Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
षडेते ह्यवमन्यन्ते नित्यं पूर्वोपकारिणां
आचार्यं शिक्षिताः शिष्याः कृतदाराश्च मातरम् ।
नारीं विगतकामस्तु कृतार्थश्च प्रयोजकं
नावं निस्तीर्णकान्तारा अनातुराश्च चिकित्सितम् ॥
- विदुरनीति
Transliteration:
ṣaṭ ete hi avamanyante nityaṃ pūrva upakāriṇāṃ
ācāryaṃ śikṣitāḥ śiṣyāḥ kṛtadārāḥ ca mātaram ।
nārīṃ vigata-kāmaḥ tu kṛta-arthaḥ ca prayojakaṃ
nāvaṃ nistīrṇa-kāntārāḥ anāturāḥ ca cikitsitam ॥
- viduranīti
Meaning of the subhAShita:
These six people show disrespect to those who have been their benefactors earlier: a student who has already learned to his teacher; a married man to his mother; a lustless man to a woman; one whose motive has been fulfilled to the benefactor; a person who has crossed a difficult river to the boat; a fully recovered person to the doctor.
Commentary:
When one tolerates disrespect, he only diminishes his self-worth.
A man who has no lust has no desire for a woman. After crossing a river, no one takes the boat home to honor it. However, some situations are different. When one receives assistance, the least he can offer in return is: gratitude. It is a sad reality that students sometimes show disrespect to their teachers. A son forgets the sacrifices his parents made for him when he finds a spouse. A patient, once healed, often forgets the doctor's skill and effort. These are people who walk away without a word of thanks after receiving all the help they need.
Such actions speak volumes about a person’s character. When someone disrespects you, the natural impulse is to try and win their respect. In reality, it reflects their values rather than our worth. It is better to distance ourselves from those who hold such shallow values. The most effective way to end disrespect is not giving them the chance to do it again!
Children who are allowed to be disrespectful to their parents will never have true respect for anyone. We must never take others for granted, no matter how much they love us. Sooner or later, even the most patient will tire.
Disrespect is never justified. Above all, we must never disrespect those who stood by us in our times of need. The more we embrace gratitude, the more life offers reasons to be thankful for.
pada vigrahaH:
षट् एते हि अवमन्यन्ते नित्यं पूर्व उपकारिणां
ṣaṭ ete hi avamanyante nityaṃ pūrva upakāriṇāṃ
आचार्यं शिक्षिताः शिष्याः कृतदाराः च मातरम् ।
ācāryaṃ śikṣitāḥ śiṣyāḥ kṛtadārāḥ ca mātaram ।
नारीं विगत-कामः तु कृत-अर्थः च प्रयोजकं
nārīṃ vigata-kāmaḥ tu kṛta-arthaḥ ca prayojakaṃ
नावं निस्तीर्ण-कान्ताराः अनातुराः च चिकित्सितम् ॥
nāvaṃ nistīrṇa-kāntārāḥ anāturāḥ ca cikitsitam ॥
Alternate Transliteration:
ShaDete hyavamanyante nityaM poorvopakaariNaaM
aachaaryaM shikShitaaH shiShyaaH kRutadaaraashcha maataram ।
naareeM vigatakaamastu kRutaarthashcha prayojakaM
naavaM nisteerNakaantaaraa anaaturaashcha chikitsitam ॥
- viduranIti
ShaT ete hi avamanyante nityaM poorva upakaariNaaM
aachaaryaM shikShitaaH shiShyaaH kRutadaaraaH cha maataram ।
naareeM vigata-kaamaH tu kRuta-arthaH cha prayojakaM
naavaM nisteerNa-kaantaaraaH anaaturaaH cha chikitsitam ॥
