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.