subhAshitAni discussed on the SSS SubhAshita group:
नियतिः कारणं लोके नियतिः कर्मसाधनम्।
नियतिस्सर्वभूतानां नियोगेष्विह कारणम् || 4.25.4 ।।
"Fate" is the cause of the world. "Fate" is the means of accomplishment. "Fate" assigns duties to all beings. -- Sri Ramachandra from Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam, Kishkinda Kanda
"niyati" is that which is supposed to happen, what is destined to. There are things that we can control and things we cannot. "niyati" is that which we cannot control. Sri Ramachandra says this to Angada, Sugreeva and Tara after the death of Vaali when they were excessively lamenting on.
भो दारिद्र्य नमस्तुभ्यं सिद्धोऽहं त्वत्प्रसादतः |
पश्याम्यहं जगत्सर्वं न मां पश्यति कश्चन ||
Oh Poverty, salutations to you. By your blessings I have succeeded in one thing : I see the entire world but no one sees me (as if I am invisible).
I discovered this subhAshita in 2012 when we were going through a low in life, when some bad decisions had erased our bank account. As long as we have money, we are treated well by others. Most people treat you as worthless when you don’t have. We “saw” people. It is only the parents and our dear ones who stand by and with us. The author of the subhAshita uses “vyangya” (sarcasm) to show us the mirror:
पठतो नास्ति मूर्खत्वम्
जपतो नास्ति पातकम् ।
मौनिनः कलहो नास्ति
न भयं चास्ति जाग्रतः ॥
For a person who studies, there is no foolishness. For one who meditates, there is no wickedness. For one who knows to be silent, there is no conflict. For one who is alert / awake, there is no fear / insecurity.
Hard to translate but I am sure we can all read beyond the limitations of English. Translation is to get the gist of the subhAshita, rest is up to us to appreciate.
अनाहूतः प्रविशति अपृष्टो बहु भाषते ।
अविश्वस्ते विश्वसिति मूढचेता नराधमः ॥
One who enters a place uninvited, speaks too much when not asked for, trusts the unworthy is said to be a fool and lowly.
Places such as a temple or parents' home does not require an invitation. All other places, we need to be careful. Sometimes we speak more than we need to, and advise people when they do not ask for it. We end up trusting people based on their looks, skin color, dress, speech and judge others based on their external appearance. We need to use "Viveka" (know what is right and what is not) in all these cases.
पापान्निवारयति योजयते हिताय गुह्यं निगूहति गुणान् प्रकटीकरोति ।
आपद्गतं च न जहाति ददाति काले सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदं प्रवदन्ति सन्ताः ॥
"Prevents you from wrong doing, engages you in good deeds, keeps your secrets, reveals your virtues, doesn't abandon you in distress, and offers timely help. The wise describe these as the qualities of a good friend"
परोऽपि हितवान् बन्धु: बन्धुरप्यहित: पर:।
अहितः देहजो व्याधि: हितमारण्यमौषधम् ॥
-- हितोपदेश
One who wishes you well despite not being related is truly a close relative while a hostile relative is an outsider. A disease in the body is unwanted, while a medicine in the forest is good for us.
I have more non-blood-relatives than blood-relatives.
सोSस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलं | क्षमा गुणो अशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं ||
- विदुर नीति
“kshama” is not be considered as a one’s weakness. “Kshama” is their strength. “Kshama” is a virtue of the weak and an ornament of the strong.
The word “kshama” is often translated as “to forgive” but its meaning changes with context. It could mean patience, tolerance, forbearance, endurance, to refrain, to resist etc etc. it is a virtue of the strong to forgive and to endure hardship is a quality of the weak.
Vidura defends Yudhishitira and the pAnDavAs that their ability to endure and forgive is not to be mistaken as weakness but that shows their strength.
Life throws many challenges at us and creates situations when we need to stay strong and endure, and sometimes forgive ourselves and others. May we develop the “kshamate” - the capacity or ability to endure.
पुण्यस्य फलमिच्छन्ति
पुण्यं नेच्छन्ति मानवाः ।
न पापफलमिच्छन्ति
पापं कुर्वन्ति यत्नतः ॥
People desire the fruits of “puNya” (good deeds), but not inclined to perform “puNya”. They do not want to fruits of “paapa” (sinful or unethical deeds), but they knowingly commit “paapa”).
Watch your actions and be in the path of righteousness. Avoid shortcuts that are often unethical. Money you accumulate will disappear with death but paapa and puNya come along with you.
yāvad bhriyeta jaṭharaṁ
tāvat svatvaṁ hi dehinām
adhikaṁ yo ’bhimanyeta
sa steno daṇḍam arhati
— Srimad BhAgawatam
One may claim proprietorship to as much wealth as required to maintain the body. One who aspires for more than that is a thief, and he deserves punishment.
Accumulation beyond need is the biggest disease of modern times. By hook or crook, by honest or dishonest meant people want to accumulate. Very few contribute back to the community, very few donate without expectation of return.
यथा चित्तं तथा वाचः यथा वाचस्तथा क्रियाः ।
चित्ते वाचि क्रियायाञ्च साधूनामेकरूपता ॥
As the thoughts, so the words. As the words, so the deeds. Virtuous people are consistent in their thoughts, words and deeds.
In the ancient Indian society, people had clean mind, spoke well, and did what they say. These days it is hard to find such people I feel. The world is full of hypocrites who think, say and act differently.
जाड्यं धियो हरति सिञ्चति वाचि सत्यम् मानोन्नतिं दिशति पापमपाकरोति ।
चेतः प्रसादयति दिक्षु तनोति कीर्तिम् सत्सङ्गतिः कथय किं न करोति पुंसाम् ॥
- नीतिशतकम्
It (the association of virtuous people) removes inertia / laziness, infuses honestly in speech, manifests improved self-image, softens a mischievous (cleans a sinful) mind, satisfies the consciousness self, and spreads a sense of accomplishment in all directions. Is there anything that the company of virtuous people cannot achieve?
Always seek the right association. Find people who are better than you, who can elevate you.
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ १३८ ॥
satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyānna brūyāt satyamapriyam |
priyaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ brūyādeṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 138 ||
— manusmriti
Speak with honesty / speak the truth; speak pleasantly; speak not the truth that is unpleasant; speak not to please what is untrue; this is the eternal law.—(138)
Truth is to be spoken but spoken with care. Always speak in a way not to hurt others. When unpleasant is to be spoken, put some thought into it before speaking. Do not say something just to please others. Practice this as your dharma at all times.
रथस्यैकं चक्रं, भुजगयमिताः सप्त तुरगाः
निरालम्बो मार्गश्चरणविकलः सारथिरपि ।
रविर्यात्येवान्तं प्रतिदिनमपारस्य नभसः
क्रियासिद्धिः सत्त्वे भवति महतां, नोपकरणे ॥
rathasyaikaṃ cakraṃ, bhujagayamitāḥ sapta turagāḥ
nirālambo mārgaścaraṇavikalaḥ sārathirapi |
raviryātyevāntaṃ pratidinamapārasya nabhasaḥ
kriyāsiddhiḥ sattve bhavati mahatāṃ, nopakaraṇe ||
The Sun’s chariot has only a single wheel; the chariot’s pullers (seven horses) are controlled by snakes working as reins. The Sun’s celestial path unsupported, so is the charioteer who is not able-bodied. Unaffected by any of these shortcomings, the Sun successfully traverses the boundless skies day after day. To accomplish their goals, the great souls rely not on any material means but on their own (core) strength.
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