[Neethi Saaram]

The Chaanakya Quotes posted recently in a Group forum elicited some interesting discussions amongst us during my evening soiree with my senior colleagues. Next day Sree Bh………… Iyer of Peumbavoor handed over a thin book titled ‘Neethisaaram’ in Malayalam published at A R P Press, Kunnamkulam (cost-Onnekaalana: With 16 annas equal to a rupee the cost would have been then a mere 8 nayapaise?), And it contains over 120 verses gleaned and compiled from various Sastraas (Sarvasaastra Samahrutham ) and printed with no aksharabhrashtam!. I thought I would share a sample. I seek your indulgence for my poor translation though.

Srooyathaam Dharmasarvaswam sruthwaachaiva vichaaryathaam
Aatmanahprathikoolaani pareshaanna vichaarayeth.
(Hear all about Dharma, and having heard introspect intelligently and never do
unto others anything against the call of your conscience.)

Apareekshyan na karthavyam karthavyam supareekshya cha
Nachedh bhavathi santhaapah braahmanyaanakulaadhyathaa
(Before beginning any activity, examine thoroughly all aspects and then decide to launch as otherwise, you may end up in grief like the Brahmin Lady who killed the mongoose)

Avasyam anubhoktavyam kritham karma subhaasubham
Naabhuktham ksheeyathe karmakalpa kotisathairapi
(All past karmas good and bad must be endured by each for even after hundred crore Kalpas the past karma will not wear off on its own

Maathaapithaa cha me satruh yena baalye na paatthathe
Sabhaamadhye na sobhetha hamsamadhye bakoryathaa
(The parents who do not educate their children when young are like enemies to them; almost like being a crane in the midst of swans.

Vruscheekasya visham puccham Makshikaayaah visham sirah
Takshakasya visham dantham sarvaangam durjanasya cha
(The scorpion has poison on its sting, the fly on its head, the serpent on its teeth; but a wicked rogue has poison all over his body.)

Paksheenaam balam aakaasam matsyaanaam udakam balam
Durbalasya balam Rajaa baalaanaam rodanam balam
(The sky is the strength for birds, for fish the strength is water, for helpless the strength is the ruler but for children ‘crying’ is their strength.)

Upakaaropi neechaanaam apakaaraya varthate
Payah paanam bhujangasya kevalam vishavardhanam
(Any help rendered to wicked people will turn out to be disdain like feeding a venomous snake with milk will only make it more poisonous.)

Ashwaplavanjaambuda garjitancha streenaam cha chittam purushasya bhagyam
Avarshanaam cha api teevra varshanam cha Devaah na jaanaathi kuto manushyah?
(So inscrutable are the ways of the galloping horse, lightning, the mind of a woman, the fortune of men, lack of rainfall, and increase in rainfall that even Gods won’t be able to discern, what to speak of ordinary mortals?)

Sathyena lokam jayathi daanairjayathi deenathaam
Guroon shushrooshayaa jeeyaadh dhanushaa eva shaatravaan
(Conquer the people by honest means, the downtrodden through the acts of giving; the preceptor is pleased though services and the enemy is conquered by use of weapons.)

Janithaa cha upanethaacha yasmaath vidyaa prayacchathi
Annadhaatha bhayatraathaa panchaitha pitharasamatah
(The producer , the leader, the one who taught the skills, the one who fed you, the one who saved you from extreme danger—all these five deserve respects equal to ones own father.)

Sathyam maathaa pithaa jnaanam dharmobhraathaa dayaa sakhii
Shaanthi patni kshamaa putrah shat meema baandhavaah
(He who keeps the below mentioned six qualities as his relatives is excellent viz. who considers honesty as mother, wisdom as father, rightful ways as brother, compassion as companion, peacefulness as wife, and forgiveness as son)

Let me stop here before every one goes to deep slumber. Suffice it to say it was a good read of 120 verses @ 8paise!

Rgds
V V R
4th Jun 06