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Post by charvaka Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:24 pm

Discussions with Rashmun remind me of a couple of verses written by bhartRhari. Depending on which account you believe, Bhartrihari was either a king from 2,000 years ago who renounced the world and composed his shataka-trayam (three one-hundred-verse collections of poems), or a grammarian-poet who lived 1,500 years ago. Either way, he had a great insight into humanity and its ways. Over time, his poems became known as subhAshitANi -- wise words. His subhAshitam about a well-informed voice being the best and most lasting ornament for a person (kEyUrANi nabhUshayanti purusham...) is used by All India Radio's Hyderabad station as the opening piece for its program of Sanskrit lessons.

Here are the subhAshitams I was reminded of:

prasahya maNimuddharEt makaravakra danshTrAntarAt
samudramapi santarEt prachaladUrmi mAlakulam
bhujangampi kOpitam Sirasi pushpavat dhArayEt
na tu pratiniviShTha mUrkhajana chittam ArAdhayEt

It may be possible to extract a precious stone from between a live crocodile's crooked teeth,
It may be possible to sail through tempests on the seas,
It may be possible to wear an angry serpent like a garland of flowers on one's neck,
But is not possible to change the minds of prejudiced fools.

labhEta sikatAsu tailamapi yatnatah
pibEccha mRgatRShNikAsu salilam pipAsArditaH
kadAchidapi paryaTanChashaviShANam AsAdayet
na tu pratiniviShTa mUrkhajana chittam ArAdhayet

It may be possible with great effort to extract oil by crushing sand,
It may be possible when really thirsty to drink out of a mirage,
It may be possible to find a rabbit with horns by looking all over the world,
But it is not possible to change the minds of prejudiced fools.

Interestingly, it has become possible and even routine to do some of the things Bhartrihari says may be possible: extract oil from sand, sail through tempests on the seas, etc., but it is just as impossible today to change the minds of prejudiced fools as it was in his day.
charvaka
charvaka

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Join date : 2011-04-28
Location : Berkeley, CA

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