CHARUCHARYA Part VII

 

स्त्रीजितो न भवेद् धीमान्‌ गाढरागवशीकृतः । पुत्रशोकाद् दशरथो जीवं जायाजितोऽत्यजत्‌ ॥ २६ ॥

Strījito na bhaved dhīmān gāḍha-rāga-vaśīkṛtaḥ |
Putra-śokād Daśaratho jīvaṃ jāyājito’tyajat || 26 ||

Translation:
“A wise man should not become overpowered by deep attachment and be ruled by a woman. King Daśaratha, controlled by his wife, gave up his life out of grief for his son.”

Explanation:
Excessive attachment clouds judgment. Daśaratha granted Kaikeyī’s harsh demands due to emotional attachment. As a result, Rāma was exiled, and the king died in unbearable sorrow. The verse teaches that wisdom must guide emotions.

न स्यं संस्तुतिपदैर्ग्लानिं गुणगणं नयेत्‌ । स्वगुणस्तुतिवादेन ययातिरपतद्‌ दिवः ॥ २७॥

Na svayaṃ saṃstuti-padair glāniṃ guṇa-gaṇaṃ nayet |
Sva-guṇa-stuti-vādena Yayātir apatad divaḥ || 27 ||

Translation:
“One should not belittle one’s virtues by praising oneself. Because of self-glorification, King Yayāti fell from heaven.”

Explanation:
True merit shines quietly. Yayāti lost his heavenly position when he boasted of his own virtues. Pride weakens greatness; humility preserves it.

क्षिपेद्‌ वाक्यशरांस्तीक्ष्णान्न पारुष्यव्युपप्लुतान्‌ । वाक्पारुष्यरुषा चक्रे भीमः कुरुकुलक्षयम्‌ ॥ २८ ॥

Kṣiped vākya-śarāṃs tīkṣṇān na pāruṣya-vyupaplutān |
Vāk-pāruṣya-ruṣā cakre Bhīmaḥ Kuru-kula-kṣayam || 28 ||

Translation:
“One should not shoot sharp, harsh words like arrows. Because of anger arising from cruel speech, Bhīma destroyed the Kuru dynasty.”

Explanation:
Words can wound more deeply than weapons. Harsh speech in the Kuru court—especially the insult to Draupadī—ignited fury that eventually led to the Mahābhārata war. Bitter words sow seeds of destruction.

परेषां क्लेशदं कुर्यान्न पैशुन्यं प्रभोः प्रियम्‌ । पैशुन्येन गतौ राहोश्चन्द्रार्कौ भक्षणीयताम्‌ ॥ २९ ॥

Pareṣāṃ kleśadaṃ kuryān na paiśunyaṃ prabhoḥ priyam |
Paiśunyena gatau Rāhoś candrārkau bhakṣaṇīyatām || 29 ||

Translation:
“One should not engage in slander that harms others, even if it pleases a superior. Through deceitful tale-bearing, Rāhu came to devour the Sun and the Moon.”

Explanation:
Slander creates cosmic disorder. Rāhu’s deceit during the distribution of nectar led to his beheading, and he eternally pursues the Sun and Moon. Gossip may seem advantageous, but it brings lasting trouble.

कुर्यान्नीचजनाभ्यस्तां न याञ्चां मानहारिणीम्‌ । बलियाञ्चापरः प्राप लाघवं पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ ३० ॥

Kuryān nīca-janābhyastāṃ na yāñcāṃ māna-hāriṇīm |
Bali-yāñcā-paraḥ prāpa lāghavaṃ Puruṣottamaḥ || 30 ||

Translation:
“One should not beg in a way that lowers one’s dignity, as is common among inferior people. By begging from Bali, even Lord Viṣṇu assumed a dwarf form.”

Explanation:
Begging can diminish honour. Though divine, Viṣṇu took the humble Vāmana form to seek alms from King Bali. The verse suggests that self-respect should be carefully guarded. 

