Svaayattamekaantagunam Vidhaatraa|
Vinirmitam Chhaadanamagnataayaah||
Visheshatah Sarvavidaam Samaaje|
Vibhooshanam Mounamapanditaanaam||
Verily has (Lord) Brahma provided
The most powerful weapon to use as one pleases;
An ornament of the Ignorant,
Silence adorns the Illiterate in the company of the Erudite.
(As a complement, it is worthwhile to read this in conjunction with this quote: By silence I hear other men’s imperfections, and conceal my own.)
Yadaakinchit Agnoham Dwipa Iva Madaandah Samabhavam|
Tadaa Sarvagnosmeetyabhavadavaliptam Mama Manah||
Yadaa Kinchit Kinchit Budhajanasakaashaadavagatam|
Tadaa Moorkhosmeeti Jwara Iva Mado Me Vyapagatah||
In stark ignorance I trampled ‘long like
An arrogant elephant in rut
Feeling omnicient, but
Discovering the selfsame ignorance by
The grace of the Wise has
Cured the affliction of conceit;
In full health therefore
I proclaim myself a blockhead.
Note on the original sloka: The first two lines of this verse contain some particularly lengthy compound words which cannot be accurately rendered (phonetically, that is) in English. I’ve tried to render them as phonetically close to the original as possible; any errors/suggestions are wholeheartedly welcome.
Tags: Bhartruhari, Indian Philosophy
Thanks. Tasteful and useful for reflection.
sanskrit.gde.to gives “madAndhaH” for “madAndaH” that you have given.
And personally, I think “jnA” or “jn~A” might be a more faithful transliteration than “gnA” for “to know” - in particular “ajna”, “sarvajna”, “jnAna” etc.
Thanks - also for the clarification on the previous shlOka.
Frog,
I recall mentioning earlier that I follow no transliteration scheme. You’re right. It should’ve been “dha” instead of the soft “da.”