Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
षट्कर्णो भिद्यते मन्त्रः चतुष्कर्णः स्थिरो भवेत् ।
द्विकर्णस्य च मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्माप्यन्तन्न गच्छति ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्र
Transliteration:
ṣaṭkarṇo bhidyate mantraḥ catuṣkarṇaḥ sthiro bhavet ।
dvikarṇasya ca mantrasya brahmāpyantanna gacchati ॥
- pañcatantra
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Commentary:
Alternate Transliteration:Meaning of the subhAShita:
That which is (heard) by six ears gets shattered; that which is (heard) by four ears gets affirmed. That which stays between the two ears, even Lord Brahma cannot get to the end of it!
Commentary:
Spells, thoughts or secrets! That which is heard by six or more ears, (meaning the speaker and two others) gets broken. Although humans have two ears and one mouth, the tendency is to speak more than to listen! News and rumors travel faster than wind. They get transmitted from one mouth to another with the versions varying with inclusions or deletions or exaggerations. Within no time, a small incident will become the talk of the town and probably completely distorted from the truth itself!
That which is heard by four ears (meaning the speaker and only one other person) gets affirmed. When a guru teaches a mantra (spell) to his disciple, he teaches it in his ear as if telling a secret. This strengthens the potency of the mantra. On a more mundane level, if a thought is shared with a parent, spouse, friend or well-wisher, he gets a re-affirmation as well as a second opinion on his thoughts. Depending on that he could either continue further in that direction or abandon it. Everyone needs such a sounding board time and again.
But the outcome of the thought that stays between two ears (meaning in one's own head) cannot be foreseen even by Lord Brahma! The thoughts kept within are unbreakable and predicting their outcome is impossible. One can meander through his thoughts in many different ways. The outcome is dependent on his mindset at any given time. The mind is so complex that no one can guess the end result! The poet jokingly extends this logic to say that even the creator cannot comprehend the outcome :).
The choice is yours!
pada vigrahaH:
षट्-कर्णः भिद्यते मन्त्रः चतुष्कर्णः स्थिरः भवेत् ।
ṣaṭ-karṇaḥ bhidyate mantraḥ catuṣkarṇaḥ sthiraḥ bhavet ।
द्वि-कर्णस्य च मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्मा अपि अन्तं न गच्छति ॥
dvi-karṇasya ca mantrasya brahmā api antaṃ na gacchati ॥
That which is heard by four ears (meaning the speaker and only one other person) gets affirmed. When a guru teaches a mantra (spell) to his disciple, he teaches it in his ear as if telling a secret. This strengthens the potency of the mantra. On a more mundane level, if a thought is shared with a parent, spouse, friend or well-wisher, he gets a re-affirmation as well as a second opinion on his thoughts. Depending on that he could either continue further in that direction or abandon it. Everyone needs such a sounding board time and again.
But the outcome of the thought that stays between two ears (meaning in one's own head) cannot be foreseen even by Lord Brahma! The thoughts kept within are unbreakable and predicting their outcome is impossible. One can meander through his thoughts in many different ways. The outcome is dependent on his mindset at any given time. The mind is so complex that no one can guess the end result! The poet jokingly extends this logic to say that even the creator cannot comprehend the outcome :).
- If publicizing a matter is your idea, talk about it with two people. Also, remember that he who gossips with you, gossips of you!
- If reassurance or advice about something is the quest, discuss it with one near or dear person or a person who is an authority in the field you are venturing into. Because affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion!
- If ultimate secrecy is the goal, do not open your mouth! Then, even Lord Brahma can't figure it out :).
The choice is yours!
pada vigrahaH:
षट्-कर्णः भिद्यते मन्त्रः चतुष्कर्णः स्थिरः भवेत् ।
ṣaṭ-karṇaḥ bhidyate mantraḥ catuṣkarṇaḥ sthiraḥ bhavet ।
द्वि-कर्णस्य च मन्त्रस्य ब्रह्मा अपि अन्तं न गच्छति ॥
dvi-karṇasya ca mantrasya brahmā api antaṃ na gacchati ॥
ShaTkarNo bhidyate mantraH chatuShkarNaH sthiro bhavet ।
dvikarNasya cha mantrasya brahmaapyantanna gachChati ॥
- pa~nchatantra
ShaT-karNaH bhidyate mantraH chatuShkarNaH sthiraH bhavet ।
dvi-karNasya cha mantrasya brahmaa api antaM na gachChati ॥
My heart is in full of reverence! Thank lord!
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