Translations

SUBHASHITAS CHAPTER 3: QUEST FOR HAPPINESS

1. Lower-minded people divide their fellows into my-kind-of-person, and not my-kind-of-person. To the higher minded, “The World is my Family.”
2. Wants and desires in the mind flow as water in the river of greed, with secondary desires as their waves, worst obsessions as crocodiles, and suspicions and mistrust like ravens. Whirlpools of likes and dislikes make it difficult to cross, raising worries which undermine the banks. Those who cross over it through purity of heart and mind achieve happiness as lords of Yogis.
3. One with a hundred desires one thousand, one with a thousand desires one lakh; one with a lakh wants a kingdom, while one with a kingdom wants heaven.
4. The wise should not discuss personal losses, disquiet over others’ opinions, bad behavior in his household, ?anguish? / shame / loss of face suffered from others’ deceitfulness.
5. Raising a great rock to the top of a mountain takes great effort, though letting it fall to the bottom is easy. Just so with defects of character.
6. The bass for comfort in life is dharma; that of dharma is wealth; the source of wealth is the state; the basis for royal status is control over the senses, which finds its root in humility; the source of humility is serving the elders; from elders comes knowledge of Self. Those with experience of Self become Self-empowered, and are employed to achieve success efficiently in all endeavors.
7. After obtaining a basis in contentment the seeker of happiness should be restrained in action. Contentment is the root of all happiness, and lack of it misery.
8. Those of low intelligence suffer for their indiscretions, and from losing what they treasure.
9. Remember: compared to men, ladies need twice as much to eat, are four times as intelligent, work six times as hard, and require eight times as long in love-making.
10. Best is fame through one’s own efforts; next through one’s father; lower through relatives, and least through in-laws.
11. Just like the thread of a garland placed on the head, association with people of high qualities brings respect even to those without reputation.
12. In this world, all is fleeting, youth, life and wealth come and go. One who achieves fame, he alone survives.
13. Death does not chop off the head with a sword. The power of death starts when a person fails to heed warning signs.
14. I desire neither kingdom, nor heaven, nor enlightenment; only that all beings should be free from suffering.
15. What is the difference between a black crow and a cuckoo? When spring comes, a crow is a crow, and a cuckoo, a cuckoo.
16. There is no assembly without elders who speak Truth clearly and courageously. No Truth contains deceit.
17. An intelligent professional does not make big losses over small issues. This is the essence of professionalism: not to make large losses for trivial reasons.
18. Five reasons for being charged with partiality in a dispute: greed, fear, or affection for, aversion to, or holding secret meetings with, one party.
19. All proposed projects not founded on dharma should be rejected.
20. Like trees bearing fruit, rivers overflowing with water, and cows giving milk, this body also should serve others’ needs.
21. Helping one avoid wrong doing; pushing one to virtuous acts; keeping confidences; publicizing one’s good qualities; not deserting one when in need, but offering timely support; these are the qualities of a true friend. So say the wise.
22. Though father, mother, wife, child, friend, counselor or teacher, none overstepping the boundaries of swa-dharma is beyond justice.
23. Every person should conduct a daily analysis of their life according to this scale: is it closer to an animal’s or an ideal human being’s?
24. (Three kinds of people:) Losers never begin from fear of problems; the mediocre begin but give up when faced by obstacles; winners never give up despite immense difficulties recurring again and again.
25. The unfolding of Time cannot be thwarted: even one whose cousin was Krishna and father was Arjuna came under its death-dealing power.
26. One who regards another’s wife like his mother, others’ wealth like mud, and the entire creation like his Self, indeed he sees and understands.
27. Fool, relinquish your thirsting greed for wealth. Create space for noble thoughts in your mind, and so avoid greed. Be content with what you earn yourself. Be entertained by that.
28. Just as gold is subjected to four tests of quality, rubbing, cutting, melting and beating, so should a person be judged: by their lineage, character, temperament, and skill in action.
29. As is a person’s mind, so is their speech; as their speech so is their action; as their land, so is their language. As is a seed, so is its sprout. As is a land, so are its waters. As is a King, so are his citizens.
30. If just any herb is picked, and prepared in an unspecified way by just anyone, and administered without due consideration, anything can happen.
31. By wealth is dharma protected, and education (i.e. in dharma) by Yoga practice.
32. Wasted is rain falling on the ocean; a candle lit during the day; charity given to the capable. Likewise, a young girl is poison for an older man.
33. Only become involved with, and keep company of high-minded people, whether in dispute or friendship; never, ever with low minded ones.
