Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च यश्च विश्वासघातकः ।
ते नरा नरकं यान्ति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ ॥
- पञ्चतन्त्र, मित्रभेद
Transliteration:
mitradrohī kṛtaghnaśca yaśca viśvāsaghātakaḥ ।
te narā narakaṃ yānti yāvaccandradivākarau ॥
- pañcatantra, mitrabheda
Meaning of the subhAShita:
He who is treacherous to a friend; he who is ungrateful for rendered benefactions; he who is a traitor (slays trust) - these people attain hell for as long as the sun and moon shall exist.
Commentary:
A friend is for pulling one out of rough times, not for putting him through it! When one considers another as a friend and confides in him, there is no ethical justification for betraying him. One would have let all his guards down and exposed his most vulnerable side to that friend. Backstabbing that credence and trust is not dharma in any which way!
When you 'pray' to someone, do not 'prey' on them! When someone has been a benefactor in time of need, there is nothing in this world that can be given to repay that debt. One would be indebted to that patron forever in his life because he gave assistance in a time of need. There is no deed that can compensate for that timely aid received. Forgetting that and showing ingratitude is not even a choice! When an act is not even an option, how can that be deemed as dharma?!!
Trust is a silky thread, holding which the world functions. If there was no trust factor, one would not trust the grain grown by the farmer or the fruit brought by the gardener! One would have to depend on himself for everything and be entirely self-sufficient! Even then, he will have to trust in his own abilities and mother nature to assist in his efforts! Hence, it is quite unlikely for anyone to live life without trusting anyone. Therefore, trust is a very essential ingredient for basic survival itself! It is the very thread on which the world keeps functioning. Breaking that bond is not something small. Like someone said, 'I am not upset that you lied to me, but because, I can't believe you anymore'. Not only the faith in the current situation is broken but the faith in that person for all future scenarios is broken as well! That which breaks the very reason for co-existence, cannot be dharma!
Anything that is not coherent with dharma is punishable. Whether one likes it or not, he has to reap the fruit of all his actions. The fruit for such breakage of bonds of trust is, going to hell! When the poet says they shall attain hell for as long as the sun and moon exist, it does not mean, that they stay in hell until the sun and moon literally stop existing, but that this law holds good as long as the sun and moon are shining! The poet is basically saying that such people will remain in hell forever. Hell is not necessarily a specific place, but any place where one will not be able to enjoy his time or be happy. One can create such a 'living hell' for himself by doing adharma.
'To be trusted' is a much greater compliment than 'to be loved!' Be trustworthy!
pada vigrahaH:
मित्र-द्रोही कृतघ्नः च यः च विश्वास-घातकः ।
mitra-drohī kṛtaghnaḥ ca yaḥ ca viśvāsa-ghātakaḥ ।
ते नराः नरकं यान्ति यावत् चन्द्र-दिवाकरौ ॥
te narāḥ narakaṃ yānti yāvat candra-divākarau ॥
When you 'pray' to someone, do not 'prey' on them! When someone has been a benefactor in time of need, there is nothing in this world that can be given to repay that debt. One would be indebted to that patron forever in his life because he gave assistance in a time of need. There is no deed that can compensate for that timely aid received. Forgetting that and showing ingratitude is not even a choice! When an act is not even an option, how can that be deemed as dharma?!!
Trust is a silky thread, holding which the world functions. If there was no trust factor, one would not trust the grain grown by the farmer or the fruit brought by the gardener! One would have to depend on himself for everything and be entirely self-sufficient! Even then, he will have to trust in his own abilities and mother nature to assist in his efforts! Hence, it is quite unlikely for anyone to live life without trusting anyone. Therefore, trust is a very essential ingredient for basic survival itself! It is the very thread on which the world keeps functioning. Breaking that bond is not something small. Like someone said, 'I am not upset that you lied to me, but because, I can't believe you anymore'. Not only the faith in the current situation is broken but the faith in that person for all future scenarios is broken as well! That which breaks the very reason for co-existence, cannot be dharma!
Anything that is not coherent with dharma is punishable. Whether one likes it or not, he has to reap the fruit of all his actions. The fruit for such breakage of bonds of trust is, going to hell! When the poet says they shall attain hell for as long as the sun and moon exist, it does not mean, that they stay in hell until the sun and moon literally stop existing, but that this law holds good as long as the sun and moon are shining! The poet is basically saying that such people will remain in hell forever. Hell is not necessarily a specific place, but any place where one will not be able to enjoy his time or be happy. One can create such a 'living hell' for himself by doing adharma.
'To be trusted' is a much greater compliment than 'to be loved!' Be trustworthy!
pada vigrahaH:
मित्र-द्रोही कृतघ्नः च यः च विश्वास-घातकः ।
mitra-drohī kṛtaghnaḥ ca yaḥ ca viśvāsa-ghātakaḥ ।
ते नराः नरकं यान्ति यावत् चन्द्र-दिवाकरौ ॥
te narāḥ narakaṃ yānti yāvat candra-divākarau ॥
mitradrohI kRutaghnashcha yashcha vishvaasaghaatakaH ।
te naraa narakaM yaanti yaavachchandradivaakarau ॥
- pa~nchatantra, mitrabheda
mitra-drohI kRutaghnaH cha yaH cha vishvaasa-ghaatakaH ।
te naraaH narakaM yaanti yaavat chandra-divaakarau ॥
In friendship and in spiritual life our ideals may not be a meeting point .The human spirit has to overcome this by relating to one another by responding to the situation . Yes when you pray for someone do not make him your prey .While praying we make and sustain friendship and not break it .So be trustworthy even if you do not elicit a compliment for your action ......
ReplyDeleteमित्रद्रोहीकृतघ्नश्च = मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च
ReplyDeleteDone! Thanks :)
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