THE GARUDA PURANA 23 страница

11. A mother moved by passion may commit some misdeeds. Though the sons may disapprove of the conduct yet they shall not worry much about them.

12. The body of a courtesan is prized in the world; the body that is held at stake always with the neck torn by the hoofs of debauches and hence always agitated and anxious. Her sleep is dependent on others convenience; she hats to follow the wishes of others and without a show of sorrow she has to laugh and sport always.

13. Fire, water, women, fools, serpents and Royal households — these are to be resorted to by others always, ye' they take away one’s life all of a sudden.

14. What is there to wonder at, if a brahmin well versed in grammar becomes a great scholar? What is there to wonder at if a king well versed in polity and administration becomes a virtuous king? What is there to wonder at if a young woman endowed with beauty and charms errs from chastity? What is there to wonder at if a poor man begins to commit sins sometimes.

15. Do not allow others to see your vulnerable points; but note others carefully like a tortoise that keeps all its limbs safe in its shell.

16. Women may be confined to the nether worlds or may be imprisoned with high walls all round Still if there is no moving glossy tuft of hair who can see them? [Using her Jong tresses she will escape from these places].

17. One’s own kinsman pursuing the same activities and knowing his vulnerable points is the fiercest foe. Even an enemy standing outside cannot injure so much.

18. He is the real scholar who pleases children with sweets, the good people with humility, the women with wealth the deities with penance, and people for their welfare.

19. They are not wise who try to win over a friend by deception, to secure virtue through sins, to attain wealth by harassing others, to learn with pleasure, and to secure a lady’s love through harshness.

20. Even a pure action may be defiled and defective when the root is cut off. It is only the senseless man who will cut off a tree laden with fruits in order to secure the fruits.

21. O brahmin, I do not believe that a man with necessary things can become a saint even if he tries. How can a woman drinking wine be chaste as well?

22. One shall not place trust in a person not trustworthy. Even friends are not to be trusted. Some time later if he is angry the friend may publicise his secrets.

23. A general confidence in all living beings is Sattvika but the main characteristic of a saintly man is to keep his feelings a secret for ever.

24. Whatever action is done it follows the doer. Whatever may be your action, do not leave off your courage and intellect.

25. An intelligent man shall avoid these six: Old women (for sexual purposes), fresh wine, dry meat, carrot, curd in the night and sleep during the day.

26. To a poor man a party of guests is poison (involving expenses); to an old man a woman in the prime of her youth is poison; an ill assimilated knowledge is poison; eating before digestion is poison.

27. To a man of undaunted spirit honour is pleasing i overthrow of administration is pleasing to the vile; to a poor man a charitable gift is pleasing and a woman in the prime of her youth is pleasing to a young man.

28. The six main reasons for sickness in men are:

Excessive drinking of water; eating hard indigestible foodstuffs; wastage of semen virile; holding up of faeces and urine (not evacuating them immediately); sleep during the day and keeping awake at night.

29. Early morning rays of the sun, excessive indulgence in sexual intercourse, the smoke column rising from the cremation ground, warming of the palms, and the constant sight of the face of a woman in her menses — all these reduce the longevity of a man.

30. The following six take away one3 life immediately:

dry meat, old women (if cohabited with), the early morning sun, very sour curd, sleeping and having sexual intercourse in the morning.

31. These six things instil more vitality into the human organism: Fresh melted butter, grapes, cohabitation with a woman in the prime of her youth, a milk diet, hot water and the shade of a spreading tree.

32. The water in a well, the shade of a banyan tree and the well-rounded breasts of a young woman — these three are warm in winter and cool in summer.

33. The three instantaneously invigorating things are: a young woman, oil bath and a wholesome food. The three instantaneously debilitating things are: a hazardous journey, sexual intercourse and fever.

34. Dry meat watered down with milk shall not be taken in the company of wife, friends or the king. If taken, an immediate separation from them is inevitable.

35. Goddess of wealth forsakes a man habitually wearing dirty clothes, allowing dirt to accumulate on the teeth, eating too much, habitually speaking harsh words and sleeping at sunrise and sunset, even if he happens to be Visnu.

