Path of the impartial---Samchitta padhita.

**1. The sun shines impartially. It shines neither to foster the growth of Chakravaka birds [ a bird that is greatly attached to sun] nor to put down Chakora birds [a bird that thrives only in moonlight]. So do great men, render their duties impartially.

**4.When clouds comedown to the ocean to drink water, no change is seen in the level of the ocean. Similarly great men remain unaffected and remain impartial though their belongings are usurped or are bestowed with gifts.

**7. Diamonds unlike oil lamps need no attendance to shine day and night.Similarly impartial men shine at all times whether felicitated or not . Unlike ordinary men.

**9. An shield that no weapon can cleave or be taken away and guarantees protection at all times are the qualities of determination, patience and endurance.

Path of the great...Mahapurusha paddathi.

** Those who have renounced the world, following the holy path , noble and pure , reading the Vedas and shastras,helping fellow human beings and constantly worshipping the lotus feet of Vishnu are Mahpurusha's.

**Noble is one ,who is not carried away by the opinion of others.Such men are impartial to all . They have the shining lustre of gold! They are worthy of worship even by saints.

**The speed of the river of wealth can astonish and frighten even those who posses it in abundance.But such rivers have no recognition in associations of persons who are enamoured only by the celestial nectarine river of tranquility.

Path of the mean.Dhurupta padathi.

2. If there is no purity of thought ,such a person can never attain fame though he may associate with the good.

3.Even if a person is honest in his dealings,helps others during their troubles and is dear to all and is worthy of conduct in all aspects , he will be considered fallen if he does not follow the path of his ancestors.

5.It is better not to commit any sin at all than to committing them and doing prayachitam--purification-over and over again.

6. A crane stands on one leg and lures its prey by its deceptive harmlessness. Similarily mean minded mean don the mendicants role only to plunder their devotees . This cunningness is despicable.

11.The company and association of those, who pride themselves that they can get away with any evil deed because of their high birth should be shunned .

State of those who are unfit to be approached.Asevya padathi

1.Hard hearted people hate without cause and are not easily accessible and are very discourteous.Such persons should never be approached for food and shelter even if they belong to a noble family.

7. Crooked persons will renounce worldly enjoyments outwardly,but will be constantly thinking about them inwardly. Association with such people will lead only to doom.

12.If a man wants to earn a huge wealth it is better to roam around the world crossing the seas,or climbing mountains or even revert to blowing bellows,or to archery or to warfare than to roam in fear in the corridors of of a rich or powerful man's mansion always in his attendance and shame lessly praising him to earn a few pieces of gold. Since this is sure to lead to his ultimate destruction.

Mind of Dhushta's-----Khalapaddatih Sri Desikan neeti.

**1.Both yogi's and Dushtas are superficially alike.They do not pay much attention to their families and household.The major difference is that whilst yogis let go of their attachments to think and meditate on Pramapurusha the Dushtas let go of their responsibilities only to make it easier for themselves to think of ways and means to harm others!

** 4.The worst Dushta is one who wins over others trust by kind acts and sweet words and then proceed to destroy the unsuspecting ones.

**5.Durjans who have amassed wealth in improper ways react violently when criticised.They appear like wild mountain streams ,which destroy anything and every thing on its way ,when its flow is interrupted.

**9.A dushta should be either brought around or avoided .

**11.The dushta may be a powerful person with a huge gang and large retinue at his beck and call. Association with such people is best ,to be avoided. It is better to see a dry and barren land than the face of such persons!

to be contd.

The egotist state ---Drupaddatih.Sri Desikan's neevi

3.**One can draw a picture of the sun as a round object on paper or wall but cannot draw its radiance!

Similarly one can dress like a righteous one , decorate one's forehead with namum[white mark] but cannot become a acharya , merely with these outward disguises.

9.**The lion and the fox live in the forest ,have sharp claws and eat flesh. The similarity ends there! An lion can break the skull of the elephant with its paws . Can a lowly fox striving for equality ever compete with a lion's prowess?

Similarily a simpleton and a scholar may live in a same village , dress in a the same fashion and even attend the same meetings. But can that person equal the scholar in his depth of knowledge?

