses stood entranced, their eyes on the master.

Look, said Mark, look at effects of education. It kills all concentration. The lower classes are the only people left who can listen and can respond to the highest emotions.

 

Xxx SUBHAM Xxx

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on December 12, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture, Quotations
Tagged , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on December 12, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/12/12/opera-and-concerts-anecdotes-post-no-4485/

FACEBOOK LIKES! NEW YEAR RESOLUTION! (Post No.4474)

WRITTEN by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 9 DECEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London-  8-29 am

 

 

Post No. 4474

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

 
“BEGGAR THAT I AM, I AM EVEN POOR IN THANKS” ( SHAKESPEARE IN HAMLET).

 

Every year I make a new year resolution; but before the ink is dry it is thrown into dustbin. Why?

I thought big of me. I thought of becoming a Shankaracharya or a Baba or a Swamiji. I took a resolution not to feel angry or hate anyone. Was it possible? No. Some people did great injustice to me in my work spots though I did all the good things to them. So till this day I hate them. I can never win in such resolutions!

So, this year I am going to take a new year resolution which is possible and practicable (?!?!?!).

London swaminathan’s name in Guinness Book of Recordss! How?

I learnt a lesson from my father. He was Mr V Santanam, News Editor of Dinamani (Indian Express Group of Newspapers), Madurai. Everyday people used to come to our house or his office to give news items. He used to read them and smile. He would never say YES or NO to the bringer of those news items. But they would request my dad to publish the item the very next day, in a prominent place in the newspaper with BIG headlines.

 

I used to wonder why he smile like this. Some of the items attracted my attention as well. One day when I read one of those news items I laughed loudly. And made some comments in front of my father.

“Fools! Idiots! Ganges- Vaigai River Link Association (!!!) meeting; resolution number 1 etc. These people did not even know geography. No one could even find a solution to link the rivers Narmada, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, leave alone Vaigai! there is a big Deccan plateau in between!”

 

My father was a man of few words. But on that day, he interrupted me to say, ‘An association can live long only when there is some unachievable goal. The man who brought the item is Gulam Bhai, a good soul; he runs seven organisations including ‘Kashmr is ours Association’, ‘Madurai pedestrians Association’  , ‘Cyclists Association’ and this ‘Ganaga- Vaigai Association’. He continued…………

 

I learnt a lesson from him. Never set an unachievable goal if you want to reach the goal. So this year I decided to think small and set an achievable goal! What is it?

I must enter the Guinness Book of Records in 2018 under the category of the man who put most likes in Facebook in 2018.

 

Please don’t compete with me in this category!

 

You may wonder why I chose FACEBOOK LIKES for this year. Very often I see women’s posts or women’s pictures get most likes. Good and original ideas get less likes. Don’t think that I am frustrated because I don’t get many likes. I know the difficulties. When you have 5000 friends and you put likes to someone or a few, those people will ‘haunt’ you whenever you open the Facebook page! Moreover I get 6000 hits every day to my blogs and most of them come from my Facebook friends. But I still wonder why do they have this new disease of clicking LIKES only for WOMEN!

Let me stop there and give you the second reason for choosing Facebook Likes this year.

 

While I was reading Shakespeare, I came across three beautiful quotations: –

 
‘BEGGAR THAT I AM, I AM EVEN POOR IN THANKS ‘(HAMLET).

‘HOW SHARPER THAN A SERPENT’S TOOTH IT IS TO HAVE A THANKLESS CHILD’ (KING LEAR).

‘I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICES, THANK YOU, YOUR MOST SWEET VOICES’ (CORIOLANUS)

 

 

I was most attracted by the first quotation.

Why should I be a beggar in thanking people? So let me click as many likes as possible in the new year. But I am restraining myself with a big condition—This may even place hurdles in my goal of entering Guinness Book of Records. The BIG condition is,

“I should not put likes to any Tom, Dick and Harry posts. It must have good messages, original thoughts, not recycled You Tube materials, neither political support nor hatred towards something!”

