Written by London Swaminathan
Date: 9 JANUARY 2018
Time uploaded in London-8-09 AM
Post No. 4598
Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.
Don’t Walk In between Two Brahmins- Chanakya’s Advice; Tamils Agree!
Chanakya, the genius of ancient India, gives some strange advice. But It is found in later Tamil literature as well. Chanakya alias Kautilya lived 2300 years ago.
Here is the sloka/verse:
One should not walk in between two Brahmins, a Brahmin and fire, husband and wife, master and servant, the plough and the bull
Viprayorvipravahnyoho swamibhtyayoho
antarena nagantavyam halasya vrushabhasya ca
Chanakya Niti, Chapter 7,verse 5
xxx
One should not point feet towards fire, teacher, a Brahmin, a cow, a maiden, an old man and a child.
paadaabhyaam na sprusedagnim gurum braahnameva ca
naiva gaam wa kumariim ca vrudhdham na sisum tathaa
Chanakya Niti, Chapter 7,verse 6
xxx
Don’t be Over simple! Be crooked!
People should not be over simple; go to a forest and see. Straight trees are lumbered there while the crooked ones stay put.
naatyantam saralairbhaavyam gatvaa pasya vanasthaliim
chidhyante saralaastatra kubjaastishtanti paadapaahaa
Chanakya Niti, Chapter 7,verse 12
xxx
If the following seven are asleep, one should awaken them: a student, a servant, a wayfarer, one tormented by hunger, one tremulous in fear, the store keeper and a gate keeper .
vidhyarthii sevakah paantha; kshudhaartaa bayakaatarah
bhandaari ca pratihaari sapta suptaan prabhodhayet
Chanakya Niti, Chapter 9,verse 6
xxxx
These seven, if asleep, one should not wake up: a snake, a king, a tiger, a boar, a child, somebody else’s dog and a fool.
arhi nrupam ca saarduulam kiti ca baalakam tathaa
parasvaanam ca muurkham ca sapta suptaan na bhodhayet.
Chanakya Niti, Chapter 9,verse 7
XXX
TAMIL VERSES
TIRIKADUKAM (Tri Kaduka) is one of the 18 minor didactic works. The author Nallaathanaar warns that one should deal with Brahmins carefully. One should treat a Brahmin like fire; don’t close too near; it will burn you; don’t go too far; you will feel cold and suffer. The message is treat them with due respect. Since Brahmins of the golden days—Krta Yuga—and the olden days were pure in character, their words came came true; and if it was a good word it benefitted one; if it was a curse it harmed one.
Nallaathanaar says,
Oh, farmers! Wise men say three things are good for you—
1.Dont try to get money through gambling
2.Even if you know a Brahmin for long, fear him like fire
3.Do farming with interest
Tiruvalluvar, the author of Tamil Veda Titukkural use the same for a king
How to move with a king? It is just like one who warms oneself in the fire, neither going too near, nor too far – kural couplet 691
Adi Shankara was the one who used this fire imagery first. Later Tiruvalluvar, Nallaathanaar, Kamban, Bhavananthi of Nannul and several authors used it.
Adi Shankara used it in the context of devotees; Lords says that he does not discriminate; those who are nearer to him get the benefits of his warmth; those who go away from him lose his grace.
It is very interesting to compare all of them.
–subham–