8.Duryanamapi satkare gunasali vimardinam anagama vidam yaktam apaniter nivaranam|

Those in power may have superior administrative skills . But if their acts are not just and right they are Dushtas , self contented and leading empty lives , wallowing in mud of pride!

To be contd.

Subhashita neevi of Sri Desikan.

Swamy Desikan, saint and scholar [1268---1369] responded to the fervent appeal of one of his disciples, a king to bless him and his subjects with a good code of conduct, by bestowing this Neethi kavya known as 'Subhshita neevi'.It contains 144 slokas in Sanskrit . The advise tendered by Swamy Desikan has a universal appeal and is relevant for all times.

It has 12 chapters . The first 5 of which deals with the deeds and conducts that one should avoid and the other 7 chapters list the conducts one should emulate.

'Asamarthan' ---'The dullard and vicious' is the heading of the 5 types of base and low conduct and nature of persons, one should avoid. I have referred to a few of his slokas from all the chapters that are as follows .

1.Annupunapaddatih-----The Dullard state.

1.**Pratama sujanya pumse mahayampi prathama durjanyah namah|

Sarvam hatah kritham yausakrdupakara pakarabyam|

One who overlooks and forgives bad deeds done by others is worthy of respect.

One who forgets the 1000's of acts of help rendered by some one and bears grudges against the person because he committed one misdeed , is a despicable person!

** 2.'Anipunan' viz 'The foolish person' is the one who argues that Hari's white conch is yellow in colour . He refuses to recognise that he has jaundiced eyes ,which makes everything look yellow!

He sticks to his argument . Can any one cure this fool?How can he cure others as a physician?

** 12.Lord Rama is an ocean of abundant auspicious qualities . But the uncontrollable Anipunans accuse him of the following 3...

1. Killing of a woman called Thataki.

2.Destroying Vali by deceit.

3. Stepping back from Kara in his fight .

These Anipunans question Rama of these blemishes but are tongue tied when it comes to those who are a ocean of doshams!

To be contd....

References are from Sadagopan org.

Evil speech.

Chapter 10 of Gita says--
Vrsninam Vasudevosmi, pandavanam Dhanajaya,
Muninam apy aham Vyasah, Kavinam Usana kavih.............................37.

Meaning,

I am Vasudeva among the Vrsnis and Arjuna among the Pandavas,
I am Vyasa among sages and Sukra among the farsighted !

The following is the advise given by Sukrachariar to his daughter, when she is seething with rage at the ill treatment meted and insults hurled at her by her friend Sharmishta,who was the daughter of the Asura king ,who engaged the services of Shukrachary ,as his chief counsellor .

'O'Devayani , he that mindeth not the evil speeches of others , conquers every thing.He is a true man who subdues his wrath without indulging it.

He is regarded as a man who by having recourse to forgiveness shakes away his rising anger like a snake casting of its skin.He who suppresses anger ,he who does not regard the evil speeches of others ,he who does not become angry though there be a cause , certainly acquires the 4 objects for which we live----Virtue, profit, desire and salvation.

Between him that performs sacrifices every month without a pause even for 100years and him that never feels angry at anything , he who feels no wrath is certainly the higher!


[From Adi parva of Mahabharat.]

Shukra neethi.

Shukracharya was the guru of asuras. He was the son of sage Bhrigu who is regarded as the father of Indian Astrology.

The planet Venus and the day of the week Friday ---shukravaar is named after Shukracharya ,to his honour.

Mahabharata traces his history and also lists his sagacious advises. Though he was the guru of the much hated Asura's he was not lacking in scholarship or wisdom .

The following is from Shukra neethi---regarding secrecy,

One should maintain secrecy of age, wealth, demerits of his home , mantra, union , medicine, charity , respect and disrespect. One should never ever divulge any of these 9 information to any one .

Arjuna's oath.

Hindu philosophy revolves around the doctrine of karma. That is a living being's happiness and misery in life , here and there after is the result of deeds --good and bad performed in this life as well as in earlier lives.

Sage Vyasa in the Mahabharata gives the list of deeds a person should avoid doing , through the oath Arjuna takes in the battle field.

