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Bhartruhari Archive
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Bhartruhari: Neeti Shatakam–On Half-Learned People
Posted on July 25, 2012 | 11 CommentsI return to Bhartruhari after the longest time. This sloka—the third in Neeti Shatakam—is highly applicable given the times we live in and given the self-proclaimed experts in every field. Agnah Sukhamaradhyate Sukhataramaradhyate Visheshagnah | Jnanalavadurvidagdham Brahmaapi Naram Na Ranjayati || It is but very... -
On Men of Character
Posted on March 1, 2007 | 2 CommentsSeveral months have passed since I published anything on the venerable Bhartruhari. In this installment, I present one of my all-time favourites from Neeti Shataka. Nindantu neeti nipunah yadi vaa stunvantu | Lakshmiih samaavishatu gacchatu vaa yatheshtam || Adya eva vaa maranam astu yugaantare vaa... -
Neeti Shataka: On Learning
Posted on June 19, 2006 | No CommentsHarturyaati Na Gocharam Kimapi Shampushnaatiyatsarvadaa| Hyaarthibhyahpratipaadyamaanamanishampraapnotivruddhimparaam|| Kalpanteshvapinaprasaatinidhanam Vidyaakhyamantardhanam| Yeshaamtaanpratimaanamunjatanrupaahkastaihsahaspardhate|| Cast away thine vain pride O King(s) Bow and make way, nay, treat men of Learning as your equals, nay your superiors; What chance stands your abundance in face of such Opulence That thieves cannot rob... -
Neeti Shataka: On Evil Rulers
Posted on May 23, 2006 | No CommentsShaastropaskrutashabdasundaragirah Shishyapradeyaagamaa| Vikhyaataah Kavayovasantivishayeyasyaprabhornirdhanaah|| Tat Jaadyamvasudhaadhipasyakavayohyarthamvinaapeeshvaraah| Kutsyaahsyuhkupureekshakaanamanayoyairardhatah Paatitaah|| The King whose dominion is populated with Scholars, poets and learned men famed for Excellence, erudition, sweet speech, and a Large retinue of disciples eking Lives condemned to penury Is indeed a king but in name similar... -
Neeti Shataka: On Fools Redux
Posted on May 22, 2006 | No CommentsEd: Bhartruhari seems to have spent a considerable portion of his life preparing a catalogue of fools. Here’s one more verse on that, perhaps the last. Varam Parvatadurgeshu Bhraantam Vanacaraih Saha| Na Moorkhajanasamparkah Surendrabhavaneshvapi|| How agreeable it is to wander with Wild brutes in dense... -
Neeti Shataka: On More Fools
Posted on May 2, 2006 | 1 CommentShakyo Vaaraitum Jalena Hutabhukhchhatrena Sooryaataapo| Naagendronishitaankushenasamadodandena Gogardabhau|| Vyaadhirbheshajasamgrahaisccha Vividhairmantraprayogairvisham Sarvasya| Aushadhamasti Shaastravihitam Moorkhasya Naasti Aushadham|| One can put out fire dousing it with water, Ward off the scorching sun with an umbrella, Tame a rutted elephant goading it with a sharp hook, Herd unruly cattle... -
Neeti Shataka: On Shamelessness and Fall
Posted on April 18, 2006 | No CommentsKrumikulacitam Laalaalkinnam Vigandhi Jugupsitam| Nirupamarasam Preetyaa Khaadannaraasthi Niraamisham|| Surapatimai Shvaa Paarshvastham Vilokya Na Shankate| Nahi Ganayati Kshudro Jantuh Parigrahaphalgutaam|| Engrossed in joy the Cur chews incessantly on The putrid, worm-ridden, spit-drooling, fleshless piece of human bone oblivious in Even the presence of Indra just as... -
Neeti Shataka: On Silence, Fools &c
Posted on April 17, 2006 | 3 CommentsSvaayattamekaantagunam 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... -
Neeti Shataka: More on Idiots
Posted on April 11, 2006 | 8 CommentsVyaalam Baalamrinaalatantubhirasau Roddhum Samujjrumbhate| Chhettum Vajramaneem Shireeshakusumapraantena Sannahyati|| Maadhuryam Madhubindunaa Racayitum Kshaaraambudhereehate| Netum Vaanchhati Yah Khalaanpathi Sataam Sookhtairsudhaasyandibhih|| A rutted elephant can be calmed by tying it with tender lotus fibers A hole can be drilled into a diamond with the Shirish flower The salty... -
Neeti Shataka: On Fools
Posted on April 10, 2006 | 1 CommentHere’s my next installment of the Neeti Shataka. The verses are in no specific order but they are kind of thematic: Bhartruhari talks about fools in these. The poet stretches the limits of exaggeration in two verses here if only to add greater force. The... -
Neeti Shataka of Bhartruhari
Posted on April 6, 2006 | 18 CommentsAs promised, I present the first few verses drawn from Bhartruhari’s Neeti Shataka. A brief introduction to Neeti Shataka is in order. Neeti can generally be understood as a teaching/exposition of morality, conduct, wisdom, behaviour, prudence, and all of these. The Neeti Shataka does exactly... -
On Translating Bhartruhari and Suchlike
Posted on April 6, 2006 | 7 CommentsI owe the inspiration of this post to the learned Jaffna who left a comment on my Bhartruhari post. And so I’ve abandoned the idea of doing a part-two post on Bhartruhari; instead, I’ll try to post a translation of at least one verse from...