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.