 

Let me see whether I can win by putting LIKE only to good and original ones.

Hey,

Why don’t you also place likes or tick likes when you see something GOOD, POSITIVE and ORGINAL in the new year?

 

Long live Facebook! Long, Longer, Longest live LIKES!

 

–SUBHAM-

 

 

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on December 9, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Quotations, woman, Women
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on December 9, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/12/09/facebook-likes-new-year-resolution-post-no-4474/

Most Famous Violin ‘Thief!’(Post No.4443)

COMPILED by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 29 NOVEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London-  6-38 am

 

 

Post No. 4443

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

 

Violin Practice-14 hours a day for 37 years!

Dr Axel Munthe, seated in the lounge of the Victoria Louise, was enthusiastically hailed by a brother physician.

What a genius you are! Thus the brother physician ended a long eulogy .

But Dr Munthe smiled and said, “A genius,eh? Well at his villa in Biarritz, Sarasate was once called a genius by a famous critic . But Sarasate (Spansih Violinist) frowned and shook his head.

“A genius!”,he said.

“For thirty seven years I have practiced fourteen hours a day, and now they call me a genius!”

Xxx

Audience knew it!!!

Paderewski once explained that he practiced faithfully every day. If I miss one day s practice,said he, I notice it. If I miss three days, the audience s notice it.

 

Xxx

 

‘Violin Thief!’

Fritz Kreisler, the violinist,found himself in Hamburg one evening with an hour to spare before taking his boat to London.

, where he was to play the following evening. So he wandered into a music shop.

The proprietor asked to see his violin which he carried under his arm. In a moment he disappeared, to reappear with two policemen. One laid his hand on Kreisler s shoulder and said,

“You are under arrest”.

“For what?” Asked Kreisler.

“You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.”

“Well, I am Fritz Kreisler”.

“Come,come” said the policeman,

“You can’t pull that one on us . Come to the station”.

 

Kreisler s boat sailed in an hour.

He had to do some quick thinking.

“I looked around, he says, and in the corner, I saw a victrola. I asked the proprietor if he any of Kreisler s records, he produced The Old Refrain, put it on for me and played it through.”

“Now, I said, let me have my violin. Then with whatever skill I may command I played The Old Refrain. When I was through I said, Are you satisfied now?”

With profuse apologies, they bowed him out to freedom.

 

Xxx

World’s Greatest Violinist!

It is said that Jescha Heifetz and Mischa Elman were dining together in a restaurant much frequented by artists. The waiter approached the table with an envelope which bore simply the inscription

To the worlds greatest violinist

Heifetz, who has picked it from the tray bowed and handed it across the table and said

“For you,Mischa”

Elman read it and said “No,no” and handed it back

“Something for you,Jascha”.

Thus they shilly shallied back and forth until finally Heifetz was persuaded to open it. He drew out the letter and unfolded it.

It began,” Dear Fritz”.

(Fritz Kreisler was a famous Austrian born violist)

Xxxx SUBHAM xxxx

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 29, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Music, Quotations
Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 29, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/29/most-famous-violin-thiefpost-no-4443/

My Violin Never Fails Me-Paganini (Post No.4441)

 

COMPILED by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 28 NOVEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London- 18-27

 

 

Post No. 4441

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

Instrumentalists Anecdotes

Dull wit becomes a Genius!

Once when Paderewski played before queen Victoria, the sovereign exclaimed with enthusiasm,

“Mr Paderewski ,you are a genius !”

“Ah, Your Majesty, perhaps, but before I was a genius , I was a drudge.”

(DRUDGE= ONE WHO DOES A MENIAL, HARD WORK)

Xxxx

Violin and Guitar

Sam Ward told this story of Paganini,

The master held a guitar across his lap,

Your young friend is musical?,enquired he.

Fanatico!, replied Gear.