34. If one enters an assembly, one should speak the truth with strong, clear convictions. One who does not speak, or speaks otherwise, is tainted with sin.
35. A leader should always be intelligent, with his own point of view. He may be advised by a trusted and cultured officer, or high-minded citizen who understands human welfare.
36. One’s own ego fantasies and pride, by whom can they be removed?
37. For a person in a position of power and authority many unexpected helpful things come to their aid. For those with no money or who without power, even their own people cause problems when the time comes.
38. Those who break the laws of nature may flourish, become rich and secure, overpowering their enemies, but then they will perish from their roots.
39. A high-valued jewel requires a golden setting to show off its luster. Similarly, scholars (require patrons), beautiful women, (powerful partners) and creepers (strong trees).
40. Lord, in your kindness bless me in this life and all further incarnations, death without pain, and a life without poverty.
41. Donating food is great charity, but supporting education far greater. Food brings temporary relief, but education lasts a life-time.
42. Body and mind grow according to the nourishment they receive. The root of disease lies in malnourished blood (plasma). The next generation’s quality derives from their ‘daily bread’.
43. O Lakshman, though Lanka is filled with gold, I do not like it. My mother-land is more than heaven.
44. The high-minded waste no words, the low-minded speak too much and too often. The sound coming from gold cannot compare with that coming from bronze.
45. The Gods provide help in endeavors done with effort, persistent valor and courage, intelligence, energy, and perspicacity.
46. Who is brave? One with command over his senses! Who is beloved? A constant, uncomplaining companion! What is wealth? Education! What is comfort? Travel without strain! What is Royal? The power to command!
47. A bride chooses good looks, her mother, financial security; her father, repute; her relatives, extended family quality; her wedding guests, sumptuous food.
48. An ideal wife has six qualities: a good executive, an able counselor, a good cook, a heavenly partner in bed, a firm supporter of what is right, tolerant and forbearing as mother earth.
49. What can performers do without an audience? Or a washer man in a land of naked monks?
50. A beautiful flower without fragrance finds no admirer; nor sweet words without actions to match.
51. Who is free from disease? One who eats slowly in moderation and at the right time; and whose mind has pleasant, entertaining thoughts as companions.
52. By digging out a stone-filled rat-hole, a lion may catch a mouse, but will destroy his claws.
53. By breaking pots, tearing one’s clothes and mimicking donkeys, one may draw others’ attention and become known.
54. Though the word anguish contains the word ‘agni’, the second destroys dead bodies in cremation, while the first destroys the life of the living.
55. Love expresses itself in six ways: giving and exchanging secrets; speaking and listening with open-hearted sincerity; eating what is given and sharing one’s food.
56. Charitable gifts, personal needs and pleasure, and vices, are the three kinds of expense.
57. Punishing the wicked, honoring the upright, increasing the treasury, impartially dispensing justice, and guarding the nation are the five duties of kings.
58. No one is born a friend or enemy of another. Friendship and enmity develop for reasons.
59. Not writing poetry is not wrong, not a disease to be punished, but writing and spreading bad poetry is truly death-in-life. So say the critics.
60. There is no disease equal to lust, no mind-binding enemy equal to passion, and no fire equal to anger, and nothing to equal the supreme comfort of spiritual knowledge.
61. Five qualities to judge character: a supporter of deserving causes; lover of quality; discrete with relations; a knower of wisdom; a good fighter in war.
62. Being unethical, getting into debt, and forming opinions are easy to do, but all have the potential to destroy even the strongest of men.
63. Protecting one from committing misdeeds; acts for one’s welfare; guards one’s secrets; publicizes one’s good qualities when one is in trouble; does not forsake one, and provides help when needed. These are the signs of a true friend, say those with experience.
64. Books, women and money, once out of one’s control, are gone forever, and if they do return they come back piecemeal, damaged and abused.
65. Children are interested in toys and games; youth with the opposite sex; the elderly worry about life’s complications. None are concerned about spiritual knowledge.
66. Disputes only arise between those matched in wealth and power. Friendship between those of differing abilities never works.
67. One who travels widely, and who serves scholars; his intellect widens like a drop of oil on the surface of water.
68. As long as one is gainfully employed, one’s whole family adores you. But when the life-breath prepares to depart, even one’s wife becomes afraid of you.
69. Even seniors in age, spiritual standing and knowledge, or by other criteria, all without exception stand like servants at the door of the wealthiest.
70. Ayurvedic doctors attribute disease to faults in the life force, astrologers to the motions of the planets; healers to the action of spirits; and munis (sages) to karma, the result of past actions.
71. O Brother, see how carefully the crane tip-toes across the Pampa lake, to avoid hurting other creatures, observing the rules of dharma.
