Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
अहो दुर्जनसंसर्गात् मानहानिः पदे पदे ।
पावको लोहसङ्गेन मुद्गरैरभिताड्यते ॥
- सुभाषितरत्नसमुच्चयTransliteration:
aho durjanasaṃsargāt mānahāniḥ pade pade ।
pāvako lohasaṅgena mudgarairabhitāḍyate ॥
- subhāṣitaratnasamuccaya
Meaning of the subhAShita:
Alas! In the company of evil, one has to face contempt again and again. Fire, in the company of iron, will get beaten with hammers (again and again).
Commentary:
Nothing shapes a man's character more than the company he keeps.
Bad company corrupts even the most virtuous of individuals. It is far wiser to be alone than to surround oneself with the wrong crowd. Shallow morals never earn respect, and in bad company, one is destined to face disgrace and contempt time and again.
The poet wisely points out that when shaping hot iron, the fire itself is subjected to the beating as well. Fire, known as the purifier (pāvaka), cleanses all things. Yet, even this pure element is tainted in the company of iron, which is prone to rust and decay. (This example should not be extended beyond its intended metaphor). Similarly, the company of the wicked pollutes everything it touches. In the presence of evil, we too are tainted. It drags down our honor and diminishes our worth.
To maintain integrity, we must distance ourselves from shallow and corrupt individuals. The company of the good is like entering a perfume store—whether we buy or not, we are bound to leave with its fragrance.
pada vigrahaH:
अहो दुर्जन-संसर्गात् मान-हानिः पदे पदे ।
aho durjana-saṃsargāt māna-hāniḥ pade pade ।
पावकः लोह-सङ्गेन मुद्गरैः अभिताड्यते ॥
pāvakaḥ loha-saṅgena mudgaraiḥ abhitāḍyate ॥
aho durjanasaMsargaat maanahaaniH pade pade |
paavako lohasa~ngena mudgarairabhitaaDyate ||
- subhaaShitaratnasamuchchaya
aho durjana-saMsargaat maana-haaniH pade pade |
paavakaH loha-sa~ngena mudgaraiH abhitaaDyate ||
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