CHARUCHARYA Part XII

 

औचित्यप्रच्युताचारो युक्त्या स्वार्थं न साधयेत्‌ । व्याजवालिवधेनैव रामकीर्तिः कलङ्किता ॥५१॥

aucityāgrachyutācārye yuktyā svārthaṁ na sādhayet |
vyājavālīvadheneva rāmakīrtiḥ kalaṅkitā || 51 ||

Translation

One should not achieve one’s selfish goal by clever means that ignore propriety and righteousness.
Rāma’s fame was blemished because he killed Vāli by stratagem (from concealment).

Explanation

The verse teaches that intelligence without ethics becomes manipulation.
Even if the goal appears justified, the method must also be morally proper (aucitya – propriety).

Rāma, the embodiment of dharma, killed Vāli from behind a tree to help Sugrīva. Though done for justice, critics have debated the fairness of the method. Because of that act, a slight shadow fell upon his otherwise spotless reputation.

The deeper teaching is this:

Ends do not justify unethical means.
Reputation once stained is difficult to cleanse.

Thus, even righteous persons must guard the purity of their methods.

न तीव्रतपसां इयाद्‌ धैर्यविप्लवचापलम्‌ । नेत्राग्निशलभीभावं भवोऽनैषीन्मनोभवम्‌ ॥५३॥

na tīvra-tapasām īyād dhyeye viṣṇu-vacāpalam |
netrāgniśara-bhībhāvaṁ bhavo ’neṣīn manobhavam || 53 ||

(Corrected sense: One should not disturb the intense meditation of ascetics; Manmatha was reduced to ashes by Śiva’s fiery glance.)

Translation

One should not show restless interference toward the meditation of great ascetics.
Manmatha (the god of love) was reduced to ashes by Śiva’s fiery third eye.

Explanation

This verse warns against disturbing spiritual concentration.

When the gods wanted Śiva to marry Pārvatī, they sent Kāma (Manmatha) to disturb his meditation. Kāma shot his arrow of desire at Śiva. Enraged, Śiva opened his third eye and burnt Kāma to ashes.

The lesson:

Do not disrupt the spiritual discipline of the great.
Spiritual fire is more powerful than sensual force.

Tapas (austerity) creates tremendous inner energy. Interfering with it can lead to destruction.

Thematic Insight

These three verses revolve around self-restraint and ethical discipline:

Verse	Teaching	Example
51	Do not use unethical strategy	Rāma & Vāli
53	Do not disturb ascetics	Kāma & Śiva

Deeper Message:

• Reputation must be protected.
• Senses must be conquered.
• Spiritual discipline must be respected.

Human downfall often comes not from enemies, but from:

• Clever selfishness,
• Uncontrolled desire,
• Disrespect toward higher values.

न नित्यकलहाक्रान्ते सक्तिं कुर्वीत कैतवे । अन्यथा द्यूतविषयेऽभूद् धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ५४ ॥

na nitya-kalahākārānte saktiṁ kuryāt ketave |
anyathā dyūta-viṣaye ’bhūd dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 54 ||

Translation

One should not develop attachment to gambling, which constantly leads to quarrels and destruction.  Otherwise, like King Yudhiṣṭhira, even a righteous man may lose everything through dice.

Explanation

This verse carries a powerful ethical warning.  It says that Gambling is not just a game. It is a seed of endless conflict.

Notice the phrase “nitya-kalaha” — constant quarrel. Where gambling enters, peace exits.

The verse does not criticize pleasure itself — it criticizes addictive attachment (saktiṁ kuryāt). The real danger is not playing once, but becoming attached.

To illustrate this, the poet reminds us of a striking example. Yudhiṣṭhira was not an ordinary man. He was Dharmarāja — the very embodiment of righteousness.

Yet:

• He accepted the dice game.
• He became bound by its rules.
• He lost his kingdom.
• He lost his brothers.
• He even staked Draupadī.
• Ultimately, he went into exile for 13 years.

All this because of attachment to a game.

The verse’s message is sharp and realistic:

If even the most righteous king could fall due to gambling,
what about ordinary people?

Deeper Ethical Insight

The structure of the verse teaches three things:

1. Cause – Attachment to gambling
2. Nature – It produces endless quarrels
3. Example – Yudhiṣṭhira’s downfall

This is classic Sanskrit moral pedagogy:
Principle → Danger → Epic Illustration.

The poet does not preach abstract morality.
He shows history as warning.

Core Moral

Gambling destroys not because it is a game, but because it awakens greed, ego, and rivalry.

Human greatness collapses not from external enemies - but from inner weakness.

CHARUCHARYA Part XI

 

न कदर्यतया रक्षेल्लक्ष्मीं क्षिप्रप्रपलायिनीम्‌ । युक्त्या व्याडीन्द्रदत्ताभ्यां हता श्रीर्नन्दभूभृतः ॥४६॥

na kadaryatayā rakṣellakṣmīṁ kṣipraprapalāyinīm |
yuktyā vyāḍīndradattābhyāṁ hatā śrīr nandabhūbhṛtaḥ || 46 ||

Translation

    One should not try to protect fortune (royal wealth) through miserliness, for prosperity quickly runs away. It is well known that the royal fortune of King Nanda was seized by Vyādi and Indradatta through strategy.

