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. 

CHARUCHARYA Part V

 

मातरं पितरं भक्त्या तोषयेन्न प्रकोपयेत्‌ । मातृशापेन नागानां सर्पसत्रेऽभवत्‌ क्षयः ॥ १६ ॥

Mātaraṃ pitaraṃ bhaktyā toṣayen na prakopayet |

Mātṛśāpena nāgānāṃ sarpasatre’bhavat kṣayaḥ || 16 ||

Translation:
          “One should please one’s mother and father with devotion and should never anger them. Because of a mother’s curse, the serpents were destroyed in the Sarpa-sacrifice.”

This verse stresses the supreme importance of respecting parents. Parental blessings bring welfare, while their anger can lead to destruction. The story of the Sarpa-satra shows how even mighty serpents were annihilated due to a mother’s curse, proving that parental displeasure has grave consequences.

जराग्रहणतुष्टेन निजयौवनदः सुतः। कृतः कनीयान्‌ प्रणतश्चक्रवतीं ययातिना ॥ १७ ॥

Jarāgrahaṇa-tuṣṭena nija-yauvana-daḥ sutaḥ |

Kṛtaḥ kanīyān praṇataś cakravartīṃ Yayātinā || 17 ||

Translation:
          “Pleased with the humble youngest son who gave his youth and took upon himself his father’s old age, King Yayāti made him a universal emperor.”

This verse highlights filial devotion and self-sacrifice. Puru willingly accepted his father Yayāti’s old age and gave him his youth. Impressed by such obedience and humility, Yayāti crowned Puru a Chakravartin, showing that true service to parents brings great rewards.

दानं सत्त्वमितं दद्यान्न पश्वात्तापदूषितम्‌ । बलिनात्मार्पितो बन्धे दानशेषस्य शुद्धये ॥ १८ ॥

Dānaṃ sattvamitaṃ dadyān na paścāt-tāpa-dūṣitam |
Balinātmārpito bandhe dānaśeṣasya śuddhaye || 18 ||

Translation:
          “Charity should be given with a pure and noble mind, not tainted by later regret. Bali offered himself into bondage to purify the remainder of his gift.”

True charity must be wholehearted and free from remorse. King Bali’s self-surrender to Vāmana shows that genuine giving requires inner purity, even at personal cost.

 त्यागे सत्त्वनिधिः कुर्यान्न प्रत्युपकृतिस्पृहाम्‌ ।  कर्णः कुण्डलदानेऽभूत्‌ खलु शक्तियाञ्छया ॥ १९ ॥

Tyāge sattva-nidhiḥ kuryān na pratyupakṛti-spṛhām |
Karṇaḥ kuṇḍala-dāne’bhūt kalu śaktyāñchayā || 19 ||

Translation:
          “A virtuous person should renounce without expecting anything in return. Karṇa gave his earrings to Indra, but by asking for the divine weapon, his charity became tainted.”

This verse teaches selfless renunciation. Karṇa’s generosity was great, but his expectation of reward diminished its purity. True sacrifice demands complete detachment.

 ब्राह्मणान्नावमन्येत ब्रह्मशापो हि दुःसहः । तक्षकाग्नौ ब्रह्मशापात्‌ परीक्षिदगमत्‌ क्षयम्‌ ॥ २० ॥

Brāhmaṇān nāvamanyeta brahma-śāpo hi duḥsahaḥ |
Takṣakāgnau brahma-śāpāt Parīkṣid agamat kṣayam || 20 ||

Translation:
          “One should never insult a Brāhmaṇa, for a Brāhmaṇa’s curse is unbearable. Because of such a curse, King Parīkṣit met his end through the serpent Takṣaka.”

This verse warns against disrespecting spiritual authorities. King Parīkṣit’s death illustrates how arrogance toward sages leads to ruin. Reverence and humility safeguard one from downfall.