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Bhatrihari Wisdom - 2: Durjana Paddhati

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Lack of compassion, unwarranted enmity, interest in others wealth and other women lack of tolerance towards relatives – all these are the natural qualities of the evil minded. (41)

Though a snake / serpent has a diamond on its hood, it is not desirable to go anywhere near it. In the same manner, a bad person should be kept for away, though he is a scholar. (42)

A man who has no sense of shame is considered a dullard, a worshipper a proud one, a clean as an actor, a courageous one a merciless one people may say. The one who looks into his atman and keeps on thinking about it may be called a proud one. The one speaks fluently and well in meetings may be called and treated as an arrogant man. Thus, those with good qualities are treated. Bad people always judge all with ignorance and arrogance. (43).

Extraordinary greed brings disgrace.   No other bad quality is required for that. Those who make acquisitions are enough to take to help. To purify one’s self it is not necessary to make pilgrimages. To do good one’s own goodness. Disgrace and bad name are like death. The idea of this saying is that one should shed evil and bad qualities and acquire good ones. (44).

The moon becoming dim in the day, a woman losing her previous glow while in youth, a lake without lotuses, a beautiful young man without education, a greedy king, a good man always with no money and bad man always at the king’s sides spoiling the time of visitors – all these seven would be thorns in the minds and always create grief. (45).

The fire god for his satisfaction would burn even those who perform sacrificial flame without any feeling of delicacy would burn. In the same way for the kings with great anger there would be none who would love them. Such kings would get people killed – however helpful they are. (46)

Rulers, Kings would consider servants who does not speak dumb, if they speak very well, they would consider such talkative, if they are very silent, they would consider him people who have no adoration and devotion for them, they would consider all useless, who bear with respect cowardly and not of high birth. Before such it is not possible even for yogis who behave with the delicacies of conduct. (47)

No one would be comfortable among those who rise to high position who get into wealth and help anybody. The lesson one should learn to be away from such. (48)

Friendship with the evil minded like the shade in the early morning wide would disappear slowly. Friendship with the good people would be like the evening shade beginning slowly but goes on growing slowly. The wise one should choose what is good using his sense of judgement (49)

Animals like antelopes who spend life eating blades of grass would be killed by small hunters, fishermen who catch fish for a living and people who are unnecessary enemies harm the innocent who are criminal are seen in this world are inimical (50)

Sujana Padlhati Fifteen

I have my esteem and offer my pranaams, salutations to the people who have good qualities like this.

Attraction for friendship with good people who have love for the qualities of others, and obedience to the preceptors, good qualities of cooperation with the woman wedded to him, fear for disrepute worshipfulness to Eshwar, shaving ability to forbearance of insult, hatred for evil loving ones (51).

Courage to face dangers, patience when being wealthy, ability to well in meetings, showing courage in fights, attraction for fame, good name, thoughts and hard work in learning shastras. (52)

These are the qualities of the nature of great people. Though there is no wealth of great ones what are no gold ornaments on the person, the following are the natural qualities. They should have the nature of giving away daana, the good habit of offering salutations, pranaams, to gurus, preceptors, habitual – speech of truth, for the shoulders to have courage to fight behaviour of goodness of heart and for the ears to listen to Shastras are embellishments (53)

Shedding violence, truthfulness in the mind leaving attraction for others money, donating as per one’s own ability, not thinking about other women keeping silent and respecting preceptors, Gurus, showing kindness to all living beings around, treating, respecting all shastras effectively – this is the way for all welfare and good living (54)

The mindsets of great people, mahatmas when become rich with the grace of god would be tender, as tender and soft, like a lotus. When disasters strike, their hearts became hard like a stone. That means they would never be round when rich or when hardships come, they would turn pale and lose heart. (55).

Following a judicious profession or work and not being illegal or cruel even in the face of damage of life not praying to the evil one, though a friend never to beg for help and being brake in the face of dangers, these are the ways of living of the good people, These came by birth and temperament only and not by preaching (56).

Donating in secret, treating a guest who needs help with love and doing good for him, never to reveal or boast about his generosity – being without pride though wealthy and not talking badly about others-comes naturally to the good (57).

A drop of water on the burnt iron plate would be gone without a trace. But if that drop falls on a lotus leaf it appears like a pearl. That very drops, if taken a pearl- base in the sea would become a diamond. As per the paths taken by persons the man would be treated in these ways as mean, as ordinary, as great and noble. These lead to total distinction, comfortable living and happiness (58)

The one who makes his faster happy by his behaviour is a son. The one who treats a friend both in wealth and poverty equally is really a great person. Such good son, wife and friend are a matter of great happiness (59)

Good men would be great and renamed only by their humility. They reveal their greatness of mind by being kind and very soft hearted. They would go long ways to help others and make them successful in their efforts. Some even though getting benefit for themselves would be blaming and hurting others are very cruel. People with behaviour are not help in affection. (60)

This is the description of Sujana Paddhati in Neeti shataka.

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27-Apr-2019

More by :  Dr. Rama Rao Vadapalli V.B.

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