When Arjuna returns from a successful battle, to the Pandava encampment a deathly silence greets him. He intuitively grasps the dreadful truth of his young son Abhimanyu's death.He is angry at himself and at all others around him for not preventing such a tragedy.He resembled the destroyer himself in wrath . None of his friends or kinsmen could venture to look or to speak to him, save Yudhishtra and Vasudeva , who were under all circumstances acceptable to him , since he greatly respected them and dearly loved them.

Yudhishtra explains that it was Jayadhartha who had prevented the Pandava army to go to Abhimanyu's rescue, when the lad was inextricably caught in the Chakravyuha ---battle formation and was surrounded and gruesomely murdered by 6 warriors of Kauravas that included Drona and his son . On hearing this,Arjuna cried ''Oh son"! and fell down in pain and arose with eyes bathed in tears, his body trembling feverishly and cast roving glances like a mad man and clenched his fists and took a oath that he would slay Jayadharth the very next day if Jeyadharth did not surrender on his own accord and seek his protection.

He then says " Let me not attain the region reserved for the righteous if I donot fulfill my vow but go to those regions that are for them that do the following---

Who slay their mother or father or violate their preceptors bed,
or
Who are vile and wicked ,
or
Who cherish envy against the righteous,
or
who speak ill of others ,
or
who appropriate the wealth confidingly deposited with them by others
or
who ,betray others trust reposed in them,
or
Who speak ill of wives enjoyed by them before,
or
who have slain scholars
or
who have killed their kine
or
have eaten sugared milk and rice, or food prepared of barley or dishes prepared of milk, sesame and rice or thin cakes of powdered barley fried in ghee or other kinds of cakes or meat , without having first dedicated the same to the gods,
or
have insulted men devotedto the studies of Vedas or other wise worthy of respect or is a preceptor.

And adds "Let my end be as despicable as that of the following persons"

Of those who touch, worthy men and fire with feet,

Of those who eject phlegm, excreta and urine into water,

Of those who do not entertain their guests hospitably,

Of those who receive bribes, speak falsehood, deceive and cheat others,

Of those who offend their own sons and falsely praise others,

Of those who eat sweetmeats in sight of servants, sons and wives and dependants without sharing the same with them,

Of those who posses a ruthless nature and cast off a righteous and obedient protege without supporting them,

Of those who give Shraddha to undeserving neighbours overlooking the deserving ones,

Of those who drink wine, insult the worthy of respect ,is ungrateful and speaks ill of his brothers!

***********

References are from section lxx111 Drona parva of Mahabharat.

Ram rajya.

All our lives we have heard about Ram rajya ,the synonym of an ideal state that fosters all round peace and prosperity.To know what actually constitutes Ram Rajya we have to turn the pages of our, two greatest epics of all times Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Ramayana states the following---

Inheriting a great kingdom the righteous Rama propitiated the almighty with many sacrifices and performed them with the active participation of his sons, brothers and relations. There after he ruled the earth with Lakshmana ,who was constantly at his side.

Whilst Rama was ruling the kingdom , there were no widows to lament , nor was there any danger from wild animals or any fear borne of diseases.

The world was free of thieves and robbers . No one fell ill nor did any one feel worthless .Old people were never called to perform obsequies of younger one's.

Every creature felt pleased !Every one was intent on virtue.Turning their eyes towards Rama alone , creatures did not kill each other.

Asanvar shahasar ani tatha putra sahasrinah|
Nir amaya vishokashcha rame Rajyam prashasati| ----------------[102 ..yudda kand]

meaning--Whilst Rama ruled the kingdom, people survived for 1000's of years with 1000's of progeny, all of whom were free of illness and grief!

Further --

Whilst Rama ruled , the talks of the people centered around Rama , Rama and Rama alone. The world became Rama's world.

The trees were bearing flowers and fruits regularly without any injury by pests and animals.The clouds were raining at all proper times and the wind was delightful to the touch.

All the classes of people were performing their own duties , satisfied with their work , bereft of any greed . Whilst Rama was ruling people were intent on virtue and lived without lies and untruths and were all endowed with excellent characteristics.

Rama's golden rule or Ram rajya lasted for several centuries.


The Mahabharata has the following to say about Ram rajya.

Rama by his compassion , virtuosity, generosity and sacrifice conquered hunger, thirst and all diseases that living things are subject to . Possessed of every accomplishment, he blazed forth with his own energy.