72. As a dog’s tail is wasted, neither covering its back, nor warding off biting insects like fleas, so is life without education.
73. “I am alone without help, helplessly weak without tools or other resources”, such thoughts of despair will never occur to a Lion-king..
74. Shame on you, loud-roaring ocean with wind-driven waves, on whose shore an exhausted traveler, overpowered by thirst requires / requests fresh water.
75. Compare to snakes the wicked are more evil by far. A snake bites once when death is decreed, but the wicked bite with every word at every step.
76. Sun-rise be praised! What else is required? With darkness dispelled in all corners and quarters, when the sun crosses the horizon, no other light is needed.
77. Five relationships to treat as one’s mother: the Master’s wife, the King’s wife, one’s elder brother’s wife, one’s wife’s mother, and one’s own mother. Remember!
78. A snake has death dealing poison in its fangs, the bee stings poison in its tail, the scorpion stings with its tail, but all parts of a wicked person’s body are poisonous.
79. Never before was a story like this. A golden deer had never been seen, yet it became the aim of Sri Rama’s pursuit. When inauspicious times come, the power of reason is lost.
80. The most unexpected things happen when evil spirits are at work: monkeys get drunk and scorpions sting.
81. Praise to you O King of physicians! The God of death only take one’s life, but you, like death’s brother, rob us of both life and wealth.
82. Two children has the Lord with five faces, one with an elephant head, and one with six faces. He is unclothed. How could he live without Mother Divine in his home to feed them all?
83. During Sri Rama’s wedding, an infatuated maid carelessly let a golden water pot slip from her hand and fall down the stairs (emptying itself as it went) – tum-tum – tatum-tum – ta-ta-tum – ta-tum – ta.
84. One lotus flower is said to be born from another. So how can two blue lotuses arise from a single lotus? In a young woman’s face.
85. At a marriage of camels, donkeys provide a concert appreciated by all. What joy for the camels, what pleasure for the donkeys!
86. Blessed, thrice blessed, is the cuckoo’s silence when the rainy season comes, and jumping frogs become town-criers. Silence indeed is precious.
87. Hey you Donkey, carrying back-breaking burdens of clothes. Why eat bad food? Go to the royal stables and eat what is prepared for the horses, happily and in comfort. The King’s advisers have a simple rule; any animal with a tail like a horse should be treated like a horse. The King goes by their word; others hold their peace.
88. The Great Lord of All, despite having Lord Ganesh as his son, the Lord of Wealth as his best friend, and the Lord of Mountains as his father-in-law, travels as mendicant living on alms. But Shiva Shambhu cannot be thwarted. His Will is Divine.
89. Do not brood on the past, nor worry about the future, stay fully alert in the present moment.
90. When a poet creates a work of genius, only connoisseurs appreciate it. When a beautiful young lady marries, only her husband knows how exquisite she is, not her father.
91. Only a scholar can tell the effort required for another’s work. Likewise, a prima gravida cannot conceive of the pain of labor.
92. Serving a King is like licking a razor’s edge, embracing a tigress, or kissing the lips of a poisonous snake.
93. One diligent in study makes no foolish mistakes; one deep in meditation commits no sin; one in a vow of silence does not quarrel; and one who is fully alert knows no fear.
94. When threatened by total destruction, the wise give up half, and do what is needed with the other half, lest all be lost.
95. Trying to teach a foolish student, supporting a wicked woman, or being secretly victimized by those who hate him, will cause even a scholar to perish.
96. A tempestuous wind is a friend to a raging fire, causing forests to burn down, but an enemy to a small lamp, blowing it out. Who maintains their friendship with a person reduced in power and position.
97. Never do the powerful demand sacrifice of a horse , nor an elephant, and absolutely never a tiger. They only sacrifice lambs. They tread on the weak.
98. Here is a wise discernment: Given a cow and a snake: feed grass to the cow and receive milk, but feed milk to a snake, and get only poison in return.
99. Praise elders in their presence, friends and relatives in their absence, and servants on completion of their duties, but never at any time women and children.
100. In the interests of oneself and all dependents, one’s wife needs guarding with all effort and care like the family fire against growing too strong or fading away.
101. One should be content with three things: one’s wife, food and wealth. In three one should never be content: charity, spiritual growth and sharing knowledge.
102. Six faults to be given up by all those aiming to achieve wealth: sleep, procrastination, fear, rage, sloth, and excessive caution / indecision.
103. One must aspire to things one has not yet achieved. One’s achievements must immediately be protected. An experienced elder placed in the right position will bring them to further fruition.