Written by London Swaminathan
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 22 October 2018

Time uploaded in London – 19-40

(British Summer Time)

Post No. 5577

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IF YOU HAVE PATIENCE, YOU DON’T NEED AN ARMOUR- BHARTRUHARI (Post No.5577)

Bhartruhari’s Niti Sataka 21,22,23

 

We have already seen 20 slokas from Niti Sataka of the great poet Bhartruhari. Today we will look at three more slokas and compare them with Tamil Veda Tirukkural. In each couplet, he deals with various subjects unlike Tiruvalluvar. So every line can be compared with sayings of other great people. In sloka/couplet 21 he deals with Anger, Friendship, Wicked people, Wisdom, Modesty and liking for Poetry. This is his unique style which is seen later in many Sanskrit Subhashitas (golden sayings).

21. If a man has patience, what need has he of armour?

If he has anger in his heart, what further enemy need he

fear ? If he has knowledge, what need of fire to consume

evil ? If a friend, what need has he of divine medicines ?

If there are malicious people about him, why should he be

afraid of serpents ? If he has perfect wisdom, what need

of riches ? If he is modest, what need has he of orna-

ment ? If he gives his mind to poetry, what need has he

of power ?

Tiruvalluvar, author of Tamil Veda Tirukkural, says about anger,

IF ONE WISHES TO SAFEGUARD ONESELF, ONE SHOULD CONTROL ANGER.IF NOT, IT IS BOUND TO RUIN ONESELF- TIRUKKURAL  305

THE FIRE OF ANGER WILL DESTROY NOT ONLY THE PERSON UNDER ITS INFLUENCE BUT ALSO HIS KIN WHO MINISTERS TO HIM IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-306

FRIENDSHIP

GENUINE FRIENDSHIP HASTENS TO REDRESS DISTRESS EVEN LIKE THE HAND WHICH PICKS UP QUICKLY THE GARMENT THAT SLIPS- 788

LIVING WITH SNAKES

TO LIVE WITH MEN WHO HAVE NO SYMPATHY IS TO LIVE CLOSELY WITH A SERPENT IN A HUT-890

Liking for poetry is not seen in Tirukkural but it also deals with the joy that learning brings.

 

22. Be well disposed towards relatives ; liberal to infe-

riors : always hate the evil ; love the good ; be obedient to

princes ; honour the wise. Be firm towards enemies ; be

respectful to venerable men ; deal shrewdly with women.

The man who frames his life after these precepts prospers

in the world.

DEALING WITH ENEMIES

THE REMNANT OF AN ACTION AND OF AN ENEMY WILL BE FOUND AS RUINOUS AS THE REMNANT OF A FIRE – 674

LET THE THORN BE WEEDED OUT WHEN IT IS TENDER; WHEN GROWN, IT WILL PRICK THE HAND OF WHO NIPS IT- 879

ON MODESTY

FOOD, CLOTHING AND THE LIKE ARE COMMON TO ALL MEN; BUT MODESTY IS THE CHIEF FEATURE OF THE GOOD—1012

LOVE BEGETS AMITY, AND THAT IN TURN BRINGS AN IMMEASURABLE GLORY OF FRIENDSHIP- 74

 

23.The company of wise and saintly persons removes ignorance and stupidity from the intellect. It makes the speech truthful, increases self-respect,drives away sin and crime, makes the mind happy and cheerful and makes one popular in society. Tell me what the company of saints does not offer?

Tiruvalluvar, Tamil poet who lived at least 1500 years ago says in his Tirukkural:
“Weigh the worth and chose for friendship men of ripe wisdom who know the law (Kural 441)

“Cultivate amity and seek help from men who remove present ills and guard you from future ills (Kural 442)

TO PLEASE GREAT MEN AND MAKE THEM ONE’S OWN IS THE RAREST OF THE RARE BLESSINGS- KURAL 443

TO ESTEEM MEN WHO ARE GREATER THAN ONESELF AND FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS IS THE HIGHEST OF ALL POWERS – 444

Greatest philosopher of India, Adi Shankara, says,
“ Satsangatve nissangatvam
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nischalatattvam
Nischalatattve jeevanmuktih” –Bhajagovindam (9)

“Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through non-attachment there arises freedom from delusion; through freedom from delusion there arises steadfastness; through steadfastness, there arises liberation in life”- Bhajagovindam

Bhagavan Ramana has rendered this verse into Tamil in his supplement to Ulladu Narpathu (supplement to Forty Verses on Existence)

 

Avvaiyar on the same theme

Tamil poetess Avvaiyar, who lived several centuries ago, says

“Sweet is solitude; sweeter is to meditate upon god. Sweeter still is the company of wise people (saints); and the sweetest is to think about the great people always, whether you are wide awake or sleeping. (i.e.to follow them is the sweetest thing in the world)”

In another verse in ‘Vaakkundaam’, she reemphasizes this point,

“It is good to see good people; good to listen to them, it is better to talk about their virtues and the best is to go along with them”.

क्षान्तिश्चेत्कवचेन किं किम् अरिभिः क्रोधो‌உस्ति चेद्देहिनां
ज्ञातिश्चेदनलेन किं यदि सुहृद्दिव्यौषधं किं फलम् ।
किं सर्पैर्यदि दुर्जनाः किम् उ धनैर्विद्या‌உनवद्या यदि
व्रीडा चेत्किम् उ भूषणैः सुकविता यद्यस्ति राज्येन किम् ॥ 1.21 ॥

दाक्षिण्यं स्वजने दया परिजने शाठ्यं सदा दुर्जने
प्रीतिः साधुजने नयो नृपजने विद्वज्जने चार्जवम् ।
शौर्यं शत्रुजने क्षमा गुरुजने कान्ताजने धृष्टता
ये चैवं पुरुषाः कलासु कुशलास्तेष्वेव लोकस्थितिः ॥ 1.22 ॥

जाड्यं धियो हरति सिञ्चति वाचि सत्यं
मानोन्नतिं दिशति पापम् अपाकरोति ।
चेतः प्रसादयति दिक्षु तनोति कीर्तिं
सत्सङ्गतिः कथय किं न करोति पुंसाम् ॥ 1.23 ॥

–subham–