Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
दुर्जनेन समं वैरं प्रीतिं चापि न कारयेत् ।
उष्णो दहति चाङ्गारः शीतः कृष्णायते करम् ॥
Transliteration:
durjanena samaṃ vairaṃ prītiṃ cāpi na kārayet ।
uṣṇo dahati cāṅgāraḥ śītaḥ kṛṣṇāyate karam ॥
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Do not have (develop) either enmity or affection with the evil. When hot, coal burns; when cold, it blackens the hand!
Commentary:
When one comes across an evil-doer, what kind of bond should he build? Should he make friends with him, so that he doesn't get in the evil-doer's bad books? Or, should get on his bad side by erupting into an argument and declaring open enmity?!
The poet says, "Neither!" Here's the reason—a piece of charcoal, when hot, will burn the hand holding it. Does that mean, it is okay to handle it when it is not hot? Not necessarily! A piece of charcoal when cold will blacken the hand that holds it. It is not a pleasant outcome either way. Who wants a lose-lose situation?!
Similar is the companionship of an evildoer. When he is angry, the enmity with him will prove fatal. That said, even when he is calm, his friendship may cost heavily as his values are not placed in the right direction. His motives can be misguided or worse, driven out of selfishness. Hence, the best approach towards such a person is—keeping away and staying neutral. One needs to be aware of one's company at all times, in order to keep positive aspects like joy, peace, love, and hope in his life.
The poet says, "Neither!" Here's the reason—a piece of charcoal, when hot, will burn the hand holding it. Does that mean, it is okay to handle it when it is not hot? Not necessarily! A piece of charcoal when cold will blacken the hand that holds it. It is not a pleasant outcome either way. Who wants a lose-lose situation?!
Similar is the companionship of an evildoer. When he is angry, the enmity with him will prove fatal. That said, even when he is calm, his friendship may cost heavily as his values are not placed in the right direction. His motives can be misguided or worse, driven out of selfishness. Hence, the best approach towards such a person is—keeping away and staying neutral. One needs to be aware of one's company at all times, in order to keep positive aspects like joy, peace, love, and hope in his life.
pada vigrahaH:
दुर्जनेन समं वैरं प्रीतिं च अपि न कारयेत् ।
durjanena samaṃ vairaṃ prītiṃ ca api na kārayet ।
उष्णः दहति च अङ्गारः शीतः कृष्णायते करम् ॥
uṣṇaḥ dahati ca aṅgāraḥ śītaḥ kṛṣṇāyate karam ॥
durjanena samaM vairaM prItiM chaapi na kaarayet ।
uShNo dahati chaa~ngaaraH shItaH kRuShNaayate karam ॥
durjanena samaM vairaM prItiM cha api na kaarayet ।
uShNaH dahati cha a~ngaaraH shItaH kRuShNaayate karam ॥
