Hitopadesha- Introduction and some thoughts

 श्रीः

Hitopadesh is a text that propounds good teachings and values through fables of animals and contains simple stories depicting a moral. Hitopadesh somewhat resembles the famous 'Panchatantra' stories written by Vishnu Sharma.

It is said to have been written by an author named Narayana. It is one of the most famous books of sanskrit literature.

Some thoughts from this text are as below-

       अयं निजः परो वेति  गणना लघुचेतसाम्।

       उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्।।

Meaning- The mean- minded people distinguish between their own people and the other. However , for noble hearted people , the whole earth is like their own family .

      यथा ह्येकेन चक्रेण न रथस्य गतिर्भवेत्।

      एवं पुरुषकारेण विना दैवं न सिध्यति ।।

Meaning- Just as a chariot cannot move with one wheel , the luck (of a person) cannot shine forth (yield fruit) without human striving (efforts).

       आपत्सु मित्रं जानीयात् युद्धे शूरं ऋणे शुचिम्।

       भार्या क्षीणेषु वित्तेषु व्यसनेषु च बान्धवान्॥

Meaning- You realise who your true friend is in times of danger/ emergency. Only War shows us the true valour of a person & times of Debt reveals the honesty/ purity of character. The character of one's wife is exposed in times of poverty & miseries in life expose the true nature of one's relatives.

      नाभिषेको न संस्कारः सिंहस्य क्रियते वने।

       विक्रमार्जितसत्त्वस्य स्वयमेव मृगेन्द्रता ।।

Meaning- Nobody declares the lion as the king of the forest by coronation ceremony or any ritual. By sheer might of his own , a lion achieves the status of the lord of the beast community (whole forest).

      दुर्जनः प्रियवादीति नैतद् विश्वासकारणम्।

       मधु तिष्ठति जिह्वाग्रे हृदये तु हलाहलम्।।

Meaning- (Even) If a wicked person talks sweetly , it is not a reason for believing him. There is honey on the tip of his tongue but the heart is full of poison.

        अनेकसंशयोच्छेदि परोक्षार्थस्य दर्शकम्।

        सर्वस्य लोचनं शास्त्रं यस्य नास्त्यन्धैव सः॥

It removes many doubts; and shows the meaning of what is not obvious; The Saasthraas (scriptures) function as the eye of every person; one who has not learnt it is as good as blind.

       माता मित्रं पिता चेति स्वभावात् त्रतयं हितम् |

       कार्यकारणतश्चान्ये भवन्ति हितबुद्धय: ||

Only mother, father & a true friend think of our good & well being unconditionally & without any expectations. Wishing us well is part of their character. All others who are our well wishers do so for some reason or expecting something in return.

       काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेन कालो गच्छति धीमताम्।

       व्यसनेन तु मूर्खाणां निद्रया कलहेन वा।।

The wise spend their time in entertainment, derived out of  study of sciences and poetry, (while) the fools spend their time in addictions, sleep and quarrels.