36. Cutting of grass frequently, writing on the ground with the toes, chafing of the feet, neglect of the cleaning of teeth, wearing dirty clothes, keeping the hair rough, sleeping at dawn and dusk, lying down naked, eating and laughing excessively, drumming on one’s own limbs or on the seat — these may destroy the affluence of even Lord Vi? nu.

37. These six bring back one’s wealth long lost: keeping the head cleaned and washed, keeping the feet spotlessly pure, keeping the company of excellent women, taking food in limited quantities, lying on the bed without stripping, and sexual intercourse excluding the festival nights.

38. Ill luck and misfortune can be warded off by wearing a flower on the head and especially the white one.

39. Ill luck frequently resides in the back shadow of a lamp, the shadow of the cot, the shadow of a seat and the water used by washermen.

40. The rays of the early morning sun, the column of smoke rising from a funeral pyre, intercourse with an old woman, very sour curd and the dust from a broom should not be resorted to by those who wish for longevity.

41. The dust of elephants, horses, chariots, grains and cows is auspicious. That from ass, camel, goat and sheep is inauspicious.

42. The dust of cows, the dust of grains and the dust from the limbs of one’s own son — these are very holy, they destroy even the great sins.

43. The dust of a goat, the dust of an ass and the dust from a broom — these are unholy and conducive to great sin.

44. The wind blowing from the winnowing basket, the water dripping from the nails, the water from the cloth and pot used for bathing, the dust from the broom and the water dripping from hair — all these destroy merits previously acquired.

45. One shall never walk between two brahmins, a brahmin and fire, a husband and wife, two masters, two horses and two bulls.

46. What wise man will have confidence in women, kings, fires, serpents, studies, the enemy, worldly enjoyment, etc.?

47. Do not trust the incredulous; do not place too much of confidence even in the trust-worthy; there is a lurking danger in rd^osing trust; it may uproot one.

48. He who remains complacent after making peace with the enemy has actually gone to sleep atop the tree, he will wake up after his fall.

49. One should never be too soft not too cruel in action.

The soft would be crushed with the soft and the ruthless with the ruthless.

50. One should never be too straightforward nor too soft.

Straight trees are cut in a forest and the crooked trees remain as they were.

51. Meritorious persons bow down like the fruit-laden trees. Dry trees and fools would rather break than bend at all.

52. Miseries come unsolicited; they go away as they come. Just as the cat pounces upon its prey, man seeking things shall pounce on happiness.

53. Riches go before and after the noble but not so in the case of ignoble. You can do as you please.

54. A counsel in six ears (discussed among three persons) is leaked out immediately; that in four ears is kept for some time but the one in two ears cannot be understood even by Brahma.

55. Of what avail is the cow which neither yields the milk nor becomes pregnant? Of what purpose is a son who is neither virtuous nor scholarly.

56. The whole family is lit up by a single good son endowed with learning, intelligence and valour like the sky with the moon.

57. The whole forest is rendered fragrant by a single tree in full bloom like the family by a virtuous son.

58. One good son alone is preferable to a hundred ones devoid of good qualities. The moon alone dispels darkness and not the stars in their thousands.

59. The son should be fondled for five years and thrash ed for the next ten years; when he reaches the sixteenth year he should be treated like a friend.

60. You cannot find an enemy like a son — on being born the son takes away one’s wife from one [when a son is born mother’s attention is more to the son than to her husband]; while growing up he takes away wealth and if by chance he dies he takes away the life of the father too.

61. In the world some men are like tigers with the mouth of a deer and some like deer with the mouth of a tiger.

In order to know them fully distrust at every step is the only way. H 62. There is only one fault in men of forbearance and patience. There is no second fault. People take him to be powerless.

63. All enjoyments are transitory. If this alone is permitted (it would have been better) that the inclinations of the skilful be unaffected towards their friends.

64. O Saunaka! when the father passes away, the eldest brother takes his place. He should maintain everyone being a father unto them.

65. He shall be impartial to his younger brothers and give them the same pleasures as they received from their father.

66. The collection of a number of even insignificant things may be terrific in their effect. A number of blades of grass twisted into a rope may be strong enough to bind even an elephant.

67. The man who robs some one though he uses the money to make a charitable gift goes to hell. The fruit of the meritorious deed goes to the original owner of wealth.

68. Families are faced with fall by the destruction of temple property, looting of brahmins and showing them disrespect.

69. Sages have prescribed expiatory rites for the slayer of a brahmin, a drinker of wine, a thief and a breaker of vows; but there is no atonement for an ungrateful wretch.

70. Gods and manes do not accept oblations of the mean-minded fellow who keeps a woman of low caste as his concubine, who is a slave to his wife and who allows his wife to enjoy the company of a paramour in his own house.

71. An ungrateful fellow, a person of ignoble qualities, a person who nurses a grouse for a long time and a man of crooked nature — these four are the real Can^alas and the fifth is one bom as such.

72. Even an insignificant enemy of evil intentions should not be neglected carelessly Even a tiny spark of fire v if not put out immediately consumes the entire world.

73. He who Is quiet and tranquil in the boisterous age of blooming youth deserves the credit for being tranquil. Who does not become naturally quiet and tranquil when all his vital forces are spent out?

74. O foremost among brahmins, riches, like the public thoroughfare are common to everyone. Do not be elated and haughty thinking “This is mine. ”

75. The body that is dependent on the vital secretions is dependent on the mind too. If the mind is disarranged the vital secretions are destroyed. Hence, mind shall be preserved always. If the mind is in perfect order the vital secretions function properly.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN.

Brhaspati's nitis& ra.

Sftta Said:

1. One should keep oneself far away from a false wife, a deceitful friend, a tyrannous king, a disobedient son, a defiled daughter and a turbulent territory.

2. Alas, life in the Kali age is troublesome indeed. For, virtue has taken to renunciation, penance has started its long sojourn, truth is in exile in a foreign land, earth has become barren, people are fradulent; brahmins have become greedy, men are uxorious, women are fickle and wayward and base men are raised to high position. Blessed indeed are they who ar dead.

3. Blessed are they who do not witness the destruction of their family, ruin of their lands, the sexual dalliance of their wives with other men and the infamous indulgence of their sons in vice.

4. None can be delighted with their vicious sons; how can one feel a thrilling rapture in the company of a disloyal wife? There is no question of confiding in a deceptive friend and no peaceful life is possible in a trouble-infested land.

5. Food doled out by others, money robbed from others, defiling of another man’s bed, sexual dalliance with another man’s wife and a residence in another man’s house will strip even Indra of his glory.

6. Sin spreads from man to man slowly by conversation, mutual touch, frequent association, taking food together, sitting together, lying together, and travelling together.

7. Women perish due to their beauty, penanfce due to fury, the way due to an undue length and pious brahmin by taking Sudra’s food 8 By sitting together, sharing the same bed, taking food together, and jumbling up the rowr sin is transmitted from man to man like water from pot to pot.

9. There are many defects in fondling and many benefits in thrashing. Hence, a disciple and the son arc to be thrashed, not fondled.

10. A long way is old age to men; water is old age to mountains; abstention from sexual intercourse is old age to women and sunlight is old age to clothes.

11. Base men desire strife, the middling desire reconciliation and the noble desire high honour. Verily, honour is prized by the great as the greatest asset.

12. Honour is at the root of wealth; if honour is secured of what avail is wealth; if one has lost honour and dignity, of what avail is wealth or longevity?

13. The base and the mean desire for riches; the middling desire for riches and honour and the excellent desire for honour. Verily, honour is an asset of the great.

14. In the forest, the lions do not bend their ears (in supplication); even when they are hungry they do not look to a share. Men of noble birth never stoop to meanness, even when they are deprived of their wealth.

15 The lion is neither anointed nor consecrated. The lordship of animals comes to it naturally as it has inherent valour.

16. No great task can be achieved by any ot these: — An erring merchant; a highly proud servant, an easy going mendicant, an impoverished debaucher, a Helan of a girl bitter in speech.

17. Five incongruent things that we meet in the world are: — the poverty of the benevolent, the opulence of the miser, disobedience in a son, compulsion to serve a wicked man and death of persons engaged in helping others.

18. There are five things which burn without fire: —

Separation from wife; insult from kins, balance of debt yet to be discharged, service to a low and base master and desertion of friends in poverty.

19. Among the thousand worries that agitate the mind four are very severe — nay, they are the sharp edges of a sword: — Insult at the hands of a low born person, the starving wife, cold reception by the beloved, and harassment from brothers.

20. The five uproot all miseries: — An obedient son, a remunerative knowledge, freedom from sickness, the companionship of the good and a loving wife surrendering herself.

21. The deer, the elephant, the moth, the honeybee and the hsh — these five are destroyed due to addiction to their five sense-organs. 1

22. Five types of brahmins, though as learned as Brhaspati are never honoured: — the impatient, the harsh, the haughty, the ill-clad and the uninvited.

23 These five are clearly defined and decided even when a child is born: — Its span of life, its activities in later life, its character, learning and the time of death.

24. Help rendered to those who suffer when climbing a mountain, from imminent drowning in water, attack of cows and bulls, seizure by the wicked and a spiritual fall are very commendable.

1. Victim Sense-Organ Object Dear Ears Listens to sweet music and getscaught by the hunter.

Elephant Sense of touch It is caught through she-elephants.

moth Eyes It is attracted by the colour of the flame and is burnt. Attracted honeybee Nose by the fragrance of lotus it gets caught within.

Fish Sense of taste It nibbles at the bait and gets caught.

Even one of the sense-organs is destructive uses all the five will escape destruction?

. How is it possible that man who 360

25. These five are never stable or long-standing: — the shadow of clouds, pleasant attitude of a wicked man; intimacy with another man’s wife, youth and riches.

26. Life is unstable in the world, youth and riches are unstable, sons and wives are unstable; but virtue, fame and renown are permanent.

27. Even a life for a hundred years is too short. Half that period is taken up by nights. The remaining half is rendered fruitless by sickness, sorrow, old age and exertions.

28. It is said that man’s span of life ifc a hundred years.

It is too short. Half of that period is spent as nights. Half of the. remaining half is spent in infancy and childhood or grieving over the separation or death of kinsmen or in service rendered to the king. The remaining period is as fickle as the waves in water. Of what avail is the sense of prestige and dignity?

29. Days and nights in the garb of old age traverse the earth. Death swallows the living beings like the serpent taking in air.

30. If our activities while walking or standing, waking or sleeping are not for the service of fellow beings they are not different from beast ial actions.

31. What is the difference between a beast and a beast in human form with an intellect devoid of discrimination between what is wholesome and what is not; who enters into endless arguments with people in regard to the Vedic expositions, and who remains fully satisfied if he can fill his belly.

32. He who has not earned spotless reputation for valour, austerity, charity, learning or acquisition of wealth is but an excrement of his mother.

33. A good life even for a moment is considered a perfect life by those who know the same — if it is full of perfect knowledge, valour and fame and men are not disrespected. Even a crow lives a long life and partakes of oblations.

34. Of what avail is that life devoid of wealth and honour? Of what use is that friend who hesitates whether he is to be friendly or not? O ye, adopt the rite of a lion, do not be grief-stricken. Even a crow lives a long life and partakes of oblations.

35. If a man does not sympathise with and render help to himself, his preceptor, his servants, the poor public and his friends, of what purpose is his life? Even a crow lives for a long time partaking the oblations.

36. Days come and go to a man devoid of virtue, wealth and love. Although he may breathe, his life is like that of the bellows of the blacksmith.

37. Success is for him who has an independent means of substance and not for him who depends on others. Those who depend on others are no better than dead even though physically alive.

38. Contemptible wretches fulfil their own wants; a mouse’s handful is just enough to fill it; a contemptible wretch though dissatisfied will be contented with something small.

39. These six are like bubbles: — the shadow of clouds, fire made with dry grass, service to the base, water on the surface of the road, the love of a prostitute and the pleasant manners of the wicked.

40. The world cannot be pleased by a person who creates a caravan with words. Life is rooted in honour; if honour is slighted how can one derive pleasure?

41 A king is the support for the weak; crying constitutes the strength of the child; the strength of a fool lies in silence and that of a thief is falsehood.

42. Asa man proceeds ahead with his study of Sastras his intellect becomes sharper and perfect knowledge appeals to him.

43. As a person goes ahead devoting his mind and attention to the welfare of others, everyone becomes attached to him and he becomes popular.

44. A person perishes due to the three — greed, grave error and implicit confidence. Hence, these shall be avoided.

45. Danger is to be dreaded as long as it does not befall.

The moment it occurs fear shall be eschewed.

46. Balance of debt undischarged, remnant of fire not put out and sickness partially cured increase steadily. Hence, these remnants shall be avoided.

47. Repay good action by goodness and violence by violence. I do not find any fault, if a wicked man is met with wickedness.

48. A friend who speaks sweet words in our presence and spoils our work behind our back should be avoided. Avoid an enemy using foul means.

49. Even a good man perishes by his association with the wicked. Even a clear water is rendered muddy by its mixing up with dust.

50. He whose wealth is dedicated to the brahmins enjoys well. Hence, a brahmin shall be honoured by all means.

51. Food taken in, after brahmins have been fed, is the real food; he is intelligent who commits no sin; that is friendship which manifests itself behind our back; that is the real sacred rite which is performed without ostentation.

52. That is no assembly where the aged are not present;

they are not the aged who do not expound virtue; that is not virtue which is not backed by truth; that is no truth which is mixed with deception.

53. The best among men is the brahmin; the best among luminaries is the sun; the best among the organs is the head and the best among the sacred rites is the truth.

54. That is auspicious where mind is delighted; that is a real life which does not involve service and slavery; that is the real earning which is shared and enjoyed with one’s own kith and kin and that is the teal thunder which is made in the battlein the presence of the enemy.

55. She is the real woman who has no vanity; He is really happy who has shunned vain desires; He is the real friend in whom confidence can be placed and he is the real man who has controlled his organs of sense.

56. One should cast off honour and love where love is extinct; Only that is praiseworthy the core of which is held in esteem.

57. No attempt should be made to trace the origin of rivers, Agnihotra worshippers and the family oFBharata. Such an attempt is bound to fail.

58. Rivers end with the sea of salt-water; sexual intercourse ends with the treachery of the woman; back-biting ends with the news being made public and wealth comes to an end with misery.

59. The prosperity of a kingdom comes to an end with the curse of a brahmin; the spiritual power of a brahmin comes to an end with his sin; all decency in conduct of life comes to an end if residence is taken near cowsheds; the family is ruined if women rule.

60. All hoarded things end in wastage, rising in power comes to an end in downfall; all contacts and intimacies come to an end in separation and disintegration; life comes to an end with death.

61. If one wishes the return of the guest he shall not be followed very far at the time of farewell. He can be followed upto a pond or well or a tree with plenty of shade and colourful leaves.

62. One shall not reside in a land where there is no leader or where there are many leaders or where the leadership is vested in a woman or in a child.

63. The father protects her in childhood; the husband in youth and the son in old age. A woman is not to be allowed to stay independently.

64. A barren woman shall be abandoned in the eighth year after marriage; a woman whose children die in infancy shall be abandoned in the ninth year; a woman who gives birth only to daughters shall be abandoned in the eleventh year; and a woman who speaks unpleasant words shall be abandoned immediately.

65. Three persons beyond the pale of money stick to their lords. One who is not in want; one who is afraid of men; one who is afraid of servants.

66. An intelligent man must keep aloof from these: — the exhausted horse, the elephant in its rut, cows in their first parturition, and frogs outside water.

67. Those who are mad after money do not have friends or kinsmen; those who are lustful and lecherous know no fear or shame; those who are worried with anxious thoughts have no pleasure or sleep and those who are oppressed by hunger do not want even salt or warmth iti the food.

68. How can these have peaceful sleep? — the poor, the slave, the man fond of another man’s wife and the wretch who wants to rob another man of his wealth.

69. Blissfully sleeps the man who has no debts to repay and who is free from sickness. He who is not yet married, takes his food leisurely.

70. The height of a lotus is in proportion to the quantity of water in the pond; a servant becomes proud if his master is strong and influential.

71. The sun and Vanina (water) befriend the lotus when it stands firm in its place; they make it fade and putrefy if it is uprooted.

72. Those who had been friends of a man in high office become enemies when he steps down from the office. The sun delightfully causes the bloom of the lotus in water but when it is plucked and put on the ground the sun dries it up.

73. Things in their proper places and persons in their respective offices are honoured. Away from their original places neither hair nor the nails, neither the teeth nor men shine or receive consideration.

74. Manners and behaviour indicate parentage; manner of speech and accent indicates the native place; flutter up indicates affection and the physical build indicates the diet accustomed to.

75. A downpour in the ocean is unnecessary; feeding an over-fed and satiated man is superfluous; a charity made over to an affluent man is unnecessary and the meritorious actions of a base man are futile.

76. Even a person who is far off is as good as near if he has a place in the heart; if cast out of the heart a man close at hand is no better than one far off.

77. Contortions in the face, low sunk husky voice, perspiration all over the body and a frightened appearance — these are the signs usually seen at the time of death and in regard to a man out to beg.

78. The life of a worm in the person of the beggar or that of one blown by the wind over his head is better than the life qf beggar himself.

79. The lord of the world Visnu himself when he begged suffered dimunition of stature. Who is there superior to him who can be a suppliant and yet not suffer disrespect.

80. The parents by whom children are not educated are no better than enemies. The uneducated can never shine in an assembly of the learned like cranes amidst swans.

81. Learning gives beauty to the ugly; it is a well protected asset; it makes man a saint; it makes him popular; it is revered of the revered; it dispels the sorrow of kinsmen; it is a deity; even kings honour it; a man devoid of learning is no better than a beast.

82-83. Inside the house there are many things which can be taken away by others but not learning. Lord Visnu expounded the essence of polity to Saunaka, as well as all sacred rites. Lord Siva heard this. Vyasa heard from Siva and we heard it from Vyasa.

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN.

Sacred Rites ( Vralas ).

Brahma said:

1. O Vyasa, I shall expound the sacred rites by which Lord Vi$iju should be propitiated and which bestow everything.

Lord Vi§QU can be worshipped in any month or day of the lunar fortnight or the week or when any star is ascendant.

2. The devotee fasts completely or takes a single meal at night or mere fruits. With a desire for the birth of a son, victory in battle and acquisition of a kingdom he shall make charitable gifts of cash or foodgrains.

3-4. Vai£ vanara and Kubera worshipped on the first day of the lunar fortnight bestow wealth. If Brahm& is worshipped on the first day of the lunar fortnight after a full fast he bestows wealth and mares. Yam a, Narayana and goddess worshipped on the second day bestow wealth. The three deities Gauri, Vighnega (GaneSa) and Sankara should be -worshipped on the third day.

5. Lord Caturvyuha (Vifnu) worshipped on the fourth day. Lord Vi$guw orshipped on the fifth day, Lord Kirttikeya and Lord Sun worshipped on the sixth day, and Bhaskara 1 on the seventh day — all these bestow wealth.

6. Goddess Durga shall be worshipped on the eighth day. The seven Mothers and the eight quarters worshipped on the ninth day bestow wealth. Yama and the Moon shall be worshipped on the tenth day and the sages shall be worshipped on the eleventh day.

7. Lord Hari shall be worshipped on the twelfth day and Cupid on the thirteenth day; Mahegvara 2 3 on the fourteenth day and Brahma and the Pitrs ( Manes) worshipped on the fifteenth day bestow wealth.

8. The presiding deities of the days of the week, Sun and others, shall he worshipped on the new moon day. The presiding deities of the stars and Yogas worshipped shall bestow everything.

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