Then he shall hear me practice for tomorrow night’s concert

Taking the guitar he converted that little understood instrument into an orchestra of bewildering and harmonic sonority. Now it seemed a battle, with the clash of swords, shouts of combatants, the roll of the drum. Then wails of pain and grief appeared to emerge from the sounding board over which his fingers flew like what the westerners call greased lightning. The performance lasted perhaps half an hour, and the dampness of his dishevelled locks indicate d the intensity of the emotion and the exertions that expressed it.

When the mastero received, with a sad smile, our frantic applause, I inquired whether he was going to rehearse on the violin for the morrow. He shook his head, I never rehearse the violin. My practice is the gymnastics of the guitar, to be sure of my suppleness of finger and delicacy of touch. My violin never fails me.

 

Xxx

Who is a good pianist?

Paderewski was once traveling incognito through Germany. He stopped for the night at a small in the Black Forest. In the main room of the inn was an old battered piano. Paderewski asked the landlord if he might try it. Upon doing so he found that the instrument was not only badly out of tune but that a number of the keys were stuck and would strike no sound at all. He remarked upon this to the landlord. The latter, offended  at the criticism of his piano replied, if you were a good pianist you could skip over those keys so it wouldn’t matter.

 

Xxxx

Get Married!

A young lady called one day on Rubinstein,the great pianist, who had consented to listen to her playing.

What do you think that I should do now?, she asked when she had finished.

Get married, was Rubinstein’s answer.

Xxxx Subham xxx

 

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 28, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Music, Quotations
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 28, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/28/my-violin-never-fails-me-paganini-post-no-4441/

31 Quotations from Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar (Post No.4438)

Written by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 27 NOVEMBER 2017 

 

Time uploaded in London- 16-28

 

 

Post No. 4438

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

December 2017 ‘Good Thoughts’ Calendar

31 Quotations from Tamil Veda Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar, Great Tamil Poet.

 

Important Days- 2-Kartikai Deepam; 11-Bharati’s Birth Day; 25-Christmas; 29- Vaikunda Ekadasi

Auspicious Days- 7, 13

Ekadasi Fasting Days- 13, 29.

New Moon/amavasyai-17/18

Full Moon/ Purnima- 3

December 1 Friday

Just Rule: The world clings to the feet of the great leader who wields his sceptre with love for his subjects (Kural 541)

December 2 Saturday

Miracle: Rains and harvests are rich in the land ruled by the righteous sceptre of an able leader (Kural 545)

December 3 Sunday

Vigilance: He who is not forearmed against coming danger, shall repent his fault at the end (535)

December 4 Monday

Success: Concentrate the mind upon what you want to achieve; it becomes easy then to attain (540)

December 5 Tuesday

Sharing with Kith and Kin: The crow invites its kind to share its prey without concealing it; fortune abides only with men of a similar nature (527)

 

December 6 Wednesday

Employing: Entrust affairs to men of four virtues: loyalty, intelligence, clear vision and non-craving (513)

December 7 Thursday

Suspicion: Fortune forsakes the leader who suspects the loyalty of him that endeavours to carry out a design (kural 519).

 

December 8 Friday

Selecting and Entrusting: Apply four tests in choosing genuine officers:Virtue, wealth, pleasure and fear of death (501)

 

December 9 Saturday

Greatness: A man’s deeds are the touch stone of his greatness and littleness (505)

December 10 Sunday

TRUST: Never trust a man without testing him; when the test is over, decide what you can entrust him with (Kural 509)

 

December 11 Monday

Crocodile Tactics: In deep waters the crocodile overpowers all; out of waters, others overpower it. (495)

December 12 Tuesday

Elephant and Fox (BE TACTFUL) : A fierce elephant that has faced lancers, can be foiled by a fox, if it is stuck in a marshy grounds (Kural 500)

December 13 Wednesday

TACTIS: The sea sailing ship cannot move on land. The strong wheeled high chariot cannot run on water (Kural 496)

December 14 Thursday

Time of Action: The crow defeats the owl during daytime. The leader seeks right time to quell the enemy (481)

December 15 Friday

Right Time: One can even win the world if he chooses the proper place and acts in the right hour (484)

 

