Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः ।
अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
- रामायण
Transliteration:
sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satataṃ priyavādinaḥ ।
apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ ॥
- rāmāyaṇa
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Oh, King! It is easy to find people who always talk in (your) favor. But people who speak or listen to 'words not in (your) favor, yet in your welfare' are rare to find!
Commentary:
Especially when one is in power or holding a political office, he will surely find tons of yes-men. Given that he is a man of authority, people in his cabinet of ministry would not dare to oppose or say a word against him, whether he takes the right step or the wrong one. People around him just nod and oblige, never expressing their honest opinions.
On the contrary, a person holding a high position is in need of people who are brutally honest and have the courage to express their thoughts! Rare are such people who dare to express their true opinions while keeping the welfare of the land in mind.
Even if counselors give counsel to the person in power, chances are that he may not heed them. However, so long as words are spoken in favor of the one in power, they must be valued. Many times, the unfavorable words may be in the welfare of the greater good. Rare are such people who will heed such well-intended, but unfavorable words!
One word that brings peace is better than a thousand hollow words. Speak with honesty and have the courage to speak the truth. Likewise, when an opposing viewpoint is presented, have the courage to analyze it with an open mind and keep everyone's welfare in mind.
pada vigrahaH:
सुलभाः पुरुषाः राजन् सततं प्रिय-वादिनः ।
sulabhāḥ puruṣāḥ rājan satataṁ priya-vādinaḥ ।
अ-प्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
a-priyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrōtā ca durlabhaḥ ॥
On the contrary, a person holding a high position is in need of people who are brutally honest and have the courage to express their thoughts! Rare are such people who dare to express their true opinions while keeping the welfare of the land in mind.
Even if counselors give counsel to the person in power, chances are that he may not heed them. However, so long as words are spoken in favor of the one in power, they must be valued. Many times, the unfavorable words may be in the welfare of the greater good. Rare are such people who will heed such well-intended, but unfavorable words!
One word that brings peace is better than a thousand hollow words. Speak with honesty and have the courage to speak the truth. Likewise, when an opposing viewpoint is presented, have the courage to analyze it with an open mind and keep everyone's welfare in mind.
pada vigrahaH:
सुलभाः पुरुषाः राजन् सततं प्रिय-वादिनः ।
sulabhāḥ puruṣāḥ rājan satataṁ priya-vādinaḥ ।
अ-प्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
a-priyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrōtā ca durlabhaḥ ॥
sulabhaaH puruShaa raajan satataM priyavaadinaH ।
apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktaa shrotaa cha durlabhaH ॥
- raamaayaNa
sulabhaaH puruShaa raajan satataM priya-vaadinaH ।
a-priyasya tu pathyasya vaktaa shrotaa cha durlabhaH ॥
very well explained! this is one of my favourite quotes in samskrita. it would be nice if you can add the context of these words spoken by vibheeshana to king ravana. thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Latha. Have omitted the context on purpose for a couple reasons. Incidentally, this verse appears in mahaabhaarata too, where vidura says it to dhritaraaShTra. Wanted to capture the essence of the verse than elaborating on the duel background. Agree with you, one of my favorite verses as well!!
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