As he treated his subjects compassionately, even celestial worshipped Rama!

When Rama ruled his kingdom , the Rishis, gods and men , all lived together on this earth.
The life breaths caled prana, apana samana all performed their functions well,
All luminous bodies shone brighter and calamities never occurred,
All his subjects lived long,
None died in youth.

Rama's realm was free from gnats, beasts of prey and poisonous reptiles.

And none was of unrighteous tendencies, none was couvetous and none was ignorant!

All subjects were engaged in righteous and desirable acts,
Men were each blessed with 1000's of children and lived long.

Seniors never had to perform shraddas --funeral rites of their juniors.

His subjects always uttered his name.

While Rama ruled world became extremely beautiful !



References are from:128 th chapter of Yudda kanda of Valmiki's ramayan verses 97 to 106. And from section lxxi of Drona parva of Mahabharat translated by Sri K.M Ganguly.
Available on the internet.

Naan! --I am !

This is one out of Bharathiyar's 25 poems on Gyana or knowledge.


1. The birds in the sky
The animals that roam the earth ,
The trees that grow in the forests ,
wind, rain and sea-- I am !

2. The stars visible in the sky ,
The open space and its wide expanse ,
The insects in the mud ,
The life in all --I am!

3. Kambhar's poems ,
The artists portraits ,
Those magnificent buildings ,
And towering Gopurams --I am!

4. The sweetness in human music,
all thepleasures, The baseness of human beings, The unbearable pains and grief's-- I am !

5. The creator of crores of mantra's,
The doer in all that is done,
The cook of thousands of mazes and hurdles,
The bestower of shastras and Vedas,-- I am !

6. The creator of the universe ,
The cause of them working without confusion,
All the energy around , The cause of all ---I am !

7. The Ego the greatest lie ,
The fire of knowledge I am !
In all that has been created , The only intelligence , that is the primary light --I am !

Kalidasa.

Kalidasa was the greatest poet and dramatist of classical Sanskrit ever. His age is roughly pegged to 4 th cent AD.He belonged to the Gupta age the golden age of ancient India.

The following are two of his poems----

Look to this day.

Look to this day,
For it is life, the very life of life,
In its brief course ,
Lie all the varieties and realities of existence,
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action.,
The splendour of achievement,
Are but experiences of time!

For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision,
And today well lived makes,
yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well there fore to this day,
Such is the salutation to the ever new dawn!

Waking!
********

Even the man who is happy , glimpses something,
Or a whisker of sound touches him.
And his heart overflows with longing ,
he doesnot recognise.

Then it must be that he is remembering,
in a place out of reach ,
Shapes he has loved ,
In a life before this,
The print of them still in him , waiting!

Well done!

There has been many a slip between the cup and the lip!

Now the world cup is within every Indian's grip!

The thirst of a billion has been quenched by a team of eleven!

Well done!! son! Well done!!

The autobiography of a pandemic.flu endemic to the sub continent.

I am caused neither by a swine nor by a bird,

But by, cricket.

I lodge myself in all those rapidly beating hearts absorbed

In the wicket,


I am the flu ,

That afflicts all those loyal to men in blue.

I spin , run and swell,when they all yell

"We will, We will, Win it".


I can neither be culled nor be declared 'out ,

I can neither be immunised nor be bowled out

I am in for a long innings
My tent has been hammered and pitched in.

.

Boon of deathlessness.

Space , fire , time , water and earth,

You are in all elements,

Is it not possible to surrender to you and merge into your nectar like self?


Broad shouldered hero, Brave one,

One who is as handsome as Manmada'

One who is the friend of Vanaras,

In one whose heart always resides , Sita!


Eternally calm Rama,

Without a stain !All pervading!,

Truthful! Sanatana Rama!

Surrender, surrender, surrender,

I do to thee!


Grant me the boon of deathlessness,O Rama!

Lord of four Vedas! One with lotus feet!

*************


I am winding up my translation of Bharathiyar's poems with his above sthothra on Rama

Sri Rama jeyam!

A good Veena.

`After making a good Veena is it fair to let it languish by tossing it into dust?

