Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अहिं नृपञ्च शार्दूलं कीटञ्च बालकं तथा ।
परश्वानञ्च मूर्खञ्च सप्त सुप्तान्न बोधयेत् ॥
- चाणक्य नीति
Transliteration:
ahiṃ nṛpañca śārdūlaṃ kīṭañca bālakaṃ tathā ।
paraśvānañca mūrkhañca sapta suptānna bodhayet ॥
- cāṇakya nīti
Meaning of the subhAShita:
A snake, king, tiger, insect, child, others' dog, and foolish person too - (these) 7 sleepers should not be woken up (advised)!
Commentary:
A snake can be poisonous, the king can get angry, a tiger kills, an insect bites, a child cries and others' dog barks at strangers. Waking up any of these is, quite understandably, not a pleasant circumstance. For one's own good, he is better off letting them sleep.
But why the foolish? 'Waking' here doesn't literally mean from a slumber. Ignorance is equated to darkness as well as sleep. It is dangerous to wake him because he is arrogant and not in a mind to heed anyone's word. Initiating a conversation with such a person is futile. The minute a foolish person begins to talk, he causes trouble for everyone around him due to his imprudence and absurdity. He asks questions that the wise can not answer. For, he won't accept anything for an answer! He has a closed, blocked mind that is unwilling to accept another view or think logically. Such a person is better left alone so that one does not invite trouble onto himself.
pada vigrahaH:
अहिं नृपं च शार्दूलं कीटं च बालकं तथा ।
ahiṃ nṛpaṃ ca śārdūlaṃ kīṭaṃ ca bālakaṃ tathā ।
पर-श्वानं च मूर्खं च सप्त सुप्तान् न बोधयेत् ॥
para-śvānaṃ ca mūrkhaṃ ca sapta suptān na bodhayet ॥
But why the foolish? 'Waking' here doesn't literally mean from a slumber. Ignorance is equated to darkness as well as sleep. It is dangerous to wake him because he is arrogant and not in a mind to heed anyone's word. Initiating a conversation with such a person is futile. The minute a foolish person begins to talk, he causes trouble for everyone around him due to his imprudence and absurdity. He asks questions that the wise can not answer. For, he won't accept anything for an answer! He has a closed, blocked mind that is unwilling to accept another view or think logically. Such a person is better left alone so that one does not invite trouble onto himself.
Keep trouble at bay! Don't bother with those that don't want to be bothered even if it is for their betterment.
pada vigrahaH:
अहिं नृपं च शार्दूलं कीटं च बालकं तथा ।
ahiṃ nṛpaṃ ca śārdūlaṃ kīṭaṃ ca bālakaṃ tathā ।
पर-श्वानं च मूर्खं च सप्त सुप्तान् न बोधयेत् ॥
para-śvānaṃ ca mūrkhaṃ ca sapta suptān na bodhayet ॥
ahiM nRupa~ncha shaardUlaM kITa~ncha baalakaM tathaa ।
parashvaana~ncha mUrkha~ncha sapta suptaanna bodhayet ॥
- chaaNakya nIti
ahiM nRupaM cha shaardUlaM kITaM cha baalakaM tathaa ।
para-shvaanaM cha mUrkhaM cha sapta suptaan na bodhayet ॥
uttamam
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