Explanation

Lakṣmī — whether wealth, power, or authority — does not stay with the timid or the miserly. She prefers intelligence and boldness.

King Nanda possessed immense wealth, but through clever political strategy (युक्ति), his fortune was taken away. The lesson is clear:
Wealth is not preserved by fear or stinginess, but by wise planning and courage.

A ruler who clutches wealth in cowardice loses it faster than one who uses it strategically.

शक्तिक्षये क्षमां कुर्यान्नाशक्तः शक्तमाक्षिपेत्‌। कार्तवीर्यः ससंरम्भं बबन्ध दशकन्धरम्‌ ॥४७॥

śaktikṣaye kṣamāṁ kuryān nāśaktaḥ śaktam ākṣipet |
kārtavīryaḥ sasaṁrambhaṁ babandha daśakandharam || 47 ||

Translation

When one’s strength declines, one should practice patience. A weak person should not provoke or attack the powerful. Kartavīrya once angrily bound Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed one).

Explanation

Strength determines conduct. When powerful, one may act boldly; when weak, wisdom lies in restraint.

Rāvaṇa, though mighty, once arrogantly provoked Kārtavīryārjuna — and was captured and bound.

The moral:
If your power is low, silence is stronger than pride.
Provoking someone stronger is not bravery — it is self-destruction.

बेश्यावचसि विश्वासी न भवेन्नित्यकैतवे । ऋष्यशृङ्गोऽपि निःसङ्गः शृङ्गारी वेश्यया कृतः ॥४८॥

veśyāvacasi viśvāsī na bhaven nityakaitave |
ṛśyaśṛṅgo'pi niḥsaṅgaḥ śṛṅgārī veśyayā kṛtaḥ || 48 ||

Translation

One should never trust the words of a courtesan, who is always skilled in deception. Even the detached sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga was turned into a lover through a courtesan.

Explanation

The verse warns against blind trust in manipulative speech.

Ṛśyaśṛṅga was a sage raised in complete isolation, untouched by worldly desires. Yet through deliberate charm and seduction, he was drawn into attachment.

The teaching is psychological:
Even the pure and detached can fall if they underestimate temptation.

Self-confidence without caution leads to downfall.

अल्पमप्यवमन्येत न शत्रुं बलदर्पितः । रामेण रामः शिशुना ब्राह्मण्यदययोज्झितः ॥४९॥

alpam apy avamanyeta na śatruṁ baladarpitaḥ |
rāmeṇa rāmaḥ śiśunā brāhmaṇyadayayojjhitaḥ || 49 ||

Translation

Blinded by pride of strength, one should not underestimate even a small enemy. The proud Paraśurāma was humbled by the young Rāma, who spared him out of respect for his Brahminhood.

Explanation

Strength breeds arrogance; arrogance breeds blindness.

Paraśurāma, intoxicated by his martial power, confronted young Rāma. But the “child” Rāma defeated him effortlessly.

The deeper message:
Never judge by appearance.
A small spark can burn a forest.
Underestimating others is the beginning of defeat.

नृशंसं क्रूकर्माणं विश्वसेन्न कदाचन । जगद्वैरी जरासंधः पाण्डवेन द्विधा कृतः ॥५०॥

nṛśaṁsaṁ krūrakarmāṇaṁ viśvasen na kadācana |
jagad-vairī jarāsandhaḥ pāṇḍavena dvidhā kṛtaḥ || 50 ||

Translation

One should never trust a cruel and violent person. Jarāsandha, the enemy of the world, was split into two by a Pāṇḍava (Bhīma).

Explanation

Cruelty is not a temporary habit — it is a nature.

Jarāsandha was relentlessly violent and hostile to righteous kings. Ultimately, Bhīma tore him apart.

The principle:
Trust is sacred. It must never be given to the habitually cruel.
Compassion may reform the weak, but cruelty destroys itself.

Thematic Insight of All Five Verses

These five verses teach political and personal prudence:

Theme	Core Lesson
Wealth	Protect through intelligence, not fear
Strength	Practice patience when weak
Temptation	Do not underestimate manipulation
Pride	Never belittle even a small opponent
Cruelty	Never trust the habitually violent

The underlying message is profound:

Downfall comes not merely from enemies — but from arrogance, misjudgment, temptation, and misplaced trust.

CHARUCHARYA Part X

 

न जातूल्लङ्घनं कुर्यात्‌ सतां मर्मविदारणम्‌ । चिच्छेद वदनं शम्भुर्ब्रह्मणो वेदवादिनः ॥ ४१ ॥

na jātūllaṅghanaṁ kuryāt satāṁ marmavidāraṇam |
ciccheda vadanaṁ śambhur brahmaṇo vedavādinaḥ || 41 ||

Translation

One should never speak or act in a way that wounds the heart of noble people.
Because of such an offense, Śiva once cut off the face (head) of Brahmā, the knower and speaker of the Vedas.