Tell me Siva Shakthi--you have created me with a bright intellect,

Will you not give me strength ---so that I may be of some benefit to all those living here?

Tell me Sive Shakthi !---Will you allow me to be a burden on this earth?

Like a ball whirled by a machine ,

I asked for a body that would obey my mind,

I asked for a heart free of vices,

I asked for a new and bright life every day,

I asked for a inner self that would sing Siva Shakthi's praises even when my body is consigned to flames

I ask for a stable mind,

What prevents you from blessing me with all this?

white lotus.

She is in the white lotus,

She is in the sound of veena,

She is in the hearts of bards who please us with their poetry,

She shines within the Vedas that makes us realise the truth,

She is in the kind words of pure and deceitless sages,

She is in the sweet songs sung by women,

She is in the delicious prattle of toddlers,

She is in the sound of koels music,

She is in the tongue of the parrots,

She is the beauty found in paintings and temple towers,

She is the personification of happiness.


.[This is a stothra on goddess Saraswathi]

Chatrapathi Shivaji.

As spoken to his soldiers.

Victory to thee , Bhavani! Victory to thee Bharat,
Victory to thee mother! Victory to thee Durga!
Vande mataram! Vande mataram!

Chiefs of armies! The best ministers,
Head of elephantry and extremely able victors,
Unperturbed kings,,
Scorchers of enemies,
Javelin unit, Trishul bearing mighty soldiers,
who do not fear death, Courageous jewels,
Long live all of you, Long live all!
Let Devi bless us all,
Who all belong to this famous country that has never desired others land,
If it is invaded , will Bharath matha bear it?
The land that is known far and wide for its bravery .,
This sacred land was ruled by emperors personifying dharma,
And home to calm and meditative seers.

Bharat is an ancient and sacred land,
You are its sons, Do not erase this memory!
Bharat is the jewel amongst all countries of the worlds,
You are its son, Do not erase this memory !

Protect this land that stretches from the Himalayas ,
That touches the sky,
To all directions and to the seas.
Ganges, Sindhu, Yamuna,
Springs, lakes, forests,fertile lands and in comparable resources,
Lofty mountains, all brighten this country!

This golden land provides bountiful food to stave off hunger,
Deva's live here , Sages live here,
This is a country without any weakness ,
It is filled with knowledge and wisdom!

You are its son, do not erase that from your memory.


Note . This is a stirring speech delivered by Shivaji the famous Maratha king, on the eve of a battle ,to his soldiers, as was imagined by Bharathiyar.The fact that this runs to several pages ,[ i have translated only the first portion],potrays the deep admiration of Bharathiyar towards the patriotism of Shivaji.

Sparrow's song

There are 23 poems under the tittle new songs of Bharathiyar . The sparrow's song is one such:

Question..

Small and petite sparrow , what work do you do?
Colourful sparrow tell me your about your day to day life!

Sparrows reply...

Listen human...Within us there is none who is low or high
No one is bound in inescapable slavery . All of us roam around like lords!
There is no dearth of food---we get it from everywhere.
We have no wealth or money .We see food every where.
For the sake of this small stomach--we do not waste our life ,
Under the clutches of others,
The wind, light and sky is our home.There is no border for this.
All the finest quality of materials available in this world is ours to have and hold,
No one is poor. No one is rich and prosperous,always,
No one is high or low. We live with respect.
There is no thievery or deceit --nor false prestige or smallness,
All these laughable qualities are reserved for your race,
There is no theft or murder nor is there any greed or lust,
The strong helps the weak---Even those who trouble us are not killed,
You live in small huts ---in dilapidated houses,
Living in misery---We don't have this,
In flower gardens --in lush green groves,
In flowers filled with honey---we roam and play,
In ponds, lakes, hillocks, mountains,and in houses ---we play always,
Nothing binds us---We have no false stains,
Abuses or slander---No such insults do we bear.
We have no family worries nor a drop of sorrow,
We are always happy,
Our life is very sweet,
It is not a big secret,
We get up in the morning and sing god's praises,
Evening also we worship god and live happily,
Locked in self made problems---troubled man,
I will give you one advise,
Realise self, you will be always happy!

PS. I do not have a deep knowledge of Tamil . I stand corrected where ever I have made mistakes .