Subhashita-kaustubha (19-20)

सुभाषितकौस्तुभः (१९-२०)

पुमानेकः प्राज्ञो बत बत बहूनामविदुषाम्

न मध्ये वैदग्ध्याद्विलसति समस्तार्थविदपि ।

रुमायामायाते गरिमवति कर्पूरशकले

कथंचिद् व्यावृत्तिं क इव लवणेभ्यो गणयति ॥ १९ ॥

Alas, an erudite scholar does not shine among a group of persons who lack knowledge. In the city of Ruma, if by some means a piece of camphor were to find a place, who will differentiate it from salt? ( Ruma is supposed to be a town inhabited by only fools.)

स्फुरसि शिरसि राज्ञामद्भुतं सौरभं ते

तव च जयति मूर्तिस्तप्तकार्तस्वराभा ।

न भजति मधुपश्चेच्चम्पक त्वामभाग्यः

तव भवतु निकामं तावता नैव तापः ॥ २० ॥

O champak, you adorn the heads of kings. Your fragrance is marvelous. Your form is of golden colour. If an unlucky bee does not approach you, let that not cause you agony. ( A well recognized brilliant personality need not be upset just because a drunkard –मधुप- has ignored him. “Champak” is a well known Indian flower.)

इत्यात्रेयवेङ्कटार्ययज्वनः कृतिषु सुभाषितकौस्तुभे अविवेकपद्धतिः आद्या ।

Thus the first “section on imprudence” in Subhashitakaustubha among the works of Venkatarya Yajvaa of Atreya Gotra.

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