Subhashita kaustubha (76-80)

सुभाषितकौस्तुभः (७६-८०)

शौरौ भक्तिर्वैदिकेषु क्रियासु

श्रद्धा, मैत्री साधुषु ब्रह्मवित्सु ।

पात्रे दानं पुण्यदेशे निवासो

भाग्यैरेतत्प्राक्तनैरेव लभ्यम् ॥ ७६ ॥

Devotion to Lord Krishna, faith in vedic rituals, friendship with sages who have knowledge of Brahman, charity to the deserving, stay in a holy place are all possible only by the good deeds done in prior births.

हृदयमस्मरणेन रमापतेः

चरितमप्यनुपासतां सताम् ।

धनमनर्पणतो हि देहिनां

मुखमनध्ययनेन दुष्यति ॥ ७७ ॥

By not thinking of Vishnu ones mind gets polluted. By not serving the virtuous ones conduct gets polluted. Money gets polluted if it is not given to those who need it. A person’s  speech gets polluted by lack of studies.

अदानाद्वित्तानामपि च करणानामविजयात्

अपाठाद्वेदानामहह विहितानामकरणात् ।

अबोधात्तत्त्वानां हरिगुणगणानामकलनात्

अनादौ संसारे भ्रमति बहुधा जन्तुरमतिः ॥ ७८ ॥

The dull headed person revolves in the beginning-less cycle of life and death by not distributing wealth to the deserving, by not conquering the senses, by not reciting the Vedas, by nor performing the prescribed rituals, by not understanding the real nature of things and by not thinking of the qualities of Lord Hari.

दानं विना क्षितिभुजां न लसन्ति हस्ताः

गानं विना मृगदृशां गलशङ्खगर्भाः ।

ध्यानं विना तु हृदयानि धरासुराणां

सूनं विना सुरभिणं विटपास्तरूणाम् ॥ ७९ ॥

The hands of kings do not shine without charity. The conch-like throats of doe-eyed ladies do not shine without singing. The hearts of Brahmins do not shine without meditation. The branches of trees do not shine without fragrant flowers.

अवितरणा दीनजने लुब्धाः कुभटा इव स्वयं तु परैः ।

दाने वितन्यमाने तृणमपि निजजीवनाय गृह्णन्ति ॥ ८० ॥

The misers while not distributing [अ+वितरणा] anything to the indigent, collect even straw for life’s sustenance when others are distributing gifts [दाने वितन्यमाने]. They are like the bad soldiers who reserve their fight [अवित+रणा] towards the helpless and eat grass when enemies are engaged in killing (cutting) [दाने वितन्यमाने]. [The reference is to the custom of sparing an enemy who is prepared to eat grass as a symbol of willing to be subjugated.]
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