December 16 Saturday

Time and Ram: The quiescence of a strong man is like the step back of a fighting ram before charging (Kural 486)

December 17 Sunday

Heron and Time: In adverse time feign peace and wait like a heron; strike like its peck when the time is opportune (490)

December 18 Monday

Overloading (FORETHOUGHT): The axle of an over loaded cart breaks by adding even a gentle peacock’s feather (475)

December 19 Tuesday

Thrift (SAVE THE MONEY): His amassed wealth will quickly vanish who lavishes it without thrift, upon needless things (480)

December 20 Wednesday

To be or Not to be (TAKE DECISIVE ACTION, DON’T DELAY): It is ruinous to do what should not be done; and ruinous also to omit what should be done (466)

 

December 21 Thursday

Have Good Company:-Purity of heart and purity of action both come from good company (455)

 

December 22 Friday

Greatmen:-The leader who has worthy friends and acts ably, has nothing to fear from terrible enemies (Kural 446)

December 23 Saturday

Supporters:-There is no profit without capital; there is no stability for a leader without strong supporters (449)

December 24 Sunday

Self-Introspection: Let a man cure his faults and then scan others’. Who then can find fault with him? (Kural 436)

December 25 Monday

Boasting: Never extol yourself in any mood nor do any act that is good for nothing (439)

 

December 26 Tuesday

Wisdom: Wisdom is a weapon which defends against decline; it is the inner fortress that baffles the enemy’s entry (421)

December 27 Wednesday

Do in Rome as Romans do:- To live in conformity with the world is wisdom (426)

December 28 Thursday

Listen:- Listen to whatever is good, however little; little as it may be, it will bring you much greatness.

 

December 29 Friday

Depression:- Though a man has no learning, let him listen; like a staff , it will support him in his depression

December 30 Saturday

Wise discourses: Polite speech is difficult for those who do not listen to wise discourses (419)

 

December 31 Sunday

Lady without breasts: The unlettered man aspiring to speak (in public platforms) is like a lady without her two breasts courting love. (Tirukkural couplet 402)

January First 2018 Monday- HAPPY NEW YEAR

–Subham–

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 27, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Quotations
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 27, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/27/31-quotations-from-tirukkural-of-tiruvalluvar-post-no-4438/

MEN OF FEW WORDS ARE THE BEST MEN; SHAKESPEARE AND TIRUKKURAL- 4 (Post.4435)

MEN OF FEW WORDS ARE THE BEST MEN; SHAKESPEARE AND TIRUKKURAL- 4 (Post.4435)


Written by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 26 NOVEMBER 2017

Time uploaded in London- 15–08

 

 

Post No. 4435

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

 

Please read the three parts posted in the last few days and continue here with the fourth part.

Speech

Shakespeare says,

Men of few words are the best men.

–Henry V (3.2.41)”

Tiruvalluvar in Tirukkural says,

one who speaks useless words is despised by all (Kural 191)|

If you speak at all speak profitably. Speak not empty words which produce no good (Kural 200)

The wise would refrain from empty words though they might speak unpleasantly (kural 197)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

World is a Theatre

 

Shakespeare says,

“ All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players,
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,

………………..

Tiruvalluvar in Tirukkural says,

 

Fortune coming to one and its departure are likened to assembling of a crowd to witness a drama and its dispersal respectively—Kural 332

The same simile is in Dhammapada 147 and Bhagavd Gita (18-61)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Compassion

Shakespeare says,

 

“TIMON
Commend me to them,
And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain
In life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:
I’ll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades’ wrath.

–Timon of Athens

Tiruvalluvar in Tirukkural says,

The world exists and functions, because of the gracious compassion of the king,

Where this quality is absent, he becomes a burden to good earth (Kural 572)

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Forgive and Forget

Shakespeare says,

 

Pray you now, forget and forgive:

(King Lear. Act 4. Scene 7. Lear speaking.)

 
I have forgiven and forgotten all;

(All’s Well That Ends Well. Act 5. Scene 3. King speaking.)

