Vidura Neeti – III

ātmajñānaṃ samārambhastitikṣā dharmanityatā ।
yamarthānnāpakarṣanti sa vai paṇdita ucyate || 33-12

A person who has the Supreme knowledge, strength, detachment and value based living will not be affected by the dangers emanating from wealth and he is called as a real scholar. Good values and characteristics are like a vessel and wealth is like milk. If milk is poured into an unclean vessel then the milk gets spoilt, even though the vessel may be made of an expensive material. But when milk is poured into a clean vessel it does not get spoilt. Similarly when wealth is in the hands of spoilt brats (undeserving people) then it gets misused but if the same wealth is in the hands of worthy people then it increases multifold.

yasya kṛtyaṃ na vighnanti śītam uṣṇaṃ bhayaṃ ratiḥ |
samṛddhir asamṛddhir vā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 33-19

Commitment and perseverance are necessary ingredients for success.

To succeed in any field, determination, commitment and perseverance are extremely necessary. We have seen some individuals work with the above characteristics and attain success. They would have worked with great zeal, irrespective of the magnitude of the work and not rested till they attain the goal. Therefore, one has to complete the task on hand, without any hesitation. One should not be shaken or diverted from the target due to external or internal factors. One should not get perturbed by climatic conditions or internal ups and downs caused by situations. Such a person is said to have attained a balance between extremes of life and mind and is called Sthithaprajna.

nāprāpyam abhivāñchanti naṣṭaṃ necchanti śocitum |
āpatsu ca na muhyanti narāḥ paṇḍita buddhayaḥ || 33-23

Smart men neither crave for things beyond their reach nor cry over lost objects, or for dead people. We have seen people being disappointed when they do not get certain things or pleasures in life, they become frustrated and are under undue stress. These people cry over spilt milk which cannot be refilled into the vessel. Their remorse over these things are meaningless. When faced with problems they suffer from ignorance. One who escapes unscathed from a problem is a smart person.

na hṛṣyaty ātmasaṃmāne nāvamānena tapyate |
gāṅgo hrada ivākṣobhyo yaḥ sa paṇḍita ucyate || 33-26

Balance of mind and emotions is a necessity.

One should not get flying high when he is successful or is honored, he should not feel angry or dejected when he is insulted. His mind and emotions should be like the unperturbed flow of the river Ganga (Ganga flows in the same manner everyday).
One should not react to happiness or sadness, respect or insult, powerful or powerless situations in life. It’s very essential that he does not lose mental balance at any point.

pravṛtta vāk citrakatha ūhavān pratibhānavān |
āśu granthasya vaktā ca sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 33-28

History repeats itself is a popular quote. Similarly we also get to listen to “Learn from other’s mistakes” as another proverb. Folktales and stories of the past have a hidden moral. The smart one reads between the lines to understand it and apply it to his own life. Such people are able to foresee situations and hence are able to encash on opportunities with their determined moves. Timely smartness is displayed by them as per the need of the hour and demands of the situation.

aśrutaś ca samunnaddho daridraś ca mahāmanāḥ |
arthāṃś cākarmaṇā prepsur mūḍha ity ucyate budhaiḥ || 33-29

One who has not studied the scriptures, one who does not have anything with him but expects the best of the comforts, and one who desires for wealth without any efforts is a fool. A person without any knowledge or study should not speak anything, he should not expect riches by gambling or by wrong means, he should not desire for the best comforts when he does not have anything even to meet his bare needs.