Jan 9, 2024

Subhashitani (Proverbs)

This is my translation of a few Sanskrit shlokas from the book Shemushi (NCERT Class 10)

This is my translation of a few Sanskrit shlokas from the book Shemushi (NCERT Class 10).

आलस्यं हि मनुष्याणां शरीरस्थो महान् रिपुः।
नास्त्युद्यमसमो बन्धुः कृत्वा यं नावसीदति ॥1॥
Translation: Laziness is man's ultimate enemy and struggle is man's true friend.

गुणी गुणं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्गुणो,
बली बलं वेत्ति न वेत्ति निर्बलः।
पिको वसन्तस्य गुणं न वायसः,
करी च सिंहस्य बलं न मूषकः ॥2॥

Translation: Only the wise can appreciate wisdom, not the unwise;
Only the strong can appreciate strength, not the weak;
Like how crows can't appreciate autumn as cuckoos do and how mice can't appreciate the strength of lions as elephants do.

निमित्तमुद्दिश्य हि यः प्रकुप्यति,
ध्रुवं स तस्यापगमे प्रसीदति।
अकारणद्वेषि मनस्तु यस्य वै,
कथं जनस्तं परितोषयिष्यति ॥3॥
Translation: Who gets agitated with a purpose finds happiness in the end;
How will the person who gets angry without a reason find satisfaction?

उदीरितोऽर्थः पशुनापि गृह्यते,
हयाश्च नागाश्च वहन्ति बोधिताः।
अनुक्तमप्यूहति पण्डितो जनः,
परेगितज्ञानफला हि बुद्धयः ॥4॥
Translation: Even horses and elephants can understand what is told and instructed, only those who understand the untold [hints or metaphors] are truly wise.

क्रोधो हि शत्रुः प्रथमो नराणां,
देहस्थितो देहविनाशनाय।
यथास्थितः काष्ठगतो हि वह्निः,
स एव वह्निर्दहते शरीरम् ॥5॥
Translation: The destroyer of man is the anger inside us. Like the timber burns itself from the fire that it causes, the anger in us turns us into ashes.

मृगाः मृगैः सङ्गमनुव्रजन्ति,
गावश्च गोभिः तुरगास्तुरङ्गैः।
मूर्खाश्च मूखैः सुधियः सुधीभिः,
समान-शील-व्यसनेषु सख्यम् ।।6।।
Translation: Deers make friends with other deers,
Cows with other cows,
Horses with other horses,
Fools with other fools,
Wise with the wise.
Similar people attract.

सेवितव्यो महावृक्षः फलच्छायासमन्वितः।
यदि दैवात् फलं नास्ति छाया केन निवार्यते ॥7॥

Translation: One should seek shelter in a shade providing, fruit giving tree. But, if by any chance, there is no fruit, no one can prevent you from getting the shade.
अमन्त्रमक्षरं नास्ति, नास्ति मूलमनौषधम्।
अयोग्यः पुरुषः नास्ति योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः ॥8॥

Translation: No mantra is devoid of letters,
No medicine is devoid of herbs,
No man is unworthy,
Finding these particular combinations are rare.
संपत्तौ च विपत्तौ च महतामेकरूपता।
उदये सविता रक्तो रक्तोश्चास्तमये तथा ॥9॥

Translation: Noble person acts the same at both the times of despair and bliss.
Like, the sun remains red both at the times of rising and setting. [Similar to Stoicism]
विचित्रे खलु संसारे नास्ति किञ्चिन्निरर्थकम्।
अश्वश्चेद् धावने वीरः भारस्य वहने खरः ॥10॥

Translation: In this strange universe, nothing is meaningless.
If the horse is useful for running, the donkey's niche is to bear weight.

Originally posted on Postulate