 

 

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

(Romeo and Juliet. Act 3. Scene 1. Escalus speaking.)

 

Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts?

(King Lear. Act 3. Scene 6. Lear speaking.)

Tiruvalluvar in Tirukkural says,

The best way to punish those who harm you is to make them feel abashed by doing them good and thinking no more of it. (Kural 314)

 

Of what avail is perfection if it does not do good even to them that have done evil? (Kural 987)

Forget not a good turn done to you; but it is proper that you should forget forthwith the wrong done to you (Kural 108)

 

xxxxx SUBHAM xxxxxxxxxxxxx

1 Comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 26, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture, Quotations
Tagged , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 26, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/26/men-of-few-words-are-the-best-men-shakespeare-and-tirukkural-4-post-4435/

SHAKESPEARE IN TAMIL VEDA TIRUKKURAL- Part 1 (Post No.4423)

Written by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 22 NOVEMBER 2017

 

Time uploaded in London- 20-58

 

 

Post No. 4423

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

WHAT IS TIRUKKURAL?

Tirukkural is a book of ethics in Tamil. Tirukkural means a ‘book of sacred couplets’. It has 1330 couplets divided into 133 chapters. It is divided into three sections dealing with Dharma (Virtue), Artha (wealth) and Kama (Love between man and woman). It was written by Tiruvalluvar, who lived approximately 1500 years before our time. The book is praised as Tamil Veda by his contemporaries. All the Hindu ideals are incorporated into the book. Some of the couplets can be compared with the sayings of Shakespeare.

 

Who is Shakespeare?

Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English dramatist and poet. He wrote 37 plays and over 150 poems. His quotations are used very often in English essays and other literary articles. Tiruvalluvar and Shakespeare agree on many issues. When one reads them one thinks that the famous saying ‘Great men think alike’ is proved once again.

Here are some comparisons culled out from various books:

Compassion and Mercy

Tiruvalluvar says

Those who are merciful are really the men of virtue

because they have compassion for all living creature (Kural 30)

In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare say that people with mercy are the real sages of the world.

 

The quality of mercy is not strain’d,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God Himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.

 

(Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1)

Chastity

Tiruvalluvar says

Of what avail is watch and ward? A woman’s will

is the best safeguard of her honour (Kural 57)

Prison walls, pad-locks and chastity belts are absolutely of no use to ensure a woman’s chastity. Her own conscience and inner strength will alone keep her really pure.

Sakespeare says,

“My chastity is the jewel of our house bequeathed down from many ancestors”

DIANA.
I see that men make hopes in such a case,
That we’ll forsake ourselves. Give me that ring.

BERTRAM.
I’ll lend it thee, my dear, but have no power
To give it from me.

DIANA.
Will you not, my lord?

BERTRAM.
It is an honour ‘longing to our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ the world
In me to lose.

DIANA.
Mine honour’s such a ring:
My chastity’s the jewel of our house,
Bequeathed down from many ancestors;
Which were the greatest obloquy i’ the world
In me to lose. Thus your own proper wisdom
Brings in the champion honour on my part
Against your vain assault.

All is well that ends well, Act 4, Scene 2

 

Wife,The Helpmate

Tiruvalluvar says,

If a man’s wife does not bring him credit and honour, he cannot walk

with proud leonine gait in the face of his distractors- (Kural 59)

 

Shakespeare says,

‘A light wife doth make a heavy husband’

-The Merchant of Venice, Act 5, Scene 1

 

It is a sarcastic remark.

It’s a pun (a play on words to make a joke) because “light” and “heavy” have many meanings.

“A light wife” is an adulteress.
We also say someone is “heavy” if they carry an emotional burden, e.g. an unfaithful wife.

Light and heavy most commonly refer to the weight of something and are opposites, as are husband and wife, as are an unfaithful and faith spouse.

Enter BASSANIO, ANTONIO, GRATIANO, and their Followers.
  Bass.  We should hold day with the Antipodes,
If you would walk in absence of the sun.
  Por.  Let me give light, but let me not be light;         145
For a light wife doth make a heavy husband,
And never be Bassanio so for me:
But God sort all! You are welcome home, my lord.
  Bass.  I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend:
This is the man, this is Antonio,         150
To whom I am so infinitely bound.