Explanation

“Satām marmavidāraṇam” - hurting the inner core of the righteous - is considered a grave sin.  The Purāṇic story refers to Brahmā’s pride and improper speech. When arrogance crossed limits, Śiva punished him by cutting off one of his five heads.

The teaching is clear: Greatness does not protect one from consequences.  Even divine status cannot justify disrespect.  The pain of a noble soul is spiritually dangerous.

The warning is subtle but powerful: Do not injure dignity - especially of the wise.

गुणेष्वेवादरं कुर्यान्न जातौ जातु तत्त्ववित्‌ । द्रोणिर्द्विंजोऽभवच्छूद्रः शूद्रश्च विदुरः क्षमी ॥ ४२॥

guṇeṣv evādaraṁ kuryān na jātau jātu tattvavit |
droṇir dvijo'bhavac chūdraḥ śūdraś ca viduraḥ kṣamī || 42 ||

Translation

A knower of truth should honor qualities, never merely caste.
Droṇa’s son, though born a Brahmin, behaved like a Śūdra;
and Vidura, though born a Śūdra, was truly noble and patient like a Brahmin.

Explanation

This is socially revolutionary. Aśvatthāma (Droṇa’s son) was Brahmin by birth, yet his violent and adharmic act of killing sleeping warriors degraded his moral stature.  Vidura, born of a maid, embodied wisdom, restraint, and forgiveness.

The principle: Birth does not define worth & Character does.  A tattvavit (knower of reality) looks at guṇa (virtue), not jāti (birth-status).  This verse contains a profound ethical message — moral merit is superior to social identity.

विद्योद्योगी गतोद्वेगः सेवया तोषयेद्‌ गुरुम्‌ । गुरुसेवापरः सेहे कायक्लेदशां कचः ॥ ४३ ॥

vidyodyogī gatodvegaḥ sevayā toṣayed gurum |
gurusevāparaḥ sehe kāyakleśaṁ kacaḥ || 43 ||

Translation

A student should, without anxiety, please the teacher through service and dedication.
By being devoted to serving his teacher, Kaca endured great bodily hardships.

Explanation

Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, studied under Śukrācārya to learn the secret of reviving the dead.  He was Killed repeatedly by demons. Ground into ashes, even mixed into wine and consumed.  Yet he endured everything patiently for the sake of learning.

Lesson: True education requires humility. Service builds inner strength. Knowledge demands sacrifice.

This verse elevates guru-sevā as spiritual discipline, not mere formality.

 स्वामिसेवारतं भक्तं निर्दोषं न परित्यजेत्‌ । रामस्त्यक्त्वा सतीं सीतां शोकशल्यातुरोऽभवत्‌ ॥ ४४ ॥

svāmisevārataṁ bhaktaṁ nirdoṣaṁ na parityajet |
rāmas tyaktvā satīṁ sītāṁ śokaśalyāturo'bhavat || 44 ||

Translation

One should not abandon a devoted and faultless servant.
When Rāma abandoned the pure Sītā, he was pierced by deep sorrow.

Explanation

This verse reflects on Rāma’s painful decision to exile Sītā due to public suspicion.  Though she was pure (satī, nirdoṣā), separation caused Rāma lifelong grief.

The teaching: Do not discard loyal and innocent dependents. Public opinion should not override justice. Separation from the faithful wounds the heart.

The phrase “śoka-śalya” (arrow of sorrow) is poetic - sorrow is like a thorn lodged in the heart.

रक्षेत्‌ ख्यातिं पुनःस्मृत्या यशः कायस्य जीवनीम्‌ । च्युतः स्मृतो जनैः स्वर्गेमिन्द्रद्युम्नः पुनर्गतः ॥४५॥

rakṣet khyātiṁ punaḥsmṛtyā yaśaḥ kāyasya jīvanīm |
cyutaḥ smṛto janaiḥ svarge indradyumnaḥ punargataḥ || 45 ||

Translation

One should protect one’s reputation, for fame is the life-force of the body even after death.  King Indradyumna, after falling from heaven, regained it when people remembered his glory.

Explanation

The story is that the King Indradyumna went to heaven due to his merits.  When his accumulated merit was exhausted, he fell back to earth.  But a long-living tortoise remembered his righteous deeds and testified to his virtue.  Because his fame still lived, he regained heaven.

Message: Physical body dies. Reputation survives. Good deeds echo beyond death.

“Yaśaḥ kāyasya jīvanīm” - Fame is the second life of a person.

Thematic Summary

These five verses teach five ethical disciplines:

Verse	Core Value	Example
41	Do not insult the noble	Śiva & Brahmā
42	Value virtue over birth	Vidura & Aśvatthāma
43	Serve the teacher faithfully	Kaca
44	Do not abandon the loyal	Rāma & Sītā
45	Protect your reputation	Indradyumna

Together, they teach: Respect, Moral equality, Discipline, Loyalty and Reputation.

A complete ethical framework in just five ślokas.