CHARUCHARYA Part VI

 

दम्भारम्भोद्धतं धर्मं नाचरेदन्तनिष्फलम्‌ । ब्राह्मण्यदम्भलब्धास्त्रविद्या कर्णस्य निष्फला ॥ २१ ॥

Dambhārambhoddhataṃ dharmaṃ nācared anta-niṣphalam |
Brāhmaṇya-dambha-labdhāstra-vidyā Karṇasya niṣphalā || 21 ||

Translation:
“One should not practise religion with pride and hypocrisy, for such conduct becomes fruitless in the end. Karṇa’s knowledge of weapons, obtained by deceitfully posing as a Brāhmaṇa, proved useless.”

Explanation:
True righteousness must be sincere. Karṇa disguised himself as a Brāhmaṇa to learn weaponry from Paraśurāma. When the deception was discovered, he was cursed that his divine weapon would fail him at a crucial moment. Thus, religion or learning gained through hypocrisy ultimately becomes ineffective.

नासेव्यसेवया दध्याद्‌ दैवाधीने धने धियम्‌ । भीष्मद्रोणादयो याताः क्षयं दुर्योधनाश्रयात्‌ ॥ २२ ॥

Nāsevyasevayā dadhyād daivādhīne dhane dhiyam |
Bhīṣma-Droṇādayo yātāḥ kṣayaṃ Duryodhanāśrayāt || 22 ||

Translation:
“One should not serve an unworthy person out of desire for wealth, which is dependent on fate. Bhīṣma, Droṇa and others met destruction because they sided with Duryodhana.”

Explanation:
Serving the wicked for material gain leads to ruin. Though Bhīṣma and Droṇa were noble and powerful, their loyalty to Duryodhana brought about their downfall. Moral judgment must be valued above wealth.

परप्राणपरित्राणपरः कारुण्यवान्‌ भवेत्‌ । मांसं कपोतरक्षाये स्वं श्येनाय ददौ शिबिः ॥ २३ ॥

 Para-prāṇa-paritrāṇa-paraḥ kāruṇyavān bhavet |
Māṃsaṃ kapota-rakṣāyai svaṃ śyenāya dadau Śibiḥ || 23 ||

Translation:
“One should be compassionate and ready to protect the lives of others. King Śibi gave his own flesh to a hawk to save a dove.”

Explanation:
Compassion is the highest virtue. When a dove sought refuge with King Śibi from a pursuing hawk, the king offered his own flesh to satisfy the hawk and save the dove. This story symbolizes supreme self-sacrifice for protecting others.

अद्वेषपेशलं कुर्यान्मनः कुसुमकोमलम्‌ । बभूव द्वेषदोषेण देवदानवसंक्षयः ॥ २४ ॥

Adveṣa-peśalaṃ kuryān manaḥ kusuma-komalam |
Babhūva dveṣa-doṣeṇa deva-dānava-saṃkṣayaḥ || 24 ||

Translation:
“One should make the mind gentle like a flower, free from hatred. Because of hatred, both gods and demons were destroyed.”

Explanation:
Hatred leads only to destruction. The wars between gods and demons caused immense loss on both sides. A soft and loving heart ensures harmony and peace.

अविस्मृतोपकारः स्यान्न कुर्वीत कृतघ्नताम्‌ । हत्योपकारिणं विप्रो नाडीजङ्गमधश्च्युतः ॥ २५ ॥

Avismṛtopakāraḥ syān na kurvīta kṛtaghnatām |
Hatyopakāriṇaṃ vipro Nāḍījaṅgham adhaś cyutaḥ || 25 ||

Translation:
“One should never forget a good deed nor act ungratefully. A Brāhmaṇa fell from virtue after killing the grateful crane named Nāḍījaṅgha who had helped him.”

Explanation:
Gratitude sustains moral character. A Brāhmaṇa once killed Nāḍījaṅgha, a crane that had earlier helped him, and thus fell from righteousness. Ingratitude leads to moral downfall.