 

–to be continued

 

–Subham–

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 22, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture, Quotations, Tamil Literature
Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 22, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/22/shakespeare-in-tamil-veda-tirukkural-part-1-post-no-4423/

Bernard Shaw, Shelley, Byron Swimming Anecdotes (Post No.4396)

Written by London Swaminathan 

 

Date: 14 NOVEMBER 2017

 

Time uploaded in London- 18-26

 

 

Post No. 4396

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

Although unable to swim Shelley was forever invading pools and streams…. one day when Trelawney, a powerful swimmer, jumped into a deep pool in the Arno, Shelley immediately jumped in after him and lay ‘like a conger eel on the bottom’ till Trelawney fished him up with great difficulty, Shelley protesting as soon as he could breathe that ‘truth lay always at the bottom of the well’ and that in another minute I should have found it.

 

Xxx

Impressing upon his class an admiration for notable feats of physical prowess the teacher related the experience of a vigorous man who swam three times across a broad river in the morning, before breakfast.

There was a giggle from one of the youngsters in the class.

“Well”, said the teacher with some irritation

“What is that it seems so amusing? I see nothing amusing”.

“It’s only this sir, replied the pupil

I was wondering why he didn’t make it four times and get back on the side where he left his clothes”.

 

Xxx

Swimming in the Desert!

A certain American soldier, attached to one of the American Tank units fighting with the British in the Libyan campaign, had been carried by the exigencies of the service many miles deep into the heart of desert with his comrades. This outpost of the Front had been quiet for days. The soldier found himself one afternoon with a few hours leave.

It was with some surprise that his commanding officer spotted the man striding purposefully across the sands clad in his bathing trunks.

“Murphy! Shouted the officer in some astonishment. Where in blazes do you think you are going?”

Why, sir, said the soldier, I just thought while I had a couple of hours off I would take a dip in the surf.

Are you crazy? demanded the officer. The ocean is 500 miles from here!

“Beautiful big beach, isn’t it?” said the soldier.

 

Xxx

 

Shelley- Byron Argument!

The greatest and most mysterious of all Shelley s preoccupation s was with water, boat and swimming. He was apparently fascinated by water as a great element, and time and again prophesied his death by drowning. But it was typical of Shelley’s humourless absolutism where his fancy was involved that he was without fear in the business, and never troubled to learn either to navigate or to swim.

 

In 1816 the friendship that sprang up with Byron at Geneva was based partly on mutual literary admiration, and partly on their common love of boating. Byron knew something of sailing and navigation and they took a trip together around the lake in an open boat. They nearly foundered in a sudden storm one night. After Byron, had got the sail down and while the water poured in and the wind roared in darkness, they sat in furious argument, Byron, proud of his power as a swimmer, declaring that he would save Shelley when they sank, Shelley equally determined that he would not be saved.

 

Xxxxx

Following was published by me under the 15 Anecdotes from Bernard Shaw’s Life

G B Shaw Helped a youth

 

Bernard Shaw was enjoying a swim in a pool during a stay in South Africa; so were some boys who knew nothing of the august author one small boy was “dared” by his playmates to “duck the old man” for a Shilling. He accepted, but when he was close to his victim, panic seized him. Shaw turned, saw the youngster, and asked him what he wanted. In halting accents, the boy revealed the plot and the shilling bet.

“Well”, said Shaw, looking sternly at the youngster, “if you wait a moment while I get my breath, I will let you push my head under water.

He did, and the small boy swam back triumphantly to collect his shilling.

 

–subham–

 

Leave a comment
by Tamil and Vedas on November 14, 2017  •  Permalink
Posted in Culture, Quotations
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on November 14, 2017

https://tamilandvedas.com/2017/11/14/bernard-shaw-shelley-byron-swimming-anecdotes-post-no-4396/

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »