Wednesday, March 12, 2014

‘Sukti-Kasturika’ (सूक्ति-कस्तूरिका): Dr.Harekrishna Meher

सूक्ति-कस्तूरिका
* डॉ. हरेकृष्ण-मेहेरः
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Extracts from Original Sanskrit work  
‘Sūkti-Kastūrikā’ (Musk of Maxims)

Written by  Dr. Harekrishna Meher 
along with his English Translation. 
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ज्ञानामृतं सर्वतमो-विनाशकं
सामाजिक-व्याधिहरं महौषधम्
तेनैव राष्ट्रं लभते समृद्धिं
सुज्ञानदास्तद्‍  गुरवो नमस्याः

Nectar of wisdom is the dispeller
of all darkness of ignorance
and it forms the panacea
for eradication of various 
social evils and diseases.
By this wisdom, a country
attains prosperity and therefore
adorable are the teachers
imparting valuable wisdom  
auspicious for others. (1)
*

[]
भुवि बाह्य-परिस्थित्या सुख-दुःखादि-योगतः
प्रच्छन्नाभ्यन्तरा शक्तिः  प्रकाशते प्रवर्धते

In this mortal world, 
through external circumstances
and in affinity with happiness and distress,
the hidden internal calibre
becomes manifested and prospered. (2)
*

[]
खादितुमेव जीवन्ति  पर-वित्तापहारकाः
जीवितुमेव खादन्ति  केचिल्लोक-हित-व्रताः

Those who loot the wealth of others
really live, only to eat.
Dedicated for the well-being of others,
rare are the persons
who really eat, only to live. (3)
*

[]
यः पार्थक्यमविज्ञाय  तत्त्वानां गुण-दोषयोः
छिद्रमन्विष्यति क्षुद्रं  दोषदृक् विषीदति

Without knowing the difference
between merit and demerit
of various matters,
if someone simply tries to find
mean lapses in others,
he, the fault-seer,
gets dejected at the end. (4)
*

[]
किं चेष्टकै-र्बहुधनैरुपलैः श्रिया वा
नात्मीयता यदि गृहे परिवार-भावा ?
किं देश-नागरिकता कुरुते धृतासना
नेष्टा यदि स्वहृदि राष्ट्रियतेति भावना ?


What is the meaning of a house,
built with precious bricks and stones,
with profuse wealth and beautification,
if sincere feelings of a family
do not exist there ?
What is the use of one’s  citizenship
in a country by simply occupying
a place there, if a feeling of patriotism for it
is not cherished in one’s own heart ? (5)
*

[]
कलाकारस्य कस्यचिल्लेखनी-माधुरी-श्रिया,
जातोऽपि मर्त्त्यलोकेऽस्मिन्  देवत्वं याति मानवः  

With charm and beauty
of certain artist’s pen,
a man born in this mortal region
verily attains a figure of divinity. (6)
*

[
कलाकारस्य कस्यचिल्लेखनी-तूलिका-हृतः,
मर्कट-रूप-नैकट्यं  देवोऽपि प्राप्नोति स्वयम्

Swayed away by pen and
painting brush of an artist,
even a divine deity himself reaches
the vicinity of a monkey’s figure. (7)
*

[]
मालिन्यमुपयान्ति ते  पदार्था उत्तमा अपि
अपात्रेषु संनिक्षिप्ता  गुणवन्तोऽपि ये स्वयम्

Matters even of best qualities
bear pale figures, when they are
thrown or offered to some
undeserving ones.
So also are the cases of human beings. (8)
*

[]
हिंसकाः कानने सन्ति  देशे देशे गृहे गृहे
परन्तु नरवज्जन्तुः  कुत्रापि विलोक्यते

Various creatures causing
violence to others are found
in forests, countries and houses.
But harmful animal like man
is never seen anywhere. (9)
*

[१०]
राजनीतौ कोऽप्यस्ति  रिपु-र्मित्रं निजः परः
सर्प-नकुल-सम्पर्को  यत्र मैत्रायते ध्रुवम्     

Nobody is an enemy or a friend
or one’s own or some other one
in politics, where surprisingly
the relationship between
a serpent and a mongoose 
suddenly turns into an active friendship. (10)
*

[११]
श्रद्धा यथा यस्य वै जनस्तथा
श्रद्धान्वितो ज्ञान-सुधां समश्नुते
अम्लान-मुक्तावलि-हार-सन्निभा
श्रद्धा सुबद्धा  हृदये विराजते


A person is so, as his Sraddha (Faith) is. 
Endowed with Sraddha,
one attains the ambrosia of wisdom. 
Sraddha, as a necklace of bright pearls,
scintillates in the heart
when kept sincerely.  (11)
*

[१२]
आचरणं मुख्य-तत्त्वं  शास्त्रराजिषु वर्णितम्
सुकृती सुफलं भुङ्क्ते   कुफलमेव दुष्कृती


Conduct of the mundane beings
is the main phenomenon
depicted in various scriptures.
One performing good deeds enjoys
good fruits, while one performing bad
activities suffers evil consequences. (12)
*

[१३]  
भवन्ति भुवि सद्गुण-ग्राहिणो विरला जनाः  
समुत्कर्षा विधीयन्ते  तैरेव प्रतिभावताम्

Rare are the persons who recognise
the noble qualities of others.
Significant improvements for the talented
are verily rendered by them. (13)
*

[१४]
तादृशं करणीयं यन्  न्यायालयं नेष्यति
तादृशं कर्त्तव्यं  येन न्यायालये भ्रमेत्

One should perform such a deed, 
so that it should not lead
to the court of law.
Further one should not do
such an activity by which
one would move and wander 
in the court of law. (14)
*

[१५
दण्डविधिः प्रचण्डोऽस्ति  लोकतन्त्र-प्रशासने
तथापि भुवि निर्भयं  कुकर्म कुरुते जनः

There are so many laws
of rigorous punishments
in the administration of democracy.
Yet in this world,
without  any fear,
people are involved in evil actions. (15)
*

[१६
हातव्या अन्धविश्वासाः  कुसंस्काराः समाजतः
यद् देश-काल-पात्रेषु   लोकानां हानिकारकाः

Blind beliefs and evil impressions
should be eradicated from the society,
as those are detrimental to the welfare
of the people in view of time, place and person. (16) 
*

[१७]
तिलं तालं वृथा कृत्वा  तन्वन्ति कलहं खलाः
तेषां दूरे वसेत् प्राज्ञः  कर्दमानां दुरात्मनाम्

Making a small thing (sysamum)
to a big one (palm fruit),
rascals unnecessarily spread quarrels.
The wise should remain at a distance
from such muddy evil ones. (17)
*

[१८]
उत्कोच-चौर्य-दुर्नीति-लुण्ठनादि-कुकर्मभिः
लब्धं धनं सत्फलं   ददाति समय-क्रमे

Wealth acquired through bad activities
such as bribe, theft, corruption and looting etc.
does not give any good result
in course of time. (18) 
*

[१९]
श्लाघनीया  नातिशया भाव-प्रवणता  बुधैः 
हानिं करोति सात्मनः  कदाचित् सा परस्य

Feeling of being excessive emotional
is not always appreciable by the wise.
Such feeling sometimes causes harm
to one’s own self and to others also. (19) 
*

[२०]
स्वीया भाषा परम्परा  संस्कृतिश्च महीयसी
तासां रक्षा सुकर्त्तव्या  लोकानां मङ्गलोचिता

One’s own language, tradition and
culture are great for oneself.
Their protection should be made
keeping in view the well-being of the people. (20)

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Related Links : 
Contributions of Dr. Harekrishna Meher to Sanskrit Literature:
Blog Link :
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Biodata : Dr. Harekrishna Meher :
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Literary Works of Dr. Harekrishna Meher :
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Literary Awards and Felicitations :
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