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.