Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
जीवनग्रहणे नम्राः गृहीत्वा पुनरुत्थिताः ।
किं कनिष्ठाः किमु ज्येष्ठाः घटीयन्त्रस्य दुर्जनाः ॥
- कुवलयानन्द
jīvanagrahaṇe namrāḥ gṛhītvā punarutthitāḥ ।
kiṃ kaniṣṭhāḥ kimu jyeṣṭhāḥ ghaṭīyantrasya durjanāḥ ॥
- kuvalayānanda
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Between the wicked and the water-barrels of the ghaṭī-yantra (the little buckets on the wheel of a water clock that pick up water and pour it out on the other side), who is elder, who is younger? Both bow down while receiving and stir up with pride after obtaining.
Commentary:
False modesty is worse than arrogance!
The wicked often disguise themselves in humility when they require help. But once their desires are fulfilled, their true nature resurfaces, exposing the pride they had hidden all along. Their pretense of meekness dissolves, giving way to smug self-satisfaction.
The poet illustrates this behavior through the ghaṭī-yantra—the ancient water clock. This clever device consists of a rotating wheel with tiny bucket-like barrels fixed between each spoke of the wheel. When the wheel turns, the barrels bend downward as they reach the bottom, dipping into the stream to collect water. But the moment they are filled, due to the weight of the water, the barrels straighten upright. When they reach the top of the wheel, the water spills out for irrigation, leaving the buckets empty once again.
The poet draws a powerful analogy: Just as the barrels appear humble when bent but quickly rise once full, so do deceitful people as well. They show pretended humility only until their needs are fulfilled. As soon as they get what they want, their mask falls off and arrogance takes its place, leaving their modesty as hollow as the emptied buckets.
This behavior is more dangerous than open arrogance because it is deceptive. While arrogance is visible and warns others, false modesty misleads people into trusting them. The naïve and good-hearted are often drawn in by this fake humility only to get used for their selfish needs.
People wear masks of lies to appear appealing, but these masks hide selfishness and treachery beneath. Beware of such false friends, for their intentions are not pure. Their humility is merely a tool—a disguise—until the wheel of fortune turns in their favor.
जीवन-ग्रहणे नम्राः गृहीत्वा पुनः उत्थिताः ।
jīvana-grahaṇe namrāḥ gṛhītvā punaḥ utthitāḥ ।
किं कनिष्ठाः किमु ज्येष्ठाः घटी-यन्त्रस्य दुर्जनाः ॥
kiṃ kaniṣṭhāḥ kimu jyeṣṭhāḥ ghaṭī-yantrasya durjanāḥ ॥
jeevanagrahaNe namraaH gRuheetvaa punarutthitaaH |
kiM kaniShThaaH kimu jyeShThaaH ghaTeeyantrasya durjanaaH ||
- kuvalayaananda
jeevana-grahaNe namraaH gRuheetvaa punaH utthitaaH |
kiM kaniShThaaH kimu jyeShThaaH ghaTee-yantrasya durjanaaH ||
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