Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे ह्यात्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥
- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ
Transliteration:
tyajedekaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet ।
grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe hyātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet ॥
- hitopadeśa, mitralābha
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Sacrifice one (person) for the sake of the family; give up a family for the sake of a town; sacrifice a town for the benefit of the nation; also, leave the earth for the benefit of the soul.
Commentary:
Aim for the higher good!
If one person is causing havoc, the family alienates him for the integrity of the family. If a whole family is the cause of trouble, the town won't support that family. An entire town may be given up for the benefit of the nation. Likewise, in seeking the ātmā, the ego must abandon the world (it means worldly pleasures, not literally giving up the world). Once achieved, the ego realizes the futility of worldly pleasures and gives up mundane desires!
Instead of focusing on the act of 'giving up', if one focuses on the reason behind it, then the verse is justified. (If ethics are compromised, then the verse can be wrongly interpreted. For example, this verse does not justify alienating someone through bullying or for selfish motives! This verse certainly does not attest to giving up life due to cowardice.)
When the futility of worldly pleasures is comprehended by noble people, they give them up. They cease to be enchanted or enamored by material possessions and strive for the betterment of the ātmā!
When the motive is right, the actions following that motive will automatically be justified.
As long as the mind and heart are in the right places, the purpose of the better good is served.
pada vigrahaH:
त्यजेत् एकं कुलस्य अर्थे ग्रामस्य अर्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
tyajet ekaṃ kulasya arthe grāmasya arthe kulaṃ tyajet ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्य अर्थे हि आत्म-अर्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥
grāmaṃ janapadasya arthe hi ātma-arthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet ॥
If one person is causing havoc, the family alienates him for the integrity of the family. If a whole family is the cause of trouble, the town won't support that family. An entire town may be given up for the benefit of the nation. Likewise, in seeking the ātmā, the ego must abandon the world (it means worldly pleasures, not literally giving up the world). Once achieved, the ego realizes the futility of worldly pleasures and gives up mundane desires!
Instead of focusing on the act of 'giving up', if one focuses on the reason behind it, then the verse is justified. (If ethics are compromised, then the verse can be wrongly interpreted. For example, this verse does not justify alienating someone through bullying or for selfish motives! This verse certainly does not attest to giving up life due to cowardice.)
When the futility of worldly pleasures is comprehended by noble people, they give them up. They cease to be enchanted or enamored by material possessions and strive for the betterment of the ātmā!
When the motive is right, the actions following that motive will automatically be justified.
As long as the mind and heart are in the right places, the purpose of the better good is served.
pada vigrahaH:
त्यजेत् एकं कुलस्य अर्थे ग्रामस्य अर्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
tyajet ekaṃ kulasya arthe grāmasya arthe kulaṃ tyajet ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्य अर्थे हि आत्म-अर्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥
grāmaṃ janapadasya arthe hi ātma-arthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet ॥
tyajedekaM kulasyaarthe graamasyaarthe kulaM tyajet ।
graamaM janapadasyaarthe hyaatmaarthe pRuthivIM tyajet ॥
- hitopadesha, mitralaabha
tyajet ekaM kulasya arthe graamasya arthe kulaM tyajet ।
graamaM janapadasya arthe hi aatma-arthe pRuthivIM tyajet ॥
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